Indianapolis, Ind. – All three Rising Star Racing drivers will be back in action this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as the Verizon IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy stages a big weekend of racing at the natural terrain Ohio road course. With double-header events slated for the Mazda Road to Indy competitors followed by the Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio, racing fans will enjoy seven race events at the 2.258-mile circuit.
Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tires driver Neil Alberico, Indy Lights racer Spencer Pigot, and Verizon IndyCar Series pilot Josef Newgarden all make the transition from oval racing back to road course racing following a string of oval races over the past month.
With its elevation changes and diverse set of corners, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a driver-favorite and the Rising Star racers are looking for the same road course magic of when the Rising Star trio each claimed victory at Barber Motorsports Park earlier this year in what was a big weekend for the organization.
Alberico remains a championship contender heading into the Mid-Ohio round, just 33 points behind the leader and third in the standings. He recently tested at the track with his Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing team and feels confident heading into the weekend.
“Mid-Ohio is a fantastic track that has been good to me in the past,” said Alberico. “We had great pace at the series test last month and we are going to do our best to pick up where we left off. We are heading into the last few races of the season now and you can be sure we are going to be pushing harder than ever.”
Likewise, Pigot has scored three top-five results at Mid-Ohio in Pro Mazda and is eager to return to the track, this time in Indy Lights competition with the new IL-15.
“I'm very excited to get back to Mid-Ohio,” said Pigot, who drives for Juncos Racing. “It's one of my favorite tracks and in the new IL-15 I'm sure it will be amazing. We have had a few tough races recently so hopefully we can turn things around and gain some points back in the championship this weekend.”
Pigot is second in the Indy Lights championship, just 18 points adrift of the championship leader.
Newgarden, has delivered his best IndyCar season to date this year with CFH Racing and is looking forward to continuing that positive momentum in this weekend’s Honda 200. Last year at Mid-Ohio, Newgarden nearly broke through for his first IndyCar victory after starting on the front row and running at the front the entire race. A pit equipment infraction saw Newgarden have to make a drive through penalty late in the race and he finished 12th. Newgarden is seeking redemption on Sunday.
“Mid-Ohio is going to be a fun weekend to get back in the mix,” said Newgarden. “It’s been a little while since we have been on a road course track. Mid-Ohio is one of the best; it’s truly one of the greatest tracks in North America. We had a strong event there last year so we should be able to put really good racecars on the track this year. It will be interesting to see who gets up to speed quickest after coming off such a long stretch of oval races. I have a tremendous amount of confidence in our group and we should be able to hit the ground running."
The three-day race event kicks off on Friday, July 31. The Honda 200 will air LIVE on CNBC Sunday, August 2 at 1:30 PM ET.
Follow the Mazda Road to Indy events on the Road to Indy TV app which features live commentary or atracecontrol.indycar.com.
Rising Star Racing thanks our loyal sponsors and partners MOBÉ, D-A Lubricant Company, cmcglobal, the Epilepsy Foundation, and Barnes & Thornburg.