Hartsdale, NY (April 12, 2023) – The realities of what it takes off the race track to compete in professional racing are unrelenting, and the d'Orlando brothers, Michael and Nick, are tasting its most bitter hurdle early in the 2023 race season. After budget constraints sidelined the younger brother, Nick, for two years back in 2019 and 2020, he aggressively grabbed the steering wheel by winning the 2021 FRP F1600 Formula F Championship in record setting form. In 2022 he took the opportunity of four race event weekends in the USF 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires series to prepare for a run at a full season in the series in 2023. However, budget constraints continue to limit Nick’s 2023 season to the one practice day and the season-opener weekend at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Nonetheless he managed to lead his teammates at Exclusive Autosports' USF2000 program. Protecting his car was foremost in his mind, but he still managed to leave the weekend in 8th place in the drivers’ championship. Shortly thereafter, Nick was once again forced by budget realities and spent the second event weekend of the USF2000 series watching from the sidelines at Sebring Raceway, and now he fears the same fate for the next round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.
If it weren’t for the 2022 USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires scholarship funding as the series’ champion, Michael would be facing the same fate. However, nothing is guaranteed for him either as the budgets for pre- and mid-season test days, all travel and any crash damage is a hefty pill to swallow. So you could say, even Michael’s season is on a race-by-race basis.
The cold reality is that aspiring racers need one of two things to get behind the wheel: cash or cash-rich sponsors. Talent is often a distant third. A record setting F1600 Championship is great for Nick’s resume, but sponsor dollars are necessary to continue in the USF 2000 championship.
“Not being able to race at Sebring is one of the most difficult things as a driver that I’ve ever had to do in recent years.” states Nick d’Orlando. “After getting back into a racecar in 2021 I have been hyper focused on maximizing every opportunity to work my way up the development ladder. The F1600 championship was just the start and the opportunity to race the last four events of Road to Indy (now known as the “USF Pro Championships”) last year was what I needed to prepare to fight for a championship this year. Exclusive (Autosport) has been really supportive of me and we all will continue to push to get back on the track as soon as possible.”
“The inability to enter Nick at Sebring was heartbreaking for all of us,” states Sherri d’Orlando, President of d’Orlando Enterprises LLC “and it’s difficult to watch the momentum we started last year come to a pause again. He works incredibly hard to be ready for any opportunity in a moment’s notice and continues to be Michael’s biggest supporter at all times. But I know it’s not easy for him to be on the sidelines instead of in the race car where he really wants to be and has earned. We continue to work together as a team to build opportunities for additional partners & supporters, and both drivers are working tirelessly in these efforts while also attending college.”
How Can You Help? To help Nick d’Orlando get back on track, partnership opportunities are available at all levels. Please contact Sherri d’Orlando at info@dorlandoracing.com or Art Wilmes of Rising Star Racing at art.wilmes@risingstarracing.com. Furthermore, direct sponsorship and donations are greatly appreciated. Visit our website at www.dorlandoracing.com.
d’Orlando Enterprises LLC has partnership programs with Priority Technology Holdings and Motul USA. These programs offer opportunities for businesses to increase revenue with Priority’s payment processing services (www.priorityanddellc.com) and Motul’s commercial/dealerships lubricants and oils products (www.motulusa.com) while also supporting our drivers, and future drivers, to continue to develop their careers in motorsports. Contact us for more information.
Additionally, Dino Luzzi Energy Drink is a continued supporter of d’Orlando Enterprises LLC. To help continue to build this partnership and expand their brand, visit www.talkshoplive.com to pick up a case of your own of Dino Luzzi Energy Drink. Every purchase through this link directly supports Michael and Nicholas.
To stay up to date on Nick d'Orlando, check out his new website at www.nickdorlandoracing.com, and follow his social media on Instagram (dorlandoracing, nickdorlando), Facebook (Nicholas d'Orlando Racing), Twitter (dorlandoracing and nickdorlando), TikTok (@nickdorlando) and on LinkedIn.
About d'Orlando Enterprises LLC: d'Orlando Enterprises LLC, also known as "DELLC", is a driver management, marketing, event planning and activation company with specific focus in the amateur and professional motorsports industry. We develop unique and remarkable VIP experiences, behind the scenes access, and other entertainment opportunities for partners and corporations at race events across the country, including the Indy500. See more information at www.dorlandoracing.com
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