Texas teenager to make series debut as part of multi-car effort focused on race wins
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – JDC MotorSports has added another key piece towards its quest for Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda silverware, with rookie Clark Toppe joining its 2013 driver line-up. Enhancing a talented multi-car effort in the Mazda Road to Indy series, the Texas teenager is focused on building the Minnesota team's already impressive resume.
With a proven track record of helping develop young racers into winners and champions, JDC MotorSports believes it has the opportunity to further continue that trend with 15 year-old Toppe getting behind the wheel of one of its USF2000 Championship entries this coming season. While the former karting front-runner enters his rookie series campaign with only one season of previous car racing experience under his belt, he has already highlighted his talents and potential in private testing with JDC. As a result, the multiple junior formula car title winning team is confident the Texan will be a key member of its gifted multi-car line-up in the highly-regarded championship, and is poised to be part of the mix for Rookie of the Year honors.
"Signing with JDC MotorSports is the biggest accomplishment of my racing career thus far," said Toppe. "I'm excited for this step up onto the Mazda Road to Indy ladder. I am very confident that driving with JDC in the USF2000 Championship will be great for my driver development because of the experience they have in the sport. I know that they can put an outstanding car underneath me at all times, on any track."
"Clark did an awesome job during a team test earlier this month," added team principal John Church. "He will be a great addition to an already strong lineup this season."
A native of Woodlands, Texas, Toppe will make his USF2000 Championship debut with a limited, albeit strong racing resume. Like most up-and-comers, the teenager first got behind the wheel via karting. After showcasing good speed and racecraft en route to multiple wins, he made the move to car competition last year via the Skip Barber Racing Summer Series. Going against a mix of series veterans and fellow up-and-comers, Toppe further demonstrated his talents, finishing ninth in the overall title chase as one of the youngest rookies.
Toppe commences wheel-to-wheel action behind the wheel of his JDC MotorSports-prepared Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda entry on February 5-6, when he partners fellow JDC racers Michael Johnson, Arthur Oliveira, and Stefan Rzadzinski in the opening three races of the Cooper Tires Winterfest at Sebring International Raceway. The chase for USF2000 Championship supremacy gets underway on March 14-15, with Rounds One and Two contested in conjunction with the prestigious Twelve Hours of Sebring event.
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 Michael Johnson at michaeljohnsonracing.com, and keep up to date via Twitter @ Racer54isCool and Facebook @ Michael-Johnson-Racing.
Learn more about Stefan Rzadzinski at www.rzadracing.com, and keep up to date via Twitter @ rzadracing and Facebook @ Stefan-Rzadzinski.
Learn more about Clark Toppe via Twitter @ ClarkToppe and Facebook @ Clark-Toppe-Motorsports.
###
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 added to its Star Mazda Championship win tally, USF2000 Championship podium total, and finished as the Prototype Lites Championship runner-up in 2012.