PITTSBORO, Ind. — TJ Speed Motorsports delivered an impressive showing at the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire triple header this past weekend at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rookie standout Ariel Elkin led the way with two victories, sweeping pole position in all three races and showcasing dominant pace throughout the busy event.
Elkin’s weekend began with authority as he claimed the pole position for the first race of the weekend and went on to secure a commanding win on Friday. He continued that momentum into Saturday, as his times from Friday once again earned the pole position for races two and three. Leading much of the race before contact while running out front, Elkin was dropped down the running order, denying him a shot at a clean sweep. Undeterred, Elkin rebounded on Saturday afternoon by converting his third consecutive pole into another race victory, firmly establishing himself as one of the top contenders in the series and moving to third in the championship point standings.
“Ariel showed incredible speed and race craft this weekend,” explained Team Owner Tim Neff. “To earn all three poles and come away with two wins is a huge statement. Even in race two where things didn’t go our way, he proved he had the pace to be at the front. It was a standout performance, and his best weekend in Pro 2000 to date.”
Teammate Jace Denmark also delivered a strong weekend. After qualifying inside the top 10, Denmark drove smart and aggressively to finish fourth in race two, after crossing the line seventh in race one. P4 was Denmark’s best result of the season and a clear sign of growing momentum as the championship progresses. Courtesy of his pair of top-10 results, Denmark has moved to P8 in the championship standings.
Sebastian Manson continued his development behind the wheel of a TJ Speed-prepared machine, improving each session and scoring an eighth-place finish in race one on Friday afternoon, and improved on that Saturday with a seventh-place result in race three. Contact in race two saw him on the sidelines early, but a never-give-up attitude saw him return to the top-ten later that day. Sebastian’s performance added another positive result to the team’s tally and reflected steady progress in a highly competitive field.
“This weekend at Indy was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” Neff added. “Ariel’s double victory and the triple pole are remarkable achievements, and both Jace and Sebastian showed maturity, growth, and the grit that defines this program. I’m proud of all three drivers and the crew behind the scenes.”
TJ Speed Motorsports now shifts its focus to the upcoming rounds of the USF Pro 2000 Championship as they prepare for the only oval event of the season at the fast Lucas Oil Raceway Park for the Carb Night Classic.