Kirkwood, 19, from Jupiter, Fla., the reigning US F4 champion, qualified second behind young Mexican Jose Sierra (DEForce Racing) but took the lead at the first corner and never looked back on his way to an impressive debut victory in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda

Darren Keane will make his return to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda grid this weekend after being confirmed as a full-season entry with Newman Wachs Racing in the No. 36 Cal Development/Keane Architectural Woodwork entry

The Houston native will begin his second season in the Mazda Road to Indy with DEForce Racing and has immediately become a championship favorite after showing considerable speed in pre-season testing.

After some debut events in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2017, BN Racing is now set for their 2018 campaign. Competing in both the previously mentioned USF2000 program as well as the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, the Chicago, Ill.-based team is ready to tackle the upcoming season with its four-driver lineup.

Exclusive Autosport will begin the new MRTI season with a pair of Canadian drivers in Pro Mazda and a trio of talented pilots in USF2000. Veteran Parker Thompson will lead the charge in Pro Mazda, joined by rookie Antonio Serravalle. In USF2000, Jayson Clunie, Manuel Cabrera and Igor Fraga will chase the team’s fourth series victory, adding to the impressive three-win season delivered by Thompson in the team’s debut in 2017.