Archives for Mazda Road To Indy PR

WINDOW WORLD TO SPONSOR JARETT ANDRETTI FOR 2019 FREEDOM 100

Posted by  on Thursday, May 16th 2019     

WINDOW WORLD TO SPONSOR JARETT ANDRETTI FOR 2019 FREEDOM 100
North Carolina-based replacement window company to join team as primary sponsor; Harding Group, MI Windows and Doors, and Superior Auto named as associate sponsors

INDIANAPOLIS (05.16.2019) – Andretti Autosport announced today that Window World will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the primary sponsor for Jarett Andretti’s No. 18 Indy Lights Dallara for the 2019 Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires. Also decorating the racing machine of the third-generation driver are Harding Group, MI Windows and Doors, and Superior Auto as associate sponsors.

“It’s great to go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and make this step in my career with a company that’s been there since the beginning,” said Andretti, driver of the No. 18 Window World Dallara for Andretti Autosport. “Dad’s (John Andretti) last Indianapolis 500 was with Window World as a primary sponsor and I can’t wait to represent them at IMS again. It is also an honor to represent both Harding Group, MI Windows and Doors, and Superior Auto in the Freedom 100. They have all been supportive of my racing career and I am looking forward to running all four company’s logos at the biggest race of my career thus far.”

With his rookie start at the Freedom 100, Andretti will become the seventh Andretti family member to compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Known as the largest window replacement company in America, Window World serves customers from over 200 locations. Committed to delivering the highest quality products, Window World prides their company to deliver value and quality through their affordable prices.

“Supporting Jarett (Andretti) in the upcoming Freedom 100 Indy Lights race is an absolute joy. Window World has had a long-standing partnership with Jarett’s father, John Andretti, for quite some time,” said Tammy Whitworth, Chairman and CEO for Window World. “We were privileged to watch John race around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 43 Window World car some years ago, and it’s wonderful to be able to share that same honor with his son Jarett on Friday. We wish him the absolute best.”

Indianapolis-based paving company, Harding Group, has been a supporter of Andretti’s racing career, specifically in sprint cars, since 2016. Harding Group will appear on the engine cover, side nose and shock cover of the No. 18 racing machine.

“Really excited for Harding Group to sponsor Jarett Andretti for the Freedom 100 during Miller Lite Carb Day,” said Mike Harding, owner of Harding Group. “Jarett is such a strong racer; I really think he can be a major competitor against the full-time Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires drivers. We’re looking forward to having a great race come May 24th!”

Headquartered in Gratz, Pa., MI Windows and Doors is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of precision-built vinyl and aluminum windows and sliding patio doors. MI Windows has been serving the needs of distributors, remodelers, exterior contractors, architects, builders, and homeowners for over 70 years.

“MI Windows and Doors is so proud to continue our support of Jarett Andretti and this exciting next chapter in his racing career,” said Matt DeSoto, CEO of MI Windows and Doors. ‘’The Freedom 100 is a thrilling event and we wish Jarett the best as he continues his journey. Our team will be cheering for him the entire way!”

With over 65 location across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky, Superior Auto prides their company on being specialty leader in the “buy-here/pay-here” business model. The “buy-here/pay-here” model allows Superior Auto to focus on selling quality used vehicles and providing customers with in-house financing options.  Superior Auto has been a long time partner of the third-generation driver throughout his Andretti Short Track career.

The Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires will air live on NBCSN on Friday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m. ET.  Practice for the Freedom 100 presented Cooper Tires begins Monday, May 20, and will be streamed live on Road to Indy TV app with Qualifying for the Freedom 100 on Thursday, May 23.

