Scott Speed started in the best way possible his new journey with Subaru Rally Team USA in the Americas Rallycross Championship, overcoming initial issues to achieve the first win of the 2019 season at the Keyhole section of the Mid-Ohio circuit.
Lots of action in the qualifying sort of compensated for the low grid numbers, as only seven supercars showed up. Even though there were some changes, the top two was the same from 2018, with Tanner Foust leading Scott Speed, though Steve Arpin could be put as a contender too.
Subaru Rally Team USA had a lot of work on Speed’s WRX STi, as the rear was obliterated because of the crash, with the suspension being in the worst state. According to Speed, the Subaru crew had to work until midnight to get his car straight for the Sunday action.
Semifinal 1 had Chris Atkinson protecting the lead with a push of Travis Pecoy, which kept Tanner Foust in second place. Foust’s hopes for a win would lie into a perfect Joker lap, but Atkinson timed it well and was wilder in his drive, and this secured his win. Foust still had a hard time holding second place, as Pecoy passed him but he took it back with a clever maneuver in the final lap, leaving Pecoy on the outside line with nowhere to go.
On Semifinal 2 the Subarus tried to take control but only Scott Speed remained in front, with a determined Scott Arpin coming behind him. Arpin didn’t take any risks on Speed, so the order from the first lap remained until the finish.
On the Final the Subarus tried a road block but Atkinson suffered as he spun on Turn 2, and the chaos behind Atko was a huge benefit to Speed as he kept the lead, with Arpin and Pecoy having their fight for second.
Thanks to lack of speed from Pecoy and a five second penalty for Arpin, Speed was at ease in front, so it was only a matter of bringing it to the finish line, with Pecoy coming in second and Arpin completing the podium.
Speed leads the standings with 29 points against 24 from Foust and 22 from Arpin. The next ARX event will be a debut also, as the Gateway Motorsports Park will have more than its oval track being used on July 13th and 14th, with this being the only double header event of the year.
PHOTO - Subaru Rally Team USA
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