Illinois squad enjoys breakthrough with fourth and third place finishes
MELROSE PARK, ILL. – Junior formula car up-and-comer Sick Tea Racing enjoyed its best results to date this past weekend (August 6-7), earning a place on the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda podium at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. American pilot Timmy Megenbier showcased his ability and the increasing pace of his Illinois squad during the combined American Le Mans Series/IndyCar Series doubleheader, claiming a season-best fourth place finish in Round Seven before going one better in Round Eight, taking home a well deserved third place result and the first-ever podium finish for Sick Tea Racing.
Sick Tea Racing may have been formed in early March just prior to the opening rounds of the USF2000 National Championship, but they have enjoyed steady progression both in and out of the cockpit. Despite coming into the season with a blank vault in terms of setup data, they have remained focused on building their base of knowledge and have been consistent top-eight runners all year. That being said, both the Illinois-based team and its talented driver believed that the Mid-Ohio doubleheader provided the best opportunity yet to truly make their mark. With a rapidly building database and a driver who had tasted victory at Mid-Ohio two years earlier in VW Jetta TDI Cup competition it was certainly a good time to shine.
As planned, Megenbier used the opening two promoter’s day test runs and two official practice sessions to first establish a solid baseline setup before working with his race engineer Don Connor to fine tune the car’s handling for the technical 2.25-mile road course. Getting as high as a sixth during these sessions, and never outside the top-10, the Sick Tea Racing squad was confident entering the lone qualifying run. While Megenbier battled traffic during the timed session, he was still able to post the sixth best lap, earning a row three starting position for Round Seven later in the day.
Typically, the formula car races at Mid-Ohio witness limited opportunities for overtaking due to the track layout and the inherent nature of formula car aerodynamics. Megenbier, however, was not going to let that stop him. Right from the waving of the green flag to start Round Seven, the Caputo Cheese / Rahal Foods backed entry was involved in a spirited multi-car battle for position. Utilizing his previous Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race win experience to full advantage, Megenbier worked his way to the front of the group of cars dicing for position, taking over fourth place. From that point on, the highly regarded competitor steadily built an advantage over his pursuers, ultimately taking the checkered in fourth place. As a result of his passing prowess, Megenbier earned the Tilton Hard Charger Award.
The superb race one result proved to be just part one of a breakout weekend for Sick Tea Racing. Megenbier, saving his best bit of racing for the large IndyCar Series crowd on hand, was a driver worth watching in Round Eight. Quickly separating himself from the battle for fifth through seventh, the Illinois racer repeatedly challenged for third place, going to head-to-head with former Team USA Scholarship driver and USF2000 race winner Spencer Pigot. In the end, Megenbier was not to be denied, finding a way past and subsequently building a multi-car gap on the Andretti Autosport pilot, en route to Sick Tea Racing’s inaugural podium finish.
“We are working very hard and it’s paying off,” stated an enthusiastic Megenbier. “I’m working out at two to three hours a day and really stepping up my workouts. Don and I have been going over data and our set-ups. We’re really just back to basics and just driving the car. I’m so happy to be back in open wheel after three years in sedans. I like both, but open wheel is my first choice. We are just a small team working as hard as we can to be successful and the results are starting to show. We are really looking forward to Road America.”
Sick Tea Racing now looks to build on this success with Rounds Nine and Ten of the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda on August 19-20, at the squad’s home track, Road America. Megenbier has multiple victories at the famed Wisconsin road course and enters the doubleheader with increased confidence, sitting seventh in the title chase.