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Emotional Indianapolis 500 Race Day for Cusick Motorsports


(Indianapolis, IN) May 29, 2023 – It was an emotional day for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Cusick Motorsports on Sunday for the 107thRunning of the Indianapolis 500 that saw a huge crowd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
The Sunday morning garage visit by the injured Stefan Wilson, who received back surgery Wednesday after a Monday practice crash at IMS, had the entire two-car organization in high emotions as Wilson greeted his racing team members as well as drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Graham Rahal, who filled in for Wilson in the No. 24 DRR/Cusick Motorsports/CareKeepers Chevrolet in the Indy 500. 
High hopes for the squad went throughout the garage in the morning engine warm-up, but, unfortunately, the emotions dropped before the race when Rahal’s engine failed to start due to a faulty battery. When the engine was started, Graham was two laps behind the 32 other drivers, but fought his way back to finish 22nd in the 200-lap race.

“First, I’m very thankful to get the opportunity to race at the 500 and thank you to Dreyer & Reinbold and Cusick Motorsports for allowing me to be here and be a part of the 500 with them,” said Rahal. “Obviously, a tough start to the day. We never really got going. We actually had a decent day from there on moving forward up until the very end as I filled in for Stef. We just didn’t get to see it through after the battery issue. Again, I’m thankful and lucky to have been here, but I’m certainly already eager to come back next year and have a shot at winning this race. It was great to spend time with Stef before the race.”
After fracturing his 12th thoracic vertebrae in a crash on Monday and going through surgery on Wednesday, Stefan Wilson made a surprise visit to the track on Sunday morning that had media, fans and team members in awe. The 33-year old British racer was due to make his fifth start at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, but is now driven to come back for the 108th Running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
 
“The finish of the 2023 Indianapolis 500 was disappointing, but there are a lot of positives to take away from this year,” said Stefan Wilson. “I think the performance that we showed in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Cusick Motorsports CareKeepers Chevy for most of the month was really encouraging. There are a lot of positives that I take away from my side as well on the driving front. I am looking forward to getting through this recovery process and focusing on next year and the 2024 Indy 500. The goal for me is to get back to being fully fit and making a return next year. Obviously, it was disappointing to not be out there on race day representing all the partners that made this year possible. I think Graham did a great job stepping in for me, but I’m already excited about the prospect of returning next year and taking the next step with this incredible team and group of partners we have.”
“This past week has been an emotional rollercoaster unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” said Don Cusick, Founder & CEO of Cusick Motorsports. “While our primary concern remains on Stefan’s recovery, we are so proud of the effort put in by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Graham Rahal to make the most of a very difficult circumstance. The No. 24 CareKeepers car fought back hard after going two laps down at the start, but you just can’t make that up in such a competitive field. But despite the setbacks, we’ve built some fantastic relationships with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and our partners over the last few weeks. And we will be back.”
 
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s No. 23 car driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay went on to finish 11th after starting 18th, with Cusick Motorsports and Stefan Wilson partner Sierra Pacific Windows added as the co-primary partner ahead of the race weekend. 
The 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 saw the biggest group of partners associated with Cusick Motorsports to date. With a mission to make racing more accessible, build relationships and drive business, Cusick Motorsports is proud to be trusted by CareKeepers, Sierra Pacific Windows, LOHLA SPORT, Fizzy Beez, Liberty Group, Kitchen Mart, the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, CarBlip, 181 Fremont Residences, Romak Iron Works, Agromin, Mosaic Animal CareGroup, The Thermal Club, ProviderScience, High Alpha, Rite-Way Thermal, Menlo Ventures, Westin Homes, Westlake Yoga and Mr. and Mrs. James Lowes. 
 
As the dust settles on the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500, Cusick Motorsports is fully focused on expanding its endeavors and partnerships for the future.