Jacob Douglas enjoyed a banner Friday at Portland International Raceway. So did Simon Sikes and team owner Augie Pabst. New Zealand’s Douglas (pictured above) first claimed his first-ever pole position, then later in the afternoon executed a perfect opening leg of the Discount Tire Grand Prix of Portland tripleheader by racing to an accomplished victory.
Jay Howard Driver Development’s Evagoras Papasavvas kept Douglas on his toes by finishing just over a half-second behind in second place. Close behind, Sikes cruised home in third to secure the USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires championship and a Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship valued at $433,200 to guarantee graduation next year into USF Pro 2000, the next step on the USF Pro Championships ladder.
All of the leaders made it through the Festival Curves chicane on the opening lap relatively cleanly, although those in the midfield weren’t so fortunate. Cue a brief full-course caution.
Douglas remained undaunted at the front and kept a slender advantage throughout the 25-lap race. For most of the way it was Sikes who remained in his mirrors, but following a second, short full-course for some debris on the track — actually the headrest which had become dislodged and then fallen off Thomas Schrage’s Exclusive Autosport car — Papasavvas took over in second from Sikes and kept the pressure on Douglas until the checkered flag.
“I led every lap and Pabst gave me an amazing car,” said Douglas. “Massive thanks to them and congrats to Simon on the championship.”
Georgia’s Sikes chased hard in third before eas ing off on the final lap, secure in the knowledge that he had the championship crown firmly in his grasp.
“I don’t even know what I am feeling. It has been a rollercoaster throughout the year,” said Sikes. “It has been tough and it had its ups and downs. I mean, St. Petersburg couldn’t have started off worse, and it was a mountain to climb just to get here. To finally get this for Augie and the whole Pabst team – the first drivers’ championship for Pabst Racing — I am so happy to do it for the whole team including Burke Harrison, my engineer, and Bob Perona, my awesome driver coach, and everyone that made this possible. It means the world to me and I can’t thank everyone enough. The team has been phenomenal, the car is the fastest it has been all year and I just can’t thank Doug Mockett and everyone who supports me enough.”