Video and photo gallery: http://rally-america.com/events/2010/NJMPRC2/gallery/
Web Article: http://rally-america.com/events/2010/NJMPRC2/news/bulletins/786/

MILLVILLE, NJ — RallyCar returns to the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ for the second round of the 2010 U.S. Rallycross Championship. Practice and qualifying sessions were run under clear, sunny skies on a dry track with dirt sections that were slightly longer and wider than at the first Rallycross in September, giving drivers more chances for passing.

In the morning practice runs, Subaru Rally Team USA’s Dave Mirra posted the fastest 4WD lap time at 59 seconds. Dillon VanWay led the 2WD Class in his 2002 Ford Focus at 1 minute 8 seconds.

Subaru Rally Team USA’s Travis Pastrana was absent from practice and qualifying today, but will arrive on time for Sunday’s competition after returning from the 2010 Big Buck Hunter World Championship in Chicago. Pastrana will start in the last 4WD Heat as a result of missing qualifying, but is expected to race hard to climb up the ranks and position himself in the A Main final.

After the practice sessions, drivers drew names to determine the order of the qualifying run groups. Fans saw plenty of action as Rallycross cars in groups of three gunned for the fastest lap in order to place favorably in Sunday’s first Heat race.

In the 4WD Class, competitors were within seconds of each other. Dave Mirra succeeded in besting Rallycross #1’s winner, Tanner Foust, and other notable entries.

Top driver NOS Energy Drink’s Andrew Comrie-Picard, who was expected to challenge the front of the pack, burst his transfer case in practice and could not make it to the qualifying grid. Comrie-Picard will start in the last AWD Heat on Sunday.

Of the European entries, Citroen C4 driver Liam Doran placed the lowest qualifying time due to running full slicks, which did not perform well in the wet dirt sections. However, three-time European Rallycross Champion Jussi Pinomaki posted the 4th fastest lap in his Olsberg MSE prepped 2006 Ford Fiesta. Formula DRIFT competitors Tanner Foust and Rhys Millen gained the second and third fastest times in qualifying, respectively.

In the 2WD Class, Dillon VanWay rebounded from a disappointing Rallycross #1 event and posted the fastest lap over Rallycross #1 2WD Class winner Josh Wimpey. Fans saw great 2WD action, but drivers had to manage muddy conditions after the track’s dirt sections were watered down. John Tancredi, who wowed crowds in his 2006 Mazda MX-5 at Rallycross #1, hit a tire barrier and damaged his front-end and was not able to finish qualifying.

The final qualifying order is as follows:

4WD Class:

1. Dave Mirra 1:08:196
2. Tanner Foust 1:08.475
3. Rhys Millen 1:12.209
4. Jussi Pinomaki 1:12.796
5. Christopher Duplessis 1:12.820
6. Joseph Burke 1:13.017
7. Liam Doran 1:15.42

2WD Class:

1. Dillon VanWay 1:17.964
2. Josh Wimpey 1:23.051
3. Eric Vlasic 1:26.204
4. Randy Zimmer 1:27.639
5. Dan Brosnan 1:27.983
6. Rich Bodmer 1:31.081
7. Kyle Gagliardi 1:34.588
8. Kendrick Giambattista 1:34.751

RallyCar is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., BFGoodrich Tires, the Team O’Neil Rally School, Able Planet, Hawk Performance Brakes, Rally-Tire.com, RaceWatches.com, Exedy Racing Clutches, RECARO, Mazda and the Danza del Sol Winery.

About RallyCar, Inc.:
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., RallyCar sanctions the premier performance rally series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2010, RallyCar is conducting six National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Washington to Newry, Maine. RallyCar competitors reach speeds of well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses consisting of gravel, dirt or snow. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying RallyCar drivers are invited to compete in ESPN’s Summer X Games 16, the annual leading action-sports event that’s broadcast live on ESPN.

About New Jersey Motorsports Park:
Sitting on more than 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park is nestled snugly in a beautifully forested region surrounded by scenic rivers and nearby Delaware Bay. Directly adjacent to Millville Municipal Airport, NJMP is conveniently located close to Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, New York and Baltimore, offering diverse and dynamic motorsports attractions.

The park includes two world-class road courses, a motorsports country club and one of the top karting facilities in America. Entering its third race season, the 2010 spectator schedule includes return visits by the AMA Superbike Championship, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX, SCCA Pro Racing with the return of the Trans-Am series, and the Ferrari Challenge.