American primed for Road to Indy debut season as third member of team’s squad

SASKATOON, SK (April 13, 2021) – Exclusive Autosport is happy to announce their third Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship driver for the start of the 2021 season at Barber and St. Petersburg. St. Charles, Missouri’s Grant Palmer will pilot the team’s red and white Tatuus USF-17 #90 as he continues his advancement up the racing ladder. After moving from karting into cars via the Lucas Oil School of Racing, the 20-year-old American spent much of the 2020 season overseas competing in the BRSCC UK Formula Ford 1600 Championship while also testing in F4. With an eye on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Palmer is excited to begin his Road to Indy journey with Exclusive Autosport and the team is equally as motivated. Grant will join sophomore driver Christian Brooks and rookie Billy Frazer under the EA tent in USF2000 for the opening two rounds of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Series and is hoping to join the team for the remainder of the season.

“I am looking forward to my first season on the Road to Indy with the Exclusive Autosport team and competing against the best drivers in the world,” said Palmer.

Palmer, like most drivers, got his start in karting at the age of 14-years-old in St. Louis, Missouri, running with Margay Racing in their Ignite program before moving to compete in Superkarts! USA competition with Phil Giebler Racing. Grant was a finalist in the Lucas Oil School of Racing Shootout in 2018 and then participated in a single event in their formula car series in 2019 while also testing F4 machinery. Last year, he scored the FX class championship in the SCCA Super Tour and traveled to Europe to contest a number of rounds in the BRSCC UK Formula Ford 1600 Championship. Grant is working closely with the marketing firm Artistry Alliances to build partnerships and activate all the promotional opportunity available on the Road to Indy.

“I am very happy to have Grant join the Exclusive Autosport USF2000 program for the start of the 2021 season,” enthused Michael Duncalfe, Exclusive Autosport Team Principal. “Grant has a solid foundation in cars and has shown he knows how to win. He showed well in testing and instantly fit in with the team. We are looking forward to getting the 2021 season underway and seeing the strides Grant can make in the #90 Exclusive Autosport USF2000.”

2019 USF2000 Scholarship winner set to bounce back after a triumphant but trying 2020 season

SASKATOON, SK (October 24, 2020) – Exclusive Autosport is happy to officially announce that Ohio’s Braden Eves will be returning to the EA squad for the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season.

The 2019 USF2000 champion got off to a tremendous start in his Road to Indy / Andersen Companies Tatuus PM-18 with his first series win coming at Mid-Ohio in late July. Braden was in the middle of the hunt for the championship when a nasty incident at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Now well into completing his recovery, Eves has refocused on the 2021 season and is eager to get back behind the wheel.

“I’m extremely excited to rejoin Exclusive Autosport for the 2021 season,” said Eves. “This season we showed our incredible pace and the team did an incredible job consistently throughout the year. I’ll be coming back next year with unfinished business and I’m ready to get back after it. I can’t wait for a much more normal season after this year was so shaken up by the pandemic, but next year I’m coming back and I’m coming back stronger than ever!”

At the initial season opener in St. Petersburg back in March, Eves made his intentions known as he was a half-second quicker than his competition in the one and only practice session that was completed that weekend. The event came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the season didn’t get back underway until early July at Road America after a four-month hiatus. Once the series was back in motion, Eves came out of the gate running by grabbing one win, two poles, two podiums, and four top-fives, adding to his extensive resume and putting him directly in the middle of the fight for the 2020 championship. Unfortunately, the mid-season incident at IMS resulted in injuries that would sideline him for the rest of the shortened season. Thankfully, Braden is in full recovery mode with plans to use the off-season to work on fitness and racecraft to come back even stronger for the 2021 season. The team is extremely happy to work with him again and continue the established relationships that they have built over the past year.

“I am thrilled to welcome Braden back to the team for 2021,” enthused Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “Braden is a fierce competitor both and off the track. His focus, attention to detail, and work ethic make him a true pleasure to work with. I am confident we will come back out of the gates in 2021 incredibly strong. Exclusive has a very strong Indy Pro 2000 program backed by numerous pole positions, podiums and race wins. I am very much looking forward to the 2021 season and contending for the 2021 Championship with Braden.”

