MANDARINO EARNS A FREE SEASON OF RACING AS JIM RUSSELL GRADUATE RUNOFFS CHAMPION
SONOMA, CA. - The speed and consistency of Lorenzo Mandarino earned him overall honors in the 2002 Jim Russell Graduate Runoffs presented by RACER Magazine and Yokohama Tires Dec. 3-8. Mandarino took home the Jim Russell/ RACER Trophy by proving to be the most promising talent among the twelve finalists in this subjective competition and will race for free in the 2003 USAC Formula Russell Championship.
Of the 60 entrants, 26 advanced to the Sunday finals where a dozen drivers were chosen to run two final sessions on different configurations of Infineon Raceway to determine the podium spots. Ever driver was evaluated on factors including consistency, improvement, and outright speed. These were weighed against their amount of karting and open-wheel racing experience throughout the competition.
Eight judges observed the drivers during the Sunday finals. John Zimmermann, Editor at Large for RACER Magazine, joined Jeremy Shaw, broadcast journalist and Team USA Scholarship founder with Lynx Racing team manager Steve Cameron and CART Champ Car driver Memo Gidley in assisting Jim Russell instructors Mark Wolocatiuk, Ric McCormick, and John Knoedler in making the hard choices. Also assisting in judging duties was Jason Kritikos, newly crowned champion of the 2002 USAC Formula Russell Championship. Kritikos was a finalist in last year’s Graduate Runoffs.
Mandarino will race all 17 rounds of the USAC Formula Russell Championship for free next year with an eye towards that title prize which would earn him two free races in the 2004 FF2000 Zetec Championship pro series. Mandarino started racing karts at the age of 8 and has run extensively in the SKUSA series over the last three seasons. He also earned the first ever ICC track championship at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center.
Second spot in the Jim Russell Graduate Runoffs went to David Whitelaw who receives a scholarship for eight free races next season. The final podium spot and four free races next year went to Kris Shaw. Although not one of the finalists, Jerry Anderson earned a free season as well as the top driver over the age of 40.
The nine drivers who made the final cut but didn't earn a spot on the podium will each receive two races in next year’s USAC Formula Russell Championship. They are:
-Alexandre Albiero
-Erik Bartolero
-Nick Bussell
-Miguel Grillo
-Shane Howe
-Scott Meadow
-Brett Monetti
-Alex Navejar
-Pieter Rossi
About Jim Russell Racing Drivers School
For more than four decades, the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School has been dedicated to teaching true racing techniques to professional drivers and people looking for the experience of a lifetime. The school offers professional auto racing instruction, more seat time and the most powerful, well-maintained race cars of any driving school. The school, based in Sonoma, Calif., is located at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway), known as the best teaching track in the country.
The Jim Russell Graduate Runoffs offers racing scholarships to drivers that have completed the Techniques of Racing Course and/or the Advanced Racing Course and have less than a year of open-wheel competition. The 2003 USAC Formula Russell Championship begins Feb. 13 and runs monthly (except August) through Nov. with two races per weekend. Season prizes in addition to the overall include Masters (ages 40 and up) and Grand Masters (ages 50 and up).
Kjell Kallman
Vice President and General Manager
Jim Russell Racing Drivers School
800-733-0345
www.jimrussellusa.com
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