Third-generation racer Matthew Brabham added to his family’s list of accomplishments by claiming the Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Championship title at the 3.27-mile Virginia International Raceway over the weekend.

The series’ top performers were then recognized with more than $443,000 in prizes and awards distributed at the annual banquet in Greensboro, N.C. Speakers and presenters included Motorsports Director of Mazda North American Operations John Doonan and INDYCAR Manager of Grassroots Marketing Jason Penix alongside Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter.

“As a series, we were honored to acknowledge so many great players in an outstanding season of racing,” Andersen said. “This was by far the most competitive USF2000 championship that I have witnessed. Our drivers had to dig deep to make their mark and I couldn’t be more proud of all of them. These are the stars of tomorrow and I am not just referring to our champions. Our talent pool this year was incredibly deep and there are many drivers who graced our grids that I can say, with confidence, will climb the Mazda Road to Indy ladder.”

Brabham secured Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing’s second consecutive title in the Championship class by outlasting teammate Spencer Pigot in a season-long duel.

“I am over the moon at how the whole year went,” said Brabham, the son of sports car and Indy car driver Geoff Brabham and grandson of Sir Jack Brabham. “I didn’t expect to come into the year and, within the first couple of races, to be up to the front straightaway. So my goals changed pretty quickly and I was going for the championship for the rest of the year.”

Brabham only needed to finish 14th in the season finale at VIR and finished eighth behind Pigot, who won a series-best eight races -- including a sweep at VIR. Brabham credited his teammate for pushing him to the championship, which includes a scholarship from the Mazda Road to Indy to advance to the Star Mazda Championship.

“Spencer was really quick all year,” Brabham said. “We pushed each other so much, and I think we were in a class of our own the whole season and I am sure that he and I will be racing together the whole way up. It was definitely a good rivalry. I learned a lot and we pushed each other and learned more probably with pushing each other.”

Norway’s Henrik  Furuseth helped Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing sweep the series titles by winning the National Class title with two dominating race wins to capture the title as USF2000 National Class Champion.

The feat is even more impressive when considering this was Henrik’s first year of racing in North America. The driver from Eidsvoll, Norway, won the Scandinavian Formula Basic Championship last year, and with another championship title in the bag his sights are set on the 2013 season.

“My first season in the US has been amazing,” he said. “Winning seven out of 13 races. I had a big battle with RC Enerson and Mark Eaton this year. It was so much fun racing against them, as well as all the other National Class drivers. The team worked really hard all year long, and they have given me a fantastic car every single time out.”

USF2000 Champions Banquet