Double Podium Redemption for Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross on Sunday in Daytona

Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross (VARX) fought back from the team’s worst event in recent memory to earn a spectacular one-two finish on Sunday at Daytona, with Tanner Foust taking the win ahead of hard-charging teammate, Scott Speed. Sunday’s result marked the team’s second double podium of the 2016 season, cementing their position on top of the Red Bull Global Rallycross field.

The results are particularly sweet as VARX mechanics spent all night repairing both cars after a series of on-track incidents during the weekend’s first round on Saturday. While leading, Foust damaged his suspension on a large hole in the dirt section of the course, sending the No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle GRC into a spin. Foust’s car was collected by another competitor, causing extensive damage that the crew needed to fix overnight.

Speed inherited the lead after his teammate’s accident, but within two laps of the checkered flag, a fire broke out under the hood of the No. 41 BFGoodrich Beetle GRC, forcing him to stop just shy of the complete race distance. The reigning Global Rallycross champion emerged from the flames unscathed, but his car was not as lucky. The damage necessitated a switch to the team’s backup car, adding more work to the already extensive tasks at hand for the VARX crew.

After pulling an all-nighter, the crew quickly refreshed at the hotel and commenced work again, getting the cars ready for the morning warmup session. Speed set the fastest time and followed the performance by sitting atop the time sheets in qualifying. His move to the backup car incurred a three-spot penalty in the session, giving pole position for the day to VARX teammate Foust, who in turn made the most of the prime starting position by winning both his Heat and Semifinal races. Speed was not as fortunate, suffering another mechanical failure after contact in the Heat.

Foust began the Final from pole position, with Speed starting from seventh. Contact between multiple drivers on the first lap left Speed stranded on course and caused a red flag. He was able to restart the race, but from the back of the field, setting up a nearly impossible task of getting to the front. Foust fended off other competition at the restart, while Speed began the methodical work of making his way up the field, using speed, precision, and a perfectly-timed joker lap to end the race second behind Foust. Exhausted, and in a bit of disbelief, the team rushed the track to congratulate their drivers.

Foust highlighted the team’s special accomplishment after the race. “Both cars have been getting chewed on all weekend. It’s just epic to come back first and secondafter all that, and it will be a well-deserved bit of champagne after this.”

Speed also appreciated getting the result for his team after their monumental effort to provide him with a capable car. “We were fastest in warmup and qualified quickest, so this result is definitely earned, and not a gift,” he declared after stepping from his car. “I’m glad for the guys that they got a little bit of a payoff after what they’ve been through. This result is very special for all of us.”

Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross will be back in action for another doubleheader at MCAS New River on July 2 and 3. Each race will air LIVE on NBC—Saturday, July 2 at 5:00PM (ET) for Round Six, and Sunday, July 3 at 5:00PM (ET) for Round 7.

For more information please visit AndrettiAutosport.com or Media.VW.com.

Adam Sinclair