ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Jack Jeffers seemed to be virtually in a class of his own today during the first of three races that will comprise the USF Pro Championships Grand Prix of Road America.
The 20-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, was fastest in both test sessions yesterday and comfortably quicker than his USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire rivals today in both practice and qualifying aboard his familiar No. 92 Exclusive Autosport entry.
Jeffers had to work a little harder in the race but still bounced back from a disappointing outing on the Milwaukee Mile oval last month to secure his fourth victory of the season and extend his championship lead to 28 points with just two races remaining tomorrow.
Thomas Schrage, from Bethel, Ohio, maintained his fine recent form by finishing second for TJ Speed Motorsports, while Jeffers’ title rival, Florida-based Brazilian Leonardo Escorpioni, profited from a blocking penalty assessed on Teddy Musella (VRD Racing), from Orlando, Fla., to record another podium finish.
Jeffers laid down a marker in qualifying to claim his fifth Continental Tire Pole Award, more than a half-second clear of Schrage.
He immediately romped clear at the start, only for the caution flags to wave midway around the second lap after Peru’s Andres Cardenas (JHDD powered by ECR) slid off the road and into the barriers at Turn Three.
After qualifying third, Escorpioni scorched past Schrage for second on the opening lap, but at the restart immediately fell victim to the huge draft and was repassed by the flying Ohioan on the run toward Turn One.
Jeffers remained out in front, although Schrage kept the pressure firmly on until the caution flags waved again with 11 of 15 laps in the books when Anthony Martella, from Woodbridge, Ont., Canada, slid off at the exit of Turn Eight.
The race resumed with a minimal delay, after which Jeffers showed his true colors and left Schrage firmly in his mirrors.
Musella took advantage of the draft at the restart to move ahead of Escorpioni for third, only to be assessed a five-second penalty by the race stewards for blocking which relegated him to a disappointing ninth in the final results.
Frankie Mossman, from Newport Beach, Calif., overcame a difficult qualifying session, which left him 14th on the grid, to rise as high as fifth at the finish, only to also pick up a five-second penalty for blocking on the final lap.
Fellow Newport Beach resident G3 Argyros therefore inherited the place for Pabst Racing, while New Zealander Sebastian Manson bounced back from an incident on the opening lap, which dropped him to a distant last, to charge through to fifth for Turn 3 Motorsport.
