Grand Prix of St.Petersburg,Sunday report and results

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 30, 2014) – PJ Jones captured Sunday’s thrilling second round of the SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road Presented by Traxxas race at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, beating Robby Gordon to the line by a truck length.

Jerett Brooks, 16, finished third, making it the high-school student’s second-consecutive podium finish after coming home second in Saturday’s first race.
Jones, a veteran of IndyCar, USAC Silver Crown and Sprint Cars, started sixth and drove a calculated yet aggressive race to hold off Gordon and a full field of strong trucks.

“We had a really fast truck and kept our mistakes to a minimum, but you do make mistakes in these trucks,” said Jones, the winner of two of the last three Formula Off-Road Presented by Traxxas races. “Robby and Jerett got racing each other behind me which helped, and I had to hold Robby off when he made a couple of late dives on me on that last lap.

“Best thing is that the crowd was really into it and people have been coming up to me all weekend saying how much they love the trucks and love watching them jump. A lot of them said we were the reason they came here this weekend and can’t wait to see us race again. The fans that didn’t know about us already are fans now, I’m sure.”

Following Saturday’s first race of the season, which had Gordon holding off Brooks and third-place finisher Justin Lofton in a driving rain storm, Jones considered Sunday’s victory redemption for a costly mistake on Saturday. Racing in some of the worst conditions possible, Sunday’s race was a complete opposite with brilliant blue Florida skies and warm temperatures.

Round 2 Finishing Order

1. 98 PJ Jones American Racing Wheels Scottsdale, Ariz.
2. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy Orange, Calif.
3. 77 Jerett Brooks Synergy Electric Alpine, Calif.
4. 6 Justin Lofton Cometic Westmorland, Calif.
5. 74 Sheldon Creed Traxxas Alpine, Calif.
6. 5 Scotty Steele Steele Racing Peoria, Ariz.
7..55 Gavin Harlien A3, Smith Optics, IronClad Racing Mesa, Ariz.
8. 18 Apdaly Lopez VisitMexico.com Tecate, B.C., Mexico
9. 14 Davey Hamilton Traxxas Nampa, Idaho
WD 59 Craig Potts Potts Racing Scottsdale, Ariz.