ESKILSTUNA, Sweden - Joel Granfors is looking to exploit the momentum of a triple-podium stretch when the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires season hits its halfway mark this weekend at the picturesque Road America circuit in Wisconsin.
 
Racing the #92 Corpay Exclusive Autosport car, 17-year-old Swede Granfors has burst immediately onto the scene in his first season in U.S. motorsport.

After championship leader Myles Rowe opened up a substantial gap in the early parts of the campaign, the winds have changed in recent rounds as Granfors has started to close in, making steady headway in the standings to currently sit in second place.
 
As a matter of fact, Granfors is the only driver in the USF Pro 2000 field to have graced the podium at each of the last three championship meetings, picking up top-three finishes at Sebring, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (where he scored his first win) and last time out on the oval at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
 
With the title chase firmly on, Granfors is understandably in a good mood as the season reaches half time this weekend – simultaneously phasing in a crucial, high-paced summer swing for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES-supporting junior series.
 
With three championship rounds and six races (two per event) packed into the coming month, there is plenty to play for as drivers bid to position themselves for the season-ending events in August/September.
 
“We’ve grown stronger and stronger in the first part of the season, and the aim is clearly to build on that and keep closing the gap in the standings,” says Granfors. “This is an important month in the championship and I’m really excited about it. We’ll take it one race at a time, but this is a good moment for us and a great opportunity to keep upping the pressure.”
 
Hosting this weekend’s races, the undulating, 14-turn Road America circuit is one of the USA’s most classic motorsport venues. Laid out in the beautiful countryside of Wisconsin, the four-mile track is also the longest on the entire USF Pro 2000 calendar.
 
“We did go to Road America for a test a while ago, but unfortunately it rained out after just a handful of laps,” Granfors concludes. “So, practically, it’s basically a brand new track for me once again this weekend. I did get a first small impression of it, though, and that was very positive with a lot of fast and flowing corners. I think it will be a really cool weekend.”
 
The USF Pro 2000 field will take to the track for the first time on Thursday for a pair of one-hour test sessions. Official practice is scheduled for Friday, with two qualifying sessions and two races then staged across the weekend.