D’Agostino to Join Andersen Racing
Why is he so happy?
After two years with limited opportunities to race, he'll be driving a car prepared by the 2008 championship-winning team, Andersen Racing, at the 2009 Star Mazda season opener this Friday at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.
The Brownsburg, Ind.-based driver sees it as a perfect opportunity to get back into the form that saw him record six top-10 finishes in the Atlantic series in 2006 driving for Newman/Wachs Racing.
D'Agostino won the prestigious Team USA Scholarship in 2004. He'll join one of the 2008 winners of the same scholarship, Conor Daly of Noblesville, Ind., under the Andersen Racing tent in the paddock at Sebring this week, as well as two other top drivers: Richard Kent of Clifton Reynes, England, and Denis Navarro of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
D'Agostino will represent Classic Mazda of Orlando, Fla. while he's racing at Sebring, and his deal is currently for just that one race. However, with a full month between the season opener and the second race of the year, both he and the Palmetto, Fla.-based team hope that additional funding can be found so D'Agostino can join Daly, Kent and Navarro at Andersen Racing for the entire Star Mazda championship, which is presented by Goodyear.
"What a dream to be driving for Andersen Racing! I am also very proud to have Classic Mazda as my sponsor for Sebring, and hope that during the event we can turn some heads in the best way possible," D'Agostino said. "I think I'm with the best team in the paddock, and the chemistry is very evident. Hopefully we can put something together for the season, but for now our focus is on Sebring. A big thanks to Andersen Racing and everyone involved who helped make this happen. It's great to be back!"
"I have known Joe for about a year, and have known of his reputation as a driver for many more years," said Andersen Racing co-owner Dan Andersen. "His exploits in Europe definitely proved his abilities, and his work with my organization over the past year has convinced me that this fine young man is deserving of another chance to showcase his skills. I believe he can win early and often in the Star Mazda championship, and though for now this is just a 'one-off,' we are working hard to secure the necessary backing for Joe to run with Andersen Racing the entire season. He is the real deal."