National Champions Join the Field for Rally Colorado
- masonrunkel
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
(Rangely, CO – July 14, 2025) ~ Rally and extreme sports superstar Travis Pastrana and last year’s Open Two-wheel-Drive Class (O2WD) champion Ryan Booth will be among the 34 teams converging on Rangely, Colorado July 18-20 for Rally Colorado, an American Rally Association (ARA) West Region Championship Super Regional event.
Cars from both Subaru Motorsports USA (SMSUSA) and Standard Motorsports will be in the field, prompting everyone to raise their game as the Centennial State’s signature rally take to the beautiful desert stages in the region.
Rally Colorado rose from the ashes of the Colorado Cog Rally—an SCCA ProRally and Rally America national round in the 2000s that last ran in 2009. The event was revived in 2017 and has run every year since, annually growing in popularity.
This year, the teams face a two-day itinerary featuring more than 120 stage miles across 12 stages through the high desert region of Rio Blanco County, Colorado.
Competitors and fans alike will be treated to a special parc exposé at the Rangely Auto Museum on Friday, July 18, at 6 p.m., followed by a parade of competition cars down Main Street at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, teams set off at 9 a.m. for a day running “Cathedral–CR 100 West,” “Dragon Tail–CR 116/133 NW,” and “Under the Dragon–CR 109,” each twice, with one service in the middle, before returning to Rangely around 6 p.m.
On Sunday, the rally visits the “Valley of the Gods–CR 131 E,” “Quest for Darwin–CR 73 W,” and “Earl’s Revenge–CR 96 W” stages twice each, once again with a service at midday, with teams returning to Rangely for the awards ceremony around 4 p.m.
Pastrana and Booth Return to Colorado
Two former event winners who have been absent from Rally Colorado in recent years return for what is sure to be an exciting battle at the top of the field.
Travis Pastrana last won Rally Colorado in 2008 and last competed in the state in 2009. This year, the six-time national champion returns to the event in the L4WD class with the SMSUSA Subaru WRX ARA24L, with Rhianon Gelsomino calling notes.
I’m looking forward to returning to Rally Colorado after a few years away,” Gelsomino said. ”Travis has never done this event since it restarted, so it will be a great challenge!
“We are excited to come to compete in a regional rally and help build the sport."
The Subaru pair are favorites to win the event, but they’re likely to feel plenty of pressure, as 2020 event winner and 2024 national O2WD champion Ryan Booth returns for the first time since his victory, now piloting the Standard Motorsports Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
“These roads are some of my favorite roads of the ARA calendar!” Booth said. “I have done this rally a few times, and it’s just a really fun event. Being out in the high desert, the landscapes and the views you experience during this rally are unbelievable.
“Obviously I will be continuing to work on my driving and improving my notes for the future National events, as we still have a lot of pace to gain in the Skoda, but I have always viewed this event as a fun one. Having Travis there will make us push if we want to try and beat him, so we will have to be prepared. Can’t wait to get back out!”
While Pastrana and Booth are the most recognizable names on the entry list, they’re far from the only national-level competitors.
2017 G2-class winner Cameron Steely returns for the first time since 2018, now behind the wheel of his recently completed Ford Focus RS Open Four-wheel Drive class (O4WD) car. Steely has been competing in the ARA National Championship presented by Kubota this season but is taking this weekend to run the Super Regional event with Timothy Halliday co-driving.
George Plsek, the 2005 Colorado Cog Open Class winner, also returns to Rally Colorado for the first time since 2007, this time competing in his 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo with Ole Holter by his side.
While he has no previous history at Rally Colorado, Todd Hartmann is bringing his Ford Fiesta Proto to the event, with Shawn Callaham co-driving, adding yet another uncommon piece of machinery to the Super Regional field.
Event Regulars Gear Up for Increased Competition
No team is more motivated to beat the incoming competition than the Jacob and Michael Despain of the Black Hole Rally Team. Rally Colorado marked the team’s debut just a few years ago. Since then, they've climbed the ranks, earning a podium in their second running, followed by three straight wins in their Naturally Aspirated Four-wheel-Drive class (NA4WD) 2001 Impreza RS.
