And how many people pay any Attenzione to this
Feeder series?
This weekend’s festivities at Portland
International Raceway include the crowning of All three of Anderson Promotions Junior
Open Wheel Racing feeder series, i.e.; USF Juniors, U.S. F2000 National
championship and USF Pro 2000; the three rungs below Indy NXT.
As the USF Juniors caps off it’s sophomore
season in the Rose City with a triple header. With Max Taylor leading with 210
points. Followed by Liam McNielly (201 points) and Sebastian Wheldon, (185
points) with 99 points remaining up for grabs.
Ditto for the U.S. F2000 National championship,
also finishing with a triple header with 99 points on offer. As Max Garcia leads
with 347 points. Followed by Sam Corry )312 points) and Max Taylor. (305
points) Yep’, that’s the same Max whose leading the aforementioned USF Juniors
Championship. Pulling “double Duty” for Velocity Racing Development
But it’s the USF Pro 2000 Championship I’m most
interested in. Where Aussie’ Lochie Hughes leads with 354 points. Followed by
Jace Denmark (319 points) and Nikita Johnson. (291 points) With just two rounds
remaining and 66 points up for grabs.
Although
I must confess, I hadn’t been paying any Attenzione to the USF Pro 2000
Championship until Mid-Ohio over the Fourth ‘O July weekend, when only three
races remained – with six round total.
As
I’d forgotten that Jace finished runner-up at the series lone Oval track this
year, held at Indianapolis Raceway Park over Memorial Day weekend. Then being
one of His five podiums prior to Mid-Ohio.
Was
pleasantly surprised Wayback’ then when perusing the Drivers Championship
standings. As Jace was currently second, Say What? With 221 points. He trailed
Aussie’ Lochie Hughes by 50 points. (271 points)
While
third place was Nikita Johnson, who was running away with the championship
earlier this season. But was Disqualified from one round and has been slipping backwards
ever since. As Johnson has 215 points; just six “Markers” behind Jace. Whilst
Denmark’s Past Racing teammate Christian Brooks was then fourth in the title
fight with 207 points; only 14 adrift of Denmark.
And
yet Brooks began doing “Double Duty” the remainder of the season. Racing in
both the USF Pro 2000 Championship and the Indy NXT championship as Nolan
Siegal’s replacement at HMD Motorsports. As Siegal jumped to IndyCar, joining
Arrow McLaren for the remainder of the season on a multi-year contract.
Nikita
Johnson, the youngest of this trio of aspiring title Contendahs’ at age 16
swept both rounds at Mid-Ohio, with Denmark claiming a pair of second place
finishes.
And
after Race-1 Up North Eh! At Toronto, where Jace finished runner-up again. I
believe Denmark trimmed points leader Lochie Hughes lead to a fairly close
24-points. As Denmark’s Pabst Racing teammate, rookie Simon Sikes, the reigning
U.S. F2000 champion scored His second W’ of the season, while Hughes finished
fifth and Johnson P17.
Yet
Hughes turned the table in Race-2 winning from Pole, with Jace third and Nikita
12th; seeing Denmark slide to 35 markers behind in the title fight with just
two races remaining.
As
Jace’s biggest “weakness” to date is the lack of having zero wins vs. Hughes
having five wins, and Johnson having six. (prior to Portland)
While
Lochie has a total of ten podiums, and Nikita eight. With Denmark sandwiched
in-between with a total of nine podiums,
including five runner-up finishes.
Meaning
Jace has got to win both rounds this weekend, preferably from Pole in order to
have any hope of winning this year’s USF Pro 2000 title. Along with Hughes having
a streak of bad luck in order to overhaul Him. Not to mention Johnson gunning for second overall, albeit trailing by
28 points.
Yeah,
if Y’all can’t tell, I’m rootin’ for Jace Denmark this weekend! Having
previously scribbled about Him in the following No Fenders link.
http://www.nofenders.net/2024/05/an-aspiring-racer-named-jace.html
Good luck Jace!
