On the opposite side of the nation and six months after a new USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires season began on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., the outcome of a pair of Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarships will finally be determined this weekend at Portland International Raceway. Tripleheader events for both USF Pro 2000 and USF2000 will run alongside the penultimate round of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at the 1.964-mile, 12-turn road course situated just a few miles north of downtown Portland, Ore.

Driver and Team titles in both series remain up for grabs, along with the identity of the respective champions for whom the scholarships with a combined value of almost $1.1 million will guarantee graduation onto the next step of the highly acclaimed open-wheel racing development ladder in 2024.

Rowe Chases a Piece of History

Pabst Racing with Force Indy’s Myles Rowe has led the USF Pro 2000 point standings ever since winning the second of two races in St. Petersburg. His advantage was trimmed a little last week at Circuit of The Americas, but a pair of solid top-six finishes means that he will travel to the VP Racing Fuels Grand Prix of Portland finale with a relatively comfortable 58-point margin over Brazilian Kiko Porto.

Entry List

Rowe, 23, from Brooklyn, N.Y., will be looking to put firmly in the rear-view mirror a disappointing trip to the Pacific Northwest one year ago, when he narrowly missed out on the USF2000 championship. His lead now is substantially greater as he seeks once again to become the first Black driver to claim a major North American open-wheel title.

After coming tantalizingly close on numerous occasions in recent years, team principal Augie Pabst is still seeking an elusive maiden Driver Championship to accompany the four USF2000 Team Championships his Wisconsin-based organization has claimed since 2017. Pabst Racing is also on the cusp of clinching the USF Pro 2000 Team Championship, currently with a commanding points lead, 332-253, over Exclusive Autosport.

A victory and a second-place finish last weekend in Texas has left DEForce Racing’s Porto, from Recife, Brazil, as the only real contender that has an opportunity to wrest the title, along with a Discount Tire scholarship valued at $664,500 to progress in 2024 to INDY NXT by Firestone, from Rowe’s grasp.

Former stock car champion Salvador de Alba, from Guadalajara, Mexico, lies third in the standings for Exclusive Autosport, but he trails Rowe by 88 points with a maximum of 99 at stake.

German-born Albanian Lirim Zendeli has found some consistency to match his promising pace during the latter stages of his rookie season in North America with TJ Speed Motorsports. Zendeli, who previously competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, has earned four straight top-six finishes after earlier gaining his first win at Road America.

Michael d’Orlando, from Hartsdale, N.Y., lies fifth in the standings and has fond memories of Portland after last year coming from behind to clinch the 2022 USF2000 title as well as a scholarship to progress into USF Pro 2000. His rookie campaign with Turn 3 Motorsport has brought many ups and downs, although he remains the only driver other than Rowe to have earned multiple wins (three) and poles (also three).

Watch out also for VRD Racing’s Nikita Johnson, from Gulfport, Fla., who last weekend at the age of 15 capped a spectacular debut at Circuit of The Americas by becoming the youngest ever Indy Pro 2000 race winner. Johnson, also victorious this year in USF2000 at St. Petersburg, will be pulling double-duty at Portland.

Johnson’s performance meant that a record 13 different drivers representing no fewer than eight different teams have led at least one lap this season.

Fellow teenager Danny Dyszelski, from Belmont, N.C., will make his debut this weekend for Turn 3 Motorsport after competing previously in USF2000 and radical sports cars.

A busy weekend will commence with a pair of 45-minute test sessions on Thursday, August 31, followed by 30 minutes of official practice at 9:45 a.m. PDT on Friday. A single qualifying session at 12:00 noon will set the grid for the first 30-lap race later in the afternoon at 5:30 p.m. The second and third races will see the green flag at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday and 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Sikes Seeks to Clinch in USF2000

Simon Sikes has been demonstrably the fastest driver in this year’s USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires title-chase. The 22-year-old from Athens, Ga., has previously contested three partial campaigns, each of them cut short by budgetary constraints. He has used his cumulative experience to excellent effect by recording five wins, seven poles and eight fastest race laps from 15 races since joining Pabst Racing for his first full season.

Entry List

After being embroiled in a tight contest with Jay Howard Driver Development’s Lochie Hughes, from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, through the first half of the year, Sikes has since pulled clear and now holds a commanding 69-point buffer heading into this weekend’s Discount Tire Grand Prix of Portland. A maximum of 99 points are still available.

