Archives for Lucas Oil School of Racing

$250,000 scholarship in play for Lucas Oil School of Racing 2023 formula car series champ – five event schedule announced

Posted by  on Tuesday, December 13th 2022     
The fleet of identically prepared Lucas Oil School of Racing cars at the Thermal Club (Photo Courtesy of Lucas Oil School of Racing)

By Steve Wittich

The Lucas Oil School of Racing – a popular training ground for professional race car drivers since 2015 – is awarding a $250,000 scholarship to the winner of the five-round, 15-race 2023 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series.

The quarter-of-a-million-dollar prize, an unheard-of three times the cost of a full-season entry ($75,000), can be utilized in any approved series. Early approved series include USF2000, F4 United States Championship, and TCR.

“Traditional ladder series scholarships normally do not provide a top award that is significantly
more than the full season cost to run the series you are competing in, and the scholarship is
limited to be utilized only in the next step in that series,” said RC Enerson, Lucas Oil School of
Racing Director of Operations and Lead Instructor. “It’s exciting to see a scholarship of this size and this diverse. The champion has the choice of being able to take the scholarship to multiple series, and that really lets the champion driver determine their own future direction within their budget.”

The arrive-and-drive series has produced race winners and championship contenders in North America’s most competitive open-wheel and sports car ladder series. Recent Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series alums include Reece Gold (INDY NXT by Firestone), Myles Rowe (USF Pro 2000), Bryson Morris (F4 United States Championship), and Will Holtz (F1600 Championship Series)

2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series champion celebrates a USF Pro 2000 win at Portland International Raceway in September 2022. Gold will be moving to INDY NXT by Firestone for the upcoming season

The Lucas Oil School of Racing race car is based on the successful Ray Formula Ford/F1600 chassis and utilizes the ultra-reliable MZR engine featuring Lucas Oil lubricants. The equal mechanical platform and coaching from the best instructors in the business ensure a driver-focused championship where skill matters most.

“Most experts agree when aspiring drivers move from karts to cars, they should first obtain a
fundamental education of mechanical grip in a non-aero car before advancing onto cars
with aerodynamic grip,” added NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitor Enerson. “Our 20-car fleet of proprietary purpose-built school cars provides that essential education, as illustrated by so many other drivers that have come through theLucas Oil School of Racing schools and race series, it isn’t just the champion that gets a leg up moving on to the professional ranks. On the back of an unrivaled education in the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series, many of our drivers, have gone on to compete in a wide array of other series, and we are very proud of that.”

The 2023 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series calendar includes 15 races at five events spread over five months.

  • June 19-20 – Sebring International (Full Course) – Sebring, Fla.
  • July 18-19 – NCM – Corvette Museum – Bowling Green, Ky. (Full Course)
  • August 2-3 -Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio.
  • September 18-19 – Homestead-Miami International Speedway (Road Course) – Homestead, Fla.
  • October 16-17 – FINALE – Sebring International (Full Course) – Sebring, Fla.

Interested drivers can find full details and qualifications for this opportunity on the Lucas Oil School of Racing website.

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A talented and diverse group of 27 open-wheel hopefuls are entered for the 2nd Annual Lucas Oil School of Racing Scholarship Shootout Presented By Cooper Tires

Posted by  on Friday, December 6th 2019     

A diverse and talented group of 27 open-wheel hopefuls are headed to Florida and the Sebring International Raceway next week for the Second Annual Lucas Oil School of Racing Scholarship Shootout Presented By Cooper Tires.

The amateur drivers range in age from 12 to 28 and come from a diverse background of karting, ‘sim’ racing, quad racing, and motocross competition.

Drivers competing in the Lucas Oil School of Racing Scholarship Shootout Presented By Cooper Tires

DRIVER AGE
Jacob Bolen 14
Hayden Bradley 14
Elliott Budzinski 17
David Burketh 16
KC Cook 28
Henry Cubides 16
Will Holtz 14
Ayrton Houk 15
Amir Joya 22
Ben Keller 17
Sarin Kodappully 28
Kevin Lanyi 14
Alex Lee 15
Emily Linscott 16
Valentino Mini 13
Daniel Moreno 20
Michael Myers 17
Elysiah Navarro 15
Dillon Newell 16
Carter Pease 22
Hunter Peri 16
Enzo Prevost 21
Colin Queen 14
Robert Radmann 16
Elvis Rankin 12
Alexander Searle 16
Ellis Spieza 13

The 27 drivers will be competing for one of five prizes. The winner will receive a full-season package for the 2020 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series. The drivers who end the judging in second, third, and fourth place will receive packages to compete in three, two, and one Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series. An advanced 2-day program will go to the driver that ends the three-day event in fifth place.

