ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Max Taylor swept his second podium of the weekend in the Elite Engines Grand Prix of Road America double-header. Only this time the VRD Racing driver from Hoboken, N.J. went two steps better to claim his second win of the season in a 20-minute shootout.
Michael Costello of Naples, Fla., notched his first career USF2000 podium with a second-place finish for Jay Howard Driver Development while Joey Brienza of Golden, Colo., also claimed his second podium of the event in third.
The race was originally slotted for Saturday, but severe weather resulted in some schedule reshuffling with the USF2000 field slotted in just after the final event for USF Pro 2000 and before INDY NXT.
Taylor lined up for his second front row start on the scenic 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course – albeit this time from the point after notching his first Continental Tire Pole Award. Saturday’s polesitter Max Garcia of Pabst Racing lined up alongside while Brienza and Costello rounded out the second row.
Taylor held the lead at the opening as a few battles ensued towards the front with Costello displacing both Garcia and Brienza to slot into second by the second tour. Garcia held on to third until an issue in Turn 5 on Lap 5 dropped him to sixth in the front-running pack.
The race remained lean and green with Taylor’s lead just over a half second from Costello, who did attempt a challenge for the lead on Lap 7 and almost looped his car around. Costello recovered and resumed position but any additional attempts for the top step were negated when a caution came out for a car in the gravel at Turn One.
With the clock winding down, the race ended under yellow with Taylor, Costello and Brienza adjourning to the podium.
Race 1 race winner Sam Corry of Pabst Racing had to settle for fourth with Evagoras Papasavvas of Jay Howard Driver Development – rebounding from an issue in Race 1 which forced him from starting – to round out the top five.
With a gain of five positions USF Juniors regular Anthony Martella of Woodbridge, Canada, took home the Tilton Hard Charger Award. Dan Mitchell of VRD earned the PFC Award as the winning team owner.
The USF2000 field will head next to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, for a pivotal triple-header round held in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on July 6-7.
Provisional championship points after 10 of 18 races:
1. Max Garcia, 241
2. Sam Corry, 205
3. Evagoras Papasavvas, 195
4. Max Taylor, 182
5. Joey Brienza, 160
6. Elliot Cox, 146
7. Hudson Schwartz, 121
8. Michael Costello, 118
9. Nicolas Giaffone, 113
10. Ayrton Houk, 113
Max Taylor (#3 PINK ETF/Susan G Komen Foundation-VRD Racing Tatuus USF-22): “It was a really strong race. We started on pole position and I was able to capitalize on the start and get away a bit. I held the lead the entire race and had a little bit of a challenge from Costello. The VRD car kept me going strong. They just did an amazing job and I can’t thank them enough.”
Michael Costello (#8 ProGuard Warranty-Jay Howard Driver Development Tatuus USF-22): “The race went really well for me with my first time on a podium. I wish I could have got the win but I just have to keep working harder for Mid-Ohio. The team did an amazing job. The car felt great all weekend. We’ll just keep pushing for more as we head to Mid-Ohio and hope to get a few wins out of that.”
Joey Brienza (#91 Huntsman Mental Health Foundation/UBS-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus USF-22): “It was a good race. It was the first time in my career that I have been on the podium for all of the races in a weekend and I am really happy about that and I am really happy for the team. They did a great job all weekend giving me a great car. The win is just around the corner. I was telling them that I don’t know how many more podiums we can get without a win. It will come soon and we just need to be patient for it.”