The 2022 American Rally Association Season continues this weekend with the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally.
National Championship Rundown
The 2022 American Rally Association National Championship couldn’t get much closer right now, with only four points separating Brandon Semenuk and Ken Block. STPR will play a huge role in deciding who wins the championship. Travis Pastrana’s chances at the championship are slim but still possible. Pastrana sits 17 points behind Ken Block and 21 behind Brandon Semenuk. All eyes will be on Block and Semenuk this weekend.
Championship Points Heading Into STPR
- Semenuk 116
- Block 112
- Pastrana 95
- Williams 43
- Gruszka 37
LN4 Championship Rundown
Dave Carapetyan would move into the LN4 Drivers Championship lead after the Ojibwe Forests Rally. After taking the overall class win and placing third overall in the event. Carapetyan will have a chance to extend this lead as former leader Phil Wearn will not be attending STPR
Championship Points Heading Into STPR
- Carapetyan 69
- Wearn 65
- Murcott 56
- Sladek 55
- Fedoff 53
O2WD Championship Rundown
Seamus Burke would take the 2WD Drivers Championship Lead after the Ojibwe Forests Rally. Burke was able to do this by taking the class win as well as placing fifth overall at the event. Burke enters the event with a nine-point lead over former leader Micah Nickelson. Nickelson will have a chance to reclaim the lead this weekend.
Championship Points Heading Into STPR
- Burke 73
- Nickelson 64
- Hooper 53
- Nelson 50
- Sherman 45
Everything on the Line
STPR will play a huge part in deciding who wins the championship. The event isn’t the easiest and will require the best driving possible out of the top drivers. One major mistake or multiple tiny ones could decide the rally. Every point matters, and every second matters.
Subaru Rally Team USA
Subaru Rally Team USA has a lot of options this weekend. As well as a lot of ways Pastrana and Semenuk can finish. The team should and will likely aim for first and second overall, with Semenuk winning the event. Mathematically if Semenuk wins and Pastrana goes second overall and Semenuk skips LSPR he wins the championship. It’s a likely scenario, but it would require Pastrana to be on his A-game and Block to make a couple of mistakes or have an off weekend. Chances are slim but possible, and this is rally. Anything is possible.
Depending on how Day one and Day two play out, a team order could be issued. Pastrana’s sights will likely be off his championship hopes and onto assisting Semenuk. If Subaru is going to win, they need both drivers at the top of their game. Unfortunately for Subaru, The Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally isn’t Pastrana’s greatest event. Add that to the fact that Pastrana has been behind the competition for most of the year, and it doesn’t look good heading into the event.
Hoonigan Racing Division
Ken Block will have his sights set on his fourth rally win this season and the chance to take the overall points lead. For this to happen, Block will need luck on his side and to gain near full points. Something Block has yet to do this year. Joining Ken this weekend will be his wife, Lucy, along with the return of their daughter Lia. Lucy and Lia are too far out of any championship but will use this weekend to gain experience and seat time.
Block’s Back
Lia Block will make her return to the ARA after missing New England and Ojibwe. She missed New England after crashing during pre-event testing and Ojibwe due to school. Lia currently sits 19th in the national standings and seventh in the O2WD Drivers Championship.
Williams Returns
Tom Williams will also make his return to the ARA. Last racing at the Oregon Trail Rally in May. Williams currently sits fourth in the ARA national standings and first in the RC2 Championship.
My name is Joe Moore. I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
