Ken Block must really like Missouri! Last weekend he proved dominance at the state's 100 Acre Wood Rally, round two of the 2008 Rally America National Championship, taking the win there for the third straight year. His teammate Travis Pastrana was hot on his heels, taking 2nd place.
100 Acre Wood is one of the fastest courses on the circuit as gravel roads flow through trees and blind corners and crests commitment is a prerequisite here. This year's event saw sleet, below freezing temperatures, and chilly rain in the days leading up to the start, making the roads icy and even more treacherous.
While most of the competitors were struggling with the gnarly conditions--spinouts, crashes, flats, and mechanical issues--Ken seemed to just settle in. Ken looked confident as he charged on the roads he's become familiar with, as he bagged wins there for the last two years. Travis stayed within striking distance for most of the rally, but just couldn't seem to close the gap to less than 30 seconds.
The racing was nearly flawless for Ken and Travis, but both drivers experienced flat tires on the second day. However by that time, they had amassed such a huge lead that the setbacks were inconsequential to the final results. Ken finished one minute ahead of Travis, and Travis finished three and a half minutes ahead of third place. Now that's dominance!
The win gives Ken the early lead in the still-young 2008 Rally America National Championship. But, there's still a lot of racing to be done as the series continues in mid-April for the Olympus Rally.
As with every rally, SRT USA has posted detailed daily blogs and lots of photos on their site. Go here to check everything out.
