USF2000: Newman Wachs returns to racing

Above: Eddie Wachs, 2007.

Newman Wachs Racing will return to racing after a seven-year hiatus to compete in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

"Adding the respected Newman Wachs Racing to our 2017 USF2000 paddock is awesome news," Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, said in a statement. "Eddie Wachs and his group, including the highly regarded Brian Halahan, are sure to make an immediate impact and raise the caliber of our competition. As an entrepreneur myself, I have the utmost respect for Eddie. He is an entrepreneur's entrepreneur. I am delighted they will be campaigning their four USF-17 cars with us next season."

NWR, formed by Eddie Sachs and the late Paul Newman, formed in 2005 and raced in Atlantics from 2006-09, winning a championship with Louisville native John Edwards in . Its drivers included JR Hildebrand, Simona de Silvestro and Jonathan Summerton. They shut the team down when the series folded in 2009 before being revived in 2012 by the SCCA.

Wachs and team manager Brian Halahan decided to "rebirth" NWR in 2016. The team has added engineer Alan O'Leary and fabricator/machinist Ray Hook.

The team is talking to several drivers and expects an announcement soon.

"I am very excited that Newman Wachs Racing will be making its return to racing in the 2017 USF2000 Championship," Halahan said. "It has been a long seven years away, but I never actually left Newman Wachs Racing. Eddie has been a great person to work for over the last 10 years. I've been involved in his other businesses and taking care of his vintage cars. His passion for the sport and drive to win are unquestionable, so I know I will have everything we need to succeed."