Rangely, Colo. ~ Self-dubbed “Rally Town USA”, Rangely, Colo. is poised to host two full days of racing this weekend as the American Rally Association’s makes its inaugural stop at the three-year-old event.
Rally Colorado marks the fourth event on the 2019 ARA West Region Championship, and has several top teams in attendance. The event offers teams 12-stages over 112-miles of twisting desert roads that rise above the Rangely’s altitude of 5,300 feet above sea level. Endurance and adaptation to the high-altitude will be key to finding success for the events 24 registered team.
Trucksmart Racing’s Matt Brassfield and Kristi Berg sit tied at the top of the overall standings, and are second in the L4WD class. They should be able to break the tie as co-leaders Seth VanHee and Bryan Bishop are not racing in this weekend.
Local favorites Dave Brown and Co-Driver Mike Brown return to this year’s event sitting third overall and seventh in the West Region’s NA4WD class, despite only racing once this season at the Idaho Rally International. After winning in 2017, the Littleton, Colo. team knows how what it will takes to win Rally Colorado.
“It’s a real driver's race,” said Dave Brown. “The roads technically challenging for both driver and co-driver because no two turns are alike and everything is constantly changing: speed, cadence, dirt, incline, surroundings.”
Several teams will be utilizing Rally Colorado’s Super Regional status to gain national points, including Rocky Mountain Autosports Adam Short and Danny Norkus (L4WD). The Fort Collins, Colo. based team sits 26th overall nationally and good showing in their 2002 Subaru WRX will push them up the standings.
As for West Region points, Ryan Booth sits second in L2WD points class and will benefit from having co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino in the car. Last week, Gelsomino teamed up with Keena Erickson-Change to finish third in the national O2WD class and 13thoverall at the New England Forest Rally.
Friday’s route will send competitors through two challenging stage loops near the Utah border. The faster of the two days will see competitors tackle roads that cut through a mix of draws, ridges, and plains. For Saturday, the rally will head south of Rangely into the mountains. The stages will be headlined by multiple mountain switchbacks and stunning vistas.
Friday July 26, 2019
11:00 AM MTC 1 - First Car Starts Day 1
1:40 – 3:00 pm Service 45 Minutes Service Park
5:40 pm MTC 2 - First Car Finishes Day 1
Saturday July 27, 2019
10:00am Park Expose 128 S Stanolind Ave, Rangely, CO 81648
11:00 AM MTC 3 First Car Starts Day 2 Rally Colorado
12:50 – 2:10 pm Service 45 Minutes Service Park
4:00 pm MTC 4 First Car Finishes Rally Colorado:
6:00 PM Awards Dinner
500 Kennedy Dr, Rangely, CO 81648
For event updates, follow the American Rally Association on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and Rally Colorado at www.rallycolorado.org.