Rinus Veekay Sweeps Mid-Ohio After Issues For Malukas

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Rinus Veekay didn’t have another dominant effort from pole in the second Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

But after polesitter David Malukas went off-course on Lap 8, the Juncos Racing driver won the race all the same.

Veekay held on to his second starting position through the opening circuit and benefitted from Malukas’ misfortune to claim Cooper Tires Pro Mazda Mid-Ohio Grand Prix Race 2, completing a weekend sweep that saw the Dutch shoe rise to a 31-point advantage over Parker Thompson in the championship standings.

After finishing runner-up in Saturday’s race, it was Malukas that led the field to green for the second 25-lap event. The 16-year-old quickly took advantage of the position, shooting out to a 1.2-second lead in the opening five circuits and establishing himself as the favorite to bring home a race win.

Heartbreak came for Malukas on Lap 8 when a mechanical issue forced him off-course, surrendering the lead to Veekay. The 17-year-old held serve from there, keeping teammate Robert Megennis at bay until the race’s end after Lap 25.

Only a lone caution for a stalled Carlos Cunha put Veekay under added pressure, but a strong restart enabled the young talent to hold serve and maintain his winning advantage. Veekay took the checkered flag   1.3635 seconds clear of Megennis for the win.

Oliver Askew rounded out the podium for Cape Motorsports, with Sting Ray Robb and Felipe Drugovich capping off the top five. Parker Thompson, Mathias Soler-Obel, Nikita Lastochkin, Moises de la Vara and Kris Wright completed the top 10. Thompson’s poor result came after he was mired in the pack following contact with Cunha on the opening circuit.

Pro Mazda will return to action on August 25 at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Cooper Tires Pro Mazda Mid-Ohio Grand Prix Race 2 Results

1. Rinus Veekay
2. Robert Megennis
3. Oliver Askew
4. Sting Ray Robb
5. Felipe Drugovich
6. Parker Thompson
7. Mathias Soler-Obel
8. Nikita Lastochkin
9. Moises de la Vara
10. Kris Wright
11. Charles Finelli
12. Carlos Cunha
13. David Malukas