Patrick Gallagher
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Patrick Gallagher, 17, Thornville, Ohio
Current Season: Gallagher has spent the 2010 season racing with the Sports Car Club of America. He has been competing in both a Formula 500 and Formula Enterprises car. The highlight of the year came in June, when the 17-year-old won the Chicago Region June Sprints aboard a F500 at Road America. Additionally, he has a win in Formula E and seven wins in F500 on the year.
Previous Experience:
- Karting
- Quarter Midgets
- F500 (June Sprints Champion)
- Formula E (SCCA)
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Gallagher has flown under the radar of many, but has done a fine job transitioning to cars through the SCCA, racing in both a F500 and a Formula E race car. His race craft has developed nicely and he’s very adept at jumping into different cars. The Team USA scholarship will be an excellent opportunity for him to display his skills.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Miles Maroney
Miles Maroney, 16, Topanga Canyon, Calif.
Current Season: Maroney is currently racing in the Pacific F2000 series on the West Coast. He is second in the drivers’ championship with two rounds remaining on the 2010 calendar. In eight races, he has a win, four podiums, and six top-five finishes. He leads the rookie standings.
Previous Experience:
- Karting (multi-time national champion)
- Skip Barber Racing School
- Formula BMW test
- Pacific F2000 Championship
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Maroney, a former Stars of Karting cadet champion, is widely known in the karting ranks. With 2010 being his first full-season in cars, he has done exceptionally well. The fact that he’s transitioned so nicely says a lot about his ability to adapt to various vehicles and conditions. That skill will serve him well in both the Bondurant evaluation and in Europe if he’s chosen to drive for Team USA. Additionally, his karting experience has helped him understand the importance of qualifying well and surviving heat races in order to obtain a good starting position in the final — that knowledge and understanding will be absolutely vital in order to achieve success in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
- Jonathan Scarallo
(Photo: Janice Eakin)
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Jonathan Scarallo, 18, Hauppauge, N.Y.
Current Season: Scarallo is in the middle of a breakthrough season. The 18-year-old New York native recently scored his first win in the competitive F2000 Championship Series at Road America. In 10 races this year, he has finished inside the top-ten in five events. In addition to his F2000 racing, he is actively involved in a F1000 testing program.
Previous Experience:
- Karting
- Bertil Roos FF2000 cars (2008 Champion)
- World Challenge GT Pontiac GTO Test
- F1000 testing
- F2000 Championship
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Scarallo has put in a lot of hard work this season, both on-and-off the track, and it has shown in his results. He has plenty of open-wheel experience and his time in the World Challenge GTO car should help him during the evaluation in the Bondurant Corvettes. After watching some of his recent onboard shots, I was really impressed with his “slow hands” and smooth throttle application. Both of those skills will be incredibly important in the ultra-sensitive Formula Ford cars the drivers will be piloting in Europe.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
Arie Ouimet
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Arie Ouimet, 19, Plymouth, Mass.
Current Season: Ouimet is currently competing full-time in both the Championship Karting International KF2 division and the VW Jetta TDI Cup. In KF2, he swept the opening weekend at New Castle Motorsports Park, while setting the fast time in both finals. In addition to his karting endeavors, he’s maintaining a full schedule in the VW Jetta TDI Cup, where he is second in the overall championship. He has one pole position and three top-five finishes this season in the TDI Cup, including two podiums (NJMP and Mid-Ohio).
Previous Experience:
- Karting
- VW Jetta TDI Cup
- Skip Barber 2 & 3-Day Racing School
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Ouimet is a standout in the karting ranks, thanks in large part to his incredibly smooth driving. His style will translate well in the Formula Ford ranks if chosen to compete in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy. With limited open-wheel experience under his belt, he will have to impress the judges at the Bondurant shoot-out with his ability to adapt to a new car. He would be a fine addition to this year’s Team USA squad.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
Ashley Freiberg
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Ashley Freiberg, 18, – Homer Glen, Ill.
Current Season: Freiberg is currently enrolled in her second full-season of Skip Barber National racing. Following post-race penalties at New Jersey Motorsports Park, she was announced the overall winner, and with that, the first female to win a SBN race. Landing on the podium eight times, so far, she’s finished inside the top-five in 67% of her race starts. In addition to her national endeavors, she also won the Skip Barber Southern Regional Series in 2010.
