The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda announced the schedule for Cooper Tires Winterfest – a six-race mini-series offering drivers and teams a head start on their 2013 campaigns.

The first three races will be held Feb. 5-6 at Sebring International Raceway. Two practice sessions, one qualifying round and three 30-minute races will be contested on the 3.7-mile, 17-turn road course.

The season-opening rounds of the 2013 USF2000 Championship -- a first-ever tripleheader -- will be contested in mid-March at the track.

The 2.034-mile, 11-turn Palm Beach International Raceway will be the site of an identical schedule on Feb. 9-10.

“We are extremely pleased to announce our third annual Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship, which has become a key program in our series,” said Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. “Our schedule of six races over six days gives drivers and teams a chance to develop their programs and further their new relationships in a competitive environment that is cost effective.

"It is the perfect lead-up to the start of our season-long championship and, as a series, it allows us to dust off the cobwebs from the winter break. I personally really look forward to this event for a first glimpse of the new talent we have on board for another highly anticipated year of racing.”

This year’s Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship attracted 20 drivers from 10 teams. Spencer Pigot of Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing who won five of the six races. Teammate Trent Hindman finished second and recently-crowned 2012 USF2000 champion Matthew Brabham was third.

“This has been fantastic,” said Brabham at the conclusion of the 2012 Winterfest. “I had a lot of fun and got some really, really good experience before the actual start of the season, which is the most important thing – learning about the racing. I have never had that before in any series I’ve competed."

USF2000 will announce its full 2013 schedule in the coming weeks.