Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Newman, Brockman enter Lime Rock event

LAKEVILLE, Conn. -- The year was 1966. The Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup, then called the Trans-American Sedan Championship, was in its first year of competition. Actor Paul Newman walked on the scene, and the making of two legends ...

LAKEVILLE, Conn. -- The year was 1966. The Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup, then called the Trans-American Sedan Championship, was in its first year of competition. Actor Paul Newman walked on the scene, and the making of two legends began. Newman competed in one Trans-Am Series race that year, co-driving with Brock Yates, and finished 12th in the Under Two Liter Class at Virginia International Raceway.

That legend will continue Monday, May 26, at Lime Rock Park, as Newman, along with teammate Michael Brockman, will return to Trans-Am Series competition. Newman will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet Corvette, which Butch Leitzinger drove to two victories, and earned the Rookie of the Year title last season. Brockman will drive the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro.

Newman has a storied history at Lime Rock. Of his two Trans-Am Series victories, one has come at the 1.53-mile, eight-turn permanent road course. In all, the Connecticut native has 13 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes in 68 Trans-Am Series starts.

Newman is never one to mince words, and was quick to point out his motivation for racing at Lime Rock this year.

"I'm trying to maintain a pulse," quipped Newman.

Along with his Trans-Am Series achievements, Newman has four SCCA national titles at the Valvoline Runoffs, SCCA's National Championship race. Newman earned his first of his SCCA titles in 1976 in the D-Production class. He also won championships in the 1979 C-Production class and earned the title in GT-1 class in 1985 and 1986.

Newman finished ninth in last year's Runoffs, in the GT-1 class, driving a Rocketsports Jaguar XKR. Along with his affinity for sports car racing, Newman has competed in stock cars, and is currently co-owner with Carl Haas of Newman/Haas Racing's Champ Car World Series team.

Brockman is no stranger to Trans-Am Series competition. Brockman finished seventh in his sole Trans-Am Series start in 1969 at Watkins Glen in a Camaro. Brockman has teamed with Newman on several occasions in races such as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and he competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000. His Lime Rock experience includes racing a Lotus Turbo Esprit in the Supercar Series and in IMSA Camel Lights.

The Trans-Am 100, part of the Mohegan Sun Presents the Lime Rock Grand Prix, is scheduled for Monday, May 26 at Lime Rock Park and will air live on SPEED Channel at 2 p.m.

-scca pro racing/trans am-

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Lime Rock: Round four preview
Next article Lime Rock: Sam Posey named Grand Marshal

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA