With the rain gone, the snow melted, but the frigid temperatures remaining, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda field finally took to the track today to decide the champion of the Cooper Tires WinterFest. Jake Eidson, competing with Pabst Racing entered the day with a healthy lead in the championship standings, but with a double points-paying finale on tap to replace the canceled first race anything could—and would—happen. When the dramatic day of racing concluded, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing’s Nico Jamin emerged a surprise champion.
Afterburner Autosport’s Victor Franzoni, winner of one race at NOLA, started the first race of the day on pole and was able to fend off Eidson for the victory. Eidson, though, held a 33-point advantage over Franzoni entering the double-points finale. With a seventh place finish needed—for a driver who hadn’t finished off the podium in four races—it seemed that Eidson would be able to calmly claim the championship if it all went to plan.
Of course, it never goes to plan. Eidson, starting from pole in the finale by virtue of setting the fastest lap in the first race, appeared set for success. Franzoni, starting alongside Eidson on the front row, swept around the outside of Turn 1 and took the lead, with Eidson just behind. However, tragedy struck the 2013 Team USA Scholarship winner, as his Pabst Racing car ground to a halt with a broken fuel pump before the end of the first lap. While a full-course caution came out for Team Pelfrey’s Luke Gabin in the Turn 17 wall gave Eidson the chance to be brought back to the pit lane for repairs. The fuel pump, though, was terminal, and Eidson’s championship hopes were dashed.
The race returned to green flag conditions and Franzoni resumed in the lead, but Jamin kept the pressure on throughout. With three laps remaining, Franzoni made a mistake in the final corner. Jamin made no doubt about it, pouncing on his rival and taking the lead. Jamin then pulled out a gap over Franzoni over the final three laps and took his first victory in USF2000 competition, claimed the Cooper Tires WinterFest championship, and secured the team championship for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Jamin’s finally points tally was 136 to Franzoni’s 131, with the late move for the lead the difference in a double points finale. Behind the championship battle, John Cummiskey Racing’s Anthony Martin continued his fine form by finishing on the podium, while Aaron Telitz and Garth Rickards completed the top five.
That does it for an entertaining preseason. Now we await the final few driver confirmations for the full 2015 season and then it’s off to St. Petersburg for the first race of the season, March 27-29.
USF2000 Cooper Tires WinterFest Final Standings
1. Nico Jamin (136)
2. Victor Franzoni (-5)
3. Jake Eidson (-8)
4. Anthony Martin (-26)
5. Aaron Telitz (-28)
6. Parker Thompson (-48)
7. Garth Rickards (-54)
8. Jordan Lloyd (-60)
9. Nikita Lastochkin (-70)
10. Luke Gabin (-71)
