MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – JDC MotorSports' pursuit of Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda glory commenced this past week (March 15-16) with a solid five-car effort at Sebring International Raceway. With junior formula car up-and-comers Neil Alberico, Scott Hargrove, Michael Johnson, Chris Miller, and Zac Silver behind the wheels, the Minnesota squad exited the season-opening doubleheader with important data and experience towards the ultimate goal of ending the season with one or more championship titles.

For the talented JDC racers, the action at the former World War II airbase that is now Sebring commenced with event testing. Given the overall lack of F2000 experience by the five racers - with all but Miller having only previously contested the Winterfest off-season two-event championship - the goal in testing was to get further acclimated to the JDC racing steeds and the fast and bumpy road course. While a lengthy red flag period limited track time, the runs proved to be successful, particularly for the Alberico, turning the second quickest time in the No. 19 Kartel Motorsports/Bondurant School/RaceLite Protection/ Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry.

Two additional practice runs allowed the highly-rated JDC engineers and mechanics to further work with the drivers to fine tune their setups for the two races during the 60th anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida event. Alberico again led the multi-car JDC charge, turning fastest lap in the slower afternoon practice session. Hargrove also cracked the top-10 on the daily speedcharts, while Silver, Miller, and Johnson's No. 54 Universal Coating/Alpinestars/Coloplast/FlatOutNation.com/Red Line Oil/Movement Arts Motorsports Marketing/JDC MotorSports entry were only a few places back on the timing sheets.

The lone qualifying session of the doubleheader, setting the grid for Round One, proved to be a frustrating affair for all involved. The combination of traffic via the 30+ field, and two red flag cautions - one involving Miller - resulted in an inability to post a true flying lap in the timed the run. The end result were unrepresentative starting positions for the JDC MotorSports contingent. Alberico was 10th fastest, followed by Hargrove in 12th, Johnson in 15th, Silver in 18th, and Miller in 35th.

Aware that the 3.7-mile track configuration allows for movement up the charts come race time, the five JDC racers returned to their cockpits a short time after qualifying excited to showcase their skills. Unfortunately, a first turn incident involving two of the leaders, followed by another incident when the action did resume resulted in very little green flag competition, and a finish behind the safety car. Alberico remained the leading JDC car at the stripe, taking the checkered flag in ninth, ahead of Hargrove in 11th, Silver in 13th, Johnson in 18th, and Miller's No. 85 Miller Milling Company/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry in 26th.

Returning to the historic road course one day later, the goal of the JDC racers was to make the most of any opportunity in race two and have a clean race. With the competitive field successfully negotiating turn one on the opening lap, an early race run of green flags allowed the JDC cars to make their mark. The charge up the scoring charts, however, was again halted prematurely via a multi-car incident. As a result, the checkered flag once again waved with the cars behind the safety car. Alberico secured the Minnesota squad's first top-five result with a fifth place finish, with Hargrove next across the stripe for JDC in 11th. Silver's No. 93 California Scents/SeaDrill/FlatOutNation.com/Red Line Oil/Movement Arts Motorsports Marketing/Midwest Capital Limited/JDC MotorSports car immediately followed his teammate in 12th, while Miller and Johnson crossed the stripe in 15th and 27th respectively.

"The whole week was a struggle for track time with red flags in qualifying, and both races finishing under yellow," stated Alberico. "Despite all the on track chaos, I feel we made a ton of progress as a team, and we just need to continue to work hard to get ourselves ahead. Everyone did a stellar job all week long, and we are all very excited for St. Pete. Overall a positive weekend."

"Sebring was a challenge," said Hargrove. "The  No. 38 Analytic Systems/Race Energy/CWS Industries/Red Line Oil JDC MotorSports car was fast, but after a disappointing qualifying, we were not able to show its true speed. The important thing is that we brought the car home in one piece after some really intense wheel-to-wheel racing! I know that JDC Motorsports, as always, provided me with a great car and we will be on our 'A' game next weekend in St. Petersburg. I am really looking forward to it!"

"It doesn't matter where you finish, as long as you finish." added Silver.

JDC MotorSports immediately returns to Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda competition this coming weekend (March 24-25), with Rounds Three and Four on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The Minnesota-based team enters the IZOD IndyCar Series season-opening event currently fifth in the team standings. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx.

JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com.

Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jdcmotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075.

Learn more about Neil Alberico at neilalberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NeilAlberico and his Facebook page @ Neil-Alberico-Racing.

Learn more about Scott Hargrove at scotthargrove.com keep up to date via Twitter @ Scott_Hargrove and his Facebook page @ ScottHargroveMotorsports.

Learn more about Michael Johnson at michaeljohnsonracing.com keep up to date via Twitter @ Racer54isCool and his Facebook page @ Michael-Johnson-Racing.

Learn more about Zac Silver at zacsilver.com keep up to date via his Facebook page @ Zac Silver.

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About JDC MotorSports:
Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC MotorSports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC MotorSports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC MotorSports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC MotorSports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season of F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009. The following year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Phillippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. In 2011, the Minneapolis-based squad captured its third Star Mazda Championship title with Tristan Vautier, scored a win in the USF2000 National Championship, and made its Prototype Lites Championship debut, earning five podium finishes. JDC MotorSports will contest the Star Mazda Championship, USF2000 Championship and Prototype Lites Championship in 2012.