DREYER & REINBOLD TEAMMATES FRASER McCONNELL AND ANDREAS BAKKERUD COMPLETE PODIUM SWEEP OF BOTH THE LA FINAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE
Nitro RX to Kick Off its 2023/24 Season June 16-17 at Visions Off-Road; Tickets On-Sale Now
(Los Angeles, CA / Tuesday March 21, 2023) Nitro Rallycross wrapped up its inaugural global season this weekend in thrilling fashion at Los Angeles’ iconic Glen Helen Raceway. Following a triple shot of fiercely contended finals, with three different drivers winning each round, Robin Larsson (SWE) clinched the series title on Sunday. He also had the honor of hoisting the new Ken Block Championship trophy, which was presented by Lucy Block and the Block family.
After winning under the lights on Friday night’s opener, Larsson’s Dreyer Reinbold Racing (DRR)/JC teammate Andreas Bakkerud (NOR) came in third on Sunday, earning second place in the season standings. Keeping it in the DRR family, rising star Fraser McConnell (JAM) finished second on Sunday and took third in the championship.
Larsson had built a strong series lead going into the LA finale, with two victories and six podiums across the season’s first seven rounds. But Larsson went cold during the first two races this weekend, uncharacteristically finishing last on Friday and off the podium in fourth on Saturday.
Sunday though, it was a very different story. Larsson reasserted himself with a Top Qualifier win, then in a tight semifinal battle, beat Travis Pastrana (USA). In the final, Larsson launched from row two, quickly passing McConnell and then – with his trademark precision and tenacity – worked his way through the field to take the checkered flag and seal the Group E championship.
Afterwards, Larsson said: “This feels really good. It’s special. My prior wins were in Europe. But here, we have top guys from all over the world. It’s so competitive. With five different winners throughout the series, you never knew going into each race who was going to win it. You had to be at your best and take advantage of every chance you got. That’s what I like.”
Bakkerud said: “Big up to Robin. All season long, he has been Mr. Consistent. It shows his attitude and commitment… Of course, I would’ve loved to have been the one lifting the trophy. But I’m just immensely proud of him and the whole team.”
Sunday brought McConnell full circle. He scored the first major rallycross victory of his career at Nitro RX’s prior Glen Helen stop in October, then in the finale capped off his breakout year by securing his third-place series finish.
McConnell said: “This is incredible. I still consider myself quite new to this sport, and coming from Jamaica, nothing in rallycross exists to this scale. So, I’m looking to push the sport back home… To be able represent my country on a stage as big as Nitro RX is an incredible feeling. It’s an honor every time I go out on the track.”
Regarding the debut of Group E’s revolutionary all-electric FC1-X, McConnell added, “The sky is the limit with it, and I think we have a great thing going.”
Group E Final (Round 10 – Los Angeles):
| Position | Car # | Name | Nation | Team |
| 1 | 4 | Robin Larsson | SWE | RX Cartel / DRR JC |
| 2 | 35 | Fraser McConnell | JAM | DRR |
| 3 | 13 | Andreas Bakkerud | NOR | RX Cartell / DRR JC |
| 4 | 16 | Oliver Eriksson | SWE | OMSE |
| 5 | 71 | Benito Guerra | MEX | OMSE |
| 6 | 199 | Travis Pastrana | USA | Vermont SportsCar |
| 7 | 21 | Conner Martell | USA | Vermont SportsCar |
| 8 | 23 | Kevin Eriksson | SWE | OMSE |
Group E 2022/23 Driver Championship Results:
| Pos. | Car # | Name | Nat. | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total |
| 1 | 4 | Robin Larsson | SWE | DRR JC/RX Cartel | 58(1) | 49(2) | 54(2) | 47(2) | 35 (5) | 56 (1) | 45 (3) | 58 (1) | 403 | ||
| 2 | 13 | Andreas Bakkerud | NOR | DRR JC / RX Cartel | 49(2) | 56(1) | 35(4) | 45(3) | 45 (3) | 53 (1) | 45 (3) | 43 (5) | 371 | ||
| 3 | 35 | Fraser McConnell | JAM | DRR | 36(4) | 36(4) | 42(3) | 58(1) | 32 (6) | 43(4) | 54 (2) | 47 (2) | 348 | ||
| 4 | 199 | Travis Pastrana | USA | Vermont SportsCar | 29(7) | 53(1) | 58 (1) | 35 (5) | 24 (8) | 35 (6) | 58 (1) | 38 (6) | 330 | ||
