Argyros heads Pabst 1-2 in Portland USF Pro 2000

G3 Argyros sped to his third USF Pro 2000 win of the season in Friday afternoon’s action packed first of two races at Portland International Raceway. Pabst Racing’s Argyros grasped the lead at the first turn after lining up third on the grid and was never headed during the 30-lap race.

New teammate Colin Aitken chased Argyros home in second while 16-year-old Christian Cameron finally profited from the misfortune of others to claim a first podium finish for TJ Speed Motorsports.

“I ran good in quali and I knew that we've had the car all week. I just had the confidence and in [Turn] One it was exactly as we drew it out at Pabst," said Argyros. "We knew he was going to outbrake himself and I just gave him a ton of pressure and he cracked. I'd like to thank the entire Pabst racing crew first and foremost but secondly my brand new teammate Colin Aitken for putting on a show. At the end of the day we're such a family organization that to have a new kid come on and do so well his first race is a testament to how good our cars are and how amazing of a program we have.”

USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire points leader Leonardo Escorpioni equaled his primary championship rival Jack Jeffers’ tally of four Continental Tire Pole Awards after comfortably outpacing the field in qualifying earlier today for Turn 3 Motorsport. Jeffers edged Argyros for second on the grid with Aitken lining up fourth.

As with the earlier USF2000 event – not to mention a host of other races at Portland – there was drama at the tight first chicane. Argyros managed to squeeze through into the lead after also running a little wide through the initial right-hand turn, while the unfortunate Jeffers (Exclusive Autosport) was clattered from behind by Sebastian Manson, who had lined up sixth for Turn 3 Motorsport.

As Jeffers retired to the pits with significant damage to his Exclusive Autosport Tatuus, Manson rejoined a lap down after his team replaced the car’s front wing.

Several other contenders also lost time at the first corner, yet the race continued under green-flag conditions. Argyros and Aitken looked to be firmly in control at the front of the field, especially with overtaking at a premium on the 1.964-mile road course, although Andres Cardenas remained in their wheel tracks for JHDD powered by ECR. 

Frankie Mossman (VRD Racing), Cameron and Teddy Musella (VRD Racing) also were in contention until Musella’s car ground to a halt out on the track with an electrical glitch. Cue to the first full-course caution with half of the 30-lap race in the books.

VRD teammate Mossman also fell by the wayside due to a suspension breakage after 22 laps which occasioned another brief caution period.

The cautions seemed to play into the hands of Escorpioni, who had worked his way impressively from 12th to fifth. He swept past Cameron for fourth at the restart, with five laps remaining, only to collide with Cardenas in Turn 7 while making a pass for third. The incident allowed Cameron back through into third for a well deserved maiden podium result for the youngest driver in the field.

Escorpioni crossed the line in fourth, but was later assessed a 30-second penalty for avoidable contact which relegated him to eighth in the final results. Teammate Tyke Durst was the primary beneficiary, elevated to a career-best fourth ahead of yet another Turn 3 Motorsport entry driven by Brady Golan.

Durst also earned the Tilton Hard Charger Award, while Augie Pabst secured his fourth PFC Award as the winning team owner. 

Race 2 will see a green flag Saturday at 2:30pm local time.