While most 14-year-olds would relish the opportunity to sleep in on weekends, USF Juniors driver G3 Argyros rises at 6 a.m. to tackle the waves of the Pacific Ocean in his hometown of Newport Beach, California.

Argyros, self-described as super adventurous, says he has displayed this trait since a young age. Growing up in California, he appreciates the convenience of having ideal waves just outside his doorstep. After a morning of surfing, the diligent Argyros manages to balance school, time with friends, hours in the gym and time on simulators to round out his day.

Set to race for Jay Howard Driver Development in USF Juniors in 2024, Argyros aspires to have a successful debut season in open-wheel racing. Argyros seeks to achieve this success by drawing on his unique dirt background and also aims to support the legacy set forth by his father.

Argyros attributes his adventurous spirit to his late father, George Argyros Jr., who passed away in 2020. Following this life-altering event, G3 Argyros intensified his dedication to his craft and began refining his work ethic into what it is today.

“I really pushed a lot harder and spent more time in the gym and practicing,” G3 Argyros said. “I’m trying to carry on his legacy through racing.”

Beyond inheriting his father’s tenacity for adrenaline, G3 Argyros carries on his father’s legacy in the form of his alphanumeric first name, a short form of George Argyros III. Additionally, Positive Beverage, a company founded by his father and led by his mother as the CEO, will be prominently featured on the side of his red, blue and black car for the 2024 season.

G3 Argyros embarked on his racing journey at the age of 6, starting with karting after being inspired by a family friend involved in the sport. His father’s passion for fast planes, cars and boats fueled his desire to support G3 Argyros getting into racing.

After years in karting, Argyros took an unusual detour into racing on dirt in the California-based Great American Shortcourse. Winning a Rookie of the Year award in the J2 Kart class, he progressed to racing smaller versions of trophy trucks in the Pro Kart class, earning another Rookie of the Year title.

Navigating bumps on each circuit, Argyros honed his daring side during these two years, gaining valuable experience in handling oversteer, driving in wet conditions, and mastering cold tires.

“Being able to control a car like that was a thing that I needed,” Argyros said. “To invest in as a driver and to add to my handbook.”

Argyros believes the skills acquired during this time will be advantageous in the USF Juniors series, especially with the transition to Continental tires in 2024. The new tires, known for longer heat-up times and increased grip compared to the previous Cooper tires, are expected to showcase the skill in tire warm-up, according to Argyros.

Despite some hiccups and technical difficulties, Argyros performed well at Sebring, posting a 1:06.159 in the final session of the day to finish first by just less than three hundredths of a second.

“Other than a few hiccups and some technical difficulties, Sebring went crazy well,” Argyros said. “We have some pace, and Jay Howard, in his first year, is definitely going to make a splash in USF Juniors.”

Having tested with former INDYCAR Series driver Jay Howard since April of the previous year, Argyros secured a spot for the 2024 season after the USF Pro Championships fall combine at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As he continues preparations with his team for the first race of 2024 at NOLA Motorsports Park, Argyros expresses confidence in choosing USF Juniors as the best series for his current career stage.

“It made a lot of sense to run juniors,” Argyros said. “I felt like it’d be the most competitive series for my age group.”

Argyros is one of five drivers announced to drive for Howard in 2024, marking the team’s first full year in USF Juniors after transitioning away from Formula 4 in 2023.

Reflecting on the partnership with Jay Howard, Argyros notes the significant impact on his progress since first joining the team.

“His way of explaining things has truly changed my perspective,” Argyros said. “How he explains what your inputs do with the car, how that affects the grip and using curbs and bumps to rotate the car.”