The Team USA Scholarship will enable a pair of promising young American drivers, Ayrton Houk and Thomas Schrage, to contest this weekend’s USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire tripleheader season finale at Portland International Raceway. The pair will remain with their current teams, Houk at DC Autosport and Schrage at VRD Racing. Both have previously represented the Team USA Scholarship in England.
USF2000 is the middle step on the USF Pro Championships ladder, which, uniquely in the world of motorsports, provides drivers with scholarships and awards to ensure graduation onto the next level as their aspire toward a career in the NTT IndyCar Series. All three levels of the ladder — USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and USF Juniors — will be in action this weekend, alongside both IndyCar and Indy NXT. Former Team USA Scholarship winners Josef Newgarden, Kyle Kirkwood and Conor Daly will compete in the Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland headline event on Sunday.
Budgetary constraints otherwise would have prevented Houk, 21, and Schrage, 19, from making the trip to the West Coast, although both have displayed their abilities both on and off the track during their first seasons of competition on the middle step of the USF Pro Championship’s open-wheel ladder.
“This represents a switch in emphasis for our program, which has proudly been supporting deserving young American drivers since 1990,” said Team USA Scholarship founder and president Jeremy Shaw. “Traditionally, we have provided an opportunity for some drivers to compete overseas, often for the first time. We have entered at least two drivers in the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy in England each year since 2008.
“Even though I remain firm in my belief that Formula Ford continues to provide a magnificent first step for young drivers, the reality is that the most efficacious way forward for drivers who are seeking a future in the NTT IndyCar Series is via the USF Pro Championships ladder, and after consultation with all our partners and constituents, I am delighted to be able to ensure that Ayrton and Thomas will be able to finish their seasons and build toward full championship challenges in 2025.
“Raising the financing for racing these days is a huge challenge for many young drivers but I have been impressed by the efforts put forth this season by both Ayrton and Thomas. They have worked hard to make new connections and open doors for themselves in order to continue in pursuit of their dreams.”
Houk remains in the top 10 in the USF2000 points table despite minimal testing and skipping the most recent rounds on the streets of Toronto. He has claimed eight top-10 finishes, highlighted by a fourth position on his home track, the Indianapolis Grand Prix circuit, and a front row qualifying run on the only oval event of the season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“This USF2000 season has been race by race and I am pleased to announce a partnership with the Team USA Scholarship to help me finish off my season in Portland,” said Houk, who traveled to England last fall as a team USA Scholarship winner. “The Team USA Scholarship has been monumental in my development as a driver. From my time racing in England, to all of the amazing people that I have been granted opportunities to meet through Jeremy, I have learned and developed my skills both on and off of the track. I am extremely honored to continue my partnership with the Team USA Scholarship and fly the American colored driver suit again. I cannot thank Jeremy and all of the Team USA supporters enough for all of their help over the past few years.”
Schrage was obliged to miss the lone oval race and the subsequent weekend at Road America, but has showcased his abilities with a pole position and a second-place finish at his home track of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July.
“I’m very grateful to be able to compete in the USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire championship finale at Portland International Raceway,” said Schrage, who carried the Team USA Scholarship colors to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Formula Ford Festival. “I have high hopes to end my season on a good note, as this is one of two tracks I get to return to from last season. This event would not be possible without Jeremy Shaw, the Team USA Scholarship and its supporters as well as Airport Electric Service and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.”