Kennedy becomes youngest ever USF Juniors winner at Mid-Ohio

VRD Racing’s Edward Kennedy became the youngest driver to win a USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire race this afternoon in the first of two races that comprise the USF Pro Patriot 250 Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio. Kennedy, from Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, was too young to contest the opening two race weekends of the season but has quickly made his presence known.

After a strong debut last month at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where he earned a best finish of fourth, Kennedy, who only turned 14 on May 8, took the lead from the pole-sitter and championship leader, Poland's Karol Pasiewicz (Olivia Racing) halfway around the opening lap in hot, humid conditions and held on to win in just his fourth start. At 14 years, one month and 26 days, he eclipsed current Indy NXT driver Nikita Johnson, who was previously the youngest USF Juniors winner at 14 years, two months and six days.

Pasiewicz actually strengthened his points advantage by finishing second ahead of another 14-year-old, Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn aboard a second VRD Racing entry.

Pasiewicz continued his excellent work from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last month by once again topping the charts during qualifying this morning to secure his fourth successive Continental Tire Pole Award. Denmark’s Casper Nissen was second fastest for JHDD powered by ECR ahead of Kennedy and fellow Canadian Olivier Mrak for Zanella Racing.

Kennedy, however, drove impressively around the outside of Mrak to take second place at the Keyhole, Turn 2, on the opening lap, then also passed Pasiewicz for the lead at the end of the back straightaway.

Farther down the field, a couple of Zanella Racing entries unfortunately attempted to occupy the same piece of road between Turns Four and Five, after which some more inadvertent contact between Cranston and Nissen pitched the Dane into the wall at the exit of Turn 9.

Mrak benefited from Nissen’s unfortunate early exit, only to make a mistake of his own and spin at Turn 1 immediately after the restart, which brought out the caution flags again.

The scrappy start thankfully gave way to a clear run to the checkers for the remainder of the 20-lap race. Pasiewicz never allowed Kennedy much breathing space, but the youngster never put a wheel wrong. He also underlined his performance by setting a new fastest lap on each of the final two laps before taking the checkered flag almost one second clear.

“I thought I really had nothing to lose from third because usually a leader gets a gap after Turn 1. And I decided to go to the outside in Turn 2," said Kennedy. "Everyone's on the inside, so I knew someone was going to bunch up. I just sent it to them on the outside. And I was in second place. It was really good. At the end of straight, I did the same thing. But we had amazing pace the whole race.”

A drive-through penalty to Cranston for avoidable contact elevated Hoogendoorn to fourth, which the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy member maintained all the way to the finish despite the best efforts of Max Cuthbert for JHDD powered by ECR, who had worked his way impressively from 10th at the start.

Elias Vignola (DEForce Racing) earned a career-best fifth ahead of early season pacesetter Max Mokarem, who vaulted from fourth in the points to second.

Brenden Cooley (Exclusive Autosport) also was in close contention at the finish, while a spin for Victor Couto (Zanella Racing) at Turn 1 on the final lap elevated Cole Medeiros (Exclusive Autosport) to eighth.

JW Main, claimed the Tilton Hard Charger Award for JHDD powered by ECR with a ninth-place finish after starting almost at the rear of the field in 19th.

VRD Racing’s Dan Mitchell took his fourth PFC Award of the season as the winning car owner.

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