Dodge made a spectacular debut in the popular and exciting 2024-25 Nitrocross series this weekend at Richmond Raceway with two-time and reigning Nitrocross Group E champion Robin Larsson driving the Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X race car to victory in a dominating performance in the opening round of the series on Saturday, Sept. 7.

The Dodge brand introduced its four-car lineup with defending Group E team champions Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) this weekend, which includes Larsson, Andreas Bakkerud, Fraser McConnell and teenager Lia Block in the 1,000-plus-horsepower Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X vehicles competing in the ten-round 2024-25 U.S. national series, which features events on paved and dirt surfaces.

Larsson, the 32-year-old driver from Sweden, put on a superb driving exhibit in Saturday’s round one action by taking his DRR Monster Energy JC Dodge R/T FC1-X car to the fastest qualifying time along with winning his heat race, semifinal and final for a clean sweep on the fast and tricky circuit inside the 3/4-mile Richmond Raceway oval.

In Saturday’s final Larsson started from the pole position and quickly took his Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X machine to the front of the field as he headed into the dirt portion of the track. He then paced the entire event to the checkered flag in defeating Oliver Eriksson, McConnell, Conner Martell, Viktor Vranckx, Block, Bakkerud and veteran Tanner Foust.

“It’s always special going into a new season,” said Larsson after his Saturday win. “Of course, everyone is seeking the championship at the opening race, and we have a strong team with DRR. Having won the last two years brings a lot of confidence to myself and the team. For me, it’s a cool feeling being with Dodge. It’s the first time I have been with an auto manufacturer. I’m very proud to have Dodge on board and I couldn’t ask for a better start to the season.

“My starts were good today and our pace on track has been excellent. It was a heck of a day with a ‘clean sweep’ of the events. The track was slippery on the gravel sections, and I didn’t want to make any mistakes. To be honest, I was little nervous coming into this race, and I want to play it safe in certain sections. But I had a perfect day thanks to the team and it’s great to put Dodge in the winner’s circle.”

Larsson’s DRR Dodge teammates — McConnell, Bakkerud and Block — also qualified for Saturday’s feature event with McConnell taking third, Block sixth and Bakkerud seventh after his mount suffered a punctured tire.

In Sunday’s round two program, McConnell held the pole in the six-lap final and took the lead at the start, but the Jamaican’s car was hit from behind, causing a slight spin in turn three on the opening lap. Fraser fought back to place a close second to Oliver Eriksson at the finish. Larsson placed fourth in Sunday’s final with Block taking fifth, while Bakkerud’s car was hit on the first lap and Andreas was forced to retire.

“It was a tough finish in the Sunday race,” said McConnell, a former Rallycross Lites champion. “I feel if I didn’t get hit on the first lap that I would have won the race. I felt that the positions (first and second) should have been swapped. But, if that is the decision, such is life, and I will move on to the next event. The opening weekend is always a tough one, but we are so pleased to have Dodge with the DRR team and we look forward to the next weekend in Utah next month.”

Block enjoyed her first Nitrocross doubleheader event in the Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X race car, as well as working with the veteran DRR team.

“To be honest, I was just trying to get my feet underneath everything with these high-horsepower cars,” said Block, a former rallycross (O2WD) class champion. “These other guys have a couple of seasons on me already with these racecars and it has been hard. I have been learning so much with the Dodge Hornet, and my teammates have been a great help, giving me all of the tricks and tips. It has been a big change from driving formula cars in Europe where they don’t want you to slide the car to here in Nitrocross where you need to slide the racecar to be fast. It was a fun weekend and I’m anxious for the next race.”

DRR team owner Dennis Reinbold was very pleased with the Richmond Nitrocross weekend and Dodge’s introduction to the new motorsports discipline.

“I’m so ecstatic with the Dodge’s debut with our Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team and it’s introduction into the Nitrocross series,” Reinbold said. “You think about Dodge, and you think about muscle cars. And our Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X race car is so fast and quick off the line and making these amazing jumps. Dodge is all about performance and feel, and they will fit in so well with Nitrocross. And it was a great start for Robin to sweep the events on Saturday in Dodge’s debut here.”

The next Nitrocross doubleheader weekend — Round 3 and 4 — is set for Oct. 5-6 with the “Busch Light Race to the Mountains” at the Utah Motorsports Campus near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tag: Rallycross

The Swarm Invades Richmond

Dodge Debuts in Nitrocross Series Richmond Event with Dominant Victory byDRR Driver Robin Larsson in Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X Race Car

Tag:
Rallycross