“We are very excited for this year's Rally Colorado!” Jacob Despain said. “This will be our 6th time competing, and we are going to try for our 4th consecutive overall win. This year's competition is very steep, and it will be challenging finish, let alone taking the overall victory. The car is feeling solid after testing and is ready to conquer the Rangely stages!”
While it’ll be an uphill battle, something about the Despains and their Impreza just works on the Colorado stages—their greatest successes have come here. They may not have the outright pace to match Subaru Motorsports USA or a well-prepped, well-driven Rally2 car, but they remain strong contenders for the overall podium and could become serious threats if front-runners encounter problems.
Fighting against them in class, Alex Chadney returns after his 2022 second-place finish, now with Maribel Plaza co-driving in their 3.0-swapped 1995 Subaru Impreza. The pair is coming off one of their best events to date, having finished second overall at the Oregon Trail Regional Rally in the freshly rebuilt Subaru. They bring serious pace to the NA4WD class.
“This will be my 4th time at Rally Colorado, second time as a driver.” Chadney explained. “Last time in 2022 Bryce Proseus and I slogged the car through the extreme heat to my first podium finish.
“I’m hoping to recreate that success with Maribel in the car this year. It's her sixth Rally Colorado as a co-driver, and we’re fresh off our second-place finish at OTR. I've made a few changes to the car to hopefully increase the reliability and performance for this event and the rest of the season!”
Eliza Coleman and Ryan Scott, both individually Rally Colorado regulars, will join forces for this year’s event, competing in their NA4WD 2005 Subaru Impreza.
Other competition in the class includes the 1995 Subaru Impreza of Ethan Hunter and Cole Clements, and another 1995 model driven by Eric Genack with Scott McCarty co-driving.
Competing in his tenth Rally Colorado, Steve Bis faces one of the deepest class fields yet, welcoming several national-level teams to battle against his O4WD Volkswagen Golf R, co-driven by Kelley Keefe. With multiple Colorado class wins and overall podiums, Bis will draw on extensive experience to hold his ground in the 10-car class.
Other familiar names in the class include Arto and Mary Ylikangas in their 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX, competing in their fourth consecutive Rally Colorado; Sean Dorrough and Andrea Lauria, returning in their 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX after debuting last year; and Brett and Hunter Livingston, running for the first time since 2023.
The O2WD class also features former overall podium finishers looking to repeat their success, most notably Steven and Lauren Olona, who finished second overall last year in their 3S-GE-powered 1985 Toyota Tercel Wagon. They'll be starting their fourth Rally Colorado this weekend.
The Olonas will face tough competition in their class, starting with the Fiesta ST of Julien Sebot and Steve Harrell, who lead the O2WD field on the road. Close behind is the “Zombie” CRX of Bret Hunter, a longtime fan favorite. They’ll also contend with other classic Toyotas, including Brian Maskrey’s 1985 Corolla and James Veatch’s Lexus SC400.
Facing off directly against Pastrana and Gelsomino in the L4WD class, the 2013 Subaru WRX of Camerion Gholson and Jeremy Agostino returns after their roll at this rally last year that caused them to rebuild the car.
“We rebuilt and were able to podium successfully at 100 Acre Wood this year with fierce competition in LN4,” Agostino said. “My competitor friends are just as relieved as I am that we’re not racing Douglas Creek this year. Destructive offs aside, that stage has a reputation from breaking cars and dreams alike.
“We’re busy prepping for hot weather running, with additional cooling system enhancements. We’ve turned our Subaru engine power way up, but that also means we have to fight the temperatures and the stress of a desert rally in the middle of summer!”
Scott Crouch, co-driven by Elizabeth Crouch, brings plenty of experience to Rally Colorado in his L4WD 2002 Subaru WRX. He’s entered the event nine times, including once as a co-driver in 2008. Also in the class are Robert Shibao and Dillon McKenna in their 2002 Subaru WRX, and Diego De Castro and Boyd Smith in a 1991 Subaru Legacy, both teams aiming for a spot on the class podium.
In L2WD, Chris Miller returns to defend his class win from last year, this time in his 2015 Scion FR-S with Crystina Coats co-driving.
Facing off against Miller, six other teams will be chasing victory, Cameron Gransee and Jacob Hickman in a 2014 Ford Fiesta, and Radek Wlodarczyk and Cindi Carlson in a 2010 Honda Fit.
~Mason Runkle for the ARA
Media Contact:
Scott McKee