When Connor Daly won the USF Pro 2000 Championship in 2010 for the Juncos Racing, Daly could never have imagined the lasting impact that seven-win, nine-pole season would have 14 years later.
On August 13, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced Daly as the driver of its No. 78 Chevrolet in the final five NTT INDYCAR Series races of the season.
„I can remember in 2003 go-kart time, and then in Indy Pro 2000, one of our best championships,” said team co-owner Ricardo Juncos. „I think we have a lot of good stuff.”
It will be the eighth time Daly has been invited to an NTT INDYCAR SERIES team starting Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at Worldwide Technology Raceway (6 p.m. ET, USA Network, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network). Stock.
„If you follow my life, it’s been a whirlwind,” Daly said. “It’s been crazy; It was up and down. As it turned out, I was very proud of it. When it’s hard, there are always things I need to take responsibility for, or I understand why.
Two years after his only NDT IndyCar Series start, competing for AJ Foyt Racing in the 2013 Indianapolis 500, Daley received a phone call from Dale Coen while eating breakfast in the hospitality area during the 2015 Long Beach race weekend. Despite not having raced in 23 months, the seat for the No. 18 Honda was his that weekend.
It set the tone for a wild career for Daly, full of last-minute appearances, full-time seasons and races around the world in various disciplines.
This season, Daly finished 10th for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 26. He next drove for Rhett Jones Racing in the ARCA Menards Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June, finishing eighth. Last month, he raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Indianapolis Raceway Park, then a day later raced Sam Hunt in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
„However, this is what I do,” he said. „I’m trying to work hard to give myself opportunities. I want to be in a competitive situation. This happened. Obviously, I want to be as competitive as possible for Ricardo for this team. There are points to score. I want to be that guy. With this team, of course, that’s very possible. I think so.
With a desire to advance the car from 25th, Junkos made the switch from Augustin Canapino and knew Daly was one of the drivers at the top of the call-up list. He never lost faith in Daly’s abilities, and with a chance to rekindle the magic they’d made together a decade ago, the Juncos knew Daly could handle a stressful situation.
„When you look at what he’s been able to do he’s done some really good things,” Junkos said of Daly. „He’s talking about different teams. He’s obviously very good. I remember when he was doing Indy NXT and he was leading the championship when he decided to go to Europe. He was beating Josef Newgarden.
„He’s one of the good guys. I’ve never doubted him. Now let’s see what we can do for these five races.
The respect is mutual and being loved by the Juncos is music to Daley’s ears, especially given the opportunity to prove his worth over five races instead of one.
„Finally, it’s great to hear what he has to say,” he said. “I don’t think I’m in the prime of my IndyCar career. I know that. There is so much I want to do. I have so much to train for every day that these opportunities come.
„Even if it’s just one race, I’ll go with it. But it’s an opportunity to go together and see the win. This team is just in time to get the trophies and bring the champagne home to the race shop. I want to be the guy who does that.
„I’m excited, but my life is for the next six weeks and then who knows what’s going to happen. That’s the way I have to live and it’s usually tough for peak performance. I’m going to do my best, with everything I’ve got, and really kick my ass to give these guys some results.” I will show them that I want to break.
„Całkowity introwertyk. Nieprzejednany specjalista od sieci. Przyjazny fanatyk bekonu. Student ekstremalnych. Miłośnik piwa. Organizator.”