Columbia City, Ind. – Stevens-Miller Racing’s Mike Skeen will arrive at the Lime Rock Park “Bull Ring” just nine points off the lead in the Trans Am presented by Pirelli’s TA2 championship. The 2020 champion will hit the shortest course on the calendar, ready to go in his Liqui Moly, Turn 14 Distribution, Howe Racing Enterprises Camaro. Skeen and the team will continue their chase for the championship after sitting on pole, setting a new track record, and finishing second at the last round held at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Photo by Chris Green
Team Owner Joe Stevens said, “We are one of three really good teams fighting for the championship. All of us have exceptional drivers and we knew going into this year it would be a real battle. We debuted a brand-new car at Sebring and put it on the podium, at Road Atlanta we had a power steering failure but Mike brought it home fifth, and at Laguna we hit our stride sitting on the pole and breaking the track record we set in 2019. We’ve run very well at Lime Rock in the past, in fact, we barely missed a double podium in 2019. Now we’re back at Lime Rock ready to build on our momentum – and get it done.”
Skeen said, “Lime Rock is tight and there are always close battles and I’m sure that Memorial Day will be the same. I’m excited we’re on the original layout with its tremendous Trans Am history. This course features the infamous hill where we get air over the crest and, honestly, this has to be one of the biggest thrills you can get in a race car.
“I’ve had great races at Lime Rock,” he continued. “I won the first time I raced here in World Challenge and I’m ready to put a win up on the board in our Liqui Moly, Turn 14 Distribution, Camaro, for Joe and the entire crew. Everyone has been working really hard, and I want to bring us our first win of 2021. For the first time, we’ll have Turn 14 Distribution customers joining us and I really want to put on a show for them. Turn 14 Distribution has been with us the last two seasons but due to COVID this will be the first time they’ve seen their car in person.”
The Stevens-Miller team knows that the Lime Rock track presents a unique challenge in-car setup with only one left turn and a jump.
Stevens said, “As a die-hard racer myself, I constantly think about setup and what we could do differently to get an edge. Lime Rock is a very unique track – it has just one left-hand turn, it’s a super short lap that takes just over 50 seconds – plus there’s a jump! It’s crazy to think that every minute or so our cars get launched into the air at this place — there’s really nothing like it. For the setup and balance of the car, you have to account for those characteristics and that makes racing here a challenge. We’re very fortunate to have Howe Racing Enterprises and Chas Howe in our corner. Chas and his team are an incredible technical resource for SMR and everyone who fields one of their chassis. Without their knowledge and support, we would have a much harder time achieving the results we have.”
Memorial Day at Lime Rock Park marks Alex Wright’s return to action in the No. 12 Berryman Products Mustang.
Wright said, “Really looking forward to getting on track at Lime Rock. It will be my first time at the track, so I’m hopeful that we can hit the ground running. Having fans back will be great, and I’m sure TA2 will put on a great show. Berryman has been so supportive of Stevens-Miller Racing and I’m very grateful to be a part of their efforts. It’s a great All-American brand that has been formulated and made completely at their facility in Arlington, Texas for more than 100 years. The car is a fan favorite and visiting our pit for an up-close look will be one of their weekend highlights. It’s going to be great to connect with fans again and I’m sure I’ll be busy signing plenty of autographs!”
The Trans Am presented by Pirelli will once again provide live stream coverage of the event via their mobile app.
Stevens said, “Trans Am has done a great job with their live-stream broadcasts this year. There are a ton of in-car cameras and the announcing is really good. Be sure to get the app and join us for the live coverage of Memorial Day for the TA2 race scheduled for 1 p.m. EST. The race is open to spectators so if you are in the area, you should definitely be at Lime Rock this weekend.
About Stevens-Miller Racing:
Stevens-Miller Racing (SMR) has one of the highest winning percentages in Trans Am’s TA2 category. SMR’s staff has earned 40-plus podiums, three championships, multiple Hard Charger Awards, Rookie of the Year, and more. The team’s focus is achieving the driver’s desired goals. SMR has what drivers need, be it GT2, SVRA Group Six, or TA2. Whether it’s to have fun, develop your driving ability, or win a championship, SMR does it all and has the winning history to back it up. See www.stevensmillerracing.com for more details about our programs and Arrive & Drive and car prep opportunities.
