The Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-out is the largest and single most important event for karters transitioning into race cars. Past winners of Shoot-out awards include A.J. Allmendinger, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ricky Taylor and the past two Skip Barber National champions, Jonathan Goring and Joel Miller. Approximately $130,000 in total sponsorship is awarded, with the largest prize a full-season ride in the 2009 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda, an award worth more than $45,000, courtesy of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder system.

The Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-out is a critical component of the fully integrated Mazda-powered motorsports ladder system now in place in the U.S.: Skip Barber, Star Mazda, Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.
How does the Karting Shoot-out work?

The Shoot-out is limited to 50 karters. All 50 accepted entrants must meet the requirements; see below.

All Shoot-out sessions are conducted in the Skip Barber Formula 2000 (not karts or the Racing School Formula Skip Barber racecars). Preparation is key, so entrants are allowed to enroll in Skip Barber programs prior to the Shoot-out.

There are three days of on- and off-track assessment, and the karters judged to have the greatest auto racing potential receive scholarships to compete in the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda or one of the four Skip Barber Regional Race Series.

Even if you don't win sponsorship, you will come away from the Shoot-out with an incredibly valuable experience: You'll learn what it really takes to be fast in a race car. Nowhere in the world – except Skip Barber Racing – will you find three days of fully coached seat time in a winged, open-wheel sequential gearbox race car for only $1,999.

Requirements and Restrictions:

1. Any karter wishing to be considered as an entrant must submit this application (mail, e-mail or fax) no later than October 31, 2008.

2. Applicants must be actively and currently racing karts.

3. Applicants must be 25 years old or less at the time of the Shoot-out.

4. Final accepted-entrants must pay a fuel-and-tire fee of $1,999 (plus $500 refundable crash-damage deposit) at time of confirmed enrollment.

5. Final accepted-entrants must purchase and complete a Skip Barber Three Day Racing School prior to the Shoot-out.

6. If you have already graduated from a Skip Barber Three Day Racing School within 24 months of October 31, 2008, and you meet the other requirements, you need instead to purchase and graduate from one (1) Skip Barber Advanced Activity. If you are a graduate of a recognized three- or four-day racing school (skip Barber or other) more than 24 months prior to October 31, 2008 (or you are, in our assessment, otherwise qualified to enter), you must purchase and graduate from either two (2) Skip Barber Lapping Sessions or one (1) Skip Barber Two-Day Advanced Racing School.

7. Applicants can have participated in no more than one (1) professional auto racing weekend prior to the Shoot-out. A “professional” weekend is considered any auto racing series that awards either per-race or season-end prize money and/or significant seat-time, and includes series such as, but not limited to, Skip Barber National, FBMW, FF2000, FRenault, Star Mazda, Formula Atlantic, MX-5 Cup, SPEED World Challenge, etc.).

8. Applicants may participate in no more than 14 Skip Barber Regional Race Weekends in their entire career prior to the Shoot-out.

9. Previous Shoot-out award winners, but not any grand prize winners, may enter another Shoot-out provided they meet still meet the requirements and restrictions.

10. All rules and regulations are at the sole discretion of Skip Barber Racing School and may change without notice.

1. When and where will the Karting Shoot-out take place? 5. What are the differences between the Formula Skip Barber I drive in the Racing School and the Skip Barber F2000 I'll drive in the Shoot-out?
2. Do I need to enroll in a Skip Barber Three Day Racing School?  
3. But what if I have already graduated from a Skip Barber Three Day Racing School? 6. I've heard that some Karting Shoot-out applicants are now attending Lapping Sessions and Advanced Racing Schools, and that some are even competing in the Skip Barber Regional Series right now. Am I required to do that?
4. I've been racing karts for a long time. Why do I need a school?  
    7. There are drivers at the Shoot-out that have way more karting experience than me, so I might not win one of the scholarships. Why should I go?

1. When and where will the Karting Shoot-out take place?

The 2009 Karting Shoot-out is not yet scheduled, but it is usually held sometime between December and early February. The 2009 Shoot-out is expected to be at Sebring International Raceway in central Florida.
2. Do I need to enroll in a Skip Barber Three Day Racing School?

In order to enter the Shoot-out, all drivers are required to be graduates of the Skip Barber Three Day Racing School. See Requirements and Restrictions (above) for more detail.
3. But what if I have already graduated from a Skip Barber Three Day Racing School?

See Requirements and Restrictions (above) for more detail.
4. I've been racing karts for a long time. Why do I need a school?

It's important to note that the Three Day Racing School is the best way to learn and practice race car driving techniques -- trust us, a race car feels and reacts differently than even the most sophisticated kart -- including threshold braking, car control skills, and trail-braking techniques. Plus, you are getting extremely valuable coaching the entire time from the best race car drivers and instructors in motorsports.
What are the differences between the Formula Skip Barber I drive in the Racing School and the Skip Barber F2000 I'll drive in the Shoot-out?

Both cars use an identical space-frame chassis as the starting point, and both use the 150hp 2.0-liter engine. But where the Formula Skip Barber has a conventional 4-speed Hewland gearbox, the Skip Barber F2000 employs a 5-speed sequential. The F2000 composite bodywork is totally different than the Formula Skip Barber, and of course it has wings and runs on BFGoodrich g-Force high performance tires. The suspension set-up is different than the school car, too.
6. I've heard that some Karting Shoot-out applicants are now attending Lapping Sessions and Advanced Racing Schools, and that some are even competing in the Skip Barber Regional Series right now. Am I required to do that?

No, but it does make sense to get seat time and coaching prior to the Shoot-out, since preparation is key. Another factor to consider is that the Shoot-out car is the Skip Barber F2000, not the Formula Skip Barber (see previous question).
7. There are drivers at the Shoot-out that have way more karting experience than me, so I might not win one of the scholarships. Why should I go?

First of all, you might just surprise yourself. You are going to be up against some of the best karters in the world, no doubt about that. But going this year means you'll be even more prepared for the following year's Shoot-out. Over the 10-year history of the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-out, many karters have come more than once and eventually won an award. And don't forget, just being at the Shoot-out is prestigious and is a good thing to have on your racing resume. Finally, what serious driver would not want to take advantage of being individually coached by a select group of judges, drivers and instructors?