The judging panel includes Lucas Oil School of Racing instructors RC Enerson, Phil Lombardi and Juan Arenas, Lucas Oil School of Racing Director Of Operations Gerardo Bonilla, Lucas Oil School of Racing Technical Director David Metcalf, former driver, motorsports broadcaster and FIA Steward Brian Till and 2019 MX-5 Cup runner-up Selin Rollan.

Also attending the shootout will be:

  • Dan Andersen, CEO Of Andersen Promotions (Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires)
  • Ricky Taylor, driver of the Acura Team Penske ARX-05 DPi in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
  • Jordan Taylor, driver of the Corvette Racing C8.R in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
  • Oscar Armas, Cooper Tires marketing

Drivers will spend two days (Wednesday, December 11, and Thursday, December 12) lapping on the 1.703-mile Sebring International Raceway ’club course’ in the Elite Engine powered Ray chassis.

But, before that, to simulate what a driver truly experiences as a professional, the racers will spend Tuesday in off-track activities, including judged and educational sessions.

Drivers will have two simulator sessions, judged by Kelly Jones of RaceCraft1 and Frank Rico of Ricmotech High-Performance Sim-Racing Equipment. The contestants, will also complete on-camera interviews with judge Brian Till.

Educationally, the drivers and their parents will have the opportunity to learn from industry insiders.

  • Dawn Flinn from EarEverything, will educate the drivers on ear health.
  • Seven-time Indianapolis 500 starter Pippa Mann will go over the business side of racing.
  • PitFit Training’s Jim Leo will share his knowledge of fitness in motorsports.

Last year’s shootout winner, Prescott Campbell, went on to win the 2019 Lucas Oil Formula Car Racing Series and the advancement scholarship that came with it.

The announcemt of the winning drivers will take place on Thursday afternoon. TSO Ladder wishes all of the drivers good luck and also remind them to have fun!

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Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series rolls out 2019 Championship Awards

Posted by  on Wednesday, January 23rd 2019     

The 2019 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series will be the fourth season for the entry level open wheel series that has graduated over a dozen drivers to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda, F2000 Series Championship and various F1600 series.

The six-event, 18 race series utilizes identically prepared Ray Formula Cars powered by 2.0L engines built by Elite Engines and shod with Cooper Tires.

In 2019, the season champion will have their choice of advancement awards that include: $75,000 to be used in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship or $50,000 to be used in the F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda Championship or $25,000 to be used in other eligible series.

Racers will have access to instructors like RC Enerson, Randy Buck, Brian Till, Pippa Mann, Tommy Byrne, Gerardo Bonilla, Dean DiGiacomo, Jonatan Jorge, Phil Lombardi, and other former and current racers.

Each of the six race events will include two officials days of activity, with a pre-race lapping day available immediately before the event.

The schedule includes visits to the same tracks as the NTT IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

DATE RACE # CIRCUIT LOCATION
May 7-9 1 / 2 / 3 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
June 10-12 4 / 5 / 6 Virginia International Racway Alton, Va.
July 15-17 7 / 8 / 9 New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, NJ.
August 16-18 10 / 11 / 12 NCM Motorsports Park Bowling Green, KY
September 16-17 13 / 14 / 15 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisc.
October 9-11 16 / 17 / 18 Sebring International Raceway Sebring, Fla.

A full season of racing is available for a pre-pay rate of $59,400 (lower than 2018) and the fee for individual events is $10,900.

For more information, please visit the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series Website or call Jim at (877)-303-RACE (7223).

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Till, Wheeler join Cooper Tires Karting Scholarship Shoot-out panel

Posted by  on Wednesday, August 22nd 2018     

Till, Wheeler join Cooper Tires
Karting Scholarship Shoot-out Panel
Trinity, Fla. (August 22) Former IndyCar driver and NBC and FOX Sports broadcaster Brian Till, and karting insider and Director of Motorsports for Bell Helmets USA Chris Wheeler have joined the judging panel for the 2018 Cooper Tires Karting Scholarship Shoot-out.

