Neil Alberico – Great Result But Mixed Emotions

En route to Ireland (October 21, 2011) — It was a very mixed emotional weekend with everything that happened at Brands Hatch and in Las Vegas with INDYCAR. I’ll remember everything that day minute-for-minute. I was lucky enough to share some great memories with Dan Wheldon through his involvement with Joey Hand and the boys at Kartel. If you knew Dan, you knew the kind of person he was and I don’t have to tell you. I understand he passed doing something he loved. But as racing drivers we all understand the risk involved in this sport, and unfortunately that’s something we have to accept. I don’t want to reflect too much on Sunday, other than to send my thoughts and prayers out to the Wheldon family. It was a pleasure working with you, Dan; I had a blast getting to know you! We all miss you.

The Festival came and went so fast. The past two weeks went by fast. In fact, this whole season went by super-fast! Trent, Spencer and I drove five days straight at Brands. From Wednesday to Sunday. All. Day. Long. That’s why I think the Festival is so great. Even Formula Ford for that matter! We all woke up at about 7am everyday, walked to the track, suited up, cranked out about 140 laps throughout the day, walked back to the hotel, ate, slept and did it again the next day.

Let me put it to you this way, between Silverstone and Brands Hatch I logged in six races. That’s two race weekends back to back, where I was driving everyday except Monday and Tuesday. Eleven days total, nine of which I was driving. And that’s not just a special occasion. It’s been like that all season. After the Walter Hayes Trophy in a few weeks I’ll have close to 40 races under my belt – all since April this year. Not to mention winter testing prior to that. That’s a pretty impressive amount of seat time. Value for money, Formula Ford is the place to be.

So, for Saturday, Trent and I were drawn in different Heat races. I was in Heat 1 and Trent was in Heat 2. Both of us stuck it on pole and won our first races. I don’t think it gets much better than that. Trent and I were on it that day; we just needed to pull through and win the one that counts. Those results set up the two Semi Finals for Sunday, which turned out to be a Cliff Dempsey Racing front row lockout! I was on pole for Semi Final 1 with Ireland’s Cormac O’Neill off pole in his CDR-prepared car. Trent was on pole for his semi alongside Team Canada’s Xavier Coupal, also running with the guys at CDR. I managed to keep the ball rolling with a Semi Final win on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, Trent was punted during the early stages of his semi but worked hard to race his way through the pack and make it into the Final. The Final was again an all CDR front row shared between Xavier and myself. I went on to finish third. I feel that I should have won the main event having been so strong throughout the weekend but I was delighted to be on the podium for Team USA and Cliff Dempsey Racing.

Well, I’m currently sitting in the back of an Audi finishing up my blog. It’s 10:37pm and Cliff, Michelle and I are headed back to Ireland to celebrate their eldest son Keith and Joanne’s wedding! We only got back from Brands Hatch yesterday and now we have to catch the 2am boat out of Holyhead. That will put us in Dublin for the morning to meet Peter, the Dempseys’ other son, and Mandy at the airport. Then the fun begins! My first Irish wedding and I’ll have plenty of pictures for you guys to enjoy next week sometime! We have another two hours of driving until we get to the port so I’m going to take this opportunity to sleep. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you and goodnight.