Nikita Lastochkin, 24, will be joining Team Pelfrey for the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda as one of their four full season drivers. The Russian native formerly raced with Team Pelfrey in the F1600 Championship where he placed 6th in the overall championship.

"I am really glad to be able to continue a relationship with Team Pelfrey coming into 2015. They are a great group of people that are always doing their best to give their drivers best equipment possible," said Lastochkin. "I'm excited to come into a new championship and do the best job possible with them."

Although the decision to race didn't come until later in life, Lastochkin always loved going fast as a kid in Russia. Being older than his competitors isn't something he fears.

"In "racing against the odds" I see a challenge. The bigger the challenge the harder you need to work and it is that much harder to succeed. On the other hand, with bigger challenge comes bigger reward and satisfaction of being able to overcome the hardships and accomplish your goal."

He began his career by joining the Skip Barber Racing School where he felt comfortable enough to compete in their race series. He would place 2nd in the Winter Championship and 3rd in the Summer Championship. From there he entered F1600 where he would face something completely new, slick tires. Overcoming that challenge, he placed 6th in the overall championship with Team Pelfrey.

Nigel Tuckey, team principal for Team Pelfrey, said of Lastochkin, "We are really looking forward to continuing our relationship with Nikita in 2015. He has the hunger and commitment to compete at the highest level on the Mazda Road to Indy and based on his progress this past year I expect to see him competing regularly for podiums and race wins. Besides that he is just a really cool guy to be around!"

Their first race weekend together will be on Feb. 19-20 at NOLA Motorsports Park during the 2015 Winterfest.