Skip Barber National Championship
Encyclopedia
The BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda is an entry-level professional race series run by Skip Barber Racing School
. Initially formed as the Formula Dodge National Championship, Since 2006 the Skip Barber National has been the initial open-wheel race series in the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder, which includes the Cooper Tires U.S. F2000 National Championship
and the Star Mazda Championship. The Skip Barber National has run in support of the American Le Mans Series
, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series
and A1GP and is designed to give young drivers transitioning from karting to race cars their first experience of professional level road racing.
. The first season was in fact a one-race shootout for top drivers from the four Regional Race Series. Held at Lime Rock Park
in Connecticut, the race (and championship) was won by current IZOD IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay
.
For the first several years of its existence, the Skip Barber National schedule was made up of what were deemed to be the best tracks scheduled for each of the four Skip Barber Regional Race Series. The Skip Barber National was run as a separate run group within each race weekend, with a separate fleet of cars. The National made its professional support series debut at the 2003 12 Hours of Sebring
. The Skip Barber National Champion during this era earned a $100,000 career enhancement award to help them pick up a ride in the next level of open-wheel racing.
development ladder that includes U.S. F2000, Star Mazda, and Firestone Indy Lights.
The Skip Barber Cup Championship is a separate class running with the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda. Named in honor of company founder and former owner Skip Barber
, the Skip Barber Cup Championship is open to drivers aged 26 and older who would like to race against the younger drivers at the marquee events offered in the 2010 National schedule, but are not eligible for the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development system. Skip Barber Cup drivers will compete for a separate championship and prize fund.
Motor Sport Safety Development Fund. Competitors learn everyday driving skills, attend media and motorsports seminars, practice interview skills and perform a series of sessions on track in Formula Skip Barber Race Cars. In the 2010 Shootout, the prizes consisted two scholarships for the entire 2011 race season of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National presented by Mazda, becoming MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Scholarship Drivers. Other prizes typically include one half season in the Skip Barber National, one full season and three half seasons in the Skip Barber Regional Race Series.
Skip Barber Racing School
The Skip Barber Racing School is one of the largest racing schools in the world. It conducts racing schools, defensive and high performance driving schools, amateur and professional racing championships and corporate entertainment schools. Skip Barber started the school in 1975 with two borrowed...
. Initially formed as the Formula Dodge National Championship, Since 2006 the Skip Barber National has been the initial open-wheel race series in the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder, which includes the Cooper Tires U.S. F2000 National Championship
U.S. F2000 National Championship
Cooper Tires presents the U.S. F2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season...
and the Star Mazda Championship. The Skip Barber National has run in support of the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. It is a North American-based sports car series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship...
and A1GP and is designed to give young drivers transitioning from karting to race cars their first experience of professional level road racing.
Formula Dodge National Championship Presented by RACER
The Skip Barber National was developed to fill the gap between the Skip Barber Regional Race Series and the Barber Dodge Pro SeriesBarber Dodge Pro Series
The Barber Pro Series was an entry-level open-wheel auto racing series from 1986 to 2003. The races were primarily on road and street courses in North America, although the schedule did sometimes include a few ovals....
. The first season was in fact a one-race shootout for top drivers from the four Regional Race Series. Held at Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park is a natural-terrain motorsport road racing venue located in Lime Rock, Connecticut, United States, a hamlet in the village of Lakeville, Connecticut, in the state’s northwest corner...
in Connecticut, the race (and championship) was won by current IZOD IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay is a professional American race car driver best known as the only driver to have won races in each of North America's top open wheel formulas, CART the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
.
For the first several years of its existence, the Skip Barber National schedule was made up of what were deemed to be the best tracks scheduled for each of the four Skip Barber Regional Race Series. The Skip Barber National was run as a separate run group within each race weekend, with a separate fleet of cars. The National made its professional support series debut at the 2003 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
. The Skip Barber National Champion during this era earned a $100,000 career enhancement award to help them pick up a ride in the next level of open-wheel racing.
BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda
When Mazda replaced Dodge as automotive partner with Skip Barber Racing School at the end of 2006, the Skip Barber National was renamed, with BFGoodrich taking over title sponsorship of the series. As part of this new partnership with Mazda, the Skip Barber National joined the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder, with the Skip Barber National Champion earning a fully funded season in the following year's Star Mazda Championship. The original ladder included the Skip Barber National, Star Mazda, and the Atlantic Championship. In 2010 this was changes with the replacement of the top of the ladder Atlantic Championship with the newly reformed U.S. F2000 Championship slotted between the Skip Barber National and the now top rung Star Mazda Championship. This overlaps with the Indy Racing League's new Road to IndyRoad to Indy
The Mazda Road to Indy is a group of developmental racing series launched in 2010 managed by IndyCar with a goal being the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. As part of the program, all series participate in the three disciplines of the IndyCar Series: oval races, permanent road courses,...
development ladder that includes U.S. F2000, Star Mazda, and Firestone Indy Lights.
Championship Format
Drivers in the Skip Barber National earn points in 14 races, held over seven double-race weekends, with their worst single result dropped. Drivers also receive a point for earning a pole position.The Skip Barber Cup Championship is a separate class running with the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda. Named in honor of company founder and former owner Skip Barber
Skip Barber
John "Skip" Barber III is a retired racecar driver who is most famous for his Skip Barber Racing Schools.- Driving career :...
, the Skip Barber Cup Championship is open to drivers aged 26 and older who would like to race against the younger drivers at the marquee events offered in the 2010 National schedule, but are not eligible for the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development system. Skip Barber Cup drivers will compete for a separate championship and prize fund.
Karting Shootout
Since 1998, every winter Skip Barber Racing School holds the Skip Barber Racing School Karting Scholarship Shootout, where karters gather to compete for scholarships for the upcoming season of racing, courtesy of MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development and FIAMotor Sport Safety Development Fund. Competitors learn everyday driving skills, attend media and motorsports seminars, practice interview skills and perform a series of sessions on track in Formula Skip Barber Race Cars. In the 2010 Shootout, the prizes consisted two scholarships for the entire 2011 race season of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National presented by Mazda, becoming MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Scholarship Drivers. Other prizes typically include one half season in the Skip Barber National, one full season and three half seasons in the Skip Barber Regional Race Series.
| Shootout Year | Scholarship Winners |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Ryan Hunter-Reay Ryan Hunter-Reay Ryan Hunter-Reay is a professional American race car driver best known as the only driver to have won races in each of North America's top open wheel formulas, CART the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series... , Phil Giebler, Eric Jones, Michael Valiante Michael Valiante Michael Valiante is a Canadian racing driver.Michael began racing in karting where his success earned him a full-season scholarship in the Skip Barber 2.0 Series. In his first season, Michael was both series champion and rookie of the year... |
| 1998 | Ryan Howe, Jason LaPoint, Patrick Long Patrick Long Patrick Long is a professional race car driver. He is a Porsche works driver since 2003, with whom he has earned grand touring class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans endurance races, plus three American Le Mans Series GT2 drivers... , Bryan Sellars |
| 1999 | Kevin Christensen, Michael Rossi, Jonathan Strohm, Landon Yee |
| 2000 | A. J. Allmendinger A. J. Allmendinger Allmendinger again failed to qualify for the 2008 Daytona 500. After three failures to qualify in 2 attempts , he was replaced by veteran driver Mike Skinner on a temporary basis. Allmendinger returned to the Cup series at Talladega... , Tommy Contino, James Gue, Ben Moore |
| 2001 | David Jurca, Craig Baltzer, Colin Fleming |
| 2002 | Joe D'Agostino, |
| 2003 | Benny Moon, Jason Bowles, Mark Burt, Billy Johnson, Lorenzo Mandarino, Ron White |
| 2004 | Jordy Vorrath, Cole Nelson, Justin Moon, Chris Carmody, Chris Wehrheim, |
| 2005 | Alexander Rossi Alexander Rossi (racing driver) Alexander Rossi is an American racing driver who competes in single seater formulae. He is currently competing in in the 2011 World Series by Renault with Fortec Motorsport.-Skip Barber:... , Ricky Taylor, Marco Di Leo, Jonathan Goring, Joel Miller Joel Miller (racing driver) Joel Miller is an American auto racing driver from Hesperia, California.Miller began his career in karting winning the Stars of Karting Western ICA Championship in 2005 and the Stars of Karting ICA National Championship in 2006. Joel Miller became one of the few Americans to compete alongside... , Alex Ardoin |
