SCCA Pro Racing

AVONDALE, La. (March 29, 2025) – Alex Popow returned to Formula 4 United States Championship’s (F4 U.S.) Victory Lane in Race 2 at NOLA Motorsports Park on Saturday afternoon. Marking his third-career win and first of the 2025 season, Popow (No. 55 Dr. Michael Thompson MS DDS PPLS Ligier JS F422) is teeing himself up to make a run for the championship with back-to-back podiums in the opening two races of the season.

Notes of Interest:

• Alex Popow earned his first win of the 2025 season. After suffering from food poisoning on Tuesday evening, it’s been a week of overcoming adversity for the 19-year-old driver.
• Cooper Shipman had an instant replay of Race 1, both leading the field to the green flag and once again finishing in the runner-up position.
• Kekai Hauanio finished third to secure his second podium of the season after winning Race 1 on Saturday morning.
• Three teams were represented on today’s podium, with MLT Motorsports and Alex Popow winning the race, Kiwi Motorsport finishing second with Cooper Shipman and Crosslink Motorsports taking third with Kekai Hauanio.
• Alex Popow is one of two drivers in F4 U.S. selected to receive the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship.

After setting the fast lap in Race 1, Cooper Shipman (No. 14 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) led the field down the frontstretch to take the green flag and begin Race 2. Rolling off two-by-two, the field immediately flanked out, as drivers jockeyed for position. Shipman pulled ahead to take the lead, but Popow stayed tight on his gearbox. Popow pulled to the outside as they raced around Turn 3, staying side by side and setting himself up to complete the pass as they raced through Turn 4. With Shipman going wide, Popow completed the pass and third-place starter Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) quickly followed suit. Fourth-place starter Caleb Campbell (No. 68 LC Racing Academy Ligier JS F422) pulled wheel to wheel with Shipman, engaging in a fierce battle for third. Initially pulling ahead, the two swapped positions until Shipman ultimately took the preferred spot. 

With the race falling into a rhythm, drivers focused on hitting their marks and making laps. Popow steadily worked on building a gap—first just 1.967 seconds ahead, and ultimately growing the margin to 9.722 seconds. Behind him, Shipman was steadily working on reeling in Hauanio, who had over a one-second advantage. As the race neared its halfway point, Shipman finally reached Hauanio’s gearbox before pulling wheel to wheel as they raced down the frontstretch. With Hauanio initially pulling ahead in Turn 1, Shipman continued applying pressure and was able to compete the pass, pulling to the inside in Turn 3.

The clock ticked down as the front three spread out. Behind them, Campbell and Clemente Huerta Raab (No. 17 Velox USA Ligier JS F422) put on a show battling for the fourth position. Racing nose to tail lap after lap, Heurta Raab kept the pressure on Campbell, waiting for the right opportunity to make his move. With the battle ensuing for nearly 10 minutes and just hundredths separating the two drivers, they swapped the position several times as they raced toward the checkered flag.

Crossing the finish line, it was Popow, followed by Shipman and Hauanio. Racing side by side all the way to the finish line, Huerta Raab edged Campbell by just 0.119 seconds to take the fourth position, with Campbell finishing fifth.

     SEE MORE:  Race 2 Official Results

“It feels great to win today,” said Popow after climbing from the car. “We struggled all week, and I've been sick, as well. So, to be in first place is just so good. I had a really bad food poisoning earlier this week. I had an IV in my arm on Tuesday at midnight, and we drove up Wednesday morning at 4 a.m. So, it's been a long couple of days. It's a really physical track—really bumpy—and it's a fast car, so we just have to make do. I really have to thank the team for supporting me and giving me a good car to go fight for the win.”

F4 U.S. will contest their final race of the NOLA SpeedTour tomorrow at 10:05 a.m. CT. The race will air live on SPEED SPORT 1, and also be available to stream live on SpeedTour.TV. With SPEED SPORT 1 available on Amazon Prime Video, Roku, Pluto TV, Sling, STIRR and more, details for how to tune in are available, here. Additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.