Skylar Robinson Back on Track in the Steel City
Augusta, GA- Skylar Robinson made his first trip to the Pittsburgh International Race Complex car track this past weekend for the F2000 Championship Series. For the 18 year old, the event provided a chance to make up ground on the series points leader.
Friday practice went well for the aspiring professional driver. He consistently was in the top 3 as far as pace is concerned.
Saturday would mark Qualifying 1 and Race 1. Qualifying went well for the Augusta, Georgia native as he held the pole position for more than 20 of the 30 minute session. With the clock ticking down, he was bumped to 2nd where he would start the first race of the weekend.
In Race 1, Skylar would hold onto his position despite starting on the outside of the front row. Though Skylar set the fastest lap of the race, the leader slowly stretched a gap over Robinson until a sprinkle started to fall with just 7 laps remaining of the 26 lap race. Skylar abruptly cut the gap, but with so few laps left, he was unable to get close enough to make a move for the lead.
Sunday’s qualifying session would take place on a wet track. In the slippery conditions, Robinson excelled putting the car P1 on his fourth lap. The time would be good enough to secure him the pole and a crucial three extra bonus points.
Despite Skylar starting from the pole in Race 1, the outside row got a good jump at the start and he fell back to 2nd. However, he quickly maneuvered his way back into the lead. After leading for several laps, Skylar fell back to 2nd where he would run the rest of the race despite the handling of the car fading. He would also come under heavy pressure with several laps to go, but he fended his position and held onto the runner-up spot.
“Pittsburgh went quite well for us. We had two good finishes which closes the gap to the points leader. However, we still want to be standing on the top step when all is said and done. For me personally though, the high point of the weekend was taking the pole in the wet. The car was hooked up thanks to the crew”, Skylar commented.
Skylar’s next race is August 29-31 at the newly repaved Thompson Speedway Road Course in Connecticut.