By Stephan Sookram in Ohio, compliments of the National Sports Commission, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Mings Products and Services

OVERSEAS-BASED Guyanese Calvin Ming staked his claim in the Cooper Tire USF2000 campaign with his first podium finish of 2018 as Rounds 10, 11 and 12 rolled into Lexington, Ohio this weekend.

Ming, who was satisfied with Thursday’s official test, was able to surgically carve his way from sixth on the grid to third during race one, late yesterday afternoon.

Starting on the third row behind his American team mate Kaylen Frederick (second on the grid), Rasmus Lindh (third) and Lucas Khol (fourth), Ming knew he had work to do.

And work he did.

Frederick had an incident with Lindh which left the former down to last and the latter with a drive through penalty. Ming used his wits and reflexes to navigate that incident and when the safety car came out, he was up to fourth.

He was then able to pull off a stunning move in the fourth corner of the track, holding the outside of the fourth corner just enough to take the inside of the fifth on the flip.

Despite coming under some pressure, Ming was able to keep his cool, securing his first USF2000 2018 podium for the Pabst Racing team, behind team mate Khol (second) and Cape’s Kyle Kirkwood (winner).

He spoke exclusively to Chronicle Sport saying, “It was a hard race, I think there was a lot of contact, I was just trying to stay out of it but it’s definitely a great feeling.”

“He did a pretty good job of guarding the inside so I kept trying the outside in different corners and it was to a point where he was trying to run me off the track.”

He added that after another safety car session, the mechanics demanded the pass.

So on the next lap, I got the drive I needed and just did it in turn four, and I nearly went off; I was two wheels on the grass but I made it stick.”

Earlier in practice, Ming, Guyana’s Sportsman-of-the-Year, finished ninth in a field where positions two through 13 were decided by half of a second.

He posted a 1:21.857 second time with Lindh producing a best time of 1:21.399.

Cape Motorsports Kyle Kirkwood was second with Team Beniks’ Michael d’Orlando third.

Frederick finished eighth and Khol finished 11th.

Round 11 is set for today with qualifying at 08:45hrs and the race set for 12:35hrs.