Homer Glen, Illinois. Flying the Racing For Kids colors on the sidepods of his Pro Formula Mazda, Eric Freiberg, of Homer Glen, Illinois, wrapped up his rookie season in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear with a thirty-second place finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after contact on the opening lap damaged his suspension and forced him into the pits for lengthy repairs.

“This wasn’t how I was hoping to finish the season but we struggled a bit with car setup in qualifying and that put me in the pack for the start of the race,” Freiberg explained. “With the cars jockeying around for position anything can happen and unfortunately I got hit in the process.  The Northwest Autosport crew work hard to get me back out on the track but by that point we were several laps down.”

Driving the #3 CDE Collision Damage Experts/Racing For Kids Pro Formula Mazda, Freiberg was narrowly edged out of the top ten in the final standings after moving up from competing in the Standard Formula Mazda in the Central Region of the Sports Car Club of America in 2006.  “The level of competition in the Star Mazda Championship is intense and we were right there in the race for the podium at several events,” commented Freiberg. “I’ve learned a lot this season and look forward to stepping into the championship race in 2008.”

Freiberg also learned that he had a passion for community service as he participated in the series’ Racing For Kids hospital visit program at the season opener at Sebring International Raceway. “From that first hospital visit I was hooked,” he exclaimed. “Visiting these kids when they can’t make it out to the track, and seeing the smiles you are bringing to their faces is very rewarding.  After that first visit in Orlando I knew I wanted to do this every weekend the visits were arranged. For the final visit of the season at the Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California, I flew out early and went straight to the hospital.  They had arranged a group room and when I first arrived there was one child but before I knew it there were thirty!”

About Racing for Kids

Founded in Detroit in 1989, Racing For Kids® is designed to use the increasing popularity of motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the health care needs of children.
The hospital visits form the heart of the program. Racing For Kids® drivers visit children in Children's Hospitals wherever they race. They spend time with each sick youngster answering questions about their sport, posing for pictures, signing autographs and handing out the distinctive Racing For Kids® hats, coloring books and assorted memorabilia provide by our sponsors.

Racing For Kids® representatives have visited with more than 15,000 young patients in nearly 350 hospitals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Australia.

In addition, nearly $4 million has been raised through donations and specific fund raising events for children's hospitals and child health institutions and causes across the country.

For additional details please visit http://eric.freibergracing.com or  http://www.racingforkids.org