BRASELTON, Ga. — There’s absolutely no stopping 18-year-old up-and-coming superstar Helio Meza in the Trans Am CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series.
The Spring, Texas-native continued to obliterate the competition at Road Atlanta on Saturday, leading wire-to-wire (after setting the track record in qualifying) to capture his third career CUBE 3 TA2 Series victory, beating out the likes of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Andres Perez de Lara and accomplished road racer Alon Day.
“The felt really good, obviously, leading the whole race and just taking control,” said Meza post-race. “This car is a rocketship and I can’t thank [Team SLR] enough for working so hard. We struggled a little bit throughout the practice with a few handling issues, but the last practice yesterday we got it tuned in and then obviously qualifying got the track record and just led it lap to lap.”
For Meza, the victory marks the extension of a record-breaking milestone; already the first competitor to win in their first two CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series events, the Chevrolet development driver extends that mark by winning in his third start, as well. Meza also becomes the first driver to win three straight CUBE 3 TA2 Series events since Rafa Matos did so at the end of 2021, into the 2022 season.
The early-career success for Meza in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series comes at the hands of Team SLR, the organization responsible for winning each of the CUBE 3 TA2 Series’ last nine events, between drivers Tristan McKee, Carson Brown, Mike Skeen, and Meza.
Team SLR swept the podium at Road Atlanta on Saturday, with Meza, Perez de Lara, and Day.
“This is one of my first ever times that I’ve been a part of a team like this that works really hard and wants nothing but the best for me,” Meza added. “Super grateful for everyone in my corner, Alessandro’s Racing, Chevrolet, Team SLR.”
Andres Perez de Lara (No. 8 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro) came to Road Atlanta for a one-off during an off-weekend for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and seemed to be Meza’s closest competitor, but couldn’t do anything to get around his teammate in the No. 28.
Alon Day (No. 17 JSSI / SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro) put on a remarkable drive on Saturday, after starting from 31st-place following a crash in practice that didn’t allow Team SLR enough time to repair the battered No. 17 for qualifying. Day drove through the pack methodically and finished third.
Noah Harmon (No. 7 CUBE 3 / Highpoint Rockers Chevrolet Camaro) finished fourth for Silver Hare Racing, with Ethan Tovo (No. 10 Dick’s Sporting Goods Toyota Camry) being the highest finishing entry for Nitro Motorsports in fifth.
The event finished under the caution flag due to an incident inside the final five laps of the event when Lanie Buice (No. 27 Sunoco / Guthrie’s Garage / Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro) dove into Turn 10 and wrecked with Thomas Merrill (No. 26 Cope Race Cars / HP Tuners Dodge Challenger), taking both out of contention for a top-10 result.
