- Jeff Ricca Returns to the Top Step
- Dominance from Hyundai
- Race 2 Results
It was a dominant display for Ricca Autosport in Race 2 of the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School championship at VIRginia International Raceway, as the team locked out the overall podium in a thrilling 40-minute contest.
Jeff Ricca, starting from pole in the No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO after setting the fastest lap in Race 1, held firm under pressure to rebound and claim the win, his Xth of the season. Teammate Andre Castro kept Ricca honest throughout, finishing a strong second in the No. 74 entry, while PJ Groenke capped off a charge through the field to secure third in the No. 76 Hyundai, making it a Ricca Autosport 1-2-3 finish.
Ricca got the jump at the green flag and controlled the race from the front, while Castro slotted into second and began pacing his teammate through the early laps. The battle for third was where the real action unfolded, with JMF Motorsports' Jonathan Neudorf initially holding the spot in the No. 4 Toyota GR Corolla TC before coming under threat from Eric Kunz in the No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai.
Kunz made his move 10 minutes in to take over third, but Neudorf wasn’t backing down. However, it was Groenke who turned up the heat next, slipping past Neudorf and eventually setting his sights on Kunz as the race reached its midpoint. The shuffle continued when Kunz ran wide and briefly dipped into the grass, handing positions back to Groenke and Neudorf.
Meanwhile, Ricca had a small off-track moment of his own, which allowed Castro to close the gap at the front. Despite the late-race pressure, Ricca regrouped and held on to take the win by a narrow margin, completing a clean sweep of the podium for Ricca Autosport as Castro and Groenke followed in second and third.
Neudorf would ultimately settle for fourth at the line, followed by teammate Antonio Costantino in the No. 3 Toyota rounding out the top five.
“ Having a dominant Hyundai force here is one of those things that doesn't come easy,” said Jeff Ricca. “This is a reward for my crew and for the manufacturer, as well as all those people back home and overseas that support us. I couldn't do it without them. This is a good feeling and we’re just going to build on this and we're gonna go further into the year with more points.”
Up Next
The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School field will return for Rounds 10 and 11 at Road America from August 14th to 17th. Purchase your tickets now!