Alberico, Hargrove, and Johnson ready to build on run of form in return to street racing
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – The quest for Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda glory continues over the holiday Labor Day weekend (September 1-2) for JDC MotorSports with a visit to the Baltimore street circuit. The highly-regarded Minnesota-based squad will have the talented trio of Neil Alberico, Scott Hargrove, and Michael Johnson under the awning, ready to build on a recent run of form and podium visit by JDC in the inaugural running of the event last year.
While the most recent tripleheader at JDC MotorSports home track of Road America offers little in common with regards to track layout and conditions to the upcoming tight confines of the street circuit around Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the multiple junior formula car championship-winning team has plenty to be excited about entering the Maryland doubleheader.
First and foremost, Alberico, Hargrove, and Johnson return to the cockpits of their immaculate JDC MotorSports racing steeds full of confidence. Alberico re-established himself as a driver worth keeping an eye on in the first-ever USF2000 Championship tripleheader in Wisconsin, steering the No. 19 Kartel Motorsports/Bondurant School/RaceLite Protection/ Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry to two top-five finishes and a sixth-place result against many of the top up-and-coming racers in North America. Hargrove, contesting his first series races since late March, likewise, showcased his skills with a pair of top-10s in the No. 38 Analytic Systems/Race Energy/Skip Barber Racing School/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry racer. Piloting the No. 54 Universal Coating/Alpinestars/Coloplast/FlatOutNation.com/Red Line Oil/Movement Arts Motorsports Marketing/JDC MotorSports car, Johnson, who is paralyzed from the mid chest down following a dirt track racing accident, additionally enjoyed good success at Road America with an inaugural top-10 finish.
The confidence gained by the strong results in Wisconsin will certainly help the JDC racers, but perhaps more important in the pursuit of top honors during the doubleheader will be JDC Motorsports' experience and previous success on street circuits. In addition to multiple wins and podium finishes at a variety of street races, the JDC rookies will benefit greatly from the insights gained via a Star Mazda Championship win and USF2000 Championship podium finish during the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix event one year ago.
The combination of three confident and talented racers with a world class team with proven success at the fast concrete-lined track, means JDC MotorSports is poised to challenge for top honors during Rounds 11 and 12.
"The last race at Road America was huge for me," stated Hargrove, who was recently named as a Team Canada Scholarship nominee. "I needed that weekend to get fully back up to speed. I'm confident that I've done just that, and now I feel I'm ready to race in the top-five. I know JDC MotorSports will give me everything I need to run up-front, so I can't wait to get started. I've been looking forward to this race all year!"
"After a pair of top-five finishes at Road America, we carry some good momentum as a team into the races at Baltimore," added recent Team USA Scholarship nominee Alberico. "We just have to keep chipping away and working hard, and the results will come."
The JDC MotorSports' rookie trio of Alberico, Hargrove, and Johnson begin the chase for Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda success on the streets of Baltimore on Friday (August 31), with a morning practice run, followed by the lone qualifying session in the late afternoon. The green flag for race one of the Maryland doubleheader is scheduled to wave at 1:45 pm local time on Saturday (September 1), while the start to race two is planned for 10:35 am on Sunday (September 2), prior to the IZOD IndyCar Series race. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx.
JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com.
Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jdcmotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075.
Learn more about Neil Alberico at neilalberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NeilAlberico and his Facebook page @ Neil-Alberico-Racing.
Learn more about Scott Hargrove at scotthargrove.com keep up to date via Twitter @ Scott_Hargrove and his Facebook page @ ScottHargroveMotorsports.
Learn more about Michael Johnson at michaeljohnsonracing.com keep up to date via Twitter @ Racer54isCool and his Facebook page @ Michael-Johnson-Racing.
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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 Phillippi, 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 will contest the Star Mazda Championship, USF2000 Championship and Prototype Lites Championship in 2012.