Exclusive Autosport is already preparing for the 2021 season, and following the season finale in St. Petersburg, will focus on continuing with their winter testing program. The team intends to come out with a strong effort in 2021, giving Eves every opportunity to win more races with EA and to secure the team’s first Road to Indy championship.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to partner with great companies, such as Cambridge Global Payments (https://ca.cambridgefx.com/exclusive-autosport/) and AERO Advanced Paint Technology (www.rethinkpaint.com), which is used on all their race cars.

American Prescott Campbell scores first career podium with an incredible drive through the field

MILLVILLE, NJ (October 11, 2020) – Exclusive Autosport made its inaugural trip to the east coast track of New Jersey Motorsports Park this past weekend, taking to the facility’s 12-turn, 2.14-mile road course for Rounds 13, 14, and 15 of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The Andersen Companies USF2000 Grand Prix at NJMP took place over a three-day period, as a stand-alone event away from the IndyCar program. California’s Prescott Campbell led the team to capture his first podium within a strong overall weekend performance, while fellow SoCal resident Christian Brooks fought masterfully through the field in every race to post a trio of top-10 finishes, including a fourth in Race 1 to solidify his spot in the top-five in the championship standings as the leading rookie. Oregon’s Josh Pierson had a breakout weekend as well, running in the top-10 throughout the weekend en route to his best finishes of the year.

“I am thrilled Prescott found the podium this past weekend at NJMP,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “I have always believed that he belonged up there! It is so great to see it all come together for him. Josh (Pierson) had his best weekend of the year as well. He has really taken everything we have thrown at him this year and put it into practice. Christian Brooks had all the pace to be on the podium this weekend, however on track incidents set him back. We are certainly more determined than ever heading into St. Petersburg. As a team, we have had success at St. Pete in the past and I am confident the EA crew will deliver fast cars right off the trailer for the drivers. I am looking forward to heading to Florida (again!) and getting this event underway.”

The tripleheader event kicked off early Friday morning with three unofficial test sessions. The Exclusive Autosport drivers consistently topped the charts throughout every session, giving them confidence heading into the official weekend. Saturday morning began with the only official practice of the weekend under cloudy, and somewhat foggy, skies. Brooks topped the charts of the practice, providing quality feedback to the team. Lunchtime brought Qualifying 1 and the EA team was anxious to back-up their practice times. With the field separated by only one second, it was a tight fight for the pole position. At the end of the session, Brooks had snagged the third position for Race 1, while Campbell finished fifth, as Pierson rounding out the team with a 13th. The opening race of the tripleheader took place late in the afternoon and as soon as the green flag dropped, everyone was jockeying for positions. Brooks immediately pushed forward to attack for a win continuously batting with the top-four drivers. A last lap move for the second position would see him forced off the track, but he was able to continue, only dropping back to fourth. Campbell had his best race of his USF2000 career, dicing it up with the some of the best in the field, grabbing his first top-five with a fifth-place finish. Pierson, 14, started from his best starting position of the season in 13th, where he would finish, as well.

Sunday morning began with Qualifying 2 under a cloudy sky with afternoon rain lurking. The team was poised for some fast qualifying times, however, a late red flag would end the session early and this caught the EA team out from setting their fastest laps. Only Pierson was able to improve his best starting spot of the season, by placing himself in the 10th position. The drivers had their work cut out for them in Race 2, with some sub-optimal starting positions. Right away, Brooks was on a mission to move forward and every few laps he grabbed another position, finally slotting into the seventh position in the final tally. Both Campbell and Pierson ran where they started, finishing tenth and 11th, respectively. The result was Pierson’s best career finish in 10th.

The Race 3 line up was set by the driver’s fastest laps during Race 2. As a result of his pace, Brooks lined up in fifth, Campbell in 14th, and Pierson in 15th. With the rain looming, Race 3 got underway and the EA drivers began to move forward. A lap two incident involving a pair of lead drivers scattered the front pack and Brooks went off-course, losing valuable track position. As soon as that happened, rain began to fall, and all drivers were called onto pit lane to change to the Cooper rain tires. Prescott restarted in the fourth position, while Josh was 11th. Brooks would restart in 13th after his incident. The three drivers really showed their ability of racing in the rain as they all would work their way through the field with exceedingly impressive drives to the front. Campbell proved his place in the USF2000 series with his strongest and best finish thus far. He would grab his first podium with a third-place finish. Pierson worked his way up to the 7th spot, but a mid-race incident on-track forced him to fall back. With a bent car, he still muscled his way to the 10th position, matching his best finish of 2020. Restarting in 13th, Brooks had a daunting challenge ahead of him on the extremely wet track. His perseverance and driving skills pushed him to recover to a stunning fifth-place finish.

The team will now head south to where the 2020 season started, the street course of St. Petersburg, Florida on October 23-25. The team is extremely motivated for the season finale after the great turnout at NJMP.

In the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship standings, Brooks continues to be consistent, remaining in the fifth position in the championship, just eight points out of fourth. Campbell’s impressive weekend has moved him from the 15th position to 11th, while Pierson moves up two spots in the points to 18th.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to partner with great companies, such as Cambridge Global Payments (https://ca.cambridgefx.com/exclusive-autosport/) and AERO Advanced Paint Technology (www.rethinkpaint.com), which is used on all their race cars.

American Christian Brooks breaks out with second and third place finishes at IMS

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 4, 2020) – Exclusive Autosport returned to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past week, taking to the facility’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course for Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The Cooper Tires Indy GP event featured the program’s first tripleheader of the season, packed into just two days of on-track action. California’s Christian Brooks driving the Exclusive Autosport / Cambridge FX #44 led the team by grabbing his first two podium finishes of the season, capping the event with a runner-up finish. In addition, fellow Californian Prescott Campbell broke into the top-10 during the event, recording his second tenth-place finish of the year, while Oregon’s Josh Pierson had his best race of the season, fighting hard for position in Race 3. The rapidly-developing 14-year-old came home with an impressive 12th place result.

“Racing at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway is always incredible. The EA team has worked really hard on and off the track to develop speed in both the cars and the drivers,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “These two podium finishes are really special for the team and for Christian (his first podiums in RTI competition). He drove very well and fought hard for them. Both Prescott and Josh found speed at IMS as well. Prescott snagged a much deserved top-10 finish in race three. Josh showed how much he has learned and developed in such a short period of time, with his best finish of the year. We will certainly use this positive momentum as we move towards Mid Ohio this coming weekend. Overall, I am really proud of the entire team, drivers and crew for all of their hard work. Although we found the podium in USF2000 competition, it was a really difficult weekend for the team, as our thoughts were with Braden (Eves) and his family.”

The tripleheader event kicked off early Thursday morning with the drivers one and only practice session. The practice was a bit delayed due to a thick layer of fog but, as soon as it lifted, the cars started clocking laps. It was the first time racing at this legendary road course for all three Exclusive Autosport USF2000 rookie drivers and they could all feel the electricity of this magical track. Midday, Brooks, Campbell, and Pierson set out for their first 20-minute qualifying session, as Race 1 was scheduled for later that afternoon. After qualifying ninth, Brooks fought for position all race and crossed the ‘yard of bricks’ where he started, garnering strong points for the championship. The USF2000 program is incredibly competitive, and Campbell advanced four positions to take 14th, while Pierson used the initial race to get a feel for his competition and posted a 17th place result.

Friday morning started bright and early with a welcomed chill in the air to get the qualifying for Race 2 in the books. After working with the engineers and driver coaches, the adjustments made overnight provided our drivers with the desired increase in speed and drivability as all three significantly lowered their times, giving them much better starting positions for Race 2.

The second race began with some chaos, which provided Christian with the opportunity to capitalize as he moved to fourth on the opening lap. Brooks ultimately fought his way up to third to score his first podium of the year. Campbell and Pierson also had their hands full, as it was a full-on scrap in the middle to rear of the field. Unfortunately for Campbell, he got checked up on the start which caused him to fall to the tail of the field. He fought his way back up to finish just one spot behind where he started, while Pierson was able to gain one position, setting up for a strong run in the third race of the weekend.

The final race for the USF2000 was a longer 20-lap contest and would cap off Exclusive Autosport’s day late in the late afternoon. This race also had a bit of a chaotic start as the off-pole starter was unable to spool up his car, causing most the field to make evasive maneuvers in order to avoid him. The field spread to almost five-wide going into Turn 1. Brooks was again able to move his car up to the fourth place on lap one and immediately began to fight for another podium. A handful of laps in, he was the final car in a three-driver attack on the leader as they all streamed through to move him to fourth. Christian was sitting third and was ready to attack for second and first. With just one lap to go, the leader made an error in Turn 1, sending him off the track. He came back on-track right in front of Brooks who completed a successful over-under pass in Turn 7 to advance to second. Campbell and Pierson were also having their best races of the season. Campbell spent the entire race fighting for a top-10 finish. He was surrounded by USF2000 veterans and made moves to grab tenth, which tied his best finish of the season. Pierson was also surrounded by vets and was turning lap times faster than many who were running just outside the top-five. While fighting for every position he gained and working on his passing skills, Josh ultimately scored his best finish with a 12th place result. The team is proud of all three drivers and their performances at IMS and we look forward to Mid-Ohio this weekend.

In the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship standings, Brooks has been ultra-consistent and has moved himself up into the fourth position in the championship. Campbell now sits in the 14th position, while Pierson is 19th in the points. Exclusive Autosport fans and supporters can catch our next event live on www.USF2000.com on this coming up Friday and Saturday as they head back to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for another tripleheader. And, as always, follow our social media outlets for coverage throughout the race weekend.

While the team is overjoyed with the results and progress of our USF2000 drivers, our minds are on our Indy Pro 2000 driver Braden Eves, who was involved in a major incident in his first race on Thursday afternoon. Thankfully, after spending two nights in the hospital, Braden was released on Saturday afternoon. He is now at home recovering from his injuries and will not return to competition for the reminder of the 2020 season. The Exclusive Autosport ownership, staff and crew would like to thank the AMR IndyCar Safety team, the IMS infield care center and the doctors and nurses at IU Health Methodist Hospital for taking such great care of Braden.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to partner with great companies, such as Cambridge Global Payments (https://ca.cambridgefx.com/exclusive-autosport/) and AERO Advanced Paint Technology (www.rethinkpaint.com), which is used on all their race cars.

American Braden Eves caps relentless performance with last lap outside pass to finish second

MADISON, IL (August 29. 2020) – Exclusive Autosport returned to the intimidating oval at World Wide Technology Raceway last weekend for Round 7 of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. The weekend event featured high temperatures and mostly sunny skies, however, the last test session was hampered slightly by sporadic rain drops due to the outer effects of Hurricane Laura, causing a couple yellow flags. Ohio’s Braden Eves showed right away that he was ready to attack the 1.25-mile oval and despite having never been on this track, he showed pace immediately. Eves started off the wheel-to-wheel competition on a high note, topping the charts in Test 3 on Friday afternoon before his evening qualifying session. The American put on a show in the 55-lap main events, hounding those in front of him to advance into a battle for second, which finished with a thrilling last-lap, last corner pass around the top-side of the banked oval. It was Eves second podium of the year and has moved him into third in the championship standings.

“I am very pleased with the second place finish at WWTR,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “Mirl Swan and the EA crew gave Braden the fastest race car on track and Braden went to work. He was strong all race and really showed his fighting spirit. We needed this podium for critical points in the championship hunt. I’m proud of the team and am really looking forward to carrying this momentum into IMS this weekend.”

The single race event kicked off early Friday morning with the first of three test sessions. Eves constantly kept his times near the top of the charts for all three sessions before grabbing the fastest lap in Test 3. After the sun began to fall behind the bleachers, heading to the horizon, it was time for the qualifying session. The cars took to the track alone for a focused two-lap run. The main event grid was based on total time/average speed. With a total time of 1:04.456 and an average speed of 139.360 mph, Braden qualified fifth for Saturday’s 55-lap race.