“We are excited to have Brian and Chris come on board for the Shoot-out,” said Lucas Oil School of Racing Founder and CEO Neil Enerson. “Brian’s background both in and out of the race car will be invaluable. Not only will he serve as a judge for the Shoot-out and lead the media training for our karter candidates, he will be the voice of the Shoot-out.”

“Chris knows karting like few others, and as Sebastian Bourdais’ long-time spotter in IndyCar, he has an eye for racing and racers. In addition to judging at the Shoot-out, he will be a huge asset for us during the selection process as we pare down to our list of 30 participants.”

Till and Wheeler join a growing list of racing instructors and experts for the Shoot-out, December 12-14 at Sebring International Raceway. Thirty karters from around the world will participate in three days of on- and off-track activities in our fleet of Ray GR-RSC race cars, and training to determine who is the best of the best, with seat time in Lucas Oil School of Racing programs up for grabs. The grand prize is a fully funded season in the 2019 Lucas Oil Formula Car Championship, valued at $75,000.

Prizes for top-ranking karters participating in the Shoot-out include:

  • Winner – Full season in 2019 Lucas Oil Championship Series*
  • Runner-up – Half season in 2019 Lucas Oil Championship Series *
  • 3rd Place – Participation in two Race Events *
  • 4th Place – Participation in one Race Event*
  • 5th Place – Participation in two Advanced 2-Day programs

* Including Pre-Race Lapping
The Cooper Tire Karting Scholarship Shoot-out is the latest reward to help promote young driving talent. In 2018, the champion of the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series will earn a $100,000 Career Development Award toward a seat in the 2019 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.

To be considered for the Cooper Tires Karting Scholarship Shoot-out, karters must submit an online application and karting resume at lucasraceschool.com/karting-scholarship-shoot-out/ by August 31, 2018. If accepted, the karter must successfully complete a Basic 2-Day program prior to the Shoot-out, and pay a $4,999 entry fee.
2018 Basic 2-Day/Advanced 2-Day SCHEDULE
– September 5-6, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. SOLD OUT
– October 4-5, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
– November 1-2, Sebring International Raceway
For more details on the Shoot-out, including eligibility requirements, pricing, and to apply online, please visit lucasraceschool.com/karting-scholarship-shoot-out/.
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Lucas Oil School of Racing 2018 Championship Series to provide career-changing 
$100,000 Driver Development Award for Champion

Posted by  on Wednesday, February 21st 2018     

Trinity, Fla. (February 21, 2018): Taking its place as the leader in driver training and arrive-and-drive racing, the Lucas Oil School of Racing today announced that it is awarding a comprehensive $100,000 Driver Development Award to the champion of the 2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Championship Series, for use toward an assault on the 2019 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. Additionally, Lucas Oil School of Racing has partnered with leading USF2000 team John Cummiskey Racing to field a car in the 2019 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship for their champion.

The John Cummiskey Lucas Oil School of Racing Car that the winner of the Lucas Oil Formula Championship Series will have the opportunity to pilot during the 2019 USF2000 season. (Photo Courtesy of Lucas Oil School Of Racing)

“As the father of a Verizon IndyCar Series driver, I understand how difficult it is to navigate the choppy waters of starting a career in racing, and we wanted to put together a comprehensive program that not only provides a significant percentage of the funding required for our champion to move up to the next level but also gives them the means to engage with other potential partners”, said Lucas Oil School of Racing Founder and CEO Neil Enerson. “I’ve known John (Cummiskey) for many years, and I know that the driver we place with him will be in the best available equipment and will be able to compete for race wins and the USF2000 Championship.”

I’m very excited to work with Neil on this program. I’ve been watching the Lucas Oil School since it began,” said John Cummiskey. “Neil and his group there have made it the best racing school in the country. This program will give the champion a big boost to move their racing career forward.”

Enrollment is open now for the 2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Championship and our limited number of full-season pre-pay discount packages are selling quickly, so please don’t delay in joining us. For details on the championship, including eligibility requirements for the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series and the Driver Development Award, please visit Lucas Oil Formula Car Series or call (561) 200-7223.

