Minnesota squad exited three races at Sebring with solid results and important data for upcoming USF2000 Championship season

MINNEAPOLIS, MIN. – For Afterburner Autosport, the opening Cooper Tires Winterfest tripleheader this past week (February 5-6) at Sebring International Raceway proved to be a successful affair. Utilizing the pre-season championship event as a test outing, the Minnesota squad not only gathered valuable information and data ahead of the start of the full Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda campaign, but with rookies Wyatt Gooden and Jake Eidson behind the wheels, also displayed the tools to be a title contender in 2013.

Right from the get go at the historic 3.74-mile Sebring road course, Afterburner Autosport and its talented driver duo of Gooden and Eidson were focused on driver and car development. Doing just that, the up-and-coming drivers spent both practice and qualifying getting acclimated to their racing steeds, and working with the skilled Afterburner Autosport crew to fine tune the cars to their respective driving styles. That being said, the pair showcased their talents behind the wheel, with Eidson posting the eighth best timed lap, and Gooden turning the 11th quickest lap in qualifying.

When the green flag waved for race one of the tripleheader a short time after qualifying, the Afterburner Autosport racers set about learning how their fellow competitors raced, and how the USF2000 cars handled in race conditions. Gaining valuable experience, the 12-lap affair ended with Eidson crossing the stripe in a strong sixth, and Gooden classified 18th, having ended his race prematurely after nine tours.

Seeking to gather more valuable data, information, and on-track knowledge, races two and three on day two of the triple bill witnessed Eidson and Gooden making the most of their time behind the wheels. Eidson impressed onlookers with two additional top-eight finishes, while Gooden ended the event posting times on par with the top-five.

"The pace we found by the end of the second day gives us a lot of confidence going into the first race of the USF2000 Championship back here in March," said Gooden. "While the quick teams have tested here recently, we did not have that luxury. We will be upfront when it counts."

"Going into the first round of the USF2000 Winterfest I was unsure of how I would perform, having no previous USF2000 experience at Sebring," stated Eidson. "We were able to make progress each time out, finishing eighth once and sixth twice in the three races. Overall it was an amazing few days. I learned a lot of valuable information, and I'm very grateful to have worked with the Afterburner Autosport team."

"We used the two days as a test for the start of the season, and were very pleased with how things worked out," commented Afterburner Autosport's Brian Tomasi. " Wyatt learned the track, and we figured out what he likes in the car, while Jake did a great job learning the track in our car. Hopefully we can get things worked out for the season with Jake. We are already looking forward to coming back in March for the start of the USF2000 season."

Afterburner Autosport now returns to preparations for the start of the 2013 edition of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. The action gets underway on March 14-15, with a return trip to Sebring International Raceway, when Rounds One and Two are run in conjunction with the prestigious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring event. Drivers interested in joining the Minnesota team are urged to contact Brian Tomasi @ afterburnerautosport@gmail.com or call 630-251-1709.

Additional information on Afterburner Autosport is available from the team’s website @ www.afterburnerautosport.com. For direct contact, email afterburnerautosport@gmail.com or call 630-251-1709.

Keep up to date via Twitter @ ABautosport1 and Facebook page @ Afterburner-Autosport.

Learn more about Jake Eidson at JakeEidsonRacing.com and keep up to date via Facebook @ JacobEidsonRacing.

Learn more about Wyatt Gooden at WyattGooden.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ WyattGooden and Facebook @ WyattGoodenRacing.

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About Afterburner Autosport:
Afterburner Autosport was formed in 2010 with the sole purpose of leading the way in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda competition. Under the guidance of two-time SCCA Formula Continental National Champion Brian Tomasi and fellow F2000 racer and engineer Tim Walsh, the team has over 20 years of experience in open-wheel competition. The Minnesota, Min.-based squad, having captured two podium finishes in its inaugural pro racing season last year, made its USF2000 Championship debut in 2012, fielding multiple cars in the top Championship class. The squad returns to the first rung of the Mazda Road to Indy program with an expanded multi-car effort in 2013.