category: Andretti Autosport

JAK CRAWFORD INKS DEAL WITH DEFORCE RACING FOR COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

Posted by  on Thursday, April 25th 2019     

JAK CRAWFORD INKS DEAL WITH DEFORCE RACING FOR
COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
“14-year-old Jak Crawford set for United States formula car debut”
April 25, 2019 –A week after Jak Crawford, the talented young racing pilot from Houston, Texas, turns 14 on May 2nd, he will be on the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship grid at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Joining the DEForce Racing program, Crawford will compete alongside Manuel Sulaiman, his main rival for the championship in the Mexican NACAM F4 series, as Jak looks toward the top step of the podium.
While Jak will be a rookie in USF2000 program, by the time he takes the circuit at the Indy Grand Prix road course, he will have raced in four open-wheel NACAM F4 events and eleven races since October 2018 when he raced at the accompanying Formula One World Championship race in Mexico City, Mexico. With multiple wins and podiums in the F4 program, the newest and youngest driver on the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship grid will already have a wealth of recent experience behind the wheel of a formula car.
Crawford began racing at the age of six and has a racing resume that is the envy of many young drivers with numerous wins and championships from all over the world and in many different categories, including karts, legends cars, and, now, formula cars.  A natural wheelman, Jak seems to be able to drive just about anything on four wheels, so it is not likely that the USF2000 cars will be overly challenging to get up to speed for the young rookie.
“The competition at USF2000 at the front of the field is the best in this part of the world for first-rung formula cars so I look forward to competing to the best of my ability,” explained Crawford. “I have been in the car a few times and it is a proper race car for someone new like me. I really like the way it feels, and can’t wait to get on track in Indy.”
“Jak has taken to formula car racing quickly and looked like a veteran after only a few races. He is only 13 but looks 16 and races like he is 19.  He will not have problems adjusting from the Ford-powered Mygale cars in Mexico to the USF2000 machine,” stated Darren Manning of IAdvance Motorsports, who has been working with Jak throughout the NACAM F4 series and also will be able to help Jak with the sole USF2000 oval race.
DEForce was the most logical team of choice for Crawford. Already competing with the DEForce sister outfit, Team Martiga, in Mexico, the DEForce group is also based in Houston where Jak resides. The entire DEForce team gets together in Houston to race IAME X30 powered karts just a few miles from Crawford’s house near Speedportz Racing Park, which is owned by Tim Crawford, the father of Jak.
“DEForce has proven to be a front runner in only its third year in Road to Indy competition and we are happy to put a late deal together,” added Tim. “We have known Ernesto for years and, in fact, Jak and Ernesto won a National Championship together a few years back in karting.”
Jak will not be able to run for a Cooper Tires USF2000 Series championship because he was not old enough to officially test and run races until the second event of the season commencing on May 9th.
Jak’s second USF2000 race will be later in the month in May when he will contest the one and only oval event on the 2019 series calendar at the Lucas Oil Raceway. This should be an interesting race for Jak given his significant oval background in Legends Cars and it certainly will be the most grip he has ever had on an oval track. Another key event that should fit his style should be the street course race in Toronto and while Jak has never raced a formula car through the tight confines of a street race, he has been on the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) SuperNationals podium four times in his short karting career, all of them being run on temporary circuits in Las Vegas.
“I know Jak is happy to be with DEForce and we are certainly happy to have him,” says Ernesto Martinez.  “Jak is very talented and even though he is young, he has more racing experiences than most of the grid. He will be a good fit with Sulaiman, and we hope to run at the front with both of them. Those two are already used to racing against each other in Mexico.”
For more information on Jak Crawford please follow him on Facebook: @jetpakjakcrawford and on Instagram: jakcrawford52. Jak’s marketing website is jetpakjak.com.
category: DE Force Racing
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Chris Windom Joins Belardi Auto Racing In Partnership with Jonathan Byrd’s Racing For the Freedom 100

Posted by  on Tuesday, April 16th 2019     

A few notes from TSO Ladder

  • With this announcement and the announcment of Jarett Andretti this past weekend, the Freedom 100 should see a minimum of 11 cars.
  • Windom is currently fourth in the USAC Midget standing and sixth in the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Standings with a win in the season opener.
  • This is the second straight year that Jonathan Byrd’s Racing and Belardi Auto Racing will partner to field a car for Windom, the 2017 USAC National Sprint Car Champion.

Press Release:

Brownsburg, Ind. (April 16, 2019) – Chris Windom returns to Belardi Auto Racing partnered with Jonathan Byrd’s Racing to run in the 17th annual Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24. Windom will be piloting the No. 17 Belardi Auto Racing/ Byrd Racing, NOS Energy Drink sponsored Dallara in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires series.