| 5 | 16 | Oliver Eriksson | SWE | OMSE | 30(6) | 31(8) | 35(6) | 36 (4) | 54 (2) | 53 (1) | 36 (4) | 38 (4) | 313 | ||
| 6 | 21 | Conner Martell | USA | Vermont SportsCar | 32(6) | 27(7) | 27(7) | 47 (2) | 29 (6) | 27 (7) | 32 (5) | 29 (7) | 250 | ||
| 7 | 23 | Kevin Eriksson | SWE | OMSE | – | – | 6(10) | 35(5) | 24 (8) | 36 (4) | 47 (2) | 16 (5) | 52 (2) | 29 (8) | 245 |
| 8 | 42 | Oliver Bennett | GBR | XITE Energy Racing | 21(9) | 33(5) | 36(4) | 26 (9) | 26 (7) | 33 (5) | 24 (8) | 21 (9) | 220 | ||
| 9 | 62 | Kris Meeke | GBR | XITE Energy Racing | 29(8) | 26(7) | – | – | 27 (7) | 43 (3) | 21 (9) | – | – | – | 146 |
| 10 | 12 | Timo Scheider | DEU | XITE Energy Racing | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 43 (3) | 32 (6) | 18 (10) | 93 |
| 11 | 52 | Ole Christian Veiby | NOR | JC | 32(5) | 32(5) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 64 |
| 12 | 68 | Niclas Gronholm | FIN | OMSE | 42(3) | 15(11) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 57 |
| 13 | 3 | Johan Kirstoffersson | SWE | DRR JC | – | 43(3) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 43 |
| 14 | 9 | Chase Elliott | USA | OMSE | – | – | – | – | 17 (10) | 20 (9) | – | – | – | – | 34 |
| 15 | 2 | Austin Cindric | USA | OMSE | – | – | – | – | 17 (10) | 14 (11) | – | – | – | – | 31 |
| 16 | 15 | Andrew Carlson | USA | DRR | – | – | 30(6) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 30 |
| 17 | 22 | Jenson Button | GBR | XITE Energy Racing | – | – | 21(9) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 21 |
| 18 | 71 | Benito Guerra | MEX | OMSE | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 (10) | 0 (5) | 0 |
Previously on Saturday, DRR JC clinched the first Group E Teams Championship. Thanks to Larsson and Bakkerud dominating the podium, DRR JC surpassed their nearest competitor, OMSE, by nearly 200 points.
Group E 2022/23 Teams Championship Results:
| Pos. | # of Cars | Team Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total |
| 1 | 5 | DRR JC | 107 | 105 | 89 | 92 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 101 | 891 |
| 2 | 2 | OMSE | 72 | 46 | 32 | 70 | 60 | 90 | 100 | 52 | 79 | 67 | 668 |
| 3 | 3 | Vermont SportsCar | 47 | 53 | 80 | 28 | 105 | 53 | 53 | 62 | 90 | 67 | 638 |
| 4 | 1 | DRR | 68 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 29 | 32 | 43 | 54 | 20 | 47 | 502 |
| 5 | 4 | XITE Energy Racing | 50 | 43 | 54 | 36 | 53 | 69 | 54 | 44 | 56 | 39 | 498 |
In NRX NEXT, Nitro RX’s developmental class, a world title was also on the line Sunday, with European NEXT winner Tommi Hallman (FIN) vying with North American NEXT champion Casper Jansson (SWE) for the top prize. In the end, Hallman completed a sweep of the weekend, winning both the qualifier on Saturday and then Sunday’s final to take the championship while Jansson came in second. Simon Olofsson (SWE), no stranger to the NEXT podium himself this season, finished third in Sunday’s final and Lane Vacala (USA) placed third in the championship standings.
NRX Next World Final:
| Finish | Car # | Name | Nation | Team |
| 1 | 87 | Tommi Hallman | FIN | Team Faren |
| 2 | 36 | Casper Jansson | SWE | OMSE |
| 3 | 52 | Simon Olofsson | SWE | STS RX |
| 4 | 55 | Lane Vacala | USA | BAK 40 Motorsport |
| 5 | 99 | Eric Gordon | USA | BAK 40 Motorsport |
| 6 | 44 | Jimmy Henderson | USA | BAK 40 Motorsport |
NRX Next World Championship Final Standings:
| Finish | Car # | Name | Nation | Team | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Total |
| 1 | 87 | Tommi Hallman | FIN | 63 (1) | 66(1) | 129 | |
| 2 | 36 | Casper Jansson | SWE | 62 (2) | 59 (2) | 121 | |
| 3 | 55 | Lane Vacala | USA | DRR | 51 (3) | 45 (4) | 96 |
| 4 | 44 | Jimmy Henderson | USA | BAK 40 Motorsport | 44 (5) | 42 (6) | 86 |
| 5 | 99 | Eric Gordon | USA | BAK 40 Motorsport | 41 (4) | 40 (5) | 81 |
| 6 | 52 | Simon Olofsson | SWE | 10 (6) | 48 (3) | 58 |
Throughout the season, the Side-By-Sides special class has been a fan favorite, drawing star drivers like Brian Deegan, Robbie Maddison and BJ Baldwin while deepening Nitro RX’s ties to both action sports and off-road racing. This weekend’s field maintained that high caliber, with UTV and off-road pros Amanda Sorensen (USA), Sara Price (USA) and Scottie Lawrence (USA) competing.
