INDIANAPOLIS — Formula Regional Americas Championship returns to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Round 3 of its season this weekend.
The backdrop for so many iconic races, the Brickyard reigns supreme on many racers’ bucket lists. For the up-and-coming drivers in FR Americas, it’s more than just an event—it’s another step closer to living their dream of one day crossing the famed Yard of Bricks in the Indianapolis 500.
Father-son and father-daughter duos will be out in full force this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the Indy SpeedTour once again lands on Father’s Day weekend.
There’s no better setting to celebrate the unique bond between dads and their kids than in a sport where that relationship often takes center stage.
From team owners and managers like Atlantic Racing Team’s Ingo and Lucas Strackerjan or Crosslink Motorsports’ Gill and Austin Kaszuba, to the dedicated dads wrenching in the paddock to prep their kid’s car—like Marco and Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 Velox USA / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) or Keith and Connor Roberts (No. 46 Apexspeed.com / Entropy Cellars / Atlantic Racing Team with Team Roberts Ligier JS F3)—motorsports has long been a family affair.
Sometimes, it’s simply a daughter cheering from the sidelines as her dad takes to the track, like Ava and Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3).
Championship Fight
With $100,000 on the line, the fight for the 2025 FR Americas championship title is starting to take shape. Things appeared wide open after the season opener at NOLA Motorsports Park, with three winners in three races.
However, that all changed during Round 2 at Road America, when Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Rayne Nutrition / Ronald McDonald House Charities / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) swept the weekend and shook up the standings.
Jumping from fourth to first in points, the Texan leads the championship with four wins in six races. Still, it’s not quite the runaway advantage one may expect, as two of Sherlock’s wins came during races that awarded just half points. Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 Velox USA / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) trails Sherlock by just 19 markers after a strong start to the year, which includes one win and three additional podiums.
Another three points back is Bruno Ribeiro (No. 01 Alfa Cem / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), who has yet to win, but is solidly in the mix with four podiums in six starts. Then, there’s Brady Golan (No. 80 Attire / Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3), the only other driver to have won this season, in fourth, trailing Ribeiro by just three points.
Brickyard Breakthrough
When FR Americas made its debut at IMS last season, Jett Bowling (No. 22 Bullhorn / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) had the best weekend of his career.
After nearly giving up on a career in motorsports following a karting injury, Bowling started racing formula cars with Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2023. Since then, he’s worked with driving coaches like Ryan Yardley—an FR Americas alum—and Rob Wilson to continuously develop and advance his skills.
Breaking through to earn his first-career podiums at IMS last season, Bowling’s second- and third-place finishes that weekend set him on a trajectory that ultimately named him the Third-Place Champion in the year-end point standings. He’s still looking for his first FR Americas win, but IMS might just be the place he gets it done.
Return To The Grid
Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 3 Save22 / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) returns to the cockpit to make his 2025 FR Americas debut at IMS this weekend.
A veteran in FR Americas since 2022, Bowlsbey joined the Crosslink Motorsports crew as a mechanic for their Road America sweep.
Now, he’s climbing back in the driver’s seat to make his 2025 debut and attempt a trip to Victory Lane with the Texas-based organization. Three times an FR Americas podium finisher, Bowlsbey’s best finish at IMS is fifth, recorded in Race 2 last season.
FR Americas Debut
Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) alum Bijoy Garg will make his FR Americas debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, filling in for Lincoln Day in the No. 95 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3. Already a winner in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2024, LMP2 Class) at just 22 years old, Garg made 18 F4 U.S. starts throughout 2020 and 2021, recording 12 top-10 finishes and a podium at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
After graduating F4 U.S. and passing through the USF ranks, Garg has spent the last couple seasons focused on sports cars, while making waves in both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series.
Hope For The Warriors
Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3) will join forces with Hope For The Warriors to host a service member and his family during the Indy SpeedTour Weekend. Lt Col Aaron Huffman, USMC Pilot Reserves, has served for 19 years, including two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and three tours in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
While at the Indy SpeedTour, the family will get a behind-the-scenes look at FR Americas, with private tours and meet and greets. Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families.
Watch It LIVE
SPEED SPORT 1 will broadcast Race 1 live from IMS on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. On Sunday, Race 3 will be featured http://www.speedsport1.com/as part of a four-hour live broadcast from the Indy SpeedTour, where more than a century of motorsports history will be highlighted, with everything from Ragtime Racers to SVRA vintage racing to the stars of FR Americas.
SS1 is free to watch worldwide on several platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Roku, Pluto TV, Sling, STIRR and more.
