Nitro Rallycross has redefined racing with its huge jumps and intense action, and Friday’s Supercar competition did not disappoint. 2019 Nitro RX winner Timmy Hansen (SWE) set the table during Open Qualifying, taking first place to earn the top seed in Nitro RX’s new Battle Bracket round.

In this one-on-one tournament, the Supercar lineup faced off head to head with pole position in Day 2’s first qualifying heat on the line. The field narrowed in a hard-fought contest which saw Timmy Hansen’s car get taken out. Rallycross legend Scott Speed (USA) then emerged to take on motorsports icon Travis Pastrana (USA) in an all-Subaru final, with Speed ultimately taking the win.

For Scott, the victory was about much more than race positioning: A hard landing during Nitro RX’s 2019 event left him with a fractured vertebra and sidelined him for over a year. “I just tried to compartmentalize it and drive well,” Speed explained. “It’s my first race back in competition. It means a lot to come back with the win [and] we’re starting the right direction for the weekend.”

Pastrana said, “As much as I wanted to win, I’m so psyched for Scott. He’s got the best reaction time of anyone in NASCAR, the best reaction time of anyone that Red Bull’s tested, and definitely the best reaction time on the Subaru team. I’ve learned so much from him. It’s great to see him back!” Pastrana added, “The battles are really awesome. New formats like this, that’s another reason why the racing is going to be so exciting in Nitro Rallycross.”

SuperCar Battle Bracket Final:

The NRX NEXT class also debuted Friday, providing an opportunity for a new generation of drivers to shine among Rallycross’ elite. Casper Jansson (SWE) earned the first NRX Next gold medal with a commanding win over Martin Enlund (SWE) and Lane Vacala (USA) who finished in second and third, respectively in the Day One final.

Jansson said afterwards, “This has been amazing. It’s my first race in America. I have one win now and hopefully I can build on that.”

NRX Next Final (Round One):

Nitro Rallycross offered Utah motorsports enthusiasts even more four-wheel thrills. The day kicked off with the opening heat in a Sierra Cars competition. These agile, single-seat sport UTVs more than held their own on Nitro Rallycross’ punishing track. Then, following an exciting first day of racing, fans had an opportunity to take part in a Supercar Autograph session with Nitro Rallycross’ star-studded roster.

The action-packed Nitro RX championship continues tomorrow at Utah Motorsports Campus. The full Supercar roster will be back to vie for the final, and look out for the Round Two NRX Next final as well as more Sierra Car action. Doors will open at 12 PM local time. Check out the full schedule here.

The inaugural series features 10 teams across seven car manufacturers – Audi, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, MINI, Peugeot and Subaru. A total of 21 drivers from five countries will continue to compete for the 2021 Nitro Rallycross crown at Utah Motorsports Campus tomorrow and then through four more stops across the United States this year.

Tickets for Nitro Rallycross can be found at https://www.nitrorallycross.com/calendar

2021 NITRO RALLYCROSS SCHEDULE
Sept. 24-25 // Utah Motorsports Campus // Salt Lake City, Utah
Oct. 2-3 // ERX Motor Park // Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov. 13-14 // Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park // Phoenix, Arizona
Nov. 20-21 // Glen Helen Raceway // Southern California
Dec. 4-5 // The Firm // North Florida

Text: Greg Terlizzi