PORTLAND, OR -- The top three drivers at the Oregon Trail Rally were playing it safe Sunday, while the attrition that claimed many cars in the first two days of the race appeared set to claim yet another frontrunner.

Australian driver Andrew Pinker overtook Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block during Saturday's longest stage and never looked back. With only two stages to go, Pinker led Block by a comfortable margin of nearly 50 seconds.

Pinker's driving style is clearly suited to the technical character of the western Oregon forest roads; he took his first-ever North American win at this event last season. He said his strategy for the remainder of the three-day contest was simple: "Stay in the lead to the finish."

Meanwhile, attrition appeared set to claim yet another team. Paul Choiniere pulled into the Sunday service looking frustrated, and posted a Stage 14 time that was an uncharacteristic three minutes slower than his closest rivals. A service break didn't provide enough time for his crew to repair what appeared to be a failing transmission and it was uncertain whether it would be possible for his team to make it to the finish.

Matt Iorio also complained of a growing motor problem, diagnosed as a failing head gasket. He too was hoping only to limp the car across the finish line.

Even race leader Pinker barely made it to the start on Sunday. Shaking his head sheepishly Sunday, he said he forgot to shut off the heat on his windshield overnight and drained the battery completely. The car was push-started out of the Parc Expose Sunday morning and he made it to the start with only seconds to spare.

Former PGT champion Tanner Foust was in third place overall on Sunday, after a flat tire cost him a minute on Saturday. He said he hoped to claw back some time on second-place Block, but it was unlikely he would be able to close the gap.

Attrition was surprisingly high at this contest. A packed field of over 76 racers took to the start for a series of fan-pleasing track stages at the Portland International Raceway on Friday. By Sunday, more than 20 teams were out of the race, including dark horse favorite Pat Richard, who withdrew Saturday due to brake failure. Other notable retirements included top contenders Andrew "ACP" Comrie-Picard, Lauchlin O'Sullivan, Ramana Lagemann and Subaru Rally Team USA's Travis Pastrana.

Comrie-Picard was the first driver out after he suffered a mechanical problem during a demonstration stage just before the start of the contest. The team took the start anyway, pushing the car across the starting line while fans cheered in the grandstands. "I didn't drive all the way across the country to not even start," said Comrie-Picard early Friday afternoon. "Never say die."

Teams are battling for a chance to compete at this summer's X Games in Los Angeles. It is expected that the top six drivers after the first five rounds will secure an invitation to the wildly popular ESPN contest.

The Oregon race is also the first event in the new MaxAttack! Triple Crown Rally series. Three events across the country this season will feature an $8,000 prize fund to be distributed among the top two-wheel-drive teams. Andrew Havas was leading the MaxAttack! charge.

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.

The 2007 Rally America National Championship series consists of nine events nationwide. Throughout the year, teams take on everything from the forest logging roads in Minnesota, to the high-altitude Yampa River Valley in Northwest Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest forest and coast paths. After Oregon Trail, the series remains in the west for one more round. The Olympus Rally takes place next month in Washington State.

Complete television coverage of the Rally America Championship airs on ESPN2 starting in early June.