PORTLAND, Ore. - First-year Road to Indy team Abel Motorsports of Louisville, KY, took another step forward last weekend in the team’s first-ever visit to Portland International Raceway. Competing in a pair of Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires events, the two-car squad earned a podium finish, two top-fives, and four top-ten results over the three-day event.

The rock-solid weekend of racing helped driver Parker Thompson of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada tighten his grip on third place in the Championship, and gave lead driver Jacob Abel of Louisville, KY a strong shot at a top-ten result in the Championship with one race weekend remaining in 2019.

Team Principal Bill Abel was satisfied with his group’s effort at the event.  “We really enjoyed the facility, the track, the fans, and all the people who put on the event.  It was well done and we’re really glad we could be a part of it. We had good results with both of our cars.  We’re looking forward to coming back to Portland next year!”

Thompson, who won the year’s first two Indy Pro 2000 events at St. Petersburg, FL, started fourth in both races, finishing third Saturday and fourth Sunday. “We had some positives this weekend for sure,” commented Thompson. “We found some things on our cars that will help us in the last two races coming up at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in a few weeks. We’re learning, we’re getting faster, and it’s going to help us achieve our goal of becoming Championship contenders.We’re planning on going to California and ending this season on a high note.”

For young Abel meantime, the weekend was challenging.  The 18-year-old began his first semester at Butler University in Indiana on Wednesday of race week before putting his books aside to head to Portland and prepare for the Indy Pro 2000 doubleheader. While the finishes he earned were not what he wanted, meeting the demands of starting his college career and simultaneously preparing to race at a new track for the first time was an impressive achievement. Jacob gained the most positions of any driver in race 1, moving up 4 spots from 11th on the grid to finish 7th. Coupled with his 8th place run in the Sunday event, Abel tightened his hold on 9th place in the Championship.

Now, the team looks ahead to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, the site of the final weekend of Road to Indy action for 2019. Abel Motorsports has high expectations for success as their first Indy Pro 2000 campaign winds down.