Skip Barber Championship Shootout kicks off at Road Atlanta

The 2014 Skip Barber Championship Shootout is underway as the top Skip Barber racers from the year compete in the ultimate racing shootout at Road Atlanta and continuing through Wednesday.

The top 5 racers from the 2014 Skip Barber Summer Series and the top 5 from the past Skip Barber Winter Series have earned a free entry into the event and will compete alongside other racers for the grand prize of $200,000 in scholarship money and entry into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Series powered by Mazda.

"This is a great opportunity for the most successful Skip Barber racers to test their skills and what they have learned in a year in a new environment," said Jeff Lail, Skip Barber's Race Series Coordinator. "We cannot wait to see the progress as well as the talent that will be on track this week. It's going to be a great event."

Australian karter Luke Gabin, will be a strong contender for the shootout after recently winning the 2014 Skip Barber Summer Series. Gabin also has experienced success in past Skip Barber shootout events, taking first place in the 2013 Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout. Gabin's on a hot streak and will be a force to be reckoned with for other racers. Gabin will have a tough road ahead of him, with other racers also vying for the championship win. IndyCar Academy Champion and TEAM USA Scholarship winner Michai Stephens will also be at the shootout after a brief tour in Europe where he place 3rd at the Walter Hayes Trophy Formula in Silverstone. Stephens racing abroad will surely help his confidence heading into the shootout. Alongside Michai will be Nikita Lastochkin who placed 3rd in the Summer Series.

The full roster of racers competing in the 2014 Skip Barber Championship Shootout:

• Garth Rickards
• Jack Mitchel Jr.
• Brandon Angel
• Jorge Herrera
• Matthew Donmoyer
• Ben Auriemma
• Luke gabin
• Ben Auriemma
• Nikita Lastochkin
• Jackie Ding
• Michai Stephens

The Championship Shootout schedule:

Day 1 (November 10, 2014)

9:45 a.m. Kelly Jones Racecraft 1 Seminar
1:00 p.m. Practice 1
2:15 p.m. Practice 2
3:45 p.m. Qualifying 12 minutes

Day 2 (November 11, 2014)

9:00 a.m. Race 1, 12 laps
10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Driver interviews with Bob Varsha and Barbara Burns
1:00 p.m. Race 2, 12 laps
2:30 p.m. Bob Varsha and Barbara Burns Seminar
4:00 p.m. Race 3, 12 laps

Day 3 (November 12, 2014)

9:00 a.m. Race 4, 12 laps
10:30 a.m. Dave Despain Seminar
12:50 p.m. Race 5, 12 laps
2:00 p.m. Award presentation

If you'd like to be part of next year's championship shootout, nows the perfect time to hop in Skip Barber Racing in the 2014-2015 Winter Series, where the top 5 racers will gain free entry in the 2015 Championship Shootout!