Saturday’s Indy Pro 2000 action began with a 20-minute warmup, where Eves topped the charts just before the session concluded. The team decided to pull him in slightly early as the lap he laid down was without a draft or tow from any other cars. Later that afternoon, the race took place under cloudy skies with a mild threat of sprinkles. After getting the green, the 21-year-old fell back one position, but immediately got to work and after a short number of laps he was able to grab fifth place and then fourth. Eves then set his sights on the top-three. The Ohio native closed up to the third-place driver but with the draft his competition was getting from the top-two, it made it nearly impossible to pass. Braden was not about to give up and with just a handful of laps to go he was able to grab third place. He then went on the attack for second, and with an incredible outside pass on the last turn of the last lap, he came across the line under the checkered flags, grabbing second. Clocking the fastest lap of the race, the team believes with a few more laps he could have won the race. However, the entire Exclusive Autosport team is extremely proud of Braden and his efforts on track.

In the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires point standings, Eves left WWTR having advanced to third, just 29 points behind the current championship leader and well within striking distance to the top spot. The next event on the calendar is set for this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, running in a tripleheader on the track’s road course. Exclusive Autosport and Braden Eves fans and supporters can catch this race live on www.IndyPro2000.com on the Thursday and Friday. And, as always, follow our social media outlets for coverage throughout the race weekend.

Talented American driver set for first season of Road to Indy competition

SASKATOON, SK (March 7, 2020) – Exclusive Autosport is pleased to announce that 19-year-old American Christian Brooks will make his debut in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship with the team this season. The Santa Clarita, CA resident will pilot the team’s #44 Tatuus USF-17, and comes to the program with a wide range of experience and success. Brooks has been one of the top drivers in North American karting for over 10 years and spent three years in the assorted Rallycross programs from 2016 to 2018 before re-focusing his career on open wheel junior formula car racing last season. While focusing on his Formula 4 program last year, Brooks continued to compete in national karting events and ended the season ranked third in the country by eKartingNews.com.

“I am thrilled to welcome Christian Brooks to the Exclusive Autosport team,” enthused Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “Christian brings tremendous experience and results (in karting, rally-cross and open-wheel) to the program. His racing style will be very well suited to the EA cars. I am really looking forward to what is in store for him this year and kicking off the 2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season with the official series test at Homestead.”

Over his 10+ years as one of the top kart racers in North America, Brooks has amassed a long list of accomplishments that include wins and championships in Superkarts! USA, ROK Cup USA and United States Rotax Max competition. Advancing up the age ladder in the sport, Christian’s resume features Mini Max titles in the Challenge of the Americas (2012) and the annual Grand Nationals (2011), Junior championships in Superkarts! USA Pro Kart Challenge (2014), and Senior championships in both the Challenge of the Americas (2016 and 2017) and the SKUSA Pro Kart Challenge (2016). Brooks represented Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals on three separate occasions, travelling to Spain, Portugal and Italy. In 2019, he won the ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour ROK Senior category and then raced in South Garda, Italy for Team USA at the ROK Cup SuperFinal.

Brooks added car racing to his program in 2016, competing in the Red Bull Global Rally Cross GRC Lites program and earning the vice-champion in 2017. He moved to the American Rally Cross series in 2018 and was also the runner-up in the title chase that season. Last year, he contested in a full F4 US Championship season, finishing third in the point standings with a pair of wins and eight podium finishes.

“I am extremely excited to get the 2020 USF2000 season underway under the Exclusive Autosport tent,” offered Brooks. “I can’t wait to showcase what the team and I can accomplish this season. They have an amazing foundation with top-tier engineers, mechanics, and pristine race cars. Let’s see what 2020 has in store.”

Brooks will join fellow Californian Prescott Campbell and Mexican Manuel Cabrera on Exclusive Autosport’s USF2000 squad, and he will also be teammates with Nikita Lastochkin (Indy Lights) and Braden Eves (Indy Pro 2000) at the official Spring Training test at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 7-9. The team is poised and ready to battle for the championship titles in all three levels of this year’s Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to partner with great companies, such as AERO Advanced Paint Technology (www.rethinkpaint.com), which is used on all their race cars.

