GRC: Foust sweeps Phoenix opener

Tanner Foust extended his Red Bull Global Rallycross career win record by taking Sunday's Red Bull GRC final in Phoenix. Foust, who also won Saturday's main event, took the ninth victory of his Red Bull GRC career over Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross teammate Scott Speed.

"It's going to be a great season – obviously it's a great way to start the season for Volkswagen," the two-time Supercar champion said. "But different cars have different skills on different tracks, so it's going to be a mix-up. A lot of the new cars out there are extremely fast, and it's going to be a great season!"

As with Saturday, the Beetles were dominant in the preliminary rounds, with both Foust and Speed sweeping their respective heats and semifinals. Brian Deegan, coming off a third place finish in Saturday's main event, won the last chance qualifier but only made his way up to sixth in the main event. In the final, Foust beat Speed in a drag race off the line and never looked back with a dominant performance.

New manufacturer Honda took the first podium of its foray into rallycross in only its second race, as Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE driver Sebastian Eriksson placed third. Eriksson, last year's runner-up, held off Saturday runner-up Patrik Sandell in a thrilling battle that lasted for the entire 10-lap final.

The Red Bull GRC season will resume in two weeks at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas.

RESULTS:

1. Tanner Foust, #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
2. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
3. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Civic Coupe
4. Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST
5. Steve Arpin, #00 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
6. Brian Deegan, #38 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
7. Austin Dyne, #14 AD Racing Ford Fiesta ST
8. Jeff Ward, #07 SH Rallycross/DRR Ford Fiesta ST
9. Rhys Millen, #67 Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster
10. Joni Wiman, #31 Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Civic Coupe
11. Sebastian Saavedra, #77 AD Racing Ford Fiesta