Series Staff

• Dan Andersen - Owner / CEO

  

  Dan is a respected figure in the junior open-wheel racing ranks, with a proud tradition of helping develop young driving talent. He founded the USF2000 National Championship in 1991 and guided it for 10 years, turning it into one of the top open-wheel development formulas in the world. Dan has worked with numerous young drivers in the past who are now enjoying successful careers in the IZOD IndyCar Series and in professional sports car racing. He has also owned and operated several multi-car open-wheel pro teams in the F2000, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights championships and continues to own and operate an extensive karting venture and test track in Palmetto, Florida. As CEO of Andersen Promotions, Dan resurrected the USF2000 National Championship and has established it as the first professional rung on the ladder to a top-level open-wheel career in North America.

• Michelle Kish - Series Manager

  

  Michelle brings a wealth of experience to Andersen Promotions. As series administrator for the USF2000/Cooper Tires F2000 series from the late 1990’s through 2005, her responsibilities included race scheduling, event planning, hospitality, travel planning, marketing, record-keeping and customer support. Her ongoing relationships with tracks, race teams and drivers have been a valuable asset to Andersen Racing, where she has served as manager of operations since 2006. Michelle’s experience in the promotions side and in the team owner’s side of racing make her uniquely qualified to oversee the USF2000 National Championship.

• Paul Walter - Race Director

  

  Paul comes to the USF2000 National Championship from the Formula BMW USA series, where he served as race director. He is also the race director for the American Le Mans Series. Paul is a veteran of the IndyCar/CART ranks as a team and operations manager, primarily with Tasman Motorsports Group, where he worked from 1996 through 2001. He owns a project-management consultancy firm, Metropolis Motorsports Group, as well as a design and fabrication business. Both are located in Columbus, Ohio.

• John Andersen - Pit / Paddock Director

  

  John has been involved in open-wheel racing for nearly two decades, serving as Director of Race Operations for the Cooper Tires F2000 Championship (the successor to the USF2000 series) through the end of 2006. In recent years John has managed Andersen Racing’s Firestone Indy Lights team and is a partner in all of Andersen’s race efforts and business ventures. His management skills and knowledge of event logistics enables him to effectively oversee the competition aspects of the newly revived USF2000 National Championship as its Director of Competition.

• Craig Brooks - Technical Director

  

  Craig used to be the crew chief for Beyer Racing's Grand-Am Daytona Prototype team and for Guthrie Racing's Firestone Indy Lights program. He owned and operated Competition Engines, Inc. for 10 years, during which time he also served as the lead technician at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. He has finished third in the World Finals in the Engine Masters competition, and he's a five-time winner at Pikes Peak as an engine builder. He was also the head engine builder for Farley Engines for 10 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in diesel mechanics; he's a certified Superflow dynamometer operator, and he's an ASE certified master in engine machinist and engine performance.

• Butch Winkle - Technical Manager

  

  Butch has been involved in motorsports for over 25 years, serving as a crew chief and lead mechanic in a variety of series including INDYCAR, CART (Champ Car), Formula One, IMSA and World Sports Cars. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Clint Brawner Award for Mechanical Excellence and a three-time winner of the Championship Association of Mechanics (CAM) Outstanding Mechanic Award. He has been a member of two Indy 500 and two 24 Hours of Daytona winning teams. His diverse background includes roles as a CEO and Training Instructor at CAM specializing in the construction of INDYCAR and CART racing cars, an auto racing parts distributor and a model builder for wind tunnel testing.

• Bill Hunter, Technical Assistant

  

  Bill has been involved with motorsports since 1974, beginning with autocross events and road rallies. In 1998, he progressed to road racing with the SCCA and has competed in several categories over the years. During the early 1990s, he built racing engines and crewed in IMSA competition. Bill first worked with USF2000 as an Assistant Starter in 1997, and continued with the series for many years working technical inspection, pit lane and the starting grid. Bill and his wife Shelia, who serves as the Event Administrative Assistant for the series, have owned an automotive repair shop for over 20 years and, in his spare time, Bill continues to compete in SCCA club racing events. He also holds an SCCA National Starter License.

• Greg Hayden - Equipment/Hospitality Manager

  

  Greg has had a passion for motorsports since the age of 8 when he began drag racing motorcycles. Following two seasons of motocross as a teenager, he switched his sights to drag racing cars – specifically Mustangs, of which he has owned 15. After relocating with his family from New York to Florida in 2002, he started his own transportation company moving local freight statewide. He came to the USF2000 series via Andersen RacePark where he began as a kart renter and is now a competition shifter kart owner. Greg has been a professional tractor trailer driver for 22 years and holds a spotless record that includes several awards for safe driving and twice has been acknowledged as a “Driver of the Year” in his field. His fervor for motorsports has been passed down to his 16-year-old daughter who now races.

• Suzi Shinji - Registrar

  

  Suzi is the first USF2000 staff member many participants meet. She is the registrar for both the USF2000 National Championship and the Star Mazda Championship, and she also helps with IMSA registration when needed. A resident of Westminster, Calif., she has been a volunteer registrar for 20 years after getting introduced to the sport in 1988 by an ex-boyfriend who raced in the SCCA Formula Mazda Championship Series. In addition to traveling to races she holds a full-time job with First American Title PRES. Single, she says her goal is to find a single man who has a job, a car and can cook, adding that the only reason she has a kitchen is because it came with her house. In addition to racing she is very interested in photography and crafts such as needlework and beading.

• Gerardo Bonilla - Driver Coach

  

  Gerardo, the 2005 Skip Barber National champion, has been a coach with the Skip Barber organization for 12 years. He is also a graduate of Andersen Racing's driver development program, where he won the Star Mazda expert championship in 2006. He was the 2007 IMSA Lites champion, and he's also driven a Mazda-backed LMP2 entry in the American Le Mans Series. Fluent in English and Spanish, he'll be available to answer questions throughout the race weekends. Gerardo is one of the most detail-oriented drivers/coaches in racing, and his patience is a big plus. Drivers can find him in the paddock or reach him by e-mail at info@gerardobonilla.com.

• Johnny Unser - Technical and Driver Consultant

  

  In his third year as Technical and Driver Consultant, Johnny brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the series. A member of the legendary Unser family – son of Jerry, nephew of Al and Bobby and cousin of Al Jr., who share no fewer than nine Indianapolis 500 victories between them – Johnny has raced in a wide variety of cars and venues from Indianapolis to Baja to Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans. He served the Atlantic Championship as Race Director in 2008 and has been a performance advisor and spokesman for Cooper Tires since 2003.

• Shelia Hunter, Event Administrative Assistant

  

  Shelia became involved in motorsports early one morning in 1974 when, alongside her husband (USF2000 Technical Assistant) Bill Hunter, she attended a nearby autocross event and was hooked. The event led to many years of involvement with the Virginia Motor Sport Club and SCCA club racing. During the 1990s, Shelia and Bill were on the staff of the original USF2000 and are now reunited with many former staff members on race weekends. When not at the races, Shelia manages the automotive repair shop that she and Bill founded in 1990 and crews at her husband's club races. She also holds an SCCA National Timing & Scoring license.

• Tamy Valkosky - Public Relations

  

  Tamy has been involved in motorsports public relations for over 20 years. She most recently concluded a decade-long role at Fernandez Racing with a variety of responsibilities including public relations, marketing and sponsor relations in the IndyCar, Champ Car, American Le Mans and Grand-Am Series. Prior to joining Fernandez Racing, Tamy enjoyed a nine-year tenure at Tasman Motorsports Group which competed in the Champ Car, Indy Lights and Super Touring Series. She has worked with some of the top drivers in racing including Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, Adrian Fernandez and Bryan Herta. She is a former recipient of the James P. Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations.

• John Hendrick - Series Photographer

  

  John is a veteran freelance motorsports photographer, providing high quality image work over the years to clients in ALMS, World Challenge, INDYCAR, Rolex Grand AM, Koni Continental Tire Challenge, INEX 600 Racing, ARCA, SCCA and the National Auto Sport Assoc. He also provides technical image work on the racing market through his contributions to Performance Racing Industry magazine and is often utilized as a staff photographer by various race tracks throughout the south. He is an avid vintage auto racing enthusiast, frequently providing image work and feature articles in Vintage Motorsport magazine. When not working in motorsports, you can usually find him cooking and spending time with his lovely wife Taylor or pursuing his passion for surf fishing on the beach near his home outside Sarasota, Fla.

• Ken Burris - Marketing / Hospitality

  

  Ken brings over 20 years of experience in the fields of corporate sales and hospitality services. A graduate of UNC at Wilmington, he has managed sales, corporate hospitality and special events for the Canteen Corporation and Nextel Communications as well as the PGA and Nationwide tour events. In 2004, Ken decided to follow his passion in the world of racing. He founded BMS Group, LLC, working with up-and-coming drivers and teams on sponsorship acquisitions and hospitality services. For more information on how Ken can help your business accelerate its marketing agenda within the USF2000 National Championship please email him at kburris@burrismotorsport.com.

• David Storvick - Series Chaplain

  

  David Storvick, of INDYCAR Ministry, serves as the USF2000 series' chaplain. David served as the associate chaplain with the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, he was the chaplain for the USF2000 series. For the 2011 season, he will be the chaplain for both the USF2000 and Star Mazda series. He and his wife Deatra reside in Indianapolis. Their home church, Indian Creek Christian Church, provides the missionary structure to enable him to minister to those who follow our series. He is available to help with spiritual needs in any way possible and can be reached via cell phone at (317) 435-5427 or by e-mail at david.storvick@gmail.com.