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Thomas Merrill (racing driver)

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Thomas Merrill
Born (1987-04-17) April 17, 1987 (age 37)
Salinas, California, United States
Trans-Am Series career
Debut season2017
Current teamMike Cope Racing
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number26
Championship titles
2023
2022
2018

2006		Asian Le Mans Series – GT
Trans-Am Series – TA2
Trans-Am Series West Coast Championship – TA2
SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Continental
Last updated on: November 17, 2023.

Thomas Merrill (born April 17, 1986) is an American racing driver who competes in the Trans-Am Series and Porsche Carrera Cup North America.

Alongside Nicky Catsburg and Chandler Hull, he was the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series champion in the GT class. He also won the TA2-class title in the 2022 Trans-Am Series.

Career

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Early career

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Merrill was exposed to racing at a young age, as both of his parents were racing drivers themselves, taking part in Porsche Club meetings around his hometown of Salinas, California. Merrill himself began racing at age 8, culminating in his first karting title in 1998 at the age of 11.[1] Following on his from initial title victory, he would win six consecutive championships over the following years, including back-to-back national titles in 2005 and 2006.[2]

In 2006, Merrill transitioned into formula racing, taking part in the SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Continental series, where he won thirteen of fourteen races en route to the championship.[3] The following year saw him step up to Pacific F2000,[4] where he finished second in the championship behind Patrick Barrett.[5]

Sports car racing

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In 2008, Merrill graduated to the Rolex Sports Car Series, embarking on a part-time program in the GT class for PR1 Motorsports.[6] Appearing at Homestead, Laguna Seca,[7] and Watkins Glen,[8] Merrill claimed a best finish of 12th. He returned to the team in 2009, making his debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona[9] alongside another appearance at Laguna Seca. 2010 and 2011 saw Merrill run just one race each in the Rolex Sports Car Series and IMSA SportsCar Challenge, after which he appeared to scale back his professional racing duties.

Trans-Am Series and recent years

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Merrill's TA2 Ford Mustang at Watkins Glen International in 2023.

Near the end of the 2017 season, Merrill began competing in the Trans-Am Series, driving for Big Diehl Racing. After making his debut at Circuit of the Americas, the team confirmed a full-season entry into the West Coast Championship for 2018.[1] In just his second official race in the championship at Auto Club Speedway, he scored his first TA2-class victory.[10] Through the five-race season, of which Merrill competed in only four races, he won all four races in which he competed. With 140 points scored, he won the TA2 West Coast Championship.[11] He stepped up to the nation-wide championship for 2019, albeit not for the full season. Through the eight races he competed in, Merrill claimed back-to-back victories at Laguna Seca[12] and Lime Rock,[13] as well as an additional victory in the season finale at Daytona.[14] A potential fourth victory was stripped at VIR due to a reckless driving penalty.[15] When the dust settled, he finished 8th in points, with nearly half the points total of series champion Marc Miller.[16]

In early 2020, Merrill embarked on a one-off effort in the IMSA Prototype Challenge, driving for K2R Motorsports alongside Steven Thomas. The duo scored a Bronze Cup-class victory at Daytona,[17] before teaming up again for the season finale at Road Atlanta, where they would claim an overall podium.[18] Merrill also returned to Trans-Am in 2020, driving for Mike Cope Racing.[19] He claimed just one TA2 victory in 2020, scoring overall honors at Mid-Ohio in June.[20] He would finish fourth in the championship, with 173 points.[21]

Merrill participated in several programs in 2021, splitting his efforts between Trans-Am and sports car racing under the IMSA and SRO umbrellas. His Trans-Am program formed the majority of his efforts, as he claimed six podiums and one race victory during the season,[22] finishing fourth in the TA2 championship once again.[23] Merrill also competed in the Michelin Endurance Cup sub-championship of the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving in the LMP2 class for WIN Autosport alongside Tristan Nunez and former teammate Thomas.[24] The trio claimed a class victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen,[25] and also claimed a podium at Petit Le Mans. In addition to a temporary GT4 America Series program with Stephen Cameron Racing, Merrill took part in the Indianapolis 8 Hour for DXDT Racing, driving alongside Erin Vogel and Michael Cooper.[26]

Merrill's Porsche 911 RSR-19 at Le Mans in 2022.

