It was a clean sweep for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing this past weekend in the Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Alabama as its drivers claimed victory in both Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda races.
Nico Jamin, in the No. 2 Synova Automotive Eco-Plastics Van Diemen-Mazda claimed the pole for Race 1, and Aaron Telitz, in the No. 3 Rice Lake Weighing Systems Van Diemen-Mazda, started fourth. In Turn 2 on the opening lap, Jamin was hit from behind. The result put Jamin in the gravel trap. After the safety crew was able to retrieve him a lap later, he continued to the finish just one lap down and was able to collect extra points when the No. 82 car went off the track.
Telitz meticulously worked his way up to the front during the 20-lap race. On Lap 18, he moved to second when he passed the No. 22 in Turn 5, and one lap later in the same corner, he passed the No. 17 around the outside to take the top spot, earning him the RePlay XD Move of the Race Award.
In Race 2, thunderstorms delayed the start of the race, but rain would not spoil Jamin’s race. After starting first, he dominated every lap and held up to a seven second lead until two cautions came out and was able to take the checkered flag with a 1.1751-second margin of victory.
The Grand Prix of Alabama Race 1 winner had a solid day. He started fourth and finished fifth in the 18-lap race, and was moved to 4th when the No. 17 was disqualified.
“What a great weekend from Nico and Aaron,” said team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape. “We’re extremely proud of our drivers and our team. Everyone has been working so hard. We look forward to heading to Indianapolis in a couple of weeks.”
Following the first six rounds, Cape drivers sit second and third in the driver point standings. Jamin is second, 11 points back from the leader Jake Eidson (152-141). Telitz is third with 131 points. The team is first in the Team Championship with a commanding 52-point lead.
The team and drivers will next be on track at the Indianapolis Grand Prix Circuit, May 6-9.
In addition to USF2000, it was a great weekend for the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing drivers and alumni. At Barber Motorsports Park, Neil Alberico claimed victory in Pro Mazda, Spencer Pigot took the checkered in both Indy Lights races and Josef Newgarden won the Verizon IndyCar Series race. At Long Beach, Ricky and Jordan Taylor were victorious in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.