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Hunter-Reay hopes to keep rolling in Motor City

By WTOP Staff

LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Ryan Hunter-Reay recalls rooting for the Andrettis and Unsers when he was growing up in South Florida, hoping an American would win the races he watched on TV.

“I’ve always been patriotic,” he said Thursday along the banks of the Detroit River.

Now, Hunter-Reay hopes he can give kids in the United States someone to cheer for in open-wheel auto racing. He is the first American since 2006 to win the Indianapolis 500 and the sixth in two decades.

Soon, he will get two chances to sustain success because the Detroit Grand Prix will feature full-length IndyCar races Saturday and Sunday.

“It won’t be easy because the Penske and Ganassi teams are great, and they don’t have one American driver,” Hunter-Reay said. “And on any given week, there are 15 cars that can win.”

Belle Isle’s 2.36 mile, 13-turn street circuit will be put to a test by a lot of racing and some patching that was needed at Turns 12 and 13 because a water main broke this week.

Detroit Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker said $4 million will be invested in the track after this year’s races.

Simon Pagenaud and Mike Conway won the 2013 Detroit Grand Prix races on an improved surface that held up much better than it did in two years ago when pot holes and grooves spoiled the show.

Conway hopes to repeat, but if he does not, the Brit would be happy for the desperately seeking attention sport if Hunter-Reay finishes first again.

Will Power would, too.

“It is good for the sport if we can have an American regularly contending, winning sometimes at least and challenging to win the series championship,” Power said. “I hope Ryan has success that boosts interest in our sport.”

Barely, Hunter-Reay won the Indy 500 on Sunday. He was 0.060 seconds ahead of three-time Indy champ Helio Castroneves in the second-closest margin of victory in the history of the race. Hunter-Reay became the first from the U.S. to win open-wheel racing’s signature event since Sam Hornish Jr. did it eight years ago.

The 2012 series champion said he has slept 3 to 4 hours a night lately, taking advantage of opportunities to boost his profile and promote the sport. Hunter-Reay rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and posed for pictures at the top of the Empire State Building. He was Texas on Wednesday at a lunch with Texas Motor Speedway sponsors and season ticket holders. On Monday, Hunter-Reay is scheduled to appear on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

“It has been surreal to be honest,” he acknowledged. “But there’s a real sense of getting back to work this week and turning the page because there’s a lot at stake this week. With two races, there are as many points up for grabs in Detroit as there was at Indy.”

If Power had it his way, IndyCar would have two races every weekend.

“I really like it much better,” he said. “It feels like more of a worthwhile weekend if we have a double-header. Instead of a weekend filled with practicing and qualifying, you’re competing twice and that’s what we’re all here to do.”

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/larrylage

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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