ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – G3 Argyros this afternoon came from behind to claim a fine maiden USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire victory in the first of two races that will comprise The Andersen Companies Grand Prix of Road America Presented by Elite Engines. Argyros, from Newport Beach, Calif., triumphed for the locally based Pabst Racing team after a race-long battle with Peruvian polesitter Andres Cardenas for JHDD powered by ECR.

A disappointed Cardenas still captured his career best finish in second as Frankie Mossman, also from Newport Beach, Calif., rounded out the podium for VRD Racing.

Cardenas continued his roller-coaster campaign by turning only the sixth fastest lap time during official practice on Friday morning, then bounding to the top of the charts when it mattered in qualifying to secure the second Continental Tire Pole Award of his rookie season.

Cardenas kept up the good work at the start by maintaining his advantage into Turn One as points leader Jack Jeffers, who started second for Exclusive Autosport, found himself swallowed up by the pack. Jeffers was already back to fifth by Turn One, then was pushed wide also at Turn Three which cost him another few positions.

The race went under caution moments later when Christian Cameron (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Sonoma, Calif., and Teddy Musella (VRD Racing), from Orlando, Fla., also were involved in the same incident. The unfortunate Cameron was out on the spot while Musella rejoined at the tail of the field.

A fine start by Argyros saw him make up one place into second, and he immediately began to pile the pressure on Cardenas when the race went back to green. The Californian took advantage of a slight lip by Cardenas on the exit of Turn 14 on the seventh lap to sweep past into the lead before Turn One. But the yellows were waving again shortly afterward when Turn 3 Motorsport’s Tyke Durst, from Charlotte, N.C. found himself briefly beached in the gravel trap at Turn One.

Cardenas made excellent use of the restart with eight laps in the books, taking advantage of a big draft and then storming around the outside of Argyros to reclaim the lead in Turn One. Impressive.

Cardenas retained his advantage during another brief full-course caution, but with almost three laps remaining, Argyros once again swept past on the main front straightaway to take a lead he never looked like losing.

Jeffers forged his way back through the field after completing the first lap in eighth, and by Lap 11 he was back up into fourth – and chasing hard after Mossman. The VRD man narrowly held on to the final podium position while Jeffers gained some consolation – and an extra championship point – with the fastest lap of the race.

Brazilian teenager Leonardo Escorpioni, from Windermere, Fla., was close behind at the finish for Turn 3 Motorsport with Thomas Schrage (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Bethel, Ohio, and a recovering Musella also in their draft.

Colin Aitken, from Jacksonville Beach, Fla., pocketed the Tilton Hard Charger Award for VRD Racing after rising from 16th on the grid to 11th at the checkered flag.

The PFC Award went to Augie Pabst as the winning car owner.

The weekend will conclude for USF Pro 2000 tomorrow morning with the green set to fly at 8:55 a.m. CDT.

Provisional championship points after six of 18 rounds:

1. Jack Jeffers, 130

2. Michael Costello, 116

3. Leonardo Escorpioni, 114

4. Frankie Mossman, 111

5. G3 Argyros, 102

6. Andres Cardenas, 91

7. Thomas Schrage, 85

8. Brady Golan, 80

9. Teddy Musella, 74

10. Jacob Douglas, 70

G3 Argyros (#18 Positive Beverage/Elephant Cooperation-Pabst Racing Tatuus IP-22): “I knew that we had all the tools to win this race. All weekend we’ve had so much pace and so much potential, and I can’t thank the Pabst team enough. To get my first win with Pabst here at their home track is incredible. Augie’s invited me into his family, and we’ve done so much work, and now it all fell in our lap. I thought we were good and then the yellow came out we had to battle, but I made sure that no matter what, I kept my pedal to the metal and just persevered. It’s a race of attrition here and that’s why I love it. It’s my favorite track.”

Andres Cardenas (#6 Java House/Splenda-JHDD powered by ECR Tatuus IP-22): “It was a very good race and my first podium here this season. Starting from pole, of course, you always want to win, but P2 is a strong result for us still. I hope for many more podiums and, of course, wins. G3 passed me at the right moment when I just ran out of tires at the end. It’s very hard, but for sure we will have a lot more opportunities to win and I’m very happy.”

Frankie Mossman (#77 Ethika/Jaxxon/Ivy Day Spa/Arai Americas-VRD Racing Tatuus IP-22): “The car was really strong, especially in the opening laps. I got really aggressive, but I think I kind of misjudged where the balance was going, and I tried to kind of save the front tires for the end of the race. I probably should have preserved my rears a little bit more. Nothing to be upset about. I could have positioned myself a little bit better on a couple of restarts, but we’ve got one more race tomorrow and then we come back here in September. It’s just a lot of learning and a lot more time to go through the end of the season.”

###

Photos: Gavin Baker Photography