Nitrocross teams have responded to the decision to cancel the remaining rounds of the season, saying that they are “disappointed” by the decision. The series announced on Wednesday that the remaining three events, comprising six rounds in Phoenix, …
Nitrocross teams have responded to the decision to cancel the remaining rounds of the season, saying that they are “disappointed” by the decision.
The series announced on Wednesday that the remaining three events, comprising six rounds in Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas, would all be cancelled with the series being “paused.”
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A statement, released collectively by Group E teams Dreyer & Reinbold JC, Olsbergs MSE, Vermont SportsCar and VMV Racing, as well as NEXT EVO teams Green APU Racing, SET Loenbro, Bak40 Motorsports, and Team Faren, said that all were working on a resolution following the decision to scrub the remainder of the current season.
“The Nitrocross Team Principals Association (NTPA) is disappointed by Thrill One’s recent decision to pause the Nitrocross series,” the statement read. “This decision has significant impacts on our teams, their staff, drivers, and the fans who have passionately supported Nitrocross.
“The NTPA, representing a united coalition of Group E and NEXT EVO team owners, is committed to finding a resolution that honors the investments made in the series. We remain open to discussions with Thrill One to ensure a sustainable and successful future for all involved.”
RACER understands the decision to halt the season comes amid changes at Nitrocross’ parent company, Thrill One, with a view to securing the championship’s long-term viability.
A statement provided to RACER by Nitrocross on Wednesday read: “We believe deeply in the potential of Nitrocross to lead motorsports into the next generation and are proud of the legacy it has already established. However, we have determined that a new vision is required for the brand’s long-term future and have made the difficult decision to pause the current 2024-25 season, which includes the upcoming race weekends scheduled for Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas.”
At present, two doubleheader events at Richmond Raceway and Utah Motorsports Campus have been completed from the current season. DRR JC’s Robin Larsson and Andreas Bakkerud, as well as OMSE driver Oliver Eriksson have shared the wins in the top Group E class.
Nitrocross has announced that the remaining three events of its 2024-25 season will not go ahead after the series was put on an indefinite “pause.” RACER sources have indicated a recent management change at the parent company, Thrill One, has led to …
Nitrocross has announced that the remaining three events of its 2024-25 season will not go ahead after the series was put on an indefinite “pause.”
RACER sources have indicated a recent management change at the parent company, Thrill One, has led to the series’ internal workings being re-evaluated in order to ensure its viability in the long run.
The series, in its fourth as a full-multi-event championship after initially debuting as a part of the Nitro World Games action sports competition in 2018, has already taken in doubleheader stops at Richmond Raceway and Utah Motorsports Campus in September and October respectively. It was set to continue at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Ariz., in November before going to Miami Marine Stadium in January and the Las Vegas Strip at the start of March.
In a statement provided to RACER by Nitrocross, the series suggested that plans were already in the works to secure the long-term future of the property, which was pioneered by action sports legend Travis Pastrana.
“We believe deeply in the potential of Nitrocross to lead motorsports into the next generation and are proud of the legacy it has already established,” the statement read. “However, we have determined that a new vision is required for the brand’s long-term future and have made the difficult decision to pause the current 2024-25 season, which includes the upcoming race weekends scheduled for Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas.
“Any further news on the 2024-2025 season will be communicated at the appropriate time. Our commitment to delivering a groundbreaking, innovative motorsports experience remains unwavering and we look forward to sharing new updates about the brand and the sport soon.”
At the time of the season’s stoppage, Dreyer & Reinbold JC’s Robin Larsson – champion of the last two seasons in the top-level Group E class – leads the points standings after winning the opening race of the season and taking back-to-back second places in Utah.
Olsbergs MSE’s Oliver Eriksson, winner of the second race of the season, lies second, with Andreas Bakkerud, also of DRR JC – who won both Finals in Utah, ending a winless streak stretching back to the 2022-23 season – in third.
The NEXT EVO category, which introduced the new sustainably-fueled FC2 car this season, is headed by Mitchell De Jong, ahead of Tommi Hallman, with the pair splitting the four round wins in the category so far. The series also includes divisions for Can-Am Side-by-Sides and Class 11 Volkswagen Beetles, originally seen in the SCORE off-road series.
As well as a solid cast of European and American off-road talent, the series has also attracted star names in the form of NASCAR Cup Series champions Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott, 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, five-time World Rally winner Kris Meeke, six-time World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson, Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric, double DTM champion and World RX race winner Timo Scheider, IndyCar veteran Conor Daly, and three-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Matt Crafton.
The current season also welcomed high-profile backers in the form of Monster Energy, Busch Light and Dodge.
Hailie Deegan’s next turn in motor racing will take place in the NTT IndyCar Series’ top development category with HMD Motorsports, where the young veteran of off-road and stock car racing will tackle a full season of Indy NXT. The 23-year-old …
Hailie Deegan’s next turn in motor racing will take place in the NTT IndyCar Series’ top development category with HMD Motorsports, where the young veteran of off-road and stock car racing will tackle a full season of Indy NXT.
The 23-year-old daughter of action sports legend Brian Deegan will make her open-wheel debut later this week on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during the annual Chris Griffis Test on October 18.
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“I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with a proven program in HMD Motorsports,” Deegan said. “I have much to learn, but I am ready to go. The team brings a wealth of knowledge for me to pull from, and I look forward to soaking up as much of that as possible before my race debut next March in St. Petersburg.”
Deegan joins championship front-runner Caio Collet, HMD newcomer Bryce Aron, Josh Pierson, and Tommy Smith among the confirmed HMD drivers for 2025.
“Hailie, and especially the Deegan name, are huge in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports family,” said team president Mike Maurini. “Hailie has already been out to the shop and is taking the move to open-wheel racing seriously. She is looking for a place in the Indianapolis area to be immersed with the team and is already working with her engineer. We want to make sure she and all the other HMD Motorsports drivers are as ready as possible for every on-track session.”
Deegan’s surprise Indy NXT move comes after she recently returned to her off-road roots in Nitrocross. Qnigan/Nitrocross
Deegan’s move to open-wheel racing comes after she recently appeared in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, where she hinted at today’s announcement, saying, “We’re working on stuff, just can’t say a whole lot right now.”
In Utah she competed against her father’s rival Travis Pastrana, as well as Kira and Mika Block, children of the late Ken Block.
“It’s definitely cool,” Deegan told RACER of her brief return to off-road racing. “The Block kids are racing and they’re all great kids. We’re all here having fun, having a blast, and it’s a great time.
“It’s been really cool because I like racing UTVs. Can-Ams are great fun to drive, I drive them all the time at my house, so I haven’t really got away from dirt, but I’d say (I have) the racing side, so it was good to be back.”
Deegan finished the first day of racing in Utah in fourth, but didn’t advance to the eight-car final on the second day, highlighting the highly-competitive nature of the SxS class which as well as the Blocks and Pastrana also includes the likes of rising off-road talents Kainan Baker, Gray Leadbetter, Cash LeCroy, and Mia Chapman.
“The cream always rises to the top. There’s always a fast couple of guys and I think it’s like that in all series,” Deegan said. “There’s always so many different series that I’ve raced and there’s always the really fast guys.
“This one’s pretty competitive too, especially since everyone’s been racing all year and I haven’t been here at all, so everyone’s got it all figured out.”
While Deegan’s next move is now set, a future move to Nitrocross’ premier Group E class, where her father raced four times last season, is almost definitely not on the cards.
“I don’t think so, I’m not into electric stuff so I don’t know if I’d want to do that,” she said of the potential of racing in Nitrocross’ main game. “Plus I’ve never been into rallycross cars, that was always my Dad’s thing. I’ve never taken an interest in it, it’s just not my forte.”
Before embarking on her NASCAR journey, Hailie Deegan followed in her father’s footsteps by competing in off-road. She returned to that world at the start of the month, racing in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, where …
Before embarking on her NASCAR journey, Hailie Deegan followed in her father’s footsteps by competing in off-road.
