USF2000 rookie driver Shannon McIntosh won’t have to go far to make her first attempt in a street race where she is set to compete in downtown St. Petersburg just blocks from her residence.

Just one week after emerging victorious from a thrilling race at the famed Sebring International Raceway road course, young Australian Luke Ellery this weekend will defend his hard-earned lead in the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda on the tight and unforgiving 1.8-mile street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The 2011 edition of the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda commenced in superb fashion for JDC MotorSports this past week (March 17-18), as the Minnesota-based squad made a trip to victory lane and added two top-five finishes at Sebring International Raceway.

In a race filled with non-stop action and a constant battle for the lead, 22-year-old Luke Ellery emerged victorious at Sebring International Raceway this afternoon capturing his first win in the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda.

The 2011 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda season kicks off in style this week with a top-quality field set to do battle over two races in support of the 59th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the opening round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.