Perfect Weekend for Scott Speed wraps up Red Bull Global Rallycross Manufacturer’s Championship for Volkswagen

Two race wins across the Atlantic City weekend put Scott Speed back in control of the driver’s championship standings and clinched a second manufacturer’s championship for Volkswagen.

 

Herndon, VA  — Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross’s Scott Speed was unstoppable in Atlantic City this weekend, claiming victory in two races at the Bader Field circuit and reclaiming control of his championship destiny with a nearly perfect haul of points. The double triumph also secured Volkswagen’s second, consecutive manufacturer’s championship in the series, making it only the second automaker to win multiple championship titles.



Speed set sail from the outset of the weekend with the quickest time in qualifying for Race 1 on Saturday morning. His one bobble of the weekend came in the second round of Heats on Saturday, where the No. 41 Oberto Circle K Beetle GRC driver finished second.

“This was an incredibly important race weekend for us, and we walked out of Atlantic City with about the best result we could have hoped for,” said Speed. “The Beetle GRC is on rails, and it’s a testament to this crew and how hard we’ve all worked to build a super competitive race team.”
While Speed won the first Final of the weekend, his journey to the checkered flag was anything but easy. A pileup at the first corner shuffled the running order and Speed had to set out in chase of the race leaders. He made a thrilling pass for the lead with just two laps to go and earned his first winner’s trophy of the weekend in one of the season’s most exciting races so far.

Sunday was a more routine setting for the reigning series champion. Speed again was quickest in qualifying and controlled each of his races from the front of the pack, earning wins in every event and maximum trove of points.

While Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross teammate Tanner Foust was also at the quick end of the field, he fell victim to a number of unlucky incidents that prevented him from enjoying an equally successful weekend.

Foust started beside his teammate in Saturday’s Final, but the first lap contact between the field of ten drivers forced the No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle GRC to stop on course.
Contact was the only constant variable throughout Sunday’s running and Foust found himself involved in much of it. The carnage would not allow Foust any clear running and he was stuck fighting with slower cars on the tough Bader Field circuit.

“With ten cars on such a tight track, there’s bound to be contact, but this was a particularly difficult weekend for some reason,” said Foust. “We’ll move on to the next round and look to bounce back.”
With his near-perfect weekend in Atlantic City, Speed reclaimed the lead in the championship standings. He also retook the title of winningest driver in Red Bull Global Rallycross history from Foust, an accolade they have traded all season. With three races remaining in 2017, Volkswagen clinched its second manufacturer’s championship title. With six wins from nine races so far this season, the Beetle GRC has once again proved to be the car to beat and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross as the series’ strongest team this year.

Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross will return to action next month for another doubleheader in Seattle on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10. Broadcasts of the event will air LIVE on NBC each day at 4:30PM (ET).