Thomas Merrill had a perfect day at Watkins Glen International, earning his first pole of the 2024 season and going on to win the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race. Merrill dominated the field, pulling out to a commanding lead and pacing every lap en route to victory at the Mission Foods Watkins Glen SpeedTour. Taking the green flag from the pole in his No.
26 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang, Merrill held his line as the leaders fanned out five wide into Turn 1. Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Bayshore Mortgage/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) challenged Merrill, but was unable to complete the pass, pulling into line behind him.
Merrill began to open up his lead, but the double yellow was displayed before the conclusion of the first lap, bringing out the safety car. The green flag waved on lap four, with Merrill leading Annunziata, Jake Drew (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro), Carson Kvapil (No.
17 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro) and Austin Green (No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang) across the line. Merrill pulled ahead of his competitors, and the top five remained the same until lap nine, when Kvapil had a mechanical issue and came to a halt in the Bus Stop, making way for Ben Maier (No.
80 BOE Marine/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) to move into fifth. On lap 13, Annunziata’s motor let go, bringing him to a standstill next to the Bus Stop. The following lap, Maier was passed by points leader Rafa Matos (No.
60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro .