Cliff Ebben gives Ford Mustang rare Trans Am Series TA class win at Sebring - Chevrolet Corvettes round out podium at season opener
Cliff Ebben (of Appleton, WI
) celebrated his 65th birthday with his sixth career Trans Am Series victory, winning the season-opening event on Sunday at Sebring International Raceway.
Ebben drove a Ford Mustang into victory lane, while Tomy Drissi, who finished second, led a parade of seven Chevrolet Corvettes behind Ebben. Vinnie Allegretta completed the TA class podium, while former NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett finished fourth and defending series champion Amy Ruman was fifth.
Mark Boden won in the TA3 class in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, while Brian Kleeman captured his first career Trans Am Series win with a TA4 class victory in his Ford Mustang. Boden's triumph was his fourth career series win.
Ebben started fourth in a 22-car TA field, took advantage of attrition in front of him and went on to post
Ford's first winner in the TA class at Sebring since Boris Said in 2001. #ouch
“It was a pretty straightforward race for me,” said Ebben. “We just kept moving up as the leaders started to drop out, and I inherited the lead. You are better to be lucky than good, they say."