17-year-old set for full season with VRD
In a podium finish in his F4 United States Championship Powered by Honda debut, Ethan Barker has now confirmed his intentions for the 2023 season. Inking a deal with VRD Racing to compete in the USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires series, Barker will look to continue the winning ways of the Georgia-based program in the first rung of the USF Pro Championships ladder program.
“We are thrilled to have Ethan with VRD on a full-time basis in 2023,” explained Dan Mitchell. “He proved that he has what it takes to run at the front of the field, and I think he will fight for race wins and the championship in 2023.”
Ethan started racing a paved oval track at the age of 8 in a Bandolero at Houston Motorsports Park in Houston, Texas. He began racing an Allison Legacy, which is a 3/4 sized stock car, at the age of 13, and later added driving a ProTruck on paved oval tracks in and around the Gulf Coast area.
Ethan also raced in a Pro Late Model for MCM Racing Development before progressing and winning the Gulf Coast Series Legacy Championship in 2020. Ethan holds the track record for the fastest lap time in a Legacy at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama.
Barker has also raced a Mazda Miata, an MX-5 Cup car, and a Spec Miata in SCCA and NASA competition. Ethan won the SCCA T4 Championship for the SCCA Southwest Division in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and he was named Rookie of the Year by the Houston Region of SCCA in 2020. Also, Ethan currently holds two track records within SCCA for fastest lap times in the T4 division at MSR Houston and at MSR Cresson.
From 2020 until the present, Ethan has raced on 14 different tracks across the country, in eight different varieties of cars, and has garnered 62 podiums, 37 of those first-place finishes. He has raced on famed tracks such as the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, VIRginia International Raceway, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway and Daytona International Speedway.
“A huge thanks to Dan Mitchell and all the guys at VRD Racing for the opportunity to be part of the winning program,” added Barker. “Since my first podium with them late this past season, I knew where I wanted to race in 2023. They are a great program, have a proven track record, and I look forward to my newest challenge, USF Juniors.”
Set to endure an intense winter test program, Barker and VRD Racing will begin their USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires season when the first green flag flies over the March 23-25 weekend at Sebring International Raceway.
Stay tuned for more news and driver announcements from VRD Racing in the very near future.