Windom is making his second trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after joining in a test day at the Speedway ahead of the Freedom 100 in 2018. Unfortunately due to damage, Windom was unable to compete in the event. Flash forward to 2019 and Windom is going into the event with the knowledge of what the IL-15 will do and more of an understanding of Indy Lights racing and is looking to show what he can do on the big stage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“After a disappointing ending to last year’s run for the Freedom 100, I’m very thankful to begiven another opportunity to go back to Indy with the Belardi/Byrd team. I really enjoy workingwith everyone on the team and I feel like we can be strong contenders for this year’s race. The Freedom 100 is obviously Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires’ most prestigious race and something that will be special to be a part of. I have to thank Belardi Auto Racing and JonathanByrd’s Racing along with NOS Energy Drink for giving me the opportunity, and I hope that I cangive them a great showing on one of the biggest stages in racing.” -Chris Windom

Belardi Auto Racing and team owner Brian Belardi is excited to have another standout driver added to their Indy Lights lineup, and partnering up with a team rich in history as JonathanByrd’s Racing and a great sponsor in NOS Energy Drink.

“We are happy to welcome back Chris Windom and Jonathan Byrd’s racing, a partnership wesee being very successful. Chris has proven himself time and time again in dirt cars, and I am positive he will be able to do it in an Indy Lights car. All I am thinking about now, is May and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.” – Brian Belardi

Once again joining forces for Indianapolis and the Freedom 100 with Belardi Auto Racing, isJonathan Byrd’s Racing. Jonathan Byrd’s Racing is no stranger to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the Indianapolis 500, but this will be their first time participating in the Freedom 100.

“Things did not go as we had planned last May, but Chris was quick out of the box and learned alot about what to do and what not to do at the Speedway. I’m grateful to be able to work with

Brian and the Belardi Auto Racing team again to give Chris another much deserved shot at the Freedom 100, as we work to keep a multi-time USAC national series champion on the Road To Indy. In addition, we’re excited to have the support of NOS Energy Drink in this endeavor, as they have quickly become a massive supporter of Chris and of short track racing.” – David Byrd

Belardi Auto Racing and Chris Windom will be heading to the Kentucky Speedway for a refresher oval test, and to get Windom comfortable once again in the high speed Indy Lights machine. Practice for the 17th running of the Freedom 100 begins on May 20th. Follow the action all month long by following @belardiracing on social media.

category: Belardi PR
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JARETT ANDRETTI TO RACE AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Posted by  on Friday, April 12th 2019     
Third-Generation Racer to Compete in 2019 Indy Lights Freedom 100 with Andretti Autosport

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Friday, April 12, 2019) – Third-generation racer Jarett Andretti will see a dream come true May 24 when he climbs into an Andretti Autosport Indy Lights machine for the Freedom 100 – his first career Indy Lights race. Jarett is the son of John Andretti, grandson of Aldo Andretti and great nephew of Mario Andretti.

“To say I’m excited to run the Freedom 100 this year would be an understatement,” said Andretti. “Anytime you get a chance to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway it’s special. Obviously, Andretti Autosport has a great track record there and I’ve known all the mechanics on the cars for years – I can’t wait to get the Month of May started!” 

Currently competing with Andretti Autosport in the team’s Pirelli GT4 America effort, Andretti will join new teammates Oliver Askew and Robert Megennis for a Rookie Orientation day at Kentucky Speedway April 18.  He will become the seventh  member of the Andretti family to compete on hallowed ground in Indianapolis, joining the list that includes his father John, great uncle Mario, uncle Adam and cousins Michael, Jeff and Marco.

“I’m really happy to field a car at IMS for Jarett,” said team owner Michael Andretti. “Running in an Indy Lights car will be a new experience for him, and I know he’s up for the challenge. Our Indy Lights team has shown strong pace this season, and we have a Freedom 100 title to defend. Jarett is already a team driver on the GT4 side, and I’m confident he is going to fit into the Indy Lights team well. He will be a contender and an instant crowd favorite.” 

The youngest racing Andretti has carried on the family tradition and has championships in go-karts, the USAC Eastern Ignite Pavement Midget Series, the 410 Sprint Car division at the Lawrenceburg Speedway and is also an Indiana Sprint Car Series champion.  In addition, Andretti is the 2014 USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of The Year and a former Rookie of The Year at the Oswego Speedway in the supermodified class.

