Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing star seeking to return to winning ways at Lucas Oil Raceway oval
LOS GATOS, CALIF. – Neil Alberico re-fires his quest for a second championship title in 2013 on Saturday (May 25), when the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda returns to action at Lucas Oil Raceway. As part of the famed Night Before the 500 event, the reigning Cooper Tires Winterfest champion will contest the lone oval race on the series calendar poised to add another victory to his resume.
Alberico, like any racer, loves getting behind the wheel and battling for top honors. Unfortunately, an early season break in the USF2000 Championship schedule meant the highly-regarded Californian hasn't had the chance to do just that since late March, when Rounds Three and Four took place on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Given that doubleheader did not go as planned - as contact with another car and a rare mechanical issue prevented representative results - Alberico is even more excited to be back in action and fight for the win in Indiana.
The former Team USA Scholarship winner enters the only 'circle track' race of the season full of confidence, thanks to a pair of impressive outings in official series testing.
In preparation for a busy summer run for the series title, the USF2000 Championship held a two-day test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and a one-day test at Lucas Oil Raceway. Alberico, as many expected, was at the pointy end of the timecharts during both tests. In Ohio, the No. 2 Racelite Protection/Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/eFormulaCarNews.com/J&M Trophies/OMP America/Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing pilot overcame tricky off and on rain to post the quickest overall time, but more importantly gathered lots of valuable information and experience for when the series returns to the technical road course in early August for a rare tripleheader.
At the 0.686-mile oval, the former Bondurant Championship title winner put into practice information gained from the annual Mazda Road to Indy Oval Clinic one day prior to post the second best lap time in less than ideal cool conditions. Once again, while the fast time was impressive, both Alberico and the Cape Motorsports crew were more excited about the data and experience gained from the day's activities.
"Being fast is definitely a confidence builder for the team and I," stated the 20 year-old Alberico. "That being said, the most important thing we gained from the tests was the new information to take home with us and study for the upcoming events. I think all of us are well prepared for the upcoming races.
"I'm really looking forward to an awesome few days in Indy," added Alberico. "Racing during the Night Before the 500 on Saturday night, then going to the Speedway on Sunday to watch some friends race in the 500 is amazing. It doesn't get much better than that!"
The on-track action for Alberico at Lucas Oil Raceway commences on Friday (May 24), when the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda field conducts three event test sessions. The Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing title contender returns to action one day later (May 25), with two afternoon practice runs, prior to single-car qualifying at 4:10 pm local time. Round Five, the lone oval race on the 2013 series calendar, is slated to get underway under the lights at 7:40 pm local time as part of the famed Night Before the 500. Alberico enters the event as one of only two drivers to have visited victory lane in the opening four rounds. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx
Those interested in supporting this rising American racer are encouraged to contact Neil Alberico directly @ neil@neilalberico.comto 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.