Gallagher becomes second driver from West Virginia team to earn prestigious scholarship

CHARLESTON, W.VA. – One of JAY Motorsports' core focus is to help train and develop up-and-coming racers. The leading junior formula squad's ability to do just that was recently further illustrated with Patrick Gallagher winning the 2012 Mazda Club Racer Shootout. The talented driver from Ohio will now race in the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Playboy Cup, becoming the second JAY Motorsports driver to win the prestigious year-end shootout scholarship.

Under the guidance of owner Jay Green, JAY Motorsports has steadily evolved from a SCCA Club Racing sports racer team into a multi-car formula squad that not only has an SCCA National Championship-winning and pro Formula Enterprises race-winning pedigree, but also become known as an up-and-coming team in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, which is part of the renowned Mazda Road to Indy program. Through it all though the West Virginia-based outfit has remained focused on helping its drivers build and develop on their natural talents in order to excel in motorsports.

Gallagher is the latest racer to make the most of his association with JAY Motorsports. Racing in both SCCA Club Racing National events in the Formula Enterprises class, and the USF2000 Championship in the National class under the JAY Motorsports banner, the 20 year-old proved to be a driver to watch. Gallagher impressed as a rookie in the USF2000 Championship, earning three class podium finishes, however, it was in SCCA competition that the JAY Motorsports driver really shinned, winning both the prestigious SCCA June Sprints and the year-end National Championship Runoffs, earning his second National crown - having previously captured the Formula 500 title in 2010 - and a second Formula Enterprises National crown for JAY Motorsports.

In winning the SCCA FE title, Gallagher was invited to participate in the Mazda Club Racer Shootout. Going head-to-head against other club racing champions, the Ohio native promptly used the skills and experiences gained by racing with JAY Motorsports to not only be quick on-course, but also deal with the demands required outside of the driver's seat, including data analysis, inter-team communications, media interaction, as well as building and maintaining business associations. In the end, Gallagher impressed the panel of judges with his overall racing package, winning the shootout and a MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development scholarship to race in the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Playboy Cup.

This marked the second time a JAY Motorsports driver had captured the prestigious year-end Mazda-backed shootout. In 2009, fellow SCCA Formula Enterprises National Champion Nick Evans took home top honors in the shootout, further highlighting JAY Motorsports ability to develop and train future racing stars.

"It has been an absolute pleasure watching Patrick evolve as a racer over the past couple of seasons," stated JAY Motorsports Team principal Jay Green. "He is the total package, and I am positive he will do an outstanding job representing Mazda in 2013."

JAY Motorsports is currently preparing for the upcoming 2013 race season. With the goal of not only defending its SCCA Formula Enterprises title, but also challenging for race wins and top honors in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda via multi-car efforts in both the Championship and National class, the West Virginia team will conduct several off-season tests. Drivers interested in taking part in JAY Motorsports' off-season program or joining the squad in 2013, are encouraged to contact team principal Jay Green. 

Additional information on JAY Motorsports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jaymotorsports.com. For direct contact, please contact Jay Green @ 304-610-5663 or jaymotorsports1@gmail.com. Keep up to date via Twitter @ jaymtrsprt and on Facebook page @ JAYMotorsportsLLC.

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About JAY Motorsports:
JAY Motorsports, LLC is a family owned and operated racing organization based in West Virginia. Led by former racer Jay Green, the team became one of the highest rated customer service representatives within the SCCA's spec categories. With countless wins in SCCA Club and Pro competition, the team has become a mainstay in junior driver development over the years. In winning the 2009 SCCA Formula Enterprises National Championship, they propelled their driver to win a spot on the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Team. In addition to the 2009 Runoffs gold medal, JAY Motorsports was the 2006 MARRS Spec Racer Ford champion, 2007 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford champion, 2008 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford and Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 SCCA Great Lakes/Central Division Formula Car Magazine Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 Carolina Cup Pro Series Spec Racer Ford champion, and 2009 SCCA Southeast Division ECR Spec Racer Ford champion. This past season, JAY Motorsports entered the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda full-time, contesting both the National and Championship classes.