Prema Racing is a team that is likely unfamiliar to US-only race fans. They arrived to the IndyCar grid ahead of the 2025 season with a two-car effort and no charters. And yet, they are now on pole position for the biggest oval race on the entire planet.
So who exactly is the team behind rookie Indy 500 polesitter Robert Shwartzman? Well, they may be new to ovals but they are no strangers to open-wheel racing.
A legendary team in junior categories
Dennis Hauger, Prema Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Before we really get into it, let’s just put their achievements into perspective for the uninitiated: Prema has over 40 driver championships, and just as many team championships, after competing in 30+ racing divisions since 1983. Over one-fourth of the current Formula 1 grid have won titles with Prema, including Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
Just looking at this year’s Indy 500 starters, three of them have been crowned with Prema in the past (Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong and Shwartzman). Current Indy NXT points leader Dennis Hauger also won the 2021 F3 title with Prema, and the career paths of many other drivers have intersected with the rich history of this team. Two of the three drivers from last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans winning driver lineup have raced for Prema in the past, and Antonio Fuoco earned his first notable single-seater title with them.
For you NASCAR fans out there, it’s a bit like TRD and their driver development program, or for you IndyCar fans, they’re basically a much older version of HMD Motorsports.
So yeah, they’re everywhere. Prema is an Italian team that has been in operation since 1983, and as you can see by the overview above, they’ve made quite the name for themselves in Europe and around the world through various junior categories.
Prema first appeared in Italian F3, but it wasn’t long before they branched out into other divisions. And it was in Italian F3 where they earned their first significant triumph, winning the 1990 championship with Roberto Colciago behind the wheel.
Collecting trophies and building names
Polesitter Charles Leclerc, PREMA Racing, second place Antonio Fuoco, PREMA Racing
Photo by: FIA Formula 2
But as the world crossed into the 21st century, that’s when they truly began excelling as an organization. As the new millennium got under way, they started to pick up several regional crowns, snagging titles in both the Eurocup and Italian Formula Renault divisions.
Ryan Briscoe was one of their early champions and he currently works as a consultant for the team as they embark on their first Indy 500. Briscoe, a successful IndyCar driver who is well-known by most US racing fans, earned Prema the inaugural Formula 3 Euro Series championship in 2003.
Kamui Kobayashi, an ex-F1 driver and sports car racing legend with overall wins in both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans, earned his first major championship while driving for Prema.
And as Prema became more accustomed to the top step of the podium, they expanded their efforts into countless other junior divisions across Europe and even beyond. When the 2010s arrived, it became difficult to keep up with all of their successes. In the first half of the decade alone, they captured ten drivers’ titles in five different series. They won every single Formula 3 European team championship between 2013 and 2018, and as previously noted, they helped launch the careers of several future Formula 1 drivers.
Success in F2 and F3
Oliver Bearman, PREMA Racing
Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images
And yes, their success includes the direct feeder divisions for F1. They won three consecutive F3 drivers’ titles between 2019 and 2021, and each of those drivers are doing quite well for themselves, these days. There’s Piastri, who currently leads the F1 world championship, Hauger, who leads the Indy NXT standings, and Shwartzman, who just became the first rookie to earn pole position for the Indianapolis 500 in 42 years. Oh, and they’ve also won the F3 team championship in four of the last six years.
They have earned three drivers’ titles in Formula 2 as well, coming in 2017 with Leclerc, 2020 with Mick Schumacher, and 2021 with Piastri. There was even a GP2 (F2’s previous name) title with future F1 grand prix winner Pierre Gasly. Even a relatively new series like F1 Academy cannot escape Prema, which has won the team championship there in both 2023 and 2024.
Macau, Le Mans, and now IndyCar
#9 Prema Orlen Team Oreca 07 – Gibson LMP2 of Robert Kubica, Louis Deletraz, Lorenzo Colombo
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Although we’re mainly focusing on championships, it’s also worth mentioning that they know how to win the Macau Grand Prix as well, which is basically the Super Bowl of junior formula racing. Their drivers won that iconic event in 2011, 2013 and 2015. While several other entrants have reached three wins, only two organizations have ever won more than that.
