Staff
Steve Arpin’s performance in Washington, D.C. wasn’t monumental but it was his best in almost two months.
The Fort Frances native zipped his way to a fourth-place finish in the eight-lap final (in a time of 46.027) at the latest stop on the Red Bull Global Rallycross circuit.
Representing Chip Ganassi Racing, Arpin and his Ford Fiesta ST finished 3.3 seconds behind winner Nelson Piquet Jr. (SH Racing Rallycross), who earned his first career triumph in 21 appearances on the Red Bull tour.
Patrik Sandell (Bryan Herta Rallysport) placed second while Ken Block (Hoonigan Racing Division) finished third.
Arpin had his top showing since finishing third back on June 21 in the second race of a two-day event in Daytona, Fla.
But it wasn’t enough to keep him from slipping one spot in the driver standings with 198 points, one behind Joni Wiman (Red Bull Olsbergs MSE).
Wiman was the only driver not to finish the 10-car final as he was sidelined on the last lap.
But the points he gained during qualifying heats earlier on the weekend were enough to squeeze him past Arpin into seventh with 199.
Arpin was fifth in his first heat and fourth in his second, then improved to third in his heat semi-final to avoid having to take part in the last-chance qualifying heat.
Arpin next will try his luck Sept. 12-13 in Los Angeles.
The second day’s action will be broadcast live on NBC at 3 p.m. (CDT).
