2026 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY CONTINENTAL TIRE

USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire is the first official step on the USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire driver development system, which provides an unparalleled scholarship-funded path to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis 500. The series is an entry level program for young drivers needing more experience and track time before moving onto the highly competitive USF2000 platform, and brings a level of professionalism and organization to a driver's first serious championship choice.

Leonardo Escorpioni, 15, from Birigui, SP, Brazil, driving for Zanella Racing won the 2025 championship title and a scholarship valued at $249,675 to advance up the ladder.

HISTORY

Since its debut in 2022, USF Juniors has blossomed into a springboard to USF2000 competition. Graduates include series' champions Mac Clark and Nicolas Giaffone as well as Sam Corry and Nikita Johnson.

SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE/PRIZE MONEY

A prize package exceeding $328,000 will be on offer in 2026, including a scholarship valued at $249,675 to advance to USF2000. Additional prize money and awards include the Continental Tire Pole Award for each race as well as season-ending awards for Rookie of the Year, Championship Team, Engineer of the Year, Mechanic of the Year, Hard Charger, Move of the Year and Spirit Award.

In total, the USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire will distribute over $1.48M in prize money and awards. 

2026 SCHEDULE - SIX EVENTS/16 RACES

The 2026 schedule features four new circuits for USF Juniors including Lime Rock Park alongside the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, which set a current-day attendance record last year to become the most successful event in the track’s 68-year history.

All races are run to a lap count with extended time windows to ensure competitors a set number of green-flag racing laps.

*Includes pre-event test day

Additional Test Days: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course May 11-12; Road America June 10-11; Lime Rock Park July 7; USF Pro Fall Combine at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway October 17-18.

SERIES PARTNERS

Continental Tire, AMR INDYCAR Safety Team, Bell Helmets, Cosworth, Dallara Research Center, Dynamic Suspensions, Elite Engines, Hyperco, INDYCAR Ministry,  Makita Corporation, PFC Brakes, RACER, Racing Communications, Sabelt, Skip Barber Racing School, Tatuus, Tilton, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, VP Racing Fuels

COVERAGE

Coverage of USF Juniors will feature worldwide live streaming on the USF Pro Championships App, YouTube channel and website. All races will be available on the series YouTube channel after each event.

CAR | ENGINE

Tatuus Racing, S.p.A is the manufacturer of the race car packages for all three levels of the USF Pro Championships and is world-renowned as a premier builder of formula cars. The USF Pro Championships concept is unique in that the same monocoque and many of the main suspension and bodywork components are common to all three series.

The USF Juniors JR-23 utilizes the same base chassis as USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 allowing drivers and teams to continue to advance up the world's most complete driver development system with a forward-thinking three-step concept.

The chassis is a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque meeting current FIA safety standards including side impact panels, front and rear impact structures, HANS-compliant INDYCAR head restraint, front and rear wheel tethers and upgraded front bulkhead structure for USA-specific oval racing circuits and a Halo-type device.

The equipment package for all series will remain in competition for at least three more seasons through 2027.

All series are based on the MZR 2.0-liter powerplant built by Elite Engines. USF2000 and USF Juniors are upgraded factory engines and are the same except for restrictor plates and mapping. USF Pro 2000 uses the same block and head casting but is race built with performance pistons, rods, camshafts and billet crankshaft. All engines utilize a fly-by-wire throttle system.

VP is the Official Fuel of the USF Juniors series.

TIRES

Slick/rain tires co-branded CONTINENTAL/USFJUNIORS as manufactured by Continental Tire.

POINT SYSTEM

7th............................... 14             14th.............................. 7

One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Single car teams will receive three bonus points as an equivalency to multi-car teams. Only the two best results will count in the team championship for teams fielding more than two entries.

TRACK RECORDS

2025 SEASON LEADERS

MILESTONES

CHAMPIONS