2022 saw Merrill score his first Trans-Am TA2 championship. After winning his first race of the campaign at Lime Rock,[27] he followed it up with another victory in the subsequent round at Mid-Ohio.[28] Merrill scored the championship on a tie-breaker, ending level on points with Rafa Matos. Matos began the weekend with a strong points lead, however a 40th-place finish for the Brazilian and a race victory for Merrill saw the latter take the championship.[29] During the 2022 season, Merrill felt he was "at home" in the series,[30] and he was pleased with the development the series had experienced since he began racing in 2017.[31] Merrill also made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022, racing in the GTE Am class for WeatherTech Racing alongside Cooper MacNeil and Julien Andlauer.[32] The trio would finish second in the GTE Am class, marking Merrill's first Le Mans podium in his maiden appearance.[3] Merrill made a number of additional one-off appearance during 2022, including a podium finish for Jr III Racing in the IMSA Prototype Challenge at Mid-Ohio.[33]

Merrill began his 2023 campaign by returning to the 24 Hours of Daytona, driving for AWA in the LMP3 class.[34] Alongside Wayne Boyd, Anthony Mantella, and Nicolás Varrone, Merrill claimed victory in the LMP3 class – his first class victory at the Rolex 24.[3][35] Merrill was also embroiled in a battle for the final spot in Northwest AMR's FIA World Endurance Championship entry with Axcil Jefferies, although Jefferies would go on to secure the seat.[36] In February, Merrill traveled to the Middle East to compete in the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series with Walkenhorst Motorsport. Teamed up with Nicky Catsburg and Chandler Hull, Merrill claimed two victories, three podiums, and the GT-class championship.[37]

Merrill's full-time programs for 2023 surrounded both the Trans-Am Series and Porsche Carrera Cup North America.[38] In Trans-Am, Merrill claimed his first victory of the season at Lime Rock in May.[39] He claimed his first Porsche Cup podium in July at Road America.[40] In Trans-Am, Merrill entered the final round at COTA in the hunt for the championship, but ultimately fell short to Brent Crews.[41] In Porsche Cup competition, Merrill would finish 10th in the overall championship.

In 2024, Merrill returned to AWA, expanding his presence beyond the 24 Hours of Daytona to the entire Michelin Endurance Cup with the team.[42]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2006 SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Continental Porter Racing 14 13 14 ? 14 364 1st
2007 Pacific F2000 PR1 Motorsports 12 2 3 3 7 244 2nd
2008 Rolex Sports Car Series - GT PR1 Motorsports 3 0 0 0 0 44 68th
2009 Rolex Sports Car Series - GT PR1 Motorsports 2 0 0 0 0 42 51st
2010 Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Corsa Team PR1 1 0 0 0 0 20 72nd
2011 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge - GS AM Performance 1 0 0 0 0 ? ?
2014 Pacific F2000 - F1600 2 1 ? ? 2 55 5th
2017 Trans-Am Series West Coast Championship - TA2 Big Diehl Racing 1 0 0 ? 1 27 7th
2018 Trans-Am Series West Coast Championship - TA2 Big Diehl Racing 4 4 4 ? 4 140 1st
2019 Trans-Am Series - TA2 Big Diehl Racing
Mike Cope Racing 		8 3 1 ? 4 175 8th
2020 Trans-Am Series - TA2 Mike Cope Racing 8 1 0 ? 2 173 4th
Trans-Am Series West Coast Championship - TA2 2 2 2 ? 2 70 8th
IMSA Prototype Challenge K2R Motorsports 2 0 0 ? 1 55 22nd
2021 Trans-Am Series - TA2 Mike Cope Racing 11 1 1 ? 6 238 4th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 WIN Autosport 4 1 2 0 2 1032 6th
GT4 America Series - Am Stephen Cameron Racing 4 0 1 2 2 55 12th
2022 Trans-Am Series - TA2 Mike Cope Racing 12 3 3 ? 8 259 1st
Trans-Am Series - TA allgram 1 0 0 ? 0 23 17th
GT4 America Series - Am Nolasport 2 0 0 1 1 18 19th
24 Hours of Le Mans - GTE Am WeatherTech Racing 1 0 0 1 1 N/A 2nd
IMSA Prototype Challenge Jr III Racing 1 0 0 0 1 300 27th
Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS NTE / MC2 Autosport 1 0 0 0 0 10 73rd
2023 Trans-Am Series - TA2 Mike Cope Racing 13 1 2 ? 5 1007 2nd
Porsche Carrera Cup North America Nolasport 14 0 0 0 1 92 10th
Asian Le Mans Series - GT Walkenhorst Motorsport 4 2 2 0 3 82 1st
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 AWA 1 1 0 0 1 0 NC
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Turner Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 268 52nd
2024 Trans-Am Series - TA2 Mike Cope Racing 1 0 0 0 0 80* 6th*
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD AWA 2 0 0 0 0 251* 29th*
992 Endurance Cup Team Laptime-Performance