Freedom 100 action begins Monday, May 20 with testing followed by Thursday qualifying and race day Friday, May 24. Andretti Autosport fields three full-time entries in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series with Askew (No. 28 Index Invest Dallara), Megennis (No. 27 Cybersecurity Dallara) and Ryan Norman (No. 48 Evo Dallara).
category: Andretti Autosport, Indy Lights News/Results

A storybook beginning to the Indy Pro 2000 season for Parker Thompson and Abel Motorsports

Posted by  on Thursday, March 14th 2019     

If you could write a storybook beginning for a one-off driver, with a brand new Indy Pro 2000 team, it would parallel the Friday that Abel Motorsports and Parker Thompson had.

The rookie team that had made a quintet of Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires starts in USF2000 in 2018, and veteran driver broke the qualifying track record, won the first Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Allied Building Products race of the weekend and turned the quickest race lap.

Less than two weeks ago, the 21-year-old was not sure he was going to be able to continue his open-wheel career but was thrown a lifeline when he was able to work out a deal with Abel Motorsports to help them get their season off on the right foot.

Parker Thompson after winning the 1st Indy Pro 2000 race that Abel Motorsports entered (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)

“This is huge for us, especially since we’re under the pressure of a one-race deal,” said the clearly thankful Red Deer, Alberta, Canada driver. “It’s great to finally stand on the top step of the podium since a win in St. Pete has always eluded me. It’s one of my favorite races and I’m always fast here but somehow I haven’t won it, so my mission is complete. I knew how good the car was; the Abel Motorsports guys gave me a rocket ship. I knew I was faster than Rasmus, though he did a better job at the start, but I worked him over, used my experience and the raw pace of the car to come through with the victory.”

The win is Thompson’s fourth Indy Pro 2000 victory, his 11th Road To Indy win and first trip to victory lane in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Juncos Racing, who has fielded the past two series scholarship winners, started off their season well, placing Rasmus Lindh and Sting Ray Robb on the podium.

The podiums for the pair of 17-year-olds were the 17th and 18th for the Speedway, Ind. based team on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit.

The seven rows of two came to the start zone, and Thompson was able to get a good jump, with Lindh falling line, before popping late to the outside to surprise Thompson, who had to brake a little earlier on the inside defensive line. The rookie held the preferred inside line going into Turn 2 to grab the lead.

Thompson later told TSO Ladder that he was distracted on the start and early in the race when the caution lights came on in his car for the first three laps of the race.

Thompson was also starting on new Cooper Tire slicks. Lindh told TSO Ladder that was a disadvantage on the first few laps that he knew he had to take advantage of the Canadian’s slick, fresh rubber. Note: those new tires came into play a little later on in the race

At the end of the first lap, the running order was Lindh, Thompson, Robb, Moisés de la Vara (Exclusive Autosport), Kyle Kirkwood (RP Motorsport), Nikia Lastochkin (Exclusive Autosport), Danial Frost (Exclusive Autosport), Antonio Serravalle (Pserra Racing), Kory Enders (DEForce Racing), Phillippe Denes (Fatboy Racing!), Jacob Abel (Abel Motorsports), Parker Locke (Exclusive Autosport), Damiano Fioravanti (RP Motorsport) and Charles Finelli (Fatboy Racing!).

Kirkwood had contact with what appeared to be Sting Ray Robb in Turn 5 on the first lap of the 25 lap event, which along with a non-functioning radio, led to him not realizing his RP Motorsport team wanted him to come to pit road.

The Jupiter, Fla. native had another incident as he fell to the rear of the 14-car field, bringing out the caution on Lap 5. Kirkwood’s first career Road To Indy DNF (Did Not Finish) also ended a personal 11-race Road To Indy winning streak that started last May on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

The green flag came back out to start Lap 8 with Lindh, Thompson, Robb, de la Vara and Lastochkin the top five.

Behind the front two, it was a pair of veteran competitors along with a pair of Exclusive Autosport pilots providing some excitement. Robb got in a little too deep into in Turn 1, and de la Vera was able to go to the inside of the Exclusive Autosport No. 2. Behind them, Lastochkin and Frost went side by side through Turns 1 & 2, before Lastochkin wisely yielded to his teammate who had the preferred line head to the high-speed Turn 3.

