2011 - Neil Alberico - (Born October 7, 1992; hometown Los Gatos, Calif.) Began karting at age 10, claiming numerous wins and championships at the local and regional levels before hooking up with 2000 Team USA Scholarship winner Joey Hand's Kartel Motorsports team. Then dovetailed continued success in karts with a move into cars which included an impressive run to the 2010 Bondurant Racing Championship. After visiting the Walter Hayes Trophy race at Silverstone, Neil decided his future lay in Europe. He has shown well as a rookie in this year's MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with Cliff Dempsey Racing, and clinched his Team USA Scholarship berth with a strong performance in a shootout aboard a Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing FF car at Andersen RacePark in Florida..
2011 - Trent Hindman - (Born September 20, 1995; lives: Wayside, N.J.) Trent has been racing karts since age 8 and has amassed numerous race wins and championships at all levels. He made the move into cars into early 2009, at the tender age of 13, and before long was notching up podium finishes in the Skip Barber Regional Race Series. He followed in the footsteps of Team USA Scholarship winners Connor De Phillippi and Spencer Pigot by winning the Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship Shootout in December 2010. As a fully fledged MAZDASPEED Development Driver, Trent has been a front-runner in the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National series, and has reaped further success in Canadian Formula Ford 1600 competition, including a wet-weather victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
2010/2011 - Spencer Pigot - (Born September 29, 1993; lives: Windermere, Fla.) After an outstanding career in karting which began at age 8, Spencer won the Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship in 2009. His prize was a fully funded ride in the 2010 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda as an official MAZDASPEED Development Driver. He duly clinched the championship, earning both a fully funded progression into the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and a Team USA Scholarship, which he used to take pole and fastest lap at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. A strong 2011 season with three wins and second overall in the USF2000 title-chase with Andretti Autosport earned him an opportunity to return to England, this time to drive a Duratec FF car.
2010 - Felix Serralles - (Born June 24, 1992; lives: Haines City, Fla.) Felix began karting in his native Puerto Rico in 2001 and quickly realized he wanted to become a race car driver. He achieved success in Caribbean events but was prevented from competing between 2005 and 2007 due to low grades in school. Felix instead asked his father if he could transfer to a boarding school so he could focus on his studies and earn an opportunity to return to the race tracks. He duly graduated early, then enrolled at the Skip Barber Racing School. Like Pigot, won a Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship in 2009 and finished third in the 2010 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda as an official MAZDASPEED Development Driver. Currently comprting in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup.
2009 - Connor De Phillippi - (Born December 25, 1992; lives San Clemente, Calif.) After starting in go-karts at age 5, Connor won many championships in IKF, WKA and SKUSA and was chosen to represent the United States in the Granja Viana 500 go-kart race in Brazil in 2007. Victory in the Skip Barber National Shootout earned him a full ride in the National Series for 2008 as part of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Program. Connor finished sixth in the National Series and won the Skip Barber West Coast Regional Championship, plus top rookie honors, after which he was voted E-Karting News Rising Star of the Year. Won the Legends Silver State Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda title in 2009 to earn a Team USA Scholarship. Beat Conor Daly's mark by becoming the youngest ever winner of the Walter Hayes Trophy. Won Rookie of the Year honors and placed third overall in the 2010 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear, and claimed second in 2011.
2009 - Brett Smrz - (Born February 28, 1991; lives in Burbank, Calif.) Brett started racing at the age of 12 after his parents bought him a go-kart for Christmas. Brett won multiple national championships before moving into the car racing world in 2007. One week after qualifying on pole and finishing third in his first-ever professional race, a round of the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Series in Houston, he suffered an off-track incident which resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee. Brett recovered from the accident remarkably quickly and resumed his racing career in the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, Jim Russell Championship Series and the BFGoodrich Presents the Skip Barber National Powered by Mazda. He won the Russell Championship Series in 2008 and 2009, and claimed a 2009 Skip Barber National victory at VIR. Drove a brilliant race in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, rising from 28th on the grid forthe Final after an incident in his semi-final race to finish third.