She returned to that world at the start of the month, racing in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, where she raced alongside Mika and Kira Block, and Travis Pastrana, invoking memories of the X Games Rally Car Racing days when Brian Deegan, Ken Block, and Travis Pastrana were among the stars of the show.
“It’s definitely cool,” Deegan told RACER of her homecoming. “The Block kids are racing and they’re all great kids. We’re all here having fun, having a blast, and it’s a great time.
“It’s been really cool because I like coming here and racing UTVs, Can-Ams are great fun to drive, I drive them all the time at my house, so I haven’t really got away from dirt, but I’d say (I have) the racing side, so it’s good to be back.”
Deegan raced in Nitrocross’ Side-by-Side class at Utah Motorsports Campus. Qnigan/Nitrocross
Deegan these days is of course known for her stints in NASCAR’s Truck and Xfinity series, but that didn’t mean her return to the dirt put her totally out of joint. Driving similar cars in her spare time stood her in good stead.
“I drive Can-Ams at the house, we have a track at our house so I feel like more so getting used to the Maverick R because it’s a little bit more new to me,” she said. “I usually drive an X, so I’m definitely getting used to that, the shifting, even though it’s automatic shifting, so kind of timing it all and all the different inputs.”
Deegan finished the first day of racing in Utah in fourth, but didn’t advance to the eight-car final on the second day, highlighting the highly-competitive nature of the SxS class which, as well as the Blocks and Pastrana, also includes the likes of rising off-road talents Kainan Baker, Gray Leadbetter, Cash LeCroy, and Mia Chapman.
“The cream always rises to the top. There’s always a fast couple of guys and I think it’s like that in all series,” Deegan said.
Deegan’s NASCAR journey has been on pause since the summer. Matthew T. Thacker/Motorsport Images
“This one’s pretty competitive too, especially since everyone’s been racing all year and I haven’t been here at all, so everyone’s got it all figured out.”
While Deegan is currently without a NASCAR seat after splitting with AM Racing in July, a full-time return to off-road is unlikely. And a move to Nitrocross’ premier Group E class, where her father raced four times last season is almost definitely not on the cards.
“I don’t think so, I’m not into electric stuff so I don’t know if I’d want to do that,” she said of the potential of racing in Nitrocross’ main game. “Plus I’ve never been into rallycross cars, that was always my Dad’s thing. I’ve never taken an interest in it, it’s just not my forte.”
As for NASCAR, that remains her main goal. Plans are in the works. “We’re working on stuff,” she says. “Just can’t say a whole lot right now.”
There’s no denying that Andreas Bakkerud is one of rallycross’ top talents in the modern era. And with a fun-loving reputation and easy-going demeanor, the U.S.-based Nitrocross series is very much a perfect home for the Norwegian. But things …
There’s no denying that Andreas Bakkerud is one of rallycross’ top talents in the modern era. And with a fun-loving reputation and easy-going demeanor, the U.S.-based Nitrocross series is very much a perfect home for the Norwegian.
But things haven’t quite gone his way. Two victories in the 2022-23 season, the first of the category’s all-electric Group E formula, should have been a sign of things to come, but since then things haven’t been plain sailing for the 2021 European Rallycross champion. That was until the series headed to Salt Lake City for the second stop on its 2024-25 schedule.
Well, we say that… his horrific bad luck struck again, with Bakkerud being confined to his hotel room for the first part of the double-header race weekend thanks to an aggressive bout of strep throat.
“I caught strep throat on Thursday and had a 104 degree fever,” he explained on Saturday, when all signs of his illness had, at least visibly, disappeared. “I was shaking my hands, fingers, toes, and butt off; getting penicillin and all that stuff. I tried to do as little running as possible on Friday.”
Fast-forward to the end of the weekend and all talk of sickness was a distant memory. Bakkerud wasn’t just a winner again, but he’d swept both Finals at Utah Motorsports Campus, becoming the first driver in the history of Nitrocross’ top class to ever do so.
“It’s wild. I didn’t see this coming,” he tells RACER. “In Richmond I spoke with the team. The target was to have a little bit more fun, score a top five, (and) just try to enjoy it a little bit.
