Liam Sceats earned a podium finish and two further top tens in USF Pro 2000’s triple-header at Road America over the weekend.
The Kiwi’s success, which included a commanding drive from 14th to 3rd in Race 2, leaves him fifth in the standings with three double-header rounds remaining in the season.
Australian rookie Lochie Hughes won all three races to take a commanding 50-point lead in the championship.
After three practice sessions, Sceats qualified the #26 TJ Speed Motorsports entry tenth for the opening race before returning and qualifying 14th for Race 2.
Threatening clouds greeted the field early on Saturday, but the rain remained away until late in the 15-lap race that began shortly after 8.00 am local time.
Hughes was forced to hold off a strong challenge from Frankie Mossman on his way to victory.
The rain rapidly intensified in the closing stages, and the field crept home at a reduced pace, with a lead group of six followed home six seconds later by Nikita Johnson in seventh, who was forced to defend from Sceats on the run to the flag.
Two early cautions in Race 2 kept the field together, allowing Sceats to work forward from 14th. He was the biggest mover in the race and received the Tilton Hard Charger Award for his efforts.
Hughes won by 1.13 seconds over Christian Brooks, with Sceats four seconds further back in third with Jace Denmark on his tail.
“It was not what I expected, in all honesty,” he said. “Fourteenth to third was pretty insane and amazing. We have been struggling all weekend and a credit for this result is to the team, TJ Speed Motorsports. We have put in a lot of hard work.
“It has been a tough few days, but we finally have it right. A big thank you to all of my sponsors back home who allow me to do this. I wouldn’t be here without them and super happy with the result.”
The Kiwi lined up eleventh for Race 3, which was quickly under caution for a high-speed accident between Logan Adams and Mossman.
Hughes took the lead off the Lap 5 restart and held off a race-long challenge from Brooks for the win, with Denmark third and a further 5.6 seconds down the road.
Sceats climbed from 11th to 8th, crossing the line in the third group of cars, some 13 seconds behind the leaders.
The Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador is 69 points behind Hughes in the championship battle but only 19 points behind second-place Denmark.
USF Pro 2000 returns on July 4-7 with two races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Header Image: USF Pro 2000
