PALMETTO, Fla. – JAY Motorsports got its 2014 race season underway with a podium visit in the 'off-season' Cooper Tires Winterfest for the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series. With team newcomer Henrik Furuseth behind the wheel, the Florida-based team showcased its ability to challenge for top honors, taking home a runner-up finish in race one of the NOLA Motorsports Park tripleheader (February 21-22), prior to a top-five and top-10 in the following two rounds in Louisiana. Despite not getting the desired results in the Barber Motorsports Park (February 25-26) triple bill, JAY Motorsports is poised to be a front-runner with its full multi-car effort come the start of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda campaign.

The 2014 quest for race wins commenced for JAY Motorsports with Norwegian up-and-comer Furuseth rolling on-course just outside of New Orleans via the opening three races of the annual USF2000 Championship Winterfest series. While the ultimate focus of the two-event championship is getting prepared for the upcoming season, both the talented 17 year-old and his crew were excited about the opportunity to highlight their skills. Come race time on the 2.75-mile Louisiana road course, Furuseth did just that. Race one featured a superb run, with the No. 96 Palfinger/Kongsberg Automotive pilot working his way forward from sixth, on a track with limited passing opportunities, up to second at the checkered flag. Furuseth further highlighted his racecraft in race two, charging from 11th on the grid to an impressive fifth at the stripe. The NOLA finale featured a third consecutive top-10 finish for the JAY Motorsports racer, with Furuseth coming home a solid seventh.

Given the performances from the opening three rounds, confidence was high under the JAY Motorsports awning when the Winterfest action resumed just three days later in Alabama. Things, however, never went quite as planned, despite garnering valuable seat time and information, Furuseth was unable to garner the results he and the squad desired at the 2.38-mile road course.

"Winterfest was a bit of a struggle for us, as we had some issues with the car all week," stated Furuseth. "I came home with a podium finish at NOLA, which was one of the positive sides of everything. Even though we struggled and had some issues with the car, we learned a lot and that what was essentially what we were there for. It is great to work with all the guys at JAY Motorsports, they are all great people, and  I feel at home with them already. I can't wait for the regular championship to begin!"'

Attention now switches to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. Running in conjunction with IZOD IndyCar Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 29-30, Furuseth will be joined by his season-long rookie teammates Colton Herta and Adrian Starrantino under the JAY Motorsports awning.

Additional information on JAY Motorsports can be obtained from the team’s website at JAYMotorsports.com. For direct contact, please contact Jay Green @ 304-610-5663 or jaymotorsports1@gmail.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ JAY Motorsports and on Facebook @ JAY Motorsports LLC

The following links can be used to follow the JAY Motorsports drivers online and through social media:

Henrik Furuseth at FurusethMotorsport.no and keep up to date via Twitter @FurusethMotorsport, Facebook @ Furuseth Motorsport and YouTube @ Furuseth Motorsport

Keep up to date with Colton Herta via Twitter @Colton Herta and Facebook @ Colton Herta

Learn more about Adrian Starrantino at Team-ASR.com and Keep up to date via Twitter @AdrianStarr94, Facebook @ Adrian Starrantino and YouTube @ Adrian Starrantino Racing

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About JAY Motorsports:
JAY Motorsports, LLC is a family owned and operated racing organization based in Florida. Led by former racer Jay Green, the team became one of the highest rated customer service representatives within the SCCA's spec categories. With countless wins in SCCA Club and Pro competition, the team became a mainstay in junior driver development over the years. By winning the 2009 and 2012 SCCA Formula Enterprises National Championships, they propelled their drivers to win spots on the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Team in 2009 and 2012. In addition to the 2009 and 2012 Runoffs gold medals, JAY Motorsports was the 2006 MARRS Spec Racer Ford champion, 2007 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford champion, 2008 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford and Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 SCCA Great Lakes/Central Division Formula Car Magazine Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 Carolina Cup Pro Series Spec Racer Ford champion, and 2009 SCCA Southeast Division ECR Spec Racer Ford champion. In 2012, JAY Motorsports entered the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda full-time, contesting both the National and Championship classes. Building on multiple top-10 finishes in its rookie campaign, the squad stood on the podium twice in 2013. This season JAY Motorsports is running a multi-car operation in pursuit of the Rookie of the Year award and series title.