California up-and-comer enters Texas season-finale second in title fight
LOS GATOS, CALIF. – Neil Alberico's pursuit of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda title concludes this coming weekend (October 5-6) with the season-finale doubleheader in Houston, Texas. Taking to the street circuit around Reliant Park, the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing standout from California will attempt to add to his series win tally in Rounds 13 and 14, currently sitting second in the point standings.
The goal for Alberico since first rolling on-course in Florida for the opening two rounds of the USF2000 Championship back in March, was to contend for the series title and the prestigious Mazda Road to Indy scholarship award. Entering the final two races in Texas, the highly-regarded 20 year-old is in position to do just that, sitting second in the points fight.
Alberico, like the entire field, will be making his debut outing on the 1.7-mile street circuit around Reliant Park in Houston during Rounds 13-14. While the No. 2 Racelite Protection/Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/eFormulaCarNews.com/J&M Trophies/OMP America/Cape Motorsports racer has no previous track experience to draw on, he has success on similar concrete-lined tracks to build from. In both St. Petersburg and Toronto, the California was among the drivers to beat in the lead up to the races, earning a front-row start and pole position via a new lap record respectively in the two events.
The 2013 Cooper Tires Winterfest champion, former USA Scholarship winner, and former Bondurant Championship title winner, travels to Texas with the added confidence of being one of the drivers to watch in the second half of the season. Battling back from misfortune in the first half the campaign, Alberico has visited victory lane three times, been part of the podium celebrations an additional time, and added two more top-five finishes in seven races.
"We have overcome many difficult obstacles this season together as a team," said the 20 year-old Alberico. "We are now here at the final event of the year having already been crowned team champions, however, we must finish in the same manner that we started. Everyone is going to give their maximum effort every second of every session. That is what it is going to take to finish strong, and that is exactly what we have to do."
The Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda action around Reliant Park in Houston, Texas, commences with a Friday (October 4) practice just after lunch, and the lone qualifying run in the late afternoon. Round 13 takes place one day later at 9:55 am local time, while the season-finale is scheduled for Sunday (October 6) at 9:45 am local time. Live timing and scoring, and trackside audio will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx. Alberico enters the twin bill currently 44 points adrift of the points lead, with 65 points up for grabs in Houston.
Those interested in supporting this rising American racer are encouraged to contact Neil Alberico directly @ neil@neilalberico.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Learn more about Neil Alberico at NeilAlberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NeilAlberico and Facebook @ Neil Alberico Motorsports.
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About Neil Alberico:
A native of Los Gatos, Calif., Alberico first started racing karts at the age of 10, competing in IKF region 11 action. Over the course of four seasons (2004-07), the young talent captured the Junior Sportsman, Junior Super Sportsman, and Junior Puma championship titles. In 2008, Alberico first got behind the wheel of a race car, graduating from the Skip Barber 2-day Advanced school at Laguna Seca prior to participating in the Formula BMW recruitment day at Miller Motorsports Park. Continuing to race in the karting ranks while raising funds to pursue a career in motorsports, Alberico won the Snap-On Stars of Karting Series National finale in Las Vegas in 2009, before finishing third in CKI National TAG Senior championship. Alberico built on this success in 2010, winning the TaG Senior class in the WSK North American Series, as well as the Bondurant Championship Race Series, capturing 10 wins in first full season of car competition. As part of the prize package for winning the Bondurant Championship, the teenager tested a Pro Formula Mazda with World Speed Motorsports and a Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a with Finlay Motorsports. In 2011, Alberico made his European racing debut, competing in the world-renowned Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with Irish-based Cliff Dempsey Racing. Finish ninth in his maiden FF season, the Californian earned a Team USA Scholarships. As a Team USA driver, he captured a Semi-Final win and finished third in the historic 40th Formula Ford Festival. Alberico joined the Mazda Road to Indy program in 2012, earning a podium finish and nine top-fives in his rookie season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. This season, the California standout returns to USF2000 Championship action, joining two-time defending champion Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.