Photo: US F4
Hunter Yeany secured the United States Formula 4 title at Homestead-Miami Speedway, as Jose Blanco-Chock took a double win.
The temperature may have been rising ahead of qualifying, but a number of drivers chose to delay their runs in order to let the track dry further after significant rain. Five drivers were in contention for pole, but ultimately it was Spike Kohlbecker who took the top spot ahead of Nicholas Christodoulou and Yeany.
The first race of the weekend was subject to delays due to the rain, and due to drainage issues at Turn 6 was then cancelled but then reinstated on the Saturday schedule.
But as it got underway, the rain returned. Kohlbecker led the early laps from Yeany, with Blanco-Chock down in sixth.
The rain soon fell harder and Nicholas Rivers skidded off track to cause a full course yellow.
On the restart Yeany had a sideways moment after hitting a puddle at Turn 1, but held on. Dylan Tavella took second place and team-mate Blanco-Chock was soon past Kohlbecker for third.
Blanco-Chock charged in pursuit of Yeany and made his way past as Yeany had another moment, this time at Turn 2. A second FCY brought the race to a close due to lightning.
Race two took place in dry conditions with Blanco-Chock once again leading Yeany and Kohlbecker. A FCY became a red flag though after Rodrigo Gutierrez and Rivers came together.
On the restart Yeany took the lead into Turn 1, but Blanco-Chock was back in front before the end of the lap. Further back Kohlbecker diced with Erik Evans and Tavella for third place.
The race ended under FCY once again, which eliminated Blanco-Chock’s four-second lead over Yeany, who sealed the title with second place. Kohlbecker held off Evans for third.
Yeany led the way in the final race, but Blanco-Chock was on his tail when a FCY yet again led to a red flag.
On the restart Blanco-Chock grabbed the lead from Yeany, but the two clashed and Blanco-Chock was sent off track.
Yeany soon came under pressure from Evans, but there were more FCY for debris. Blanco-Chock meanwhile was charging and in the closing laps took third from Christodoulou.
Results round-up
Race 1 (13 laps)
1 Jose Blanco Chock Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport 25m26.209s
2 Hunter Yeany Velocity Racing Development +0.739s
3 Dylan Tavella Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +1.124s
4 Spike Kohlbecker Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +2.283s
5 Nico Christodoulou DEForce Racing +4.370s
6 Nick Persing Velocity Racing Development +5.146s
7 Erik Evans Velocity Racing Development +5.504s
8 Thomas Nepveu DEForce Racing +6.048s
9 Rodrigo Gutierrez DC Autosport +6.425s
10 Josh Sarchet DC Autosport +7.351s
Pole: Kohlbecker, 1m34.917s
Fastest lap: Blanco-Chock, 1m36.307s
Race 2 (18 laps)
1 Blanco-Chock 30m28.209s
2 Yeany +1.312s
3 Kohlbecker +1.688s
4 Evans +2.058s
5 Christodoulou +2.736s
6 Nepveu +3.598s
7 Tavella +3.708s
8 Sarchet +3.938s
9 William Myers Group-A Racing +5.408s
10 Jake Bonilla Jensen Global Advisors +6.149s
FL: Yeany, 1m30.690s
Race 3 (18 laps)
1 Yeany 30m59.450s
2 Evans +2.649s
3 Blanco-Chock +3.087s
4 Christodoulou +5.038s
5 Cade McKee Iron Rock Motorsports +5.891s
6 Kohlbecker +6.177s
7 Tavella +8.474s
8 Ronan Murphy Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +9.062s
9 Bonilla +9.284s
10 Hayden Bowlsbey Alliance Racing +10.163s
FL: Yeany, 1m30.692s
Championship standings
1 Yeany 295 2 Blanco-Chock 175 3 Tavella 171 4 Kohlbecker 145 5 McKee 105 6 Evans 74 7 Christodoulou 67 8 Sam Paley 63 9 Nicholas Rivers 60 10 Persing 38