FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FR Americas Masters Championship Leader Whitney Strickland Set to Defend Points Lead at Mid-Ohio
Following a Dominant Double-Victory at Road America, Driver of the No. 21 TF Companies Ligier JS-F3 Headed to Familiar Territory with Hillenburg Motorsports
LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 9, 2026) — Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) Masters class points leader Whitney Strickland is primed to continue his championship charge this weekend as the grid heads to the historic Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for rounds 5 and 6 of the 2026 season. Traveling with the open-wheel development squad Hillenburg Motorsports from Texas, Strickland enters the event with immense momentum following an undefeated weekend at Road America last month.
Strickland, pilot of the distinctive No. 21 TF Companies Ligier JS-F3, delivered a masterclass performance in Wisconsin, sweeping both Masters class victories on the high-speed Elkhart Lake circuit. Those flawless technical drives vaulted him into absolute control of the Masters Championship standings, establishing a critical gap over his title rivals as the summer stretch commences.
The upcoming double-header on Saturday, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th marks a significant return to Ohio for Strickland. While Mid-Ohio is widely recognized as one of North America’s most challenging and technical natural-terrain road courses, Strickland boasts an extensive notebook at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn facility. His racing resume includes competitive campaigns in the highly demanding SCCA Formula Enterprises 2 (FE2) and Spec Racer Ford (SRF) categories, providing him with a profound understanding of Mid-Ohio’s treacherous off-camber turns and blind crests.
“Mid-Ohio is an absolute driver’s track, and I couldn’t be more excited to return there this weekend with Hillenburg Motorsports,” said Strickland. “My past experience in SCCA FE2 and Spec Racer Ford gives me a great mental map of layout zones like the Keyhole and the Madness complex, but the surface dynamics are going to be a completely fresh puzzle. The track underwent a full repavement ahead of the 2024 season, and now that the asphalt has been curing, weathering, and taking rubber for a couple of years, the track surface grip is actively changing and maturing. Finding where the track surface is at its peak will be our first challenge.
“On top of an evolving track surface, managing the No. 21 TF Companies Ligier JS-F3 here is a massive departure from my previous formula cars,” Strickland continued. “The huge jump in horsepower combined with the aerodynamic downforce of the FR platform means we are forcing the car into the asphalt at much higher speeds. You have to trust the aero through the blind, fast sections. We had a perfect weekend at Road America, and our main objective is to adapt quickly to these shifting track conditions to protect and expand our championship lead.”
Hillenburg Motorsports team management echoed Strickland’s confidence, noting that his technical feedback and track-specific experience will be vital assets during Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions. The tight, undulating nature of Mid-Ohio rewards patience and precise car placement, characteristics that have come to define Strickland’s championship-leading campaign.
The track schedule features competitive sessions spanning the entire weekend, culminating in the critical 35-minute race segments on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Official Event Weekend Schedule (All times EDT):
-
Friday, June 12
-
11:05 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — FR Americas Optional Test 2
-
5:50 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. — FR Americas Official Practice
-
-
Saturday, June 13
-
11:00 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. — FR Americas Official Qualifying
-
4:50 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. — FR Americas Race 1 (Round 5)
-
-
Sunday, June 14
-
11:55 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — FR Americas Race 2 (Round 6)
-