Bryan Herta nominated for FIA Americas award

The FIA has invited Skip Barber Racing School to nominate an American racer for the FIA Americas Trophy. This year, Skip Barber Racing School nominated alumnus Bryan Herta for the award. Herta will travel to Panama City, Panama on Saturday to accept the FIA Americas award.

The FIA Americas Awards Gala is the prize-giving ceremony for the FIA Americas countries. Established in 2008, and with at least 29 countries represented, each country presents both national and continental champions for the awards. The ceremonies also attract the most celebrated personalities in mobility and road safety.

"We are excited for the opportunity to highlight an outstanding race car driver and team owner in Bryan Herta," said Skip Barber CEO Michael Culver. "He is an exceptional individual who possesses admirable traits of perseverance, passion and determination. He continues to influence the motorsports world and will do so for a very long time. Bryan is very deserving of this award and we're thrilled for him."

Herta began his racing career in 1990 in the Skip Barber Formula Ford and the Barber Saab Pro Series. He won in each Skip Barber Series race category. After winning the Barber Saab Pro Series and Indy Lights Championship in 1993, Herta moved on to compete full time in IndyCar.

Herta raced in the Indy 500 five times with three top-10 finishes and was third in 2005. Bryan Herta now owns his team, Bryan Herta Autosport competing in the Verizon IndyCar Series and occasionally in the Firestone Indy Lights Series. Bryan Herta Autosport won the Indianapolis 500 in 2011 with driver Dan Wheldon.