New Zealander Billy Frazer continued his fine form from the opening rounds of the 2022 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship to finish second for Exclusive Autosport at Barber Motorsports Park. Myles Rowe put on a flawless performance en route to his second consecutive victory in the three rounds held to date. Third home was Michael d’Orlando – who was second in the championship last year – claiming his first podium of the season following a pair of fourth-place finishes in St. Petersburg.
“Barber has a reputation as a difficult track to pass at, but I think I proved that wrong today,” commented Frazer. “Sixth to second, I’m super proud of myself and of the team.
“I was greedy on the first lap and it almost cost me – we were three-wide for most of it. I went onto the grass on the museum corner but I kept it together and was able to pressure Simon into a late mistake.
“We faced adversity earlier in the weekend, in quali two, so I know I have a tough job ahead of me in Race Two tomorrow, but as the guys said on the radio, these are the races that win championships.”
Fellow Kiwi Jacob Douglas came home in 12th after qualifying 15th.
Rowe held his own in a chaotic opening lap that saw front-row qualifier Bijoy Garg of DEForce Racing fall to fifth and third-place starter Jagger Jones of Cape Motorsports relegated to 10th. When the field began their second lap around the scenic Barber Motorsports Park road course, it was Simon Sikes of Legacy Autosport settling nicely into second with Frazer third and d’Orlando fourth.
The pointy end of the field remained unchanged for the first 15 laps until Frazer began his hunt in earnest for Simon Sikes. The pair were side-by-side on Lap 16 in the Turn Seven-Eight combo with Frazer pulling an over/under to nab second and Sikes going off-track. Sikes resumed in fifth with a thank you from both d’Orlando – who posted the fastest lap of the race – and Garg who gained a position.
Rowe toured the final lap of the 2.3-mile circuit with a comfortable 1.7-second advantage at the checkers earning the second PFC Award for team owner Augie Pabst.
The four race of the series takes place tonight with Frazer starting from ninth and Douglas from 12th.
Provisional Points after 3 of 18 Rounds:
1/ Myles Rowe, 67
2/ Jace Denmark, 67
3/ Billy Frazer, 65
4/ Michael d’Orlando, 61
5/ Bijoy Garg, 47
6/ Jagger Jones, 47
7/ Simon Sikes, 46
8/ Thomas Nepveu, 38
9/ Spike Kohlbecker, 35
10/ Christian Weir, 32
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