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Lucas Oil To Host Team USA Scholarship Shootout
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Six finalists for this year’s Team USA Scholarship will be put through their paces during a one-day shootout later this month hosted by Cooper Tires and the Lucas Oil School of Racing at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, FL.
The day also will include a fitness element conducted by Jim Leo of Indianapolis-based PitFit Training.
The Team USA Scholarship originated in 1990 when a young Jimmy Vasser was selected to contest the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England. Subsequent scholarship winners include IndyCar race winners Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice, Charlie Kimball and Josef Newgarden; sports car standouts Andy Lally, Paul Edwards, Bryan Sellers and Dane Cameron; and rising stars such as Conor Daly, Matthew Brabham and Spencer Pigot.
The finalists have been chosen from 11 candidates who attended the recent Verizon IndyCar Series event at Mid-Ohio, and were interviewed by a panel of judges.
The group also met with Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman and Co., the parent company of INDYCAR, toured Race Control with racer-turned-steward Max Papis, and gained an opportunity to see the inner workings of the K-PAX Racing with Flying Lizard Motorsport McLaren Pirelli World Challenge team, courtesy of Austin Cindric.
“[The candidates] learned a great deal about the inner workings of the sport and were able to meet a selection of influential figures who can help them as they work their way up the ladder. At the same time, it was an opportunity for us to learn more about the youngsters,” said Team USA founder and auto racing writer/broadcaster Jeremy Shaw.
The following drivers will be making their way to South Florida for the shootout:
• Oliver Askew, 19, Jupiter, FL., Skip Barber Racing Series
• Andre Castro, 17, New York, NY, Skip Barber Racing Series
• Konrad Czaczyk, 19, Loxahatchee, FL., F4 U.S. Championship powered by Honda
• Tim de Silva, 20, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Pacific F2000
• Kyle Kirkwood, 17, Jupiter, FL, F4 U.S. Championship powered by Honda
• Robert Megennis, 16, New York, NY, Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
America’s newest racing school features Ray GR11 open-wheel cars powered by 2.0-liter Elite Engines power plants and Cooper tires, as well as a comprehensive AiM Sportline Formula Steering Wheel 2 data and SmartyCam video systems to provide students with all the tools they will need to pursue a career in the sport.
“We are excited to work with Team USA Scholarship on the final steps in their selection process”, said Todd Snyder, COO of Lucas Oil School of Racing. “Our fleet of race cars will prove to be an ideal platform to showcase this talented group of drivers.”
Two winners will be chosen and invited to contest the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England, on October 21-23 and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone on November 4-6.
Team USA Scholarship drivers have enjoyed success at both events in the past. In 2008, Newgarden became the only American driver to win the Festival, while Daly (also in 2008), Connor De Phillippi (2009), who currently races for Audi in European sports car competition, and factory Mazda Prototype driver Tristan Nunez (2012) claimed victory at the Walter Hayes Trophy.
The day also will include a fitness element conducted by Jim Leo of Indianapolis-based PitFit Training.
The Team USA Scholarship originated in 1990 when a young Jimmy Vasser was selected to contest the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England. Subsequent scholarship winners include IndyCar race winners Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice, Charlie Kimball and Josef Newgarden; sports car standouts Andy Lally, Paul Edwards, Bryan Sellers and Dane Cameron; and rising stars such as Conor Daly, Matthew Brabham and Spencer Pigot.
The finalists have been chosen from 11 candidates who attended the recent Verizon IndyCar Series event at Mid-Ohio, and were interviewed by a panel of judges.
The group also met with Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman and Co., the parent company of INDYCAR, toured Race Control with racer-turned-steward Max Papis, and gained an opportunity to see the inner workings of the K-PAX Racing with Flying Lizard Motorsport McLaren Pirelli World Challenge team, courtesy of Austin Cindric.
“[The candidates] learned a great deal about the inner workings of the sport and were able to meet a selection of influential figures who can help them as they work their way up the ladder. At the same time, it was an opportunity for us to learn more about the youngsters,” said Team USA founder and auto racing writer/broadcaster Jeremy Shaw.
The following drivers will be making their way to South Florida for the shootout:
• Oliver Askew, 19, Jupiter, FL., Skip Barber Racing Series
• Andre Castro, 17, New York, NY, Skip Barber Racing Series
• Konrad Czaczyk, 19, Loxahatchee, FL., F4 U.S. Championship powered by Honda
• Tim de Silva, 20, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Pacific F2000
• Kyle Kirkwood, 17, Jupiter, FL, F4 U.S. Championship powered by Honda
• Robert Megennis, 16, New York, NY, Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
America’s newest racing school features Ray GR11 open-wheel cars powered by 2.0-liter Elite Engines power plants and Cooper tires, as well as a comprehensive AiM Sportline Formula Steering Wheel 2 data and SmartyCam video systems to provide students with all the tools they will need to pursue a career in the sport.
“We are excited to work with Team USA Scholarship on the final steps in their selection process”, said Todd Snyder, COO of Lucas Oil School of Racing. “Our fleet of race cars will prove to be an ideal platform to showcase this talented group of drivers.”
Two winners will be chosen and invited to contest the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England, on October 21-23 and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone on November 4-6.
Team USA Scholarship drivers have enjoyed success at both events in the past. In 2008, Newgarden became the only American driver to win the Festival, while Daly (also in 2008), Connor De Phillippi (2009), who currently races for Audi in European sports car competition, and factory Mazda Prototype driver Tristan Nunez (2012) claimed victory at the Walter Hayes Trophy.
