Speedway, Indiana (October 19, 2019)
The 2018 season is in the books and ARA has unveiled the 2019 schedule. It's time to congratulate all of the winners of this year's national and regional championships.
A total of 389 drivers and co-drivers were eligible for championship contention this season; 157 competitors in the east region, 164 in the west, and 68 nationally. Those teams tackled nearly 900 miles of the best stage roads in the country, 507 miles west of the Rockies and 375 to the east, over seven rally weekends. Only one team managed to finish every inch of ARA stage road available to them – Erik Potts and Claudia Barbera-Pullen.
The championships this year were exciting to watch. Nationally, the Open 2wd championship wasn't decided until the season finale. Three regional championships were decided by a single point, and one championship resulted in a draw after three different tie breakers were tallied. The regional story of the season; TJ Pullen and Erin Kelly crowdfunded their way to Ojibwe after realizing they were in contention for the east NA4wd championship, then they won it.
But their story isn't an isolated circumstance. Teams across the country worked late hours, stretched budgets, and traveled the country to earn a chance at an ARA championship. Dozens more fought against the challenges to enter their first rallies. One team of newcomers, Matthew Dickinson and Daniel Piker, finished on the overall podium at Tour de Forest in only their fifth start.
We would like to congratulate not just the championship winners, but everyone who took part this season.
Before we go further, a quick recap on how championship points are scored in ARA. The ARA national championship is split into two halves, events east of Rocky Mountains, and those to the west. The east division encompasses three rallies: STPR, NEFR, and Muscatell Ojibwe Forests Rally. While the west division comprises four weekends: Oregon Trail Rally, Olympus Rally, Idaho Rally International, and Tour de Forest.
In the national championship, three events from each region are scored, meaning that competitors can exclude, or drop, one of the four events in the west from their championship standings. In order to attain eligibility for a national championship, competitors must also participate in at least one event from each division. This requirement removes several drivers from contention, such as Patrik Sandell, Travis Pastrana, and Brian Penza, all of whom have only driven in one region this season.
Full results for national and regional championships can be found at americanrallyassociation.org/2018championship
Here are your 2018 ARA championship winners:
National Championship Winners
Overall
Driver: David Higgins
Co-Driver: Craig Drew
Open 4wd
Driver: David Higgins
Co-Driver: Craig Drew
Limited 4wd
Driver: Jeff Seehorn
Co-Driver: Karen Jankowski
Open 2wd
Driver: Seamus Burke
Co-Driver: Martin Brady
Naturally Aspirated 4wd
Driver: Blake Lind
Co-Driver: Tricia Lind
Limited 2wd
Driver: Jordan Guitar
ARA West Region Championship Winners
Open 4wd
Driver: Mark Tabor
Co-Driver: Kathryn Hansen
Limited 4wd
Driver: Matthew Dickinson
Co-Driver: Daniel Piker
Naturally Aspirated 4wd
Driver: Blake Lind
Co-Driver: Tricia Lind
Open 2wd
Driver: Erik Potts
Co-Driver: Claudia Barbera-Pullen
Limited 2wd
Driver: Matt Tabor
Co-Driver: Tracy Manspeaker
ARA East Region Championship Winners
Open 4wd
Driver: Brian McNamara
Co-Driver: Mustafa Samli
Limited 4wd
Driver: Emmanuel Cecchet
Co-Driver: Mike Willard
Naturally Aspirated 4wd
Driver: TJ Pullen
Co-Driver: Erin Kelly
Open 2wd
Driver: Erik Potts
Co-Driver: Claudia Barbera
Limited 2wd
Driver: Jordan Guitar
Co-Driver: Lori Clute
Photo Credit: Alex Wong
About American Rally Association (ARA)
A member-driven organization dedicated to the sport of Stage Rally, the American Rally Association provides a transparent, inclusive, and growing sanctioning body to competitors throughout America. A 501 (c)(3) non-profit and wholly owned subsidiary of the United States Auto Club (USAC), ARA is led by seasoned Stage Rally professionals who work hand in hand with an experienced Board of Directors to deliver a framework for safety, competition, promotion, and education for all aspects of the sport. The common goal of our members, volunteers, and organization is a thriving Stage Rally program in America.