Denmark tops qualifying at USF2000 decider

Photo: Gavin Baker Photography

Jace Denmark claimed pole position for the first race of the USF2000 championship decider in Portland.

The Pabst Racing driver was less than a tenth of a second quicker than Nikita Johnson but comfortably ahead of his title rivals.

Championship leader Myles Rowe led the way early on and was consistently at the sharp end of the field. Rowe hit the top of the order early on, but slipped backwards after improvements for Denmark, Johnson and Thomas Nepveu.

Rowe couldn’t improve in the final minutes of the session and finished qualifying fourth, 0.1065s off the time set by team-mate Denmark, who is now 23 points away from the lead after gaining one point for pole.

Second in the championship, Michael d’Orlando had a more difficult qualifying session. After hitting P2 early on, he slipped back down the order. He continued to find improvements, but couldn’t match the times his title rivals were settling and qualified ninth, ahead of Dylan Christie.

Jagger Jones also had a difficult session. He only managed nine laps, compared to the 14 laps completed by most of the field, and qualified P14.

Team-mate Nicky Hays was the quickest Cape Motorsport driver, placing fifth overall ahead of Mac Clark.

Jacob Douglas improved on is final lap of the session to go seventh, ahead of Exclusive Autosport team-mate Billy Frazer.

Qualifying result