https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqu24mDVi8M
Bucky Lasek added yet another X Games medal to his trophy case Saturday in Austin, Texas. But this one was different.
After more than two decades of competition, the 41-year-old has established himself as one of the most decorated skateboarders on the planet. But two years ago, Lasek decided to give rallycross racing a try.
His progress in the sport was recognized in 2013 when he earned Red Bull Global Rallycross’ sportsmanship award, but he had yet to get that breakthrough finish for Subaru Rally Team USA.
On Saturday, it finally came as Lasek earned X Games silver – his first Red Bull GRC podium – behind winner Scott Speed at Circuit of the Americas.
Afterwards, Lasek told the GRC’s official website that his new rallycross silver was “the hardest-fought medal I’ve ever had to work for.”
“It brings me to tears, I’m just holding them back,” he added. “My team gets more credit than I do, they work so freaking hard to do the best they can, and we finally have great equipment. We’re making it happen race to race.”
With Liam Doran’s spin off the restart with eight laps to go, Lasek ran third for much of Saturday’s final behind Speed and Nelson Piquet Jr.
But the latter ended up taking the joker lap twice, which is not allowed. Piquet was black-flagged and forced to serve a five-second stop in the penalty box, enabling Lasek to move up to the silver position late.
Lasek’s drive helped salvage the afternoon for the Subaru camp. Teammates Sverre Isachsen and one-off Travis Pastrana both were unable to make the final; Isachsen was spun around in his quarterfinal heat and couldn’t recover, while Pastrana failed to advance out of his semifinal heat with a Top 3 result.
For more reaction from Lasek, check out the video above. Red Bull GRC now heads for Washington, DC to compete in Volkswagen Rallycross DC on June 22 (LIVE, 2 p.m. ET on NBC).