Transnet Racing
Encyclopedia
Transnet Racing is a stock car racing
team that currently competes in the NASCAR
Nationwide Series. The team is a Minority Business Enterprise principally owned by Venezuela
n driver Alex García
.
Transnet Racing's shop is located in Morrow, Georgia
, just south of Atlanta
. The 10000 square feet (929 m²) facility primarily houses the team's NASCAR Nationwide Series program, as well as their Late Model
and show car program.
n driver Alex García
and his father Juan, with the goal of participating at the highest levels of U.S.
racing and providing a platform for young and skilled drivers looking to compete on an international stage. Initially an open wheel
race team, Transnet Racing first participated in Formula Vee
, Formula Ford
, and Formula Ford 200 racing. The Hispanic-owned team made its Atlantic Championship debut in 2002 with Alex García behind the wheel, making 22 starts by 2003.
The team expanded to a two-car effort for the 2004 season with Jonathan Bomarito
piloting the #8 Dixien/OmniSource Swift 014. Transnet Racing made 13 starts and experienced tremendous success during 2004, including earning the team’s first podium finish at Portland, but decided to part ways with the series mid-season.
In 2005 the team began to experiment with stock car racing, competing in NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
races while at the same time moving into a new purpose-built shop in Morrow, Georgia. While Transnet Racing announced its return to the ChampCar Atlantic Championship after a one year break, it still pursued stock car racing, participating in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
event at Salem Speedway
in September 2006.
In December 2006 Transnet Racing announced that it would begin competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Alex García driving the #98 Dixien/OmniSource Chevrolet. The team ran part-time schedules in the series in 2007 and 2008, participating in several historic road course events, including the inaugural NAPA Auto Parts 200
at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
in Montreal, Quebec, in 2007, the last NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, (2008) and the 2008 race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in which teams competed in the rain for the first time in a NASCAR points event. García also became the first Venezuelan driver to compete in one of NASCAR's premier series when he debuted at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in March 2007.
The No. 98 Chevrolet Monte Carlo first raced in the Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
in Mexico City
on March 4, 2007. Rookie driver Alex García piloted the car, with sponsorship from Dixien Automotive Stampings and OmniSource for three races in the 2007
season, earning a top finishing position of 23rd. In 2008, Alex García continued to drive the 98 machine, participating in the road course races in Mexico City and Montreal.
After two part-time seasons, the team plans to run the 98 full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2009 with Alex García behind the wheel.
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
team that currently competes in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series. The team is a Minority Business Enterprise principally owned by Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n driver Alex García
Alex Garcia (driver)
Alex García is a Venezuelan professional stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the 98 Dixien/OmniSource Chevrolet for Transnet Racing, a team which García owns...
.
Morrow, Georgia
Morrow is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,882 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Clayton State University.-Geography:Morrow is located at ....
, just south of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The 10000 square feet (929 m²) facility primarily houses the team's NASCAR Nationwide Series program, as well as their Late Model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
and show car program.
History
Transnet Racing was founded by VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n driver Alex García
Alex Garcia (driver)
Alex García is a Venezuelan professional stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the 98 Dixien/OmniSource Chevrolet for Transnet Racing, a team which García owns...
and his father Juan, with the goal of participating at the highest levels of U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racing and providing a platform for young and skilled drivers looking to compete on an international stage. Initially an open wheel
Open wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
race team, Transnet Racing first participated in Formula Vee
Formula Vee
Formula Vee is a popular open wheel, single seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford or Formula BMW....
, Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
, and Formula Ford 200 racing. The Hispanic-owned team made its Atlantic Championship debut in 2002 with Alex García behind the wheel, making 22 starts by 2003.
The team expanded to a two-car effort for the 2004 season with Jonathan Bomarito
Jonathan Bomarito
Jonathan Bomarito is an American racing driver from Monterey, California.After much success in karting and two years driving in Grand-Am Cup, Jonathan Bomarito moved to Formula Ford 2000 USA in 2003 and won the championship. The next year he moved to the Atlantic Championship and finished 9th in...
piloting the #8 Dixien/OmniSource Swift 014. Transnet Racing made 13 starts and experienced tremendous success during 2004, including earning the team’s first podium finish at Portland, but decided to part ways with the series mid-season.
Transition To Stock Car Racing
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series
The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series was a NASCAR-sanctioned amateur/semi-pro racing series based in the Southeastern United States. The series was formerly known as the Slim Jim All Pro Series. The drivers who have graduated from this series include Shawna Robinson, Rick Crawford,...
races while at the same time moving into a new purpose-built shop in Morrow, Georgia. While Transnet Racing announced its return to the ChampCar Atlantic Championship after a one year break, it still pursued stock car racing, participating in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
event at Salem Speedway
Salem Speedway
Salem Speedway is a .555 mile long paved oval motor racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, approximately south of Indianapolis. It opened in 1947. Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA, USAR and the USAC...
in September 2006.
NAPA Auto Parts 200
The NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada since 2007. It takes place in August, replacing the Champ Car World Series and Atlantic Championship Grand Prix of Montreal...
at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series....
in Montreal, Quebec, in 2007, the last NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, (2008) and the 2008 race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in which teams competed in the rain for the first time in a NASCAR points event. García also became the first Venezuelan driver to compete in one of NASCAR's premier series when he debuted at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in March 2007.
Car #98 History
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named for the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on March 4, 2007. Rookie driver Alex García piloted the car, with sponsorship from Dixien Automotive Stampings and OmniSource for three races in the 2007
2007 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 26th season of the NASCAR Busch Series began on February 17, 2007, with the Orbitz 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded on November 17, 2007, with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Carl Edwards clinched the Busch Series championship on November 3 during the O'Reilly...
season, earning a top finishing position of 23rd. In 2008, Alex García continued to drive the 98 machine, participating in the road course races in Mexico City and Montreal.
After two part-time seasons, the team plans to run the 98 full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2009 with Alex García behind the wheel.
Car #98 Career Statistics
| Year | Car | Driver | Races | Wins | Poles | Top 5 | Top 10 | Season Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #298 | Alex García | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104 |
| 2008 | #198 | Alex García | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| Totals | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |