IndyCar star Conor Daly announces he will drive for Sam Hunt Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Veteran IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly is set to make his return to NASCAR's second-tier series. He will compete in the Pennzoil 250 for Sam Hunt Racing, as announced by the team on Wednesday, July 10. However, Daly has announced on his “Speed Street” podcast that he will compete in the Xfinity Series next weekend.

Daly, who last raced in the Xfinity Series in 2023, will drive the #26 Toyota at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval track. The race is on July 20, marking his third start in the series.

Sam Hunt, the owner of Sam Hunt Racing, is thrilled to have a crossover star like Daly behind the wheel of their #26 entry. On signing Daly for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval race, Hunt said in a team press release:

“It’s always extremely exciting for me to have drivers cross over into NASCAR from other professional genres of motorsports. Conor is a journeyman racer, a hometown favorite at Indianapolis, and a guy who understands how the sport works from top to bottom.

"For us to be able to provide him with a competitive opportunity in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is a pleasure, and one I know everyone is excited about.”

Conor Daly has been running in the IndyCar Series since 2013 and has made 109 starts in the series. In an 11-year-long career, the 32-year-old Indiana-born driver has managed one podium finish and one pole.

Daly will be the eighth driver to drive the #26 entry for SHR this season, joining Sage Karam, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Corey Heim, John Hunter Nemechek, Dean Thompson, Ed Jones and Tyler Reddick.

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Conor Daly reacts to his NASCAR Xfinity Series return with Sam Hunt Racing

Indy star has a handful of experience in NASCAR’s all-three national series. In his two starts in Xfinity, he finished 31st and 35th at Road America and Charlotte Motor Speedway, respectively. He also has three starts each in Xfinity and Truck Series.

Expressing his feelings about returning to NASCAR, Conor Daly said in a statement:

“I am extremely thankful for the chance to bring Polkadot back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this time with Sam Hunt Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. When I heard the NASCAR Xfinity Series was returning to the oval at Indianapolis, I knew I had to be part of it.”

Polkadot, a core of Web3 for developers, will be the primary sponsor for Conor Daly’s ride at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval.

Apart from his Xfinity race at IMS, the Indy driver has signed a three-race deal with Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series. He will make his first start at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 19. He will return at Kansas Speedway on Sep. 27 and Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 26.