It’s time to catch up with Green APU Rally USA Racing driver Patrick Gruszka about his recent experience at the Nitrocross Las Vegas in Nevada.
Tell Us About the Race
“It’s hard to believe, but this was my 4th Nitrocross double header event and the final round of the 2023-2024 Nitrocross season.”
How Did It Go for the Green APU Rally USA Team?
“Not our best results this time. We wound up taking 6th place the first night. The next day, we damaged the suspension and ended up in the wall during the final. That dashed our hopes for a good finish in this event.”
What Was Different About This Race Compared to Others?
“This was mostly a tarmac track, and not much dirt, which I’m not used to. I don’t have a lot of experience on this type of surface, so that was the biggest hurdle of the weekend. Also, there weren’t any jumps for the NEXT cars, other than a little step down.”
What Challenges Came Up?
“I would say that coming in sixth the first night, and then crashing into the wall the next day were challenges we were not hoping for. I wasn’t pleased at the end of the night.”
Anything You Want to Improve or Change?
“I need more seat time on the tarmac track. More experience will certainly improve my driving. I also discovered that crashing into an FIA wall is not fun – they are hard!”
What Lessons Did You Take Away from This Race?
“We used the expression “win it or bin it” before entering the finals. With this outcome, I took it too literally! The other lesson is a reminder that not every event is going to turn out the way we want. The team just needs to keep moving ahead, and set our sights on the next race.”
