Andersen Racing Signs Kent For 2009 Star Mazda Campaign

PALMETTO, Fla., Jan. 7 — Defending team champion Andersen Racing is pleased to announce that it will field a car for 20-year-old Richard Kent of Clifton Reynes, England in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear.

Kent hopes he can begin the 2009 season just as he finished 2008. He stunned the series regulars last October at the 2008 season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., when he posted his first victory in the series in his initial start. Driving an Andersen Racing entry sponsored by Traka and Allied Interior Products, he led every lap of that race from the pole, which he'd won a few hours earlier by setting a new track record.

Kent had never driven at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca prior to that event. He's already tested with the Palmetto, Fla.-based team at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., site of the 2009 Star Mazda season opener on March 20, the first day of spring.

"It's fantastic to be returning to Andersen Racing for 2009, following the success we had at Laguna Seca at the end of last season," Kent said. "I hope we can continue the form we showed at Laguna throughout the year in the Andersen Racing/Allied/Traka car."

"After his stellar performance at Laguna Seca, Richard was definitely a 'must-have' driver for Andersen Racing's 2009 squad," said team coowner Dan Andersen. "We knew how good he was prior to Laguna, but if anyone had any doubts, he erased them in brilliant fashion. I'm very happy to have him on board for a full season. We believe he will be a frontrunner for the driver championship from the first race."

Another front-runner will be Kent's teammate, Conor Daly, the 2008 Skip Barber National champion.

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