Megenbier enters inaugural Maryland street race with four consecutive top-five finishes
MELROSE PARK, ILL. – Sick Tea Racing has increasingly become one of the teams to watch in the highly-competitive Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, thanks to an impressive second-half run that has featured an inaugural podium finish and four consecutive top-five results. With American up-and-comer Timmy Megenbier behind the wheel, the Illinois-based squad has rapidly developed from a first-year squad looking to gain experience into a perennial contender for a place on the post-race podium. Sick Tea Racing will end its inaugural junior formula car campaign this weekend (September 3-4) when the Mazda Road to Indy series contests Rounds 11 and 12 on the streets of Baltimore.
For a first-year USF2000 team like Sick Tea Racing, the Baltimore Grand Prix is an ideal opportunity to showcase their talents. Given that the 2.1-mile street circuit located next to the inner harbor is brand new to everyone in the paddock, Sick Tea Racing enters the doubleheader with the same amount of previous experience as the rest of field. The No. 17 Caputo Cheese/Rahal Foods backed Van Diemen-Mazda has repeatedly showed that it has been quick to adapt to new challenges, and more than capable of going head-to-head against the more experienced multi-car outfits in the driver development championship. Given Megenbier’s impressive run of form of late – a podium finish at Mid-Ohio and four consecutive top-five finishes – combined with the fact Sick Tea Racing has previously showed an affinity for street circuit competition (earning their first top-10 on the streets of St. Petersburg), the stage is set for a highlight end to the 2012 season.
“I’m really excited about the races in Baltimore,” stated Megenbier. “While I’ve only run two street races previously, I’ve had some good success thus far and will be looking to do even better this time out. We are definitely going after podium finishes to help us move up in the final standings and end the season on a high note. The key will be making the most of the ever-changing grip levels and taking care of the car. It should be a lot of fun.”
The Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda season-finale doubleheader in Baltimore commences on Friday (September 2) via a morning practice session. The lone qualifying run will take place later in the day, setting the grid for Round 11. Race one of the twin bill is slated for 2:15 p.m. local time on Saturday afternoon (September 3), followed by Round 12 at 10:20 a.m. on Sunday morning (September 4). Sick Tea Racing enters the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix fifth in the team standings, while Megenbier lies seventh in the championship chase, but within striking distance of the top-five.
Fans and supporters of Sick Tea Racing can keep abreast of the action in Baltimore via - http://livetiming.net/imsa/usf2000/html.asp - Live Timing.