And while they’ve competed in at least two dozen ongoing or defunct junior single-seater divisions, they also went and formed an endurance racing division. They earned the 2022 European Le Mans Series title in LMP2, while also securing a runner-up finish in that class at the Le Mans 24 during that same year.
And in case it wasn’t clear, no, they never attempted an oval race before the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.
This is entirely new for both Shwartzman and Prema Racing. In the first five races of the year, they had no starts higher than 16th, and no finishes higher than 18th when looking at both Shwartzman and his teammate Callum Ilott.
This Indy 500 pole feels like it came out of nowhere, and while it kind of did, we’re not dealing with true rookies here. It also helps when you have Eric Leichtle, a SpaceX engineer with previous experience at Team Penske, working with your organization.
While still quite the upset, Prema has been in this racing business for a long time, and they certainly know how to show up unannounced in a new series and immediately shake up the status quo.
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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 Long John Silver’s Ford, and Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Body Guard Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Hettinger Racing will enter the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time in 2026, marking the team’s first complete season at NASCAR’s national second-tier level. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based organization confirmed the move on December 23, 2025. Team owner Chris Hettinger said the timing aligned with the series’ growth and expanded national exposure.
The team will field the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, supported by Ford Performance, with engines supplied by Roush Yates Engines. Hettinger Racing secured owner points from Cope Family Racing’s No. 70 entry, guaranteeing a starting position in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2026. Driver and sponsorship announcements will come at a later date.
Hettinger Racing locks in a full-season NASCAR entry
The 2026 campaign represents a major step forward for Hettinger Racing, which has competed primarily in late model racing, the zMAX CARS Tour, the ARCA Menards Series, and select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. Moving to a full-season national schedule required long-term planning and stability.
“This is about putting our race team in the right place at the right time, Hettinger said in a team release.” “The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has incredible momentum. It features great racing, and the series gets significant exposure thanks to coverage from The CW.”
Hettinger stated that the new platform played a significant role in the decision. “Combining that platform with the support of Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines gives us the opportunity to grow our program into one that competes at a national level, he said.”
All races in 2026 will air live on The CW Network, with practice and qualifying streaming on the CW App. The season will be the first under the O’Reilly Auto Parts title sponsorship, following the end of Xfinity’s 11-year run as series sponsor.
Ford’s partnership and leadership structure take shape
Hettinger Racing’s alliance with Ford strengthens the manufacturer’s presence in the series after several teams moved to Chevrolet ahead of 2026. The No. 5 team will run Ford Mustang Dark Horse bodies paired with Roush Yates Engines.
Doug Yates, president and CEO of Roush Yates Engines, praised the approach Hettinger has taken. “I’ve been impressed by what Chris Hettinger has already built, and Roush Yates Engines is proud to be a part of Hettinger Racing’s future growth, Doug said.”
“Chris is a racer and a very good businessman who is taking a smart and methodical approach to 2026, Yates added.” “All of us at Roush Yates Engines are committed to him and his vision for Hettinger Racing.”
Veteran crew chief Joe Williams Jr. will lead the No. 5 program. Williams previously worked with Alpha Prime Racing and served as crew chief for Cole Custer during the 2022 season.
Team goals and early preparation for 2026
Hettinger said Williams’ experience will play a key role as the team builds through its first full season. “[Williams] brings a ton of experience, a ton of knowledge, and we’re looking forward to how he can grow this program going forward, Hettinger said.”
“Our goal for this year is to continue to build our program as the year goes on, finish races, run all the laps, and be prepared for every race that we go to and put ourselves in position to win, he added.”
Hettinger Racing has already made progress ahead of schedule. “I actually feel really, really good about our program right now, Hettinger said.” “Joe Williams and our guys have worked really, really hard. We basically have cars ready for the first four events. We feel like we’re way ahead of the game right now.”
