Eidson Wins Team USA Scholarship
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (September 17, 2013) – After a hard-fought shootout among six talented candidates, young Americans Joey Bickers and 2013 F1600 Formula F Champion Jake Eidson have been selected to carry the patriotic red-white-and-blue colors of the Team USA Scholarship in two prestigious end-of-season Formula Ford events in England.
The pair will follow in the footsteps of an illustrious group of former scholarship winners including Jimmy Vasser, who was the inaugural recipient in 1990, Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice, Andy Lally, Joey Hand, A.J. Allmendinger, Charlie Kimball, J.R. Hildebrand, Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, Spencer Pigot and Matthew Brabham.
Bickers, 21, from Moorpark, Calif., a front-runner in this year’s Pacific F1600 Series in his very first season of racing, and Eidson (pronounced “EDD-sun”), 18, from Littleton, Colo., who was recently crowned champion of the East Coast-based F1600 Championship Series, will travel to England in October to begin preparations for the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch on October 26-27 and the following weekend’s Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone on November 2-3. The pair will drive race-winning Ray GR08 Formula Ford cars prepared by Cliff Dempsey Racing.
“Words cannot explain how honored I am to be given this opportunity,” said Bickers. “Since the start of my racing career, my number one goal has been to learn as quickly as I can. Going to England as a part of the Team USA Scholarship, I am sure that I will continue to learn many valuable lessons about professional racing both on and off the track.
“It means so much to join a long list of successful graduates such as Jimmy Vasser and Bryan Herta. I am very excited, and ready to give my maximum effort on and off track, and carry on the prestige of the Team USA Scholarship.”
“Being selected as a Team USA Scholarship driver is a dream come true, especially knowing the number of successful drivers who have come through this program in the past,” added Eidson, a proven winner who also has three Skip Barber Racing Championships under his belt. “Having the opportunity to be in the same position as they were in their early racing careers is an incredible honor. Last year I was able to compete in England with Cliff Dempsey Racing where I gained a great amount of additional knowledge and plan to apply that to the Team USA Scholarship. I want to thank Jeremy Shaw, the RRDC, SAFEisFAST, all the supporters of the Team USA Scholarship, and everyone involved in the selection process for making this possible.”
About Team USA Scholarship:
The program has been providing opportunities for talented young American race car drivers since its formation in 1990. Candidates must be at least 16 of age and have excelled both in and out of the race car. The Team USA Scholarship is supported by a range of companies and individuals, including: Doug Mockett & Company, the Road Racing Drivers Club and its ground-breaking www.SAFEisFAST.com video tutorial initiative, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Mazda, David Heinemeier Hansson, Level 5 Motorsports, Honda Performance Development, NameSilo, Silicon Salvage, JAY Motorsports, McMurry Inc., Andersen Promotions, Parathyroid.com, Dyson Racing, Pelfrey Performance, Robertson Racing, PitFit Training, Sparco USA, RACER Magazine, eFormulaCarNews.com, Speedstar Management, Styled Aesthetic and Manifest Group as well as numerous past Scholarship winners.
About Joey Bickers:
Aged 21; lives Moorpark, Calif., where he's a Business Major at Moorpark College. After competing in motocross events from age 12, Bickers discovered a new passion after obtaining his driver’s permit in 2010 and began building his own off-road truck to drive near his home in Southern California. He attended the Jim Hall Karting Racing School in Oxnard, Calif., in late 2011 and began racing in the Los Angeles Karting Championship in 2012. After claiming Rookie of the Year honors, Bickers graduated this year to cars in the Pacific F1600 Series with PR1 Motorsports and was immediately a front-runner. He is also a leading contender in the Teen Mazda Challenge West driving an SCCA Spec Miata. More at http://joeybickersracing.com/
About Jake Eidson:
Aged 18; from Littleton, Colo. Eidson (pronounced EDD-sun) began karting at age 11. He achieved some success at the regional level, then attended the Skip Barber Racing School in 2010. Eidson finished fourth and claimed Rookie of the Year honors in the 2010/2011 Skip Barber Racing Winter Western Series, won the following year’s Winter Series, then added the 2012 Summer Series and 2012/2013 Winter Series to his burgeoning resume. He contested the first four Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda races in 2013 before concentrating on the East Coast-based F1600 Championship Series with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Eidson clinched the title with seven wins and five poles. More at http://www.jakeeidsonracing.com/