Photo credit: Gavin Baker Photography

Anthony Martella had a long road back to USF2000 after taking time off of open-wheel racing to run sportscars before switching teams for 2025 to Jay Howard Driver Development.

That added experience has paid off for the young Canadian as he added his name to the list of winners of USF2000’s most prestigious race, taking the checkered flag after leading 64 of 75 laps of the Freedom 75 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Ayrton Houk started on the pole in an upset qualifying effort for the single-car, family-owned Benchmark Autosport, putting the Indianapolis native on pole.

He held the lead through the first seven laps until Martella made a move to the inside to go side-by-side through turn 1. Martella would stick with Houk before taking the lead on lap 12.

Houk’s car would rapidly fall through the field as he would finish outside the top ten. Behind Martella, VRD’s Thomas Schrage and JHDD’s Brad Majman would inherit the two remaining podium spots, giving Schrage the lead in the championship as his rival Jack Jeffers could only manage to score a finish in eighth.

The win marks Martella’s first in open-wheel competition and the second year in a row that Jay Howard Driver Development has won the Freedom 75, winning with Tanner DeFabis in 2024.

For full results, check out usf2000.com/results