JDC MotorSports Expands 2015 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Program

Subtitle:JDC MotorSports expands 2015 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda program to a four car lineup with Texan Clark Toppe joining Matt McMurry, Gerry Kraut and a fourth driver to be announced soon for its 2015 campaign

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. (December 19, 2014) – JDC MotorSports announced today that it will expand its current Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda program to a four car lineup in 2015.

After clinching the overall 2014 driver and team championship with Mikhail Goikhberg, Matt McMurry and Gerry Kraut behind the wheels, it was just recently confirmed that 2014 Prototype Lites champion Mikhail Goikhberg will make the move with JDC-Miller MotorSports into a fulltime ride in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship.

His vacant seat will be filled by 17 year old Texan Clark Toppe who ran the last two years with JDC MotorSports in the Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 program, scoring one win for the team in 2014 and finishing 8th overall in points in the Cooper Tires USF2000 series this year.

Toppe will be joining Matt McMurry and Gerry Kraut who are confirmed to be returning to JDC for the 2015 season. McMurry scored his first win for JDC MotorSports in the season finale at Road Atlanta back in October.

"I'm very excited to be back with JDC MotorSports for the 2015 season.  Moving into a different series is going to be a great new challenge.  This year is looking good for the entire team and I am prepared to bring in competitive results,” stated Toppe.  “Working with teammates like Gerry and Matt is also going to be helpful since they have previous experience in the IMSA Lites car."

While it will be a familiar team but different program for Clark,  Matt McMurry rejoins the team after joining JDC midseason in 2014 for the full championship next year.

After his maiden win at Road Atlanta as well as two pole positions and several podium finishes, McMurry's goal is clear for 2015. Winning the overall driver championship and defending the team championship in 2015.

“This will be the first time that I’ve been able to race in a series for a second full season, so I’m really looking forward to carrying the success with JDC from last year into 2015,” said McMurry, who has 83 starts and a 21% podium rate under his belt already, despite having just turned 17 last month.  “To achieve the youngest driver record at Le Mans in 2014, each step through the junior ranks could only be one year; Skip Barber (2012), USF2000 (2013) and Prototype Lites and European Le Mans (2014) in sequence since age 13.  With Le Mans accomplished, podiums, wins and championships is all I think about.”

"I think we have a very strong driver lineup with Matt, Clark and Gerry next year. We should be able to announce our final driver soon." said John Church team principal of JDC MotorSports.

" Matt has clearly shown that he can win races and I have no doubt that after what we saw from Clark in our USF 2000 program that he will be a frontrunner as well, so defending both championships in 2015 for sure is the goal." John summed up the teams expectations for 2015.

IMSA just announced the 14 race schedule for 2015. The season will start again as part of the traditional 12 hours of Sebring event in March, before heading to a new venue at NOLA Motorsport Park a month later in April.

JDC MotorSports will announce its third full season driver for the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda program shortly.