USF Pro Insider

04/09/2023

It’s almost time to celebrate the accomplishments of the talented drivers, teams, and mechanics of the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires here in Portland.

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02/09/2023

Great to see newly-crowned champion .sikes getting some big screen time here at with . Sikes is a well-deserved champ and will be a title contender in USF Pro 2000 in 2024.

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01/09/2023

10/08/2023

Decided to ride along with the new USF Juniors drivers from Jay Howard Driver Development for the track ‘walk’ at Road America. Jay Howard’s coaching and approach to the track was phenomenal and so in-depth. I took so much from the session. Excited to see what rookies Ayden Ingratta, Ava Dobson, and Hudson Potter can do in their debut weekend. It’s obviously such a huge positive for the series to have JHDD expand into the USF Juniors program.

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10/08/2023

We’re back at the track for the fifth stop on the USF Juniors schedule, with an increased field of 16 cars with the addition of Jay Howard Driver Development. It’s always great to be back at Road America. We’ll have full coverage throughout the weekend on the YouTube channel.

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24/07/2023

One of the stars of the USF Juniors weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was VRD Racing's Hudson Schwartz. The 14-year-old American earned his first career pole and second podium finish in a breakout performance. I sat down with Hudson last Friday to discuss his young career, his goals, and how he sees himself as a driver.

PODCAST LINK: https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep55-hudson-schwartz/

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21/07/2023

Jay Howard Driver Development's Evagoras Papasavvas has been one of the drivers to watch in the USF2000 Series in 2023, scoring his first victory during a breakout weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in early July. I sat down with the 15-year-old America driver after yet another strong performance, this time at the Honda Indy Toronto. Check out my newest podcast:

https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep54-evagoras-papasavvas/

/ / Jay Howard Driver Development

20/07/2023

Stay tuned. I'm recording a new podcast interview with this Jay Howard Driver Development driver this afternoon, Mid-Ohio USF2000 Series race winner Evagoras Papasavvas. I'll have it published tomorrow morning.

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08/07/2023

I bee-lined to the paddock after the USF Juniors victory lane celebrations to check on Joey Brienza, who flipped in Race 2. The car took a beating but it also did its job. The tub is intact and the team will bolt on new parts for Road America. As Joey told me, “I’m here eating a cookie, so it could have been worse”. What a character!! 😆

07/07/2023

Now this is a track souvenir! A fully signed Cooper Tire slick!

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07/07/2023

USF JUNIORS - MID-OHIO: Pre-Practice Paddock Tour

06/07/2023

Four USF Juniors drivers together and laughing their butts off after a test day? Yep….filming fun social media content for sure. Keep an eye out for this on the channels!

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04/07/2023

NEW PODCAST ALERT: I spoke with USF Juniors driver Carson Etter from DC Autosport yesterday, and we discussed his move from off-road racing to open wheel, his first year in the USF Pro Championships, and his USF2000 Series debut at Mid-Ohio this past weekend. I begin the show with a race report from weekend.

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https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep53-carson-etter/

03/07/2023

Just wrapped now a new 'USF Pro Insider' podcast, speaking with USF Juniors driver Carson Etter from DC Autosport, who made his USF2000 debut at Mid-Ohio this past weekend. I'll get the interview published in the morning, and it will include a quick weekend report from Mid-O.

📸 Gavin Baker

23/06/2023

Get ready! A new episode of 'The Climb Presented by Discount Tire' drops at 5:00 pm ET today on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel. These shows just keep getting better, just like the season. The intensity is increasing every weekend.

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23/06/2023

14/06/2023

Freshly paved and ready for four awesome USF Pro Championships events in USF2000 and USF Pro 2000. We’re on-track on Thursday for a full open test day and the official practice and qualifying fill the Friday schedule. The races will be live streamed on the USF Pro Championships app and YouTube channel.

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08/06/2023

08/06/2023

The resume of Mexican Salvador de Alba is unlike any other driver in the USF Pro Championships system, highlighted by NASCAR Mexico and Super Copa GT titles. USF Pro Insider Rob Howden sat down with the 23-year-old after his second straight USF Pro 2000 oval victory, which came in the Freedom 90 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in May. The win vaulted the Exclusive Autosport driver to fourth in the point standings and has provided him significant momentum heading to the next rounds of the championship at Road America.

https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep52-salvador-de-alba/

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06/06/2023

NEW PODCAST ALERT: Fresh off his win in the third USF Juniors race of the weekend at VIR, Exclusive Autosport's Jack Jeffers sat down to chat with USF Pro Insider Rob Howden to discuss his karting career, his development from the pre-season to now, and what it means to notch that first big USF Pro Championships victory. The 16-year-old Texan also spoke of the family atmosphere under the tent of his chosen race team.

LINK: https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep51-jack-jeffers/

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03/06/2023

Sebastian Wheldon just scored his first car racing victory with a flag-to-flag victory in the Skip Barber Formula Car Series at VIR. Jeshua Alienell finished second while Caleb Gafrarar re-passed Jaxon Bell for third.

03/06/2023

I’ll be bringing a number of Skip Barber Racing School Formula Race Series drivers into the booth with me this weekend, and at Road America, during the USF Juniors broadcasts. Caleb Gafrarar sat in on qualifying this afternoon, and he did a great job. Caleb will start P3 in Race 1 this afternoon.

02/06/2023

The Skip Barber Racing School Formula Car Series is running this weekend with USF Juniors here at VIR, and this is giving the Skip Barber drivers an opportunity to chat with the USF Pro Championships team owners. After their first practice session, Caleb Gafrarar and Sebastian Wheldon spent some time talking with Exclusive Autosport’s Michael Duncalfe.