Reigning Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series champion secures seat in Road to Indy

SASKATOON, SK (February 11, 2020) – Exclusive Autosport is thrilled to announce that 19-year-old Prescott Campbell will make his debut in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship this season with their race-winning operation. The Newport Beach, CA native and Oxford, UK resident will pilot the team’s #91 Tatuus USF-17, featuring their trademark red and black Exclusive Autosport livery with branding from the Lucas Oil School of Racing. Campbell is the reigning 2019 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series champion, an accomplishment that earned him a $75,000 scholarship towards the 2020 USF2000 season.

“Prescott is an incredible addition to the Exclusive Autosport stable,” enthused Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “He has an immense amount of talent and work ethic. His on-track results speak for themselves. We have had the pleasure of testing with Prescott earlier this year, and he fit in very nicely with the team. I have no doubt that we will work well together this year and achieve success in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Series.”

In 2012 Campbell began racing cadet karts in the Southern California region, marking the start of his racing career. He graduated to the senior kart categories in 2016 where he began his climb up the Superkarts! USA Shifter Stock Moto ladder system. He progressed through the ranks before making his debut in the Pro Shifter category at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XXII in 2018. At the end of that year, he was one of 30 drivers invited to compete in the inaugural Cooper Tire Karting Scholarship Shootout held at Sebring International Raceway. A panel of well-accomplished figures in the motorsport industry selected him as the winner of the three-day judged event, for which he received a scholarship to run the full 2019 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series calendar. Prescott broke his femur in a karting accident mid-season, but was able to come back to win the championship despite missing three of the series’ 18 races. An impressive drive in the season finale saw him clinch the title by a crucial four points and win the $75,000 scholarship towards this year’s USF2000 season. He was also a finalist in last year’s Team USA Scholarship Shootout.

“I would like to thank the team for putting their faith in me and I hope to reward them with successful results this season,” said Campbell. “As a driver moving into the series, there is a lot to learn, but the team has already taught me so much since we began working together. I believe we can take the fight to this year’s very competitive field and earn consistent results near the top. I am looking to take the momentum from winning last year’s Lucas Oil Formula Car Series championship with me into the opening rounds at St. Pete!”

Team Manager Mirl Swan, and the rest of the Exclusive Autosport crew, have been working nonstop this off-season preparing for the 2020 season and will continue with their testing program. Campbell is their third driver announced and he will be joining his teammates Nikita Lastochkin (Indy Lights) and Braden Eves (Indy Pro 2000) at the official Spring Training test at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 7-9. The team is poised and ready to battle for the championship titles in all three levels of this year’s Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to partner with great companies, such as AERO Advanced Paint Technology (www.rethinkpaint.com), which is used on all their race cars.

Multi-tier Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires team now links F1600 to Indy Lights

SASKATOON, SK (September 21, 2019) – As the only open-wheel racing team in North America with an internal development ladder system bridging from F1600 racing into the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, Exclusive Autosport is thrilled to announce it will expand once again in 2020 by making its debut in the top-level Indy Lights program. The growing operation has acquired a Dallara IL-15 chassis and currently plans to field at least one entry next season. The team plans to debut its new acquisition, dressed in new Exclusive Autosport red and white livery, alongside its USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 cars at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 19-20.

“This is truly a dream come true,” enthused Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “When I started Exclusive Autosport in 2013, competing in the Road to Indy was always the goal, however it seemed like a distant reality. To be sitting here, announcing that we are expanding to Indy Lights and have a four-tiered ladder system after seven years of competition, is one of the proudest moments of my career. This transition is a natural fit for the Exclusive Autosport program. Dan Andersen and the entire Road to Indy organization have been incredible to work with from day one. They have been very supportive of our efforts. We are thrilled to be a part of it. I want to thank my wife and children for all of their support and my incredible crew led by Mirl Swan. We are looking forward to what 2020 will bring.”

Exclusive Autosport is the winningest team in Canadian Formula 1600 competition over the last six years, having won the last eight titles in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship (Ontario) and the Formula Tour (Quebec) programs. They have also earned the championship in the last four seasons in the combined F1600 Super Series. The team has expanded steadily over the last three years, making its debut in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship in 2017 and the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2018. In both of its debut seasons, the team scored victories, racking up 11 wins since adding the RTI component to their schedule. The team also has two wins this season in Indy Pro 2000, with series rookie Danial Frost topping the competition on the oval at Lucas Oil Raceway and on the street circuit in Toronto.

