Millville, NJ - Juncos Racing’s Sting Ray Robb captured the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires this weekend in the tripleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park by earning one win, one pole and two podium finishes. Teammate Artem Petrov claimed one podium finish during the Cooper Tires Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix at New Jersey Motorsports Park and currently sits third in the championship with two races remaining.
The Indy Pro 2000 Championship kicked off the weekend on the 2.14 mile, 12-turn road course with three test sessions on Friday. Robb, who entered the weekend leading the championship was left with little time on track after a mechanical issue forced him to miss most of the day. The team worked to resolve the issue and by the following morning Robb in the No. 2 Firehouse and Goodheart Animal Clinc/Big Idaho Potato/Juncos Racing car was the fastest on track for the first and only practice session. Artem Petrov, driving the No. 42 Road to Success/Juncos Racing car showed great pace throughout the first day on track, along with the first practice session finishing inside the Top-5.
Qualifying for Round 13 proved to be a tight battle with the Top-10 cars finishing less than a second off the pole. Robb narrowly missed the pole and would take the second starting position, while Petrov qualified fourth.
Round 13 of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship finished off the day on Saturday caution free for the 25-lap race. Robb picked up his first podium of the weekend finishing second and Petrov finished fifth.
The final day on track began with qualifying for Round 14. Robb went on to set the track qualifying record while claiming the pole. Petrov would once again earn a starting position on the second row, this time qualifying third.
The field returned to the track just a few hours later for Round 14 of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship. Robb who started from the pole went on to lead the entire race to claim the win. Petrov earned his first podium of the weekend taking third.
The three-day event concluded later this afternoon with Round 15. Once the green flag waved drivers battled their way for the front of the field. Petrov, who lost a few positions during the start, was able to battle his way back to the front of the field. Contact however forced the No. 42 driven by Petrov out of the race on lap-4 and would finish 11th. Robb, who also fell back during the start was able to make his way on the podium finishing third, giving him the points needed to clinch the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship.
Robb, who has officially clinched the title, will be awarded the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship in two weeks during the final event on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition to winning the driver’s championship, Juncos Racing has also captured the Indy Pro 2000 team championship.
Juncos Racing Team Owner Ricardo Juncos said, “This has been the most incredible and difficult year that has pushed our team, drivers, sponsors, and everyone a part of the series to perform and work under such unknown circumstances. The pandemic has made everyone adapt and find other ways to accomplish life on and off the racetrack. We have all learned to work in conditions that were changing at in moment’s notice, but throughout all of these unfortunate times it has brought out the best in us and what we are able to do together. We came off such a huge and expansive year in 2019, running in four different series, to now in 2020 running in only one series with our smallest crew ever. Despite these obstacles we have come out the strongest we have ever been, and I couldn’t be any prouder of everyone a part of or who supports Juncos Racing. Our crew, drivers, sponsors, and fans who have continued to show their trust and faith in our team throughout this year is hard to put into words what this truly means.”
“Throughout each event, and this past weekend our drivers and crew have worked so hard for this championship. This schedule has been very compacted, so many hours have been spent both on track and in the shop for three straight months. Even through these circumstances we were able to build a strong team, that has shown the strongest performance as a team since we first began running in the Road To Indy Championship 12 years ago. Sting Ray and Artem have both proven they are incredibly talented. To have the chance to have both drivers battling for wins, poles, and podiums has been amazing. Sting Ray entered this season without a win, and now has the most wins of the season. He has accomplished so much throughout the past few months by not only finishing on the podium, but finishing every race lap so far this season, which is why is able to leave this weekend as the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Champion. Artem has proved to be one of the top drivers on track. He has set some of the fastest times on track this season, and has the incredible drive needed to be a champion. I am so proud of both drivers this year and want to congratulate them of all of their success. We still have two more races to go, and we will be looking forward to having all three drivers including Nate Aranda with us for the finale at St. Pete in two weeks.”
Sting Ray Robb: “I am overwhelmed, grateful, and so blessed. I am truly at a loss for words as so much work came to fruition this season. I want to thank everyone at Juncos Racing, my family, friends, investors, and SR2 fans. I wouldn’t be here without each and every one of you! God gets all the glory!”
Artem Petrov: “This weekend was going pretty well for us, until the last race when we were caught up with another driver that ended our day. It’s unfortunate as we had such a strong car and were going for the lead. I am so happy for the whole team and Sting Ray Robb on winning the championship. We still have two more races to go, so I can’t wait to get back on track in just a few weeks on the streets of St. Pete.”