SBRS: Ashley Freiberg news 2010-07-09

FREIBERG LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS THIS WEEKEND IN SKIP BARBER SERIES AT ROAD ATLANTA
Young Female Racer Already Has Five Wins in Six Races in 2010

BRASELTON, Ga. (July 9, 2010) -- This summer, Ashley Freiberg has been defeating the boys on a regular basis in the Skip Barber Series.

In fact, the personable 18-year-old driver from Homer Glen, Ill., has won five of six regional races this summer in the Barber regional competition that continues this Saturday and Sunday (July 10-11) at the tough Road Atlanta road circuit.

Freiberg (pronounced FRY-BERG) has already captured main events at Virginia International Raceway, Watkins Glen International and Lime Rock Park to hold an impressive advantage in the Barber Summer Series point standings.

Leading point championships is nothing new for the talented racer after she became the first woman to ever win a Barber series title earlier this year in the Barber Southern Region action. Freiberg also won five WKA karting titles earlier in her career.

Now in her second season of auto racing after several years in karts, Freiberg won six of 12 events in the Barber Southern competition as well as competing in the Barber National Series. Freiberg has a second place finish in the national tour this year. "I will admit that it has been a busy year for me already," said Freiberg, who graduated early from Lockport High School to pursue his racing career. "After graduation in December, I really concentrated on my racing. Not just driving the cars too. I worked on my physical and mental preparation that is needed as you continue up the racing ladder. There is a lot to do off-track as well as on it."

Following this weekend action at Road Atlanta, Freiberg will drive at New Jersey International Raceway in the next round of the BFGoodrich/Barber National Series powered by Mazda on July 17-18. Ashley then continues her racing development by moving into the Star Mazda Series race on July 31-August 1 near her Illinois home at the Autobahn in Joliet, Ill.

"I would like to move into the Star Mazda Series in the future," explained Freiberg. "Luckily, in the Barber Series, my parents (Chuck and Donna) have helped with the finances of my racing. Plus we got Akzo Nobel as a sponsor. But, if I want to move up the racing ladder, I will need to land additional backing. So that is another off-track activity that I work on, too."

Freiberg's talent has been gaining notice through the North American racing community. Ashley has met several influential motorsports leaders including the likes of Bobby Rahal and Lyn St. James, who mentored Freiberg in her Scholarship program.

"I am attempting to meet with as many people as possible," said Freiberg. "I want to learn all of aspects of motorsports. Plus I need to continue my success on the track and get more attention."

This weekend at Road Atlanta, Freiberg could get a lot more attention if she continues her winning ways on the high-speed 2.54-mile road course.

"If I can keep winning, I think more doors will open for me," he says.

-source: af PR/tb