Toronto, Ont., Canada – James Dayson will make his eagerly awaited return to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda this week at the Allied Building Products Grand Prix of Toronto. Dayson, who hails from Vancouver, B.C., Canada, will drive the #16 Van Diemen-Mazda for ArmsUp Motorsports. 

After suffering a severe back injury last November he is finally ready to start his 2014 campaign. "It's been such a struggle but I'm glad to be at this stage and ready to return to racing. It was not only the most pain I've ever experienced but the mental challenges that come along with the constant nerve pain where tough," Dayson says of the bulging disc that sidelined him for eight months.

"It's been a slog for sure. I tried everything, even treatment in Germany. Then my incredible wife, who is a holistic nutritionist, got me in touch with an organic farm. I began a vegan diet but only consuming 100 percent alkaline foods and alfalfa supplements. Within a week my nerve pain was gone. It's unbelievable the power of food."

For the last two months Dayson was diligently retraining muscles that had shut off, while building strength and conditioning. "I'm still not 100 percent but got cleared to race which is an amazing feeling,” he says. “I set the Honda Indy of Toronto as my goal and to reach that is pretty incredible. I've had three awesome days testing with the team the last couple of weeks and literally and figuratively got up to speed quicker than I thought. Conditioning isn't where I'd like it to be but only seat time can improve that.”

Dayson is pleased to announce the return of Elite Performance as one of his main sponsors. Based in Vancouver and previously known as Corrective Kinetics, Elite is an elite training facility specializing in athletes and also serving anyone wanting to get or stay fit.

Owner and trainer, Lance Barrett says, "Elite Performance in Vancouver is happy to join as a sponsor with James for the remainder of the 2014 USF2000 series. We both wish it was sooner. Not only are we pleased to support JD as a sponsor but to be an integral part in his recovery from a serious back injury. We provided the solutions for James to make a full recovery and, as always, James put in the time to do the tedious rehabilitation work in the gym."

"I'm so grateful to have Elite Performance back on board as my sponsor,” adds Dayson. “They are also the other reason I'm back in the car. Without Lance guiding me and pushing me with my training and exercises there is no way I would be here."

Axium Capital Inc., a Vancouver-based commercial mortgage brokerage firm under the TMG banner with a presence nationwide specializing in Commercial Real Estate secured financial strategies, also is joining forces with Dayson for the first time.

"I'm happy to welcome my newest sponsor to my team,” Dayson says. “There is good synergy in our approach. I look forward to working with them.”

Axium's approach mirrors that of Dayson and is based upon integrity and drive, not only to achieve success but also to do so in a fair and competitive environment. Axium reaches coast to coast to find the right solutions for their clients and, just like Dayson, they will look far and wide to find the right method to achieve success in their set objectives.

"James' ethics align with that of Axium, consisting of gracefulness, elegance, balance and control – all features that prove that Axium has aligned itself with a true winner,” asserts Axium Owner and CEO Michael Grudman. “I'm excited to begin this new chapter for our company and wish James nothing but success for the rest of the season. He is very determined and driven to succeed and we look forward to seeing the journey."

ArmsUp Motorsports team owner Gregg Borland is equally happy to see Dayson back in the car. "I'm excited James is coming back. Even though he's been part of the team all year it will be nice to get him back on track finally. I also think it's cool that his first race back is in Canada."

"I'm so excited to finally be at this point (ready to race) and compete at this level,” says Dayson. “USF2000 is a great series and I've missed being around. It's fitting my comeback is on home soil. I hope I can make myself, my team, sponsors, family, friends and fans proud. All I can do is go out there and give it my all. I love racing and I'm ecstatic I can do it again. Thanks to all my supporters."