| 2006 | Beau Debard, Gabby Chaves, Jordan Taylor, Timmy Megenbier, Kyle Longmore |
| 2007 | Connor De Phillippi Connor De Phillippi Connor De Phillippi is an American racing driver from San Clemente, California.De Phillippi began karting at the age of 5 years old and by the time he was 14 years old, he had won 21 national titles, including the only person to ever win 4 SKUSA SuperNational titles... , Brett Smrz, Fabio Orsolon, Michael Denino, Maverick Bartlett, Court Vernon |
| 2008 | Sage Karam Sage Karam Sage Karam is an American racing driver from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.After karting, Karam competed in the 2010 season of the U.S. F2000 National Championship for Andretti Autosport. Karam won nine of the twelve races and the pole in all but one race and dominated the championship... , Court Vernon, Dennis Trebing, Nick Andries |
| 2009 | Spencer Pigot, Felix Serralles, Nicolas Costa, Mukul Sud, Sebastian Ordonez, Jesus Rios |
| 2010 | Trent Hindman, Danilo Estrela, Scott Hargrove, Tristan Nunez, Stefan Rzadzinski Stefan Rzadzinski Stefan Rzadzinski is a Canadian racing driver from Edmonton, Alberta.Rzadzinski won several regional karting titles and placed highly in many major American national karting championships from 2002 to 2008. In 2009 and 2010 he raced in the Ontario Formula Ford 1600 championship and placed second... , Kenton Koch |
Upcoming/Current Season
The BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda ran its final season during the summer of 2011. The final race was at Lime Rock Park, Saturday, October 8th, 2011.Skip Barber National Champions
| Year | Champion | Subsequent experience & honors |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 |  Ryan Hunter-ReayRyan Hunter-Reay Ryan Hunter-Reay is a professional American race car driver best known as the only driver to have won races in each of North America's top open wheel formulas, CART the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series... |
Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Champ Car Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race... ; sports cars, 2007 IZOD IndyCar Series IndyCar Series The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and... Rookie of the Year and race winner |
| 2000 |  Anthony Simone |
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series NASCAR Canadian Tire Series The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series , commonly abbreviated as NCATS, is a national NASCAR racing series in Canada that is based from the old CASCAR Super Series which was founded in 1981.-History:... |
| 2001 |  Julio Campos |
Formula Three Sudamericana Formula Three Sudamericana Formula Three Sudamericana is the official name for the South American Formula Three Championship. It was inaugurated in 1987 and currently holds events in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay... , Stock Car Brasil Stock Car Brasil Stock Car Brasil is a Touring car auto racing series held in Brazil, its first season was in 1979, it's considered the major Brazilian motorsports series... |
| 2002 | Grant Maiman |
First winner of first Red Bull Formula One Driver Search Red Bull Junior Team The Red Bull Junior Team is a program run by the energy drink company Red Bull GmbH in an attempt to identify potential future racing stars in open wheel racing. The similar Red Bull Driver Search, now ended, was an American spinoff of the same idea... , Formula Renault 2.0 Germany, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 is a Formula Renault 2.0 championship with a presence of many Formula Renault championships drivers. It serves as a support series to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series as part of the World Series by Renault.... |
| 2003 | Raphael Matos Raphael Matos Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion... |
2005 Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... Champion, 2007 Atlantic Champion, 2008 Indy Lights Champion, A1 Grand Prix A1 Grand Prix A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"... , American Le Mans, IndyCar Series IndyCar Series The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and... |
| 2004 | Marco Andretti Marco Andretti Marco Michael Andretti is an Italian American auto racing driver who drives the #26 car for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series. He is the son of 1991 IndyCar World Series champion Michael Andretti and the grandson of racing legend Mario Andretti... |
Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... , Indy Pro Series Indy Pro Series Firestone Indy Lights is a developmental automobile racing series sanctioned by IndyCar. Previously, another series named Indy Lights filled the same role for CART and ran from 1986 to 1993 as the American Racing Series and Dayton Indy Lights from 1991 to 2001... , American Le Mans, A1 Grand Prix A1 Grand Prix A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"... , IndyCar Series IndyCar Series The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and... race winner |
| 2005 |  Gerardo BonillaGerardo Bonilla Gerardo Bonilla is a Puerto Rican-born professional race car driver. He competed in and won the IMSA Lites Championship in 2007, the Star Mazda Championship in 2006, and the Skip Barber National Championship in 2005... |
