Pabst Racing Portland GP Race Report
No. 22 Mazda Racing /Pabst Racing – Hunter McElrea
Start: 1st/1st
Finish: 1st/1st
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 25/25, 25/25
Laps Led: 25
Points Position: 1st (+6)
Entering the weekend, Hunter McElrea was second in points attempting to position himself for a Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship with one event left after Portland. McElrea asserted himself as the dominant car and title contender after a wire-to-wire weekend of leading every session at the track start to finish. After starting on the pole on Saturday, McElrea lead every lap to a convincing victory. On Sunday, he followed it up with another impressive win in the class. When the final checkered flag waved in Portland, McElrea had taken a six point lead in the championship standings over Braden Eves with only WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca left on the schedule.
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“It’s been pretty amazing to say the least; to win here (In Portland) is extremely difficult; there are so many talented drivers and teams. To be P1 in every session has been a dream,” said McElrea “Got the points lead going into the final round but that doesn’t really mean anything I’m going to have the same mindset going into Laguna Seca. Massive thanks to Pabst Racing, Cooper Tires, and all my family and friends.”
No. 23 Mazda Racing/ Pabst Racing – Colin Kaminsky
Start: 4th/4th
Finish: 4th/4th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 25/25
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 4th (-179 pts)
Kaminsky like his teammate McElrea didn’t shuffle his order on the grid all weekend, but showed enough pace to hold his 4th place starting positions through qualifying and both Saturday and Sunday races. With good results in both events, Kaminsky sits 4th in the USF2000 standings 4 points back from Darren Keane for 3rd going into the season finale.
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"Wrapping up my weekend at Portland Raceway; had 2 races one yesterday, one today. Started there and finished there and never deviated from 4th all weekend but we made good points for Laguna Seca in a few weeks," said Kaminsky.
No. 24 Mazda Racing/Pabst Racing –Bruna Tomaselli
Start: 12th/12th
Finish: 9th/9th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 25/25
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 8th (-161)
Bruna worked her way into the top 10 in both races at Portland Raceway this weekend after starting 12th. The Brazilian driver used patience and solid pace to work her way to P9 results both days while solidifying a top ten points position in the championship with one race to go in the 2019 USF 2000 campaign. With the momentum of two good results, she looks to finish the season off on a strong note in three weeks.
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"Well, it's a great day. Very happy for Hunter and Team Pabst to get 2 wins here and Portland and take the lead in the points standings; it could have been better for me, but looking forward to Weather Tech Raceway at Laguna Seca later this month and thank you everyone for the support,” said Tomaselli.
No. 21 Mazda Racing/Pabst Racing –Yuven Sundaramoorthy
Start: 8th/9th
Finish: 15th/14th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 25/25
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 12th (-184)
Yuven Sundaramoorthy battled all weekend but did not quite earn the results he planned on for the weekend after having good qualifying pace to give him top ten qualifying grid positions both days. The 16 year old from Guilderland, New York struggled Saturday and Sunday at the start of the race getting shuffled back in the field and was never able to regain his lost positions. Sundaramoorthy looks to rebound at the finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to earn a top ten points finish this season.
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"Just wrapped up here at Portland Raceway weekend didn't go as we hoped but definitely got a lot of learning experience especially with Hunter McElrea doing amazing sweeping the weekend and getting the team championship points; and that's good going into Laguna Seca which I’m looking forward to,” said Sundaramoorthy