USF2000 race winner graduates up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder with former team
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing is pleased to announce that USF2000 vice-champion Jake Eidson has joined the team to compete in the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Eidson, 20, will drive the No. 3 Rising Star Racing Pro Mazda and will be gunning for Rookie of the Year and, ultimately, the series championship. Eidson is working his way up the Mazda Road To Indy ladder and has been the model of talent and consistency. He has two years of USF2000 racing on his resume, which includes six wins and an amazing 25 top-five finishes in 30 starts. The impressive American has finished just one race outside the top-10 in two years of MRTI competition.
“I'm extremely grateful and excited to enter my first season of Pro Mazda and to rejoin Cape Motorsport with Wayne Taylor Racing,” Eidson offered. “After finishing second in last year’s USF2000 championship, we weren't sure if moving up to Pro Mazda was possible. When the season was over, we tested with the Capes and quickly knew that they have a winning team. Fortunately, we were able to make the 2016 season achievable. I know that my goal, as well as the team's goal, is to aim for the top spot in the Pro Mazda championship and I have a lot of confidence in their ability to make it happen. This is a dream come true and I can't wait to get started!"
Eidson, from Littleton, Colorado, drove for Cape Motorsports in 2013 and 2014, winning the F1600 Championship in his first year with the veteran operation. In his USF2000 debut season with the team in 2014, he finished third in the overall standings on the strength of two wins (Toronto and Mid-Ohio) and posted 10 top-five finishes. This past year, Eidson was embroiled in a thrilling battle throughout the season for the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda title, going head-to-head with Cape drivers Nico Jamin and Aaron Telitz for the crown. In the end, Eidson accumulated four race wins, two pole positions, 14 podiums, and 15 top-five finishes on his way to finishing second overall in the championship.
“We’re really excited to have Jake back as part of our 2016 Pro Mazda campaign,” said team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape. “He won a championship with us in 2013, and in 2014 he had a great rookie season finishing third in USF2000, and to be honest, it was really hard racing against Jake last season. He ran us all the way down to the wire. We know he can win races in 2016. For our team to secure the top two 2015 USF2000 Championship finishers really forms a strong lineup for our Pro Mazda squad in 2016.”
Eidson is supported in his efforts by Rising Star Racing, DA Lubricants Company, Bell Helmets, OMP, Team USA Scholarship, and SafeisFast. The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season starts on March 11-13 at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida.
For more information on Cape Motorsports, please visit www.capemotorsports.com.