AWR ANNOUNCES FF2000 DRIVER LINEUP

MONDAY, DEC. 23, FAIRFIELD, N.J., -- Andersen Walko Racing has announced its first driver lineup for the 2003 season. Brothers Doug and Andrew Prendeville of Morristown, N.J., front-runners in SCCA Formula Continental competition last season, will pair up in the professional Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship. 

“We are proud to have reached an agreement with two promising young stars so soon after we announced the formation of our team,” said team co-owner Dan Andersen. “We watched Doug and Andrew last year and we were impressed, and we are excited that we can help them move up the motorsports ladder.” 

The Prendevilles made waves last season by finishing 1-2 at the SCCA’s National Championship Runoffs, with Andrew qualifying on pole and taking the title, in just their first full year of racing. After getting their start at the Bertil Roos Racing school in 2001, the two bulldozed the SCCA’s Northeast division in 2002, with Andrew, 19, winning the division on the strength of four wins, and Doug, 24, placing third with two wins. At the prestigious June Sprints, Andrew finished second while Doug took third. For their efforts they were awarded co-rookie-of-the-year status in the Northeast division. 

The two also made their pro debuts. Andrew contested four FF2000 races, earning two top-10 finishes and one outside-pole starting spot. Doug made two FF2000 starts, including one from outside pole, and also entered two Fran-Am Formula Renault races, producing finishes of seventh and third. 

Andersen Walko racing was recently formed through the merger of two-time SCCA National Champions, Andersen Kish Racing, with pro FF2000 veterans John Walko Racing. In addition to the two-car effort in the FF2000 Zetec Championship, the team will field entries for two drivers in the new Formula SCCA class, and will continue fielding cars in SCCA’s Formula Continental class. 

John Walko, Co-Owner, Team Manager and Chief Engineer, is recognized as one of the best race engineers in Formula Continental and FF2000 racing today. His accomplishments include winning two SCCA National Championships and two runner-up finishes at the SCCA Runoffs in the past four years, including 1999 and 2000 FC runner-ups, 2000 FF National Champion, and 2001 FC National Champion. 

On the pro side, Walko ran the factory Carbir team in U.S. FF2000 competition, winning the American Continental Championship for year-old cars in 1999 and 2000. His pro drivers in 2001 and 2002, Paul Dana, Tom Dyer, Josh Schreiber, Joel Nelson, Mike Andersen, and Doug Prendeville recorded four podium, 11 top-five and 16 top-ten finishes. Walko recorded his first pro win in 2002 with Dyer on the oval at Indianapolis Raceway Park. 

Dan Andersen, Co-Owner and Team President, is one of the most respected figures in the junior open-wheel ranks, with a proud tradition of helping develop young American driving talent. Dan founded the U.S. FF2000 pro series in 1991 and guided it for 10 years, turning it into one of the top open-wheel development formulas in the world with numerous graduates enjoying successful careers in CART and the IRL. Dan also has owned and operated his own successful race team for his son Mike for the past 5 seasons, and heads a $20 million/year contracting business he founded in New Jersey in 1974.