Happy 4th of July from Rising Star Racing

Rising Star Racing's Josef Newgarden has collected two Verizon IndyCar Series wins in 2015

Indianapolis, Ind. (3 July 2015) – Happy 4th of July from Rising Star Racing!

As the nation takes pause to celebrate Independence Day with family and friends, the holiday weekend also provides a great opportunity to take a quick moment to look back on what has been a speedy season for Rising Star Racing.

With 32 races across the Verizon IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, and Pro Mazda series already in the books, the 2015 racing season has run at a furious pace. But this 4th of July weekend, the drivers and their hard working crews are getting a well-deserved break in the action over the holiday weekend.

For Rising Star Racing, it’s not only been a fast season to date, it has been an extremely productive one with drivers Neil Alberico (Pro Mazda), Spencer Pigot (Indy Lights), and Josef Newgarden (Verizon IndyCar).

Rising Star Racing was formed ahead of the 2014 race season by Indianapolis businessman Art Wilmes and Brian Bonner and seeks to level the playing field by matching corporate sponsors with a very select group of young open-wheel drivers. Those that are "the whole package," but lack the full backing to progress and flourish. The group provides funding, marketing and promotional support, as well as career guidance to its drivers with the goal of having them reach the pinnacle of North American open-wheel racing, the Verizon IndyCar Series.

With three different drivers in three different categories, race weekends are busy, yet fulfilling ones. So far, the talented trio of Alberico, Pigot and Newgarden have amassed nine wins and 14 podiums. They’ve collectively completed 1,655 laps for a total of 3,372.836 miles. Of those laps, 249 of them have been led by Rising Star Racing pilots for a total of 517.23 miles led.

Spencer Pigot swept both Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires on a historic weekend for Rising Star Racing at Barber Motorsports Park

Perhaps the biggest day in the history of Rising Star Racing so far came at Barber Motorsports Park earlier this year when Alberico, Pigot, and Newgarden all took victory at the Alabama road course.

Alberico kicked off the year with two big wins in the Pro Mazda season-opening double header at St. Pete with his Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing entry. He picked up another win at Barber Motorsports Park in addition to two more podium finishes of third at NOLA and Lucas Oil Raceway. He currently sits second in the 2015 Pro Mazda championship standings, 30 points out of the top spot with five races yet to run.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn," said Alberico of his 2015 Pro Mazda season. "It's been great to be back winning races again this year with the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing crew. The championship is still very much up for grabs and I'm looking forward to every event from here on out!"

Pigot opened his 2015 Indy Lights season with a podium streak in the first five races driving for Juncos Racing. That string of podiums included two wins at Barber Motorsports Park. He added to his win tally through the streets of Toronto when he won both races in the double-header event. His season has been a stellar one with four wins and seven podium results in 10 races. He is second in the Indy Lights championship – just 18 points shy of the lead.

"So far the season has gone very well," reflected Pigot. "We knew we would be fighting for wins but to have won more races than anyone else so far and to have been on the podium so many times is a pleasant surprise. Juncos Racing has been working very hard so I'm glad I have been able to repay them with some strong results."

Newgarden has had his career-best IndyCar season to date. He took his first-ever IndyCar victory at Barber Motorsports Park in April and then followed that up with his second victory at Toronto. Driving the No. 67 Chevrolet for Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing this year, Newgarden sits ninth in the Verizon IndyCar Series championship with 277 points.

Neil Alberico en route to the first of two Pro Mazda victories at St. Pete

"It truly has been a great season for Rising Star Racing," offered Newgarden. "We have seen great success across the board from Neil (Alberico) in Pro Mazda – dominating the season opener, along with Spencer (Pigot) producing four wins in Indy Lights. My journey with a newly formed group in IndyCar has been very productive as well with two wins so far this season and the chance for more before the season closes. We have all the momentum on our side, so taking the bull by the horns and finishing the year on a high note is the ambition!"

The fourth of July weekend provides the drivers a bit of down time before returning to full focus on the races ahead.

While Newgarden is looking forward to some relaxation with family and friends over the holiday weekend, Pigot plans to run the brand-new Firecracker 6-mile race in Indianapolis and then check out the Rolling Stones concert at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Alberico will celebrate his dad’s birthday on July 3rd and try to get some surfing in on the morning of July 4th before attending a friend’s wedding in the afternoon.

Next up on the schedule for Pigot and Newgarden will be the Milwaukee mile on July 12. Alberico, who just completed a successful test at Mid-Ohio this week, will have a bit longer of a break between events with the Pro Mazda series returning to action at Iowa Speedway on July 18.

Rising Star Racing thanks our loyal sponsors and partners MOBE, D-A Lubricant Company, cmcglobal, Epilepsy Foundation, and Barnes & Thornburg.

Rising Star Racing