Ashley Continues To Lead Barber Series Points After Double Win

SEBRING, February 17, 2010: Ashley Freiberg began her 2010 racing season in impressive fashion last weekend at the legendary Sebring International Raceway.

Freiberg, the 18-year-old racer from Homer Glen, Ill., performed a clean sweep in the Skip Barber Southern Regional events last Saturday and Sunday on the famed 3.7-mile, 17-turn road circuit by winning both open-wheel main events.

The two feature wins gives Freiberg the 2009-2010 Southern Region point lead after eight races in the 12-event campaign.

Starting from the pole position in the Saturday race, Freiberg drove her Akzo Nobel-sponsored Barber open-wheel machine to a dominating advantage in the regional action. In the eight-lap contest, Ashley won by 7.78 seconds over Dennis Trebing.

“It was exciting to race on the full track at Sebring,” said Freiberg, entering your second full season in open-wheel cars after capturing several world karting titles. “I was more focused for the weekend. I wanted to be more consistent with my driving, and I felt I accomplished that throughout the two events.”

In the Sunday competition, Freiberg again started from the pole, but Trebing was able to jump to the lead on the opening lap before Ashley took the top spot in turn one on the Sebring circuit. She never looked back to secure her second victory of the weekend and fifth of the season.

“I knew Dennis would try to grab the lead on the first lap,” said Freiberg, the recent high school graduate. “But I got a good run on the front straightaway and dove under his car in turn one on the second lap. He tried hard to apply the pressure, but I was running consistent laps and it paid off. I really wanted to win both of the races at Sebring. It will get me ready for the upcoming BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Series.”

The 14-race Barber National tour begins on March 5-7 at the Homestead Miami Speedway 2.21-mile road circuit. The series then moves to Sebring for the March 18-19 as part of the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend.

In 2009, Freiberg finished sixth in the final BFGoodrich/Barber National Series point standings.

“I feel much more confident entering the 2010 season,” Freiberg said. “I was a rookie driver in the Barber National series last year. I needed to learn a lot about the cars and the different tracks. Now, after last year, I believe I can be consistently at the front of the lead and challenge for wins on the national level.”

Freiberg is sponsored by Akzo Nobel N.V., the world’s leading decorative paints company as well as the leading salt specialist. The Dutch conglomerate, headquartered in Amsterdam, has activities in 80 countries and employs about 60.000 people in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals.