Shipman sweeps F4 U.S. at Mid-Ohio

Cooper Shipman swept the Mid-Ohio SpeedTour in Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) competition this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In a race filled with tight battles and clean passes, Shipman (No. 14 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) improved on his third-place starting position to take the victory, marking his second-career F4 U.S. win. Recording the fastest lap in race one, Alex Popow (No. 55 Dr. Michael Thompson MS DDS PPLS / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) led the field down the starting grid with Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) to his outside. Fourth-place starter Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Kids Help Phone / Camtacc Properties / Legacy Foundation of Canada / LC Racing Ligier JS F422) had the best jump at the drop of the green flag, quickly moving up to the second position. Behind him, Shipman, who had fallen to fourth, started to challenge Hauanio to regain third. While Popow drove away, Campbell fell into the grips of Shipman and Hauanio, turning the battle for third into a three-way battle for second. Campbell held the runner-up position for nearly two-thirds of the race, but with approximately 10 minutes left on the clock, Shipman finally found a way around. From there, Shipman kept his focus out front, pulling up to Popow’s rear wing and completing the pass to take the race lead. Campbell followed to move into second, while Popow was left to run third. 

The final five minutes of the race was filled with some of the tightest racing of the day. With less than a half second separating them, Campbell pulled up to challenge Shipman and the two raced side by side, swapping positions more times than anyone could count. With little margin for error, the tight racing eventually led to Campbell dropping a wheel off the racing surface, which allowed Shipman to solely take the lead, and Popow to sneak past. As they took the checkered flag, it was Shipman, followed by Popow, with Campbell taking the third and final podium position. 

“That was definitely one of the most fun races I've ever been a part of,” said Shipman from atop the podium. “I knew starting off the pole this time that I was going to have to work for a little bit harder, and both Caleb [Campbell] and Alex [Popow] pushed me all the way to the end. They did a great job. I have to thank Kiwi Motorsport for putting a great car underneath me all weekend. We rolled off the truck super fast, I couldn't have done it at all without them. I'd like to thank my parents, as well, and also Chip Ganassi Racing for supporting me. Hopefully we can repeat this in New Jersey and come out with another win.”

F4 U.S. is back in action next month with the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour at New Jersey Motorsports Park, July 31-August 3. The event will be live streamed on SpeedTour.TV, with select races also airing live on SPEED SPORT 1.

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