Chase Elliott to highlight Nitro Rallycross racing weekend near Keystone Heights
It's 1.6 miles and a cloud of dust.
Bouncing cars, heaps of dirt and some lightning-quick drivers take center stage on the First Coast Saturday for the 2021 finale of the Nitro Rallycross series, set for Saturday and Sunday at Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park near Keystone Heights.
The series, in its first year, features top drivers from the United States and beyond in rally racing — unlike conventional paved oval and road courses familiar to most American fans, the rally format takes place on more unpredictable, off-road terrain.
And, take note: In Nitro Rallycross, don't expect all four wheels to stay on the ground.
Here's a look ahead to what you need to know as the racing series touches down in the area.
Who's the biggest name here?
Not much doubt: Chase Elliott, the 2020 NASCAR champion, is scheduled to race at FIRM over the weekend. The 26-year-old from Dawsonville, Ga., a champion in stock cars driving for Hendrick Motorsports, is scheduled to race a Subaru in the Supercar division. Another former NASCAR champion, Kyle Busch, raced that car earlier this season at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix, but Busch isn't scheduled to participate in Northeast Florida this week.
Several other notable names are on their way to the First Coast. Those include series founder Travis Pastrana, whose past achievements include X Games titles, motocross championships and rally victories, and Scott Speed, who has previously raced in Formula One and NASCAR. Other competitors are expected to arrive from as far away as Norway and Sweden.
Champs on the First Coast: Jagger Eaton, Pamela Rosa win Street League Skateboarding championship in Jacksonville
Hitting the road: Nitro Rallycross comes to Keystone Heights' The FIRM
What is the Nitro Rallycross series?
The Nitro Rallycross series began its first full season this year, with a five-race schedule spread across the nation. The first stop of 2021 was Grantsville, Utah, followed by Minneapolis, Phoenix and San Bernardino, Calif.
The competition includes the main Supercar series and the developmental NRX Next series, and for this week, the Side-by-Side (SxS) racing format as well.
Saturday's race action consists of several qualifying rounds, including the "Battle Brackets," one-on-one races that determine positions for Sunday racing. On Sunday, drivers in each classification face off in preliminary heats and semifinals, plus a last-chance qualifier, leading up to the final.
When does it begin?
Doors open for fans beginning at 11 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday and lasts through the award ceremonies in the late afternoon hours.
Where is the event?
The racing will be on the 1.6-mile track at Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park, located near the Keystone Heights Airport just east of Florida Highway 100, linking Keystone Heights and Starke. Both Bradford County and Clay County are promoting the event.
How much are tickets?
Tickets begin at $36 for a two-day ticket that covers both days of competition.
Who's leading the standings?
Pastrana enters the final round in first place in the Supercar standings with 182 points, followed by Speed at 175 points and Timmy Hansen of Sweden at 165.
Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Chase Elliott among Nitro Rallycross racers Saturday in Clay County
