Sage Karam, a nine-time starter in the Indianapolis 500, will run a partial schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old driver, whose debut with Sam Hunt Racing last season at Road America resulted in a career-best fourth-place finish, will pilot the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra in multiple events this season, beginning with the season-opener at Daytona.
“I am very grateful and excited to be teaming back up with Sam Hunt Racing and CRC this year to be able to build on the success that we found last year at Road America,” said Karam. “Both SHR and CRC are two companies that are very close to my heart, and I am honored that they have given another shot to showcase the great things we can accomplish in 2024. Sam has built a team of dedicated and hardworking people that make my job easy, and CRC is a great compliment to our program with the special and loyal relationship we have formed over the years. I believe our success this past year was just a glimpse of the potential that we can accomplish together as a team.”
CRC Brakleen will serve as the primary marketing partner for Karam in the February 17 event at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, which served as the site of his first-ever top-five finish in Xfinity Series competition.
“We are thrilled to partner with Sam Hunt Racing supporting our tenured partner, the talented Sage Karam, as the driver of the #26 CRC Brakleen car,” said Steven Drake, President of CRC Industries, Americas. “This collaboration represents the fusion of precision engineering and high-performance racing. CRC Industries is excited to support the team as they push boundaries on the track, embodying the same commitment to excellence that defines our brand. Together, we aim to reach new heights and showcase the spirit of innovation and success.”
Since first dipping his toes into the NASCAR world with Jordan Anderson Racing in 2021, Karam has amassed a total of 25 starts in the Xfinity Series between multiple organizations.
Last season, the Nazareth, Pennsylvania native contested his largest schedule, 12 Xfinity Series events, between Alpha Prime Racing, Sam Hunt Racing, and MBM Motorsports, scoring three top-15 finishes at Road America, Indianapolis, and Watkins Glen.
In July, Karam made a one-off appearance for Sam Hunt Racing at Road America, finishing in fourth place after being in serious contention for the victory on the race’s final lap around the 4.048-mile road course.
“Sage proved very quickly last season that he is a high-caliber talent with lots of potential to succeed in stock car racing,” said Sam Hunt. “He brings a focus and intensity to his work that is far above average and embraces his challenge and journey. To have a great brand like CRC Industries partner with us this year is a clear sign of their commitment to motorsports, and our job is to ensure we grow and succeed together in harmony. Fulfillment in my seat comes from the ability to compete with like-minded, gold-hearted competitors and humans – and both Sage Karam and CRC industries share the SHR vision.”
Karam is the third driver to be confirmed as part of Sam Hunt Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series lineup for the 2024 season, joining NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim and Jeffrey Earnhardt as pilots of the No. 26 in 2024.
