ARA Summer Double Header Brings Action to Pennsylvania and Missouri
- masonrunkel
- Jul 9
- 7 min read
(Speedway, Ind. – July 7, 2025) ~ This weekend, the American Rally Association (ARA) delivers a doubleheader of rally action with two thrilling events: the
Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR), July 10-12, in Wellsboro, Pa., and the Missouri Ozark Rally, July 12, in Steelville, Mo.
Across both events, 40 teams will take on nearly 200 combined stage miles, promising close competition, wild, gravel-spitting sideways moments, and plenty of big air as the ARA’s Eastern and Central Regional Championships heat up like a thermometer on a mid-July afternoon.
Susquehannock Trail Switches to Three-Day Format
The Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR) stands as one of the most iconic events on the American rally calendar, with roots dating back to 1965. Its storied history spans the Michigan, Ohio & New York (MONY) Series, SCCA Pro Rally, and numerous years as a marquee round of the ARA National Championship.
For 2025, STPR returns as a three-day Super Regional round in the ARA East Regional Championship, featuring a new spectator stage at the Tioga County Fairgrounds on Thursday night.
The 29 entered teams continue the 137-mile rally itinerary after a parc exposé Friday morning in Galeton, tackling the “Patterson Hungry,” “Shepard,” “Randall,” and “Wilson” stages in the first loop. A midday service in Galeton gives competitors a chance to re-prep before running the full loop a second time to close out the day.
On Saturday, festivities begin with
another chance for fans to see the cars up close, during a parc exposé at The Green in Wellsboro, Pa., followed by eight competitive stages across four loops. The “Waste Management Out stage,” including its iconic spectator jump, is featured twice.
Headlining the field is a trio of different class vehicles, all hovering within just a few speed factor points of each other.
Leading the road order is the Open Two-wheel Drive class (O2WD) 1987 BMW 325is of Daniel and Samantha Downey, followed closely by the 2001 Naturally Aspirated Four-wheel Drive class (NA4WD) Subaru Impreza of Ryan Pryzbylkowski and Betsy Nguyen. Third on the road is the Limited Four-wheel Drive class (L4WD) 2002 Subaru WRX of Tom Mayer and Nick Luther, rounding out the tight pack.
While the odds may look stacked against the Downeys in their rear-wheel-drive BMW, they have a history of earning overall podiums, including a second-place overall finish at STPR in 2023, trailing only two-time winner Dylan Gondyke.
That said, just behind the Downeys, finishing third in 2023, were Pryzbylkowski and Nguyen, who will no doubt be eyeing the top spot themselves this year. Mayer and Luther also have something to prove after retiring from second place on the final stage of the rally in 2024, setting the table for a brilliant title fight at the 2025 running of STPR.
“I can’t wait to get back out there and conquer this thing,” Mayer said. “This is more or less my home rally, but it sure does have my number—I’ve only finished one out of four attempts. Last year, we were comfortably in second overall with just two miles to go when the throttle cable snapped. Maybe this is the year we get through it clean!”
Each class represented at the rally will bring its own fierce competition, with exciting battles expected across the field.
Challenging the Downeys' BMW for O2WD honors are Mike Cessna and Jamie Lambert, who took the class win last year in their E36 BMW M3 and are coming off a podium finish at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally last month. Known for high-flying, perpetually sideways stage action, the pair have the pace to match their spectacular style.
Meanwhile, the James World Rally Team of Derek James and KJ Miller returns once again to its hometown rally in their Ford Fiesta R2. James has big plans for this year’s event.
“STPR is a big deal to me because it’s my home rally,” he said. “It’s the reason I fell in love with rallying. I went to it every year growing up, since I was three. This year, I’m going for an overall win. It’s a lifelong dream. Growing up as a kid, I never even thought I’d be in a rally car, let alone have the chance to win STPR. So, we’re going for it.”
The O2WD class will also see competition from the Honda Civic of Emmons Hathaway and William Ross, the 2008 VW Golf GTI of Gavin James and James Beliveau, and the Dodge Dart GTS of Edward Newcombe and Gavin Davie.
The 10-car battle for the NA4WD-class win against favorites Pryzbylkowski and Nguyen is shaping up to be a tight one. At least four cars are in serious contention, with several potential spoilers and even a newcomer adding depth to the field.
The Bit by Bit Motorsports 1993 Subaru Impreza, driven by Andrew Williamson and co-driven by Julia Stewart, will be one of the top teams in contention for both the NA4WD class win and an overall podium finish. They landed on both the class and overall podiums at STPR last year, and followed up that performance with another double podium at the 2024 Overmountain Regional Rally in Tennessee.
Dan Shirley and Eric Eisele will be back in the “War Weasel Wagon,” with Shirley aiming to improve on his second-place overall and class finish at last year’s rally. Their Impreza Wagon is a fan favorite wherever it goes, and with class podiums in four of its last six rallies, the team is an obvious contender at STPR.
