Malukas Joining AJ Foyt Racing In Multi-Year Deal

David Malukas (Paul Hurley/Penske Entertainment photo)

HOUSTON – David Malukas will drive for A.J. Foyt Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series next year as part of a multi-year contract announced Tuesday afternoon.

It’s the fourth team Malukas will drive for since the end of last year, when he was with Dale Coyne Racing. He began this year with a deal to drive for Arrow McLaren, before a mountain biking accident in February that resulted in torn ligaments in his wrist sidelined Malukas for the start of the season.

After missing the first four races, Malukas’ contract was terminated by Arrow McLaren officials, leading him to a deal to replace Tom Blomqvist at Meyer Shank Racing. That deal began at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., in June once Malukas was fully recovered.

Since returning to competition, Malukas has qualified inside the top 12 in four of his last five starts.

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join A.J. Foyt Racing [next year],” Malukas said. “The team has performed very well this season, and I can’t wait to get to work with them and immerse myself in that environment.

“The history and success of both A.J. Foyt Racing and A.J. Foyt himself were key factors in my decision to join the team,” Malukas continued.  “Everyone knows that A.J. is a legend and he was someone whose name I always heard growing up. To have the opportunity to work alongside him and drive for his team is very special.

“I am starting a new chapter in my IndyCar career, and I am eager to achieve strong results with A.J. Foyt Racing.”

Malukas was the runner-up in the Indy Lights (now Indy NXT) championship in 2021 and is coming off a season-best finish of sixth at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto last month.

As Malukas begins to build momentum toward his future, team president Larry Foyt is eager to add the Chicago, Ill., native – who turns 23 in September – to the lineup next season.

“David will be a great addition to AJ Foyt Racing,” said Foyt. “He is a fierce competitor who possesses a great deal of natural talent. I think David will be a super fit with our engineers and mechanics, and he will be an important factor as we continue to ascend the IndyCar rankings.”

As he works to finish out a tumultuous season, Malukas hopes his upcoming deal will provide stability and give him the chance to better establish himself among the annual NTT IndyCar Series contenders.

“For me, the 2024 season [has been] very chaotic and did not go to plan, so I am looking forward to a new beginning. I am mostly looking forward to being a part of such a special team,” Malukas noted. “[Their] recent alliance with Team Penske this season has clearly been beneficial, and I want to be sure that we build the right environment, not just for myself, but for the mechanics, engineers and everyone else who makes this all possible.

“In the few years I have been in INDYCAR, I have found that a strong team dynamic is crucial for success, he added. “As long as we focus on building good chemistry, I am confident that the results will follow.”