As Hopefully He’ll be Strummin’ His way to the Indy
NXT Championship next year…
Typically I pay very scant attenzione to the
myriad of Open Wheel Racing Feeder Series, since my Cranium’s already crowded way
too mucho with the Big boyz’ series, i.e.; IndyCar, Formula 1, Sports Cars and MotoGP…
Thus thanks to Arizona Bureau Chief Snowbyrd
MJ’, I recently learned about aspiring Open Wheel Racing driver Jace Denmark,
who hails from Phoenix, Arizona.
Jace will turn 20 on July 1st and currently
competes for Pabst Racing in the USF Pro 2000 Championship, and is currently
ranked fifth overall after five of 18 rounds.
As most aspiring racers these days, Jace Denmark
began racing Karts at the tender age of five, and has been racing ever since.
As I don’t know the results of His Karting career, other than His website
claims He represented the United States at the Rotax Grand Finals in Sarno,
Italy in 2022, finishing eighth overall for Team USA.
From what I can tell, Jace made His single
seater debut in the 2020 United States Formula 4 Championship. Although contesting just three races for DC Autosport,
finishing 23rd overall.
The following year, He began the year by
contesting three rounds of the F1600 Championship series for K-hill Motorsports
with a ranking of P27.
Next, Jace graduated to the U.S. F2000 National
Championship, then the first run on the Road to Indy ladder system. Joining Pabst
Racing, where His teammates were Yuven Sundramoorthy and Josh Pierson. With
Pierson hailing from Portland, Oregon.
Denmark had a typical rookie season, claiming
His maiden podium finish at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park enroute to
finishing 11th overall.
For 2022, Denmark remained with Pabst Racing
for His Breakout season. Having won four races that season,
including my “Home” track Portland International Raceway. Along with six Pole
positions and nine podiums.
Jace began by winning the season opener at St
Pete in round one, before notching His second W’ at Road America in June.
Then at season’s end, Jace went on what
appeared to be a “Hot” streak, winning back-to-back races. First Up North Eh!
Winning at Toronto from Pole. Followed by winning race one of Portland’s triple
header season finale that decided that
year’s U.S. F2000 National championship, which He finished third overall.
I say Hot streak since Jace started from Pole
for All three of Portland’s title deciding races. Being in a three-way title
shootout for the 2022 U.S. F2000 championship vs. teammate Myles Rowe and
DEForce Racing’s Michael D’Orlando
As it was rounds two-three which changed the
eventual outcome for whom would become champion. As Rowe broke the Cardinal
rule of racing; Don’t take out your Teammate! Driving over Denmark’s rear wheel
and leaving the door wide open for Mac Clark to inherit the win.
On an interesting sidenote, Clark became the
F1600 Championship series Canada’s youngest ever champion when winning 14 of 15
races in 2020. And at age 16, He broke the long standing record of somebody
known as PT’, Sugar Ray tracy’, The Thrill from the West Hill! Or simply Paul
Tracy…
Trailing championship points leader Rowe by a
scant six points. The final saw Jace on Pole Hit once again in Portlan’d
Turn-1. This time being punted by Thomas Nepveu, tumbling out of the points!
Whilst Rowe also struggled with contact before finishing fifth. With D’Orlando
claiming the chequored Flag and the championship title to boot
As Jace’s teammate Rowe
finished the season with 5 wins. While both D’Orlando and Denmark finished with
4 wins apiece.
For 2023, Jace, along with Bosom Buddy Rowe
both graduated to USF Pro 2000 with Pabst Racing. Where Rowe would go onto take
the championship title, while Jace finished seventh.
For 2024, now in His fourth season with Pabst
Racing, Denmark is contesting His sophomore USF Pro 2000 campaign, and is
currently ranked fifth overall with 77 points.
Having claimed two podium finishes at the
recent triple header weekend at Nola Motorsports Park. Finishing third in
Race-1, and second in Race-3. Although everybody’s currently chasing Velocity
Racing Development’s Nikita Johnson!
As Denmark’s teammates this season are
Christian Brooks and Simon Sikes, the latter being the reigning U.S. F2000
National Championship champion. Whilst I’ll admit I know nothing about Brooks…
As you can check out the USF Pro 2000 series
and the rest of the USF Pro Championships “Junior” support series this weekend on
Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s permanent road course. (May 9-11)
While you can visit Jace’s website at:
jacedenmark.com
Good Luck Jace!
