INDY NXT by Firestone race winner Matthew Brabham will drive for Juncos Hollinger Racing at the next round of the championship, Saturday, July 22 at Iowa Speedway.
Australian-American Brabham, 29, will drive JHR’s No. 75 entry at Iowa, the first of two oval races this season for INDY NXT by Firestone. He is replacing rookie Matteo Nannini, who parted company with the team July 18. Rasmus Lindh is the team’s other driver in INDY NXT by Firestone.
Brabham finished third in the INDY NXT by Firestone standings last season for Andretti Autosport and recorded two victories, in the season-opening race on the Streets of St. Petersburg and on the oval at World Wide Technology Raceway. He also finished third at Iowa.
“I’m really grateful and excited to represent Juncos Hollinger Racing this weekend in Iowa,” Brabham said. “Thank you to Ricardo (Juncos) and Brad (Hollinger) for the opportunity.
“It’s going to be challenging, having missed the INDY NXT testing and races this year. However, my confidence is high as I was definitely the guy to beat on all the ovals last year.
“There are a few tricks to Iowa that I hope I can capitalize on again. The new Firestone tires will change things up a little, and there are a lot of unknowns, but we will do our best to make sure we have a great run at Iowa. It’s a great feeling to be back.”
Brabham, grandson of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham and son of sports car legend and Indy 500 veteran Geoff Brabham, finished fourth in the INDY NXT by Firestone standings as a rookie in the series in 2014. Matthew Brabham also finished 22nd in his sole Indianapolis 500 start, in 2016.
After the Iowa event, JHR will announce the driver for the remaining races this season.
“We’ve known each other for more than 12 years, but we’ve never been able to race together until now,” team co-owner Ricardo Juncos said of Brabham. “For me, it’s an honor to have him in the team. I’m good friends with his father, Geoff, and got to meet Sir Jack when Matthew was racing in Pro Mazda.
“This is a one-off race in Iowa, but I think Matthew’s presence gives us a mega opportunity for our development as we look to be the team we want to be next season.”
Cape Fielding Just One Car at Iowa
Cape Motorsports will field only one entry this weekend at Iowa, for full-time driver Jagger Jones.
The team’s other driver, Enaam Ahmed, will not race at Iowa due to “budgetary problems,” according to a statement from team co-owners Dominic Cape and Nicholas Cape.
“Hopefully he will be back in the car soon,” the Cape brothers said of Ahmed in the team statement.
This weekend’s event at Iowa will be the team’s first oval race in INDY NXT since 2010, when Gustavo Yacaman finished fifth. Oliver Askew won in USF2000 in 2017 at Iowa for Cape.
Live coverage of the 75-lap INDY NXT by Firestone race starts at 11 a.m. ET Saturday on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.