OCTOBER 12, 2007
Sonoma , CA

Joel Miller, 19-year-old racer from Hesperia, California, capped his 2007 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda Series season by winning the final race of the year and the overall championship. Joel finished the season with 5 wins and 10 podium finishes from the 14 round series and dedicated the championship to his grandfather who introduced him to racing ten years ago.

As part of the prize package, he will receive a free test with World Speed Motorsports in a Pro Formula Mazda. "I have to thank World Speed for offering this test as a reward for winning the Skip Barber Championship. This is another great opportunity for me to learn the car before the beginning of the 2008 season,” stated the newly crowned champion.

“We have been keeping an eye on Joel all season, and we have heard great things from the other teams that have had the opportunity to work with him,” said World Speed Operations Manager Mark Milazzo. “Everyone on the team is looking forward to the test.”

The World Speed Motorsports Rising Star Award has been helping young racers move up the open wheel racing ladder for years. Some past Rising Star Award winners have included Scott Speed, Michael McDowell, Brad Coleman, Joey Hand, Cole Whitt, Alan Scuito, & Ryan Phinny. Many of these drivers have gone on to win in upper level open wheel, stock car, and sports car races all over the world.

World Speed continues to train and develop future champions, and is hard at work testing in preparation for a full season in the 2008 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear.