Abbott Takes Lead in EAST Championship Series

Kershaw, South Carolina (February 22, 2004) - Mishael Abbott of Coral Springs, FL did not have the best of luck in her first visit to Carolina Motorsports Park but still came away on top of the Star Mazda EAST Championship Series standings. Abbott had planned many practice laps over several days to familiarize herself with the course and prepare the car for Sunday’s 2004 Spring Sprints National sanctioned by the Central Carolinas Region of the Sports Car Club of America. However, transmission problems forced several rebuilds and ultimately replacement of the transmission. Despite this, Abbott qualified eighth among the Star Mazda EAST Championship competitors and during the race, moved up to a sixth place finishing position. After two rounds Mishael is leading the standings in the Star Mazda EAST Championship Series.

The race started with a black flag on the opening lap that brought all competitors into the pits. When the field was sent back out onto the track, a number of cars were experiencing overheating problems. Directly in front of Abbott a couple drivers were holding back while nursing their machines. This caused Abbott to find herself and her Velocity Motorsports Formula Mazda a few corners behind the leader when the green flag fell again. Abbott worked her way up to the leaders, posting her fastest race lap of 1:37.51 (82.5 mph) around the 14-turn road course and finishing sixth.

“We came here with the idea we could get 250 practice laps but because of transmission problems we could only get the car out for 7 practice laps from Thursday to Saturday. That is a very frustrating because you always want to go into a race as prepared as possible but it is also part of racing and you just persevere and do the best you can. I am actually pleased with my race performance and very excited about my first place standing in the EAST Championship,” reported Mishael after the weekend.
 

Next on Mishael Abbott’s racing schedule is the Star Mazda EAST Championship Series race at Road Atlanta on March 26-28.

Abbott continues to pursue her formal education at Florida Atlantic University toward an elementary teaching degree and seeking sponsorship support to compete in the Star Mazda Pro Series presented by Goodyear and the Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series for 2004.

More information is available by reaching her at  www.mishaelabbott.com.