Sage Karam

Sage Rennie Karam (born March 5, 1995) is an American professional auto racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 55 Toyota GR Supra for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 72 Chevrolet for Strike Mamba Racing. He previously competed full-time and part-time in the IndyCar Series. He is the 2013 champion in what is now the Indy NXT Series.

Racing career Early career

Karam was born in and grew up in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. He raced go-karts at Oakland Valley Race Park in Cuddebackville, New York in his youth.

After karting, Karam competed in the 2010 season of the USF2000 Championship for Andretti Autosport. Karam won nine of twelve races and the pole in all but one race and dominated the championship. For winning the championship, as a part of the Road to Indy program and the Mazdaspeed development ladder, Karam won a prize package valued at US$350,000 that allowed him to compete in the Star Mazda Championship in 2011, again with Andretti Autosport. Karam won back-to-back oval races at the Milwaukee Mile and Iowa Speedway and finished fifth in points, winning rookie of the year honors. He returned to the team and series in 2012 and improved to third in points with three race wins.

Indy Lights In 2013, Karam moved up the Road to Indy ladder to the Firestone Indy Lights series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Karam won the Indy Lights title that year, becoming the eighth rookie to win the series championship.

Sports cars Karam was signed by Chip Ganassi Racing to compete in a number of endurance sportscar races in the United SportsCar Championship in 2014. He ran in the 24 Hours of Daytona, driving the No. 01 car alongside Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Jamie McMurray, and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the No. 02, next to IndyCar drivers Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan.

The Daytona 24 Hours was a short race for Karam, as they suffered engine troubles and dropped out early.

Taking over in hour four, Karam made his 12 Hours of Sebring debut a memorable one by taking the No. 02 car from third place to the lead in his opening lap then extending his lead through the end of his driving stint. Karam took the wheel for his second stint with the car in fourth place and proceeded to drive to the lead again before handing off to Dixon, who was then knocked off course of a back-marker, leaving them in sixth place at race end.

Back in the 01 car for Watkins Glen, teamed with Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, things went awry quickly for the trio as first Rojas was sent hard into the wall by a slower GT car. They returned to the race several laps down, only for Pruett to suffer similar consequences when knocked into the wall by a sports prototype.

With Rojas sidelined due to nagging back injuries, Karam started for his final appearance of the season at the Brickyard Grand Prix, teamed with Pruett in the 01 car. Starting sixth, he skillfully dodged a major melee as several cars came together at the start. The 01 team remained among the leaders and lead eleven laps before collecting a second place, podium finish.

During 2016, Karam worked as a test driver of 3GT Racing's Lexus RC F GT3. He competed at the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the factory-supported team, where his best class finish was fifth at Mosport Park.

IndyCar Ganassi secured Karam a seat in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, which had not run an IndyCar race since the previous "500". Karam qualified 31st but drove an outstanding race to finish ninth, the second-highest-finishing rookie.

During the 2015 IndyCar Series season, Karam split the driving duties for the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 8 Dallara with Sebastián Saavedra, who ran four races on a limited budget. While his season started slowly, by finishing in the lower third of the field in his first three road/street courses events of the season, he proved to be a quick study on the ovals. At Indianapolis, he was at the top of the speed charts on the opening day of practice and consistently remained among the top cars in successive sessions. After qualifying 23rd, with a conservative setup, he was on top of the speed charts again during the post-qualifying practice and seventh quickest during Carb Day. Considered to be a dark-horse favorite on race day, it was all for naught as he was forced to settle with a 32nd-place finish in the 2015 Indianapolis 500, after contact with Takuma Sato. At the next race, in Detroit, during a heavy downpour, Karam was on pole with ninety seconds left in qualifying when IndyCar canceled the session due to track conditions. Following his third place qualifying effort and leading five laps on his way to a fifth place finish at Fontana, Karam captured his season-best finish at the 2015 Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway in July, by finishing third.

