On track three of the four weeks in September, ArmsUp Motorsports completed the final round of the F2000 Championship Series this past weekend at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. Taking on the Thunderbolt Raceway layout, ArmsUp drivers James Roe and Trent Walko dominated the event taking home both victories and three of four possible podium results.

Roe was never outside the top-three in official session results throughout the weekend and was one of the drivers to beat. Pacing the field with the fastest time in practice one, Roe claimed the second position in both practice two and qualifying for Saturday's action. Once wheel-to-wheel racing commenced, the ArmsUp Motorsports driver took his talents and the speed of his F2000 car to the front claiming the win. Sunday proved to be a little more difficult for the multi-time race winner as en route to the fastest lap of the race, Roe garnered the third and final step on the podium.

Walko started his weekend off with a 12th place run in the second practice session and vastly improved when the official on track action began. Qualifying sixth for race one on Saturday, the young driver held station through the first wheel-to-wheel action on the weekend. Sunday saw Walko climb the charts and after qualifying in the third position, the ArmsUp Motorsports drivers topped the podium blocks at the end of the day to scoring the win, the second for ArmsUp Motorsports victory of the weekend.

"We have our hands in a lot of different series and on a lot of different types of vehicles," explained Gregg Borland. "I don't think many people understand how involved we are as we assist drivers with their cars in SCCA, F2000, USF2000, vintage racing and more. The season is winding down right now but that does not mean we are slowing by any means. Continuing to evolve our program, we are headed to Indy this week for the annual Chris Griffis Test and already have test dates planned for the off season as we prepare for 2019."

Millville, NJ – Trent Walko won the F2000 Championship Series season finale, taking the checkered flags at New Jersey Motorsports Park first on Sunday afternoon in round 14 of the 2018 season.

Walko, driving the No. 91 Arms Up Motorsports entry, dominated the race after taking the lead early. He won ahead of Michael Eastwell, who finished second, and James Roe, who finished third.

Walko: “I just want to thank my Dad and Arms Up Motorsports for the opportunity. It’s always great to be back in one of these cars, even if it’s only for a race or two a year. Overall, it was a really good race. We got a good start and the car came in really quick. The inside row on the start got a bit of a jump off the start. I kept putting pressure on Michael for the first lap and the car was hooked up right off the bat.”


Eastwell: “It is a good way to kicking off our racing here in the U.S. It’s been a big learning curve for me. I’m pleased with his result; a little more work and hopefully we’ll be there for the win”


Roe: “I had a bad start and didn’t time it right. I fell back quite a bit; three of us started battling and Brandon got away. It didn’t work out today; we just had to bring it home. I think I had fastest lap which is a positive.”

by Chris Livengood

This upcoming weekend I will be again embarking on an F2000 Championship Series adventure. Piloting the Bruce Work entered RFR chassis, we again will be bringing a host of updates to the chassis. Our previous event, at the historic Watkins Glen, was a tumultuous one.

I crashed the car in Friday practice after an apparent brake malfunction. After replacing two corners and fixing a host of other issues we managed to get back on track for Saturday’s qualifying session. A 24th starting position lead to a 16th place finish in race 1. Sunday saw further adjustment to the car and the rewards were reaped. I qualified 16th place and drove to 8th in race 2.

I hope that these changes will result in a fast car, but we will have to wait and see. John Walko and I will be working diligently to improve the car all weekend, and I still hold the lap record at The Glen, so I hope for good things.

During the downtime between the two events we have made more changes. The VIR weekend, unlike the one at Watkins Glen, will provide us with plenty of track time. Notably, two full practice days are included.

This will be advantageous to us as we have seen less track time then the majority of the F2000 paddock as a result of our limited competition. This in mind, I hope that we can make some serious progress on the car. Moreover, due to a recent trip to VIR I have a good understanding of the VIR circuit.

All things considered, I am very excited to go to VIR!

By Chris Livengood  August 22, 2013

There were not any real plans to run any pro weekends outside of Mid-Ohio, luckily, that has changed.

This time around I’ll be piloting a Van Diemen that is under the Bruce Work entrant. We were hoping to get several new components on line for the the RFR chassis, but as those parts will not be complete we decided to go the other route.

We’ve been slaving for the last week to finish up the Van Diemen, but we are nearly done. The car isn’t new, but it’s about as close as you can get without buying one from the factory. The car is all black, number 37, but is yet to be named. We’ll see how the weekend goes before christening the new ride with a name.


I’ve yet to get any solid pictures of the new car, though a shoddy one is posted below, I assure you that she is rather nice looking. Additionally, I’ll attempt to get updates here as the weekend progresses.

PITTSBURGH, PA - PRL Motorsports LLC announced the appointment of John Walko as Race Director and Lead Engineer. Walko’s career in the race industry spans over 20 years. He will oversee all of the company's race car engineering and will serve as the race director, reporting directly to Patrick R. Linn, Team Coordinator, Owner and Manager of PRL Motorsports LLC.

"John has an extensive background in operations and engineering in the race industry," said Linn. "Having run John Walko Racing  and with considerable experience elsewhere in the race industry, his involvement as the race director and lead engineer will be a key ingredient to the success of our growth strategy. We are very pleased to add John to our team."

Walko started driving in SCCA Club Formula Ford in 1994 and later opened his own prep shop. Since 1999, Walko has been a crew chief and engineer in SCCA Formula Ford, Formula Continental, Formula Ford Zetec Championship, Star Mazda, and the F2000 Championship Series as well as within a variety of vintage series in the east. In the highly competitive F2000 Championship Series, Walko has racked up several wins, and established a prowess for fine-tuning both machine and driver. Similarly, his involvement in vintage racing has produced widespread successes with multiple race wins.

Operating out of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, PRL Motorsports, LLC has established a national reputation in the race arena as a high-performance motorsports company. PRL Motorsports has an in-house fabrication center and services include custom fabrication, dyno tuning, machine work, chassis tuning, engine management, race car prep, consultation, race car rentals, transportation services and parts sales. Its 2012 racing events includes the USF2000 Championship Series, SCCA National racing and the Pro Star Mazda racing series.

For the 2013 season, Walko will be the Team Director and Lead Engineer, running the team's continued programs focusing on the “Mazda Road to Indy” with the USF2000 Series.

Lakeville, CT – After losing valuable points in the Championship earlier in the day with a DNF at Lime Rock, Chris Livengood bounced back, winning for the second time this year. The sophomore F2000 driver did exactly what he needed to take the fight to the final rounds of the season at Watkins Glen – take points away from Remy Audette, who finished second ahead of Tim Paul.

Livengood started on the outside pole and ran second to Audette early before passing the Canadian and stretching the gap for his third F2000 Series win. Local favorite Paul followed; his best career finished to date.

Livengood rebounded from an earlier crash in the first race that cost him valuable points. With just two rounds remaining in the season, a Watkins Glen doubleheader, Livengood is still alive in the title fight but the John Walko Racing/Work Racing driver may need a miracle, some 88 points down on Audette currently. One hundred ten (110) points are available at Watkins Glen.

“We had a clean start, Remy and I kept exchanging fast laps the entire way,” said Livengood. “He got a bit held up with lapped traffic and I was able to get by into turn one.”

Audette, meanwhile, had a successful weekend at Lime Rock with his fifth win of 2011, two poles, and a new qualifying track record. Audette has yet to fail to finish this season.

Said the Canadian: “Chris was pushing us to the limit the entire way, a lapped car messed the race up. The front of the car went away as the race continued, but overall it was a good weekend for Audette Racing.”

Tim Paul was the local story, the Mahopac, New York-native finished third in the SMR/GTP Motorsports No. 06, besting his fourth place effort a few months ago at Watkins Glen.

“I went to the outside on the start and was able to move up to third,” said Paul. “Minor got back by me, but we battled it out until it seemed like his car just go away. I’m happy to break my bad luck streak here after last year’s crash.”

Minor explained after the race that his tires lost grip.

Robert Wright, perhaps in his last race in the Van Diemen before switching to the new Radon chassis, won the Masters Class with a fourth place effort. Peter Gonzalez was fifth ahead of Tim Minor, who ran third early before fading.

