Photo credit: Gavin Baker Photography

Alessandro de Tullio took the long way around to get to the top step of the USF Pro 2000 podium, having had to step away from racing cars for a year and a half due to financial constraints.

de Tullio stayed sharp in the meantime, continuing his reign as one of the top karters in the entire United States, something that he did not need a racing-sized budget to maintain. He won the prestigious SKUSA Winter Series in multiple classes of karts in 2024 as he proved his dominance against some of the best karters on the continent.

In late 2024, he finally got his chance with BN Racing to return for a select few rounds at the end of the USF Pro 2000 season, but he still was finding his footing and returning to form.

That form returned in full on Saturday, when he kicked off the 2025 season competing for Turn 3 Motorsport with a dominant win from pole on the Streets of St. Petersburg, his first win at the track and his first win in the USF Pro Championships since 2022.

“It means a lot, especially in Flordia, which is my home race,” de Tullio said. “I have a lot of family here…it’s so lovely to win here with everyone supporting me.”

The win for de Tullio was one that continued a reign of terror that Turn 3 Motorsport has had in the opening race of the season at St. Pete. They’ve won the race for each of the last five years.

And it wasn’t easy for the 18-year old, who had to defend against Pabst Racing’s Max Garcia, one of the top junior drivers in America, on multiple restarts as three full-course cautions flew throughout 25 laps. Still, de Tullio was able to hold off in the end and take the win.

“It was just about putting laps together and not making mistakes, trying to pull away,” de Tullio said. “It was difficult because Max was quick, but we we’re able to manage the race and come out with the win.”

de Tullio and the rest of the USF Pro 2000 grid now gets a chance to rest, as they’ll have six weeks until the series competes next in April at NOLA Motorsports Park.