This year the program offers over $500,000 in prizes and awards, with the USF2000 champion receiving a scholarship valued at $375,000 to advance to the Star Mazda Championship.

Formula 2000 cars first appeared in North America during the mid-80s. The category was particularly popular in Canada, with series' sponsored by Export A and Canadian Tire. The early cars were powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter overhead-camshaft Ford engine, which produces approximately 150-horsepower. Mounted to the engine is a Hewland Mk 9 gearbox with four forward speeds and one reverse. The single-seater chassis is a tubular spaceframe design fitted with an aluminum floor pan and fiberglass bodywork. The cars also use wings mounted at the front and rear. The whole package weighs just under 1,200-lbs.

Today's Formula 2000 cars conform to many of the same rules, but advances in technology and aerodynamics have allowed them to be faster.

The 2013 USF2000 series has two classes:

• Championship Class: Teams in the division are limited to a Van Diemen chassis manufactured from 2001 to 2010. The cars in this category are powered by a Mazda MZR engine. The power plant is a four-cylinder, double-overhead camshaft, fuel-injected, two-liter motor which produces 170-horsepower. The Championship Class winner receives a scholarship package from Mazda to contest the 2014 Star Mazda Series.
• National Class: Last year, cars 1998 and newer that conformed to Sports Car Club of America's Formula Continental rules were allowed to compete in the National Class. This season the Sports Car Club of America's Formula Enterprise (FE) car is eligible for the National category. The FE is a Van Diemen DP06 powered by a less powerful 2.3-liter Mazda MZR engine. The National Class winner receives a scholarship package to advance to the Championship Class for 2014.

The 2013 schedule consists of fourteen races held over seven race weekends on seven tracks – three street circuits, one oval, and three permanent road courses. The races supported the IZOD IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series.

• March 14-15 - Sebring International Raceway
• March 23-24 - Streets of St. Petersburg
• May 25 - Lucas Oil Raceway
• July 13-14 - Streets of Toronto
• August 3-4 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
• September 7-8 - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
• October 5-6 - Reliant Park

The final two rounds of the 2013 USF2000 National Championship were held at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. Drivers would compete on the ten-turn 1.683-mile temporary street course.