The team plans to participate in the open preseason test at Rockingham Speedway in late January. Additional announcements are expected in the weeks leading up to the Daytona opener.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
Daniel Suarez’s 2025 season was not particularly one to write home about. The 33-year-old finished 29th in the standings, marking a rather underwhelming end to his tenure with the organization. The lone high point came when he won the Xfinity Series race on his home ground in Mexico City. His wife, Julia Piquet, spoke about the moment back in September.
Piquet, in a conversation with Samantha Busch, the spouse of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, was asked what it was like to race in front of so many fans who were rooting for Suarez. She explained that it was not a case of them traveling to Mexico City on a whim and returning immediately after the win. The visit had been months in the making.
Suarez and Piquet traveled to the city multiple times before the race for promotional activities, fan engagements, sponsorship meetings, and more. When race day finally arrived, it was Piquet who felt and showed the most pressure. Suarez, staying true to his nature, remained as calm and collected as ever.
She said, “I felt a lot of pressure for him. I can’t speak for him. I mean, a lot of people always ask me, ‘Does Daniel get nervous before a race?’ And I’m like, ‘Honestly, if he does, he doesn’t show it.’ He’s always cool as a cucumber. He’s always in the right mindset. I’m sure there was extra pressure obviously for Mexico City, but he never, never shows it, you know?”
Piquet had been nervous enough for both of them, given how badly Suarez had wanted to race again in front of his home crowd. The sheer number of media personnel and documentary crews following them around only added to the pressure. Once Suarez reached Victory Lane, the atmosphere turned absolutely electric, and Piquet was still in awe of it even months later.
She continued, “I get goosebumps every time I think about it because it was so magical. You couldn’t have scripted it any better. To crash in qualifying and come back in a backup car. I mean, they were singing the national anthem for the Xfinity race when they were rolling the car onto the grid because it took them up to the last minute to get it fixed or to prepare the backup car. It was a storybook ending.”
In 2026, Suarez will leave Trackhouse Racing for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series. Expectations are that he is able to fare a lot better with the team than he did with Trackhouse.
Northern Tool + Equipment is launching a TV series with RACER Network highlighting the next generation of tradespeople, following Tennessee’s LaVergne High School CTE juniors and seniors. (Photo courtesy Northern Tool + Equipment)
Minnesota-based Northern Tool + Equipment is partnering with RACER Network to launch a first-of-its-kind television series highlighting the next generation of tradespeople — namely, high school CTE (career and technical education) students. A new four-episode series will follow Tennessee’s LaVergne High School CTE juniors and seniors as they participate in the Legends Challenge: Student Build from Northern Tool — transforming a Harley-Davidson Nightster into an XR750-inspired flat-track racer with hands-on mentorship from racers and builders.
“The work these students are doing belongs on the big screen,” said Frank Crowson, chief marketing officer at Northern Tool + Equipment. “RACER Network fans—and motorsports diehards everywhere—are going to see real talent, determination and teamwork on display. This is a serious challenge; even seasoned pros would be pushed to finish a build like this in just 174 days.”
The series will highlight Northern Tool’s mission to put professional-grade tools in the hands of high school CTE students and invest in future tradespeople with unique learning experiences and industry mentorship, according to officials in a press release announcing the program. The retailer’s investment has already impacted more than 30 schools across the country, including two previous builds—the Monster Jam Mini Build and Rat Rod Kart Build Off.
“We greenlit the Northern Tool Legends Build because the students at La Vergne High School—and the skilled trades they’re learning—are the future of motorsports,” said Scott McLemore, RACER Network vice president of programming. “The craft, the grit, the teamwork—that’s the story RACER Network tells best. We’re proud to add Northern’s Legends Build to our new show lineup next fall, and we’re already eyeing Northern’s Build 4.”
Northern Tool + Equipment is a family-owned company serving both DIYers and trade professionals as a leading supplier of more than 100,000 high-quality tools and equipment.
The series is anticipated to air in 2026. Updates can be found on social media and Northern Tool’s YouTube channel.
With around two months to go until the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series goes green, Big Machine Racing made the announcement of the exit of Nick Sanchez in early December, after recording the team’s first win since 2022 this past season. Regardless, the team has since moved on, announcing his replacement on Tuesday.
