Since we’re suggesting gravel races for @Nate_Pearson to tackle, let me put a plug in for Barry Roubaix, which happens in April in Michigan. It’s the worlds biggest gravel race, is definitely a ‘race’ at the front, and is a super fun, well-organized event sponsored by an awesome local brewery.
And if you want to go all international, come to Canada and do Paris-Ancaster, which takes place about 2 weeks later, is equally awesome and competitive, and is also right-sized (about 70 km of mixed terrain, so you can complete it in a little over 2 hours).