In 2020, Exclusive Autosport will become the only Road to Indy team with its own driver development ladder reaching from F1600 up to Indy Lights. In fact, the team’s reach delves even deeper, as they are the title sponsor of the Western Canada Karting Championship. For the last two years, they have awarded WCKC champions with valuable F1600 test and evaluation days in their title-winning Spectrum F1600s.

“We are excited to welcome Exclusive Autosport into the Indy Lights family,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “Michael Duncalfe parallels our goals in the Road to Indy of providing a complete ladder system for drivers to advance, and his expansion into Indy Lights now completes this platform for his well-established and highly regarded team. His passion for helping tomorrow’s talent was evident from Day One, and we look forward to seeing him and his drivers on our Indy Lights grids next season.”

American Braden Eves breaks through to score first Indy Pro 2000 poles and victory

Lexington, OH (July 30, 2018) – Exclusive Autosport returned to the picturesque Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last week for the third, fourth and fifth rounds of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. The mid-week event featured high temperatures and mostly sunny skies, although bit of erratic weather brought rain halfway through the second day of competition. Ohio’s Braden Eves showed right away that Mid-Ohio is his home track, as the reigning USF2000 champion topped the time charts through the lone Indy Pro 2000 practice session before grabbing two poles in the qualifying sessions for Race 1 and Race 2. Eves started off the wheel-to-wheel competition on a high note, winning the first race of the tripleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The second two events were more chaotic, as Eves followed up his victory with a pair of top-10 results that have solidified his position in the top-five in the championship, just 13 points out of the lead.

“It was so great to score our first Indy Pro 2000 win, and two pole positions of the season with Braden,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “Mirl Swan and the EA crew did a really great job prepping the car so we rolled off the truck really quick. We certainly would have liked to have added a couple more podiums in races two and three as Braden had incredible pace, but we gained valuable championship points. We are sitting in a good position heading into LOR. As a team we have had a lot of success at LOR the past two years and we look forward to returning to the oval and battling in the highly competitive Indy Pro 2000 championship.”

The tripleheader event kicked off on Wednesday morning with the stand-alone practice session. Eves got to work immediately, running a pace that would place him on top of the charts with a fast time of 1:17.512. The 21-year-old continued to sit on top of the charts in qualifying by grabbing the pole for Race 1. The opening event started late that afternoon, and after leading the field to the green flag from the inside of the front row, Eves went flag-to-flag to win his first Indy Pro 2000 race and gain much needed championship points.

Thursday’s Indy Pro 2000 action began with qualifying for Race 2. Braden again set the pace to score his second pole with a time of 1:16.209. Shortly after qualifying, Race 2 took place under cloudy skies as rain started to fall lightly at the green flag. Braden was immediately in a fight for the lead and was unfortunately spun as a result of contact from behind, putting him to the tail of the field. With many laps remaining, he put his head down and worked his way back up impressively to the ninth position, which was a crucial recovery. The grid for the final race of the tripleheader was set by each driver’s fastest lap in Race 2. This set Braden on the inside of the fifth row for the start, and this time, he was caught up in an opening lap on-track incident, Braden was forced to come into pit lane for a cut tire, but the quick work of the EA crew got him back out on track before losing a lap, and returned to slot in near the tail of the field. He immediately went to work and was advancing aggressively, scoring as many positions as he could. After a tough and hard fought battle, Braden finished Race 3 in the ninth position.

In the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires point standings, Eves left Mid-Ohio sitting in fifth, just 13 points behind the current championship leader and well within striking distance. Mid-Ohio was set to be the next event on the calendar once again but, unfortunately, that event has been postponed. The crew will now go to work prepping the car for the Carb Night Classic oval race in Indianapolis at the Lucas Oil Raceway on August 21. Exclusive Autosport and Braden Evens fans and supporters can catch this race live on www.IndyPro2000.com on the Friday evening. And, as always, follow our social media outlets for coverage throughout the race weekend.