MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – JDC MotorSports' four-car USF2000 contingent commenced its 2012 campaign recently (February 6-7 and February 11-12), with strong outings during the Cooper Tires Winterfest series tripleheaders at Sebring International Raceway and Palm Beach International Raceway. Focusing on driver and car development for the upcoming Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda, series rookies Neil Alberico, Scott Hargrove, Michael Johnson and Zac Silver made the most of their on-track sessions in Florida, showcasing their speed and racecraft behind the wheel via a front-row start, one podium finish, five top-fives, and 12 top-10s results.

While the goal of every up-and-coming driver in the Mazda Road to Indy program is to challenge for top honors at every event, the JDC MotorSports' USF2000 rookies approached the six-race Winterfest series as a tune-up learning exercise for the full 2012 USF2000 Championship campaign. With this goal in mind, the initial two-day event at the historic 3.7-mile Sebring road course featured plenty of interaction between the JDC racers and the talented mechanics and engineers under the team awning. Given only Johnson and Silver had raced at Sebring, and none of the foursome had previously contested a USF2000 event, the Sebring races proved extremely beneficial.

After a strong showing in what was a tricky wet qualifying session, the JDC racers, and the rest of the field, took the green flag for Round One under overcast skies. In what was a shortened 10-lap affair that ended in damp conditions, Hargrove (No. 38 Analytic Systems/Race Energy/Skip Barber Racing School/Red Line Oil)  ultimately led the JDC contingent, emerging from a multi-car fight for position, which included Silver, in seventh place. Silver (No. 93 California Scents/SeaDrill/FlatOutNation.com/ Red Line Oil) made it two JDC entries in the top-10, taking the checkered flag in ninth. Johnson (No. 54 Universal Coating/Coloplast/FlatOutNation.com/Red Line Oil) advanced five places in what was a four-lap green flag dash to the finish, crossing the stripe in 12th, while Alberico (No. 19 Kartel Motorsports/Bondurant School/RaceLite Protection/ Red Line Oil) challenged for a podium position, until late race contact sent him down the order to a 15th place result.

Day two at Sebring featured two more races, with the JDC racers determined to continue learning behind the wheel. The up-and-comers did just that, gathering both valuable experience and data en route to Hargrove and Alberico adding two more top-10s to the JDC record books in dry to wet conditions.

A mere four days later, the JDC MotorSports clan was back on-course just down the road at Palm Beach International Raceway. In what was the first-ever USF2000 visit to the Florida facility, the JDC rookies quickly got up to speed, while still remaining focused on prepping for the fast approaching start to the 2012 USF2000 Championship in mid-March.

Building on what was a superb qualifying run by Hargrove, who earned a front-row starting place with the second fastest time, two JDC cars were part of thrilling battle for second place in Round Four. In the end, Hargrove secured his inaugural pro F2000 podium finish with a third place result, just ahead of Alberico in fifth. Silver further added another top-10 result with a strong 10th place finish.

When the Winterfest action concluded one day later with the final two rounds, multiple JDC drivers were again part of the mix at the front of the field. Alberico was in contention for a podium position in both affairs, ultimately just missing out with a pair of fifth place results. Hargrove likewise was worth keeping on an eye on, coming home in ninth and sixth. Things however did not go according to plan for Johnson and Silver, with the paralyzed racer's steed coming to halt early in Round Five, and Silver not taking part in Round Six.

With a great deal of data and experience now in their notebooks, the JDC rookie foursome of Alberico, Hargrove, Johnson, and Silver are now ready to commence their pursuit of top honors in the 2012 USF2000 Championship.

The chase for Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda supremacy gets underway on March 15-16, with Rounds One and Two as part of the 60th annual 12 Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida event.

JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com.

Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jdcmotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075

Learn more about Neil Alberico at neilalberico.com.

Learn more about Scott Hargrove at scotthargrove.com.

Learn more about Michael Johnson at michaeljohnsonracing.com.

Learn more about Zac Silver at zacsilver.com.

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Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC MotorSports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC MotorSports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC MotorSports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC MotorSports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season of F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009. The following year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Phillippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. In 2011, the Minneapolis-based squad captured its third Star Mazda Championship title with Tristan Vautier, scored a win in the USF2000 National Championship, and made its Prototype Lites Championship debut, earning five podium finishes. JDC MotorSports will contest the Star Mazda Championship, USF2000 Championship and Prototype Lites Championship in 2012.