2008 - CONOR DALY - (Born December 15, 1991; lives Noblesville, Ind.) A second-generation racer following in the footsteps of father Derek who competed in Formula 1 and Indy Cars and won the Sebring 12 Hours sports car race on two occasions. After numerous successes in karting, the younger Daly won three Skip Barber Regional races in 2007 and went on to win the BFGoodrich Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda Series in 2008. He also won seven of 10 races in the Ontario Formula Ford 1600 Championship and claimed a pair of second-place finishes on his debut in the F2000 Championship Series at Mosport. Won the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone, England, in Team USA colors. Finished third in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear, and was a dominant winner of the 2010 title-chase, scoring a record seven victories and nine poles. Dovetailed impressive seasons in GP3 and Firestone Indy Lights in 2011.
2008 - JOSEF NEWGARDEN - (Born December 22, 1990; lives Hendersonville, Tenn., and Oxford, England.) The self-styled “Racer of Tomorrow” began competing in karts at age 13 and made the move into cars in 2007, finishing second in the Skip Barber Racing School Southern Series and winning Rookie of the Year honors. Josef also contested the Skip Barber National Series, claiming three poles, two race wins and finishing sixth in points. He finished second in the 2008 National series - to Conor Daly - securing a remarkable eight poles from 12 races and winning twice. Newgarden became the first American to win the presigious Formula Ford (Kent) Festival at Brands Hatch, England, for Team USA. He returned to England in 2009 and finished second in the MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain - and top- rookie - with a series high nine race wins. In 2010 he showed his paces in the GP3 Series, claiming the pole at Hockenheim in his first season of slicks-and-wings competition. Returned to the U.S. in 2011 and is on course to win the Firestone Indy Lights Championship.
2007 - PATRICK BARRETT - (Born August 30, 1989; lives Los Osos, Calif.) Dominated the 2006 SCCA Formula Russell Championship, based at Infineon Raceway, winning a record 12 races. Was an equally convincing winner of the 2007 Pacific F2000 Championship with six poles and eight victories during the 12-race season. Barrett represented the Team USA Scholarship in the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, earning a best finish of sixth at Snetterton and showing especially well in wet conditions at Brands Hatch. Made his sports car debut in 2008 during a partial campaign in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, guiding the PR1 Motorsports Pontiac GXP.R to an impressive fourth-place GT class finish in the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park.
2007 - JOEL MILLER - (Born May 10, 1988; lives Hesperia, Calif.) Multiple karting champion ranked regularly as the top ICA driver in North America. Scored a sensational debut victory in Pacific F2000 competition at California Speedway in February 2004, at age 15. Raced occasionally in Skip Barber National events while pursuing his karting career and, in 2007, after winning the Skip Barber/Snap-on Stars of Karting Scholarship, went on to claim the BFGoodrich Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda with five race wins. Represented the Team USA Scholarship in the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, finishing 10th in the final standings. In 2008 and '09, was a regular front-runner in the ultra-competitive Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear.
2006 - DANE CAMERON - (Born October 18, 1988; lives Sonoma, Calif.) Awarded a Team USA Scholarship after winning the 2005 Formula Russell Championship and finishing second (and top rookie) in the 2006 Cooper Tires FF2000 Championship. Promptly won the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy with four wins from six starts. Joined JDC Motorsports for the 2007 season and went on to win the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear on the strength of a series-high six poles and three race wins. His prize included a fully funded drive in the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. Was a consistent front-runner with the Genoa Racing team. Switched to the Rolex Sports Car Series for 2009, and has becoming a consistent front-runner for Mazda in the GT class.
2006 - ROBERT PODLESNI - (Born November 4, 1987; lives Thousand Oaks, Calif.) A convincing winner of the hotly contested 2006 Pacific F2000 Championship in just his second year of racing, he placed a strong fourth in the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy series in Team USA Scholarship colors. Served as a driver coach in 2007, after being unable to secure a full-time drive, but returned to the Pacific F2000 Championship in 2008 with Dave Freitas Racing aboard the Terminal Velocity Processing Van Diemen. Finished second in the final points table and went on to secure the championship for a second time in 2009.
