When Braden Eves hit the turn-three tire barrier at Wisconsin’s Road America in June, the 25-year-old racer knew his season was probably over.
A suspension failure during a test session sent his USF Pro 2000 car through the gravel trap into the barrier, damaging all four corners. The cost of repairs was in the low six-figure range.
Still, his Exclusive Autosport team continued to the next round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in early July.
But after contact with Nicolas Baptiste damaged his left-rear suspension during the second race of the Mid-Ohio doubleheader, Eves’ season was finished.
The native of Gahanna, Ohio, knows all too well that the first truth in motorsports is that money is the ultimate fuel for race cars.
Eves had to prove himself instantly out of karting, finishing second in his first car race, driving a Formula 4 machine at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2017.
Now, a promising young driver is on the sidelines after crash-damage bills chewed up a significant portion of his 2024 racing budget in the USF Pro 2000 championship.
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