“But Nitrocross is special. It feels so unfair at times, and it has the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. I’ve done a lot of different motorsports and I don’t get the same feeling anywhere else.”
After battling a strep throat early in the weekend, Utah was turbulence-free flying for Bakkerud. Qnigan/Nitrocross
Bakkerud had pace at the first two rounds of the season in Richmond in September, but contact in both Finals prevented him from scoring any meaningful points. The opposite was the case in Salt Lake City, with Bakkerud starting both mains from second on the grid – positioned on the racing line thus giving the spot more grip than pole position which was held on both days by his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC teammate Robin Larsson.
“It really felt good,” he says. “I would say, without bragging, we have been the quickest car out there this whole weekend. It’s hard to be consistently fast in Group E because these cars are very similar and conditions are changing all the time.”
The two black Monster Energy Dodges ran more like the Blue Angels on both days, flying in perfect formation at the front of the field. The first day was planned, and there was a similar agreement on Sunday with whoever got to Turn 1 in first being afforded the advantage. With Bakkerud having the grippier grid position, he asserted his position right away, even if he admitted the thought of “what’s going to go wrong this time?” entered his mind.
“In the Final there, the plan was whoever got the best start in Turn 1 would get the race,” Bakkerud says of Sunday. “Whoever is second wasn’t going to do anything major. We want to battle it out later on in the season. I had a better jump off the line – I think starting P2 was better, it was quicker there, that’s the racing line, and pole position was dusty and a bit filthy.
“I got the jump, got my gears correct, got the push-to-pass correct, and had a good Turn 1.”
Sunday was “kind of smooth”, as Bakkerud puts it, but after dominating on Saturday, he knew his team had to work harder on that second day of racing to maintain their advantage.
“Everyone caught up on our speed from Saturday, and it was a much tougher day,” he admits. “I had a Semifinal battle with Conner Martell. He wouldn’t leave my door or my bumper, he was right there. He didn’t do anything nasty, he was fair and square. He was quick, and he would have deserved that podium. And I think it would have been very tight with him.”
Martell finished third behind Bakkerud and Larsson on Saturday, only for a penalty for missing the Joker to take the position away. It was set to be a similar story on Sunday until he suffered a huge crash meters from the line as he battled Larsson for second, to which Bakkerud says, “It’s so good to see that he’s okay after that gnarly crash just before the checkered.”
The repeat result over both days suggests DRR JC has an advantage – and with the last two titles and more Group E wins than any other team, including three from four this season, it clearly does, but Bakkerud insists the reality isn’t as clear cut.
“I don’t quite understand it, what we have done this weekend is big,” he says. “It’s not easy to be first and second, by any means.
“By Q3 you have so much track evolution, you have one lap to set the quickest lap time. The level is so high, and then you try to do well in the Heats and Semis. So much stuff is going on and happening, and for us to end up pole and second again is incredible.”
Competition aside, Bakkerud has never lowered his confidence in his abilities. There has been a 568 day gap between his last win at Glen Helen Raceway two seasons ago and Saturday’s breakthrough, but despite getting back to where he belongs, he still wants more.
Bakkerud’s Utah success ended a win drought that stretched back to Glen Helen two years ago (above). Qnigan/Nitrocross
“Not to be cocky but – and I was the first one in the World Rallycross championship to do a clean sweep – when I’m on the flow, there’s no stopping me,” he insists. “It’s just as simple as that.
“But I didn’t do the full clean sweep, I haven’t won Q3 yet, and I tried, I pushed.”
All that being said, Bakkerud isn’t getting ahead of himself. Next up is Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona in November. The scene of a violent roll for him in 2022, and only one podium finish in his four starts there, he’s keeping his expectations in check despite currently riding the crest of a mammoth wave.
“It’s been forever. It was a really nice feeling to cross the line first, to have a win again, because it’s been so long,” was his reaction after Saturday’s win. “I have just been so pissed off and furious in so many ways, it’s nice to go to bed not in anger, but with happy vibes and feelings.”
But looking ahead, he stresses, “Phoenix has a whole other ballgame. It’s a track I haven’t been very strong at in the past. It’s been very much up and down, so I’m going keep on the mentality I have.