2005 - J.R. HILDEBRAND - (Born January 3, 1988; from Sausalito, Calif.) Won the Formula Russell Championship in his first season of racing (‘04), then finished second in the 2005 Pacific F2000 Championship. After carrying the Scholarship colors to third in the 2005 Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, he dominated the 2006 Cooper Tires FF2000 series, scoring a record 12 wins and 10 poles during the 14-race season with the Cape Motorsports team. Placed seventh in the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series with Newman-Wachs Racing with a best finish of second at Cleveland. Finished fifth in the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Championship, winning one race while driving for the RLR-Andersen Racing Team. Went on to win the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Championship for AFS Andretti Green Racing. Made his IZOD IndyCar Series debut at Mid-Ohio and set fastest lap of the race in his second outing at Infineon Raceway. Joined Panther Racing for a full-time ride in 2011, finishing second in the Indianapolis 500.
2004 - SLADE MILLER - (Born March 18, 1986; lives Norman, Okla.) SCCA Formula Ford champion was out of luck while representing the Scholarship in NZ Formula Ford competition. Earned a best finish of second in the 2006 Cooper Tires FF2000 Championship. In 2007, concentrated on the USAC Midget series with his family-run Quantum Mechanics team.
2003 - RYAN MILLEN - (Born July 7, 1984; lives Newport Beach, Calif.) Took a pair of podiums in the New Zealand International Formula Ford Championship for Team USA – a good effort given his relative lack of experience. Has since competed in SCORE off-road competition. Also works full-time with the family-run MillenWerks concern which develops vehicles, high-performance parts and technology for racing, concept cars and the military.
2003 - CHARLIE KIMBALL - (Born February 20, 1985; from Camarillo, Calif.) Placed third in his rookie season of Formula Ford 2000 Zetec and went on to win the Talley’s New Zealand International Formula Ford Challenge for Team USA. Finished fourth in the ‘04 UK Formula Ford Championship and second (earning top rookie honors) in the prestigious 2005 British Formula 3 Championship. Graduated into the Euro F3 Series for 2006, winning once, and contested the 2007 World Series by Renault. For 2008, stepped back into the Euro F3 series with the Prema PowerTeam, finishing second on his debut at Hockenheim, before returning to North America to compete impressively in Firestone Indy Lights. Graduated to the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2011 with Chip Ganassi Racing.
2003 - JOE D’AGOSTINO - (Born March 18, 1985; from Plantation, Fla.) Took pole and finished second in his first New Zealand International Formula Ford race with Team USA, but then crashed heavily in the New Zealand Grand Prix and suffered a broken arm. He rebounded to win Scholarship Class honors in British Formula Ford in ‘04, and in 2006 competed in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship for the team owned by movie star/racer Paul Newman and former competitor Eddie Wachs.
2001 - A.J. ALLMENDINGER - (Born December 16, 1981; from Los Gatos, Calif.) A karting protege of Paul Tracy, Allmendinger took one pole and four top-four finishes in New Zealand Formula Ford competition with Team USA colors. The Californian went on to win the 2002 Barber Dodge Pro Series and the 2003 Toyota Atlantic Championship. Won Champ Car Rookie of the Year honors in ‘04, and finished third in the 2006 Champ Car series with five wins to his credit. Switched to the NASCAR Nextel Cup series with the brand-new Red Bull Toyota team for 2007. Finished third in the 2009 Daytona 500, driving for Richard Petty Motorsports.
2001 - BRYAN SELLERS - (Born September 19, 1982; lives Auburn, Ga.) Sellers seemed set to win the 2001/2002 New Zealand International Formula Ford Championship for Team USA, until his dream was shattered by a broken driveshaft on the final lap of the final race. Sellers bounced back to win the 2002 U.S. Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship and in 2004 finished a solid sixth as a rookie with LynxsRacing in Toyota Atlantic. Finished third in the GT class of the 2008 Rolex 24 Hours race at Daytona with Team TRG. Now a seasoned competitor in the hotly contested GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series, driving for the Falken Tire Porsche team. Claimed his first win at Mid-Ohio in 2011.
2000 - JOEY HAND - (Born February 10, 1979; lives Sacramento, Calif.) Another former karting star and dominant winner of the 1999 Star Mazda Series, Hand’s career was given a lifeline after securing a Team USA Scholarship place. Hand finished fifth in the FPA Winter Series and parlayed that drive into a Toyota Atlantic drive with DSTP Motorsports. He claimed top rookie honors in ‘01 with two wins and six podium visits. After a couple of years driving for Team PTG in ALMS competition, he contested the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season with Alex Job's Ruby Tuesday's Championship Racing team before switching to BMW Rahal Letterman Racing to contest the GT2 category of the American Le Mans Series. Played an integral role in securing both the team and manufacturer championships in 2010. Went one better in 2011 as he also secured the coveted ALMS GT drivers' championship. Also won the 2009 Daytona 24 Hours with Brumos Racing.
2000 - PHIL GIEBLER - (Born March 5, 1980; lives Huntington Beach, Calif.) Giebler maintained the Team USA Scholarship’s stranglehold on the Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series by winning the final race at Brands Hatch and clinching the title. He also earned two more podium finishes. A former karting star and graduate of the Elf-Campus series and Formula 3 in France, Giebler impressed in the 2003 Formula 3000 Championship despite a minimalist budget. Has represented Team USA in the A1 Grand Prix of Nations. Won 2007 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award.
1999 - JEFF SIMMONS - (Born August 5, 1976; from E. Granby, Conn.) The two-time Barber Dodge Pro Series champion from E. Granby, Conn., placed eighth in the Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series in Team USA Scholarship colors and drove for Team KOOL Green in the Y2K CART Dayton Indy Lights Championship. After two years out of the cockpit, Simmons returned to the Infiniti Pro Series in 2003, placing second overall with two wins to his credit. Drove partial seasons in 2006 and 2007 for Rahal Letterman Racing in the IndyCar Series.
1999 - ANDY LALLY - (Born February 11, 1975; lives Dacula, Ga.) Finished fifth in the 1999 Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series for Team USA with three top-six finishes. After competing impressively in F2000, Lally, from Long Island, N.Y., won the 2001 Grand-Am SR2 Championship and displayed his versatility in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, the Grand-Am Cup, Rolex sports cars and ALMS competition. Has won two Rolex GT class championships and currently competes in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the American Le Mans Series GT Challenge class for TRG. Now a NASCAR Sprint Cup series regular with TRG.
1998/9 - PAUL EDWARDS - (Born January 11, 1978; lives Ft. Collins, Colo.) From Santa Maria, Calif., Edwards won the EFDA Formula Opel Winter Series Championship for Team USA in ’98 and the Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series in ’99, then graduated into the British Formula 3 Championship, earning one pole and a podium in an impressive partial season in ‘01. Earned a place on the Red Bull Junior Team following a shootout and went on to contest the ‘03 World Series by Nissan. Moved back to the U.S. in 2005 and has since been a regular front-runner in Grand-Am competition. Won the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 GT championship in 2008 with Banner Racing’s factory-backed Pontiac GXP.R.
1997 - MATT SIELSKY - (Born February 12, 1978; from Northbrook, Ill.) The Chicago area native snared a pair of top-10 finishes for Team USA in the Nations Cup, alongside Rice, and later was part of the Team KOOL Green Academy which enabled him to graduate into Toyota Atlantic before unfortunately slipping off the radar screen.
1997 - BUDDY RICE - (Born January 31, 1976; lives Phoenix, Ariz.) After ensuring a fifth-place finish for Team USA in the Formula Opel Nations Cup at Donington, Rice was awarded the LynxsRacing Scholarship to race in Toyota Atlantic. He joined DSTP Motorsports for the Y2K campaign and was a dominant champion. After sitting out the 2001 season, Rice made his IRL IndyCar debut at Michigan in 2002, placing second. Won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 for Rahal Letterman Racing. Now drives full time in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. Won the 2009 Daytona 24 Hours with Brumos Racing and now drives for the Spirit of Daytona team.
1996 - TONY RENNA - (Born November 23, 1976; from Deland, Fla.; died October 22, 2003) Joined Nadeau in winning a Silver Medal for Team USA in the Formula Opel Nations Cup. He raced and won in the Barber Dodge Pro Series and Indy Lights before making his IRL debut in 2002 with Kelley Racing. Renna finished a strong seventh on his Indy 500 debut in ‘03, but shortly after being snapped up by Target Chip Ganassi Racing, tragically lost his life in an accident while testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October ‘03.
