Oregon Trail Rally Semenuk Wins

The Oregon Trail Rally has come to an end. Brandon Semenuk would take all the stage wins and win the event with a 8 minute and 52.3 second lead over Jeff Seehorn. 

SS15, Boyd Loop Very Short

Stage 15 would see Brandon Semenuk take the win once again. Lia Block would finish with the second fastest time on the stage, setting a time 28.8 seconds slower than Semenuk. Jason Bailey would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 1.6 seconds slower than Block. Andy Miller would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, that time would be 4.3 seconds slower than Bailey. Todd Hartmann would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 0.9 seconds slower than Miller. 

SS16, Shadow Buck

Brandon Semenuk would once again take the win on SS16. Semenuk would finish the stage with a time 16.5 seconds faster than Lia Block who placed second on the stage. Jason Bailey would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 1.6 seconds slower than Block. Jacob Despain would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing with a time 5.2 seconds slower than Bailey. Matthew Dickinson would round out the top five on the stage, finishing with a time 1.3 seconds slower than Despain. 

SS17, Nagles Revenge

Stage 17 would once again see Brandon Semenuk on top. Semenuk would finish the stage with a time 18 seconds faster than Josh Bailey who would finish second on the stage. Lia Block would set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing the stage with a time 2.6 seconds slower than Bailey. Javier Olivares would finish the stage with the fourth fastest time, finishing with a time 3.2 seconds slower than Block. Matthew Dickinson would round out the top five on the stage, setting a time 0.4 seconds slower than Olivares. 

SS18, Starveout

Stage 18 would once again see Brandon Semenuk take the stage win. Jason Bailey would set the second fastest time on the stage, that time would be 50.6 seconds slower than Semenuk’s time. Lia Block would set the third fastest time on the stage, setting a time 4.6 seconds slower than Bailey. Andy Miller would finish with the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing 1.7 seconds slower than Block. Jacob Despain would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Miller. 

SS19, Starveout

Stage 19 would see Brandon Semenuk take his 19th consecutive stage win. Semenuk would finish the stage with a time 44.1 seconds faster than Jason Bailey who placed second on the stage. Matthew Dickinson would set the third fastest time on the stage, setting a time 11.8 seconds slower than Bailey. Jacob Despain would set the fourth fastest time on the stage, setting a time 0.3 seconds slower than Dickinson. Lia Block and Dave Clark would tie for fifth on the stage, with both drivers setting a time 4.4 seconds slower than Despain. 

Photography Credit:

Vlad Tyeryekhov: Facebook

Olympus Rally Preview: Competitors

The 2023 Green APU American Rally Association season continues this weekend with the third round, the Olympus Rally. 

National Championship Rundown

Reigning ARA champion Brandon Semenuk’s championship defense has gotten off to a strong start. As Semenuk has taken both event wins so far this season. Only one driver has been able to take any points away from Semenuk this season. As Barry McKenna would win the Powerstage at the Rally In The 100 Acre Wood last month. Lowering Semenuk’s point total at the event from 27 to 26. Semenuk currently sits 27 points above Patrick Gruszka, who sits second in the championship. Matthew Dickinson sits third in the championship, three points behind Gruszka. Barry McKenna sits fourth in the championship, one point behind Dickinson. Tom Williams rounds out the top five in the overall championship, sitting one point behind McKenna. Unfortunately, McKenna won’t be at the Olympus Rally this weekend, which should make it easy for Williams to move into fourth overall or higher this weekend. 

Overall Championship Points Heading Into Olympus

B. Semenuk, 53

P. Gruszka, 26

M. Dickinson, 23

B. McKenna, 22

T. Williams, 21

RC2 Championship Rundown

Only two RC2 drivers will be competing this weekend. RC2 Championship leader Patrick Gruszka will be one of them. Tom Williams will be the other. Gruszka leads the championship by 14 points. Williams will likely look to close that gap this weekend. Williams would fail to take any points at the Rally In The 100 Acre Wood last month as he would retire with a turbo issue on day two. Kyle Tilly was registered to compete at Olympus this weekend, but he would, unfortunately, pull his entry out.

RC2 Championship Points Heading Into Olympus

P. Gruszka, 39

T. Williams, 25

K. Tilley, 17

O2WD Championship Rundown

Micah Nickelson leads the O2WD championship after taking the class win at the Rally In The 100 Acre Wood last month. Unfortunately, Nickelson won’t be at Olympus this weekend, and likely won’t be seen again until the Southern Ohio Forest Rally in June. Nick Allen sits second in the championship, 15 points behind Nickelson. Nickelson’s absence should make moving into first place easy for Allen this weekend. As only three other drivers will be competing in the O2WD class this weekend. Those drivers are Lia Block, Michael Hooper and Tim O’Neil. All three drivers will likely look to keep Allen out of a top-three finish this weekend. Lia Block sits third in the championship, 15 points behind Allen. 

O2WD Championship Points Heading Into Olympus

M. Nickelson, 47

N. Allen, 32

L. Block 17

T. O’Neil 14

LN4 Drivers Championship Rundown

Matthew Dickinson leads the LN4 Drivers Championships, sitting 30 points above Vincent Trudel and Javier Olivares who both sit tied for second overall. Dickinson has taken both class wins so far this season, as well as three points on the Powerstage at the Rally In The 100 Acre Wood last month. Vincent Trudel will return to the ARA this weekend, after missing 100AW. Javier Olivares will also be at the event this weekend. Jason Bailey and Ele Bardha will also be at the event this weekend looking to move their way up the championship rankings.

LN4 Championship Standings Heading Into Olympus

M. Dickinson, 47

V. Trudel, 17

J. Olivares, 17

No McKenna

Barry McKenna will miss the Olympus Rally this weekend. McKenna has been the only driver so far this season to challenge reigning ARA Champion Brandon Semenuk. As McKenna would manage to take nine out of 17 stages at the Rally In The 100 Acre Wood last month, including the powerstage. McKenna would retire from the Olympus Rally last season. After a DNF on SS11 would end his rally early.

Photography Credits:

© Matthew Stryker, Subaru.com/motorsports, 2023

Meatball Media: Instagram

Adam Bachi: Facebook

©2014-2024 ThePitCrewOnline