Three of four drivers announced for Mazda Road to Indy team

Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin - After a successful race season and a 19-week long off season, ArmsUp Motorsports has completed their final pre-season USF2000 test at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The two-day test for the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda comprised three practice sessions on the 2.21, 14-mile turn course. Following the test, ArmsUp Motorsports has announced three of their four drivers for the 2015 race season.

The Sheboygan Falls-based team enjoyed great success in the 2014 Championship, celebrating a Rookie of the Year award, and two drivers finishing in the top six in the final points battle. Returning to the track with some new and some returning faces, the team has strong sights set on their continuing progression in the Mazda Road to Indy series.

"The 2014 season was our best one yet in the USF2000 Championship," said owner Gregg Borland. "Each of our drivers improved consistently over the course of the year, and we clinched the Rookie of the Year as well. With that momentum, we're eager to get 2015 started and build on last year's success."

Returning to the team for 2015 is 36-year-old James Dayson. The 2015 season will mark the Canadian's fourth year with the team. Last year, a back injury forced Dayson to miss the first half of the season, and only compete in the final few rounds. Even though he was absent from the driver's seat for nearly a year, he pressed on, continuing his progression as a driver and earned some of his career best results.

Fourteen-year-old German racer Keyvan Andres Soori is the second racer to confirm with the team for the entirety of the 2015 race season. After several years in karting, Andres Soori won the 2013-2014 Skip Barber Winter Series Championship and advanced to the USF2000 series with Cape Motorsports in 2014. The young racer improved his lap time at the Homestead-Miami test by over 1.3 seconds in the three sessions.

The third driver to confirm his 2015 plans with ArmsUp Motorsports is Wisconsin native Max Hanratty. A graduate of Skip Barber Racing School and the Skip Barber Academy, Hanratty began his racing aspirations in 2012. In 2013, Hanratty finished fourth overall in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship, and the following season finished fifth overall in the Formula Tour 1600 Championship. The 2015 season will be Hanratty's rookie season in the USF2000 championship. In both pre-season tests with ArmsUp Motorsports, Hanratty showed consistency and improvements with each session.

With the final seat still available, 2013 Team USA Scholarship winner Jacob Eidson participated in the Homestead-Miami test with ArmsUp, never placing outside the top five. Also a graduate of Skip Barber Racing School, the 19-year-old first competed in the USF2000 series in 2013 then again 2014, where he finished third in the championship standings.

"Each of the drivers did excellent in our series and private tests," said Borland. "They adapted to the cars quickly and continued to deepen their own understanding of themselves and their race craft. In USF2000 and the rest of the Mazda Road to Indy, driver development is crucial, and we're looking forward to working closely with each of the drivers in our championship efforts."

The 2015 race season kicks off in February with the USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest: six races split between two events at NOLA Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park. The full 16-race season of the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda begins March 28-29 at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Quotes 
James Dayson: "I am beyond excited to be returning once again with ArmsUp for 2015. Last year was not the year I hoped with my back injury causing me to miss most of the season and be behind the eight-ball when I returned. I've worked really hard with winter testing and feel I'm in a great position with my driving and where I want to be heading into the 2015 season. I've had a great run with ArmsUp the last three years and I'm stoked to be coming back for a fourth year with the team and in the USF2000 series. I love the competition in the series and how strong the MRTI is. Thanks to everyone for getting me to where I'm at and a big thanks to my team for taking me on once again."

Keyvan Andres Soori:  "ArmsUp helped me understand the car, how to find the best set up, and help me understand how the car reacts to different set ups. They gave me a lot of support, which wheels good when you're a young race car driver. Over the course of the Homestead and NOLA tests, my biggest improvement was to be quick right away and stay close to my fastest lap time. My second biggest improvement was my driving overall, like pushing myself to find more speed even if I didn't necessarily need more. With all this testing with ArmsUp during the off season, I am confident that I will be competing in the top three all year long. My goal is to prove to everyone what I'm capable of and win the championship. Now with ArmsUp, I have everything I need to achieve that." 

Max Hannratty: "We have made a lot of progress so far with these two tests. I'm still working on trying to figure the car out. Every time out we make improvements, which is the goal at this point. ArmsUp Motorsports helped me to recognize areas I need to improve on. The engineering staff and my driver coach have helped me to develop my feedback skills to improve the balance of the car. I want to gauge my progress at each event to show constant improvement, as well as maximizing any opportunity that presents itself this year. My focus for now is to figure out the car and gain valuable experience."

Jake Eidson: "During the test at Homestead, the team did a great job on improving the car and addressing any issues we had. On a driving standpoint I know there's always something to improve on and I want to thank ArmsUp driver coach Steve Welk for helping me find time on track, anywhere I could. As of right now we're not sure if we will be competing in the USF2000 Championship, but if we are I know that we will be aiming for wins as well as the championship."    

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About ArmsUp Motorsports  
Based in Sheboygan Falls, WI., ArmsUp Motorsports was established in 1995 by twenty year lead instructor for Skip Barber Racing School, Gregg Borland. It has since then grown to be a leading team in the world of motorsports. ArmsUp Motorsports is a full service prep facility with a team of highly experienced mechanics, driving coaches, and engineers readily available to assist in the success of each driver. The team specializes in Pro F2000, Formula Continental, Formula Atlantic, and Vintage Car racing. For more information please visit the official ArmsUp website at www.ArmsUpMotorsports.com.