Wyatt Gooden | |
Birth Date: | 10 October 1988 |
Birth Place: | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
Current Series: | U.S. F2000 National Championship |
First Year: | 2013 |
Current Team: | Afterburner Autosport |
Car Number: | 17 |
Starts: | 4 |
Podiums: | 2 |
Prev Series: | Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup F1600 Championship Series F2000 Championship Series |
Prev Series Years: | 2010 2011 2012 |
Wyatt Gooden (born October 10, 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American racing driver who most notably competed in the 2013 U.S. F2000 National Championship with Afterburner Autosport. In 2009 he became the first person in the United States to earn a manufacturer funded ride in a professional auto racing series by winning the iRacing TDI Cup Virtual Series in iRacing.com.[1]
Through a $45,000 scholarship earned by winning the 2009 iRacing.com VW Jetta TDI Cup[2] from Volkswagen of America, Wyatt competed in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup. Having achieved 2 victories during the season, he won the Rookie of the Year title.
Midway through the year, Wyatt was awarded the opportunity to drive a Honda powered Open wheel car in professional competition. His open wheel debut took place at the 2011 F1600 Championship Series Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course event, where he won both races. One month later Wyatt was selected for the 2011 Team USA Scholarship, becoming a finalist. In October 2011, he competed in two more F1600 Championship Series events at Watkins Glen International, winning both races and earning the title as #1 Ranked Formula Ford driver in 2011 by eFormulaCarNews.com.
Wyatt competed in the F2000 Championship Series with Quantum Racing Services.[3] He finished second in points with two wins and two poles among 12 podium finishes from 14 races.