Chris Evans wins 2023 Rose Cup Race
Evans had qualified in fifth position in his No. 92 Ford Mustang. Pole position for the race went to Michael McAleenan of Tacoma, who was driving the No. 3 RCR SLC purpose-build sports racing car. McAleenan had driven the fast qualifying lap of 1:12.533 to win the Gary Bockman Pole Award for the June 8-9 weekend.
However, Evans is a veteran stock car driver, and he usually performs better in an actual race than in qualifying. Once the green flag flew, McAleenan opened an early lead, and Evans got to work chasing him down.
"It was a bit of a comedy of errors," McAleenan said. "We had a decent lead at the beginning and then as I came onto the back straight, there were double yellows, so I backed way out and everybody bunched up behind me."
The double yellow caution flags were out briefly for Kevin Roggenbuck, driver of the No. 45 Audi R8, who was stopped at the edge of PIR's Turn 12. Roggenbuck got his car started again and the field immediately went back to racing without spending a lap behind the safety car. It was an unusual decision from the race stewards, but within the rules for the race.
"Then we got started again, McAleenan continued, "And then I got passed. It was a less-than-opportune move."
The pass for the lead came in PIR's Shelton Chicane. Turns 1 through 3 at PIR are named for 7-time Rose Cup winner Monte Shelton. Evans made a bold late-braking move and got around McAleenan in the short, sharp corners of the chicane.
"I had a little bit of a ragged turn going into Turn 1," Evans admitted, "but I got him, we never touched. It was a little creepy, and I'm not too proud of that. After that we just rolled away."
Evans won the 40-minute race with a margin of 0.661 seconds over McAleenan. Evans also set the fast lap of the race at 1:13.853 at an average speed of 96.370 mph. Cooper Becklin of West Linn finished third in his No. 19 Porsche 911 GT3.
"I want to thank Central Welding Supply, and I'd like to give an honorable mention to Joe's Race Car Products," Evans said.
