Brooms could be in short supply after this weekend’s slate of Mazda Road to Indy races. Immediately after Jake Eidson swept both USF2000 races, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing’s Neil Alberico went on track and repeated the feat, claiming his second win of the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires Allied Building Products Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend in a race interrupted by a multi-car incident on the first lap. Jose Gutierrez and Daniel Burkett both earned places on the podium, ensuring that all of North America was represented during the post-race ceremonies.

Alberico made a clean start and was safely away through Turn 1. The chaos ensued in Turn 4, though, when Team Pelfrey’s Pato O’Ward attempted to make a pass but instead caused an accident the claimed six cars victim. O’Ward, Weiron Tan, Race 1 podium finisher Florian Latorre, Alessandro Latif, Raoul Owens, and Parker Nicklin were all caught in the melee, with Latif, Tan, and Latorre retiring on-the-spot, O’Ward returning to the pits but eventually retiring, and Owens and Nicklin able to make repairs and rejoin one and three laps down, respectively.

After a 13-minute full course caution, Alberico led the field back to the green, with Gutierrez and Burkett following. Alberico would pull away, building an almost four second advantage. Gutierrez and Burkett would be involved in a spirited scrap, with Burkett dive bombing Gutierrez in Turn 1 and claiming second. Gutierrez, though, would return the favor and reclaim the spot later in the lap.

A one-lap sprint to the finish was set-up by Bobby Eberle’s late-race incident. Alberico was again safely away at the drop of the green, but behind the front three there was plenty of excitement to be had. Santiago Urrutia, who finished on the podium yesterday, made a gutsy move to overtake Kyle Connery and claim fourth on the final lap. Connery would settle for fifth, ahead of Dalton Kellett and Will Owen.

Alberico, who secured his drive late in the off-season, was pleased to finally claim his first two wins of his Pro Mazda career to start his sophomore season off in fine fashion. “Budget has always been a driver’s problem, but with the help of Rising Star Racing and Mobe we were able to make it happen,” Alberico relayed. “All these guys [in the field] had a ton more experience going into the season testing and running the WinterFest. Being able to come in and win the first two races is amazing.”

Alberico will lead the Pro Mazda field back into action April 10-12 when they tackle NOLA Motorsports Park.

Pro Mazda Race 2 Results

1. Neil Alberico
2. Jose Gutierrez
3. Daniel Burkett
4. Santiago Urrutia
5. Kyle Connery
6. Garett Grist
7. Dalton Kellett
8. Will Owen
9. Jay Horak
10. Raoul Owens
11. Parker Nicklin
12. Bobby Eberle
13. Timothe Buret
14. Pato O’Ward
15. Weiron Tan
16. Florian Latorre
17. Alessandro Latif

Pro Mazda Championship Standings

1. Neil Alberico (64)
2. Santiago Urrutia (-20)
3. Jose Gutierrez (-21)
4. Daniel Burkett (-35)
5. Florian Latorre (-37)