“If I can score a fifth or better, I’m fine. I’m going to try to understand why I had the doubts and try not to be pissed off.”
Andreas Bakkerud became the first driver to sweep both finals of a double-header weekend in Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus on Sunday. As with Saturday, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing JC driver Bakkerud started the final from pole position, and …
Andreas Bakkerud became the first driver to sweep both finals of a double-header weekend in Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus on Sunday.
As with Saturday, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing JC driver Bakkerud started the final from pole position, and led teammate Robin Larsson into the first corner. From there, the pair held station for the remainder of the four-lap main.
Larsson, however did face intense pressure from Conner Martell on the final two laps, a duel which resulted in a huge crash for Martell which also collected Lia Block.
Coming into the final corner, Larsson and Martell were door-to-door with the Vermont SportsCar driver going wide and slamming into the pit wall. The resulting dust cloud covered the entire start/finish straight, leaving Block with zero visibility and she slammed into Martell’s sticken machine at full speed.
The crash handed Oliver Eriksson third place, ensuring a repeat of Saturday’s podium. Eriksson prevented a DRR podium sweep by getting by Fraser McConnel on the final lap after Jokering a lap later than the Jamaican to overlap.
Tanner Foust got by the late race crash to finish fourth, while Block was classified fifth after limping across the line, with Kevin Eriksson sixth after being bumped off the track just after the Joker merge on lap 1 following contact with McConnell.
McConnell was seventh after his late race fade, with Martell classified eighth – although he did take the fastest lap before he retired.
Larsson now assumes the points lead with a 12 point advantage over Oliver Eriksson, while Bakkerud-s back-to-back wins means he now sits third in the points, 28 off the top spot.
Mitchell De Jong dominated Sunday’s Nitrocross NEXT EVO final, after emerging from the first turn on the opening lap in the lead. He and Tommi Hallman entered the corner door-to-door, with De Jong edging past.
Hallman then had to defend from Casper Jansson, with the Finn managing to keep second ahead of the reigning NEXT champion.
Kainan Baker won the second Side-by-Side final of the weekend after getting by Kory Willis by alternating his Joker strategy, leaving it late to take the alternate route. Banks Hovey, another to Joker late, finished second, while Gray Leadbetter finished third.
Oliver Flemente won the second Baja Bugs final of the weekend ahead of Kyle Zirkus and Nick Eisenhouer.
Andreas Bakkerud ended a winless streak stretching across two seasons to win the third round of the 2024-25 Nitrocross season at Utah Motorsports Campus. The Dreyer & Reinbold JC driver started the Final from pole position alongside teammate Robin …
Andreas Bakkerud ended a winless streak stretching across two seasons to win the third round of the 2024-25 Nitrocross season at Utah Motorsports Campus.
The Dreyer & Reinbold JC driver started the Final from pole position alongside teammate Robin Larsson, with both having won their heats and semifinals and the two choreographed their start to perfection to remain one-two after the first corner.
Behind them in the battle for third, Fraser McConnell — in a third DRR JC machine — made contact with Conner Martell at the joker merge, McConnell having taken the alternate lap along with Kevin Eriksson and Tanner Foust on that first tour. Martell prevailed, while Oliver Eriksson took advantage of the bump to move up to second, having started the Final from last place after advancing with the Last Chance Qualifier.
While they were formation flying at the front, the duel between the Monster Energy-branded DRR Dodges at the front was far from settled. By the second lap, Larsson began to apply the pressure. Bakkerud responded with a string of session best sector times on lap three.
Martell, meanwhile, had closed up to both as they headed onto their fourth and final lap. All three were set to take the joker on that final tour, but Martell missed it, destroying his hopes of a first podium of the season.
That handed an unlikely podium to Richmond Day 2 winner Oliver Eriksson. Martell was eventually classified seventh after being handed a 30-second penalty for his indiscretion, behind McConnell, Kevin Eriksson, and Tanner Foust.
The final should have been an eight-car affair, but Viktor Vranckx didn’t take the start after suffering a motor failure five minutes before the final.
