Photo: Gavin Baker Photography
Braden Eves will stay in Indy Pro 2000 this year for a third season, and leaves Exclusive Autosport for Jay Howard Driver Development.
Exclusive ran Eves during his rookie season in 2020, curtailed by a neck-breaking crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then brought him back into its line-up last year in which he was title runner-up after winning three races.
JHDD meanwhile was the team Eves drove for in senior karting back in 2016 and then where he spent the next two years doing part-seasons in United States Formula 4. He moved into UF2000 too in 2018, and winning the ’19 title put him in IP2000.
“I am very excited to reunite with Jay Howard Driver Development to fight for the 2022 IP2000 championship,” said Eves.
“Jay helped me make the transition from karts to cars and has helped me develop my racecraft throughout my career. It feels surreal to be going full circle and racing with him once again. I know we’re going to be a strong pairing and I can’t wait to see what we can do together.”
The Meyer Shank Racing junior driver is JHDD’s second signing, with the team’s long-time racer Wyatt Brichacek being Eves’ team-mate for IP2000.
“First off, I am very happy to sign Braden,” JHDD owner Jay Howard commented.
“I like to think of it as him coming back to where he belongs! I worked with Braden back in his karting days, and then in his first ever year of car racing competing in F4 with us. He has been on loan for a few years and now returning to us where it began and where he belongs. We have unfinished business to take care of.”
JHDD took Christian Rasmussen to the 2021 title in its first season in the series as an independent entry, having previously co-run cars with other teams.