Three laps later Robb gets the final spot of the podium back from de la Vera, who lost a place on the next lap to Frost.

Fourth to ninth is all nose-to-tail on track, and up front, Thompson is starting to put pressure on Lindh.

By Lap 15, Thompson had cut Lindh’s lead to 0.2 seconds, while Robb was the quickest driver on the track. On the next lap, the pole-sitter got a better drive off the final corner and was able to complete the pass of Lindh on the inside in Turn 1. Lindh told TSO ladder that it was a fair pass, and not a surprise that Thompson was able to get by him.

Over the next two laps, Thompson was able to pull out a 1.2 second gap, before the yellow flag came back out for the second time. This time it was the DEForce Racing No. 7 of Kory Enders, which came to a stop along Bayshore Drive after making contact with the concrete barriers in Turn 10.

The green flag came out for the final time with five laps to go, and Thompson was able to get a significant jump over Lindh, who had teammate Robb right on his tail.

Sting Ray Robb fights to keep his No. Juncos Racing No. 2 off the wall while catching his teammate (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)

“My goal for the year is to win the championship, so to get the points is a benefit, explained Robb after the race. “I fell back on the restart but made a good move on Moises (de la Vara) to start getting back toward the leaders. I was laying down qualifying laps, but I didn’t have enough to get it done in the end. We’ll make a few changes to the car and come out faster tomorrow.”

The best battle in the last five laps was between Fioravanti and Locke for the tenth spot with the American Locke getting by the Italian with two laps to go.

Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Allied Building Products Race #1 Results

RANK CAR NO. DRIVER TEAM DIFFERENCE
1 8 Parker Thompson Abel Motorsports –.—-
2 10 Rasmus Lindh Juncos Racing -1.324
3 2 Sting Ray Robb Juncos Racing -1.791
4 68 Danial Frost Exclusive Autosport -3.106
5 90 Nikita Lastochkin Exclusive Autosport -4.933
6 6 Moises de la Vara DEForce Racing -5.463
7 11 Antonio Serravalle Pserra Racing -7.287
8 98 Phillippe Denes FatBoy Racing -7.651
9 51 Jacob Abel Abel Motorsports -8.239
10 91 Parker Locke Exclusive Autosport -11.023
11 5 Damiano Fioravanti RP Motorsport Racing -11.239
12 83 Charles Finelli Fatboy Racing! -34.5580
13 7 Kory Enders DEForce Racing -9 laps
14 28 Kyle Kirkwood RP Motorsport Racing -22 laps
category: Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
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RP MOTORSPORT SET WITH KIRKWOOD AND FIORAVANTI

Posted by  on Saturday, March 2nd 2019     

Miami – The American dream continues for RP Motorsport. After its initial year with excellent results and two races won in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires (formerly the Pro Mazda Championship), the team led by Fabio Pampado is ready to start a new season in the series, the second step on the ladder to the prestigious NTT IndyCar Series.

The Italian team begins the new year with their typical enthusiasm and ambition, preparing for a season that will take place over nine events for a total of sixteen races, scheduled on some of the most prestigious U.S. racetracks .

Reigning Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship champion Kyle Kirkwood will be joined by Damiano Fioravanti at RP Motorsport (Photo Courtesy of RP Motorsport)

RP Motorsport will present a completely renewed line-up behind the wheel of the team’s two Tatuus PM-18s at the inaugural St. Petersburg round. Defending the colors of the Italian team for the 2019 season will be young American driver Kyle Kirkwood, the 20-year-old from Jupiter, Fla., back from a triumphant year that saw him prevail in the Cooper Tires USF 2000 Championship, the initial series of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires. In this highly-competitive series, Kyle won 12 races out of 14 and closed the championship with almost double the points compared to the first of his opponents – a result that convinced RP Motorsport to focus on the undoubted talent, and that will see him take the track in 2019 with the Mazda scholarship colors.

Joining Kirkwood will be a driver making a welcome return to RP Motorsport: Damiano Fioravanti, a 22-year-old from Rome, who returns to the team after previous experiences in Euroformula Open and World Series Formula V8 3.5. After the excellent results achieved last year in the International GT Open, the St. Petersburg round will be the prelude to a season that will see him at the start in a new context with covered wheels, in the European Le Mans Series in the category LMP3.

