POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 26, 2026) – CD Racing’s Matthew Brabham started his #16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang from the pole in Saturday’s Trans Am by Pirelli first race in the weekend’s doubleheader at Sonoma Raceway, fended off a first-lap challenge from CD Racing teammate Rafa Matos, and after Matos’ #20 RACER / GYM SODA Ford Mustang suffered a mechanical problem just short of the 100-mile sprint race’s three-quarter mark cruised to a one-minute victory over second-place Paul Menard. The 12-race season is now at the quarter-mark and Brabham has led every lap of the three races run so far, also starting from the pole and setting the fastest lap of each race. “Rafa was pretty feisty on the start,” Brabham noted after climbing from his car at the GYM WEED Winners Circle following the race. “We had a good race going until he broke. I’d expected it to be a three-way race with Paul (Menard) but he lost almost a lap in the pits. The car was amazing, but we’re going to do this all over again tomorrow, so I didn’t want to lean on it any harder than I had to. Also, while it was a cold day, which is easy on tires, I wanted to make sure I was ready if there were a full-course yellow and Paul had another shot. He was running hard.” “Matty and the team did a great job today,” said team-owner and former Sonoma Trans Am race winner (and three-time series champion) Chris Dyson. “It’s a shame Rafa’s car broke – he was having an excellent drive too. A one-two finish would have been very satisfying. Now we need to do it again on Sunday.” Dyson had originally planned to drive the #20 car himself and had been training for several weeks to regain the high level of fitness necessary to contend with the demands of a 900-horsepower Trans Am car, particularly without anti-lock brakes, traction control and other driver aids, and especially within the confines of the tight and unrelenting Sonoma circuit. Unfortunately, Dyson fell ill during the week and had to withdraw from participation. “I’m glad Rafa was on site and was available to take my place this weekend.” Dyson said. Sunday’s 100-mile race takes the green flag at 10:45 a.m. PT (1:45 p.m. ET) and will be live-streamed on the Trans Am You Tube channel. |
