Jacob Eichholtz

Jacob Eichholtz (born January 16th, 1990) is an American race car driver from Fort Lauderdale, Florida who has competed most notably in ARLA, and their three major divisions. He currently competes for the Independent's Trophy. He also finished sixth in the 2010-2011 CRL Modified Division season.

CRL Modified Division
Jacob and the Eichholtz Autosport team announced their entry into the 2010 CRL Modified Division season just weeks before the season opener at Irwindale. Despite this, and marginal motor backing from Lenard, he qualified for the main race. After he failed to qualify for the next race, Eichholtz came back with a fury at Phoenix, scoring his first ever CRL point.

Weeks later, after an impressive duel with Fabrizio Dalle Stelle at Carbondale, Eichholtz edged Dalle Stelle when a lapped car held up Dalle Stelle on the final lap. His remaining races in CRL consisted of more up's than down's, but could not keep up with the points leaders in the late part of the season. Eichholtz finished sixth in final CRL points, a performance impressive for a team that was formed within two weeks of the season opener.

2010
Eichholtz first attempted an ARLA Elite Series race with his father at the 2010 120 Laps of Dwyer. However, they were swept up in an accident in the qualifying race and did not make the cut. Eichholtz also failed to qualify for the 2010 Rockford 200, not advancing out of his heat race.

2011
Eichholtz started 2011 with a bang as he dominantly won the ARLA Elite Series Rookie Shootout, giving him the points lead heading into the season opener, the Fort Worth 500. At Texas, Eichholtz backed up his win with an impressive podium finish, racing with TM Master Cup Series veterans Joseph Howard and Christian Johaanes. He continued this momentum into a fantastic season, finishing 4th in the final drivers' championship standings.

2012
2012 has been rough on Eichholtz. Heading into Rockford, he had only earned two top-ten finishes the entire year, and failed to qualifying for the 2012 Mini Indy 500. However, he dominated his heat race at Rockford, leading 49 of the 50 laps from pole, but was passed in the final corner, losing valuable championship bonus points. Nonetheless, with the runner-up finish he became one of the select few to make the main Rockford 200.

TM Master Cup Series
With his fantastic runs in the early part of the 2011 ARLA season, rumors swirled that Eichholtz and Eichholtz Autosport would bring the E231 into TM Master Cup Series competition as an Independent's Trophy contender. However, Eichholtz himself denied those rumors.

Eichholtz attempted the 2011 Karjala Grand Prix in a "brand new E231 chassis", but did not qualify. In a twisted sense of irony, the old version of the E231 that was given to Markus Teravainen managed to qualify for the race.

He suffered a vicious accident in his qualifying race at the 2011 Round of Indianapolis with Charlie Waters. Eichholtz was noted by safety officials "lucky to be alive." He and teammate Ben Atkins qualified for the 2011 Round of Decatur on speed. While Atkins almost earned a podium, Eichholtz received damage from a pit collision early in the race.

Despite his connections to his family team, Eichholtz's name has been associated with multiple established TM Master Cup Series teams for the 2012 season, including Katzev. He ultimately did not get a full-time drive but was confirmed for the Independent's Trophy in 2012. Eichholtz Autosport has not entered with a new version of the E231, instead running the Omecha MA03.

Eichholtz scored his first career TM Master Cup podium with a 3rd place in the 2012 Round of Russia. He ended the season placing sixth in the Independents' Trophy standings, only seventeen points off Gaspar de Sousa. Eichholtz continues to be a significant player in silly season for 2013, having not announced his plans except for a part-time ARLA schedule.