This is The Statt Mann Baby. Time to Scat a little bit.

It appears Rally America will have a new champion this year.

The championship has been the private domain of Travis Pastrana for the last four years.  But this year might be different.

Travis has won two of the three events in 2010 but he’s second in points because he didn’t finish the second event of the year in Missouri.

Now, it’s been confirmed that Travis won’t be at the next two events in the championship.  Those are in Oregon next weekend and next month in Pennsylvania.

Instead, Travis will be in Australia for the introduction of his Nitro Circus TV show in that country.

With the championship shortened to just six events this season, that will mean that Pastrana won’t score in half the 2010 rounds. Hard to win a title like that!

Riding the points lead right now is Canadian star Antoine L’Estage who’s finished second in each of the three 2010 events.  He’s never won a U.S. championship so he’s riding the points hoping to get that first crown this year.

Seems likely but it’s all up for grabs at the halfway point and that’s new for the last four years of competition.

Peace.