Paul Edwards Wins a Third Team USA Scholarship Prize

Dublin, Ohio — The recent growth of interest in the Valvoline Team USA Scholarship has permitted the organizers to assist a third young American driver in his efforts to move up the racing ladder.
Paul Edwards, 19, from Santa Maria, Calif., has displayed outstanding determination and resourcefulness during his second full season in the extremely competitive RAC British Formula Ford Championship. As a reward for his efforts — which included a magnificent victory at Brands Hatch earlier in the season — he will carry the distinctive and patriotic red, white and blue livery of the Valvoline Team USA Scholarship in the forthcoming Formula Ford World Finals at Brands Hatch on October 18/19.

On the same weekend, a couple of hundred miles to the north, fellow young Americans Buddy Rice and Matt Sielsky will be representing Team USA in the equally prestigious Formula Opel Nations Cup event at Donington Park.

“I am just so excited,” said Edwards. “To follow in the footsteps of such great drivers as Jimmy Vasser and Bryan Herta [who both competed in the Formula Ford Festival as the first two Valvoline Team USA Scholarship winners in 1990 and 1991] is a tremendous honor in itself, and to know that I’m being supported by so many big names in the sport is a fantastic feeling.”

Edwards, who attended the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland PPG CART World Series event in July as a guest of Bruce McCaw’s PacWest Racing Group, also has attracted interest from noted British talent-spotter/team owner/manager David Sears.

“He just wouldn’t leave me alone,” quipped Sears, whose Super Nova team last weekend clinched its second FIA Formula 3000 Championship in three years. “He was very persistent and very determined. He’s taken a big step by leaving his homeland to try to make a career out of racing in Europe and I’m delighted that his accomplishments have been rewarded by the Team USA Scholarship organizers.”

Edwards will drive a factory-entered Swift SC97Z in the Formula Ford World Finals and will be assisted by famed racer engineer Dennis Rushen.

“I’m very impressed,” said Rushen, who many career credits include guiding the late, great Ayrton Senna to the British Formula Ford 2000 title in 1982. “[Paul] has a good head on his shoulders, he’s a personable young man and above all, he’s quick. What more could you ask?”

This year’s Team USA Scholarship program is grateful for support from Valvoline, Tasman Motorsports Group, CART, Klein Tools, LCI International, Firestone, PacWest Racing Group, Motorola, Mercedes-Benz, Road Racing Drivers Club and Skip Barber Racing School.