Fully Funded, Fully Loaded: Sean Rayhall Targets 2015 Open Wheel Monterey Finale

Two-Time Indy Lights Race Winner to Close Season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Monterey, California : September 8, 2015 : It is no secret that developing a racing career is an expensive endeavor. Sean Rayhall does not come from a wealthy family, therefore, to keep his racing career moving forward, the Winston, Georgia-resident has had to not only win on track but find alternative sources to fund his racing dream. Despite two wins in the Indy Light Series Presented by Cooper Tires already this season, the 8Star Motorsports driver still needed to find additional funds to put the No. 8 8Star Motorsports Bass Egg Machine with Silver Arrow Technologies Dallara-Mazda on the grid for the double-race weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The series’ rookie turned to GoFundMe.com to add the Indy Lights Grand Prix Presented by Cooper Tire and Powered by Mazda as his eighth weekend of the season in the top-rung on the ladder system to the Verizon IndyCar Series of the Mazda Road To Indy’s. While not yet reaching the full funded amount, what was generated from generous boosters has been enough to put the talented young multi-discipline driver on the September 11-13 entry list in Monterey, California.

Working for a Dollar :

The GoFundMe.com campaign (http://www.gofundme.com/lagunasecarayhall) has attracted over 30 people to donate substantial amounts of money to help fund Rayhall. While the giving did not meet the target for funding, it generated nearly $5,000 in contributions in the first 24 days. The campaign remains “live” for those wishing to help the young Georgian continue to pursue his dream of competing at the top levels of motorsports. The results have proven the future is genuinely bright for Rayhall.

Recent History :

The 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course will feature two events to close the 2015 Indy Lights Series season. Rayhall has participated on seven event weekends thus far bringing home two wins – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and the most recent Indy Lights round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He has two additional top-five and four more top-10 finishes in 2015. Rayhall has led 53 laps on his way to finishing each of races he has entered.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has been an excellent venue for Rayhall in recent years. In 2013, he drove to the IMSA Prototype Lites pole position and had two race victories on the Monterey Peninsula as he captured the Prototype Lites championship. In 2014, he added another podium at Mazda Raceway in North America’s premier sports car racing series, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, taking second-place in the Prototype Challenge (PC) class.

Test Me :

On August 13, Rayhall was honored to be one of only six Indy Lights drivers asked to participate in a Verizon IndyCar Series test at Sonoma Raceway. Sharing the car with recently crowned series’ champion Scott Dixon, Rayhall turned times in the direct comparison to the Champ in Dixon’s Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Chevrolet.

Details :

Official Indy Lights Series practice begins at 10:15 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on Friday, September 11. A second session will take place the same day at 3:45 p.m. PT. Indy Lights Series qualifying is scheduled for 30-minutes starting at 8:45 a.m. PT on Saturday, September 12. The first of the two Indy Lights Grand Prix Present by Cooper Tire and Powered by Mazda takes the green flag later that day at 3:45 p.m. PT. The second race of the weekend will go green flag at 2:40 p.m.

NBC Sports Network will broadcast both the 100-mile races from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on New Year’s Eve beginning at midnight Eastern. Live timing and scoring can be found at http://racecontrol.indycar.com/.

Quotes from Sean Rayhall :

About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca: “Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has been like a second home track to me over the past few years. I've spent a lot of time in Monterey with Robert Talbott when I drove for them in 2013 and it's great to be going back. I’m excited to be closing out the 2015 open wheel season there. I know everyone at 8Star is as focused as I am to keep the momentum going, not only for what we have had at Mazda Raceway, but from our Mid-Ohio win as well.”

About the GoFundMe.com Campaign: “The GoFundMe might not have been as successful as the one for Indianapolis, but most of the people donating are personal fans and friends. They are all very dear to me so I can't thank everyone enough for the help to get us out to Monterey. I also can’t forget Bass Egg. They have been a supporter since day one of the Indy Lights. Seeing Bass Egg take off is something special because I feel like I'm a part of it. It is a pleasure to grow with the company. Silver Arrow Technologies is another great partner to have on board because it's a direct parallel to the modern day race car, every piece and part of the IL-15 is technology. I'm very thankful for everyone who's striving for me to achieve my dreams. It is a true group effort and every success is a success for all of us.”

About his 2015 Indy Lights Season to Date: “I am so fortunate to be around such a great team like 8Star Motorsports. We haven't done any testing, which is a handicap at this level of competition, and we've been able to have two wins out of seven starts? That's unheard of! Yves Turon, our engineer, and the entire team have put in the extra legwork and effort from the start. It is a true testimony to how great the guys at 8Star are. Hopefully, we can finish on a strong note at MRLS!”

About Sean Rayhall :

Sean Rayhall, 20, is from Winston, Georgia. Starting in go-karts at the age of seven, Rayhall’s resume to-date is an impressive list of “youngest ever” to: win a formula car race in North America, win the Skip Barber Series and win a Skip Barber National event. He has competed and won on road courses and ovals in open wheel, prototypes and GT cars earning the 2013 IMSA Cooper Tire Prototype Lites Championship. In 2015, he secured two Indy Lights wins – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – in his rookie season. The success garnered him a test day with Chip Ganassi Racing running times competitive with Scott Dixon, recently crowned for the fourth time as Verizon IndyCar Series Champion, in Dixon’s own Dallara-Chevrolet.

For more on Sean Rayhall, visit his personal web site at www.SeanRayhall.com, follow him on Twitter at @SeanRayhall and like him on Facebook at Sean.Rayhall.

To learn about 8Star Motorsports click on www.8StarMotorsports.com.

Visit Sean’s personal partners to learn more about the people that support this rising talent: Bass Egg, www.bassegg.com, and Silver Arrow Technologies, www.silverarrowtech.com .

About The Mazda Road To Indy :

The official ladder system of INDYCAR, which debuted in 2010, consisting of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires (third and final step), Pro Mazda Presented by Cooper Tires (second step) and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda (first step).

About Indy Lights : The third and final step on the unparalleled Mazda Road to Indy debuted as Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2014. Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the series is operated by Andersen Promotions, which oversees all three levels of the ladder system. Indy Lights has a rich history as a development step for many of today’s top drivers. Its series’ champion is awarded a three-race scholarship in the Verizon IndyCar Series including the Indianapolis 500. For more information, visit www. indylights.com.

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