Oconomowoc, Wisconsin - Today, Pabst Racing announced that 2023 USF2000 Champion Simon Sikes will stay with the team as he makes the move to USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire for 2024. Simon’s 2023 banner season led to the team’s first driver championship and the Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship worth $433,200 to go toward his move up the ladder.
The 22-year-old Athens, Georgia native who won the Team USA Scholarship in 2020, competed in partial USF2000 seasons between 2020 and 2022. After those character-building years, he landed a full season of competition in the series filled with six wins, seven poles and the best prize of all. Sikes will pilot the No. 18 with secondary sponsors Mockett, Bell Racing and Sabelt America on board for 2024.
Sikes, who runs a small business selling custom fit chest and rib protectors for karting called Group6, recently made his “debut” in the USF Pro 2000 series at the Fall Combine at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where he topped the charts and finished the weekend with the fastest lap time overall.
“I am beyond thrilled to confirm that I will be moving up with Pabst Racing to compete in the 2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire,” said Sikes. “It really is a dream come true to stay with the Pabst family for another season. We had a terrific 2023, and it was a pleasure to work with such an amazing group of people. Pabst feels like home now, and the transition to the USF Pro 2000 car has been rather smooth so far.
“The Pabst USF Pro 2000 program has been extremely powerful so I feel privileged to have this opportunity heading into next year. The support has been overwhelming, so I want to thank everyone that has been a part of this journey so far. I can not wait to get the season started!”
Not only did Pabst Racing win the 2023 USF2000 championship with Simon, they also won the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with Myles Rowe whose car Sikes will drive in 2024. Upon reflection and looking ahead, team owner Augie Pabst expressed his sentiments for his returning driver.
“Having Simon progress with us to USF Pro 2000 is exactly how the USF Pro Championship’s blueprint to develop talent was intended to work,” said Pabst. “We’re extremely proud to continue with Simon and looking forward to the 2024 season ahead.”
As the holidays quickly approach, the team prepares for off-season testing and will take part in a series test at Sebring Raceway early December. More driver announcements will come soon.