Escorpioni wins USF Pro 2000’s Arlington opener after Jeffers spins

Photo: Gavin Baker Photography

Leonardo Escorpioni won the season-opening USF Pro 2000 race on the new Arlington street circuit after a late spin for leader Jack Jeffers.

The majority of the race’s green flag action had been led by Jeffers, but that ended when he spun two minutes before the race clock hit zero.

His spin led to him touching the wall, a caution was thrown and the race ended behind the pace car.

Escorpioni, who was less than a second behind Jeffers when he spun, inherited the lead and the victory just two laps later.

Jeffers had started from pole position, with Escorpioni alongside. He managed to hold onto the lead through the opening lap.

Further back, Thomas Schrage and Sebastian Manson hit the barriers in separate incidents, causing the first caution period of the day. Just before the yellow flags were thrown, Escorpioni managed to get ahead of Jeffers.

On the restart, Jeffers was immediately on the attack, attempting a move down the inside through turn four. Escorpioni held on through the next corner, but Jeffers managed to get his nose ahead and was through.

The pair stayed close through the rest of the race, which was shortened due to an incident in an earlier race on the schedule. Escorpioni was never close enough to challenge for the lead, though, and was 0.7706 seconds behind when Jeffers’ race came to an end.

Up until that point, the duo had had a comfortable lead over Frankie Mossman in third. He made a strong start to get into the podium positions before racing was neutralised. After Jeffers reclaimed the lead, Mossman tried to challenge Escorpioni for second but could not find a way through. He spent most of the race alone in third, promoted to second by Jeffers’ spin.

Behind him, Teddy Musella and Michael Costello battled for fourth. Costello managed to come through to take the position before Musella spun at turn 12. Musella stayed clear of the barrier and continued at the back of the pack.

Costello took the chequered flag third ahead of Andres Cardenas and Christian Cameron.

Brady Golan and Anthony Martella had impressive drives up through the order. Golan started 15th while Martella was further back in 20th after a difficult qualifying session. They came through to finish sixth and seventh respectively.

Mac Clark, who came third in the championship last year, had his race end on the final lap so was classified in 17th.

Race results (15 laps)