Sam Hunt Racing announced July 10 that NTT INDYCAR SERIES veteran Conor Daly will drive the No. 26 Polkadot GR Supra on Saturday, July 20 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to the oval track at the Brickyard.
The Pennzoil 250 presented by Advance Auto Parts will mark Indianapolis native Daly’s third career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and first at his hometown track. Polkadot, a leading blockchain technology company that sponsored Daly’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge efforts in May, will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 26 GR Supra.
“I am extremely thankful for the chance to bring Polkadot back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this time with Sam Hunt Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” Daly said. “When I heard the NASCAR Xfinity Series was returning to the oval at Indianapolis, I knew I had to be part of it.
“Driving for Polkadot at my home track in front of my hometown fans is an incredible honor and an opportunity I could not let pass. I know an opportunity to drive for Toyota and SHR is extremely special, and I look forward to taking on this learning experience and delivering for this group as best I can. I am proud and lucky to represent Polkadot at IMS in both the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend in the same year.”
Daly, 32, is a GP3 and INDY NXT by Firestone winner and a Star Mazda champion. Daly made his INDYCAR SERIES debut in 2013 and has participated in 11 Indianapolis 500 races, with four top-10 finishes.
After making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2018, Daly also raced in the Craftsman Truck Series. He made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2022 at the Charlotte roval and raced in the 2023 Daytona 500.
“It’s always extremely exciting for me to have drivers cross over into NASCAR from other professional genres of motorsports,” said Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing. “Conor is a journeyman racer, a hometown favorite at Indianapolis and a guy who understands how the sport works from top to bottom. For us to be able to provide him with a competitive opportunity in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is a pleasure, and one I know everyone is excited about.
“The challenge will be tall, and there is so much to learn in such a short amount of time, but Conor and the team at Sam Hunt Racing are excited to tackle it with open minds at full speed. We’re all grateful to have Polkadot on board for a special weekend and look forward to introducing another great brand to the Sam Hunt Racing family.”
Tickets for the Brickyard Weekend at IMS, which also includes the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG for the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, July 21, are available at IMS.com.
