Andretti & Roper Racing Supporting Special Cause At IRP

Marco Andretti (Gavin Baker/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

CLERMONT, Ind. – Marco Andretti will return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Friday night at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with a special story aboard his No. 04 Roper Racing Chevrolet Silverado RST.

In partnership with Gainbridge parent company Group 1001, Andretti will carry the Boone County, Ind., branch of Habitat for Humanity on the hood of his truck during the TSPORT 200 at the .686-mile oval.

Boone County’s Habitat for Humanity team recently made headlines during a wall build for the Krost family, who lost their trailer home to fire in 2021 and have been renting another trailer since at a steep $1,300/month rate.

Dusten Krost is a single father of three – ages seven, eight, and 10 – and Habitat for Humanity stepped in to help ease his financial burden. What was less anticipated, however, was the presence of WNBA star and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark at the wall build alongside more than 200 Group 1001 employees.

After Clark took time out of her day to aid in the building of the Krosts’ home, seven-year-old Eli – the youngest of the three Krost children and an avid basketball fan – challenged Clark to a one-on-one game of pickup basketball during the day with a makeshift goal.

During the fun, Clark blocked one of Eli’s shots in a video that went viral across social media, putting the Krost family in the spotlight as they await the completion of their new home later this fall.

Counted about 5 total blocks in this 1-1 matchup today from @CaitlinClark22 🤣😭@GainbridgeSport @Habitat_org pic.twitter.com/8CwdsXUStW

— Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) June 11, 2024

With his specially emblazoned truck hood, Andretti will do the same Friday night for those volunteers spearheading the charitable effort, as well as bring awareness to Habitat for Humanity’s overall vision of creating a world where everyone has a safe and reasonable place to call home.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Group 1001 in supporting Habitat for Humanity of Boone County and the Krost family Friday night at IRP,” said Andretti, the third-generation racer who has transitioned into stock-car racing after a long career in Indy cars.

“Group 1001’s efforts to better the communities where we work and live are so important to the wider world, and our sport is at its best when we use our platform to lift up those communities.”

In addition to carrying Habitat for Humanity of Boone County on the hood of the No. 04 Silverado, Andretti will have the Krosts’ names on the passenger side name rail, as well as information about the official GoFundMe effort to help furnish the Krosts’ new home upon its completion on the rear bumper.

The 37-year-old from Nazareth, Pa., will be making his fifth career Truck Series start and second of the season Friday night at IRP. He’s looking to improve on a career-best of 18th, earned last October at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

Andretti’s one prior Truck Series appearance this year came at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, where he finished 31st. He’s also made six ARCA Menards Series starts and two ARCA Menards Series West appearances, with a best finish of fifth at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June.

Friday’s TSPORT 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is slated for an 8:30 p.m. ET green flag, with live broadcast coverage on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

To donate to the Krost family GoFundMe effort, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/TheShotBlock.

Marco Andretti's paint scheme for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

About Roper Racing

Roper Racing is a family-owned NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race team based in Mont Belvieu, Texas, whose mission statement is “We build as a team and race as a team.”

The organization is owned by Vernon, Texas, native Cory Roper, who debuted as an owner-driver in 2018 and has fielded multiple drivers aboard the No. 04 Chevrolet Silverado over the past six years.

Roper Racing’s standout moment to-date came during the 2021 Truck Series opener at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway, when Roper earned the team’s best finish of third in a three-wide, near-photo finish at the World Center of Racing.

Other drivers to pilot a Roper Racing entry since the team’s inception include Alabama veteran Roger Reuse, as well as past Truck Series champion Johnny Sauter and young stars like Kaden Honeycutt, Chase Briscoe, Spencer Davis, Landen Lewis, and Clayton Green.

NTT IndyCar Series veteran and 2022 Superstar Racing Experience champion Marco Andretti is contesting a part-time schedule with Roper Racing this season, as he transitions toward full-time stock car racing under the guidance of veteran crew chief Bruce Cook.

For more information on Roper Racing, visit the team’s website at https://roperracingteam.com/.