Eves Wins in F1600 Series Debut
Wampum, PA – Braden Eves hung tough in his F1600 Championship Series debut, winning the first of three F1600 races at the Keystone Speedfest at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Staying at the front of the pack for the majority of laps for Rice Race Prep, Eves was pushed back to third after contact, and capitalized on last lap fireworks to score the victory after 14 green flag laps.
“I was leading most of the race, and someone tried to go in on me and clipped my rear,” said Eves, a 17-year-old from nearby Columbus, Ohio. “I was off the track but came back on in third, and was trying to click off lap after lap to reel them in. We started battling for the lead toward the end and I was able to make a move in the last corner and take the win. I’m happy with the result; thank you to Rice Race Prep for giving me a great car."
Yuven Sundamoorthy came home second for K-Hill Motorsports, after a last-lap effort to steal the lead on teammate Dario Cangialosi didn’t work out in turn 17.
“I was trying to trade positions the entire race, and got in a little bit of contact at the end. But that is racing but I managed to come out with second place,” said K-Hill’s Sundaramoorthy.
Points leader Cangialosi would finish sixth, while the last lap dramatics promoted pole-sitter Baylor Griffin to third.
“The last few laps were very interesting to say the least,” Griffin said, who drives the No. 10 for K-Hill Motorsports.
“There was some great fighting and it was close. We kept it clean and were lucky to come out in third. I got pushed into the marbles into the essess early in the race and wasn’t able to catch up to the front pack. I did what I could and kept my head down,” Griffin added, speaking in victory circle immediately following round 13 of the 21-race season.
Tyler O'Connor and Christan Lall Dass completed the top five, while Scott Rubenzer won in the Masters Class.
F1600 racers will now have plenty of time to reflect on the day's activities before two more 14-lap races scheduled for Sunday at the Keystone Speedfest. The second F1600 race of the weekend is set for 9:35 a.m. Sunday morning, followed by the third and final F1600 race of the event at 3:15 p.m.