Driven to succeed in the Skip Barber Racing School Summer Series

Skip Barber Racing School’s Summer Series will find the most dedicated young racers.

Marco Andretti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe…The upper echelons of racing are riddled with Skip Barber Racing School-trained drivers, and that’s no coincidence. For four decades, evenly matched cars have meant the school’s arrive-and-drive race series was determined by desire. While talent is also a catalyst to success, Skip Barber Racing School instructors know it’s about more than that.

“In fact,” comments veteran instructor Bob Ziegel, “the ultimate achievement level of our graduates and racers is more correlated to their desire and willingness to work than their initial showing of talent.”

This year, the Skip Barber Racing School Summer Series talent pool contains a cross-section of driven racers who want to follow in the wheeltracks of the greats who were launched into IndyCar, Formula 1, IMSA and European endurance racing.

Timo Reger is one example. He began racing in the Skip Barber Winter Series last year and won the title in grand fashion. He’s using his prize winnings in the Summer Series, and although he hasn’t raced on the majority of tracks on the schedule, he’s leading the point standings.

“He’s an animal,” says his father John Reger. “I can’t even talk to him before a race begins because he is so focused and his training regime is ridiculous. He does boxing every day, lifts weights, and reviews video and does race simulators at home.”

Looking at the tall and shy teenager walking the pit at the Skip Barber Race Series, you wouldn’t think this is the same guy described by his father. His polite demeanor and soft spoken nature is a stark contrast to the passion and desire that oozes out of him especially in the way he talks about a turn or he thinks about racing strategy.

In the other corner is a California native - Dakota Dickerson. Dickerson was the runner-up in the Skip Barber Karts to Cars Scholarship Shootout, but his near victory in the shootout provided Dickerson more drive than ever to win it all. Dickerson, like Reger, is polite and soft-spoken, but in his eyes, there is an undeniable desire to win. Dickerson has already caught the eye of IndyCar team owner and Skip Barber alumnus Bryan Herta, who awarded him a $10,000 Career Enhancement scholarship to continue racing.

“I don’t know how he does it,” says his father Ken Dickerson. “I couldn't do what he does, but he is determined. We review each session and see where we can make up some time by doing small things differently. He talks to instructors and listens to any feedback. He wants to win.”

Then, there’s the underdog, Chase Owen. Chase is looking to follow in the success of past Skip Barber Racing Academy champion, Michai Stephens who was selected to race as part of the TEAM USA Scholarship team. Owen has already grabbed a few podium finishes in the season and is working to continue building his momentum.

In addition to the young racers looking to pursue their dreams, the past few years, Skip Barber Racing School has seen an increase in the field of talented Masters racers. One example is Jeffrey Stern. He laughs as he says, “I began racing in karts in 1955, so my timeline is going pretty well…by the age of 80, I hope to be racing in theIndy 500.”

His jovial nature is not to be mistaken for lack of drive - Stern has consistently been in the top 3 in races and he is not slowing down, and at the age of 67, he continues to race with a smile but with grit.

“It’s great wheel-to-wheel racing,” he continues. “I’ve raced in other series and I can’t replicate the competitiveness I feel with racing at Skip Barber. But, more than the racing, I love the camaraderie and listening to the instructors tell their stories. Also, seeing the younger guy’s race is exciting. Their talent and drive are extraordinary and that pushes me to work harder.”

For Stern, each moment in a car is another stab at perfection, discipline and self-gratification. To many of the Masters drivers, being on the track is the only time to escape their often stressful careers.  Competition coupled with an authentic bonding experience is also another catalyst in the drive of many Master’s drivers including Brian Cook who opened up the season with a pair of Master’s wins. Alongside Cook and Stern is the spirited Masters racer Chris Brassard. Bassard who is often the jokester of the group is showcasing his experience to the young drivers as well.  Recently, he picked up a Masters win at Lime Rock Park.

Whether a newcomer to the sport or a veteran at Skip Barber Racing School, the upcoming Summer Series will be nothing short of exciting. As the season progress, the stakes will get higher as drivers will work to pursue an invitation to the Championship Shootout, which will offer more than $200,000 in scholarships to progress drivers’ careers.

The series and the drivers will travel to Road America in July for Rounds 5&6 of the Summer Series.