SCCA Pro Racing

MILLVILLE, N.J. (July 30, 2023) – Michael Costello earned his third-career win in Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda (F4 U.S.) competition on Sunday morning at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). After setting the fast lap en route to a fourth-place result during yesterday’s Race 1, the driver had a clean launch off the starting grid and sailed away to victory.

Notes of Interest:

• Today’s win marks Michael Costello’s third win of the 2023 season. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Costello considers NJMP his home track. The 16-year-old currently sits second in the driver championship points standings.
• The victory was the third win of the season for team Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD).
• This was Patrick Woods-Toth’s eighth podium in 11 races this season.
• After earning his first-career podium with a second-place result in yesterday’s Race 1, Daniel Cará is the only driver to be on the podium for each of the weekend’s races so far.
• Argentinean Luciano Martinez earned his best-career finish with a sixth-place result in Race 2. The driver only has one previous top 10, an eighth-place finish in Round 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last month.

With the fast lap in Race 1, Costello (No. 19 JHDD / CSU One Cure / Lucas Oil / LHP Ligier JS F4) led the field to the starting grid. When the lights went out, he had a perfect jump and immediately led the field entering Turn 1. With Daniel Cará (No. 10 Tenuta Foppa & Ambrosi Ligier JS F4) behind Costello in second, Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) was briefly challenged by Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4), but as they worked through the opening turns, Woods-Toth secured second and they each settled into position. 

Just a couple minutes into the race, the safety car was deployed for a full-course caution, as two competitors spun in Turn 5. With one car unable to drive back to pit lane, safety workers swiftly cleared the wreckage to get the race back underway. Cars lined up one by one and Costello led the field to green, perfectly timing his launch toward the starting line. Once again solidly out front, Cará had no choice but to settle into second with Woods-Toth behind him. While Cará’s gap to Costello fluctuated slightly, staying just under or just over a second, Woods-Toth was slowly making forward progress to close in on Cará.

With just a few minutes left on the clock, Cará and Woods-Toth found themselves in a heated battle for second. There was slight contact between the two, but later in the lap, Cará went off track and damaged his wing pulling back on to the circuit. The slip-up was just enough to allow Woods-Toth to pick up the position and drop Cará to third.

When they crossed the line after 30 minutes, it was Costello who led Woods-Toth, followed by Cará. Titus Sherlock, yesterday’s winner, finished fourth, while yesterday’s pole sitter, Jesse Lacey (No. 16 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4), rounded out the top five.

     READ MORE:  Race 2 Official Results

“It feels awesome,” said Costello after climbing from the car. “I mean, just to be able to win at my home track and have my family here—there’s nothing like it. I want to thank everyone at ProGuard Warranty for helping me throughout my career and helping me get to F4 U.S. I'd also like to thank A14 Management for being an amazing management company—I’m so grateful to be a part of their program. I'd like to thank Jay Howard Driver Development for keeping the hard work up, especially when it was so hot here earlier in the week. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I’d also like to thank my mom and dad for everything.”

F4 U.S. will be back on track one last time today to contest the final race of the weekend. Lights out for Race 3 is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET. For updates, follow the F4 U.S. on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or use the Race Monitor app for live timing and scoring.