Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing standout kept title alive with second and fourth in Rounds 11 and 12
LOS GATOS, CALIF. – Neil Alberico's quest for the 2013 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda crown continued in fine fashion this past weekend (September 7-8) at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with the talented up-and-comer adding yet another podium finish to his resume. Racing in his home state of California, the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing star finished second in Round 11, and added a fourth place in Round 12, retaining second place in the points and ensuring the title fight comes down the season-finale in Texas.
Alberico arrived at what is his 'home' race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as the driver to watch and momentum on his side, having won three of the previous five USF2000 races. That being said, the skilled 20 year-old entered the twin bill with no previous race experience around the undulating 2.238-mile road course. Given that fact, he spent all three Friday test sessions fine-tuning his No. 2 Racelite Protection/Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/eFormulaCarNews.com/J&M Trophies/OMP America/Cape Motorsports entry. While overall speed was not the focus of the day, Alberico quickly indicated he was poised to be in contention for top honors, posting the second best lap in the opening run, and going fourth quickest in the final outing.
When day two got underway via the lone practice session, Alberico was not on track, electing to save a set of tires for qualifying and the races. The plan was put into place a short time later via qualifying. The 2013 Cooper Tires Winterfest champion, former USA Scholarship winner, and former Bondurant Championship title winner, as expected, was part of the mix for the pole position in the timed run, ultimately earning an inside row two starting position for the late afternoon race via the third best lap.
Following some debriefing with his skilled Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor racing crew, Alberico was back behind the wheel for Round 11. Alberico promptly got a good launch when the green flag waved, holding third place and looking to move up entering the turn one hairpin. The opportunity soon presented itself via light contact between his championship leading teammate and the polesitter. Alberico, keeping his nose clean, took over second place. From that point forward, which included an early race caution period and restart, Alberico remained within striking distance of the lead, though never able to execute a pass for position. Taking the checkered flag in P2, Alberico not only secured yet another trip to the post race celebrations, but closed the championship points gap.
Alberico returned the cockpit one day later confident he could once again showcase his talents and challenge for the win. Lining up third, the Californian was immediately part of a multi-car fight for position. Dueling lap after lap with his fellow front-runners, he held third place until the final lap, when a bold maneuver at the famed Corkscrew dropped him to fourth place. While the loss of position was disappointing, the result ensured the championship fight will continue to the season-finale in Houston, Texas, and it clinched the team championship title for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing for a second consecutive year.
"So far it has been such an incredible season!" commented Alberico. "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was a great weekend for the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing crew. We clinched the USF2000 team championship, and Wayne Taylor Racing won their Daytona Prototype race on Sunday. I cannot wait until the season-finale with Indycar in Huston next month!"
The 2013 edition of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda concludes on October 5-6, with the streets of Houston, Texas, hosting Rounds 13-14. Alberico enters the season-finale doubleheader second in the driver's standings.
Those interested in supporting this rising American racer are encouraged to contact Neil Alberico directly @ neil@neilalberico.comto discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Learn more about Neil Alberico atNeilAlberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NeilAlberico and Facebook @ Neil Alberico Motorsports.
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About Neil Alberico:
A native of Los Gatos, Calif., Alberico first started racing karts at the age of 10, competing in IKF region 11 action. Over the course of four seasons (2004-07), the young talent captured the Junior Sportsman, Junior Super Sportsman, and Junior Puma championship titles. In 2008, Alberico first got behind the wheel of a race car, graduating from the Skip Barber 2-day Advanced school at Laguna Seca prior to participating in the Formula BMW recruitment day at Miller Motorsports Park. Continuing to race in the karting ranks while raising funds to pursue a career in motorsports, Alberico won the Snap-On Stars of Karting Series National finale in Las Vegas in 2009, before finishing third in CKI National TAG Senior championship. Alberico built on this success in 2010, winning the TaG Senior class in the WSK North American Series, as well as the Bondurant Championship Race Series, capturing 10 wins in first full season of car competition. As part of the prize package for winning the Bondurant Championship, the teenager tested a Pro Formula Mazda with World Speed Motorsports and a Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a with Finlay Motorsports. In 2011, Alberico made his European racing debut, competing in the world-renowned Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with Irish-based Cliff Dempsey Racing. Finish ninth in his maiden FF season, the Californian earned a Team USA Scholarships. As a Team USA driver, he captured a Semi-Final win and finished third in the historic 40th Formula Ford Festival. Alberico joined the Mazda Road to Indy program in 2012, earning a podium finish and nine top-fives in his rookie season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. This season, the California standout returns to USF2000 Championship action, joining two-time defending champion Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.