Sanchez’s exit came as a surprise, given that not only did he win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Focused Health 250, but he recorded a further six top-five finishes as well as another five top 10s, coming home 12th in the driver’s standings.
News of the 24-year-old’s exit did not go down well with Hall of Fame driver and JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who labeled the decision “surprising” because of both his performances in 2025 and the late timing of it all.
Speaking on the ‘Dale Jr. Download’ podcast, the 51-year-old added, “It’s late. It’s a tough part of the year to find out that you don’t have a job for next season.”
He noted how the “talented” Sanchez could already have a new spot lined up, however, given that as of December 23 he has yet to make any announcements regarding a new home for 2026, this seems increasingly unlikely.
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“He’s decent, and he’s got some talent,” Earnhardt later added. “The other thing too I like is that he pisses some people off, right? I mean, I don’t love that cause sometimes he pisses me off or he pisses one of my guys off…But as a fan or as a broadcaster and as somebody who’s like wanting to fall in love with the sport. We need guys like that.”
With Sanchez no longer behind the wheel of the No. 48 BMR Chevrolet, it now falls upon Dr. Patrick Staropoli, who also happens to be a retina surgeon, to fill his shoes for the 2026 season.
The 36-year-old made his series debut in 2025, making four appearances for Sam Hunt Racing, finishing a season best of 16th at Martinsville Speedway in the US Marine Corps 250.
This will mark Staropoli’s first full-time season in any of NASCAR’s national series, while he also has yet to complete a full-time slate in the ARCA Menards feeder series.
“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2003, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport. The path has taken many unexpected turns but after working every day for 23 years in pursuit of this dream, I now have the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and Chevrolet. I am ready to do whatever it takes to put this SYFOVRE Chevy up front and raise awareness for Geographic Atrophy secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration by combining my passion for motorsports and medicine.”
BMR crew chief and team manager, Patrick Donahue, said the team was “pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the #48 Big Machine Racing team for the 2026 season.
“He brings a rare blend of professionalism, focus, and drive that will continue to strengthen our organization. This partnership reflects our commitment to surrounding the team with individuals who share our values and vision for building long-term success.”
A familiar name is set to return to NASCAR’s biggest stage after MBM Motorsports confirmed that veteran driver Casey Mears will look to qualify for the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2019. Mears has competed in ‘The Great American Race’ fifteen times with his best finish of second in 2006.
Team owner Carl Long confirmed that MBM Motorsports and Garage 66 will field the No. 66 entry for Mears on NASCAR radio on Tuesday. The 47-year-old driver’s return places him among the notable non-chartered NASCAR entries attempting to race their way into the field.
Mears has not started the Daytona 500 since 2019, when he finished 40th after crashing in Stage 2. He made several starts for the MBM and Garage 66 last season. Alongside Mears in the No. 66, confirmed open entries include Justin Allgaier in the No. 40 for JR Motorsports, B.J. McLeod in the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports, and Jimmie Johnson in the No. 84 for Legacy Motor Club.
Several additional teams, including RCR, NY Racing, Team AmeriVet, Tricon, Beard Motorsports, and 23XI, have also been mentioned as potential entrants, creating a tight qualifying environment.
During his 16-year Cup career, Mears has started 494 races, with one win, 51 top-10 finishes, and three poles. His only Cup win occurred at the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, which established him as a fan favorite during his prime.
His first Cup race came in the 2003 Daytona 500, making this return a full-circle moment more than two decades later. Carl Long’s own Daytona 500 history adds another layer to the storyline.
As a team owner, Long has endured a series of DNQs at Daytona, with failed qualifying attempts stretching from 2000 through 2009 across multiple teams and manufacturers. The entry with Mears represents another chance to finally break through at a race that has repeatedly slipped just out of reach.
MBM Motorsports will also field an ARCA Menards Series entry at Daytona for Derek White. The Canadian stock car driver’s only registered Cup Series race was the 5-hour Energy 301 in New Hampshire, where he finished 33rd.
