VRD’s Teddy Musella earns maiden USF2000 win

Photo: Gavin Baker Photography

Teddy Musella took his first USF2000 victory in the second race of the weekend at Road America. 

The Velocity Racing Development driver held off Evan Cooley and Jack Jeffers in a late race restart to claim the win.

Musella lost second to Cooley off the line, but stayed close behind the Exclusive Autosport driver as Cooley chased team-mate Jeffers. A wide moment for Jeffers on lap three promoted Cooley and Musella to first and second respectively. Before Musella could challenge for the race lead, an incident for Patricio Gonzelez brought out the safety car, bunching the field back together again. 

Musella was the fastest driver on the restart, quickly finding a way past Cooley while Jeffers recovered from fifth to third. Jeffers kept the pressure on the leaders, but his progress through the field was stopped by another safety car after Ayrton Houk came together with another driver. The other driver was able to continue, but Houk was out of the race. 

Racing resumed with just two laps remaining. The top three were immediately side-by-side on the restart, but a wide moment for Jeffers sent him tumbling down the order. It was now just Musella and Cooley disputing the lead. The pair initially had a small gap back to Harley Keeble in third, but Keeble quickly closed the gap, bringing Caleb Gafrarar with him.

There was a train of four cars at the front of the order on the final lap, but Musella held on to take the victory.

Cooley claimed second, his best finish of the season, while Keeble took his first podium finish in just his second USF2000 and fourth in single-seaters.

There was a small gap back to G3 Argyros, who led a small train of his own on the final lap. Anthony Martella was directly behind him in sixth, ahead of Jeffers, Lucas Fecury and Sebastian Garzon. Eddie Beswick completed the top 10.

After a poor qualifying result, championship leader Thomas Schrage started the race down the order. He made little progress in the race and finished 13th.

Race results (12 laps)