Plymouth, WI (Wednesday, June 25, 2025) — Caleb Gafrarar headed to Wisconsin early last week for a two-day series test at the legendary Road America circuit. Known for its high-speed straights and iconic corners like “The Kink”, “Canada Corner” and “The Carousel,” the 4.048-mile, 14 turn track provided Gafrarar with valuable experience ahead of race weekend.
Gafrarar and his team began with a track walk on Wednesday, taking in key features and learning details that can make or break a race. Thursday’s test sessions showed promise, with Gafrarar displaying consistent pace and solid lap times, setting the tone for a strong weekend.
Practice & Qualifying Drama
Friday morning’s final practice session was set to be a confidence builder, but Gafrarar’s session was cut short when he was caught in debris from another competitor’s incident. While he managed to drive the car back to pit lane, he wasn’t able to record a single lap time before qualifying.
Undeterred, Gafrarar and the Pabst Racing team went into qualifying cold — but made a statement right out of the gate. Caleb posted a strong lap time that initially put him third on the charts. When the dust settled, he secured 6th on the grid for Race 1 and 4th for Race 2 — a strong result given the circumstances.
That evening, Gafrarar joined fellow drivers and crew at the USF Pro Championship’s AMR Safety Crew Dinner, taking time to thank those who ensure safety on track.
Race 1: From Nearly Victorious to Off-Track Heartbreak
Starting 6th in Saturday morning’s Race 1, Gafrarar charged forward at the drop of the green flag, gaining two positions by Turn 1. Early in competition, he had worked his way into podium contention and capitalized on a dramatic incident between the top two drivers to move into second place. A lap later he moved into first place and started to pull away from the pack. Unfortunately, the caution would come out with 3 laps to go.
After a few laps under caution, the field went green with just one lap remaining. Gafrarar got a strong jump on the restart and led the pack up the hill. As they entered Turn 1, the second-place car took the outside line. In a bid to defend, Gafrarar was tagged by the third-place driver and sent off into the gravel, just moments from what would have been his first win. He was able to rejoin and cross the line in 17th place, fortunately with minimal damage.
Race 2: A Measured Comeback
Looking to rebound, Gafrarar started Race 2 from 4th on the grid and wasted no time, passing around the outside to take the lead into Turn 1 but fell back to second in Turn 5. He held strong, running with the leaders early, but reported understeer developing throughout the race. Despite the handling issues, Caleb fought hard to stay up front, ultimately bringing the car home in a respectable 4th place.
“To have my first win within reach and then lose it in a one-lap shootout was heartbreaking,” said Gafrarar. “It would have meant a lot, especially with Road America being the home track for Pabst Racing. In Race 2, the car had understeer, and I really had to work to keep it competitive for all 12 laps. But weekends like this just give us more motivation heading into Mid-Ohio.”
A Heartfelt Thank You
Caleb would like to thank his family, friends, and fans for their incredible support, especially those who contributed to his campaign and had their names displayed on his race car for the Road America event:
Hop & Vine Davidson, Chris G’s Coaching, 1 Shot Fotos, Matt Davis, Mimi Peggy Cormier, Tom & Gwen Farrell, Joe Mele, David Wilson, Ethan Wilson, Phil Rogers, Molly Mattioli, AJ Abate, Kitasaki Farms, Bob Little, Jeslyn & Mark Williams, Michael & Tracy Johnson, Dave Kenny, Brian Zawaski, Jeff Ford, Chris & Amy Koster, Erin Nosker, Kara Carpenter, Elaine Sinclair, Gram Clarann Gafrarar, Gramps Charlie Gafrarar, Clarissa Gafrarar, Maw Maw Jackie Boger, and his Paw Paw Bill Boger, who rode along with him in spirit.
He also extends a big thanks to his partners: CG Investment Fund LLC, Circle K, Bell Helmets, OMP, Racing Electronics, and Molecule.
Next up: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 4–7.
To support Caleb or learn more about his USF2000 campaign, visit:
🔗 https://www.calebgracer.com/contact/