USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES

USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires is the first official step on the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires driver development system which provides an unparalleled scholarship-funded path to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis 500. USF Juniors made its debut in 2022 with a prize package exceeding $310,000 including a scholarship valued at more than $221,000 to advance to USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires - the second step on the ladder.

Mac Clark, 18, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, driving for DEForce Racing won the inaugural championship title and will graduate to USF2000 in 2023.

CONCEPT

USF Juniors provides an entry level program for young drivers needing more experience and track time before moving onto the highly competitive USF2000 platform. The series brings a level of professionalism and organization to a driver's first serious championship choice. Emphasis is placed on training - with a "teaching" staff second to none - in addition to providing an environment for great competition.

SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE/PRIZE MONEY

A prize package exceeding $327,000 will be on offer in 2023, including a scholarship valued at $241,890 to advance to USF2000 courtesy of the Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship Program. Additional prize money and awards include the per-race Cooper Tires Pole Award as well as season-ending awards including Rookie of the Year, Championship Team, Mechanic of the Year, Spirit Award, YACademy Move of the Year and a Hard Charger Award.

In total, the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires will distribute over $1.6M in prize money and awards.

ELIGIBILITY  

The series is open to drivers as young as 14 years of age. Upon application, a 13-year-old driver may compete provided he/she turns 14 prior to the last event of the season and provided they have presented an acceptable resume of prior experience in karting, a school series, amateur racing, etc. and have further demonstrated in the YACademy Winter Series the abilities to enter USF Juniors competition early.

OWNERSHIP/SANCTIONING

USF Juniors is owned and operated by Andersen Promotions, which has over three decades of experience in the successful promotion of race events throughout North America. Led by CEO Dan Andersen and COO Michelle Kish, the company has a staff of over 40 dedicated motorsports professionals and has achieved an outstanding reputation in the racing world, known for its integrity, presentation and operational expertise.

Andersen Promotions currently operates USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tirs and USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires, which compete primarily in support of INDYCAR, as well as the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires, the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports competing under the IMSA umbrella.

USF Juniors is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC Racing). USAC Racing has enjoyed a storied history since being formed in 1956 as a sanctioning body for the United States National Championship and the Indianapolis 500. While its portfolio is best known in the circle track arena with Silver Crown, Sprint, Midget and Quarter Midget sanctioning, it now governs a diverse motorsports platform which also includes the SRO World Challenge, Porsche Sprint Challenge and the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks.

STAFFING

In addition to a team from Andersen Promotions' current staff, former Indy Lights race winner and sports car talent Gustavo Yacaman will serve as series manager. Yacaman also leads the YACademy Winter Series, a highly regarded training ground for drivers looking to make the move from karts to cars.

Race Control will be overseen by USF Pro 2000 and USF2000 Race Directors Johnny Unser and Joel Miller. USF Pro Championships’ Technical Director Daryl Fox will oversee technical operations and a staff that will conform to methods and procedures currently utilized in USF2000. Former Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves will be the USF Juniors Official Driver Coach.

EQUIPMENT PACKAGE

The Tatuus JR-23 will make its competition debut in 2023 utilizing the same base chassis as the second and third steps of the USF Pro Championships ladder with some modifications to conform to an entry level step. Drivers and teams can begin with the JR-23 chassis and continue to advance up the world’s most complete driver development system with a forward-thinking three-step concept. The equipment package will remain in competition for at least five more seasons through 2027.

Modifications for the USF Juniors series include the uprights, brake package, dampers and wheels. The USF2000 2-liter MZR powerplant prepared by Elite Engines will use a different restrictor plate producing 150 horsepower. The Cooper tire-shod chassis will feature the latest Magneti Marelli data logger and ECU.

The series will utilize a spec fuel, VP 93, ordered through the series.

2023 SCHEDULE - SIX EVENTS/16 RACES

The 2023 schedule features six events and 16 races in total, held in conjunction with USAC INDYCAR and NASCAR events. All races are run to a lap count with extended time windows to ensure competitors a set number of green-flag racing laps.

Spring Training will take place at Sebring International Raceway on February 27-28, with the annual USF Pro Fall Combine taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in October of 2023. Six pre-event test days include Sebring International Raceway March 23, Barber Motorsports Park April 27,  VIRginia International Raceway June 2, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 6, Road America August 11 and Circuit of The Americas August 24.

COVERAGE

All races feature global live streaming on the USF Juniors App and at usfjuniors.com.

MILESTONES

TRACK RECORDS

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.