Creed leads SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road St. Petersburg Practice

For the first time in 2014, the SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road Presented by Traxxas trucks took to the track as they prepared for their first event of the season.

At the end of the first practice, it was young Sheldon Creed topping the speed charts in his No. 74 Traxxas truck. The Alpine, California native scored his first win last season at the Honda Indy Toronto. Justin Lofton was second quickest, followed by Jerett Brooks, P.J. Jones and Robby Gordon.

Per series rules, the starting lineup for Saturday’s race was determined from lap times in Friday’s only practice session. Following the practice session, a blind draw was held which determined that four rows of the five-row field would be inverted. As a result, Scotty Steele will start from pole alongside series rookie Gavin Harlien.

IndyCar veteran Davey Hamilton will start third followed by series founder Robby Gordon and P.J. Jones. Jones is the series’ most recent winner as he led flag-to-flag in last year’s season finale at Las Vegas.

Brooks will start sixth, followed by Lofton, Creed and Apdaly Lopez.

The SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road Presented by Traxxas trucks will compete on the same course this weekend that the IndyCar Series is using, though with the addition of 30-inch-tall temporary ramps. The trucks were supposed to take to the track at 12:30 p.m. EST, however the race has been delayed to rain. They are supposed to run a pair of races this weekend with one on Saturday and one on Sunday.