73-Car Field Packs ARA Season Finale: Lake Superior Performance Rally

(Marquette, Mich., October 14, 2025) — The American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship presented by Kubota will once again conclude at “the oldest, meanest, toughest rally on the circuit” — the Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR) — taking place October 17–18, 2025, in Marquette, Michigan.

With roots stretching back to 1949, rallying runs deep in the veins of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The event began as a Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rally, where competitors aimed to stay as close to a prescribed schedule as possible rather than chase outright speed. Known as the Press-On-Regardless (POR) Rally, it became a cornerstone of North American rallying — even hosting a World Rally Championship (WRC) round in 1972, when Gene Henderson and Ken Pogue claimed the first-ever four-wheel-drive rally victory in their now-iconic Jeep Wagoneer.

Over the decades, the rally evolved into one of the most respected and demanding events in the United States. From snow and rain to dry gravel, LSPR’s stages have tested competitors across every imaginable road surface and weather condition. The modern event carries on the legacy of its predecessor, while the original Press-On-Regardless name lives on to this day as an annual TSD rally.

This year, 73 teams will tackle 135 competitive miles across 15 stages, fighting for the final points of the 2025 ARA National Championship and the concurrently running penultimate round of the ARA Central Regional Championship.

Festivities begin on Thursday, October 16, with a Parc Exposé and ceremonial start hosted by Fox Subaru Marquette. Competition officially kicks off Friday at 11:46 a.m., beginning with “Al’s Playground” — a stage named in honor of beloved local rally legend Al Dantes Jr.

From there, competitors head to the Sidnaw, Michigan service area before taking on a loop of “Markey Lake,” “Far Point,” and “TeePee Tower.” After another brief service, the same loop repeats, this time adding “Bob Lake” in the mix as well.

Saturday’s action begins with a Parc Exposé at the Ishpeming Armory at 10:00 a.m., before the field faces “Two Mile Creek,” “Flat Rock,” and “FF.” Following service in Westwood, drivers will tackle the same loop a second time before wrapping up the weekend with the fan-favorite “Mt. Marquette” Super Special and a podium celebration surrounded by loyal Upper Peninsula rally fans.

Martell Looks for Two-in-a-Row after Maiden ARA Victory

After taking their first overall ARA victory together at September’s Overmountain Rally Tennessee, Martell Racing’s Conner Martell and Alex Gelsomino will return in their 2C Compétition Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, affectionately nicknamed “Roxy,” looking to make it two wins in a row and lock in second place overall in their maiden ARA National Championship campaign.

The Michelin-equipped Škoda joined the championship halfway through the season, replacing the Subaru WRX STI that Martell and Gelsomino campaigned in the first half of the year. Despite taking a few events to settle into the car, the duo has shown stronger pace than ever heading into the season finale.

In their class, they’ll face stiff competition from three other RC2 crews also looking to end the year on a high note.

Current 2025 RC2 points leader Patrick Gruszka and Florian Barral will compete in the Green APU Hyundai i20 R5, needing only to finish at LSPR to secure the class championship.

Still, Javier Olivares and KJ Miller, currently ranked second in RC2 points, will be pushing hard in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 to close the season with a win—and possibly more if Gruszka’s weekend doesn’t play out according to plan.

Roberto Yglesias will also be chasing a strong finish to his debut RC2 season, behind the wheel of the RC Competition Audi A1 Maxx Rally he’s campaigned all year. He’ll welcome back co-driver Michael Szewczyk for the first time since the Southern Ohio Forest Rally earlier this season.

“For us, this rally is about wrapping up the year on a high note,” Yglesias said. “This has been a tough one, as the step up to RC2 has seen me push harder than I’m ready for and end up on off-road excursions at least three times this year, with a couple of them big ones.

“I’ve been investing time on pace notes and additional training at DirtFish since Ojibwe, and I’m hoping to make LSPR an event we complete and build up from next year. The Audi is a fantastic car — like Javier showed driving it at Boone to an overall podium — but it’s been my driving that needs to improve.”

Competing on similar pace to the RC2 class, the Open Four-Wheel-Drive (O4WD) category will also feature three hard-charging entries at LSPR.

Debuting their new build, Pat Moro and Ole Holter are entered in the PMR Motorsport LT1 V8-powered Chevrolet Sonic, built in partnership with Chevrolet Performance. This time, they’ll be joined by a sister PMR Sonic, piloted by 2023 Naturally Aspirated Four-Wheel-Drive (NA4WD) Cup winners Arek Białobrzeski and Aris Mantopoulos.

Additionally, Cam Steely and Leah Brisset will close out their season in their 2016 Ford Focus RS, rounding out a competitive O4WD field.

