2019 Indy 500 Competitors Hildebrand and Karam Join the ARX Rallycross Grid this Weekend
LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 6, 2019) – Less than two weeks removed from the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500, Andretti Autosport and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will also field cars in this weekend’s Cooper Tires ARX of Mid-Ohio, June 8-9. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the site of the season-opening round of the Americas Rallycross (ARX) series which these two teams will be competing with multiple entries.
Andretti Autosport’s ARX Rallycross operation, Andretti Rallycross, has two entries in the top ARX Supercars class for Cabot Bigham and Tanner Foust. Foust returns to the Andretti team racing the No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle after placing second in the final driver standings in ARX’s inaugural season in 2018. Bigham makes his ARX Supercar debut this season after competing with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in ARX2 last season.
After competing for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) in the Indy 500 last month, J.R. Hildebrand and Sage Karam both return to the driver’s seat for DRR again, but this time the racing will be on the asphalt, dirt and air of Mid-Ohio’s purpose-built 0.761-mile rallycross course. Hildebrand makes his ARX debut with the same team who gave him his very first Indy car start also at Mid-Ohio in 2010. The four-car DRR assault will also feature ARX2 championship contender Cole Keatts and teenage female sensation Gray Leadbetter at Mid-Ohio this weekend.
“Can't wait to jump in the ARX2 car with DRR,” said Hildebrand, driving the No. 48 WIX Filters with Mecum Auctions ARX2 car. “I had a lot of fun briefly testing the car after the Indy test a couple months ago and am excited to learn as much as I can this weekend in Mid-Ohio. DRR's track record is extremely good in these cars, so I'm looking forward to tackling it with them.”
“It’s funny. I really enjoy running at Mid-Ohio. It’s a great track. But I haven’t had great luck there in Indy Lights and IndyCar. I am looking forward to coming to Mid-Ohio for the ARX Rallycross weekend,” shared Karam, driver of the No. 24 WIX Filters with ISMI Springs ARX2 car. “It’s my first ARX races with the No. 24 WIX Filters car. I have been able to test the car and it is a blast. Now, I have never raced in dirt before so that will be a little different. But I’m very anxious to jump in the No. 24 on Saturday morning for that first practice. It’s a big jump from the Indy car at the Indy 500 to the small, lightweight ARX2 machine at Mid-Ohio. But I know I’m up for the challenge.”
The on track action of the Cooper Tires ARX of Mid-Ohio begins on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. ET with practice for all three ARX classes: ARX, ARX2, and ARX3. However, the excitement of the race weekend gets started later today (June 6) with the Mid-Ohio Rallycross Party at The Phoenix Brewing Company (131 N. Diamond St., Mansfield, OH 44902) from 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET. The event is open to the public. ARX Rallycross cars will be on display, and drivers will be available for a meet and greet and answer questions about ARX.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course offers an exceptional family value. Children 12 and under are admitted free (not the grandstands) when accompanied by a ticketed adult, plus free parking is available. Weekend General Admission is $60, and Grandstand seating is $80 ($5 additional for tickets purchased at the gate.). Garage access is free for all spectators during the Cooper Tires ARX of Mid-Ohio to get an up close view of the cars and interact with the drivers. Visit midohio.com or call 419-884-4000, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, to purchase tickets in advance.
ABOUT MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 330 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is owned and operated by Green Savoree Racing Promotions since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.