* Season still in progress.

Complete Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points
2008 PR1 Motorsports GT Pontiac GXP.R Pontiac 6.0 L V8 DAY
 MIA
16 		MEX
 VIR
 LGA
21 		LIM
 WGL
12 		MDO
 DAY
 BAR
 MON
 JER
 MIL
 68th 44
2009 PR1 Motorsports GT Pontiac GXP.R Pontiac 6.0 L V8 DAY
11 		VIR
 JER
 LGA
9 		WGL
 MDO
 DAY
 BAR
 WGL
 MON
 MIL
 MIA
 51st 42
2010 Corsa Team PR1 GT BMW M6 BMW 5.0 L V10 DAY
11 		MIA
 BAR
 VIR
 LIM
 WGL
 MDO
 DAY
 JER
 WGL
 MON
 MIL
 72nd 20

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
2021 WIN Autosport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
5† 		SEB
4 		WGL
1 		WGL
 ELK
 LGA
 PET
3 		6th 1032
2023 AWA LMP3 Duqueine D-08 Nissan VK56DE 5.6L V8 DAY
1† 		NC† 0†
Turner Motorsport GTD BMW M4 GT3 BMW S58B30T0 3.0 L Twin Turbo I6 SEB
 LBH
 MON
 WGL
 MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 IMS
 PET
7 		52nd 268
2024 AWA GTD Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Chevrolet LT6 5.5 L V8 DAY
18 		SEB
22 		LBH
 LGA
 WGL
 MOS
 ELK
 VIR
 IMS
 PET
 29th* 251*

† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship.

† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP3 Championship.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2022 United States WeatherTech Racing France Julien Andlauer
United States Cooper MacNeil 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am 		343 35th 2nd

Complete Porsche Carrera Cup North America results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2023 Nolasport SEB
1
10 		SEB
2
9 		LBH
1
7 		LBH
2
10 		MIA
1
28 		MIA
2
15 		WGL
1
 WGL
2
 ELK
1
10 		ELK
2
2 		IMS
1
5 		IMS
2
7 		LGA
1
8 		LGA
2
18 		AUS
1
8 		AUS
2
27 		10th 92

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Q&A with Thomas Merrill: Local racer makes much-anticipated return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca next month". WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. March 10, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Thomas Merrill Motorsports". Thomas Merrill Motorsports. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Faries, Dave (May 4, 2023). "Trans Am champion Thomas Merrill of Salinas is racking up victories in other forms of racing". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "New Challenges Face the Pacific F2000 Racers". AutoRacing1. July 10, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "2007-Final-Standings.pdf" (PDF). Pacific F2000. October 24, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "Barrett to Run Pontiac GXP.R in Grand-Am". AutoRacing1. March 24, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Ryce, Walter (May 15, 2008). "The Festival of Speed puts a premium on skill and teamwork". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "Watkins Glen: PR1 Motorsports race report". Motorsport.com. June 9, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Skip Barber alumni, instructors shine at Rolex 24 at Daytona". Skip Barber Racing School. January 26, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "Merrill claims first Trans Am win at Fontana". Racer. June 9, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "2018 Trans Am West Coast Points Standings After COTA.xlsx" (PDF). Trans-Am Series. November 4, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  12. ^ "Skip Barber instructor Thomas Merrill takes Trans Am checkered flag". Skip Barber Racing School. May 7, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "Merrill, Mustangs dominate Lime Rock Trans Am TA2 feature". Racer. May 25, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Merrill victorious in Daytona TA2 thriller". Racer. November 16, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "Miller inherits VIR TA2 victory". Racer. September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "2019 Trans Am Championship by Pirelli Final Points Standings (After Daytona)1.pdf" (PDF). Trans-Am Series. November 19, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  17. ^ IMSA Wire Service (January 4, 2020). "Forty7 Norma Wins Daytona Season Opener". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  18. ^ IMSA Wire Service (October 16, 2020). "Rao, Bell Win Road Atlanta Season Finale to Clinch Title". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "MCR readies five-prong assault on the 2020 TA2 championship". Racer. February 24, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "Merril Masters Mid-Ohio with Trans Am TA2® Win". Sunday Group Management. June 28, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  21. ^ "2020 Final Trans Am by Pirelli Championship Points Standings.pdf" (PDF). Trans-Am Series. November 30, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "Last Lap Thriller as Merrill Wins Trans Am TA2®". Sunday Group Management. February 21, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "2021 Trans Am Points Standings - Final1.pdf" (PDF). Trans-Am Series. November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  24. ^ Dagys, John (January 7, 2021). "Nunez Lands Full Season LMP2 Drive". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023. Thomas Merrill will complete the team's lineup for the Michelin Endurance Cup races...
  25. ^ Dagys, John (June 27, 2021). "Mazda Stretches Fuel to 6H Watkins Glen Win". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  26. ^ Dagys, John (October 7, 2021). "Keating, Smithson, Merrill Complete DXDT Lineups for Indy". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  27. ^ Sinclair, Adam (May 29, 2022). "Thomas Merrill Perfects the Art of Racing in the Rain at Lime Rock Park". Speedway Digest. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  28. ^ "Merrill goes two-in-a-row in TA2 at Mid-Ohio". Racer. June 26, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  29. ^ "Trans Am 2022: Thomas Merrill wins first TA2 championship with 11th-hour triumph at COTA". Racer. December 29, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  30. ^ Faries, Dave (April 21, 2022). "Thomas Merrill has raced all kinds of cars, but he's at home with the fury – and sound – of Trans Am". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  31. ^ Pryson, Mike (June 2, 2023). "Trans Am Series Starting To Feel Like The Good Old Days". Autoweek. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  32. ^ Goodwin, Graham (May 26, 2022). "Thomas Merrill Added To WeatherTech Racing Le Mans Line-Up". dailysportscar. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  33. ^ "Thomas Merrill Joins Jr III Racing at Mid-Ohio". Jr III Racing. May 13, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  34. ^ Goodwin, Graham (December 24, 2022). "AWA Confirm Two-Car IMSA LMP3 Entry". dailysportscar. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  35. ^ Goodwin, Graham (January 29, 2023). "2023 Rolex 24: Post-Race Notebook". dailysportscar. Retrieved September 2, 2023. In the end the #17 AWA Duquiene D08 as the only car not to suffer a significant delay, Wayne Boyd coming home to take the win and claim the watch with Nico Varrone, Anthony Mantellaand Thomas Merrill.
  36. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (March 10, 2023). "Jefferies, Merrill Testing for NorthWest AMR at Prologue". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  37. ^ Haueter, David (February 20, 2023). "Walkenhorst Motorsport Wins Asian Le Mans Series Championship!". BimmerLife. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  38. ^ Dagys, John (March 6, 2023). "Clarke, Merrill Confirmed in Two-Car Nolasport Effort". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  39. ^ Staff Report (May 27, 2023). "Merrill goes back-to-back at Lime Rock". Speed Sport. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  40. ^ Dagys, John (July 29, 2023). "Dickinson Sweeps Road America Weekend". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 2, 2023. Dickinson took his No. 53 Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car to a 6.372-second win over the No. 47 Nolasport entry of Thomas Merrill...
  41. ^ "Thomas Annunziata Wins First-Career TA2 Race, Brent Crews Crowned TA2 Champion at COTA". Trans-Am Series. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  42. ^ James, Richard S. (November 13, 2023). "Kern, Merrill and Eastwood in at AWA for IMSA endurance rounds". Racer. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Trans-Am Series West Coast Championship
TA2 Champion
2018 		Succeeded by
Brad McAllister
Preceded by Trans-Am Series
TA2 Champion
2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Asian Le Mans Series
GT Champion
2023
With: Nicky Catsburg & Chandler Hull 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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