Tag: Josh Pierson

Foyt Signs Pierson to Multi-Year Deal

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From A. J. Foyt Racing:


FROM YOUNGEST EVER AT LE MANS TO INDYCAR ROOKIE:JOSH PIERSON JOINS AJ FOYT RACING IN A MULTI-YEAR DEAL
The 20-year-old American joins Dennis Hauger in the team’s 2027 Chevrolet-powered lineup as AJ Foyt Racing celebrates the 50th anniversary of A.J. Foyt’s historic fourth Indianapolis 500 victory

INDIANAPOLIS (October 27, 2026) – AJ Foyt Racing has signed Josh Pierson to a multi-year agreement to compete in the NTT INDYCAR Series beginning in 2027, bringing a Guinness World Records holder and accomplished young American driver to one of motorsports’ most storied teams.  With Dennis Hauger in the No. 14 representing Homes For Our Troops, Pierson will drive the No. 4 Chevrolet with a new sponsor spotlighting a complementary program.“Racing in INDYCAR has been my dream for as long as I can remember,” Pierson said. “The variety of racing I’ve done has all been in preparation for this incredible opportunity. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way and tremendously appreciative of the commitment of a new partner that will be announced shortly.” Pierson at 16 is the youngest driver ever to start the 24 Hours of Le Mans.


Pierson’s career has taken him from local to international karting, through junior formula racing and international sports cars, and back to open-wheel competition in INDY NXT by Firestone. At 16, he became the youngest driver ever to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The FIA gold-rated driver has a resume that includes race wins and podium finishes in the World Endurance Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, IMSA and INDY NXT.
Pierson (middle) with drivers Oliver Jarvis (L) and Alex Lynn finished 2nd in the LMP2 class in the 8 Hours of Bahrain in 2022.
“I’ve been watching Josh closely for the past several seasons. Few drivers at his age have his depth of experience, and his maturity and work ethic are remarkable,” said Larry Foyt, president of AJ Foyt Racing.
“Over the past year, he impressed us in multiple tests in a Panoz DP01 Champ Car alongside current INDYCAR drivers, and again in our Chevy-powered car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. I believe in Josh, and we’re excited to be part of his continued development.”
Pierson led more laps than any other driver in the 2026 INDY NXT season and started on the front row in each of the final three races, including two pole positions. At Milwaukee, he set a new qualifying record previously held by new teammate Dennis Hauger. The following weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Pierson again qualified on pole and led every lap to win.
Pierson stands tall atop his car in Victory Lane at WeatherTech Raceway – Laguna Seca last month.
Pierson joins the team as it prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of A.J. Foyt’s historic fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 2027.
“Being a part of AJ Foyt Racing, a team with incredible history, means the world to me. I’m excited about what Larry and the entire team are building for the future,” said Pierson.
“I’m grateful for their confidence in me and look forward to my first NTT INDYCAR Series green flag at St. Pete.”

About Josh PiersonJosh Pierson is an American racing driver from Wilsonville, Oregon, with experience in INDY NXT, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA and the Asian Le Mans Series. He has supported the Alzheimer’s Association as an #ENDALZ Athlete since 2022.joshpierson.com | @joshpierson

About AJ Foyt RacingFounded by A.J. Foyt, the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, AJ Foyt Racing competes in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES under Team President Larry Foyt. The team will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Foyt’s fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 2027.ajfoytracing.com | @ajfoytracing

JOSH PIERSON NAMED AS FIRST-EVER ED CARPENTER RACING DEVELOPMENT DRIVER WITH PLANS FOR 2025 INDYCAR CAMPAIGN

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From E Carpenter racing this morning. Hiring a development driver may not work for every team, but I think it is a good idea for the smaller teams.

16-Year-Old Standout Driver, ECR Look To Compete Together For At Least Three Years in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES 
(INDIANAPOLIS) November 15, 2022 – Ed Carpenter Racing announced today a new driver development program featuring Josh Pierson. The 16-year-old will continue his ascent through the Road to Indy ranks with the intent of competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2025 with ECR. Pierson, an Oregon native, will have the guidance and support of ECR team members as he furthers his career and will be mentored by team owner Ed Carpenter. Additionally, Pierson will begin testing one of ECR’s Chevrolet-powered Indy cars in 2023. 
Behind the wheel since he was just two years old, Pierson already has a long list of accomplishments and the young driver’s resume grows more today by becoming the first-ever development driver for Ed Carpenter Racing. “I’m honored by the confidence Ed Carpenter has placed in me and so incredibly grateful to have a path to INDYCAR with Ed Carpenter Racing,” stated Pierson. “I’ve been dreaming about racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for as long as I can remember!”
Pierson has been re-writing the history books for several years, collecting accolades and victories as he progresses towards the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. After a decade of karting experience with numerous championships and national titles, he began racing open-wheel cars at 13. At ages 14 and 15, he was the youngest driver on the grid in the Road to Indy’s USF2000. In early 2022, he became the youngest driver to participate in IMSA’s Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Just two months later, he earned the title of the youngest race winner in the FIA’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a victory at the 1000 Miles of Sebring. As of June of 2022, he is the youngest starter in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished 10th overall. This past weekend in Bahrain, Pierson concluded his 2022 WEC season with a 2nd place in the race, 3rd place in the championship standings and was named WEC’s equivalent of Rookie of the Year. 
Reaching the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is part of a five-year program for Pierson. For the next two years, he will focus on INDY NXT, formerly known as Indy Lights. INDY NXT is the final step in the Road to Indy before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. With plans for a partial season in 2023, he will challenge for the INDY NXT championship in 2024 as he races the full calendar. Carpenter, the only active owner/driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, will mentor Pierson while working towards the goal of Pierson competing for ECR in 2025 and beyond.
Carpenter is excited for the long-term future of ECR and is confident in the addition of Pierson as a development driver. “I have truly enjoyed getting to know Josh Pierson and his family.  For such a young man, he has already accomplished so much in his racing career.  Along with that, he is such a well-spoken and professional person,” commented Carpenter.  “I am confident with the plan that we have in place that he will develop into a complete racing driver. We very much look forward to working with him as we finalize his path to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES starting in 2025.”
The 2023 race season will see Pierson build upon his experience in multiple disciplines, competing in both U.S.-based and international series. Stateside, he will compete in a partial INDY NXT schedule with HMD Motorsports. He will also aim to continue his endurance racing success in LMP2 with United Autosports, competing across the globe in the FIA World Endurance Championship. As part of his development driver program with ECR, Pierson will begin testing in one of the team’s Chevrolet-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars in 2023.
Pierson made his INDY NXT testing debut on October 21, 2022 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course with HMD Motorsports. Both the 2023 INDY NXT and NTT INDYCAR SERIES seasons will begin the first weekend of March in the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. ECR will continue to campaign two full-time entries, the No. 20 BitNile Chevrolet driven by Conor Daly and the Rinus VeeKay’s No. 21 BitNile Chevrolet. Carpenter will join Daly and VeeKay for the four oval races, expanding ECR’s lineup to three cars for those events.
 
About Ed Carpenter RacingEd Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting eight wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). The 2023 season will see the team continue to compete with two full-time entries: the No. 20 BitNile Chevrolet with Conor Daly behind the wheel and the No. 21 BitNile Chevrolet, driven by Rinus VeeKay. Carpenter will round out the team’s three-car effort on the ovals, campaigning the No. 33 Chevrolet. More information may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/.