KINGSVILLE, Ont., Canada – Canadian standout Ayden Ingratta was back in action this past weekend at the VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) for rounds six through eight of USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire. Racing for the Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) program, Ingratta earned a pair of top-10 qualifying results and ended the weekend with a fifth-place finish in the third and final race.
“Not what we wanted this weekend, but we never gave up and finished fifth in race three,” explained Ingratta. “Hopefully this is the result and momentum we need to build a strong second half of the season.”
With a test day on Friday, a pair of qualifying sessions on Saturday would set the grids for races one and two. In qualifying one, Ingratta clocked the 10th-fastest lap of the session and secured an outside row five starting spot. Qualifying two saw him improve his speed and results to claim the fifth-quickest lap. The first green flag for wheel-to-wheel racing flew on Saturday afternoon and Ingratta battled hard in the top-ten, eventually crossing the line 13th.
Back to the track Sunday morning and starting fifth for race two, Ingratta’s race ended quickly as he was eventually classified 23rd in the 23-car field.
Ingratta added, “It seems like we have no luck. It has been a tough weekend so far, but I start fifth again for race three, and I know I can turn it around and end my VIR event strong.”
Poised and ready to go for the final on-track session of the weekend, Ingratta and his Road 2 Racing Canada branded #6 entry finally got the break they needed. Staying out of trouble and in the front half of the field, Ingratta overcame several restarts and attacks from fellow competitors to end his weekend in the fifth position, a big turnaround from race two earlier that day.
“Good to finish the weekend strong,” continued Ingratta. “The feeling today is the feeling I want after every race. Mid-Ohio is just a few weeks away, and I look forward to seeing what we can do there.”
Next up for Ayden Ingratta will be a trip to Lexington, Ohio and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 4-7.