Lia Block was the other absentee from the final after losing out in the LCQ to Foust and Eriksson. Foust began the day as top qualifier, but a third in his heat and a fourth in his semifinal meant he was unable to fully capitalize on his strong start to the day.
With third in Saturday’s main event, Oliver Eriksson maintains the points lead, but his advantage shrinks from 11 points to just five ahead of Larsson, who gained 10 points on the OMSE driver. McConnell maintains third, while Bakkerud’s stellar day moves him up to fourth overall.
Tommi Hallman won the first Nitrocross NEXT Evo final of the weekend, after gapping a hard-charging Mitchell De Jong in the first half of the race.
De Jong resisted a late challenge from Casper Jansson, and repassed the Swede with two turns to go to lock in second place. Jansson, who was the only one of the leaders to not joker on lap one, initially lost time on the top-two by battling Patrick Gruszka for third, but was able to recover to challenge De Jong on the final lap when he jokered himself and closed the gap.
In Side-by-Sides, Travis Pastrana defeated Cash LeCroy for the win, with Jacob Geisendorff completing the podium. Pastrana made a poor start, but held the lead as early challenger Kainan Baker jokered. Pastrana took the alternate lap on his next tour, and thanks to a cleaner run through it than Baker, was able to keep ahead.
A broken rear toe link prevented Baker from maintaining his charge, with Geisendorff snatching the final podium place as Baker came to a brief halt after a half spin coming off the “Talladega berm” after the joker merge.
Hailie Deegan was fourth on her return to Nitrocross, having made the final via the LCQ, which put her at the back of the eight-car final grid.
After an aborted start, which cost Lucy Block and Jim Jork, Greg Shapiro was victorious. Scotty Lasater had a sizable lead at the end of the opening lap, but a fastest lap for Shaprio allowed him to close in and get by. Lasater ultimately had to settle for second, with Joe Terrana rounding out the podium.
Hailie Deegan will race in next weekend’s Nitrocross event at Utah Motorsports Campus, returning to the series for the first time since 2021. Deegan will compete in the Side-by-Side class in a field that also includes Lucy, Mika, and Kira Block – …
Hailie Deegan will race in next weekend’s Nitrocross event at Utah Motorsports Campus, returning to the series for the first time since 2021.
Deegan will compete in the Side-by-Side class in a field that also includes Lucy, Mika, and Kira Block – the wife, son, and daughter of Ken Block – and Travis Pastrana, invoking memories of the early days of U.S. rallycross where Block Sr., Pastrana, and Hailie’s father Brian all competed.
In her last Nitrocross appearance, also in the SxS class, Deegan took a fifth and a fourth in the 2021 season finale at the Florida International Rally and Motorsports Park.
Speaking to RACER, Deegan said she was “looking forward to racing some UTVs and getting back to the dirt.”
While most recently known as a NASCAR driver, Deegan began her career in off-road racing. She started in the trophy kart classes of SXS Stadium Series and the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, before transitioning to stock car racing. She also competed in the 2022 Mint 400 in the Unlimited Truck Spec class.
On the NASCAR ladder, Deegan won three times in the K&N Pro Series West and took three top-10s in the Craftsman Truck series across three seasons. Her campaign in the Xfinity series came to a halt after parting with AM Racing following the Tennessee Lottery 250. In 18 Xfinity starts, including the fall race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022, she recorded four top-20 finishes.
Brian Deegan has also had a sporadic presence in Nitrocross, competing in both SxS and the top Group E class over the years. He claimed SxS victories in both the 2021 and 2022-23 seasons, and a best finish of fourth in two SxS starts in 2023-24. Last season he moved up to Group E for the first time, making four starts across the Phoenix and California race weekends, claiming a best finish of seventh in his final outing at Glen Helen Raceway.
Oliver Eriksson claimed victory in the second round of the Nitrocross season at Richmond Raceway, capping off a fine weekend which gave him the championship lead for the first time ever. The Olsbergs MSE driver started second on the grid, but …
Oliver Eriksson claimed victory in the second round of the Nitrocross season at Richmond Raceway, capping off a fine weekend which gave him the championship lead for the first time ever.
