Milwaukee, Wis. – As both the Pro Mazda Championship and Verizon IndyCar Series enter the final stretch of their seasons, Rising Star Racing drivers Spencer Pigot, Neil Alberico and Josef Newgarden head to Milwaukee this weekend looking to make a strong close to the 2014 season.
With just three weekends left in Verizon IndyCar Series competition, and two rounds (Milwaukee and Sonoma) remaining in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, the visit to Milwaukee kicks off a furious run to the end of the year.
Leading the Pro Mazda championship, Pigot will arrive at the tight 1-mile Milwaukee Mile with plenty of positive momentum to help push him to another oval podium. Last weekend, Pigot scored a commanding IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada victory with a run to the checkered flag at Trois-Rivieres. He now heads back to Pro Mazda competition looking to further solidify his lead on the championship with another positive result this weekend.
Fellow Pro Mazda competitor Alberico has made a splash in his rookie season with his Cape Motorsports with WTR squad, scoring three podiums and finishing healthily inside of the top-10 in all but one race. He heads into the race weekend sitting third overall in the championship with his sights set on making even more progress.
And when it comes to momentum, Newgarden is on his own roll. After a breakthrough podium-worthy weekend at Mid-Ohio, the Sarah Fisher Hartman pilot kept himself busy in the short break between Verizon IndyCar Series races, also bringing Rising Star Racing a winning weekend as he scored a victory in the SCCA Summer Speedfest Formula F 45th Anniversary feature race at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend.
With a history that is synonymous with the sport, the tight quarters and 9-degree banking of the historic oval on the grounds of the Milwaukee State Fairgrounds can make for a busy race, with car set up a premium item on the way to a fast and consistent run.
“It’s a deceivingly tricky place to race,” said Pigot, who has one previous start around the oval. “I think we have a good oval set up and I’m confident in my team. I’m ready to be back racing and hunting down another solid finish for Rising Star Racing. Both Neil (Alberico) and I are eager to get going this weekend. Milwaukee will make for some great racing.”
Following a test day on Friday, Pigot and Alberico will have a packed day on Saturday with just two practices ahead of qualifying at 2:45 PM (CT) and the race shortly thereafter at 6:30 PM (CT). Newgarden will also have two practices to dial in his No. 67 Honda racing machine before he qualifies at 6:00 PM (CT) Saturday night.
The 250-lap Verizon IndyCar ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 is set to go green at 2:45 PM (CT) on Sunday. LIVE coverage of the event starts at 2:00 PM (CT) on NBC Sports Network.