Giaffone heads DEForce 1-2 in USF Juniors at Mid-Ohio

Brazilian Nicolas Giaffone extended his already impressive advantage in the chase for the USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires championship by heading another DEForce Racing one-two today in the first of two races that will comprise the Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

Giaffone led from start to finish in the 20-lap race to notch his sixth victory, heading home teammate Quinn Armstrong for the third time this season in just nine races. Jack Jeffers finished third for Exclusive Autosport.

Third-generation racer Giaffone continued his series dominance earlier this morning by posting the fastest lap in qualifying to clinch his fourth Cooper Tires Pole Award.

Ethan Ho qualified a strong second for DC Autosport, matching his performance during last week’s USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires event at the same Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course venue, only to experience a sudden loss of power on the opening lap of the race which caused his car to stop at Turn 2.

Ethan Barker, who started third, took up the chase of Giaffone before losing out to charging VRD Racing teammate Max Taylor up from sixth on the grid.

Unfortunately, Taylor fell to the back of the field when his car stuttered almost to a standstill just before the completion of lap 8. He quickly recovered five positions following a brief mid-race caution period, only for the same problem to rear its head with just four laps remaining.

The caution instantly negated Giaffone’s lead, which had grown to almost four seconds, and at the restart Barker saw an opportunity to challenge for the lead under braking for Turn 2 at the top of the hill. Giaffone staunchly defended his inside line, then braked a fraction too late which caused Barker to run wide into the gravel and slip all the way to the rear of the pack.

Giaffone narrowly maintained his lead, with teammate Armstrong slipping through into second place, while a major shuffling of positions saw Jeffers vault from sixth place to second ahead of Jimmie Lockhart (VRD Racing).