A suspenseful two days of intense competition at the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca ended this afternoon with Oliver Askew, from Jupiter, Fla., being declared winner of the inaugural Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 $200K Scholarship Shootout.

As 18 drivers representing nine countries prepare to head to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca next week for the Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 $200K Scholarship Shootout (#MRTIShootout), a panel of seven judges is in place to select the inaugural winner who will earn a seat in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2017.

Team Manager Brian Halahan was all smiles today when Newman Wachs Racing announced they signed 19-year old racer Dakota Dickerson to a two-year deal.

A total of 18 drivers will congregate next week at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., to contest the inaugural Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 $200K Scholarship Shootout.

Along with the formation of a company, budgeting and reservations, Brian Graham Racing with RTD Autosport has also stepped up to the plate to purchase a second Tatuus USF-17, the 35th and last USF2000 car that was available.