Greg Healey and Boyd Smith will also be aiming for gold in their 2002 Impreza. While it’s their first time competing together, Healey brings years of rally experience, including FIA Rally5 (G5) and O2WD class wins at STPR in 2012, 2015, and 2017. This weekend, he’ll be chasing his first AWD win at the event.
“Despite knowing each other for decades, this will be the first time Boyd and I have run together,” Healey explained. “We're looking forward to the adventure, good luck to all competitors!”
In L4WD, competition from last year’s class winners, James Pryzbylkowski and Ethan Curtis in their 2004 Subaru WRX, and Joshua Girtain and Dustin Yarborough in their 2005 Mitsubishi Evo, will keep things interesting.
Finally, in the L2WD class, the ANY% team of Chris and Sara Nonack will lead the nine-car field in start order. Their 2013 Subaru BRZ is the odds-on favorite to win the class, but eight other teams, including the Ford Fiesta of Tevfik Peker and Keegan Helwig, the 2003 VW Beetle of Timothy Thomas and Ethan Chuong, and the 2003 Dodge Neon of Alan Edwards and Daniel Baker, will be fighting for an upset victory.
Phillip Giliver and Elizabeth Cordara will also be looking for a podium with a fresh rebuild on their Toyota Yaris that Giliver says is more robust and may be “a touch quicker.”
Famous Cattle Guard Jump Returns at Missouri Ozark Rally
For the first time since 2021, rally cars will race through the roads of Crawford County, Missouri, as the Missouri Ozark Rally (MOR) rolls into town Saturday, July 12th. The ARA Central Region event will feature 11 teams competing in a 62-mile, five-stage event with one service area and two spectator points.
This year’s MOR marks the first time Crawford County has seen rally action since 2021 and returns the ARA to one of its most famous spots: the Cattle Guard Jump. A conveniently named section of road, it crests sharply at a cattle guard, allowing cars to soar over 100 feet through the air before continuing down the stage at speed.
With deep rally roots in the region stemming from the 100 Acre Wood Rally, as well as the Show-Me Regional Rally, the sport has been a part of the community’s blood for decades and grows stronger as it returns to Crawford County.
This year’s event includes recce in the morning, followed by racing at night. The first cars hit the stage at 6 p.m. for the “KP to Ollie N” stage, which is run twice back-to-back, followed by a service, and then the “Ollie South” stage three times.
The final stage begins at 10:11 p.m., under the cover of nightfall, after which competitors head to the Steelville Schools Campus for their awards ceremony.
The favorite for the overall win is the winged NA4WD GC Impreza WRX Wagon of Ryan Rethy and James Dallman. The pair have had class victories at all eight rallies they have started together and most recently took the regional overall win at this year’s Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.
Scott Rose is expected to be the closest NA4WD-class competition for Rethy, starting his second rally after debuting at the Show-Me Rally last year. Michaela Kuba joins him in the car this weekend.
“Rally is a very exciting and interesting sport, and I’m excited to get on a stage that has been famous on the national stage. It’s great to see rally expand back into Crawford County, and I hope to see a full return to the county. As a privateer, it really is wild to see how much work and prep goes into rally. I used to run and participate in drift events, and they are much simpler. But I enjoy the challenge.”
The L4WD 2004 Subaru WRX of Taylor Jessee and Matthew Myers and the L4WD 2002 Subaru Impreza of Peter and John Farrow are the most likely cars to take down Rethy and Dallman for the overall win. Both teams have shown promising pace in the past and look to improve and push onto the overall podium this weekend.
Doug and Jeni Voss are the third and final L4WD entries, entering their third-ever rally at this event.
“My wife Jeni and I are very excited about MOR as it will be our third event,” Doug said. “The road we are using was part of the 100 Acre Wood Rally many years ago, when I first became involved with Rally America. I never got to see the cattle crossing jump as a volunteer, and now I get to race across it!”
With five teams, nearly half the field at MOR consists of L2WD cars. Calvin Cooper and William Ho start first on the road in their 2003 BMW 323i and should face stiff competition from the 1988 VW Golf GTI of Erik and Votipka in a front- versus rear-wheel-drive battle.
The remaining Acura Integra of Zachary Kitz and Brian Pashea, the Ford Focus of David Chenot and Eric Silkwood, and the 1971 Super Beetle of Doug Leibman and Kevin Schatz will all be fighting for podium honors in the L2WD class, and possibly looking to take an upset victory.
Finally, the lone O2WD competitors will be rallying in style, as Bruno Pinillos and Rachel Bee take on the stages in their Datsun 280ZX.
~Mason Runkle for the ARA
Media Contact:
Scott McKee