2006 Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... Champion, 2007 IMSA Lites IMSA Prototype Lites Cooper Tires Prototype Lites is a 14 race series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association . Most races are held in support of the American Le Mans Series... Champion, American Le Mans |
| 2006 | Jonathan Goring |
Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... , IMSA Lites IMSA Prototype Lites Cooper Tires Prototype Lites is a 14 race series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association . Most races are held in support of the American Le Mans Series... |
| 2007 | Joel Miller Joel Miller (racing driver) Joel Miller is an American auto racing driver from Hesperia, California.Miller began his career in karting winning the Stars of Karting Western ICA Championship in 2005 and the Stars of Karting ICA National Championship in 2006. Joel Miller became one of the few Americans to compete alongside... |
Team USA Scholarship Winner, Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... , Indy Lights, 2008 Walter Hayes Walter Hayes Walter Hayes CBE was an English journalist, and later public relations executive for Ford.Hayes was key in developing Ford's Formula One program, by signing Jackie Stewart and funding the building of the Cosworth DFV V8 Formula One racing engine; and the creation of the Premier Automotive Group... Formula Ford Trophy Winner |
| 2008 | Conor Daly Conor Daly Conor Daly is an American racing driver from Noblesville, Indiana. He is the son of Irish former Formula One and Champ Car driver Derek Daly.-Racing career:... |
2008 Team USA Scholarship Winner, 2009 Walter Hayes Formula Ford Trophy Winner, 2010 Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... Champion, Indy Lights, GP3 Series GP3 Series The GP3 Series, or GP3 for short, is a single seater motor racing series launched in 2010 as a feeder series for the GP2 Series, introduced by GP2 organiser Bruno Michel. It was initially thought that the GP3 series would merge with the International Formula Master series... |
| 2009 | Connor De Phillippi Connor De Phillippi Connor De Phillippi is an American racing driver from San Clemente, California.De Phillippi began karting at the age of 5 years old and by the time he was 14 years old, he had won 21 national titles, including the only person to ever win 4 SKUSA SuperNational titles... |
2009 Team USA Scholarship Winner, 2009 Walter Hayes Formula Ford Trophy Winner, 2010 Star Mazda Series Star Mazda Series The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is an open-wheel racecar driver development series in North America. Competitors use spec Formula Mazda race cars built by Star Race Cars. The original series, using first-generation tube-frame cars started in the early 1990s, with the current,... Rookie of the Year |
| 2010 | Spencer Pigot |
2010 Team USA Scholarship Winner, U.S. F2000 National Championship U.S. F2000 National Championship Cooper Tires presents the U.S. F2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season... |
| 2011 | Scott Anderson |
Noted Alumni
In addition to the Skip Barber National Champions, several drivers currently racing in higher levels of international motorsport have raced, and won, in the Skip Barber National:- A.J. Allmendinger (Champ CarChamp CarChamp Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
race winner, NASCAR Sprint Cup) - Scott SpeedScott SpeedScott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
(Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
, NASCAR Sprint Cup) - Alexander RossiAlexander RossiAlexander Mark Rossi was a successful British artist specializing in genre works who flourished in the late 19th century....
(GP3 SeriesGP3 SeriesThe GP3 Series, or GP3 for short, is a single seater motor racing series launched in 2010 as a feeder series for the GP2 Series, introduced by GP2 organiser Bruno Michel. It was initially thought that the GP3 series would merge with the International Formula Master series...
, Formula Renault 3.5 Series) - Gabriel ChavesGabriel ChavesGabriel "Gabby" Chaves is a Colombian-American racing driver who was born in Bogotá, Colombia. Chaves' father is an American airline pilot and Chaves has raced under both the American and Colombian flags....
(Italian Formula Three ChampionshipItalian Formula Three ChampionshipThe Italian Formula Three Championship is the Formula Three racing competition in Italy.-History:Formula Three has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone for F1 hopefuls - it is typically the first point in a driver's career at which most drivers in the series are aiming at...
, GP3 Series) - E. J. VisoE. J. VisoErnesto José Viso Lossada is a Venezuelan race car driver. He is commonly referred to as Ernesto Viso or, since his move to American racing, E. J. Viso....
(Formula 3000Formula 3000The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship...
, GP2 SeriesGP2 SeriesThe GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
, IndyCar Series) - Josef NewgardenJosef NewgardenJosef Newgarden is an American racing driver who competes in single seater formulae.-Karting:Newgarden drove a kart for the first time at the age of thirteen...
(GP3 Series, 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion)