Jay Howard Driver Development's Liam McNeilly stood on the podium in all three USF Juniors races in NOLA
BROWNSBURG, Ind. – NOLA Motorsports Park saw a great deal of USF Pro Championships presented by Continental Tire action this past weekend with all three series, USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and USF Juniors coming together for the first USF Juniors event and the second USF Pro 2000 and USF2000 event weekends of 2024. When the final checkered flag flew on Sunday, there were a handful of podium results for Jay Howard Driver Development including a win in USF Juniors.
Jay Howard Driver Development’s (JHDD) Evagoras Papasavvas and Liam McNeilly impressed in their respective classes this weekend, both making an appearance on the podium in every race. McNeilly hit the ground running, claiming the first USF Juniors pole position of the weekend, and the season. He then turned that into a second-place finish and stood on the podium in race one. Race two saw his debut on the top step of the podium after battling for the lead from second. McNeilly made it three-for-three in race three claiming third place after starting in the pole position.
Evagoras Papasavvas kept it consistent in the USF2000 series, claiming three second-place finishes and bringing his 2024 podium total to five in five races.
“It was a successful weekend for the team,” explained Team Owner Jay Howard. “But there is always more work to be done. The USF Juniors drivers impressed this weekend and it’ll be interesting to watch them improve as the season progresses. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the USF Juniors season, and we look forward to getting back together in a few weeks for the Barber Motorsports Park race.”
Behind McNeilly was a multitude of impressive finishes from the remaining JHDD USF Juniors drivers on their debut weekend. Ayden Ingratta became the next highest point scorer with two top-10 finishes alongside G3 Argyros who had one top-10 result. Ava Dobson made a great stride in race one, advancing seven spots from start to finish. The Potter duo of Hudson Potter and Aiden Potter had a tough start to their season but hope to make up points and move up the results sheet in the next race at Barber Motorsports Park at the end of the month.
In the USF2000 class, Tanner DeFabis seemed to find his stride in the Bayou State with two near-top-10 finishes while Michael Costello took home the only other top-10 finish of the weekend.
The sole JHDD USF Pro 2000 driver Frankie Mossman performed well with a pair of top-10 scores and one 11th-place finish.
JHDD’s USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 drivers will turn their focus to the next event at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the ‘Month of May’ while the USF Juniors drivers will have a quick turnaround and take on Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama at the end of April alongside the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.