Nathan Morcom drove through the field along with Craig Clawson, both starting at the rear of the pack, to finish seventh and eighth. John Walko Racing/Fat Boy Racing teammates Brendan Puderbach and Craig Clawson completed the top ten.

Clawson, meanwhile, had a career day, finishing fourth in the morning race, and taking home CellMark Paper Hard Charger honors in this race, advanced from 23rd to finish 8th, gaining the most positions of any driver.

Angel Benitez, after a third place effort earlier in the day, failed to finish for Alegra Motorsports, going off early.

Blake Teeter ended up 13th in the Radon chassis for GTP Motorsports, following a turn one incident, in the morning race that saw crash damage repaired.

Robert La Rocca did not take part in the race following a penalty for an incident in turn one earlier in the day.

The F2000 Championship Series concludes its 2011 season with rounds 13 and 14, at Watkins Glen, October 14-16.

Written by Monty Mathisen F2000 Championship Series 24 July 2011

Remy Audette passed Chris Livengood on a restart and held on for his fourth win of 2011, starting from fourth and avoiding a massive opening lap incident at the front of the field that produced a lengthy caution period. Livengood started from pole and finished second ahead of Dwight Rider for Front Range Motorsports, Angel Benitez for Alegra Motorsports, and Dave Weitzenhof, in the Citation chassis.

“We tried to be smart at the start,” said Canadian Audette. “I went to the outside and saw cars hitting one another. Then on the restart, coming out of turn ten, Chris spun his tires and I was able to get a run on him. From there I never looked back.”

For Audette, it was his fourth win of the season and tenth straight top-seven finish in ten races in 2011, and his second win at Mosport in the F2000 Championship Series, much to the delight of the huge Canadian crowd on hand.

With Kyle Connery failing to finish, Audette opens a huge gap in the points over Livengood, who moves into second ahead of Connery. Without drops, Audette leads the standings by 104 points over Livengood, also setting fast lap during the race for two more points.

Livengood notches another second place at Mosport, matching Friday’s result, and adds bonus points for pole.

“I came around on the restart, got on the gas and the car just understeered,” explained Livengood, who won at Mid-Ohio earlier in July. “I have a hard time keeping pick-up off the tires, it just understeered and Remy drove by. Mosport spoiled what should have been two wins this weekend.”

Dwight Rider rounded off the podium, taking the Masters Class win with a third place effort in the 30-minute time-window race for Colorado-based Front Range Motorsports.

“Going into turn one on the start I was on the inside and there was just enough room to squeeze through, everyone seemed to be getting tangled,” Rider said. “On the restart I pushed as hard as I could but we didn’t have anything for Remy or Chris.”

An opening lap turn one incident triggered a multi-car crash also involving Kyle Connery, Robert La Rocca, Zach Craigo, Tim Minor, Brent Gilkes and Dan Denison and produced an extremely lengthy caution period.

Up until the incident, Craigo was having a banner weekend for Front Range Motorsports, with his best qualifying and race results in F2000 to date. Connery, meanwhile, had cut sizably into Audette’s Championship lead margin with a win on Friday at the 10-turn road course.

Tim Paul, Craig Clawson, Bill Jordan, Fred Bross and Robert Wright completed the top ten.

CellMark Paper Hard Charger honors went to Dave Weitzenhof, who improved 10 positions during round 10 of the F2000 season at Mosport.

Tom Drake missed the start following an engine issue during qualifying.

Matt McDonough continued development work with the Radon chassis, starting from the rear of the pack after qualifying sixth.

The F2000 Championship Series continue with rounds 11 and 12 of 14 at Lime Rock Park, September 16-17 with the NASCAR Modifieds.

Written by Monty Mathisen F2000 23 July 2011

Chris Livengood missed out on a race win to Kyle Connery on Friday at Mosport but bounced back for the Saturday morning F2000 qualifying session to take the Afterburner Pole over Connery by three hundredths of a second with a lap of 1:21.000 around the 10-turn road course.

