Joel Granfors will not contest the final two rounds of the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires campaign, opting to redirect efforts towards 2024.
In a decision made with the full support of his team Exclusive Autosport, Granfors will sit out the season-ending rounds at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and Portland to instead gather fresh momentum for his future racing programme.
“Of course it would have been nice to close out the season, but all things considered, this is the right decision for the longer term,” says Joel Granfors. “We have thought it through carefully together with the team and everybody else who needed to be involved in this decision, and we all share the common view that this is for the greater good. I wish the team all the best for these final races.”
Granfors currently sits fifth in the USF Pro 2000 standings following a strong rookie campaign in U.S. single-seater racing. With only two rounds to go and a runaway points leader out front in the scholarship chase, however, Granfors is opting to shuffle resources accordingly.
“I’m here to race, but more than anything I’m here to win,” Joel Granfors continues. “This will put me in the best possible position to try and do that in 2024 and beyond. I’m grateful to Exclusive Autosport, Corpay and all my sponsors for their support and I look forward to being back on track again soon!”
Granfors arrived in the USA this season after finishing second in the UK-based GB3 Championship last year. Despite an entirely new palette of tracks and a brand new environment on the INDYCAR support ladder, the Swede managed to win at the hallowed Indianapolis Motor Speedway back in May and has scored another two podiums in 2023.
“It has been an honour having Joel pilot the #92 Exclusive Autosport with Corpay car this year in the USF Pro 2000 championship,” says team owner Michael Duncalfe. “We collectively feel that it’s in everyone’s best interest at this time to re-focus efforts and resource towards the 2024 season. Consequently, Joel will unfortunately not be at COTA or Portland, but we’re all looking forward to seeing him back in the car in the off-season.”
One of the youngest drivers in the USF Pro 2000 field at just 18 years of age, other highlights for Granfors in 2023 have included making both his oval and street course debuts, finishing on the podium at the Lucas Oil Raceway oval and setting the fastest lap on the streets of St. Petersburg.
