Long Beach: GTA class race notes

HOLLYWOOD STUNTMAN STEVE KELSO WINS GTA CLASS AT LONG BEACH TRANS-AM RACE

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 10, 2005) -- Steve Kelso finished first in the GTA Class during Sunday's Cytomax Challenge Trans-Am Series race at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Kelso, who makes his living as a motion picture stuntman, drove the No. 9 Kelso Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo to an overall finish of eighth. The GTA Class was run as part of the Trans-Am race here.

"We just had a great weekend, running with Trans-Am," said Kelso. "GTA is a great series. We have fun, fast and competitive cars. This was our first time at Long Beach. We muscled our way to the front and things really went our way.

"Everybody in Trans-Am has been just excellent," added Kelso. "The officials and the teams have treated us great. This class is really an inexpensive way to break into professional racing."

The new GTA Class features V8-powered, tube-framed sedans. Eligible makes and models include Pontiac Grand Prix, Dodge Intrepid, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Ford Thunderbird and Taurus and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The Class will be recognized with its own championship, as well as recognition in each race this season. The addition of the GT America cars turns Trans-Am into a three-class Series, which also includes the featured Trans-Am cars, as well as the GT-1 Driver Development Class. GTA cars last competed with the Trans-Am Series in 1997.

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