Dyson
Chris Dyson celebrates his victory at COTA. (Chris Dyson Racing Photo)

Dyson Closes Trans Am Season With COTA Win, Menard Is Champ

AUSTIN, Texas — The checkered flag has waved on the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s 2024 season.

After back-to-back races, Chris Dyson scored the TA season finale while Paul Menard claimed his first championship in the class. Brent Crews won his second CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race of the year after just four starts, while Rafa Matos secured his third-career championship.

Kyle Kelley won the Western Championship’s TA2 race, while Michael LaPaglia earned enough points to clinch the title. Sam Correy earned his first-career victory in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series’ Pro/Am Challenge, and Will Rodgers, Josh Carlson and Chris Coffey won in XGT, SGT and GT, respectively.

Trans Am

Although he did not finish the season with his fourth-consecutive title, Dyson ended 2024 on a high, driving to GYM WEED Winners Circle in the season finale. With a fast No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang, he was consistent throughout the race as the drivers around him faced attrition, claiming his third victory of the year.

Paul Menard (No. 3 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang) started the race from the pole and was fast from the time the green flag waved. Unfortunately, after leading the first 15 laps of the race, Menard’s car began to smoke and slow, and he was forced onto pit lane with a spark plug issue.

Thomas Annunziata (No. 2 STEEL-IT/Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger) took over the top position and led the next four laps, but Dyson was right on his tail, overtaking Annunziata on Lap 21. Annunziata remained in Dyson’s wake after the pass, and the two were only a half-second apart, with Annunziata challenging Dyson every way he could for the next four circuits. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue would bring Annunziata to a halt with just three laps remaining, bringing out the caution that would end green-flag competition.

With Annunziata stopped on track, Dyson was followed across the finish line by the Drissi Motorsports entries of Don Yount (No. 7 Southwest Funding/Villa Carrera/DM Chevrolet Camaro) and Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Drissi Motorsports/Lucas/Mission Chevrolet Camaro), who battled each other mercilessly throughout the 30-lap event. Annunziata was scored fourth, and fifth was Austin native Gar Robinson in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro.

“I’ve got to say that these guys over here, they gave me a great car all year,” said Dyson. “We just weren’t able to show enough wins this year, so this feels great to finish this year with a win. I think it carries great momentum through the winter. I’m so happy to have my wife here this weekend with me. The family was with us a lot this year, and it was just really special. And I’m just really proud of the guys; they’ve done an amazing job. Thanks to Mike Lanci on the engines. This one’s for Bob Riley; we lost him last week.

“He gave us an absolute missile rocketship as a parting gift in a really distinguished career. I was absolutely honored to work with him, and I’m really proud to have that car in victory lane here today.”