The Olsbergs MSE driver started second on the grid, but capitalized on a half-spin for polesitter Fraser McConnell on the opening lap to snatch the lead – a lead which he held for the rest of the six-lap main event.
McConnell didn’t give up, though, hounding the Swede throughout the race ass both gapped third-placed driver Viktor Vranckx, another driver to benefit from McConnell’s first lap mishap.
The Dreyer & Reinbold Racing + Team Frazzz driver closed to within 0.302s of Eriksson by lap four, but with both leaving their longer joker lap until the final lap, the positions remained firm.
For Vranckx, third was not only his first podium finish in his short Nitrocross career, but it makes him the youngest podium finisher in the history of the premier Group E class at just 19-years-old.
Robin Larsson finished fourth, advancing from sixth on the grid after the opening lap skirmish, with Tanner Foust behind him in fifth. Lia Block matched her career-best result from Saturday with sixth, being passed by Foust on the final lap as she jokered – something Foust had done on lap one.
Conner Martell was classified seventh after retiring on the second lap of the race with damage sustained on the opening lap after coming together with Andreas Bakkeurd, another result of the field compacting at Turn 3 behind McConnell. Bakkerud didn’t make it to the end of the first lap after he took on terminal front end damage.
Behind points leader Eriksson, McConnell sits 11 points back, with reigning champion and Saturday winner Robin Larsson another four back in third. Vranckx’s maiden podium ensures he leaves Richmond fourth in the points, 16 ahead of fifth-placed Bakkerud.
Robin Larsson kicked off his Nitrocross title defense with a dominant light-to-flag victory in the first final of the season at Richmond Raceway. The Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC driver started his day with a brace of early wins en route to taking …
Robin Larsson kicked off his Nitrocross title defense with a dominant light-to-flag victory in the first final of the season at Richmond Raceway.
The Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC driver started his day with a brace of early wins en route to taking the top qualifier spot, before claiming a win in the heat round, and pole position for the final with a semifinal victory.
From there he made a clean getaway to lead into Turn 1 while his teammates Fraser McConnell — who also started on the front row — and Andreas Bakkerud squabbled over second place behind him. Bakkerud eventually prevailed in that battle with McConnell shuffling back to fourth behind the Norwegian and Oliver Eriksson.
McConnell didn’t give up though, hounding Eriksson for the remainder of the race. But the front three held station, with Larsson eventually winning by just over a second frome Eriksson, who kept McConnell nine tenths.
Conner Martell finished outside the podium places in fourth, but was classified fifth after receiving a reprimand and loss of position penalty for contact with Viktor Vranckx. The pair engaged in an intense battle during the final two laps, with Martell getting ahead after jokering on lap 5, undercutting Vranckx by taking the longer route a lap earlier than him.
Lia Block was the final finisher in sixth in the Dodge-branded DRR entry. Bakkerud was classified seventh and a lap down after losing his right-rear tire after contact with McConnell, while Tanner Foust also joined him in making an early exit after breaking a wheel hub.
Kevin Eriksson withdrew earlier in the day after sustaining a back injury after a heavy landing from a jump. He was taken to a local hospital for checks, where he was advised by doctors to sit out of the rest of the weekend.
In the inaugural Nitrocross NEXT EVO final, Mitchell De Jong – competing in his first rallycross race since the 2017 Global Rallycross season finale in Los Angeles – resisted pressure from fellow semifinal winner Tommi Hallman to win, with Lane Vacala completing the podium.
Reigning Nitrocross NEXT champion Casper Jansson failed to score for the first time since the first Utah race last season after retiring with a throttle issue.
Cash Lecroy took the first Side-by-Side victory of the season after getting by Travis Pastrana on the inside of Turn 3 on the final lap. The battle proved to be doubly costly for Pastrana, with it opening the door for Kory Willis to close in. He was subsequently passed by Willis two turns later, finishing third, but only just after a late charge from Kainan Baker.
Donny Donovan was the winner in the first Baja Bugs race of the season, ahead of Kyle Zirkus and Blake Wilkey.
