SCCA Pro Racing

June 27, 2023 – It was a winning weekend for Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this past weekend. As the home of the reigning 2022 F4 United States Powered by Honda Driver Champion Lochie Hughes, the Indianapolis-based team entered 2023 motivated to repeat. Leaving the event weekend with more wins and podium results added to their resume, JHDD is aiming to continue its success in upcoming events. 

“A huge shoutout to Michael for his success this past weekend,” explained Jay Howard. “He was a proven winner in the Winter Series and earlier this season. It is exciting to see him return to the top step of the podium, and I think this will provide him a lot of momentum for the second half of the season.”

With severe weather and flooding canceling qualifying, F4 competitors lined up for race one in championship point order. Looking to make gains once wheel-to-wheel racing began, it was a slow start as a caution period sent drivers to the pit lane to switch from slicks to wet weather tires. Once back on track and underway, it was all Michael Costello up front. Turning laps nearly one second quicker than his rivals on each circuit, the Jay Howard Driver Development competitor easily drove to the checkered flag, adding another victory to his resume and reestablishing himself as a championship competitor. Tanner Defabis put a pair of JHDD drivers in the top-ten, crossing the stripe in P9 while Logan Adams finished just outside the top ten in 11th ahead of team newcomer Kekai Hauanio. 

It was Dane Scott who improved from 22nd to 18th in his first-ever wet-weather race while Ava Dobson, Frankie Mossman, and Eric Wisniewski all had troubles on track and will aim to better their results in the second race on the weekend.

Returning to the track Sunday for a pair of wheel-to-wheel races, the weather had finally cleared and race two of the weekend would be run in dry conditions. With a win already to his credit from the day prior, Costello once again led the way for JHDD earning his second podium result of the weekend, finishing second on track, less than half a second behind the race winner. Logan Adams improved from the day prior, climbing his way into the top-ten to finish ninth with three JHDD drivers in the top-eleven as Kekai Hauanio narrowly missed the top-ten. Dane Scott was eventually classified in the 21st position, just ahead of Eric Wisniewski and the duo of Ava Dobson and Frankie Mossman who were forced to retire after lap one.

While race three did not see a JHDD driver on the podium, it did again feature three inside the top-ten when the checkered flag flew. Frankie Mossman rebounded from his second race which saw him at the bottom of the results sheet to earn the team’s best result in race three with a P5 result. Mossman was followed closely by race winner and weekend double podium winner Michael Costello who finished sixth while Logan Adams once again found himself hovering around the top-ten and finished tenth in the end. It was Tanner Defabis who crossed the line 13th with Dane Scott in 20th, Ava Dobson in 24th^, and Eric Wisniewski in 25th. Unfortunately, Kekai Hauanio failed to complete the full race distance and was classified in 27th.

Howard continued, “It was a challenging weekend weather-wise, but we have the team to overcome these situations and we have the team to do this as we proved this weekend.” 

The next stop for the Jay Howard Driver Development will be this coming weekend as the USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires takes on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The next F4 United States Championship Powered by Honda event will take place at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in late July. Stay tuned for more news from JHDD by following all their social media channels. 

For more information on Jay Howard’s Driver Development program, follow them on social media by searching ‘Jay Howard Driver Development’ or contact Jay Howard via e-mail at Jay@JayHoward.com or visit him online at www.JayHoward.com.

- Jay Howard Driver Development PR