Telitz earns $200,000 MAZDASPEED Scholarship For 2014 Cooper Tires USF2000 Series

Braselton, GA -- After a third-place finish in the 2012 Championship Shootout and a second-place finish in the 2012-13 Winter Series, Aaron Telitz, 21, of Birchwood, Wis., won the winner-take-all 2013 Skip Barber Race Series Championship Shootout and the $200,000 driver development scholarship presented by Mazda for use toward a seat in the 2014 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

“It feels really awesome,” said Telitz. “I couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t believe it when I came across the line and won. I kind of knew where the points were and what I had to do. It’s awesome to be sitting here with this gigantic check.”

Telitz was the measure of consistency throughout the shootout. Off track, he earned high marks in his media interview and the subjective instructor scoring. On track, his top-four race results were all podium finishes including a win in the final race of the shootout.

“I am just elated,” said Julie Telitz, Aaron’s mom. “I was brought to tears when he crossed the line and he had probably succeeded in winning the $200,000. It was very exciting and very emotional. The Skip Barber program, thankfully, is around, or young drivers--like my son--would never get anywhere.”

The shootout featured five competitive 12-lap races on the famous Road Atlanta track, three seminars from industry experts and famous Skip Barber Racing School instruction. Race-by-race result sheets are available at skipbarber.com.

"We had absolutely some of the world's closest racing," said Michael Culver, Skip Barber Racing School CEO. "The drivers deserve a lot of credit for racing within thousandths of a second of each other without any major incident. We proved today that our system works. We create champions."

As the pinnacle of the Skip Barber Racing Series ladder, the Race Series Championship Shootout rewards young racers who are dedicated to their craft and successfully work their way through the proven Skip Barber Racing School system. No other developmental race series offers as much opportunity to succeed. The Skip Barber Race Series, using its famous “Arrive & Drive” model provides expert coaching, both on and off the track, limited liability, replacement cars, media exposure, scholarship opportunities and vital seat time. Skip Barber Racing School is the Gateway to Motorsports.

Final 2013 Skip Barber Race Series Championship Shootout Points

(combines five races dropping the lowest, media interview, business plan evaluation and instructor scores)

1. Aaron Telitz, 21, Birchwood, Wisconsin -- 140.9 shootout points
2nd in Championship Points in the 2012-13 Winter Series

2. Jake Eidson, 18, Littleton, Colorado -- 135.5 shootout points
2011-12 Winter Series, 2012 Summer Series & 2012-13 Winter Series Champion

3. Jack Mitchell Jr., 17, Clarendon Hills, Illinois -- 134 shootout points
2nd in Championship Points in the 2012 Summer Series

4. Skylar Robinson, 18, Augusta, Georgia -- 131 shootout points
3rd in Championship Points in the 2012-13 Winter Series

5. Yago Cesario, 18, Goiania, Brazil -- 117.9 shootout points
2013 Summer Series Champion; 2012 Karting Scholarship Shootout Winner

6. Adrian Starrantino, 19, Simi Valley, California -- 117.8 shootout points
4th in Championship Points in the 2012-13 Winter Series

7. Colton Herta, 14, Valencia, California -- 113.5 shootout points
2nd in Championship Points in the 2013 Summer Series

8. Yuri Cesario, 18, Goiania, Brazil -- 106.8 shootout points
5th in Championship Points in the 2013 Summer Series

9. Italo Leao, 18, Brasilia, Brazil -- 102.3 shootout points  
4th in Championship Points in the 2013 Summer Series

10. Jose Armida, 20, Mexico City, Mexico-- 98.6 shootout points  
5th in Championship Points in the 2012-13 Winter Series

11. Andre Gomes, 26, Nashua, New Hampshire -- 98.4 shootout points  
3rd in Championship Points in the 2013 Summer Series; 2012 INDYCAR Academy Winner