POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 27, 2026) – Matthew Brabham and his #16 CD Racing GYM WEED Ford Mustang picked up at the green flag Sunday morning where they left off at the checker Saturday, leading the Trans Am field at California’s Sonoma Raceway. The race looked almost like an instant replay taken from the day before. Brabham started from pole, led flag to flag, and set the fastest race lap. “The team has given me such a great race car every weekend,” Brabham said as he walked to the GYM WEED Winners Circle following the race, adding that “it was a lot of fun racing with Paul (Menard, who finished second). Thanks to everyone on the team and especially to Chris (Dyson) for making this possible.” Brabham has now won the first four races of the 2026 Trans Am by Pirelli season, and five straight going back to the 2025 season finale at Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Over the course of his Trans Am career, until this year on a part-time basis, Brabham has won 12 of his 20 starts, all of them piloting a CD Racing entry. Since the halfway point of the Texas race, no other driver has led a lap. Menard, the defending series champion, gave Brabham his best shot today, trading fastest laps along the way. But according to his team owner, Paul Gentilozzi, whenever Menard tried to press Brabham for the race lead he overheated his rear tires and had to ease off. Brabham answered the challenge and set the fastest race lap just past the race’s three-quarter mark, almost a half second quicker than Menard’s best. By the end of the caution-free event, Brabham’s margin of victory was a comfortable 4.176 seconds. “That was an outstanding performance by Matt,” Dyson said afterwards. “He is setting a brilliant standard each and every weekend. The team and I could not be happier with him. It is inspiring to all of us.” It was a tough day and a challenging weekend for Brabham’s CD Racing teammate Rafa Matos and his #20 RACER / GYM SODA Ford Mustang. Matos was filling in for team owner Chris Dyson, who had planned to race at Sonoma but had to withdraw when he came down with a severe bout of flu earlier in the week. Matos starred in qualifying and helped the team lock out the front row for Saturday’s opening race. He challenged Brabham and took the lead early, but dropped out from a potential podium finish with a mechanical issue. Then during Sunday morning’s warmup, the engine in the #20 car dropped a cylinder. Despite the best efforts of the CD Racing crew, there wasn’t sufficient time to install a spare engine and get the car to the grid for the race start. “I’m in recuperation mode now,” said Dyson, “But the team’s great results this weekend take some of the sting out of not being able to drive myself and give us a lot of pride – and momentum. I’m looking forward to getting back into the #20 car soon. In the meantime I’m sure grateful to Rafa for being available to stand in for me.” Lime Rock Park Next On Trans Am Calendar The next event on the Trans Am by Pirelli calendar is at the Dyson team’s home track, Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park, May 21-23. Chris Dyson won there from the pole in 2022 on his way to his second Trans Am championship, with Brabham finishing second. Dyson also won at Lime Rock in 2019 and 2021. Re-Broadcast of Sonoma Races Rebroadcasts of all Trans Am races are available on the Trans Am You Tube channel. Click here for more on Chris Dyson Racing. |
| Press InformationBRABHAM & CD RACING SWEEP SONOMA TRANS AM WEEKEND WITH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WINS POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 27, 2026) – Matthew Brabham and his #16 CD Racing GYM WEED Ford Mustang picked up at the green flag Sunday morning where they left off at the checker Saturday, leading the Trans Am field at California’s Sonoma Raceway. The race looked almost like an instant replay taken from the day before. Brabham started from pole, led flag to flag, and set the fastest race lap. “The team has given me such a great race car every weekend,” Brabham said as he walked to the GYM WEED Winners Circle following the race, adding that “it was a lot of fun racing with Paul (Menard, who finished second). Thanks to everyone on the team and especially to Chris (Dyson) for making this possible.” Brabham has now won the first four races of the 2026 Trans Am by Pirelli season, and five straight going back to the 2025 season finale at Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Over the course of his Trans Am career, until this year on a part-time basis, Brabham has won 12 of his 20 starts, all of them piloting a CD Racing entry. Since the halfway point of the Texas race, no other driver has led a lap. Menard, the defending series champion, gave Brabham his best shot today, trading fastest laps along the way. But according to his team owner, Paul Gentilozzi, whenever Menard tried to press Brabham for the race lead he overheated his rear tires and had to ease off. Brabham answered the challenge and set the fastest race lap just past the race’s three-quarter mark, almost a half second quicker than Menard’s best. By the end of the caution-free event, Brabham’s margin of victory was a comfortable 4.176 seconds. “That was an outstanding performance by Matt,” Dyson said afterwards. “He is setting a brilliant standard each and every weekend. The team and I could not be happier with him. It is inspiring to all of us.” It was a tough day and a challenging weekend for Brabham’s CD Racing teammate Rafa Matos and his #20 RACER / GYM SODA Ford Mustang. Matos was filling in for team owner Chris Dyson, who had planned to race at Sonoma but had to withdraw when he came down with a severe bout of flu earlier in the week. Matos starred in qualifying and helped the team lock out the front row for Saturday’s opening race. He challenged Brabham and took the lead early, but dropped out from a potential podium finish with a mechanical issue. Then during Sunday morning’s warmup, the engine in the #20 car dropped a cylinder. Despite the best efforts of the CD Racing crew, there wasn’t sufficient time to install a spare engine and get the car to the grid for the race start. “I’m in recuperation mode now,” said Dyson, “But the team’s great results this weekend take some of the sting out of not being able to drive myself and give us a lot of pride – and momentum. I’m looking forward to getting back into the #20 car soon. In the meantime I’m sure grateful to Rafa for being available to stand in for me.” Lime Rock Park Next On Trans Am Calendar The next event on the Trans Am by Pirelli calendar is at the Dyson team’s home track, Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park, May 21-23. Chris Dyson won there from the pole in 2022 on his way to his second Trans Am championship, with Brabham finishing second. Dyson also won at Lime Rock in 2019 and 2021. Re-Broadcast of Sonoma Races Rebroadcasts of all Trans Am races are available on the Trans Am You Tube channel. Click here for more on Chris Dyson Racing. |
