Latest news with #USF2000Championship
Scoop
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
All In For Portland: Douglas Hunts Down Second Place In USF Pro 2000 Championship
Just two races remain in the 2025 USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental, and there's plenty to play for for Kiwi 20-year-old Jacob Douglas, who sits just 25 points oƯsecond place. While the title has already been claimed by Douglas's teammate Max Garcia last round in Toronto, four drivers remain in the fight for the vice-champion position. Ariel Elkin, Mac Clark, Alessandro de Tullio, and Douglas remain in the hunt, with sixth placed Max Taylor now 51 points behind the quartet. Thirty points are up for grabs for the winner of each race, in addition to the potential for bonus points for qualifying on pole, leading the most laps, and setting the fastest lap, making for a maximum of 66 points up for grabs in next weekend's double-header at Portland International Raceway. Douglas is no stranger to the 1.964-mile (3.161km), 12-turn road course, taking his maiden victory in the USF 2000 Championship there in 2023. He then won Race 2 and was the runner-up in Race 3. With momentum on his side, having finished on the podium the last three times out, anything is possible come race time. 'I have very fond memories of Portland,' said Douglas. 'My first win was there, as was my second the very next day. 'It's been a strong season so far, but on occasion, things haven't gone our way. If we hadn't had that mechanical while leading Race 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we'd be second in the standings. If we hadn't been taken out in Race 3, perhaps we'd still be in the hunt for the title. 'It's a tale of 'what ifs', but that's racing. Regardless, we're pleased with where we are, and we've shown we've got the ability and pace to mix it at the front of the field each time out. There's some extremely tough competition out there, which is highlighted by how close it is in the fight for second in the championship. 'Max has been the man to catch this season, and congratulations to him on clinching the title with a weekend to spare. For us, though, there's plenty to play for, and we're going to leave nothing on the table.' Two podiums last time out on the Streets of Toronto have made for a total of seven top three finishes for Douglas this season, including one win. He has finished in fourth place a further three times, and outside the top ten only on three occasions. This weekend's USF Pro 2000 Series action begins with test sessions at 9.00 am and midday NZST on Friday. Saturday sees an oƯicial practice session at 5.30 am, followed by qualifying at 11.10 am. Race 1 goes green at 5.20 am NZST on Sunday, before the season wraps up at 9.50 am NZST on Monday. Qualifying and both races can be watched live on the USF Pro Championships' YouTube channel. About Jacob Douglas Jacob Douglas is a 20-year-old racecar driver from New Zealand. He is a multiple-time national champion in karting and was the 2023 USF YACademy Champion. He took 11 podiums, including seven wins, in USF 2000 machinery in the United States in 2023, before making two GB3 cameos in 2024. He is a member of New Zealand's prestigious Elite Motorsport Academy, winning the renowned Bruce McLaren and Ian Snellgrove trophies among the Class of 2024 In 2025, he returns to North America to compete his rookie season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires.
Fox Sports
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Lochie Hughes Aims To Shave Dennis Hauger's Lead at Road America
INDYCAR Lochie Hughes earned his fifth top-three finish in six INDY NXT by Firestone races this season via his victory June 15 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Andretti Global rookie Hughes halved his deficit from 38 to 19 points to rookie teammate Dennis Hauger, who finished fifth on the 1.25-mile oval. SEE: Event Details Hughes is surging at the right time, and all eyes are on him heading into Road America for Sunday's 20-lap race around the 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Here are some storylines to watch for Sunday's race airing at 11 a.m. ET on FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Hughes Keeping Hauger Honest Hughes and Hauger are rookies leading the way in 2025 in the INDYCAR development series. Hauger had a firm grasp on the championship standings via four wins in the opening five races. However, Hughes remains in striking distance thanks to a 2.25 average finish over the last four races, compared to 3.75 from Hauger. Road America could provide another thrilling battle between the duo. Hughes has four wins in five junior category starts at the track, all coming in succession. He won the second race of the 2023 USF 2000 Championship, then swept the USF Pro 2000 series tripleheader at Road America last season. Formula 2 veteran Hauger has never been to the track, but many mention the circuit is reminiscent of a European road course, which could help the 22-year-old contend for his fifth victory of 2025. Road America Winner Often Becomes INDYCAR SERIES Mainstay Road America has a reputation for spotlighting future INDYCAR SERIES stars. Based on recent history, winning at Road America doesn't guarantee a championship, but it does validate elite talent. The winners' list since 2018 includes names of current drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including Colton Herta (2018 winner), Rinus VeeKay (2019), Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas (2021), Christian Rasmussen (2022) and Nolan Siegel (2023). Can HMD Motorsports Halt Andretti Global Domination? Andretti Global is 6-for-6 in INDY NXT by Firestone races this season, with Hauger winning four times and Hughes twice. Dating to Race 2 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course weekend in 2024, the team has 15 wins in the last 17 series races. At Road America, the team finished 1-2 last year via Jamie Chadwick's maiden victory. She beat eventual champion and teammate Louis Foster. The level of control is impressive, but not impenetrable – especially at Road America, where HMD Motorsports has matched Andretti win-for-win over the last four races. Andretti Global has three wins in its last eight Road America starts compared to HMD scoring three in the last four. Does that open the door for second-year HMD Motorsports driver Caio Collet? The Brazilian earned his first oval pole last weekend at WWTR and led 58 of the first 61 laps before fading to third in the closing laps. He remains third in the standings but gained five points on Hauger, trailing by 79. Collet is heating up with four podiums this season, three coming in the last four races. He has a sixth-place average finish in 11 natural road course starts, which includes four top-two results. Collet finished fifth as a rookie at Road America last year. His teammate Josh Pierson is having a career year and could be a surprise contender this weekend. Pierson is sixth in points with four top-six finishes in the last five races. The 19-year-old Oregon native finished a career-best fourth June 1 on the streets of Detroit. Does Andretti remain perfect in 2025, or can a well-timed HMD victory break the streak? Rowe, De Alba Showing Strong Consistency The Hughes and Hauger show has grabbed most of the INDY NXT by Firestone headlines. But there's a cluster of talented drivers quietly stacking results and building momentum. If any of them catch fire over the next few rounds, the title race could become much hotter. In addition to Collet, Myles Rowe has arguably been the one of the most consistent drivers outside of Andretti Global with five top-four finishes in six starts this season for ABEL Motorsports, including three podiums in the last four. He gained seven points on Hauger at WWTR by finishing runner-up and is 88 points back in the standings. Rowe has enjoyed success at Road America on multiple rungs in the junior categories. Rowe finished runner-up in both USF2000 races at Road America in 2022, and second and fourth in USF Pro 2000 in 2023. Andretti Global driver Salvador de Alba isn't displaying flashy numbers like his rookie teammates, but he's delivering steady results with four top-five finishes in six races, including three in the last four. He finished 21st at Road America last year. Track Specs: 4.014-mile, 14-turn permanent road course (clockwise), in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin Qualifying Record: Kyffin Simpson, 1:49.1028, 132.448 mph, June 17, 2023 Push to Pass Parameters: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation recommended