The Skip Barber Racing School is the Official Racing School of the USF Pro Championships and will award a $100k scholarship to their 2023 champion to move to USF Juniors next season.

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31/05/2023

NEW PODCAST ALERT! As I begin my travel to VIR for this weekend's USF Juniors event, I've published a new interview with DEForce Racing's Quinn Armstrong, who won the first race of the season and currently sits third in the standings. It's a fun interview with the young Aussie, who's focused on getting back to the top step of the podium. Check it out at the link below, or download on your favorite podcast app.

/ / / USF Pro Championships

Australian Quinn Armstrong will return to the site of his 2022 American formula car racing debut on the June 2-4 weekend when the sophomore USF Juniors driver and his DE Force Racing team head to VIR for the third stop on the schedule. USF Pro Insider Rob Howden chats with the 16-year-old about the....

30/05/2023

With the Skip Barber Racing School now positioned as the 'Official Racing School of the USF Pro Championships', it made sense to me to expand my podcast focus to include the drivers in the Skip Barber Formula Car Series. The program is running this coming weekend at VIR alongside the USF Juniors series, so I invited point leader Jaxon Bell to discuss the start to the season and the next round at VIR.

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https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep49-jaxon-bell/

23/05/2023

It's been a strong start to the USF2000 Series for Australian rookie Lochie Hughes, who leads the series standings heading into the Carb Night Classic Freedom 75 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on May 26. USF Pro Insider Rob Howden chatted with the Jay Howard Driver Development pilot ahead of this Friday evening's race and discussed Lochie's early success in 2023.

https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep48-lochie-hughes/

/ / USF Pro Championships / Freedom 75

12/05/2023

Here’s the halo on the Tatuus USF-22 of Elliot Cox, who had Max Garcia land on top of him in T7 at Indy. I spoke with Elliot, and he’s fine, and a quick inspection of his helmet shows no marks. The halo did its job. Elliot also pointed out that he had his friend Justin Wilson riding along with him. Amazing. The damage to the car is extensive, and they’re not sure they’ll be able to get back on-track for tomorrow.

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09/05/2023

Arrived in Indy a little early for this weekend’s USF Pro Championships events at IMS and decided to visit a couple of the team shops. Stopped by Exclusive Autosport and Jay Howard Driver Development, as also stopped by to see friends at Arrow McLaren and RLL. All in all, it’s been a good day.

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05/05/2023

NEW PODCAST ALERT!

Ahead of next weekend's USF2000 Series event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USF Pro Insider Rob Howden sat down with series rookie, Indiana resident, and Jay Howard Driver Development pilot Al Morey to discuss his short career behind the wheel, how his freshman season has played out thus far, and how the 17-year-old is excited and ready to tackle the iconic IMS facility.

LISTEN HERE: https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep47-al-morey-iv/

/ / / / USF Pro Championships

📷: Gavin Baker

Ahead of next weekend's USF2000 event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USF Pro Insider Rob Howden sat down with series rookie, Indiana resident, and Jay Howard Driver Development pilot Al Morey IV to discuss his short career behind the wheel, how his freshman season has played out thus far, and h...

03/05/2023

NEW PODCAST ALERT!

I sat down with DEForce Racing's Nicolas Giaffone following his sweep of the USF Juniors doubleheader at Barber Motorsports Park last Friday to discuss his start to the season, his motivation for coming to America to compete in the USF Pro Championships, and the dynamic with the team.

LISTEN HERE: https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep46-nicolas-giaffone/

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Photo: Gavin Baker

01/05/2023

ICYMI, here's my Discount Tire Race Recap from the USF Juniors Cooper Tire Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. The youngest drivers in the USF Pro Championships put their developing talents on display in front of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock and notched their fourth green-to-checker race of the season.

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28/04/2023

Nicolas Giaffone dominated the action in the opening race of the USF Juniors doubleheader today at Barber Motorsports Park, leading a DE Force 1-2-3.

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25/03/2023

It's a busy day here at Sebring with USF2000 making their debut at the event. Two main events at the end of the day will dial the excitement up a level.

23/03/2023

Interview time for the podium finishers in USF Juniors Race 1 at Sebring. What a great opening race.

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21/03/2023

With the second season of USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires beginning on Thursday (March 23) at Sebring International Raceway, I sat down with expected title contender Joey Brienza to discuss his expectations, as well as his last few years of focused driver development with Exclusive Autosport.

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With the second season of USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires beginning on Thursday (March 23) at Sebring International Raceway, USF Pro Insider Rob Howden sat down with expected title contender Joey Brienza to discuss his expectations, as well as his last few years of focused driver development w...

17/03/2023

As we focus forward to the next rounds of the USF Pro Championships at Sebring on March 23-26, I sat down with reigning USF2000 Series champion and USF Pro 2000 rookie Michael d'Orlando to talk about his championship journey in 2022, his off-season focus, and the start to this new season with Turn 3 Motorsport. The podcast is now live on Podbean and is available through all the primary podcast outlets. It's also available on the USF Pro Championships app.

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https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep44-michael-d-orlando/

09/03/2023

American Simon Sikes has his best opportunity to win in the USF2000 Series with Pabst Racing this year. But, he's still searching for the funds to make it all happen. I sat down with him today to discuss his career to date, his weekend of highs and lows at St Pete, and how he's still digging to make sure he's on the grid with the team for Sebring at the end of the month. It's a good interview with a potential American star.

https://roadtoindyinsider.podbean.com/e/usf-pro-insider-ep43-simon-sikes/

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Two-time SCCA National Championship Runoffs winner Simon Sikes has all the potential to be an American open-wheel superstar, if not for his lack of funding. It's an age-old story in motorsports. USF Pro Insider Rob Howden sits down with Simon to discuss his dream opportunity with USF2000 powerhouse....