Subarus Face Growing Rally3 Field in LN4

Just last month at Overmountain Rally Tennessee, Travis Pastrana remarked on how close the competition in the Limited Four-Wheel-Drive (L4WD) class had become between his and Rhianon Gelsomino’s Subaru Motorsports USA WRX ARA25L and the growing strength of the Rally3 entries. With a sizable field at LSPR, Rally3 performance will again be on full display this weekend.

Madelyn Tabor and Sophia McKee return once again after a full season in their Element Rallysport Ford Fiesta Rally3. Aiming to secure second in the combined L4WD and NA4WD points championship — known as LN4 — Tabor and McKee have shown excellent pace and consistency throughout the year, steadily building confidence and speed in the car.

Joining the Rally3 fun for the first time, John and Peter Farrow of the Nemtec Race Team will trade in their usual NA4WD and L4WD Subarus for a Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo, stepping up from the regional ranks to compete in the National rally at LSPR.

Promising L2WD up-and-comer Casen Pedersen will also make his Rally3 debut, driving a Renault Clio Rally3. After claiming a L2WD class victory at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally (SOFR) earlier this year, the young driver continues to impress as he rises through the ranks. For his debut, he’ll be joined by 2025 L2WD Champion co-driver Glen Ray, who will assist him as he adapts to the faster pace and higher demands of the Rally3 platform.

Algen Kaumeheiwa will also be piloting a Fiesta Rally3, with Philip Barnes alongside. Kaumeheiwa last ran LSPR in 2023 in a similar car, but his rallying experience stretches back to 1986, including a 1997 SCCA ProRally Production Class Championship.

The biggest threat to the Rally3 field, however, may come from local favorites Grzegorz Bugaj and Elizabeth Dziubanski, returning for their annual LSPR run in their 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

The husband-and-wife duo from the GZB Rally Team have made a name for themselves at LSPR, earning a class win, another class podium, and two fourth-place overall finishes in recent years.

Entered again this season, Bugaj and Dziubanski could pose a serious challenge to the Rally3 contingent — and even to Pastrana — as they push their limits on the Upper Peninsula’s notoriously demanding stages.

Father and Son Battle for Second in L2WD Championship

Even though recently crowned 2025 L2WD Champion driver Chris Cyr will not make it to LSPR for a victory lap to close out his title-winning season, the L2WD field will still deliver some of the fiercest competition of the entire rally, including the highly anticipated final chapter in the year-long battle between father-and-son drivers Mark and Henry Tabor.

“It’s down to Henry and I!” Mark said. “Father and son, one reprising a past triumph, the other making a name!”

Both will compete in similarly prepared Ford Fiesta STs. At LSPR, Mark, co-driven by Kathryn Hansen, trails Henry, co-driven by Dylan Hooker, by 25 points in the championship. While a comeback is still mathematically possible, it would require a class win and Power Stage win from Mark, and a DNF from Henry, for the elder Tabor to clinch the title via tiebreaker.

Still, with Mark’s extensive experience and knowledge of LSPR’s unpredictable conditions, he may hold a slight advantage heading into the weekend.

“LSPR has a unique blend of roads with an iconic background,” he said. “The community is welcoming, even when the weather is not. Back in the ’90s, LSPR used to answer the question of ‘what tires should I bring?’ with ‘everything you own… snow, gravel, tarmac, street. You never know what the weather will be, hour by hour.’ It’s a fun event, but it continues the legacy of teams using strategy and endurance to make it to the end.”

Three other cars will make sure neither Tabor has an easy weekend, including Santiago Iglesias, the Subaru BRZ driver known for his spoiler role in the class. With 13 class victories to his name, Iglesias and co-driver Robert Kassel enter LSPR on fresh MRF tires and a mission to close out the season in style.

“LSPR lives up to the reputation as the oldest, toughest, meanest rally for sure,” he said. “The majority of my DNFs have come at LSPR, by a large margin, but that also makes the victories that much sweeter. It also has the best pictures; the scenery can't be beaten at that time of the year.

“We're going all out to try and finish our season on a high note. We have an exciting upgrade for the car that we can't wait for everyone to see, and we even bought new MRF tires from 2026 ARA partner Tire Streets! As in years past, my goal will be to win every stage in L2WD.”

Also returning to the L2WD field are Ryan McGrath and Michael Hordijk in their Lexus IS250, as well as Nicholas and David Tippman in their 2019 Ford Fiesta.

O2WD Championship Down to the Wire

In the O2WD Championship, the season-long battle reaches its conclusion at LSPR, where Seamus Burke and Gary McElhinney enter as clear favorites in their MkII Ford Escort.

Nevertheless, two determined challengers still have a mathematical shot at stealing the title — with the right mix of skill, consistency, and a bit of Upper Peninsula luck.

