Alex Popow Jr.
| Alex Popow Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Venezuelan American |
| Related to | Alex Popow (father) |
| Championship titles | |
| 2023 | Formula Inter |
Alex Popow Jr. (born January 2006) is a Venezuelan and American racing driver who last drove in and came runner-up in the 2025 Formula 4 United States Championship.
Personal life
[edit]Popow is the son of Lu-Ann Acosta-Rubio and sportscar veteran Alex Popow.[1]
Career
[edit]Karting and maiden title in single-seaters (2013–2024)
[edit]Popow began karting in 2013.[2] In his first stint in karts, Popow raced in the United States,[3] in which he also drove in the 24 Hours of Orlando alongside his father,[4] but was forced to take a hiatus from karting in 2018 after two separate incidents in which he broke his collarbone.[5] After delaying his return to racing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Popow returned to karting in 2021 and stayed in it until 2022, when he made his single-seater debut in Formula Inter's exhibition round.[6]
Remaining in Formula Inter for the following year, Popow scored seven wins in the series' only season to take the title in early September.[7] Popow then tested USF Juniors machinery for Exclusive Autosport at Sebring and Indianapolis later that year,[8] before making his series debut the following year for Zanella Racing. After finishing no higher than 17th at NOLA, Popow left the series before returning to racing in the final round of the Formula 4 United States season at Circuit of the Americas for MLT Motorsports. In his first round in the series, Popow took pole and won the first two races of the weekend before finishing fourth in race three.[9][10]
First full season in Formula 4 United States and NACAM F4 cameo (2025)
[edit]Despite testing USF Juniors machinery in late 2024,[11][12] Popow remained with MLT Motorsports to drive in the Formula 4 United States Championship,[13] after receiving support from the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship.[14] In the first round of the season at NOLA, finished third in race one before winning the final two races of the weekend to take an early lead in the standings.[15][16] Popow then took pole at Road America, but was only able to convert it to a best result of fifth all weekend as he dropped to third in points.[17]
At Mid-Ohio, Popow finished second in both races to retain third in the standings,[18] before taking pole at New Jersey Motorsports Park but once again was not able to convert it into a win,[19] as he retired in race one and finished fourth in race two.[20] In the series' only trip abroad at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Popow finished second in the first two races and ending the weekend by taking third.[21][22] In the following round at Virginia International Raceway, Popow continued his podium streak as he finished second in both races.[23][24]
During 2025, Popow also partook in the second round of the NACAM Formula 4 Championship for Alessandros Blue at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. In his only round of the season, Popow finished fifth and fourth in the first two races before taking his maiden series podium by securing second in race three.[25]
Racing record
[edit]Racing career summary
[edit]| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 93 | 8th | |
| 2024 | USF Juniors | Zanella Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 33rd |
| Formula 4 United States Championship | MLT Motorsports | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 62 | 8th | |
| 2025 | Formula 4 United States Championship | MLT Motorsports | 17 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 266 | 2nd |
| NACAM Formula 4 Championship | Alessandros Blue | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 10th | |
| Sources:[26] | |||||||||
American open-wheel racing results
[edit]USF Juniors
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Zanella Racing | NOL 1 25 |
NOL 2 22 |
NOL 3 17 |
ALA 1 |
ALA 2 |
VIR 1 |
VIR 2 |
VIR 3 |
MOH 1 |
MOH 2 |
ROA 1 |
ROA 2 |
ROA 3 |
POR 1 |
POR 2 |
POR 3 |
33rd | 6 |
Complete Formula 4 United States Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MLT Motorsports | ROA 1 |
ROA 2 |
ROA 3 |
MOH 1 |
MOH 2 |
MOH 3 |
NJM 1 |
NJM 2 |
NJM 3 |
MOS 1 |
MOS 2 |
MOS 3 |
COA 1 1 |
COA 2 1 |
COA 3 4 |
8th | 62 | |||
| 2025 | MLT Motorsports | NOL 1 3 |
NOL 2 1 |
NOL 3 1 |
ROA 1 5 |
ROA 2 7† |
ROA 3 Ret |
MOH 1 2 |
MOH 2 2 |
NJM 1 Ret |
NJM 2 4 |
NJM 3 C |
MOS 1 2 |
MOS 2 2 |
MOS 3 3 |
VIR 1 2 |
VIR 2 2 |
BAR 1 1 |
BAR 2 1 |
2nd | 266 |
Complete NACAM Formula 4 Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Alessandros Blue | PUE1 1 |
PUE1 2 |
PUE1 3 |
AHR1 1 5 |
AHR1 2 4 |
AHR1 3 2 |
AHR2 1 |
AHR2 2 |
AHR2 3 |
AHR3 1 |
AHR3 2 |
AHR3 3 |
PUE2 1 |
PUE2 2 |
PUE2 3 |
AHR4 1 |
AHR4 2 |
10th* | 40* |
References
[edit]- ^ "ALEX POPOW SE CONSAGRÓ CAMPEÓN EN PROTOTIPOS CHALLENGE". comisiondeportivatouring.com (in Spanish). 2 October 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Automovilismo: El venezolano Alex Popow a toda velocidad en la F4". extranewsmundo.com (in Spanish). 5 June 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "TEAM USA Lineup for the 2016 ROK Cup International Final". rokcupusa.com. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "ALEX POPOW PADRE E HIJO COMPITEN EN LAS 24 HORAS DE KARTING EN ORLANDO". comisiondeportivatouring.com (in Spanish). 17 February 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Formula Inter Champion Alex Popow Embarks On Journey To Secure His Racing Future". usopenwheelnation.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Kartódromo Cotopaxi cierra el 2021 con la carrera 'Talent Cup'". automagazine.ec (in Spanish). 8 December 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "What happened to Formula Inter? The untold story of Florida's short-lived F4 series". feederseries.net. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Corry edges Costello in USF2000 testing at Sebring". formulascout.com. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Musella clinches JSF4 title with win, Popow also doubles up in COTA F4 U.S." racer.com. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Quimby beats Stati to US F4 title in the final race at COTA". formulascout.com. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "IndyCar's support series hold post-season test at Mid-Ohio". formulascout.com. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Vergara and Popow dominate as rookies impress during USF Juniors fall test". usopenwheelnation.com. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "F4 US: 2025 season guide". feederseries.net. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Fourteen drivers awarded support from PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship". racer.com. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Hauanio, Popow Win F-4 U.S. Races On Saturday". speedsport.com. 30 March 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Popov wins U.S. F4 Race 3 at NOLA". racer.com. 30 March 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "F4 youngsters provide thrills and spills across six races at Road America". formulascout.com. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Alex Popow jr. subió dos veces al podio en Mid-Ohio". socialite360.com (in Spanish). 6 June 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Alex Popow Jr con la misión de recuperar posiciones en Canadá". portuguesaaldia.com (in Spanish). 31 August 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Alex Popow Jr. sin suerte en el circuito de New Jersey". meridiano.net (in Spanish). 5 August 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Tres podios en Canadá logró Alex Popow Jr". noticias.avsphotoreport.com (in Spanish). 2 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Alex Popow jr se abre paso en la F4 de Estados Unidos". eluniversal.com (in Spanish). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Eight Straight For Cooper Shipman". speedsport.com. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Nine In A Row For Cooper Shipman". speedsport.com. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Ibrahim unbeaten in second NACAM F4 round of 2025 in Mexico City". formulascout.com. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Alex Popow Jr. Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 22 September 2025.