SCCA Pro Racing

August 1, 2023 – It was a trip to New Jersey Motorsports (NJMP) this past weekend as Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) was once again victorious in the F4 U.S. Championship Powered by Honda. Leading the way through the event weekend, Michael Costello earned a trio of top-ten results including the race two win on Sunday morning as JHDD earned a total of six top-ten finishes throughout the weekend. Costello also went on to earn a pole position while teammate Michael Boyiadzis qualified third, a career-best for the young gun. 

It was Michael Costello who led the JHDD program through F4 qualifying as he and Kekai Hauanio placed their Ligier JSF4 machines inside the top-ten in seventh and eighth respectively. Michael Boyiadzis led the remaining four team drivers as he, Eric Wisniewski, Tanner Defabis, and Ava Dobson would have some work to do when the wheel-to-wheel racing commenced.

Costello and Hauanio were able to work together when the lights were extinguished for the first race of the weekend as both were able to move forward from their grid positions. Racing hard over the 21 laps, Costello edged Hauanio as the duo finished sixth and seventh as JHDD put three drivers in the top-ten with Logan Adams in eighth. Just outside the top-ten was Wisniewski who earned himself a P12 result ahead of Ava Dobson and Tanner Defabis in 16th and 17th.  Following a bunch of post-race penalties in race one, Costello was elevated to fourth on the results sheets ahead of Hauanio and Adams who remained in sixth and seventh. Post-race Dobson was moved to 14th on the result sheets ahead of Wisniewski in 16th and Defabis in 17th. 

Returning to the track Sunday for race two, it was Michael Costello who put JHDD on top for the first time over the weekend. As one of the fastest drivers on track, Costello took the checkered flag by 1.755 over his closest rival and current championship point leader. Michael Boyiadzis put a pair of team drivers in the top-ten with a tenth-place result as Defabis and Hauanio finished just behind in 11th and 12th. Wisniewski finished inside the top-15 with a P14 result as Dobson and Adams were classified in 20th and 21st after trouble forced them to retire early. 

Continuing his success, Costello was back at the front of the field in the third and final race of the weekend as this time he was able to show his speed and earn another top-five result in fourth in what would be described as a challenging race for the Jay Howard Driver Development program. Boyiadzis was the next best finisher mired down in the 13th position with Wisniewski in 16th, just ahead of Dobson in 17th. Unfortunately, Kekai Hauanio and Logan Adams were involved in an incident on the first lap and forced to retire. 

Aiden Potter joined the JHDD program in the PMH F4 Development Series and showed great progress as he continues to improve his speed and abilities. Preparing for the 2024 season, Potter was able to learn on track by gaining knowledge and experience, but also off track from his teammates and their success. 

“It was a tricky weekend with extremely hot conditions, and the team and drivers did a good job adjusting,” explained Jay Howard. “Looks like this championship will be settled at COTA. We will keep the pressure on. Appreciate everyone’s hard work, was tough for everyone battling the heat, now eyes forward to the next event.”

It’s now a nine-week break for JHDD as the next event will not take place until the weekend of October 5-8 at the challenging and fast Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

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