Radical Cup Set for Barber Season Opener

After a winter hiatus, Radical Cup North America returns this weekend for Round 1 supporting IndyCar at Barber Motorsports Park.

Blue Marble Cocktails is back on board as title sponsor, as are all three reigning champions and host of fresh faces looking to prove themselves.

Entering its fifth year, the partnership with Blue Marble ultra-premium cocktails continues to fuel growth in the development sports-prototype series, evidenced by 32 cars entered for this weekend’s season opener.

Reigning PRO 1340 champion Mike Anzaldi (Emmett’s Energy/RYNO Racing) has elected to run the coveted number 1 panel this year.

He’ll face stiff competition in the class for 1340cc SR3s including reigning Radical Cup Canada East champ Austin Riley (Racing with Autism) and the same trio of drivers from Apex Motor Club– Jason Plotke, Vince Switzer and Chris McMurry (Crown Concepts)– who took numerous podium places during last year’s Barber event.

The PRO 1500 class will be equally competitive with Gustavo Rafols (WISKO Racing) returning to defend his outright and class champions’ titles against fellow young-gun Palmer Miller (ESSES Racing)– who took two wins at Barber last year– and series stalwart Gregg Gorski (Cock Oil/ONE Motorsports).

Miller and Gorski finished second and third in the points last year and are both gunning for the title.

However, junior open wheel star come Radical rookie, Reece Everard (Wicked Sweet/Group-A), has burst onto the scene and was fastest during the pre-season test at Barber which makes him the favorite heading into the weekend.

Another name to keep an eye on is Mark Allan (ONE Motorsports) who makes his return to national level Radical racing after seven years.

Missing from the 1500 ranks is Steve Jenks (Audien Hearing/Group-A), who has stepped up to the Platinum class and the 425bhp, 380lb-ft ‘torque monster’ Radical SR10 for 2022.

With Jenks joining, expect at least a five-way fight in the fastest class as former ALMS champ Jon Field (Bricker Design/Scott Wagner Racing), Judd Miller (ESSES Racing) and Louis Schriber III (Shorewood Development/RYNO Racing) try to topple Indy Al Miller (Blue Marble/ONE Motorsport). Miller is attempting to pull off a hat-trick, after taking the 2020 PRO 1500 and 2021 Platinum class titles.

Two promoter test sessions and an official practice session today are followed by practice, qualifying and Race 1 on Friday, and Race 2 and 3 on Saturday.

Follow all the action on Radical Sportscars social media channels. Click Here for results from the weekend.