Pop Off Valve, for IndyCar fans

One of the really cool things about this job is getting to see -- not often enough, sadly -- young, talented people advance up the ladder toward their racing goals. Congrats, Shannon.

A significant investment from Mazda will see the champions of three Road to Indy development programs receive scholarships to move up the ladder. Mazda will award scholarships to the USF2000, Star Mazda, and Firestone Indy Lights champions to "graduate" to the next rung of the IndyCar development ladder.

Drivers who competed in Road to Indy ladder series are ranked in the top five of EFormulaCarNews.com’s final ranking of North American formula car racers. Conor Daly enjoyed a stellar season in the Star Mazda Championship ranks – winning both the overall championship and the VISITFLORIDA Cup. The 18-year-old from Noblesville, Ind., tied the Star Mazda record for wins in a season, and set season marks for podiums and pole positions and earned the No. 1 ranking with 10,363 points.

Sage Karam, 15-year-old racing prodigy and all around nice guy, is a finalist for the 2010 Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year. If you love racing and want to see a deserving kid make good, go vote for Sage!

If you're not reading Junior Open Wheel Talent then you are missing out not only on some terrific blogging, but also on the opportunity to educate yourself about the Road to Indy and the rising stars of open-wheel racing. Don't just settle for our Ladder Report - get your news from the source at JOWT!

For the 2010 season the aspiring drivers of the F2000 Championship Series will continue to be under consideration for prestigious Team USA Scholarships. The program provides end-of-season opportunities at the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy events in England for talented American drivers rising through the ranks of the open wheel ladder system. The scholarship winner list includes drivers such as A.J. Allmendinger, Conor Daly, Paul Edwards, Memo Gidley, Joey Hand, Bryan Herta, J.R. Hildebrand, Andy Lally, Josef Newgarden, Tony Renna, Buddy Rice, Bryan Sellers and Jimmy Vasser.