Fabio Pampado (Team Principal RP Motorsport): “We are very happy to be at the start for the second consecutive year in such a prestigious championship. We strongly believe in this project and we are convinced that, after the first season of adjustment, this year it will be possible to gather even greater satisfaction. We are at the start with a very determined team and two drivers who will be able to assert themselves: Kyle is a young talent who knows very well the American reality, having graduated champion last year in two competitive contexts like the USF2000 Championship and the F3 Americas Championship. We are happy at the same time to welcome Damiano back to our family, even if only for the round of St. Petersburg: for him, this will represent a valuable training in view of a very challenging season that will see him at the start in the European Le Mans Series “

The team is currently on track at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Florida) for a double-day of collective testing, useful for drivers to become familiar with the characteristics of the car: then the inaugural round at St. Petersburg (9-11 March) will open a long season of competitions that will see RP Motorsport compete at several prestigious circuits such as Indianapolis, Road America, Toronto and Laguna Seca.

Source: Team PR

category: RP Motorsport
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LEGACY AUTOSPORT COMPLETES USF2000 PAIRING WITH JOSE SIERRA

Posted by  on Friday, March 1st 2019     

LEGACY AUTOSPORT COMPLETES USF2000 PAIRING WITH JOSE SIERRA

Mexican talent will join Frenchman Alex Baron for team’s maiden Road to Indy season

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 1, 2019) – Legacy Autosport is primed to make its Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg next weekend after an off-season of preparation and testing, and they’ll do so with a pair of drivers competing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The team is pleased to confirm that 19-year-old Mexican driver Jose Sierra will pilot the #77 Legacy Autosport Tatuus USF-17 this season, joining series veteran Alex Baron who was announced last fall.

“Everyone at Legacy Autosport is very excited to have Jose join the team,” said team owner Mike Meyer. “He is a talented, fast young driver with the same passion for racing as all of us here.  Having the caliber drivers as Jose and Alex as teammates is going to be a lot of fun. With both of them having had success at St. Pete last year, we are ready to get to the track.”

Jose Sierra will partner with Alex Baron to form a potent duo for Legacy Autosport (Photo Courtesy of Legacy Autosport)

After graduating from a successful karting career, Sierra moved into the F4 program from 2015 to 2017, competing in both France and Mexico. Ahead of his Road to Indy debut in 2017, Jose finished second in the 2016-17 FIA Fórmula 4 NACAM Championship on the strength of four wins and 11 podiums.  Mid-way through the 2017 season, he entered the USF2000 weekend at Toronto and was very impressive, scoring a pair of top-10s finishes on the challenging street circuit with a top result of fourth. Sierra came back in 2018 to contend the full USF2000 championship and posted a pair of podiums, six top-10s and a pole position enroute to eighth in the championship standings. At last year’s opening round at St. Petersburg, Sierra and Baron split the pole positions for the doubleheader. Sierra finished fourth and sixth in the two events, while Baron came back from a DNF in Race 1 to win Race 2 by over two seconds.

“I’m very excited to start the season in St. Pete!” Sierra added.  “It has been a long winter and we’ve work hard to be able to start the season. I want to thank Legacy Autosport for the opportunity. I’m sure Alex and I, and the team, are going to fight for wins this year.”

Butch Meyer will act as the chief mechanic on Sierra #77 entry, supported by Chad Cory as his mechanic. Nathan Toney will be the pit lane engineer.

The team is currently testing the Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma before heading south to Florida’s Gulf Coast for the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.  The first event of the eight-weekend Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship will take place on the popular temporary street circuit on March 8-10.

 

category: Legacy Autosport
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Seasoned Veterans Join Forces to Form Team E-JAY Racing

Posted by  on Friday, March 1st 2019     

Seasoned Veterans Join Forces to Form Team E-JAY Racing
Former team owners Jay Green and Neil Enerson combine forces to make their USF2000 return with Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series Nate Aranda

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (March 1, 2019) – Two Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship veterans will make their Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires return this season as Neil Enerson and Jay Green join forces to form Team E-JAY Racing. Recent Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series graduate Nate Aranda will be behind the wheel.

