Nagai drives from last to first for first Trans Am XGT win at Portland

Michelle Nagai came from the back to win the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Western Championship race at Portland International Raceway. Starting last after her qualifying lap was disallowed, Nagai flew through the field in her No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro in race one of a doubleheader weekend to score the overall race win in her first time competing in the XGT class, having competed in the TA2 class three times this season.

It is Nagai’s first victory since 2019 when she won in the Western Championship’s TA class at Circuit of The Americas.

Nagai had a daunting task ahead of her when the green flag waved, starting from the 22nd position after her qualifying time was disallowed due to a penalty in time trials. Last in her class, she impressively rocketed her way to the front, cracking the top 10 by lap four and entering the top five after only seven laps. On lap nine, she entered the runner-up spot and began to stalk Brody Goble, who won the Motul Pole Award and had led every lap thus far. It only took until lap 17 for her to make the pass on Goble, opening up a large gap in front of him within three laps. A lap 23 restart would give Goble one final chance to pass, but Nagai closed the door as he battled his TA2 competitors and she drove away to her first victory of the season and second win of her Trans Am career.

Bad luck struck both of Nagai’s XGT competitors early. After starting sixth overall, Chris Evans in the No. 92 Central Welding Supply Ford Mustang spun on lap one and headed to the pits with a flat left-rear tire. He continued to struggle until a fuel-pump issue forced his retirement after just 25 laps.

Newcomer Kevin Roggenbuck in the No. 45 Union Marine Audi R8 LMS impressively qualified second overall and first in class, but he dropped to seventh by the conclusion of the first lap. He was able to fight back up to the fourth position by lap six, but he slowed on lap 10 and pulled into the pits briefly. His speed faded once again on lap 27 and he ultimately finished 15 laps down.

“I think (switching to XGT) is the best decision I’ve made in my racing life,” said Nagai as she collected her trophy. “I want to thank Jefferson Racing and Chris Evans. Will Rodgers, the coaching was incredible. The whole team, I can’t thank you guys enough. Thank you all for being here. XGT is the best move I’ve made in a while; this was a lot of fun. After running in TA2, I missed the bigger horsepower like the TA car has. I wanted to get back into that and this is the closest thing I could do. I’m completely happy.”

TA2

Goble set the fastest qualifying time in his No. 69 Brown Bros. Ford/Cortex Performance Mustang for the third time this year and led the field to green. After a wild restart from those around him, he led Ken Sutherland in the No. 68 Kallberg Racing Chevrolet Camaro and Greg Tolson in the No. 70 GT Auto Lounge Ford Mustang, never relinquishing the first position in the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series. While Nagai got around him on lap 17, he paced the TA2 class until the race’s only caution on lap 20.

On the lap 23 restart, Goble had a fierce battle with Sutherland and Tolson but maintained his lead and once again pulled away. Sutherland pulled ahead of Tolson, who he’d been swapping positions with earlier in the race, and secured the second spot. Tolson began battling a power steering problem, but was able to hold on to the last podium spot in the race’s second half.

While Goble could have easily cruised to the victory, he had a scary moment on the final lap when his Ford Mustang got loose as he attempted to lay down a fast lap for a starting position in Sunday’s race two. Fortunately, he gathered himself and took the checkered flag, followed by Sutherland and Tolson. Tim Lynn (No. 17 RoofOptions Ford Mustang) and Michael LaPaglia (No. 31 Papini’s Garage/F.A.S.T. Auto Ford Mustang) rounded out the top five.