Previous Experience:
- Karting
- Skip Barber Regional
- SCCA Formula Mazda
- Formula Mazda Winter Series
- Skip Barber National
- Star Mazda Championship
Why She Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Freiberg is only the second female to be nominated for the prestigious Team USA Scholarship. The first was Danica Patrick. She considered jumping to Star Mazda full-time in 2010, but with limited funding decided to return for another year of SBN competition. A wise move. She’s gotten her name out there this season and still managed to sneak in a few Star Mazda events for experience. She’s logged a ton of seat time and knows how the draft works. If she’s a chosen recipient this year, the skills she’s developed will be of great help. Additionally, her seat time in various Formula Mazda cars should help her tremendously at the Bondurant evaluation.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
- Neil Alberico
(Photo: Bondurant.com)
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Neil Alberico, 17, – Los Gatos, Calif.
Current Season: Neil won the 2010 Bondurant Race Series Championship this spring, winning 10 of 16 races. This summer he has been busy racing go-karts with Championship Karting International in the TaG Sr. Division. He is currently 2nd overall, trailing Taylor Miinch by a mere nine points. Alberico swept the first three races of the season, while setting the fast time in the first event of the year. Through six races, he has three wins and five top-5 finishes.
Previous Experience:
- Karting
- Formula Car Challenge (PFM)
- Bondurant Race Series Champion (FM)
- Upcoming Daytona Prototype test
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Alberico has developed into a top driver in the karting ranks and last winter he proved it translates to cars. I believe if he’s given an opportunity to move up in motorsports, he will be a driver to watch for years to come. The Team USA Scholarship would be an excellent opportunity for him and his experience in the Bondurant cars should help him during the evaluation process.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
- Felix Serralles
(Photo: Kelly Brouillet)
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Felix Serralles, 17, – Haines City, Fla.
Current Season: Serralles shared top-honors with Pigot in the 2009-10 Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-Out, having won a fully-funded ride in the Skip Barber National Championship. This season has been one of mixed fortunes for the 17-year-old. He’s won two races this season, including the most recent stop at Road America (Round 12). Additionally, he’s finished inside the top-3 in 50% of his SBN starts. He’s currently runner-up in rookie standings and third overall heading to Road Atlanta.
Previous Experience:
- Karting
- (2009) Partial season in Skip Barber National
- F2000 Championship (one-off at LRP)
- USF2000 National Championship (one-off at Road America)
- Grand-Am SCC (3 races)
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Serralles has done an excellent job diversifying his car experience this season by competing in the various series noted above. But, more importantly, in doing so he hasn’t lost focus in the Skip Barber National Championship, his funded ride from MazdaSPEED. He has done a nice job stepping into new cars this year and that experience will help him in Europe if he’s chosen.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
- Spencer Pigot
(Photo: Kelly Brouillet)
2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominee
Spencer Pigot, 16, – Windermere, Fla.
Current Season: In his first full-season of national level car racing, Pigot has been incredibly strong in the Skip Barber National Championship. He has won two races and finished inside the top-three in an astounding 91.7% of the events through 12-Rounds. He is currently leading the overall championship by 20-points.
Previous Experience:
- Karting – Multi-time national champion
- (2009)-Skip Barber Regional and Summer Series
- (2009)- SCCA 13-hour endurance race at VIR (1st in class)
- 2009-10 Karting Skip Barber Scholarship winner
- (2010) Ontario Formula Ford Championship (1st place in debut race)
Why He Would Be A Good Selection for the Team USA Scholarship: Pigot has been a front-runner in go-karts for several years now and his ability behind the wheel of a race car is astounding. He’s taken his time developing his craft in the karting ranks and if he’s given the opportunity to showcase his race car skills in Europe… he won’t disappoint. Additionally, he’s known for his ability to adapt to new cars quickly which is an invaluable trait for up-and-coming drivers. Consider him one of the favorites for the overall prize.
Related Reading: 2010 Team USA Scholarship Nominees
Jeremy Shaw, founder of the Team USA Scholarship, announced the names of eight nominees for the prestigious scholarship last weekend at Road America.
Following interviews and evaluation at the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, two drivers will be selected to take part in the ultra-competitive Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy in England.
Over the next few days, I will write a brief post on each individual driver in order to introduce you to each. The average age of the nominees in 2010 is 17.25 years of age. Update: Team USA introductions are linked to each individual’s name above. Enjoy.
You can read the official release here.
Related Reading: Team USA Scholarship
Four Team USA Scholarship recipients will head to England next week for a charity karting event. Patrick Barrett, Josef Newgarden, Connor De Phillippi and Conor Daly will all take part in the event to raise money for Malaria No More UK.
The event will be hosted by David Brabham (reigning ALMS LMP1 champion) and will feature several top drivers from around the globe.
It’s great to see today’s up-and-coming stars participating in a charity event alongside some of the world’s best drivers in an effort to help end malaria.
You can read the official release here.
