Andretti Autosport has added Shelby Blackstock to its Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda lineup for the 2012 season. Blackstock will drive the team's No. 8 entry in the series that serves as the first step of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver program. Andretti Autosport is the only IndyCar team with entries in all levels of the Mazda Road to Indy.
"We're really excited to have Shelby on board for 2012," said Michael Andretti. "He's proven to be a quick learner and quick on the track. We have a really strong lineup for USF2000, so I look forward to helping Shelby compete for the championship."
Blackstock, a 21-year-old from Nashville, Tenn., is a veteran of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Series presented by Mazda as well as various Skip Barber regional series. He finished the 2011 Skip Barber National Series in fifth place in championship point standings with two podium finishes. In 2011, Blackstock also earned two wins in the Skip Barber Summer Series and finished fourth in point standings. He also competed in the Formula Ford 1600 series and Grand-Am series in 2011. Blackstock gained valuable experience in 2010 while competing in the Skip Barber Summer Series and Skip Barber Southern Regional Series.
Blackstock will take the green flag with Andretti Autosport for the first time at the USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest in February 2012 at Sebring and Palm Beach International Raceway. The first rounds of the 2012 USF2000 season will begin in March at Sebring.