Mears also made his Truck Series debut with the team last season at Martinsville Speedway and drove the No. 69 Pit Stop Diecasts Ford F-150 for his 600th NASCAR start. He raced to a 24th-place finish during the Slim Jim 200 and said how special it was for the team to give him such an opportunity.
“It’s pretty special to come back to Martinsville for my 600th NASCAR start,” said Mears. “This sport has given me so many incredible experiences, and to make my Truck Series debut with MBM Motorsports and The Pit Stop Diecasts at such an iconic track is exciting.”
“The Truck Series has always been on my list. It’s tough, exciting racing, and Martinsville is the perfect place to make it happen.”
“We are not a NASCAR team that is going dirt racing. We are dirt racers who happen to have a NASCAR team.”
Spire Motorsports is going dirt track racing on a much larger scale in 2026. In addition to their NASCAR efforts, they’ll also field a 410 winged sprint car entry. The new team will race full time in the Kubota High Limit Racing series.
In the middle of the 2025 season, Scelzi parted from KCP Racing. He finished the season with Clauson Marshall Racing, filling the seat for the injured Tyler Courtney. Now, he has a new ride…
Giovanni “Gio” Scelzi has been signed as the driver. He was previously awarded the 2023 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year. Scelzi has 12 race wins in national competition.
Eric Prutzman will join the team as the crew chief after taking Brad Sweet to six national championships.
He’ll also race in the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa. The car is a Spire Motorsports’ Chili’s-sponsored entry fielded by Keith Kunz.
Spire Motorsports has acquired a High Roller Club membership (charter) ahead of the 2026 season. It was purchased from Jason Myers Racing.
High Limit Sprint Cars introducing charter system to dirt racing
Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson comments
“Going on the road with High Limit is like a dream come true and to do this with people I have deep respect and appreciation for makes it even better,” said Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson in the team release.
“We’ve worked with and for Kyle (Larson), Brad (Sweet), Kendra (Jacobs) and JP (Josh Peterman) for years and I have an immense amount of gratitude to them for not only building a great series but for making a series that offers long-term growth to all of us in a sport we all love.”
“I’m thankful to Tim Clauson and the Marshalls for providing us a launch pad to make this jump and look forward to working closely this season.”
He added, “We are not a NASCAR team that is going dirt racing. We are dirt racers who happen to have a NASCAR team. This is in our blood and we can’t wait to get to Vegas in March.”
Gio Scelzi comments
“To see the enthusiasm from the employees at Spire Motorsports, that’s really something that made an impact on me,” said Scelzi.
“The NASCAR stuff is their job but it’s pretty obvious they enjoy sprint car racing. We’ll likely run 80 to 90 times a year at probably 50 different race tracks, but when you have an owner like Jeff (Dickerson) who truly loves sprint car racing and comes from that background, it really makes this an exciting opportunity.”
“I’ve known Eric (Prutzman) for a long time. When I was probably 10- or 12-years-old, when Donny Schatz was driving for Tony Stewart Racing, those guys would work out of my dad’s shop during that three-week West Coast swing and Eric was the tire guy at the time, so we became friends and stayed in touch.”
“I’ve watched Eric’s career and he’s had amazing success. The guys who run up front all have really good equipment so, now more than ever, it’s the people. Having someone as accomplished as Eric is just as important as the equipment.”
“I’m thrilled to race the Chili Bowl, again. I’ve run it three times in the past. I ran for Clauson Marshall Racing my first time and made the show.”
“The two years after that, I was there with Chad Boat Racing. To race a car prepared by Keith Kunz at the Chili Bowl is a dream come true. They’ve won prelim after prelim and Saturday after Saturday. The Chili Bowl is an event where being lucky is just as important as having a fast race car and putting yourself in position to win a race.”
“I’m really looking forward to getting back there. I’m really grateful to Jeff, Keith and the whole team at Chili’s for the opportunity.”
NASCAR charter sold for $40M to Spire Motorsports; New record
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Gio Scelzi | Spire Motorsports | High Limit Racing | NASCAR
