MINNEAPOLIS – Championship-winning open wheel formula car squad JDC MotorSports will return to Mazda Road to Indy competition this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with three drivers under the team tent. Inspiring paralyzed race car driver Michael Johnson will be making his return to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, having recovered from a bad crash at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in March, and he will be joined by Florida’s Kyle Connery in the Pro Mazda doubleheader. JDC’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda rookie Parker Thompson will have three chances to score his first podium finish in the program, which is the first rung of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system, as the USF2000 will run a unique tripleheader on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio road course. The event is being run as part of the IndyCar weekend at the Ohio racing venue.
“I’m thrilled to have all three of our drivers back under our tent for the full weekend,” commented John Church, JDC MotorSports Team Principal. “These young men are extremely passionate and driven individuals and we’ve had great success with all three while they’ve run for us. Having Michael back this weekend will be an incredibly emotional boost for the team and our staff, and we know that this positive energy will help Kyle and Parker push for their best results of the season.”
Connery has posted some strong Pro Mazda Championship results this year, excelling on the tough temporary street circuits like St. Petersburg and Toronto. The series sophomore elected to skip the oval events at Lucas Oil Raceway and Iowa Speedway this summer, but he is very excited to get back on-track on the popular Mid-Ohio facility, where he has significant experience. Kyle’s best finishes off the year include a pair of impressive top-six results at the previously mentioned street circuits, but he was also very solid at Mid-Ohio in 2014, which bodes well for this coming weekend.
Despite being the only USF2000 car in the JDC MotorSports’ paddock, Thompson has displayed tremendous growth throughout the season and currently sits fifth in the overall series standings. The young 17-year-old Canadian is in a fight for the Rookie of the Year honors, so he’ll be aiming for podium finishes. Parker has three top-five finishes on his 2015 record and is coming off a character-building weekend on the streets of Toronto in June. He spent some time racing a Formula 1600 during the downtime between Toronto and Mid-Ohio, and found much success with a pair of victories in Quebec, which presented him with new challenges and buoyed his confidence.
Johnson is thrilled to be making his return to the seat after a long recovery from injuries he sustained when his Pro Mazda made contact with the wall during practice at the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The Flint, Michigan resident is an inspiring young man with IndyCar dreams and a dedication to the sport. Michael tested at Mid-Ohio with JDC in June, getting in some much-needed seat time, and this weekend’s competition will be the culmination of four months of hard and focused rehab.
Parker Thompson - #80
Age: 17
Hometown: Red Deer. Alberta
Sponsors: Bell Helmets, OMP, Parker Thompson: Drive to Stay Alive
2015 Record:
Point Standings: 5th – 144 points
Best Finish: 4th – NOLA (Race 2)
Driver Quote: “I can't wait to get back to business with the JDC MotorSports Crew. After some really good results in a few one-off events with the Formula Tour F1600 in Canada, I am feeling confident coming in and performing at my highest level. I know JDC MotorSports and I have been working very hard in the month long break to bring the heat, and I feel this weekend we are set for success.”
About JDC Motorsports:
Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC Motorsports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC Motorsports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC Motorsports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC Motorsports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season of F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009. The following year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Philippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. In 2011, the Minneapolis-based squad captured its third Star Mazda Championship title with Tristan Vautier, scored a win in the USF2000 National Championship, and made its Prototype Lites Championship debut, earning five podium finishes. JDC Motorsports added to its Star Mazda Championship win tally, USF2000 Championship podium total, and finished as the Prototype Lites Championship runner-up in 2012. Last year, the squad continued its run of Pro Mazda and USF2000 podium finishes, and was third in the Prototype Lites title fight.