While Pabst seeks an unprecedented sweep of the USF Pro 2000 and USF2000 Driver Championships, he also leads the way in the quest for a fifth USF2000 Team Championship in the past seven years. However, that battle looks like it is going down to the wire as Pabst currently leads JHDD by a single point.

VRD Racing’s Nikita Johnson has closed to within 10 points of Hughes in the title-chase, while DEForce Racing’s Mac Clark, from Milton, Ont., Canada, and Jay Howard Driver Development’s Evagoras Papasavvas, from Loveland, Ohio, also are in contention for second in the championship following a series of strong results.

Thomas Schrage, from Bethel, Ohio, will return to the USF2000 fray with Exclusive Autosport after displaying impressive speed during his debut at Mid-Ohio earlier in the summer.

Two other drivers are set to make their USF2000 debuts this weekend with the intention of gaining some experience prior to anticipated full campaigns in 2024: former karter and F4 racer Ava Dobson, from Franklin, Wis., who made her first foray into the USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires field recently at Road America with Jay Howard Driver Development; and Brazilian Lucas Fecury, who is also stepping up from USF Juniors with DEForce Racing.

Plenty of track time lies in store for the USF2000 contenders, starting with a pair of 45-minute test sessions on Thursday. Another 30 minutes of practice at 9:00 a.m. on Friday will provide one more opportunity to gain some experience prior to a single qualifying session at 11:15 a.m. which will help determine the starting order for all three 25-lap races. Race One will start later in the day at 4:30 p.m., with the season’s two final races set to start at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday and 4:20 p.m. on Sunday.

Full coverage can be found on the free USF Pro Championships App, YouTube channel and respective series’ websites.

The prestigious 69th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals lives up to its name as the world’s biggest drag race, offering a full slate of special events, attractions, autograph sessions and more during the race weekend on Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

On top of it, free parking is also offered for all race fans at the Big Go, helping allow them to see a host of attractions and bonus events on drag racing’s grandest stage. Along with the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout and the final Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHR Challenge bonus race of the season for competitions in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals gives competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series a multitude of opportunities for Indy glory.

The new Rooftec NHRA Competition Eliminator Cash Class takes place on Sept. 1, featuring a total purse of $50,000. The winner in the 16-car field will earn $30,000, while the special event will be featured on the NHRA on FOX broadcast during the weekend. The new Rooftec NHRA Competition Class Bonus Award will also debut at the Big Go, adding another $11,500 to the national event purse.

The fastest Super Stock cars will challenge for ultimate bragging rights and a bonus purse during the popular Dodge HEMI Challenge, with the finals set to take place under the lights at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park directly before the opening session of qualifying in Funny Car and Top Fuel on Friday.

Throughout the event, fans will get a number of chances to hear from, meet with and get autographs from their favorite drivers. Everyone is invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which creates a festive atmosphere leading into Nitro Alley. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets and much more. For autograph seekers, autograph sessions take place on Friday and Saturday at the Dodge Display, on Saturday at the Mission Foods Display featuring drivers in that weekend’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, on Saturday at the Toyota Display and Sunday featuring the eight Funny Car standouts in the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout.

Fans can also enjoy cacklefests in the hot rod junction, as well as standout racing in the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown and the new Factory X presented by Holley category.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

The weekend wraps on Labor Day Monday, starting with the fan-favorite SealMaster Track Walk and finishing with the winner’s circle celebration on the starting line, where fans are invited to congratulate the winners of the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Away from the track, fans are invited to Cruz Pedregon’s annual open house at his racing headquarters in Brownsburg from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, with the DSR Performance Block Party at DSM Precision Manufacturing Headquarters from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1.

For nearly seven decades, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals have represented drag racing’s pinnacle and there’s nothing like winning a Wally on the sport’s grandest stage. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won in 2022 and this year’s race will be broadcast on both FOX and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including eliminations coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 4 on FS1 and continuing at 2 p.m. on FOX.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals includes one round at 5:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 1, two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2:15 and 5:45 p.m. and the final two rounds on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 12:15 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations start at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 4. The Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, with the semifinals at 3:20 p.m. and the finals at 5:15 p.m., with television coverage taking place from 4-5:30 ET on FOX.

Television coverage starts on FS1 from 11:30-1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3 and continues from 5:30-7:30 p.m. On Monday, eliminations coverage begins at 12 p.m. on FS1 and continues on FOX from 2-5 p.m.

Single-day tickets for the Top Eliminator Club are also on sale, putting fans even closer to the action. Offering the best seats in the house and a premium experience, the Top Eliminator Club includes number of exclusive benefits for the historic event.