2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Championship Series SCHEDULE
(8 Events, 16 Races)

  • April 14-15, Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, Fla.
  • May 15-16, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, Ill.
  • June 9-10, NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La.
  • July 27-28, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Conn.
  • August 18-19, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, Ky.
  • September 11-12, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
  • September 26-27, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
  • October 25-26, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.

About Cooper Tire
As with many different types of sports, there are levels of progression to build and test your talents. NASCAR® has their regional series’, which progresses onto ARCA, then to the Xfinity Series and then to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. In the Open wheel ladder system, drivers generally start out in Shifter Karts or the Lucas Oil School of Racing, and progress to USF2000 Championship Series then to the Pro Mazda Championship, followed by the Indy Lights and then to IndyCar. Cooper Tire supports several racing series and types of racing for every interest.

About John Cummiskey Racing
John Cummiskey Racing is an experienced team that has competed in the Cooper Tire USF2000 Championship since 2014. With over 25 years of Indy car racing experience working with Penske Racing, Team Green/Andretti Green, Newman Haas Racing, Dragon Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing. John has been part of 5 Indy 500 wins and 3 series championships.

For 2018 John Cummiskey Racing is committed to fielding a multi-car team with the aim of developing the stars of tomorrow, providing talented and competitive drivers a professional race team experience.

USF2000 is the perfect entry-level open wheel pro formula as it combines a cost-effective and proven training ground with a platform of Indy Car events. With a high level of competition, the expectation to win races and championships, John Cummiskey Racing strives to be a competitive force.

About Lucas Oil School of Racing
With its fleet of equally prepared race cars and a cadre of professional driving coaches, Lucas Oil School of Racing that has quickly established itself as the premier racing driver training program in North America. Lucas Oil School of Racing is the choice of the annual Team USA Scholarship program.

Founded in 2015, Lucas Oil School of Racing is a Florida based company that offers arrive-and-drive racing schools, race series, and corporate events at locations around the United States. To learn more about Lucas Oil School of Racing and its offerings, visit www.lucasraceschool.com, and follow us on www.facebook.com/lucasraceschool.

Source: Lucas Oil School of Racing PR

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$100,000 Driver Development Award for Champion
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Introducting the Pippa Mann Scholarship in partnership with the Lucas Oil School of Racing

Posted by  on Tuesday, August 29th 2017     

Pippa Mann Partners with Lucas Oil School of Racing for Driver Search
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (August 29, 2017): The Lucas Oil School of Racing has teamed up with Verizon IndyCar Series driver Pippa Mann to establish the Pippa Mann Scholarship for female racers looking to establish a career in motorsports.

The first driver selected to participate is Abby McLaughlin, 18, from Mooresville, Ind., who will complete her Basic 2-Day October 23-24 at Sebring International Raceway. McLaughlin currently competes in the X30 Pro class for Top Kart USA/Team Empower in the SKUSA Pro Tour.

Drivers selected for the Pippa Mann Scholarship will be offered a seat in either a Lucas Oil School of Racing Basic 2-Day or 2-Day Advanced Lapping program, based on their experience. During their program, they will work with Mann and Lucas Oil School of Racing instructors. When a driver is recognized as having the potential to succeed with further instruction and seat time, next step(s) will be made available within the program.

 

Pippa Mann and the fleet of Lucas Oil School of Racing cars. (photo courtesy of Lucas Oil School of Racing)

“When I first moved to the US in 2009 to race in Indy Lights, there was a plethora of talented female racers in the ladder series with me, and 2-3 full time, or semi-regular female racers in the Verizon IndyCar series”, noted Mann. “Sadly, over the past few years, that number has dwindled, and currently we see no full time female athletes in IndyCar, I have been the only regular female competitor at the Indy 500. This is something I feel passionate about changing, and I’m extremely excited to work with the Lucas Oil School of Racing in this effort to get more women involved. I am looking forward to kicking this program off this fall with Abby, and to meet so many of the other talented female racers out there who are currently searching for an opportunity.”

“Despite the progress made by drivers like Pippa, women are still seriously underrepresented in all levels of motorsports”, said Lucas Oil School of Racing Founder and CEO Neil Enerson. “Our goal is to find talented young women racers and help them move up through the ranks, to win races and championships. We are excited to be working with Pippa to meet this goal.”

Applications are being accepted now. Drivers interested in being considered for this program are encouraged to apply at lucasraceschool.com/pippa-mann-scholarship.

 

Source: Lucas Oil School Racing PR

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