LEEDS, Ala. — Brady Golan earned his eighth win of the season in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) competition, winning Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday evening.
The 2026 Champion took advantage of a mid-race restart to capture the lead and paced the field to the checkered flag.
Brady Golan earned his eighth win of his championship campaign. During tomorrow’s Year-End Awards Celebration, Golan will be honored and presented with a $100,000 check as part of the champion’s prize.
After leading early, Kekai Hauanio finished second in Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park to record his ninth podium of the season.
Cooper Shipman earned his ninth podium of the season with a third-place result in Race 1.
Anthony Autiello earned his fourth win in the 2026 Masters Cup Championship season.
With Kevin Janzen finishing second and the race scoring just half points, Whitney Strickland clinched the FR Americas Masters Cup title.
Earning his first pole of the season, Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) led the field to the starting lights with Brady Golan (No. 40 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) to his outside. With a solid launch off the line, Hauanio took control of the race, but his pace slowed a few turns later, as yellow flags were displayed and the safety car picked up the field.
When the race went back to green, Golan had another shot at the lead, passing Hauanio as they raced through Turn 6. It seemed like Hauanio might be able to close in on Golan’s gearbox, but the Crosslink Motorsports driver wasn’t able to retake the lead and followed Golan to the checkered flag.
Crossing the finish line, it was Golan, followed by Hauanio and Cooper Shipman (No. 10 Driven Dynamix / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3).
“I got a pretty atrocious start, but then I was able to charge back up after that on the restart. So, it was a pretty solid day,” said Golan atop the podium. “I have to thank everybody on the Red 40; it’s been amazing. The championship is awesome, and to still have some races left to go and be able to win more is even better. I’m really happy with those guys. Thanks to everybody at TDD, everybody at Marina, everybody at Attire, and my parents.”
In the Masters Cup Championship, Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3) returned to the top step of the podium after making a late-race pass on Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group / Data Center Solutions / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3). Whitney Strickland (No. 21 TF Companies / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3) was not classified on the final results after contact on the opening lap brought an early end to his day.
“The visibility was really, really tough today [after oil dry was put down on the track],” said Autiello in Victory Lane. “So, it was super hairy. I thought that I’d keep a little distance, stay safe, and I figured it was going to be a war of attrition, then Kevin [Janzen] opened the door for me. I was able to pass him on the corner going onto the main straight; it was a clean fight. So, thank you to him for a nice, clean race today.”
