The Crittenden Automotive Library

Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom Racing and Gas Monkey Garage Partner for Historic 100th Indy 500 with young star Sage Karam

Topics: Indianapolis 500, Sage Karam, Gas Monkey Garage

Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom Racing and Gas Monkey Garage Partner for Historic 100th Indy 500 with young star Sage Karam

Tom Blattler
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – Kingdom Racing
21 January 2016

Microsoft Word version

For Immediate Release

DALLAS (January 21, 2016) – Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom Racing announced tonight that Gas Monkey Garage will serve as its primary sponsor partner for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 set for May 29, 2016 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway with young star Sage Karam driving.

The highly-popular Gas Monkey Garage, featuring performance car builds in the global television show, “Fast N’ Loud” on Discovery, makes its first appearance in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Led by Richard Rawlings, Gas Monkey Garage has been a successful automotive brand and collector car restoration business since 2002. The Gas Monkey Garage brand is one of the world’s most visible globally within the automobile industry and will launch their new energy drink this year, using the Indianapolis 500 as a platform.

The distinctive look of the No. 24 Gas Monkey Garage Special will be the latest Indy 500 entry for Dreyer and Reinbold dating back to the 1930s with legendary car builder Floyd “Pop” Dreyer. Dreyer’s grandson, Dennis Reinbold, has entered the Indy 500 dating back to 2000, successfully qualifying thirty-four entries in its history.

Karam, 20, is one of the top young open-wheel drivers in the world after an impressive young career with championships in Firestone Indy Lights and US Formula 2000. The Nazareth, Pa. native and former high school wrestling star made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in the 2014 Indy 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with a sensational drive from 31st to ninth. Karam won the “Hard Charger” award for his stellar performance as well as he and his crew placing second in the Indy 500 Pit Crew Championship.

“We are extremely pleased to announce our Gas Monkey Garage Energy products and the association with the Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom Racing team for the historic 100th Indianapolis 500,” said Rawlings. “The Indy 500 is the biggest race in the world and our Gas Monkey Garage brand ties in very well with the team and legendary race. We can’t wait to see the Gas Monkey Garage Special on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

DRR – Kingdom Racing, a past winner in the Verizon IndyCar Series, has recorded four top-ten finishes in the Indy 500 including fourth in 2012, seventh in 2010, eighth in 2008 and ninth in 2014.

“We are extremely excited and proud to partner with Gas Monkey Garage,” said Reinbold. “We’ve been working very hard since last year’s 500 to build a strong commercial and competitive program for the 100th Running. We believe Sage Karam is a very talented driver and we can’t wait for the month of May. The Gas Monkey Garage brand is known worldwide and bringing them to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time is a thrill.

With my family’s history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this new venture continues Dreyer & Reinbold’s legacy at the Indy 500 and we believe we’ll have an excellent chance to run at the front of the field on May 29.”

Kingdom Racing also returns as co-entrant for the 100th Indianapolis 500 for its ninth consecutive appearance at the Indianapolis 500.

“We, at Kingdom Racing, are extremely excited to be joining Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Sage Karam for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500,” said Kingdom Racing’s Managing Director Davey Hamilton. “We have past experience with Sage and have confidence we can be contenders for the win.”

Karam returns to the Indianapolis 500 for his third appearance in the world’s biggest auto race after competing in twelve events in 2015 for Chip Ganassi Racing. Sage scored his first IndyCar Series podium with a third at Iowa Speedway and also notched a fifth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Karam has also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring sports car events.

“I’m really thrilled to be associated with Gas Monkey Garage for the 100th Indy 500,” said Karam. “It’s exciting to return to the Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom team as well. We had a great run in 2014 at Indy. As a kid, Discovery Channel was one of my favorite stations and, mostly recently, I really got into the ‘Fast N’ Loud’ show with the Gas Monkey Garage guys. I love cars and these guys are fun to watch. So I can’t wait to work with them and drive the Gas Monkey Special in May.”

In addition, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will be making other specific sponsorship announcements for the 100th Indy 500 in the near future.

Karam and the No. 24 Gas Monkey Garage Special will take their first official 2016 Indy 500 laps Monday, May 16, in practice with qualifications set for Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. The famed 100th 500-mile classic will start at 12:20 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 29.

# # #

About Gas Monkey Garage: In 2002, Richard Rawlings launched Gas Monkey Garage. The Garage created and transported automobiles for customers worldwide. Since 2012, the facility has been the focus of the Discovery Channel series Fast N' Loud. In September 2013, Rawlings started Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill in Northwest Dallas with a second location at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport opened in March 2014. In October 2014, Gas Monkey Live, a venue dedicated predominantly to live music, was opened. In May 2015, Rawlings published his first autobiography entitled Fast N’ Loud: Blood, Sweat and Beers. In 2016, Gas Monkey Garage will partner in three motorsports effort with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Gas Monkey Garage Special in the 100th Indy 500, the Riley Engineering Dodge Viper in the United Sports Car Championship and the Laughlin Motorsports Pro Stock in the NHRA Mello Yello Series.

About Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was founded in 2000 by Indianapolis car dealer Dennis Reinbold. The legacy of the Dreyer and Reinbold family dates back to the 1920s with Reinbold’s grandfather, the legendary Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, a former factory motorcycle racer. Dreyer served as a crewman and mechanic on the famed Duesenberg driven by Benny Shoaff and Babe Stapp in the 1927 Indy 500. Dreyer went on to build Indy 500 cars in the 1930s which many started on the front row. In addition, Dreyer constructed championship-winning sprint cars and midgets as well as quarter midgets called Dreyerettes. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing captured its first win in 2000 with driver Robbie Buhl at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla., and has fielded a variety of drivers including Buhl, Buddy Lazier, Sarah Fisher, Buddy Rice, Ryan Briscoe, Al Unser Jr., Townsend Bell and Sage Karam.

About Sage Karam: Karam, 20, is one of the top young open-wheel drivers in the world after an impressive teenage career with championships in Firestone Indy Lights and US Formula 2000. The Nazareth, Pa., former high school wrestling star made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in the 2014 Indy 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with a sensational drive from 31st to ninth. Karam won the “Hard Charger” award for his stellar performance as well as he and his crew placing second in the Indy 500 Pit Crew Championship. Karam returns to the Indianapolis 500 for his third appearance in the world’s biggest auto race with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the No. 24 Gas Monkey Garage Special. In 2015, Karam competed in twelve events in 2015 for Chip Ganassi Racing. Sage scored his first IndyCar Series podium with a third at Iowa Speedway and also notched a fifth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Karam has also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring sports car events.

About Kingdom Racing: Kingdom Racing’s mission is to Deliver God’s Word through Motorsports. Their unique approach combines racing and ministry outreach with the goal of reaching race fans with God’s Word. In 2008, Kingdom Racing made history as the first faith-vision team to ever compete in the Indianapolis 500. This season marks Kingdom Racing’s 9th year competing in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.Kingdom Racing plans to host multiple ministry events, festivals and appearances at race tracks this season and in partnership with churches throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.KingdomRacing.net or join their social media fan communities at ‘KingdomRacing’ on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Tom Blattler, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 317-525-5692