Green, a former racer turned car owner, helmed JAY Motorsports for many years in the SCCA spec categories, winning the Formula Enterprises National Championship in 2009 before joining the UFS2000 ranks in 2012. Stepping away from team ownership in 2017, Green joined Exclusive Autosport to assist the rookie team in launching its Road to Indy program. Exclusive earned a top-three championship finish in USF2000 that season and repeated the feat after expanding to the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires last year. Enerson’s Team E Racing, the 2008 Indy Lights New Team of the Year, later competed in USF2000 for three seasons, finishing third in the 2012 National Class, winning the Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship in 2014 and finishing an agonizingly close second with NTT IndyCar Series driver RC Enerson in the 2014 USF2000 title-chase.

The pair moved from competing against each other to collaboration in 2015, with Green assisting Enerson as he established the highly successful Lucas Oil School of Racing and its racing offshoot, the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series. The venture has been a family affair for Enerson, with son RC serving as an instructor and daughter Rachel as the Director of Hospitality, and both helping to manage the overall operations of the school.

Green had begun preparations to reform his team in 2019, but the plan to start the season was delayed. Aranda, meanwhile, wanted to graduate to USF2000, and between Enerson and Green, the pieces all fit together to combine resources and start a new team. The primary long-term plan for Team E-JAY Racing will be to give graduates of the school and the racing series a convenient way to move up the ladder, with continuity in personnel and environment.

Former Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship team owners Jay Green and Neil Enerson have joined forces to form Team E-JAY Racing. The team has signed Lucas Oil Formula Race Series driver Nate Aranda (Photo Courtesy of Team E-JAY
Racing)

“Neil knows how he brought RC up, and RC has been very successful,” said Green. “He wants to build that same sort of program for aspiring drivers coming through the school. And it makes perfect sense. It can be a bit intimidating, rolling into St. Petersburg for your first race, so having people around you that you know and are already comfortable with will make the transition much easier.”

“It made sense for both of us to combine our abilities and resources,” added Enerson. “It’s a better long-term plan for both of us. This now makes two Lucas school graduates on the starting grid (with Lucas Oil Formula Race Series winner Reece Gold signing with Cape Motorsports) and we’re very proud of that.”

The 18-year-old Aranda, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., began his racing career at the school in late 2017 and progressed quickly into the Formula Car Race Series. With instruction from RC Enerson along with Juan Arenas and coaching from Jonatan Jorge setting him on the fast track, Aranda is ready to take this big next step.

“It’s super exciting joining the USF2000 race series and driving for Team E-JAY Racing,” said Aranda. “I look forward to continuing to develop my driving skills with the talented USF2000 field of drivers and apply what I learned last season in the Lucas Oil Formula Race Series to contribute to an eventful and winning USF2000 race season in 2019.”

“Nate is nothing short of amazing,” said Enerson. “He’s just one of those natural drivers. His track awareness and race craft is impressive, given the fast-paced schedule we’ve put him on at the school. We took the processes we applied with RC as he came up the ladder and have applied those to the school, and a driver like Nate is an example of how successful that has been. He shouldn’t be as good as he is, given the amount of experience he has, but he is – and he proves it over and over.

“He knows he has to pay his dues as a first-year driver,” Enerson continued. “This is a two-year program, so we’re managing expectations. It’s all about learning the tracks and learning the processes at the racetrack. We’ll set realistic goals and tick off the first-year experience boxes.”

The 2019 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship kicks off this weekend with Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires Spring Training at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The season gets underway in one week, with two races on the schedule at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. All sessions will be broadcast live on the Road to Indy TV app and USF2000.com.

category: Team E-JAY Racing
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Dalton Kellett Joins Juncos Racing for the 2019  Indy Lights Championship

Posted by  on Tuesday, February 26th 2019     

Indianapolis, Indiana (February 26, 2019) – Juncos Racing announced today Dalton Kellett would join the team for the 2019 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season. Kellett joins Indy Pro 2000 Champion Rinus VeeKay for Juncos Racing’s two car line-up.

Dalton Kellett (Toronto, Canada) recently completed his third season in Indy Lights where he captured one pole and two podiums. The Canadian recorded three podiums between the 2016-2017 seasons and won the Hi-Tide Boat Lifts Kids on Track Spirit Award in 2017.

