Michai Stephens, a two-time Team USA Scholarship recipient, will compete for RJB Motorsports in the 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda season.

Stephens, 23, from Evanston, Ill., will join SCCA champion Clint McMahan as drivers for the Sturgis, Mich-based team that steps into the series full time.

After winning the Skip Barber Racing School's INDYCAR Academy scholarship, Stephens took part in his first car race – in the Skip Barber Summer Series – in May 2014. His first win came in his second race weekend, leading to an invitation to a shootout for the Team USA Scholarship. Stephens again made the most of his opportunity and went on to finish third at the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy Formula Ford race at Silverstone in England – from a field of almost 120 drivers from around the world.

Stephens raced sporadically in 2015 but secured another Team USA Scholarship.

“We are excited about having Michai Stephens drive our second car in USF2000, the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy, for 2016,” said Fred Edwards, CEO of primay sponsor Metalloid Corporation. “Michai is the type of individual we want to help grow within the racing community. Based on his short racing career so far, he has clearly been blessed with natural talent and a burning desire to become a champion. We feel Michai will be a great ambassador in and out of the car for RJB Motorsports and Metalloid Corporation."

The team is making plans for McMahan and Stephens to conduct an extensive test program before the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., in March.

“An incredible and priceless opportunity has magically fallen into place,” Stephens said. “Thanks to Metalloid and RJB Motorsports, we will join forces and encourage one another to the best results possible. To have been selected for a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity like this by Fred and RJB only fuels the fire that burns bright inside. I am beyond grateful to have this fairytale come to life and will do my very best to repay the faith that has been shown in me. I can hardly wait to get started.”