David Malukas will leave Meyer Shank Racing at the end of the season to join A.J. Foyt Racing.
The 22-year-old will join the Chevrolet-powered squad on a multi-year deal, however team – which has a technical alliance with Team Penske – did not specify whether he is earmarked for the No. 14 Chevy currently occupied by Santino Ferrucci, or the No. 41 Chevy driven by Sting Ray Robb.
The move presents Malukas with the chance to play a leading role within an IndyCar team after learning the ropes for two seasons at Dale Coyne Racing from 2022-2023, signing with Arrow McLaren for 2024 but never racing for the team after suffering a pre-season wrist injury, and then capitalizing on a mid-season opportunity to revive his career at MSR after it parked rookie Tom Blomqvist.
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“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join AJ Foyt Racing,” 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 AJ Foyt Racing and A.J. Foyt himself were key factors in my decision to join the team.
“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 AJ Foyt Racing.”
A key development for the son of Midwest shipping magnate Henry Malukas was being hired like any other professional driver. The Malukas family made it clear to interested teams that after bankrolling David’s developmental programs and first seasons in IndyCar, the funding would not continue and he would need to be paid for his talent.
“David will be a great addition to AJ Foyt Racing,” said team president Larry 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.”
Malukas was thought to be in line to stay with MSR, which is expected to announce a new technical alignment with Chip Ganassi Racing, or leaving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
“For me, the 2024 season was very chaotic and did not go to plan, so I am looking forward to a new beginning,” he said. “I am mostly looking forward to being a part of such a special team. The 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. As long as we focus on building good chemistry, I am confident that the results will follow.”