Photo credit: Gavin Baker Photography

After a healthy dose of rain pre-race forced drivers to move to wet tires, Max Taylor took the win in a opening race at Mid-Ohio on Friday evening that could be best described as survival of the fittest.

Over half of the race took place under a safety car following a barrage of collisions and incidents. Only three full laps were completed under green flag conditions.

Evagoras Papasavvas started on pole for Jay Howard Driver Development and collided with DEForce Racing’s Quinn Armstrong heading through the middle section of the track on lap 1. Armstrong started alongside Papasavvas on the front row and was a victim of Papasavvas spinning across the track in turn 5.

Following the incident and the ensuing full-course caution, Taylor took the lead of the race ahead of DEForce’s Nicolas Giaffone and JHDD’s Michael Costello.

Also on the opening lap carnage, Thomas Schrage collided with Elliot Cox heading through the keyhole.

This race was the first USF2000 ran at Mid-Ohio since the track was repaved last October. Adding onto the newness of the race, this was also the first time that the teams raced at Mid-Ohio since the series switched to Continental as their tire supplier.

On the ensuing restart, Ayrton Houk ran outside in turn 1 and as his car slided, he collided into Costello while battling for third, taking Houk to the back of the field and Costello out of the race.

After that, there was yet another full course caution after Carson Etter spun his wheels on the restart.

After the first two green flag laps of the race, Jace Bacon found himself off in turn 4 on lap 14 to bring out the full-course caution.

After a one-lap dash, Taylor held off podium finishers Max Garcia and Giaffone in order to take the win.

For full results, check out usf2000.com/results/live-timing