Highly-regarded Californian seeking to extend win streak during Rounds Six and Seven in Canada LOS GATOS, CALIF. – Rising American talent Neil Alberico returns to the cockpit of his Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda racing steed this weekend (July 13-14), when the Mazda Road to Indy series title fight resumes on the streets of Toronto, Ont. The Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing star from California enters Rounds Six and Seven having won the most recent race, and focused on re-igniting his charge for a second championship title in 2013.
No racer likes time away from the track, as they want to be in the driver's seat showcasing their talents and battling for wins. For Alberico, the recent USF2000 Championship summer hiatus has been especially long, after he dominated the lone oval race on the series calendar last time the cars were on-track, winning race five as part of the famed Night Before the 500 event.
While the doubleheader around the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in downtown Toronto will be distinctly different than the previous race in Indiana, Alberico is poised to continue his recent run of form in the No. 2 Racelite Protection/Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/eFormulaCarNews.com/J&M Trophies/OMP America/Cape Motorsports entry. The 2013 Cooper Tires Winterfest champion, former USA Scholarship winner, and Bondurant Championship title winner impressed last time the USF2000 cars took to a street circuit. Back in March, Alberico was a driver to watch in St. Petersburg until the races, never outside the top-two in practice and qualifying. If not for an incident in race one, and mechanical issue in race two, many believe he was positioned to stand on the post-race podium.
Given Alberico's talent behind the wheel, seven wins and eight podium finishes in 11 races thus far in 2013, and the fact that the 20 year-old is aware that a strong second half run is required to secure the series title, the stage is set for a formidable outing 'North of the Border".
"I'm super stoked to get back in the car," stated Alberico. "It's a long season, and we just have to keep working hard to keep this momentum going from our last win in Indy. The whole team has been together for the past week preparing for this race, and I think it is safe to say we are as ready as we can be for Toronto."
The on-track action for Alberico on the streets of Toronto commences on Friday (July 12), when the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda field conducts two 30-minute practice runs prior to the lone qualifying session at 3:40 pm local time. The Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing standout is slated to get the green flag for Round Six at 9:40 am local time on Saturday (July 13), followed by Round Seven around the 1.755-mile street circuit on Sunday (July 14) at 11:35 am local time. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx
Those interested in supporting this rising American racer are encouraged to contact Neil Alberico directly @ neil@neilalberico.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Learn more about Neil Alberico at NeilAlberico.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.