CHICAGO, Ill. - Newman Wachs Racing is pleased to announce that 19-year-old American Braden Eves will make his debut in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda with the team at Portland International Raceway on Labor Day weekend.
The talented karting graduate has been hard at work developing his skills and racecraft in the F4 and F1600 series this season, and is coming off a big weekend in his F1600 debut, where he scored a win and second-place finish at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The New Albany, Ohio resident will test with NWR later this month to prepare for the Portland doubleheader. Eves' car will carry the sponsorship support of Addison Holdings LLC, CCFI, Cambox Meca and Sabelt.
“When I received the call from Braden about possibly trying to do the Portland race, I was extremely excited,” said Brian Halahan, NWR Team Manager. “I have been watching him for about a year now in kart racing and F4 racing. He’s a proven winner and a front-runner, and he brings a high level of intensity that I feel together will allow us to be able to run at the front end of the pack. We have a few test days scheduled to prepare for the race weekend, so he will be ready.”
Eves got his start in the sport in 2011 in karting, competing at the Mid State Ohio Karting Club. Braden gradually worked his way up the ranks through the World Karting Association Manufacturers Cup, United States Pro Kart Series and Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, gaining many wins and championships as he established himself as one of the top kart racers in North America. Braden made his step up to cars in 2017, joining the F4 US Championship where he gained eight top-four results, six podiums and one win. This year, he continued running in the F4 US Championship, logging five top-10 finishes. This past weekend, Braden made his debut in the F1600 Championship Series, scoring a win and a second-place finish from the two completed races.
“I could not be happier to announce that I will be driving with Newman Wachs Racing at Portland,” Eves enthused. “Brian and all the members of the team have taken me in and have made me feel at home. They run an extremely professional program and I am very excited to make my Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 debut with them."
Newman Wachs Racing has been hard at work this season in the 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. Florida’s Darren Keane was able to post their only podium finish of the year with a third-place finish at St. Pete, but bad luck has hindered countless competitive finishes that were certainly deserved. The team looks forward to finishing the season on a high note at Portland International Raceway. From there, they will prep for the Chris Griffis Memorial test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September as they turn their focus onto the 2019 season.
About Newman Wachs Racing:
Newman Wachs Racing was formed in 2005 by late actor and IndyCar team owner Paul Newman and long-time racing friend Eddie Wachs to aid the development of young drivers in Champ Car’s Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. Among the drivers to go through the NWR program were JR Hildebrand, John Edwards and Simona de Silvestro. After a seven-year hiatus, Newman Wachs Racing has returned to racing, competing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda on the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.