To purchase tickets to the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admission with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

(Courtesy of NHRA Communications)

Wally Brown Racing partners with JMC Motorsports for final race of the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track Season. Jarod Vanderkooi will pilot the KTM 790 with support from both teams at Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties.

Wally Brown Racing recruited Jesse Janich to ride for a limited number of races this season, however Janisch suffered an injury in July and is unable to compete. After missing the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half Mile, the team sought a replacement to finish the scheduled runs at Springfield Mile I & II.

“We are excited to be working with a top ten team for this final run in 2023. Despite a few setbacks this year, we’re hoping to finish strong and continue to demonstrate that the KTM 790 can be competitive, “ stated team owner Wally Brown.

“JMC Motorsports, along with Jarod Vanderkooi, are very excited to partner with Wally Brown Racing. We are eager to ride and develop a new brand and are confident with this partnership we will make big strides at the Springfield Mile. JMC Motorsports will also have the continued support at Springfield Mile of Fairway Ford and Avila Racing” states Jay Maloney.

In 2022, James Rispoli won the Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines at Springfield Mile on the WBR KTM 890. “It’s always fun to return to a track that you’ve been to and see what kind of progress you can make, but to win at a legendary track like the Springfield Mile and be able to return is special. Everyone on the team is ready for another chance to compete,” stated Brown.

 Tickets are officially on-sale for the 2024 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the start of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

Fans can kick off their new year and watch the twice-around-the-clock marathon as four different classes of sports cars battle it out around the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway.

“Starting off our year with one of the biggest sports car events in motorsports is always such a pleasure for all of us at The World Center of Racing,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “As we near the final part of our racing season here at Daytona and look ahead towards 2024, we’re eager to have our loyal race fans join us for our first event of the new year with the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA.”

This year’s Rolex 24 saw the debut of the WeatherTech Championship’s newest class, the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), with Meyer Shank Racing showcasing an action-packed performance for the GTP, driving their No. 60 Acura ARX-06 to victory over the rest of the field.

The GTP class will return to in 2024 alongside the LMP2, GTD and GTD PRO classes, with another capacity grid expected at The World Center of Racing.

Rolex 24 At DAYTONA race weekend begins on Thursday, Jan. 25 and continues throughout the weekend, with the highly anticipated 24-hour race running from Saturday, Jan. 27 to Sunday, Jan. 28.  

Fans can also catch the very first glimpse of the WeatherTech Championship on Jan. 19 – 21 in the ROAR Before the Rolex 24 and see drivers and their cutting-edge machines test their skills around the track as they prepare for the big race.

Fans can purchase their tickets to the 2024 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Purchase of tickets to the Rolex 24 also includes admission to the ROAR Before the Rolex 24 as well.

 Car enthusiasts and charitable hearts can unite behind the Colorectal Cancer Alliance car raffle for a 1-in-1,250 chance to win a custom blue 2024 Porsche Macan S. The winner of the premium upgraded twin-turbo V6 vehicle will be announced on December 2. Tickets are $100 and can be reserved online until they’re sold out.

Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance) supporters Jay and Lyn Ferriero donated the car, which bears the color of colorectal cancer awareness and has a total value of $71,070. Their generosity means every dollar of ticket sales supports the Alliance’s mission to end colorectal cancer. The Alliance is a national nonprofit with programs that advocate for screening, amplify patient support, and accelerate research to save lives.

“Colorectal cancer is common and deadly, but highly preventable with screening,” said Adina Frazier, Senior Director of Special Events at the Alliance. “The car raffle is an important way to raise funds to highlight this life-saving message and benefit the millions of people affected by colorectal cancer, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the winner to drive awareness wherever they go.” 

The winning raffle ticket will be drawn in front of a live audience at the Alliance’s premier fundraising gala, the Blue Hope Bash, in Washington, D.C. If the winner is not present, they will be contacted by an Alliance staff member following the event. Full details are available here. 

About the car:

Model: Custom 2024 Porsche Macan S

Color: Gentian Blue Metallic

Engine: 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 engine

Transmission: 7 speed automatic transmission

Interior: Black/Mojave beige leather with ventilated 14-way power seats with heat and memory

Comfort and Assistance: The included premium package features a panoramic sunroof, BOSE surround sound, and lane change assist

Aggregate value: $71,070

ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER ALLIANCE

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance empowers a nation of passionate and determined allies to prevent, treat, and overcome colorectal cancer in their lives and communities. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance advocates for prevention, magnifies support, and accelerates research. We are the largest national nonprofit dedicated to colorectal cancer, and we exist to end this disease in our lifetime. For more information, visit ccalliance.org.

South Florida Motorsports (SFM), the organizers of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, are delighted to announce that tickets for next year’s race go on sale today. With the recent confirmation of the 2024 calendar, Formula 1 will make a spectacular return to the Miami International Autodrome on the weekend of May 3-5, 2024. With over 270,000 fans at the three days of 2023’s race, increased demand has meant organizers are releasing tickets earlier than usual and will increase capacity to 100,000 spectators per day for next year’s event.

For 2024, all existing grandstands will return, with increased capacity at some of the most popular areas of the circuit, including the Start/Finish and Turn 1 North grandstands. All grandstands offer shaded sections, reserved seating and access to the full MIA Campus experience. Alongside the grandstands, the many unique hospitality options are also going on sale today, including the hottest beach club in Miami where guests can watch the action between Turns 11 and 13 alongside a signature pool and world-renowned performers at the Hard Rock Beach Club, or the Boathouse which offers incredible views of the high-speed corner complex at Turns 4 and 5.

The Casa Tua Trackside Club, The Villas and The Vista at Turn 1 all offer close up views of the first corner action, with the renowned 72 Club overlooking the racing towards Turn 4, and the Turn 18 Club and Turn 18 Suites offering panoramic views as the drivers come off the long back straight, towards one of the best overtaking areas on the track. The General Admission Campus Pass ticket will be evolved further for 2024, and go on sale later this year. Full details of the range and types of tickets are available to purchase today, can be found at the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2024 website here.

This past May, the second edition of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX was an overwhelming success thanks to the significant investment made by South Florida Motorsports and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and the direction of Managing Partner Tom Garfinkel. With the addition of a new permanent Paddock Club building and a complete repaving of the 3.36-mile track, fans were able to experience one of the best Formula 1 events on the calendar in addition to enjoying a thrilling on-track spectacle with even more overtaking than the inaugural race, including for the lead with nine laps remaining.

An independently commissioned economic report has also revealed the local economy benefited by $449 million from 2023’s race, an increase of 29% on 2022, which brings a total impact over the race’s first two years to $798 million. Visitor spending in the Greater Miami region during race week reached over $195 million and total attendance was up nearly 15% in 2023, emphasizing Miami’s place on the calendar as a destination race. The fans who visited the Miami International Autodrome this year were able to enjoy an enhanced spectator experience with one of the most popular changes being the upgraded Campus Pass, which enabled fans to enjoy the spectacle of the all-new F1 Team Village on the home field of the Miami Dolphins from the 300 level of Hard Rock Stadium.

The race also provided employment opportunities with salaries and wages reaching $150 million — an increase of 41% from the first year of the race. The report, prepared by Applied Analysis, gathered economic and fiscal data from Formula 1, Miami Dolphins, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau plus state and local governments, in addition to spend profiles from attendee surveys. The construction of a new permanent Paddock Club building also led to a 60% increase in construction-related economic activity, with an impact of $230 million on the Greater Miami region in the months leading up to May’s event.

“We are delighted to be able to release tickets for next year’s race so early,” said Tyler Epp, President of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX. “Thanks to the huge investment into Miami International Autodrome made by Stephen Ross and under the vision and leadership of Tom Garfinkel, this year’s race built on the foundations of our first event and took the spectator experience to a new level, which we aim to further for 2024. It’s also incredible to see the significant economic impact the race has had on the local area with $449 million directly benefitting the Greater Miami region, and we look forward to building on that in 2024 and beyond.”

In addition to the economic impact, the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX continues to be at the heart of the local community. Over 200 students from Miami Gardens, Florida, participated in a series of STEM educational programs at this year’s race while 14 minority-owned food vendors took part in the food and drink experience on Campus.

Constructed for the inaugural race in 2022, the Miami International Autodrome is a 3.36-mile circuit located in Miami Gardens. With a brand-new Paddock Club building and state-of-the-art facilities, the venue in the Hard Rock Stadium complex also includes one of the best medical centers in the sport, provided by Jackson Health System. Jackson’s Ryder Trauma Center is responsible for the medical staff, equipment and primary treatment facility for drivers and other team personnel during the event.

Following the success of the first two Formula 1 races in Miami, organizers are looking forward to enhancing the spectator experience for both returning fans and new attendees for the 2024 edition next May. Spectators are encouraged to secure their opportunity to watch world-class racing in one of the top destination cities on the Formula 1 calendar by purchasing their tickets today at the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2024 website here.