Gooden, Newey, and Slaghekke poised to make mark at technical Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
MINNEAPOLIS, MIN. – The talented three-car Afterburner Autosport line-up will be back in action this coming weekend (August 3-4), when the highly-regarded Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series contests Rounds Eight, Nine and Ten at Mid-Ohio Sports car Course. Currently third in the team standings, the Minnesota-based squad is poised to challenge for top honors during the lone tripleheader on the series calendar, with Wyatt Gooden, Brandon Newey and Jeroen Slaghekke listing the technical road course as among a favorite in North America.
One of the key features of the USF2000 Championship is the mix of tracks that the racers compete on with an oval, street circuits and road courses on the series calendar. The latest challenge for the Afterburner Autosport contingent will be the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio road course. While the undulating track configuration is widely regarded as one the most technical around, and provides plenty of challenges for both the drivers and engineers. Gooden, Newey and Slaghekke are looking forward to getting back behind the wheel.
For Gooden, the upcoming three races are an ideal opportunity to not only enhance his championship charge, but also potentially make his first series visit to victory lane, given his past success at what is his home track. The No. 17 PerfectPedal.com/Afterburner Autosport racer won twice in the 2011 F1600 Formula F Championship Series, and added another win in last year's F2000 Championship Series at Mid-Ohio. Add in a strong series test run back in May, and Gooden is excited to go racing.
"Mid-Ohio is always a fun venue," commented Gooden. "Hopefully the home track advantage will continue to bring me good luck here. Afterburner has been working really hard making improvements since the test in May. For sure I'm looking forward to getting great results for the team this weekend."
Newey likewise has a run of success in Ohio to draw upon when he gets back behind the wheel of the No. 98 Curb Records/Calcium Pro/USANA/Miller Oils/OMP/Bell Helmets/Afterburner Autosport entry. Newey started from the front-row in both F16000 Formula F Championship Series races at Mid-Ohio last season, ultimately taking home two hard fought top-five finishes. With the added data and experienced gained from the two-days of official testing in May, the 20 year-old is ready to make his mark.
"I am more excited than ever to race at Mid-Ohio," stated Newey. "The test went very well the last time we were here, and I think the only way we will go, as a team, is up. I've been working extremely hard to prepare myself for this race, and I know the team has too. The IndyCar race weekend at Mid-Ohio is always fantastic, and I cannot wait to be a part of it."
Given Slaghekke's European racing background, it should not come as a real surprise that the Dutch driver views Mid-Ohio as a track where he can showcase his talents. The No. 18 Carriere/W-H Sports Group/Afterburner Autosport pilot first joined forces with Afterburner Autosport during the two-day test back in May, and he has further gelled with the squad since that point, setting the stage for what is expected to be a strong three-race effort.
"I'm very much looking forward to Mid-Ohio," added Slaghekke. "The track is probably my favorite of the American tracks I've driven so far. It's a very technical track, and one you can really make a difference on."
The on-track action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course gets underway on Thursday (August 1) with two test sessions for the Afterburner Autosport racers and the rest of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda field. Practice and qualifying takes place one day later, prior to Rounds Eight and Nine on Saturday (August 3) at 8:35 am and 3:25 pm local times respectively. The final race of the tripleheader is scheduled to get the green flag on Sunday (August 4) at 9:10 am local time. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspxwww.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx. Afterburner Autosport travels to Ohio third in the team standings, while Gooden, Newey, and Slaghekke are sixth, 11th, and 18th in the championship fight respectively.
Additional information on Afterburner Autosport is available from the team’s website @ AfterburnerAutosport.com. For direct contact, email afterburnerautosport@gmail.com or call 630-251-1709.
Keep up to date via Twitter @ ABautosport1 and Facebook page @ Afterburner Autosport.
Learn more about Brandon Newey at BrandonNewey.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ BNEWEY and Facebook @ Brandon Newey.
Learn more about Wyatt Gooden at WyattGooden.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ WyattGooden and Facebook @ Wyatt Gooden Racing.
Learn more about Jeroen Slaghekke at JeroenSlaghekke.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ JeroenSlaghekke and Facebook Jeroen Slaghekke Racing.
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About Afterburner Autosport:
Afterburner Autosport was formed in 2010 with the sole purpose of leading the way in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda competition. Under the guidance of two-time SCCA Formula Continental National Champion Brian Tomasi and fellow F2000 racer and engineer Tim Walsh, the team has over 20 years of experience in open-wheel competition. The Minnesota, Min.-based squad, having captured two podium finishes in its inaugural pro racing season in 2011, made its USF2000 Championship debut in 2012, fielding multiple cars in the top Championship class. The squad returns to the first rung of the Mazda Road to Indy program with an expanded multi-car effort in 2013.