On Sunday, young phenom Gregoire Michaud (CAN) scored his third consecutive finals victory and eighth straight podium to clinch the series title. Lawrence and Price finished second and third in the final, while 13-year-old Ben Maier (USA) added more fuel to the SxS youth movement, taking second place in the series standings. Olympian and action sports star Leticia Bufoni (USA) earned third place on the championship table.
Side-By-Sides Final (Round 8):
| Finish | Car # | Name | Nation |
| 1 | 27 | Gregoire Michaud | CAN |
| 2 | 77 | Scottie Lawrence | USA |
| 3 | 78 | Sara Price | USA |
| 4 | 11 | Amanda Sorensen | USA |
| 5 | 13 | Leticia Bufoni | USA |
| 6 | 67 | Ben Maier | USA |
Side-By-Sides 2022/23 Championship Results:
| Pos. | No. | Name | NAT | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total |
| 1 | 27 | Gregorie Michaud | CAN | 58 (2) | 58 (3) | 56 (3) | 59 (2) | 61 (2) | 66 (1) | 66 (1) | 66 (1) | 490 |
| 2 | 67 | Ben Maier | USA | 41 (4) | 53 (2) | 40 (4) | 53 (3) | 33 (8) | 57 (2) | 51 (3) | 17 (6) | 345 |
| 3 | 13 | Leticia Bufoni | USA | 30 (7) | 36 (6) | 28 (8) | 25 (8) | 32 (6) | 31 (7) | 40 (5) | 41 (5) | 263 |
| 4 | 199 | Travis Pastrana | USA | 56 (3) | 64 (1) | 59 (2) | 64 (1) | – | – | – | – | 243 |
| 5 | 38 | Brian Deegan | USA | 66 (1) | 47 (4) | 65 (1) | 40 (7) | – | – | – | – | 218 |
| 6 | 49 | Robin Shute | GBR | 6 (8) | 0 (8) | 42 (5) | 42 (4) | 44 (5) | 55 (3) | – | – | 189 |
| 7 | 77 | Scottie Lawrence | USA | – | – | – | – | 65 (1) | 5 (9) | 57 (2) | 60 (2) | 187 |
| 8 | 57 | Lia Block | USA | – | – | 30 (7) | 36 (5) | 31 (7) | 43 (5) | – | – | 140 |
| 9 | 11 | Amanda Sorensen | USA | – | – | – | – | 50 (3) | – | 41 (6) | 44 (4) | 135 |
| 10 | 78 | Sara Price | USA | – | – | – | – | – | – | 45 (4) | 54 (3) | 99 |
| 11 | 97 | BJ Baldwin | USA | – | – | – | – | 39 (4) | 40 (4) | – | – | 79 |
| 12 | 922 | Robbie Maddison | AUS | 34 (6) | 42 (5) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 76 |
| 13 | 188 | Terry Madden | USA | 41 (5) | 30 (7) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 71 |
| 14 | 111 | Jeff Matiasevich | USA | – | – | 35 (8) | 36 (6) | – | – | – | – | 71 |
| 15 | 22 | Demi Bagby | USA | – | – | – | – | 20 (9) | 24 (8) | 0(7) | – | 44 |
| 16 | 11 | Jim York | USA- | – | – | – | – | – | – | 34 (6) | – | 34 |
Event partners for Nitro RX’s 2022/23 season finale include A SHOC Energy, Yokohama Tire, Smirnoff Ice, O’Reilly Auto Parts, myenergi, and Insta360.
Up Next:
Fans will not have to wait long to get their first taste of Nitro RX’s 2023/24 season: Nitro RX will headline Visions Off-Road 2023 at MidAmerica Outdoors in Jay, Oklahoma on June 16-17.
In addition to hosting to the first stop of Nitro RX 2023/24, fans can see Nitro Circus shows, the biggest off-road racing series in motorport – from the new Truck Championship Series to Ultra4 USA endurance to MAO Racing short course – and more.
On top of that, live shows and entertainment every day will provide all kinds of fun and adventure for the whole family. Plan a summer vacation your family will never forget at the biggest and best Visions Off-Road event yet.
Visions Off-Road 2023 tickets and camping reservations are available now at visionsoffroad.com.
ABOUT NITRO RALLYCROSS
Launched in 2018 by motorsports icon Travis Pastrana and the innovators of Nitro Circus, Nitro Rallycross has revolutionized motorsport. With innovative purpose-built courses, banked turns inspired by the wide-open action of Supercross and short-form, head-to-head competition, Nitro RX creates high-impact, thrill-packed racing. Nitro RX’s custom-built tracks – featuring the biggest jumps seen in motorsports – create unrivalled racing excitement. The full-throttle competition is now going global with Nitro Rallycross’ expansion into a full standalone championship series. Nitro RX is also adding Group E, an electric circuit featuring the all-new FC1-X, the most powerful Rallycross vehicle ever built. For more information, visit NitroRallycross.com.
