reply back to this thread when you are smashing everyone!
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You’ve got plenty of time to get to cat 1 - I got my cat 2 upgrade in 2017 at age 35 and upgraded to cat 1 partway through the 2019 season (2.5 total seasons as a 2). You’ve got fantastic numbers and even without a sprint getting to cat 1 should be a matter of figuring out how you want to get your points and then going out and mastering those skills in the P12 fields
I have a similar power profile, height, and weight to you. I am 6’3, 168, and my FTP ranges from 355-370 depending on what I’m focusing on. I also don’t have great short power and my best results come from longer efforts or breakaways. I previously focused on TTs and have some residual TT form but over the last two years have transitioned myself into more of a medium power and breakaway rider.
I didn’t win a P123 race at all getting my upgrade points, but picked up a bunch of podiums, all in road races.
Last season, out of around 10 P123 road races I was in the winning break for 4 of them. I also grabbed some points from stage races, although I failed to get the number I expected from them due to some bad luck and bad performances. I got zero points from crits
I don’t know the racing scene in Ohio or WV, so can’t comment on specific races in your region. I will say that racing and upgrading from 3->2 is something I did way too quickly. I was able to brute force my way off the front in 3 or 3/4 fields and won a number of races by being stronger than I needed to be. This did not serve me well when I had to step up and race the elite fields, and the learning curve was harsh and steep when I couldn’t employ that strategy effectively.
I would encourage you to work on developing a race sense as a 3 and focusing on learning to read the racers around you and the general race situation. The points will come likely quickly for 3->2 either way, and you’re better served working on the brain than the physical before you’re forced into the elite fields
As a 2 you could likely get your points in a similar manner to me. I race alone or with a single teammate in every race, so working on a larger team it should be easier for you to get into successful breakaways. Learning which ones to go with and figuring out how to do as little work as possible are hard lessons to learn, and frankly things that just take a lot of practice (some people never learn).
All that said - you should talk to your new teammates and figure out what their goals are and how they see you fitting into their team dynamic. Do they need you as a 1 ASAP to help with certain team goals? Do they have a large number of 3’s that are all on a path to cat 1 and you’ll be moving up together? How do your strengths and weaknesses align with the rest of your team and will you be allowed to pursue your own goals all the time or only at certain races?
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If you’re very serious about getting up to Cat1 you really might want a coach who has helped others get there.
I’m not a Cat 1, but I can imagine there is some race selection strategy to get you good enough to take the Cat2 podiums. And also help guide you to your path as a Cat1.
Otherwise, finding a Cat 1 / Cat 2 team might be the next best way to go. One of the teams where you might have to travel to meet up with your teammates, instead of a local club. You’ll want to have people with similar goals.
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Thanks for such a detailed and informative response. Really appreciate it! The new team I’m on has a few 3-4 Category 2 riders that I’ll probably work for in crits. Road races where I can get in a breakaway and at least podium is where I expect to get most of my upgrade pts. My main issue is pulling the race along along only to get outsprinted at the end. Patience and improving my race tactics should be highly beneficial to me. Anyway thanks again for the advice.
How’s it going new team mate! 
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Which teammate is this!?
Jon!
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Got ya. Hope we can cat up together this year or next!