After a successful part-time schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season, Santino Ferrucci, a part-time driver in the NTT IndyCar Series, will return to Sam Hunt Racing for back-to-back races.
The 24-year-old will compete in back-to-back Xfinity Series contests for Sam Hunt Racing at Pocono Raceway on July 23 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course on July 30. In both events, Ferrucci will pilot the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra.
“I’m super excited to be back with Sam and the team,” said Ferrucci. “It’s been a long time coming since last year, and I’m excited to be back behind the wheel of an Xfinity car with Toyota. I think the momentum from the past two years has been really good. I’ve been in a good spot mentally, and I am driving the best I ever have. I think having the experience of both IndyCar and NASCAR is very helpful. It will be easier to go to an Xfinity car this year instead of last year’s transition from an Xfinity car to an IndyCar and vice versa.”
In a seven-race schedule for the single-car organization last season, the Woodbury, Connecticut-native notched four top-15 finishes, including a 14th-place result at Pocono Raceway.
“Mine and Santino’s story is special because we both started working together when there were a lot of crossroads in our respective careers,” said Sam Hunt, the 29-year-old owner of Sam Hunt Racing. “People don’t realize how hard Santino works behind the scenes, and how he has to fight for every ounce of funding he gets. He’s an ultra-talented racer and a personality the sport needs. He doesn’t race to make friends, he races to pay his bills. I’m excited to have him come back to SHR after his fourth consecutive Indianapolis 500 top-ten finish.”
The Freedom Alliance, a military support organization that impacts thousands of combat veterans, active duty, and military families by helping them overcome the mental, emotional and physical wounds of war, will serve as the primary partner of Ferrucci’s No. 26 Toyota GR Supra at Pocono.
“We’re thrilled to have the Freedom Alliance brand associated with NASCAR’s most dynamic team and most exciting driver,” said Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon. “As supporters of combat veterans and military families, we partner with the best, so naturally, we’re aligned with Sam Hunt Racing and Santino Ferrucci for the Pocono Mountains 225. This is an honor for Freedom Alliance and the heroes we represent. We’re fired up!”
