Photo credit: Gavin Baker Photography

VRD Racing’s Max Taylor doubled up USF2000 and USF Juniors as he took victory in both series in their openers at Mid-Ohio, becoming the first driver to win in both series on the same day as he took the USF Juniors championship lead.

Near the start of the race, VRD’s Sebastian Wheldon was chasing down Jay Howard Driver Development’s Liam McNeilly, who started on pole, for the race lead until an incident involving Wheldon’s teammate Christian Cameron going off had brought out the full-course caution on lap 5.

In a rarity for USF Juniors, the entire field pitted to remove their wet tires which had been fitted due to a storm which rolled in around an hour before the green flag dropped. McNeilly dropped back to thirteenth after an incident as Wheldon put himself right behind the three cars who stayed out, Ariel Elkin, Hudson Potter and JT Hoskins.

G3 Argyros, who pit well before the caution came out, found himself behind Wheldon as the race got ready to restart on lap 9.

Argyros and Wheldon traded places over the next few laps before Wheldon was involved in an incident on lap 10 that put him out of the race, giving Wheldon three DNFs in the past four races.

On the next restart, International Motorsport’s Augusto Soto-Schirripa got past Argyros before Argyros struck back on the ensuing lap going into turn 1, sending both wide and putting Exclusive Autosport’s Jack Jeffers and Taylor into the championship battle.

Taylor got past Jeffers on the next lap to take the lead, which he would hold for the rest of the race. Jeffers would finish second ahead of Argyros to round out the podium.

Taylor would also pass Wheldon to take the championship lead.

For full results, check out usfjuniors.com/results/live-timing