INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - With the first event of the 2023 season just around the corner, Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) has confirmed another driver for their massive program. Joining the team in St. Petersburg, Florida and throughout the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires season will be the highly experienced Japanese American driver Reece Ushijima.

“I am looking forward to seeing Reece in our USF Pro 2000 car,” explained Team Owner Jay Howard. “With his experience in Europe and around the world, I am sure he will be on pace right away and confident for the season ahead.”

With experience in karting and in Formula Ford, Ushijima competed in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 program in 2019-2020 where he finished seventh in the championship standings with a best result of fourth. 2020 saw Ushijima move to the BRDC Formula 3 Championship claiming multiple podium results but in 2021, Ushijima had a breakout season earning multiple pole positions, race wins and podium results on his way to a fourth-place result at the end-of-the-year championship points battle.

Later in 2021, Ushijima competed in the F3 Asian Championship before moving to the FIA F3 Championship in 2022. With the path to the Formula One World Championship a difficult one, Ushijima has now shifted his focus to North America as he looks to climb the ladder to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“North America has some of the best racing in the world, and I am happy to be joining JHDD just two rungs on the ladder from the top level,” expressed Ushijima. “The team is known for their success in multiple different series, and I only hope that I can help them add to their 2023 resume in the USF Pro 2000 Championship.”

Howard added, “Reece is one of the last pieces of the puzzle for JHDD in 2023 as we look forward kicking of the season victorious in all three programs of competition.”

Set to make his series debut on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Ushijima will compete in the opening double header event over the March 3-5 weekend.