PWC: Mike Skeen returns with CRP Racing's Nissan GT-R

CRP Racing announced it will return with Hawk Performance and Mike Skeen for a fourth season in the Pirelli World Challenge series, which opens March 29-30 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The team will field a Hawk Performance Nissan GT-R.

Skeen is a veteran driver in the PWC series having seven wins and numerous podiums since his debut World Challenge race at Mid-Ohio in 2010.

"The 2014 Pirelli World Challenge series looks to be as competitive as ever and I am excited to be a part of it with Hawk Performance and CRP Racing. We are looking forward to great racing this year and I think we will have some surprises for everyone this season," said Skeen. "We've been able to win at least one race every year I've been in the series so far, and I hope we can keep that alive while going for a championship in 2014.

Skeen began racing karts at the age of 10 and gained experience across many platforms. He has had success on ovals and road courses, driving everything from shifter karts and formula cars, to GT and touring cars of all types.

"We're very happy to have Mike racing with us again as we truly believe he is one of America's finest racecar drivers," says Nick Short, owner of CRP Racing.

Austin Cindric, son of Penske Motorsports President Tim Cindric, also has conducted some of the off-season testing done in the team's Hawk Performance Nissan GT-R. Austin, eager to get seat time in a GT car, took little time to get used to the Hawk Performance Nissan GT-R.

The young Cindric began his racing career in Bandoleros and then advanced to Legend cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway before moving to the Skip Barber Formula Series. The 6-foot-2 Cindric made his USF2000 debut last year in a car owned by Andretti Autosport. The youngest driver ever in the open-wheel series, he captured two top-10s and acquired the Tilton Hard Charger Award in the season finale at Houston.

CRP Racing is a leading edge racecar engineering company with a winning pedigree that offers full service race car prep, full track setup, restoration and custom fabrication, and shock, dyno and design services. Owner Nicholas Short has made a career out of motorsports with experience in IndyCar, NASCAR, Trans-Am, Group C Endurance Racing, Baja desert racing, Vintage SVRA and HSR and the Pirelli World Challenge series.

CRP Racing plans to not only have a winning team, but one that is fan-oriented as well. Updates from the track, videos (including exciting in-car footage), and photos will be posted each race weekend at www.CompetitionRaceParts.com the CRP Racing Facebook page, and Instagram.

The team invites fans to stop by its transporter at all World Challenge events.

The Pirelli World Challenge schedule will kick-off at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The race is run through the streets of downtown surrounding the marina and the Albert Whitted Airport. Race 1 will be at 3:25 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 with the second round on Sunday at 11:25 a.m. The races from St. Pete will be televised on NBC Sports, Sunday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m. (re-air Saturday, April 12 at 12:30 a.m.) (all times listed are eastern.)

Live streaming can be viewed on www.world-challengeTV.com.