Will Andretti join NASCAR amidst F1 uncertainty?
Andretti is looking for a massive expansion of their racing operations.
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Michael Andretti (via IMAGO)
Andretti Autosport, now Andretti Global, has been in use over the last two years with their multiple projects into different new Motorsports championships slowly starting to be unveiled. Formula One and NASCAR have been their main priorities. The F1 project recently hit a dead wall after the regulatory body denied their application to join the sport as an 11th team.
Now latest reports have suggested that, though NASCAR is their second priority, Andretti has plans to enter the sport and expand the family racing teams’ legacy. Unlike their way into F1, Andretti wouldn’t enter as a new team. Instead, they want to enter the series by partnering with an existing team according to the latest reports from AP.
They already have the path cleared for them to take this route with their partnership with Spire Motorsports. Spire is one of the teams that has made big investments in the last two seasons, including a major Cup charter acquisition in the 2023 season. Their Truck Series team is a championship contender while the Cup team is a string midfield side.
Andretti Global co-owner Dan Towriss is one of the primary sponsors of Spire Motorsports with his company Gainbridge. They can use this partnership to eventually pull off a similar move as they did when Andretti entered IMSA. They merged with Wayne Taylor Racing to join the Sports Car racing championship.
Marco Andretti is building a new racing career in NASCAR
The grandson of F1 and IndyCar champion Mario Andretti ended his full-time IndyCar career three years ago. Unlike his legendary family members, Marco Andretti failed to mark himself as an untrappable talent, and his 15 years in the series were underwhelming, to say the least.
He is building a new career after three years on the sidelines in the ARCA Mendes series. Andretti is driving part-time in the series with Cook Racing Technologies and has raced in both first races of the season scoring two top-25 finishes. He also has a deal to race with Roper Racing in the Truck Series in 2024.
Marco Andretti has already made a few starts in the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series. He made his Truck debut in Mid-Ohio in 2023 with Spire and scored a P19 finish. His Xfinity debut in Charlotte didn’t go as planned as he was able to secure just a P36 finish, but still, it was a respectful day for him. If he can use his ARCA series opportunities wisely, he can make a career in NASCAR.
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Justin P Joy
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