This is one of the VW sites that should be updated with current info on the series.  So far they just have a few articles and some mug shots up, but I believe they will have live timing and scoring at each event. 

Click here: VW Site

Also be sure to check out my new helmet design.  I will upload more pictures of it as they come throughout the season.  Checkout John Thow Designs by clicking here if you want to create a really cool design for your helmet!  Thanks John!

*note the Mancuso family crest in chrome on the back!

Thanks,

-Nick 

I received an email from a fan the other day so I thought I would share it here:

"Hey Nick, congrats on the VW ride, very cool!  Anyways, I was just wondering: don't you ever get scared when you're driving that fast in a race car?"

        -Heather H., Lake Forest, IL.

-Great question Heather.  I actually get asked questions like this all the time: "Aren't you scared?" "Whats it's like going so fast?" etc.  My answer actually surprises many people: Oftentimes when you are going fastest in a racecar it is the most boring.  Most of the time, on any given track, you achieve your highest linear speeds on the straightaways, and that is your time to relax.  Shifting is relatively easy and, unless you are setting somebody up for a pass, all you really do is check your mirrors and fix your helmet or stretch your fingers.  What really is the most exciting part of driving is carrying as much speed as possible through the corners, because then you have to be perfect to go fast.  When you take a corner properly the car should be at the absolute limit: the tires should be sliding at the perfect slip angle and more of any input (i.e. steering, throttle, brake) will upset the car and cause you to slow or possibly spin.  That is where the art of being a racecar driver is: keeping the car on the limit without going over.  So it often surprises people to find out that is is far more difficult to go 20mph at the apex of a tight turn then it is to go 200mph down the straight.  Thanks for the question Heather and feel free to email me anytime.

Thanks,

-Nick 

A few months ago I submitted an online video application to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup driver search and I was selected as one of the 100 semi-finalists to go to Pheonix, AZ for driver selection.  So a few weekends ago I went out to Firebird International Raceway for an exhaustive 4 day driver selection.  It was unbelievable professional and VW really showed their factory commitment to the series.  They had everything from a tent that would make some Formula 1 teams jealous to waffles stamped with the VW logo and everything in between.  The driver selection was based on far more than just outright speed: we went through media testing, fitness testing with a group called Athletes Performance, written tests, driving tests in kart, street cars, and race cars.  We were constantly being watched and graded by the many VW staff around us including our driver coaches: Tommy Byrne (former grand prix racer), Jan Heylen (currently running in Grand-Am), Mark Miller and Ryan Arciero (off-road racers- Baja, Dakar, etc.).  On top of all of this, there was a documentary film crew following us the whole time and they are going to make a one hour special after the end of the season.  It took a little getting used to having the boom microphones and cameras in your face, but it was pretty neat. 

    I ended up being one of the final 30 full time racing drivers selected and will now compete in the remainder of the series.  The cars were very fun to drive, but is completely different than what I am used to.  They were a blast, however.  They had decent torque (~300 I think) from the clean diesel engines and have a paddle-shift sequential dual-clutch gearbox, which is very responsive.  They also come equipped with a race tuned suspension, AIM data systems and shiftlights, brakes from the Audi R8, and racing slicks so they are very enjoyable.  The only thing now is that I need to learn how to drive these front wheel drive racecars as the vehicle dynamics is a bit different from what I am used to.  More info to come as my hectic schedule will hopefully settle down a bit in the next few weeks.  I am off to Long Beach this weekend for the grand prix and then its off to Virginia next weekend for out first Jetta Cup race.  It will be a good weekend as we are partnered with Grand-Am so hopefully I will make some good contacts as I will hopefully be driving there next year.  Wish me luck, as if I win this series I will be the proud owner of $250,000 which is a drivers best friend for finding next years ride!

Thanks,

-Nick 

  check out http://media.vw.com to view Jetta Cup articles/photographs and get live timing and scoring at all the races!