SALEM, MO — Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block has a solid lead after the first day of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, while early challenger Travis Pastrana is out of the contest. “It was great the first couple of stages but these night stages were tough,” said Block at the end of Day 1. “And I’m really bummed that Travis is out.”

Block’s flat-out style is well-suited to this event and he’s proven tough to beat here. He and co-driver Alex Gelsomino have won this event three times and are looking to make it four in a row this weekend.

Trailing Block after the first five stages were Andrew Comrie-Picard and co-driver Robbie Durant in the NOS Energy Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. The duo set top times all day, but spun out hard late in the evening losing time to Block. “We had two big spins on that last stage,” said Comrie-Picard. “But we’re still in it and we’re going to try and reel Block in tomorrow -- especially if the weather changes.”

It is early spring in the area at this time of year, but all bets are off when it comes to the weather. The temperature has cooled considerably in the past few days and there’s the threat of snow on Saturday. Last year saw a freak storm blanket the region with a thick layer of ice in the days before the rally.

In third place -- six seconds behind Comrie-Picard -- was BMX superstar Dave Mirra, Subaru Rally Team USA’s newest member.

The strong position was evidence of a new confidence for rally newcomer Mirra who is contesting his first event in the popular new Super Production class, which features minimally modified, production-based vehicles. The rally newcomer, who is co-driven this season by veteran Derek Ringer, earned the “Rookie of the Year” title in 2008.

Close behind him were Rockstar Energy driver Tanner Foust and co-driver Chrissie Beavis, who took the start in a powerful new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X rally car for this event and said Friday he’s working to get a feel for the car. “It’s a work in progress and I’m getting more and more confident,” said Foust. “We’re moving in a positive direction.

Rounding out the Top 5 were former Production GT champion Matt Johnson and co-driver Jeremy Wimpey, who are also in the hunt for this year’s Super Production title. Johnson has achieved mixed results at this event. He earned his first-ever podium finish at the Rally of the 100 Acre Wood in 2008, but had a big crash here in 2007 and wrote off his competition vehicle.

Pastrana had said earlier he was ready to win or crash trying to keep Block out of the top spot. He and co-driver Christian Edstrom spun off the course late on Day 1 and were unable to continue.

Leading the two-wheel drive charge were Dillon Van Way and co-drive Joshua Knott in their 2002 Ford Focus.

The event also serves as a Regional Rally championship event for 2008. Regional class champions from coast to coast are invited to race head-to-head in the foothills of the Ozarks to see who will claim the cup.

The husband-and-wife team of Henry and Cynthia Krolikowski were leading the Open class battle in their 2000 Subaru Impreza, while Scott Wilburn and co-driver Aaron Crescenti were leading Production GT in their 2003 Subaru WRX. Group 2 leaders were Chad Eixenberger and Jay Luikart in their 1988 Volkswagen Golf

The rally takes place through the scenic Ozark foothills of southern Missouri. The course is fast, tight, and twisty, on roads known as some of the best in the nation for rallying.

Rally car racing is considered the extreme sport of automobile racing and is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” This all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers take modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over courses that cover more than 100 miles of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads.

Top teams in the series are also invited to compete in the Summer X Games, the leading action sports event broadcast live on ABC and ESPN. Eight top teams have already been invited to this August’s contest.

About Rally America
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., Rally America sanctions the premier rally racing series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2009, Rally America will conduct nine National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Wash., to Bethel, Maine.