BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, — For the third event in a row, Cooper Shipman earned a Formula 4 United States Championship presented by Mosport Karting Centre (F4 U.S.) weekend sweep at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Completing the hat trick, Shipman (No. 14 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) won Race 3 of the Labour Day Weekend Sprints event on Sunday morning, leading the field from flag to flag in an all-green race.
Starting on pole, Shipman had a clean start to take control of the race. Behind him, second-place starter Alex Popow (No. 55 Dr. Michael Thompson MS DDS PPLS / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) felt immediate pressure from third-place starter Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) as he dove to the inside of Turn 5.
With Popow making a charge at Turn 8 to regain the runner-up spot, Shipman began building a gap, while his competition raced wheel to wheel behind him. Realizing that Shipman was pulling away, the two settled into position as they waited for their cars to dial in.
Behind them, Luke Powers (No. 51 Corporate Commercial Group / Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F422), Demitri Nolan (No. 5 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) and Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Kids Help Phone / Camtacc Properties / Legacy Foundation of Canada / LC Racing Ligier JS F422) began putting on a show as they jockeyed for the fourth position.
With their fight ensuing for the first half of the race, things then started to heat back up between Popow and Hauanio. Just over 10 minutes were left on the clock as Hauanio chased down and made his way around Popow to take the runner-up position. Shipman, though, had built up too much of an advantage to overcome.
As the checkered flag waved, Shipman led Hauanio and Popow, in that order, across the line.
“It was a pretty awesome weekend,” said Shipman after climbing from the car in Victory Lane. “Any time we can come out and show the kind of speed that we were able to show, it’s always a good time. I loved coming up here for the first time. It’s an awesome track; I really enjoyed it. Coming away with three wins was great—I can’t wait to come back.”
