Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing title contender enters Rounds 11 and 12 second in points
LOS GATOS, CALIF. – The pursuit of the 2013 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda title and a Mazda Road to Indy scholarship resumes for junior formula car standout Neil Alberico this coming weekend (September 7-8) with Rounds 11 and 12 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Racing in his home state of California, the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing championship contender enters the twin bill poised to enhance his late season charge for series supremacy having stood on the top step of the podium in three of the last five races.
Currently second in the points fight, Alberico has had the doubleheader at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circled on his calendar since the day the USF2000 Championship schedule came out. Not only is it an opportunity to showcase his talents in front of friends, family, and supporters, but also a chance to further his aspirations of ending the year as the series champion.
Alberico, having bounced back from some early season setbacks, is currently the driver on form in USF2000 competition. Since late May he has visited victory lane at all three events contested, winning at the Lucas Oil Raceway oval, on the streets of Toronto and twice at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Given these results, it is no surprise that many view the 2013 Cooper Tires Winterfest champion, former USA Scholarship winner, and former Bondurant Championship title winner as one of the leading racers to challenge for top honors at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and ensure the title fight goes down to the season-finale in Texas in early October.
While Alberico has momentum and the backing of multiple series champion Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing on his side entering the two races in northern California, he is well aware that he will need to get the most from himself and his No. 2 Racelite Protection/Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/eFormulaCarNews.com/J&M Trophies/OMP America/Cape Motorsports entry to exit the weekend with the results desired. The undulating 2.238-mile road course presents plenty of challenges, including the famed Corkscrew turn, so making the most of every session will be vital.
"The team has been waiting all year for this event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!" commented Alberico. "Everyone has been working hard since Mid-Ohio to make ourselves better and improve together as a team. I'm psyched to be racing close to home in front of all the fans from California. It should be a fun weekend with all our friends at Wayne Taylor Racing at Laguna as well."
The on-track action for Alberico and the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing squad commences on Friday (September 6) with three test sessions at the renowned California road course. The lone Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda practice run takes place early Saturday morning (September 7), followed by qualifying just after lunch to set the grid for Round 11. Race one of the doubleheader is slated to get the green flag at 4:40 pm local time. Round 12 is scheduled for 8:10 am local time on Sunday (September 8). Live timing and scoring and trackside audio will be available at www.usf2000.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.