Andrew Hobbs Scores First Career Skip Barber Race Series Podium Finishes at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

“Andrew Hobbs Scores First Career Skip Barber Race Series Podium Finishes
at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca”

MONTEREY, Calif. – Andrew Hobbs got his 2012 Skip Barber Race Series campaign
off to a blistering start last weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca by scoring two
second place results in the Skip Barber Winter Series event. Hobbs had a weekend
of first in his Mastertech/Prestige Auto Works/Enterprise Rental Car/Merchant
Services Limited backed Skip Barber F2000 car. The third generation driver led his
first laps in a Skip Barber race, started from the front row for the first time and set
the races' fastest lap in race two.

After a four month break out of a racecar, Andrew Hobbs returned to the Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca circuit full of confidence after his most recent outing at Skip
Barber Race Series Shootout. Picking up where he left off at the Shootout Hobbs
was immediately a threat at the top end of the time sheets. Dealing with the fickle
Monterey weather, session one dry and session two damp, Hobbs placed fourth
and fifth respectively. For qualifying the skies opened up and the third generation
driver moved up setting the session’s third quickest time. After a penalty Hobbs was
promoted to second in the order guaranteeing his first career front row starting spot
in the Skip Barber Race series.

For Sunday's two race format the skies returned to clear and the temperatures cool.
As the green flag waived Hobbs settled into second on the races opening lap but
made his move into the lead on lap two, leading his first event laps in a Skip Barber
event. From that point on Hobbs began to open his lead to a high of seven seconds
before a full course caution bunched the field back up just past the races halfway
point. After the restart Hobbs found himself in a wheel to wheel battle with series
front runner Nick Neri. The duo traded the lead back and forth with Hobbs ending
the race in second, his first career Skip Barber Race Series podium.

Race two was the Andrew and Nick show once again. This time the battle raged
from the opening lap with the two young charges changing positions several times
over the course of the 16 lap affair. With about five laps to go Hobbs had a slight
error in turn four giving Neri about a 30 car-length lead. Hobbs never once gave
up and began reeling in the leader and crossed the stripe three tenths-of-a-second
behind the Neri setting the races fastest lap in the process.

“It was another great weekend where I continued to move forward,” stated
Hobbs after the second race. “I feel like I can definitely be a contender for the
championship this year and that I’m going to continue to improve. It’s slightly
disappointing that I didn’t win the last race but two second place finishes is amazing
for the first weekend. I’d just like to thank Mastertech, Merchant Services, Enterprise
Rental Cars, and Prestige for their support. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”

Hobbs will now look to carry this momentum into the finale of the Skip Barber Winter
Series April 12-14. For the Milwaukee driver this will be the final warm-up event
before his full assault on the Skip Barber Summer Series. The event will mark the
first trip to Sebring International Raceway for Hobbs and the high school senior
will look to put his Mastertech/Prestige Auto Works/Enterprise Rental Car/Merchant
Services Limited backed car on the top step of the podium.

Taking over the family business is a rich tradition in the United States. When
the family business is driving racecars at the absolute limit, that tradition takes
on a whole new meaning. Andrew Hobbs aims to follow in the footsteps of his
grandfather and father and become a professional racecar driver. On the track
Hobbs has displayed all the traits necessary to compete at the highest levels
of motorsports, off track he understands the business of motorsports that will
help insure high levels of success for his partners. For more information on
Andrew Hobbs, please visit www.AndrewHobbsRacing.com or follow him on twitter
@AHobbsRacing. You can also track Andrew's progress at http://www.davidhobbs.com/custom/AndrewHobbsRacing/GlendaleWI-Honda-Dealer