The Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) Series is living up to its name for the 2023 season. In addition to striking a new deal with ESPN, which will move the series to Thursday nights during the Summer, the series has been striking deals with big-name driver talent.
On Tuesday, the sanctioning body announced the addition of three more full-time racers to its 2023 driver lineup as well as two part-time racers.
Marco Andretti
Marco Andretti, who is the reigning series champion, will return for another full season of competition in the SRX Series.
“My Thursday nights are a lot more interesting this year. Looking forward to driving against even more of my fast friends this season,” Andretti said in an SRX release. “SRX keeps getting bigger and better. Pumped to put on a fun show for the fans.”
Andretti likes his odds at walking away with the season championship again in 2023, but regardless, he is using his time in SRX to tune him up for a potential run in more NASCAR events going forward.
“Can’t wait to have a shot at trying to win it again,” Andretti explained. “I’m feeling more and more comfortable in the cup guy’s sandbox. A lot more talent this year to continue to learn from.”
Paul Tracy
The SRX Racing Series black hat, Paul Tracy, is back. While he may be the villain on the SRX Racing broadcasts, Tracy relishes his place on the SRX Racing driver roster and he’s excited to continue in the full-time role that he’s enjoyed since the series was founded.
“I am super excited to be going into my 3rd season with SRX,” Tracy said. “To see this concept start from nothing, and be where it is today has been incredible. I’m also super excited to be back on ESPN with the revival of Thursday night thunder. It’s a win/win for the drivers and race fans.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay
After getting his feet wet and gaining experience during the 2022 SRX Racing season, Ryan Hunter-Reay returns for another full six-race schedule in the series in 2023. RHR is humbled to be considered for the series altogether, let alone be a full-time competitor.
“What an honor it is to be selected as one of the full-time drivers for the 2023 SRX season competing against some of the most accomplished names in motorsports,” Hunter-Reay said. “Tony Stewart, Don Hawk and the entire SRX operation have done a phenomenal job building this series to where it is today. Last season we all witnessed a huge surge in momentum for SRX and that trend has strengthened with the signing of more top drivers as well as the shift to racing on Thursday nights on ESPN.”
Andretti, Tracy, and Hunter-Reay join a star-studded SRX Racing full-time driver lineup for the 2023 season. The SRX Racing Series has already announced Tony Stewart, Hailie Deegan, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman as full-time competitors for the upcoming season.
Kanaan and Newgarden Return as Part-Timers
While three more drivers were announced to the full-time driver lineup for SRX Racing, two additional big names were added to the part-time driver roster as well.
Tony Kanaan and Josef Newgarden, two of the best drivers from the NTT IndyCar Series, will return to the Series in 2023.
Kanaan will pilot an SRX machine in three events this season. The veteran racer will run Stafford, Thunder Road and Eldora. This will mark Kanaan’s third season with SRX.
“I’m so happy to be racing in SRX for the third season in a row,” Kanaan said. “Having been with the series since the beginning, it’s so exciting to see the way the competition has grown. Let’s go!”
While Kanaan will be running three events, Newgarden will get behind the wheel for one SRX event in 2023. Newgarden will run Motor Mile in July. For Newgarden, the chance at running at the historic facility is what brought him back to SRX in 2023.
“One of the most appealing things to me about competing in SRX is the ability to run at some of these historic short tracks where some of the legends of motorsports have competed,” Newgarden said. “Last year’s race at the Nashville Fairgrounds was a perfect introduction to the series at an iconic facility that is working to make it back to big-time racing. Motor Mile Speedway is another historic track that has hosted racing for decades. I’ve heard it’s a true short track with demanding racing and lots of paint swapping. It should be a great race.”
Kanaan and Newgarden join Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Helio Castroneves, Denny Hamlin, and Kenny Wallace as drivers that have been announced (so far) to be running a part-time SRX schedule in 2023.
