De Tullio Dominates with Perfect USF Pro 2000 Victory at St. Petersburg Opener
Alessandro De Tullio dominated the opening race of the 2024 USF Pro 2000 season at St. Petersburg, securing his maiden victory from pole position. The 18-year-old Miami native, representing Turn 3 Motorsport, showcased exceptional skill throughout the 25-lap race.
Racing driver celebrates with American flag
De Tullio, who joined the defending champion team over the winter, maintained his strong form from Spring Training at NOLA Motorsports Park. He became the fourth consecutive driver to win the season opener for Turn 3 Motorsport.
The podium featured an all-Florida sweep, with reigning USF2000 champion Max Garcia (Pabst Racing) finishing second and Michael Costello (Pabst Racing) claiming third following a post-race penalty to Mac Clark.
Despite three full-course cautions disrupting the race's rhythm, De Tullio executed flawless restarts and even set the fastest lap with three laps remaining. This performance earned him an additional championship point and pole position for Sunday's race.
Notable performances included:
- Mac Clark dropping to fourth after a penalty for defensive driving
- Max Taylor advancing from 13th to finish fifth
- Nicolas Monteiro earning the Tilton Hard Charger Award, climbing from 19th to 7th
Race results table from USF Pro 2000
The second race of the weekend is scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 a.m. ET, preceding the NTT IndyCar Series pre-race warmup.