Dyson cruises to TA win at Laguna Seca after spin, epic recovery by Menard in waning laps.

While Chris Dyson hoisted the trophy at the end of the day, Paul Menard made the most impressive charge as the Trans Am series wrapped up race weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday.

For much of the afternoon Dyson in the no. 16 Gymweed Ford Mustang and Menard’s no. 3 Pittsburgh Paints Mustang were involved in their own private battle while Adam Andretti and Paul Drissi looked on from a distance.

“It was a great fight the whole way,” Dyson says. “It was great racing.”

Dyson started from the pole after Brent Crews, who set the fastest time in Saturday’s qualifying session, had to bow out. But his time in front didn’t last long, as Menard elbowed past him in Turn 3 of the opening lap. With laps winding down, however, Dyson reestablished himself in the lead.

In all, it was an otherwise uneventful contest–until Rudy Revak’s no. 7 Xyngular Pontiac Grand Prix (SGT class) skidded into the barrier at the entrance to the Corkscrew, bringing out the caution with 13 laps to go.

When racing resumed three laps later, Menard dove inside of Dyson at the exit of Turn 2, the hairpin. But Dyson quickly slammed the door. The cars made slight contact and it was Menard who suffered the consequences.

“Dyson opened the door,” Menard says of the brief gap he spotted. When he realized the move was for nought, he tried to back out. “I stabbed the brakes like a dummy and spun out.”

By the time he got the car back on track, Menard had fallen to 12th with only 10 laps to go. Andretti, in the no. 21 Top Liner Mustang and Drissi’s no. 8 Trench Shoring Chevrolet Camaro—who until then had been relegated to a lonely fight for the final podium spot—found themselves in contention.

“Suddenly the caution comes and we’re in a fight,” Andretti says. 

Although he clung to Dyson for a couple of laps, the 16 was able to pull away for the win. Andretti held on for second in the TA National series competition.

But Menard was intent on recovering from his mistake. He passed car after car, closing in on Drissi. The black no. 8 tried to fend him off, but Menard hammered the gas out of Turn 11 and made the pass for third just in sight of the checkered flag.

“The car is used up,” Menard observed. “I drove the hell out of it.”

Elder statesman Boris Said, filling in for Crews, almost equaled Menard’s feat. Forced to start last in the 19-car field, he fought the no. 2 Weaver Concepts Dodge Challenger to fifth overall.

Dyson, the overall winner, was enthusiastic over the National TA series’ return to Laguna Seca after a two-year hiatus.

“They’ve done a lot of great work here,” he observes. “The track surface is phenomenal.”

Sutherland claims Western crown

In the TA Cup, Trans Am Western series’ polesitter Cole Moore in the no. 99 Moore Motorsport Mustang faded late in the race while Ken Sutherland’s no. 85 Kallberg Racing Dodge Challenger remained consistent to take the win, finishing sixth overall, ahead of Jim Guthrie in the no. 62 Gurthrie’s Garage Mustang (eighth overall).

Michelle Nagai, who pushed her way into the TA Cup class lead midway through the race, battled with understeer as the car used fuel and dropped weight. She settled for third in the no. 72 Nagai Racing Camaro.