2015 ABC Supply 500 crash at Pocono

In his homecoming at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania for the 2015 ABC Supply 500 on August 23, Karam was leading with 21 laps remaining when he lost control exiting the first turn, eliminating his Chip Ganassi No. 8 Dallara as it spun and crashed hard into the wall. Debris strewn from Karam's disintegrating car made contact with fellow competitor Justin Wilson's helmet, sending him into the infield wall where the safety team extracted him unconscious and unresponsive, necessitating an emergency medevac to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown where Wilson lay comatose, in critical condition. Wilson succumbed to his injuries on August 24, 2015.

With Saavedra back in the car for the 2015 season finale at Sonoma, Karam finished the 2015 IndyCar season twentieth in points, bested by rival Gabby Chaves for 2015 rookie of the year honors. Replaced for the 2016 season, Karam's seat in the Chip Ganassi stable piloting the number 8 Dallara was secured by Max Chilton.

On a one-race agreement for 2016, Dreyer & Reinbold signed Karam for the Indianapolis 500, initially with Havoline and Gas Monkey Garage as sponsors. Steadily improving from his 23rd qualifying slot on grid, into the top-ten, Karam crashed on lap 94, going into Townsend Bell in turn one.

On a successive one-race agreement, again Dreyer & Reinbold signed Karam to drive the Mecum Auctions No. 24 Dallara-Chevrolet for the 2017 Indianapolis 500. Having improved from his 21st qualifying slot into the top-ten, Karam retired his Mecum Auctions Dreyer & Reinbold entry at the 275-mile juncture, with a dead battery. He joined the team again in 2018, sponsored by Wix, but crashed the car on lap 154.

In 2019, Karam again drove for Dreyer & Reinbold in the 2019 Indianapolis 500. He started 31st and finished nineteenth. It was announced on July 2, 2019 that Karam would drive for Carlin in the Honda Indy Toronto.

On January 7, 2020, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced that they would be expanding their race schedule to at least four races with Karam driving them. These races include the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, GMR Grand Prix, 2020 Indianapolis 500, and Honda Indy Toronto. A pit error in the Indy 500 took the team out of contention.

On May 23, 2021, Karam joined Will Power of Australia and Simona de Silvestro of Switzerland as the final three drivers to qualify in the eleventh and last row for the 105th running of the Indy 500. He earned the seventh position, his best Indy 500 finish ever.

Rallycross Karam was signed by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing on a five-race contract for the 2019 Americas Rallycross Championship season. He performed well, never finishing lower than second and earned a win at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In 2021, he returned to rallycross with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to compete in Nitro Rallycross. He finished second in the championship standings, earning five wins and seven podiums.

NASCAR

On July 26, 2021, it was announced that Karam would make his NASCAR debut in the No. 31 for Jordan Anderson Racing in the Xfinity Series' Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. His schedule with JAR was eventually expanded to include the Xfinity races at Bristol Motor Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, as well as the Camping World Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway.

Karam signed with Alpha Prime Racing for a part-time Xfinity schedule in 2022. At Road America, Karam had an on-road scuffle with Noah Gragson, resulting in Gragson intentionally spinning out Karam and triggering a thirteen-car pileup on lap 25. Gragson was fined 35,000 and docked thirty driver and owner points for the incident.

On September 14, 2022, Karam stated in an interview with Dustin Albino from Jayski that he would like to have a full-time NASCAR ride in 2023 after having run part-time in 2021 and 2022. On December 2, it was announced that Karam would return to APR to run at least 17 races for them in 2023 with the possibility of a full season if sponsorship can be found. Sponsorship for a full season was not found and Karam ran part-time for APR again in the Xfinity Series in 2023. He also drove the Sam Hunt Racing No. 24 car in the race at Road America. Karam would end up finishing fourth in that race. He battled for the win in the closing laps and held the lead for part of the second-to-last lap. After his impressive performance in that race, he got a ride for the race at Michigan the following week in the MBM Motorsports No. 66 car. Karam also stated in an interview after his top-five finish at Road America that he hopes to get a full-time NASCAR ride in 2024.

Karam did not end up getting a full-time NASCAR ride again in 2024 and on January 23 was announced to run part-time for Sam Hunt Racing again in the Xfinity Series beginning at the season-opener at Daytona in the team's No. 26 car. On February 27, it was revealed that Karam would run the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas in March for Jordan Anderson Racing in their No. 32 car. Karam previously drove part-time for JAR in the Xfinity and Truck Series in 2021.

Personal life Karam is of Lebanese heritage. He lives in Easton, Pennsylvania with his wife Abigail and three dogs. The two were married on July 16, 2021. He graduated from Nazareth Area High School in 2014.

Racing record

Career summary

American open–wheel racing results (key)

U.S. F2000 National Championship Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points 2010 Andretti Autosport STP1 STP1 ORP2 IOW1 NJM1 NJM9 ACC2 ACC1 ROA1 ROA1 ATL1 ATL1 1st 351

Star Mazda Championship Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points 2011 Andretti Autosport STP15 BAR9 IND3 MIL1 IOW1 MOS13 TRO4 TRO5 SON4 BAL2 LAG16 5th 364 2012 Andretti Autosport STP8 STP7 BAR2 BAR12 IND2 IOW1 TOR21 TOR3 EDM2 EDM2 TRO2 TRO1 BAL15 BAL1 LAG7 LAG19 ATL2 3rd 325

Indy Lights Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points 2013 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports STP3 ALA4 LBH3 INDY3 MIL1 IOW1 POC2 TOR6 MOH8 BAL2 HOU1 FON3 1st 460

IndyCar Series (key) Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points Ref 2014 Dreyer & Reinbold Kingdom Racing 22 Dallara DW12 Chevrolet STP LBH ALA IMS INDY9 DET DET TXS HOU HOU POC IOW TOR TOR MOH MIL SNM FON 27th 57 2015 Chip Ganassi Racing 8 STP19 NLA18 LBH ALA18 IMS INDY32 DET16 DET12 TXS12 TOR FON5 MIL19 IOW3 MOH22 POC14 SNM 20th 197 2016 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 24 STP PHX LBH ALA IMS INDY32 DET DET ELK IOW TOR MOH POC TXS WGL SNM 32nd 22 2017 STP LBH ALA PHX IMS INDY28 DET DET TXS ELK IOW TOR MOH POC GTW WGL SNM 34th 23 2018 STP PHX LBH ALA IMS INDY26 DET DET TXS ELK IOW TOR MOH POC GTW POR SNM 40th 10 2019 STP COA ALA LBH IMS INDY19 DET DET TXS ELK 27th 39 Carlin 31 TOR21 IOW22 MOH POC GTW POR LAG 2020 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 24 TXS IMS23 ROA ROA IOW IOW INDY24 GTW GTW MOH MOH IMS23 IMS24 STP 29th 32 2021 ALA STP TXS TXS IMS INDY7 DET DET ROA MOH NSH IMS GTW POR LAG LBH 30th 53 2022 STP TXS LBH ALA IMS INDY23 DET ROA MOH TOR IOW IOW IMS NSH GTW POR LAG 34th 14 Season still in progress.

Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums(non-win)** Top 10s(non-podium)*** Indianapolis 500wins Championships 4 2 16 0 0 1 2 0 0 Podium (non-win) indicates 2nd or 3rd-place finishes. Top 10s (non-podium) indicates 4th through 10th-place finishes.

Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 2014 Dallara Chevrolet 31 9 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 2015 Chevrolet 22 32 Chip Ganassi Racing 2016 Chevrolet 23 32 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing / Kingdom Racing 2017 21 28 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 2018 24 26 2019 31 19 2020 31 24 2021 31 7 2022 22 23

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class) Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points 2014 Chip Ganassi Racing P Ford EcoBoost Riley DP Ford Ecoboost 3.5 L V6 Turbo DAY11 SEB6 LBH LGA DET WGL8 MOS IMS2 ELK COA PET 23rd 104 2015 Chip Ganassi Racing P Ford EcoBoost Riley DP Ford Ecoboost 3.5 L V6 Turbo DAY6 SIR LBH LGA DET WGL MSP ELK COA PET 27th 26 2017 3GT Racing GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus 5.0 L V8 DAY27 SEB18 LBH6 COA9 DET6 WGL6 MOS5 LIM12 ELK8 VIR7 LGA14 PET10 15th 244

American rallycross racing results

Complete Americas Rallycross results (key) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points 2019 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Olsbergs MSE ARX2 MOH GAT TRR COTA MOH 6th 129 2 2 DNP DNP DNP DNP 2 1 2

Complete Nitro Rallycross results Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points 2021 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Olsbergs MSE NEXT UT ERX WHP GHR FIRM 2nd 385 DNS 5 7 1 1 1 3 2 1 1

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Pts Ref 2021 Jordan Anderson Racing 31 Chevy DAY DRC HOM LVS PHO ATL MAR TAL DAR DOV COA CLT MOH TEX NSH POC ROA ATL NHA GLN IRC26 MCH DAY DAR RCH BRI16 LVS TAL ROV25 TEX KAN MAR PHO25 45th 62 2022 Alpha Prime Racing 44 Chevy DAY CAL LVS PHO ATL32 COA16 RCH MAR TAL DOV DAR TEX CLT PIR NSH ATL38 NHA DAY5 DAR KAN 37th 152 45 ROA31 POC20 IRC13 MCH GLN Our Motorsports 02 Chevy BRI18 TEX TAL ROV30 LVS HOM MAR PHO 2023 Alpha Prime Racing 45 Chevy DAY CAL LVS PHO ATL31 IRC15 GLN15 DAY DAR KAN BRI 35th 160 44 COA35 RCH MAR TAL DOV DAR31 CLT PIR SON34 NSHDNQ CSC22 ATL NHA POC38 Sam Hunt Racing 24 Toyota ROA4 MBM Motorsports 66 Ford MCH25 TEX23 ROV27 LVS HOM MAR PHO 2024 Sam Hunt Racing 26 Toyota DAY28 ATL COA17 RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR34 CSC33 POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL 48th 59 Jordan Anderson Racing 32 Chevy LVS36 PHO Joey Gase Motorsports 35 Toyota SONDNQ IOW NHA NSH SS-Green Light Racing 07 Chevy ROV29 LVS HOM MAR PHO 2025 Joey Gase Motorsportswith Scott Osteen 53 Toyota DAY ATL COA34 PHO LVS HOM MAR DAR BRI CAR TAL TEX CLT NSH MXC33 POC ATL CSCDNQ SON36 DOV IND IOW GLN DAY PIR GTW BRI KAN ROV25 LVS TAL MAR PHO 53rd 29 2026 55 DAY ATL COA35 PHO LVS DAR MAR CAR BRI KAN TAL TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH POC COR SON CHI ATL IND IOW DAY DAR GTW BRI LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM -* -*

Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Pts Ref 2021 Jordan Anderson Racing 3 Chevy DAY DRC LVS ATL BRD RCH KAN DAR COA CLT TEX NSH POC KNX GLN GTW DAR BRI LVS TAL MAR32 PHO 113th 01 2024 Floridian Motorsports 21 Ford DAY ATL LVS BRI COA MAR TEX KAN DAR NWS CLT GTW NSH POC33 IRP RCH MLW BRI KAN TAL HOM MAR PHO 89th 01

ARCA Menards Series West (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.) ARCA Menards Series West results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts Ref 2026 Strike Mamba Racing 72 Chevy KER PHO TUC SHA CNS TRI SON13 PIR AAS MAD LVS PHO KER -* -*

Season still in progress Ineligible for series points