After one day of off-track, two days of on-track activity, and some tough deliberation by the judges, 15-year-old karting standout Elysiah Navaro was awarded the first place prize in the Second Annual Lucas Oil School of Racing Scholarship Shootout Presented By Cooper Tires.
The standout karter that hails from Las Vegas, Nev. and lives in Indiana bested a talented pool of 26 other open-wheel hopefuls to grab the scholarship to contest the full 2020 Lucas Oil Formula Race Series.
Gerardo Bonilla, Lucas Oil School of Racing Director of Operations made the announcement. The experienced instructor and coach equated the talent level of this crop of drivers to that of when two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden was coming through the junior formula training levels. That group of drivers includes professionals Ricky Taylor, Conor Daly, Gabby Chaves, Kyle Marcelli, Connor De Phillippi, Joel Miller, Steven McAleer, and Dion von Moltke.
It wasn’t only Navarro that walked away with a prize. The drivers judged in spots two through five were also winners.
Carter Pease, a karting standout from Moline, Ill., celebrates his 23rd birthday by finishing second and earning himself a half-season (three-event) scholarship for the 2020 Lucas Oil Formula Race Series.
Coming in third and earning a two-race event scholarship was Emily Linscott. The 16-year-old native of Essex County in the United Kingdom started her racing career in the Ginetta Junior category and is mentored by 7-time Indianapolis 500 starter Pippa Mann.
Taking home a one event scholarship for finishing the shootout in fourth is 12-year-old Elvis Rankin. The Evergreen, Colo. based driver will get to test out his road racing skills. Rankin has extensive oval track experience in stock cars, midgets, and karts, including winning the 2018 USAC Western Midget Rookie of the Year.
Elliot Budzinski, a 17-year-old from a karting background, ended the three-days in fifth place and walks away with a prize of a two-day advanced Lucas Oil School of Racing program.
2020 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series Schedule
- April 3-5 – Homestead-Miami Speedway – Homestead, Fla.
- May 15-17 – NOLA Motorsports Park – Avondale, La.
- June 12-14 – National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park – Bowling Green, Ky.
- July 14-16 – New Jersey Motorsports Park – Millville, N.J.
- August 28-30 – Autobahn Country Club – Joliet, Ill.
- September 30 – October 2 – Sebring, Fla.