BRASELTON, GA - June 16, 2015 - Skip Barber Racing School alumnus and IndyCar Team owner Bryan Herta will continue his participation and support of the Skip Barber Karts to Cars Scholarship event with the extension of the Bryan Herta Career Enhancement Scholarship Award.

For each of the next three years, Herta will choose a deserving Karter participating in Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout. The recipient will receive a scholarship award in the amount of $15,000 in racing credits to be applied to the Skip Barber Race Series. Herta will award the scholarship to the racer who he finds to be the most passionate, driven, and talented.

The Skip Barber Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout is the largest and single most important event for karters transitioning into race cars. Past winners of Shootout awards include A.J. Allmendinger, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ricky Taylor, Jonathan Goring, and Joel Miller. Scholarships are courtesy of Skip Barber Racing School.

Herta launched his scholarship in 2014 with an award to Dakota Dickerson, who came in 2nd place in the Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout. Dickerson is currently enrolled in the Skip Barber Racing School Summer Series and has garnered 70 points at Road Atlanta for the season opener and 79 points at Lime Rock Park for Rounds 3 & 4 of the Series. Dickerson currently sits second in the overall championship point standings and will travel to Road America July 6-9th in an attempt to capture the top spot.

“This award was born from a conversation between Michael Culver and myself during the 2014 Shootout. I was impressed with Dakota Dickerson and his overall skill and attitude and wanted to see what we could do to help. Michael suggest we create a new Scholarship, and I am extremely grateful to be able to stay involved with the Skip Barber Racing School and Race Series, their program is second to none and they are truly committed to training the future champions of our sport. I can’t wait to see the next crop of drivers this October,” said Herta.

Bryan Herta will continue providing the scholarship to the most deserving participant for the next three years, but in the meantime, you can catch him and his team - Bryan Herta Autosport - competing in the Verizon IndyCar Series and new this year, Bryan Herta Rallysport which competes in the Red Bull Global Rallycross series.

Herta is a big supporter of Skip Barber Racing School alumni - the current driver for Bryan Herta Autosport is Gabby Chaves, who trained in the Skip Barber Racing School system and is the 2014 Indy Lights Champion. In 2007, Chaves won the Skip Barber Racing School Karts to Cars Scholarship at the age of 13, breaking the previous record set by Formula 1 Reserve Driver Alexander Rossi, who won at the age of 14.

About the Skip Barber Racing School

For 40 years, Skip Barber Racing School operates a fully integrated system of racing schools, driving schools, racing championships, corporate events and special projects across North America. No other organization delivers such a combination of high quality instruction, equipment, facilities and memorable experiences. Skip Barber Racing School is the leader in training motorsport legends of the future through entry-level, equal car championships. The athletes are given media exposure, expert coaching, on-track arrive-and-drive experience, financial awards and motorsport scholarships. Skip Barber Racing School launched the auto racing careers of Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, Scott Speed, A.J. Allmendinger, Raphael Matos, John Edwards, Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, Spencer Pigot and many more.

Skip Barber is the Official FIA Regional Training Provider for the United States

“When it was time for my kids to go to racing school, we did a lot of research. I believe that they got the most out of the Skip Barber Racing School because the training quality and equipment used is superior and very consistent.”

-Mario Andretti