Editors Note: The Trans Am Series will compete at Californias Sonoma Raceway this weekend with race three of its season. Courtesy the SPEED SPORT archives, we look back 40 years at the 1985 Trans Am race run at the track, which was then known as Sears Point Intl Raceway. Heres the story from the Oct. 2, 1985 edition of National Speed Sport News.

SONOMA, Calif. Elliott Forbes-Robinson won his second Bendix Brake Trans-Am race of the season here Sunday (Sept. 29, 1985), in a 100-mile Mercury Capri Fall Classic at Sears Point Intl Raceway.

Forbes-Robinson, who drives the Performance Motorsport Buick Somerset, took the lead 10 laps from the finish and claimed the victory in a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes. He averaged 82.94 mph, despite two caution flag periods that slowed the race for seven of the 40 laps.

The Buick ran super, said Forbes-Robinson, the 1982 Trans-Am Champion. I have followed Willy (T. Ribbs) and Wally (Dallenbach Jr.) around all season, and Im just glad that for once I ended up front of them.

Forbes-Robinson got by Motorcraft Capri driver Ribbs on the 31^st lap and he wasnt passed again, en route to a 2.62-second victory over Ribbs at the checkered flag.

At the beginning, I was holding back a little, said Forbes-Robinson. Willy (Ribbs) was not slowing down, so I finally had to make my move. He had done a good job shutting the door I went into turn 10 really well and was able to get off it well and I got by him.

Ribbs, who has won six Bendix Brake Trans-Am races this season, did his best to hold off the charging Forbes-Robinson, but his efforts were all for naught.

I was saving everything as best I could. I knew Elliott would be quick but I didnt think hed last, Ribbs said. He really came after me and I tried to make it hard to pass. I knew I wasnt going to be able to hold him off the way he was going in and out of corners.

Forbes-Robinson did have a few anxious moments in the races final laps.

My car wouldnt stay in third gear, he said. It was starting to worry me, but I got it across the finish line.

Tom Gloy finished third in his 7-Eieven Mercury Capri. Gloy, the 1984 Trans Am Champion, grabbed third from Paul Miller seven laps from the finish.

It has been a miserable year for us, Gloy. said. We tried and tried to find the right combination early in the year but never could. We finally found it in the last three races.

Miller, the Porsche Turbo Carrera driver, finished fourth, followed by Chris Kneifel in his Motorcraft Capri.

Wally Dallenbach, Jr., who clinched the Bendix Brake Trans-Am Championship at St. Louis, finished 11th, one lap down.

The finish:

1. Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Buick Somerset, 40 laps; 2. Willy T. Ribbs, Mercury Capri. 40; 3. Tom Gloy, Mercury Capri, 40; 4. Paul Miller, Porsche Turbo Carrera, 40; 5. Chris Kneifel, Mercury Capri, 40; 6. Jim Miller, Mercury Capri. 40; 7. Pancho Weaver, Chevrolet Camaro, 40; 8. John Brandt Jr., Chevrolet Camaro, 40; 9. Larry Park. Chevrolet Corvette, 39, accident; 10. Frank Emmett, Pontiac Trans-Am, 39; II. Wally Dallenbach Jr., Mercury Capri, 39; 12. Brent Regan, Porsche 911, 39; 13. Rich Sloma, Chevrolet Corvette, 39; 14. Keith Lowande, Chevrolet Camaro, 39; 15. Buzz Dyer, Pontiac Firebird, 39; 16. Rob McFarlin, Pontiac Trans-Am, 38; 17. Les Lindley, Chevrolet Camaro, 38; 18. Rick Stark. Chevrolet Corvette, 37; 19. Walter Benson, Chevrolet Camaro, 36; 20. Jim Derhaag, Pontiac TransAm, 35, accident; 21. Ken Yeo, Chevrolet Corvette, 30, mechanical; 22. Bob Hagestad. Porsche 924 Turbo, 30, engine; 23. Andy Porterfield, Chevrolet Camaro. 28. mechanical; 24. Vic Manuclli, Mercury Capri, 28, oil leak; 25. Bob Zulkowski, Porsche 911, 27; 26. Casey Mollett, Mercury Capri, 26, wheel; 27. John Schneider. Porsche 924 Turbo, 24, gear box; 28. Bruce Jenner, Pontiac Trans-Am, 23; 29. Roberi Kahn, Chevrolet Camaro, 18, crash; 30. Bill Doyle, Pontiac TransAm, 13, rear end; 31. Jerry Brassfield, Chevrolet Corvette. 7, crash; 32. Bob Brewer, Chevrolet Camaro, 0, fuel pickup; 33. Jerry Miller, Buick Century, 0, engine; 34, Mark Pie! s ticker, Chevrolet Camaro, 0, oil seal.

Watch the April 26-27 Trans Am Series races from Sonoma Raceway LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1.