1995 - MEMO GIDLEY - (Born September 29, 1971; lives Novato, Calif.) Finished 11th in an international Formula 3 race at Donington Park, England, sporting Team USA Scholarship colors. Gidley graduated through karts, F2000, the Barber Dodge Pro Series and Toyota Atlantic before making his Champ Car debut in ’99. Earned three podium finishes. The Californian has since evolved into a successful sports car racer, earning several successes for Doran Racing in the Daytona Prototype class of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. Will drive a Mazda RX-8 for Team Sahlen in 2011. The versatile Gidley also competes successfully as a Muscle Milk Extreme Athlete in the DJSA Outlaw jet-ski series.
1994 - CLAY COLLIER - (Born 1975; from Ft. Worth, Texas) Won the 1994 USAC Formula Ford 2000 Championship. Retired from racing (at the age of 21) soon after representing Team USA in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England, although did make one appearance in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, at South Boston Speedway, in 2002.
1994 - MIKE BORKOWSKI - (Born May 6, 1973; lives Miami, Fla.) Won the 1994 SCCA American Continental (F2000) Championship. After representing Team USA in the Formula Ford Festival, Borkowski placed 12th in the ’95 Indy Lights series and was SCCA Trans-Am Rookie of the Year in ’96. Finished second in the 2003 Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series, sharing three wins with David Donohue. More recently has contested occasional events in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.
1993/6 - JERRY NADEAU - (Born September 9, 1970; lives Charlotte, N.C.) Nadeau equaled the best-to-date finish (fourth) by an American driver in the ’93 Formula Ford Festival and later, with Tony Renna, guided Team USA to a Silver Medal finish in the ’96 Nations Cup. He made his NASCAR debut in ’97 and, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, claimed his maiden victory in Atlanta in 2000. He has not raced since suffering a serious head injury at Richmond in 2003.
1992 - TONY AVE - (Born November 10, 1971; lives Indianapolis, Ind.) The Wisconsin native competed alongside Lewis in the Formula Ford Festival and later showed his capabilities in a variety of categories, including Toyota Atlantic, Trans-Am, ALMS and even USAC midgets. Ave returned to the Toyota Atlantic series in 2001 with P-1 Racing, winning once. Is now the proprietor of Tony Ave Racing, a full-service motorsports business. Clinched the 2010 SCCA Trans-Am Championship with a self-built and prepared Chevrolet Corvette. Repeated the feat in 2011.
1992 - ASHTON LEWIS - (Born January 22, 1972; from Chesapeake, Va.) After excelling in the Zerex Barber Saab Pro Series, the Virginian finished 15th for Team USA in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Lewis became a regular in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Championship, earning a career-best eighth-place finish in the 2004 title-chase with his family-run team.
1991 - BRYAN HERTA - (Born May 23, 1970; lives Valencia, Calif.) Driving a year-old Reynard, the Californian finished 11th for Team USA in the Formula Ford Festival Final. Herta won the '93 PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship with Tasman Motorsports Group and moved up to the CART ranks in ’94. He went on to claim seven Champ Car poles and two wins. Also scored his maiden IRL IndyCar victory at Kansas in 2003 with Andretti Green Racing and won most recently at Michigan in ‘05. Spearheaded AGR's entry into the 2008 American Le Mans Series with the XM Satellite Radio Acura ARX-01b. Made the move to team ownership in 2009, forming Bryan Herta Autosport in partnership with experienced race engineer Steve Newey. After starting in Firestone Indy Lights, BHA scored a sensational victory with Dan Wheldon in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
1990 - JIMMY VASSER - (Born November 20, 1965; lives Las Vegas, Nev.) After competing in the British Formula Ford Festival for Team USA, Vasser placed second in the ’91 Toyota Atlantic Championship, then graduated into the Champ Car ranks. He joined Target/Chip Ganassi Racing in ’95 and won the championship in '96. Vasser compiled 10 career Champ Car wins and nine poles from 232 starts, including a record 211 consecutive races from 1993 to 2006. He is now part-owner of the KV Racing Technology IndyCar Series team and drives occasionally for GAINSCO Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.
