Bryan Herta, Skip Barber Racing School announce new scholarship

Skip Barber Racing School is pleased to announce the addition of an all new scholarship in collaboration with former Indy car driver and current Verizon IndyCar team owner Bryan Herta to be awarded following the 2014 Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout taking place at Sebring International Raceway.

The new scholarship entitled the “Bryan Herta Career Enhancement Scholarship Award” is an annual award that will reward a talented racer in the Karts to Cars Scholarship with $15,000 in credit towards the Skip Barber Racing Series. Bryan Herta will use his years of motorsports experience to select the racer that demonstrates the most drive, heart, and overall potential as a race car driver.

This year Herta has decided to award the 2014 Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout participant and second place winner Dakota Dickerson the annual scholarship.

“Dakota is an outstanding young man,” said Herta, “and he has demonstrated an exceptional amount of talent, drive and heart. He will go far in his career and I can’t wait to see his growth in the Skip Barber Race Series."

The Bryan Herta Career Enhancement Scholarship award is the latest addition to the already robust lineup of scholarships that were awarded in the 2014 Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout. RaceCraft1 provided more than $4,500 worth of prizes to the best three racers of the competition including Dakota. In addition to the awards developing each driver’s race craft, the winner, Daniel de la Calle was also awarded a unique prize known as the “Top Gun Award” from RACER Magazine and will receive a feature in a future issue of the acclaimed publication.

Michael Culver, CEO stated “Bryan is a superb example of the “complete package." He underscores what it takes to be successful in motorsports. He is a thought leader and continues to contribute to the sport on a daily basis. We are lucky to have alumni like Bryan participating in and contributing to grassroots motorsports.”  

Bryan Herta began began his racing career in 1990 in the Skip Barber Pro Series. After winning the Barber Saab Pro Series (LEFT) and Indy Lights Championship in 1993, Herta moved on to compete full time in IndyCar. Herta’s success as a driver has made him one of the most recognizable names in motorsports. As of 2006, Herta has started in the Indy 500 five times with three top ten finishes. Bryan Herta now owns his team and participates in the Verizon IndyCar Series and occasionally in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.

The Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout just wrapped up at Sebring International Raceway and is the 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. The Shootout is a critical component of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder–a fully integrated motorsports ladder comprised of the Skip Barber Racing School Summer and Winter Series, USF2000, Indy Lights and Pro Mazda.