Livengood took the lead during Friday’s first F2000 race from Remy Audette on lap two before Connery tracked him down in the closing stages to grab his fourth win of the year.
Livengood, driving for Work Racing/John Walko Racing, won his second career F2000 Championship Series race at Mid-Ohio in early July and hopes to continue the momentum at Mosport.

American rookie Connery will line up on the outside of the front row, with a fast lap of 1:21.037 in the #91 CC Autosport and James Lee Racing entry. Connery bagged yet another win at Mosport during Friday’s race, passing Audette for second and then Livengood for the lead. Connery has just five races left to run down Audette from a sizable gap in the Championship.

Robert La Rocca finished fourth on Friday and hopes to find the podium as the weekend concludes in Ontario, as the RFR chassis for HP-Tech Motorsport qualified third.
Championship leader Audette had to settle for fourth in his #21 Audette Racing Van Diemen after leading on Friday from pole on his home turf in Canada.

Tim Minor will line up fifth, the position he finished in during Friday’s race in the #88 Ski Motorsports entry.

Matt McDonough qualified the new Radon chassis in sixth place, but will start from the rear of the field, using the race for more testing miles.

Zach Craigo continued the momentum from his best finish ever on Friday – sixth – to qualify seventh for Front Range Motorsports with teammate Dwight Rider in eighth, Dan Denison in ninth for Polestar Racing Group and Brent Gilkes rounding out the top ten.
Gustavo Rizzo missed the session and will miss the last race of the weekend at Mosport following a crash during Friday’s race.

The weekend at Mosport concludes with a 6:05 p.m. scheduled race start. Follow live on www.F2000series.com and on Twitter @F2000.

Written by Monty Mathisen - F2000 22 July 2011

American rookie Kyle Connery took his second straight win and fourth of 2011, vaulting from fourth in the race after starting second to pass Tim Minor, Remy Audette and then Chris Livengood for the lead in the first of two F2000 Championship Series races at Mosport.

“I didn’t get a great start and we were behind Tim (Minor) for a while,” said Connery. “I got past him and then the caution came out so we had a chance to get by Remy; once I saw him I was just thinking championship.”

Connery, driving for CC Autosport and James Lee Racing, continued: “We had to finish ahead of him (Remy Audette) today. And then when I saw Chris (Livengood), I tried to set a pace and was able to put a move on him entering turn eight for the lead. Today was good for the points.”

Connery claws back ten points on Audette in the Championship, now down by only 53 points.

Livengood set the fastest race lap and finished second ahead of Canadian Audette.

“Those two other guys, Remy and Kyle, what an absolutely fantastic race,” said Livengood, who passed Audette for the lead on lap two and gapped the Canadian in a highly entertaining F2000 race at the 10-turn Canadian road course on a warm day in Ontario.

“I battled as hard as I could but didn’t come out on the top step like we wanted,” added the Mid-Ohio winner, driving for Work Racing/John Walko Racing.

Audette, meanwhile, did lose a few points but came home with another consistent podium finish, and his ninth straight top-seven finish this season.

“I did my job for the Championship,” Audette commented. “We ran a good race; we have to finish well for the points. Tomorrow is another day so we will prepare the car accordingly and I will prepare myself.”

Robert La Rocca was fourth in the RFR chassis for HP-Tech Motorsport. The Florida-based squad also takes home the CellMark Paper Hard Charger Award, with teammate and fellow Venezuelan rookie Giancarlo Potolicchio advancing seven positions during the race.

Tim Minor won another Masters Class trophy by finishing fifth overall.

“I got a good start but the car went away rather quickly with some massive oversteer,” Minor explained.

Zach Craigo notched his best result of the year for Front Range Motorsports, finishing sixth ahead of Brent Gilkes, Tim Paul, Angel Benitez and Dan Denison, who completed the top ten for Polestar Racing Group.

Matt McDonough started at the back of the field in the new Radon chassis for development and testing reasons, after qualifying a strong sixth, and was classified 18th at the end of the race, which ended early due to a crash involving Gustavo Rizzo in turn four.

Saturday July 23 sees the F2000 grid qualifying at 9:45 a.m. and conclude the weekend with a 6:05 p.m. scheduled race start

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.