Junior Open Wheel Talent

At only 16 years of age, Conor Daly won the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy last weekend to conclude the Team USA Scholarship adventures. The race was held at Silverstone in full wet conditions with over 120 entries at the start of the weekend. The Walter Hayes Trophy, for those that don't know, is the largest Formula Ford race in the world. Daly's victory was a historic moment as an American driver had never won the race.
(photo: http://www.conordaly.net/)

Josef Newgarden, fellow Team USA scholarship driver who had just recently won the Formula Ford Festival, led the race on the opening lap but made a slight error on the wet track enroute to a 14th place finish. American F2000 Championship driver Doug Prendeville was in attendance and finished slightly behind Newgarden in 17th. Irishman Peter Dempsey of Star Mazda fame made a late announcement to run the event in an effort to claim his third consecutive Walter Hayes Trophy. After starting near the back of the field, Dempsey made an impressive run all the way to fourth place and was battling for a podium spot. Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, and Peter Dempsey all drove for Cliff Dempsey Racing (Peter's father). Even though Peter was unable to claim another win, it was the team's third consecutive victory in the prestigious race.

Josh Fisher finished second behind Daly and Michael Vergers claimed the final step on the podium ahead of Dempsey.

Walter Hayes Trophy November 1st-2nd Full Results

Further Reading on Team USA:
Team USA Blogs
Newgarden Wins Formula Ford Festival

Team USA Scholarship driver, Josef Newgarden became the first American to win the prestigious Formula Ford Festival. Fellow Team USA scholarship driver, Conor Daly did extremely well to finish the main event in sixth place after having mechanical problems hamper his efforts in both heat races. Daly's father, Derek Daly, won the event in 1976 on a rain soaked circuit. Both Josef and Conor drove for Cliff Dempsey Racing in Formula Ford 1600 Kent cars. Cliff Dempsey, team owner, is the father of Star Mazda competitor Peter Dempsey. The Dempseys have a very solid Formula Ford program and it showed today as Newgarden took the Kent victory at Brands Hatch.

The duo will head to Silverstone on November 1st to take part in the world's largest Formula Ford Race; the Walter Hayes Trophy.

For further reading on Team USA, checkout Team USA Blogs.

For those interested in following Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly's overseas adventure, here is a good chance to get some first hand insight.














The drivers are competing in the Formula Ford Festival this weekend at Brands Hatch driving Formula Ford 1600/Kent engine race cars. The drivers will follow up this weekend with the Walter Hayes Trophy on November 1-2, racing at Silverstone.

Further Reading: Team USA Scholarship: Newgarden and Daly

Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly are the proud recipients of the 2008 Team USA Scholarship; the teenage duo will be representing America in the Walter Hayes Trophy, which is the world's largest Formula Ford Event, and the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch later this fall. Both drivers are actively competing for the Skip Barber National Championship title. Daly has also been driving in the ultra competitive Ontario Formula Ford Championship this season, garnering all the seat time possible. Josef Newgarden recently made a start in the series as well, driving for Brian Graham Racing, to gain additional seat time in a formula ford while prepping for his venture overseas.