Ariel Elkin wins his third race of the season
PITTSBORO, Ind. — TJ Speed Motorsports delivered a solid performance at the 2025 Carb Night Classic on Friday night at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Ariel Elkin scored his third USF Pro 2000 win of the season and third victory in the past four races in what was the only oval and only night race event of the season.
Israeli rookie Elkin led the charge for TJ Speed, showcasing impressive pace throughout the weekend by securing a front row starting position after qualifying and going on to claim victory in the Freedom 90 -- a significant achievement in his debut oval race. Elkin never put a wheel wrong all night long, driving around the outside of the pole winner to take the lead on lap two and never looking back. Controlling the pace of green flag racing and overcoming several restarts, Elkin looked like a seasoned veteran in his oval debut.
Teammate Jace Denmark also delivered a commendable performance, finishing just outside the top 10 and demonstrating the team's depth and competitiveness. Sebastian Manson showed steady progress throughout the event, but a difficult qualifying effort put him deep in the pack at a track that is notoriously difficult to pass on.
Team Principal Tim Neff expressed his satisfaction with the team's results: "We're proud of the effort and determination our drivers showed this weekend. Ariel's win, Jace's strong finish, and Sebastian’s continued improvement are a testament to the hard work put in by everyone at TJ Speed. We will now shift our focus to Road America, the longest track we race on this season."
The Carb Night Classic, held annually on the Friday before the Indianapolis 500, is a highlight of the racing calendar. With droves of fans in the Indianapolis area, a packed grandstand allowed TJ Speed drivers to showcase their talents.
Next up for TJ Speed will be a trip to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Set to battle the 4.014-mile, 14-turn facility, over the June 19-22 weekend, TJ Speed drivers will travel north to test at the legendary facility June 11 and 12.