The Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires program handed out more than $2.2 million in scholarships and awards Monday night at its Championship Celebration in Monterey, Calif.

“This program continues to do its job of providing the best and most complete training for tomorrow’s IndyCar stars,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, which operates the Road to Indy. "This evening highlighted so many fantastic seasons by the talented young drivers who make up our fields, and we are very proud to be a small part of their ongoing careers in motorsports. Congratulations to all of our winners and we’ll all move on to a great 2020 season.”

Oliver Askew was the top honoree after capturing the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship for Andretti Autosport. The 22-year-old driver from Jupiter, Fla., will receive $1.1 million towards a minimum of three 2020 NTT IndyCar Series races, including the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The Indy Lights title completed Askew’s meteoric rise from karting to an IndyCar Series opportunity in just four years.

Kyle Kirkwood, a childhood friend of Askew’s and a longtime karting rival, received $596,700 in scholarships and awards for winning the Indy Pro 2000 championship for RP Motorsport USA. Kirkwood, also from Jupiter, Fla., became the first driver since Matt Brabham in 2012 and ’13 to capture the USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 titles in consecutive seasons.

Braden Eves delivered a stirring comeback in Sunday’s final race of the USF2000 season by erasing a 12-point deficit to Hunter McElrea with a title-clinching victory, his sixth of the season. Eves, of New Albany, Ohio, gave Cape Motorsports its ninth consecutive series championship and 13th overall. Eves received $305,600 to be applied to a Indy Pro 2000 ride in 2020.

The Road to Indy program also celebrated the NTT IndyCar Series victory of Josef Newgarden, who won the Indy Lights championship in 2011. All four champions are one-time winners of the Team USA Scholarship. They also are all Americans, the first time that’s happened since 2002 (Sam Hornish Jr. in the Indy Racing League, A.J. Foyt IV in Infiniti Pro Series, Guy Cosmo in Star Mazda and Brian Sellers in USF2000).

Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires Award Winners:

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
Champion (scholarship valued at $1.1 million for three 2020 NTT IndyCar Series races including the Indianapolis 500) – Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport)
Second place ($75,000) – Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing)
Third place ($50,000) – Toby Sowery (HMD Motorsports)
Team Champion ($7,500) – Andretti Autosport
Rookie of the Year Presented by Cooper Tires ($15,000) – Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport)
Hi-Tide Kids On Track Spirit Award ($1,000) – Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing)
Tilton Hard Charger Award ($2,500) – David Malukas (HMD Motorsports)
AiM Sports Move of the Year (1,000) – Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing)
INDYCAR Mechanic of the Year ($1,000) – Keith Gummer (Juncos Racing)
Motegi Winning Driver Team Owner Trophy/Set of Street Wheels – Andretti Autosport
Jostens Indy Lights Champion’s Ring – Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport)
Freedom 100 Champion’s Ring – Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport)
Road to Indy Series Rings (drivers contesting all three levels) – Oliver Askew, Rinus VeeKay, Robert Megennis, David Malukas
Dallara Bent Pushrod Award ($2,000) – Andretti Autosport
Dallara Champion’s Parts Credit ($25,000) – Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport)
Cosworth Champion’s Award ($5,000 refurbishment credit to Series Champion) – Oliver Askew (Andretti Autosport)
Carl Haas Auto Damper Rebuild ($940) – Andretti Autosport
Original Artwork by Jim Swintal – Oliver Askew
Indy Lights Hall of Fame Inductee – Ed Carpenter

Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
Champion ($500,000 scholarship to advance to Indy Lights, Cooper Tires Tire Allotment Award valued at $66,900, Series Race Entry Fee Award valued at $29,800 = $596,700) – Kyle Kirkwood (RP Motorsport USA)
Second Place ($20,000) – Rasmus Lindh (Juncos Racing)
Third Place ($10,000) – Parker Thompson (Abel Motorsports)
Team Champion ($10,000) – Juncos Racing
Rookie of the Year Presented by Cooper Tires ($7,500) – Kyle Kirkwood (RP Motorsport USA)
Hi-Tide Kids On Track Spirit Award ($1,000) – Parker Thompson (Abel Motorsports)
Tilton Hard Charger Award ($1,000 product certificate) – Parker Thompson (Abel Motorsports)
AiM Sports Move of the Year ($1,000) – Parker Thompson (Abel Motorsports)
INDYCAR Mechanic of the Year ($1,000) – Marco Longinotti (RP Motorsport USA)
Motegi Winning Driver Team Owner Trophy/Set of Street Wheels – RP Motorsport USA
Jostens Indy Pro 2000 Champion’s Ring – Kyle Kirkwood (RP Motorsport USA)
Carl Haas Auto Golden Wishbone Award ($940 damper rebuild certificate) – DEForce Racing
Original Artwork by Jim Swintal – Kyle Kirkwood
Indy Pro 2000 Hall of Fame Inductee – Gerardo Bonilla

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship
Champion ($250,000 scholarship to advance to Indy Pro 2000, Cooper Tires Tire Allotment Award valued at $31,000, Series Race Entry Fee Award valued at $24,600 = $305,600) – Braden Eves (Cape Motorsports)
Second Place ($10,000) – Hunter McElrea (Pabst Racing)
Third Place ($5,000) – Christian Rasmussen (Jay Howard Driver Development)
Team Champion ($5,000) – Pabst Racing
Hyperco Rookie of the Year ($2,500) – Braden Eves
Hi-Tide Kids On Track Spirit Award ($1,000) – Cameron Shields (Newman Wachs Racing)
Tilton Hard Charger Award ($1,000 product certificate) – Bruna Tomaselli (Pabst Racing)
AiM Sports Move of the Year ($1,000) – Cameron Shields (Newman Wachs Racing)
INDYCAR Mechanic of the Year ($1,000) – Shaggy Russell (Newman Wachs Racing)
Motegi Winning Driver Team Owner Trophy/Set of Street Wheels – Pabst Racing
Jostens USF2000 Champion’s Ring – Braden Eves
Carl Haas Auto Golden Wishbone Award ($940 damper rebuild certificate) – Pabst Racing
Original Artwork by Jim Swintal – Braden Eves
USF2000 Hall of Fame Inductee – Augie Pabst