The most likely to unseat Burke are the reigning L2WD champions, Richo Healey and Michelle Miller, who currently sit second in the class standing in their Lexus IS350, 19 points behind leaders Burke and McElhinney.

“LSPR is special in so many ways, but the unpredictable weather, diverse stages, and changing character are what make it so exciting for me,” Healey explained.

“The O2WD championship has been an extremely wild ride this year, and while it has largely settled into place, this looks like it will be our first chance to actually go toe-to-toe with Matthew Nykanen, which is absurd but also extremely exciting.

“There's still a live battle for second in O2WD (and Seamus needs to finish to protect his win), but we're also quietly looking at the overall for the Pirelli Privateer Cup.”

As Healey mentioned, the fight for second remains wide open. Just six points behind sits Matthew Nykanen, returning to competition after a wrist injury sustained at the Ojibwe Forests Rally earlier this season, when a massive rock on stage yanked the steering of his E36 BMW M3.

Now back for the season finale, Nykanen and co-driver Lars Anderson could theoretically clinch the title on a tie-breaker, though their main focus will be on running their own rally, and continuing their trademark pace on the fast Michigan stages.

Also joining the O2WD field are Scott Pedersen and Ryan Scott, who make the jump from their L2WD Lexus IS250 into a Peugeot 208 Rally4, similar to the models that have claimed three O2WD round wins this year. Meanwhile, Steve Rowlands returns for his second event in his 2001 BMW 330i, this time with Cole Clements co-driving.

Toss-Up for the Win in 52-car Regional Field

Running alongside the National, the Super Regional Lake Superior Performance Rally will follow the same itinerary — minus the Power Stage — giving the 53 regional entries two full days of tackling some of the toughest, most technical roads on the ARA calendar.

While LSPR marks the finale of the National Championship, the Central Regional Championship still has one round to go at Show-Me Rally later this month. Even so, the 17 points available to the winner in Michigan could make or break a championship hopeful’s season.

Currently leading the Central Regional Driver Championship is Peter Farrow, who enters with co-driver Jackson Sedivy in a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX. With such a large and competitive entry list, Farrow will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to maximize his points this weekend.

Among the biggest threats are Alastair Scully and Stefan Trajkov, returning to the Regional field for the first time since the Sno*Drift Rally season opener. After a heavy crash at Overmountain Rally in their Hyundai i20 R5, the duo will compete in the Green APU O4WD Mitsubishi Mirage, bringing serious pace to Michigan’s gravel.

But when it comes to raw determination, several regional regulars are eager to prove that home-built cars can hang with high-class machinery.

Jimmy Pelizzari and Bryce Proseus bring their L4WD Blind Deer Rallysport 2002 Subaru WRX STI to LSPR, looking to go one better than last year, when Pelizzari took second overall in the Regional rally. With the car now fully dialed in and the team in strong form, a 2025 victory is well within reach.

Just behind them, locals Silas Himes and Aleutian Hatfield return in their Sisu Racing Team L4WD 2011 Subaru WRX STI. After earning a class podium here last year and two class wins at Headwaters Rally and Nemadji Trail Rally, the pair will again be strong hometown contenders.

Coming off their first overall Super Regional win at Overmountain Rally Tennessee, Gabe Jacobsohn and Jason Hack enter LSPR with targets on their backs, and momentum in their 2004 Subaru WRX STI.

“LSPR carries a kind of weight that gets inside of me in the best way,” Hack said. “The stages are raw and honest, and don’t hand you anything for free. LSPR, like rally, is the best teacher. It tests you; it makes you cry, but it also reminds you why you love rallying in the first place. You earn every clean note and every second.

“Rivalry’s not really the right word for it. Gabe and I did edge out Jimmy Pelizzari for the overall win at Iron Mule Rally last year, and I’ve been in the car where we’ve pushed Silas Himes hard. But Gabe and I try to stick to Craig Breen’s ‘paddle me own canoe’ mindset.

“Silas seems to get younger and quicker every year at his home event, Jimmy’s always a threat if the Bugeye holds together, and Gabe and I are hunting for that same confidence in LSPR’s fast, flowing sections that we’ve found in the tighter stuff. Add in Dustin Peterke, a former Wisconsin guy with serious pace, and you’ve got four or five teams trading times all weekend, assuming the cars can take the beating.

“And the Upper Peninsula itself? It is perfect. The air smells like woodsmoke and Lake Superior. The leaves look like someone turned the saturation all the way up, and every small town feels like it’s cheering you on. It’s the perfect place to end a rally season. Beautiful, unforgiving, and alive.”

Behind Jacobsohn and Hack, eight more L4WD cars will battle for class honors, but even that strong field pales in comparison to the 20-car NA4WD entry, which stands as the largest of the rally.

As Hack noted, Dustin Peterke and Robert Judge will be a major threat in their NA4WD 2000 Subaru Impreza. In just four starts, they’ve collected three class podiums and an overall win, though this will be their first start at LSPR, meaning experience could be the deciding factor.

Meanwhile, Sam Jacques and Kyle Cooper, last year’s NA4WD winners in their 2006 Subaru Impreza, return to defend their crown after a year away from the stages.

“I was born and raised in Marquette. There are numerous reasons why this rally stands out for us, but at the core is hometown pride and being able to attack roads that we've driven since we were kids,” Jacques explained.

“Unfortunately, we haven't been on stage since LSPR 2024 due to other racing endeavors and business workload, so we will be racing to back up our 2024 class win. We're stoked to be a part of such a competitive class. The regional group of NA4WD's is so fast, and there are always six to nine teams that could win.

“LSPR provides such an excellent mix of stages that truly tests the driving teams, and now we get to top it off with a trip to our historic downtown to celebrate with the community. What more could you ask for in October?”

Also returning are last year’s runners-up, John and Aiden Hicks, in the beloved No. 625 “Moobaru.” The father-and-son duo are once again here for the competition, camaraderie, and the fall colors that make the Upper Peninsula one of rallying’s most iconic backdrops.

Rounding out the ones to watch are Matt and Jackie James in their 2006 Subaru Impreza, running at full power for the first time after an extensive rebuild that included a new six-cylinder engine and transmission. Still learning the limits of the refreshed car, the team’s goal is to finish within the top third of the class, no small feat in a 20-car field.

Making a lucky 4WD debut, Eric Frentress is unexpectedly entering as the driver of the Steven Redd Racing-supported No. 957 O4WD Subaru Impreza, a special opportunity granted to him after his original driver, Dominick Brooks, was unable to make the event.

“I co-drove here last year, helping Jess Davids reach the finish line for the first time after she blew her engine at her first-ever rally, which was LSPR 2023.” Frentress said. “I was all set to co-drive again this year for my friend Dom, who I rode with at Olympus and Tour De Forest this year, but we found out on Thursday evening that Dom wasn't going to be able to make it to the event.

“With the crew and car already lined up to be there, I was offered to drive if I could find a co-driver in less than 24 hours. I started calling all my friends, and Super Champio-leading (a grassroots-led overlay championship) co-driver Cindi Carlson was available! I'll be making my four-wheel-drive rally driving debut at LSPR in the Steven Redd Racing-supported GC, and I'm really looking forward to it!”

Frentress has previously driven Toyota Yaris and Toyota Celica front-wheel-drive cars on stage, but the Subaru will be a new step in his rally driving career.

Ford vs. BMW vs. Dodge and More in Regional O2WD

In the O2WD class, Central Regional Championship leaders Mike Hurst and son-in-law Randall Short have the opportunity to seal their title this weekend in their V8-powered 1974 Ford Capri with a third-place finish or better.

Hurst earned his first Central Region Championship in 1993, 32 years ago, and first competed at Press-on-Regardless, LSPR’s legendary predecessor, as a co-driver in 1983 alongside Mark Dunham in a Datsun 510.

After two class wins in 2025, the Capri is expected to be pushing hard for a third straight victory in their chase for the championship.

Looking to take that title fight right to them are Levi and Griffin Johnson in their 1986 BMW 325, who finished just 45 seconds behind Hurst at last year’s LSPR. With that kind of pace and another year of experience, they could easily challenge the Capri for outright honors this weekend.

Also ready to shake up the standings, Doug B. Shepherd and Chris LaBaere return in their 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4. The Michigan-based duo led Hurst by five seconds after 13 stages at last year’s rally before a heartbreaking retirement.

In the year since they last shared the car, both Doug and Chris have welcomed daughters into the world, while Doug also supported his father’s driving efforts in the same car earlier this season. Following a mechanical failure at SOFR, the team has rebuilt the engine from the ground up and will arrive at LSPR looking for redemption.

Among the other O2WD entries, a potential dark horse team could be Matt and Adelinn Huuki, who are taking their 2009 Nissan Frontier rally truck onto the stages for the first time. The local pair’s unique machine and enthusiasm could easily make them fan favorites this weekend.

Meanwhile, in the L2WD class, Gabriel Nieves and Sam Dod in the HART Rally Team Acura Integra enter as the favorites. However, they’ll face close competition from Tevfik Peker and Jamie Beliveau in their 2019 Ford Fiesta, as well as Jason Kodat and Phil Marsh in their 2015 model, among others. With several quick pairings and reliable machinery, the L2WD fight could be one of the most unpredictable of the event.

Follow the action live on the ARA social media channels and on ara-rally.com.

~Mason Runkel for the ARA