Nitro Rallycross announced the final date for its 2022/23 with a doubleheader at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernadino, California on March 17-19, capping off what will be a 10-round season. This will be the second time the series visits this track in the current season after Fraser McConnell scored his first series win there in late October.
Through six rounds of the season, there have been four winners in the premiere, Group E class with series creator Travis Pastrana and points’ leader Robin Larsson each winning twice.
Entering the last doubleheader round, there had been four winners in four races.
Pastrana won Round 5 with Larsson suffering his first disappointment of the season finishing 17 seconds off the pace in fifth, but the points’ leader came back later in the weekend to win and pad his lead. With four races remaining, however, the 2023/23 Nitro Rallycross title is still in question. Defending champion Pastrana hopes to hold off Larsson and Andreas Bakkerud as they vie for their first title.
Glen Helen has been a staple of the series, hosting races in each of the two full seasons of competition under the current format. McConnell’s win last October came down to the wire with six cars crossing under the checkered flag within three seconds on one another. Pastrana won the premiere division race in 2021 there.
For the 2022/23 finale, the track will be upgraded, additional festival elements provided by Nitro Circus will keep the fans entertained between rounds of racing, and Nitro Rallycross will race under the lights.
“Holding the season finale at Glen Helen Raceway is awesome for the series because the track is wide and flowing which provides great passing opportunities,” Pastrana said in a press release. “Last October was the closest racing of the series. Also, on a personal level, I raced my first outdoor national motocross event there when I was 16 years old and the facility is iconic in motorsport.
“We aren’t just coming back – we’re doubling down on the action sports entertainment, including Nitro Circus shows along with more fun for everyone in the family. And, racing under the lights in Phoenix was such a hit, we are adding that element to the championship to create even more excitement for fans.”
Nitro Circus is an action sport collective founded by Pastrana that features stunt riding.
— Nitro Rallycross (@NitroRallycross) January 11, 2023
Larsson’s fifth-place finish in the first Phoenix race is the only time this season he has not stood on the podium. Bakkerud and McConnell sit second and third in the standings and look to close the gap before the series returns to America. Oliver Eriksson and Pastrana also remain in the hunt.
The series will return to action on January 20-21 at Trois-Rivieres in Quebec for Round 7. The series will remain in Canada for Round 8 at Calgary’s Stampede Park on February 4-5 in Alberta, which sets up the action for the Nitro Rallycross finale in Glen Helen.
“During the first six rounds, four different drivers have raised the trophy and nine have made the podium,” Pastrana said. “That’s amazing – it shows just how skilled this roster is across the board. At each race, every driver has an opportunity to win.
“In terms of our chance to repeat as champion, we’ve got some work to do. But a doubleheader final offers an even bigger opportunity to move up the table. This is still anyone’s ballgame.”
