By Ayrton Houk
The 2024 USF2000 season has been an exhilarating ride for me. Starting the season with DC Autosport and being able to compete in the USF Pro Championships presented by Continental Tire was a dream come true. From the season opener at St. Petersburg through our mid-year milestones, I’ve had the chance to showcase my skills and resilience, and it’s been a journey filled with challenge and success. Starting off the season, we only had the budget to commit to compete through May and round 8 of 16 rounds of the series, with hopes of raising the remaining budget along the way. So far, I have been extremely blessed with support that has helped me finance this year, and I have only had to miss one race weekend.
Season Kickoff: A Promising Start
The season began with the announcement of my partnership with DC Autosport. Coming off of a successful season in Formula 1600 and an amazing experience competing in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy as a recipient of the Team USA Scholarship, I was eager to bring my speed, precision, and experience to the USF2000 grid. My debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on April 5-7 had its share of highs and lows. Despite facing some challenges, including a mechanical issue that cut short my second race, I finished 9th in Race 1 and gathered valuable points. This set the stage for what I hoped would be a competitive season.
NOLA Motorsports Park: Steadfast Progress
In April, at NOLA Motorsports Park, I demonstrated my grit and determination. A rough qualifying set me to start from 13th and 17th in the first two races, I worked my way through the field to secure a 7th place finish in Race 1. My persistence continued with solid performances in the next races, finishing 11th and 13th. Navigating through the field and avoiding on-track incidents highlighted my ability to bring the car back in almost every race this season. Despite a tough race two and three, by the end of the weekend, I had climbed to 10th in the championship standings heading into my hometown races.
Indianapolis Grand Prix: Hometown Triumph
May’s Indianapolis Grand Prix was a highlight of my season. Racing at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of all of my hometown supporters was an incredible experience. I achieved a career-best, and team-best, finish of 4th in Race 2, surpassing both my and the team’s expectations. The weekend was a rollercoaster, including a dramatic Race 1 where I recovered from an early setback to finish 10th. This performance not only gave me a significant boost in the rookie standings—placing me 2nd—but also solidified an 8th position in the overall championship.
Carb Night Classic: A Heartfelt Challenge
The Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on May 24 was highly anticipated due to my oval track experience. Qualifying in P2, I was set to start in a strong position, outside of the front row, my best qualifying to date. Unfortunately, race day brought unexpected rain and a postponement. When the race finally started the next day, I battled with an oversteering biased car setup and unfortunately, a late-race spin led to my early retirement from the event. Despite the unfortunate ending to the weekend, we left with a large confidence boost and our heads set on Road America. My performance through the month of May allowed me to gain the attention of some new supporters and raise some additional funding to continue pushing on with the season.
Road America & Mid-Ohio: Consistent Performance
As summer rolled in, I tackled back-to-back races at Road America and Mid-Ohio. At Road America, I secured a hard-fought 6th place finish in Race 1 and a 10th in Race 2, keeping myself in the top 10 of the championship standings. Mid-Ohio presented challenging weather conditions, but I managed to improve my performance significantly. Just before we gridded for race one, the rain came down and starting mid pack again I stayed clean and consistent for the first lap charging up to fourth before a full course yellow came out. On the restart I made an overly aggressive move for a podium position and while running third took myself and a competitor out resulting in a P15 finishing position. Races 2 and 3 brough better results as I drove from 13th to finish 9th, and after running in the top 5 in race 3, I fell shortly to 11th before climbing back to finish 8th, maintaining my spot in the top 10 of the championship points and staying true to my goal of finishing in the top 10 for the season.
Looking Ahead: Portland and Beyond
I am extremely thankful for the financial support I have received so far this year from my sponsors and investors. Without the additional help from organizations like the Team USA Scholarship and the Wings and Wheels Foundation, I would not have been able to compete beyond the halfway point of the series championship.
With the season heading into its final stretch, I’m actively seeking additional support to cover the final race, the crucial Portland International Raceway event in August. This financial backing will help me manage essential costs and stay competitive. I’m committed to achieving a top-10 finish in the series and am reaching out to seek additional sponsors and partners to make it happen. The 2024 USF2000 season has been a testament to my talent, resilience, and synergy with DC Autosport. From my impressive debut to standout performances at the Indianapolis Grand Prix and beyond, I’ve shown that I’m a serious contender in the USF Pro Championship Series. As the season moves towards its final races, I’m excited and focused on finishing strong and looking forward to championship contention in 2025!