Kellett said, “Competing in the 2019 Indy Lights season with Juncos Racing is a very exciting opportunity. Ricardo (Juncos) and his team have proven themselves championship winners on many occasions and across different series. As such, I am very enthusiastic about our partnership. As a returning veteran to the series, consistency, podiums, and wins will be the focus for this year. It’s been a long off-season, so I am ready for St. Pete and can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the #67 K-Line Insulators USA/Ten80 Education Juncos Racing machine.”

Team Owner Ricardo Juncos said, “We are really looking forward to working with an Indy Lights veteran like Dalton. He has continued to grow each year in the series, so we look to take this momentum and take it to the 2019 season. Dalton is not only a great addition to our team, but also as a teammate for our rookie Rinus (VeeKay) who will make his first start in the Indy Lights series this year. I want to thank Dalton, his family, and sponsors for the chance to add Dalton to our growing program.”

category: Juncos PR
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EXCLUSIVE AUTOSPORT SIGNS MANUEL CABRERA FOR HIS RETURN TO USF200

Posted by  on Friday, February 22nd 2019     

EXCLUSIVE AUTOSPORT SIGNS MANUEL CABRERA FOR HIS RETURN TO USF2000

 19-year-old Mexican back for his sophomore year in Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship

SASKATOON, SK (February 22, 2019) – Exclusive Autosport is pleased to announce that Mexican driver Manuel Cabrera will rejoin the team for the 2019 Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, competing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season. The 18-year-old spent the first half the 2018 season running with Exclusive Autosport’s USF2000 program, where he was named the ‘Star of the Race’ at the Royal Purple Grand Prix of Indianapolis by the Road to Indy Insider. During that weekend, Cabrera hard-charged his way from the 22ndposition to finish an impressive ninth in a field stacked full of talent. With that experience now part of his racecraft, Manuel is determined to make his mark on the first rung of America’s top development ladder system.

“It is a real pleasure to welcome Manuel back to the Exclusive Autosport USF2000 program,” enthused Michael Duncalfe, Team Principal. “He showed his speed, racecraft and a lot of promise in the first half of the season last year. He has been training really hard in the off-season and I am looking forward to positive results from Manuel in 2019.”

Cabrera began his racing career in the assorted Mexican karting series in 2010 at the age of 10, running upfront and winning numerous races and championships along the way. Manuel made the move to car racing by attending the Skip Barber Racing School in 2016, and then participated in their Championship Series. Cabrera graduated to the Formula PanAm series in 2017 and earned the championship title, winning a ticket to attend the Mazda Road to Indy $200,000 Scholarship Shootout in the process. In the Formula PanAm program, he scored four wins in the six series races and was on the podium in the other two. He also raced in the Formula Masters Asia series, scoring six top-five finishes, and was awarded the Rookie of the Year honors. In 2018, Manual raced seven races with Exclusive Autosport, racking his highest finish of eighth place at Road America. He has since taken time off to concentrate on his fitness in an effort to prepare for his attack on the 2019 season.

“I feel extremely happy to be back with the Exclusive Autosport team and I’m really anxious to be back behind the wheel and start the season,” commented Cabrera. “Last year was quite tough for me, but I’m really convinced that this year is going to be different. We are preparing ourselves differently and I hope this will show during our on-track performance. I’m really positive that this year is going to be different and great for the whole team. I feel so happy to be part of the team once again and to be able to work again with all the crew members.”

Led by Team Manager Mirl Swan, Cabrera and the entire EA crew are ready and the cars have been prepared for the next official test for the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, which will take Exclusive Autosport back to South Florida for official Spring Training at Homestead on March 1-3, followed immediately by the 2019 season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 8-10.

A number of additional private tests are scheduled for the next couple months, so drivers interested in joining the Exclusive Autosport team are invited to contact Exclusive Autosport at www.exclusiveautosport.ca/contact-us/. The entire Exclusive Autosport staff is motivated to begin their third season of Road to Indy competition to build off their tremendous successes of 2017 and 2018.

Exclusive Autosport is pleased to be able to partner with great companies, such as AERO™ Advanced Paint Technology (www.rethinkpaint.com), which is used on all their race cars.

 

Source: Team PR

category: Exclusive Autosport
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