Ryan Hunter-Reay, #17 Ethanol / Honda / Firestone

Ryan Hunter-Reay burst onto the racing scene in the late 1990’s, winning six WKA National Karting Championships and three Grand National Karting Titles before turning his attention to open-wheel race cars. He shined in the Barber Dodge Two Liter and Barber Dodge Pro Series before moving up to the Formula Atlantic Series in 2002, where he immediately demonstrated his ability to win on all three of the open-wheel racing disciplines; road circuits, ovals and street courses. 

In 2003, Ryan moved up to the IndyCar level and quickly became the first American Rookie in 20 years to win a race when he took the checkers at Surfers Paradise, Australia.  2004 saw Hunter-Reay earn his second Champ Car victory, winning from the pole at the famed Milwaukee Mile while setting another record for most laps lead in a single race by leading 250 laps, and lapping all but the 2nd & 3rd place cars. 

Hunter-Reay left Champ Car racing following the 2005 season and set about diversifying his racing resume. He raced in everything from Daytona Prototypes in NASCAR’s Road Racing Championship, the Rolex Grand American Series, where he won in only his fourth start, to Off-Road racing in the grueling Baja 1000, and representing the United States in the International A1Grand Prix Championship.

In 2007, Hunter-Reay was tapped by Bobby Rahal to drive the No.# 17 Ethanol entry for Rahal Lettermen Racing in the IndyCar Series.  Despite having zero IndyCar experience and being hired on Wednesday for that weekends technical Mid-Ohio road race. Ryan wasted no time proving yet again why he is one of the very top young American drivers in the world today.  There has never been a better debut in the history of the Rahal Letterman Team, Ryan finished seventh, and went on to score three-top seven finishes in the remaining six races of the season, against some of the world’s best drivers.  These astounding performances led to Ryan winning the Bombardier Rookie of the Year Title after competing in just six events, establishing yet another record.

Hunter-Reay’s rookie performances were recognized throughout the International Motorsport Industry, and resulted in his team owners, three time IndyCar Champion and Indy 500 Winner Bobby Rahal and Late Night talk show host David Letterman, securing the services of the talented American for the 2008 IndyCar season.

This year finds Hunter-Reay knocking on victory’s door.  A sixth place finish at the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” the Indy 500, earned Hunter-Reay the 2008 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Title, an honor especially significant due not only to the biggest Rookie field in over a decade, due to the experienced Formula One and Champ Car drivers the field was comprised of. 

Career Highlights:

2007 - IndyCar Rookie of the Year / Three Daytona Prototype starts in the Rolex Sports Car Series winning at the 9-Hour Utah Endurance Race / Test Driver for Robby Gordon’s NASCAR Cup Team / Represented the United States for TeamUSA in the International AIGP Championship Series.

2006 - Three Rolex Sports Car Series starts, two in GT and one in Daytona Prototype / Selected for General Motors NASCAR Driver Development Program.

2005 -  Champ Car World Series with best finish of sixth at Denver and Toronto.

2004 - Champ Car World Series posting a Win from the pole at Milwaukee’s famed oval / Recipient of the Greg Moore Legacy Award.

2003 - Champ Car World Series.  Starting from the outside pole at Mid-Ohio Hunter-Reay raced to a third place finish, earning his and his team’s first podium.  Scored his first career victory at Surfers Paradise, Australia, becoming the first American Rookie in more than 20 years to win a Champ Car race. 

2002 - Toyota Atlantic Championship earned three wins and three poles.  Set records for most laps led, most poles, most fast laps and most track records.  Won the BBS "Rising Star" Award & WorldCom "Fastest Driver" Award for the highest number of fastest race laps.

2001 - Barber Dodge Pro Series recording Wins at Lime Rock and Toronto.

2000 - Barber Dodge Pro Series Rookie of the Year; Earning two podium and four top-five finishes.

1999 - Skip Barber Formula Dodge National Champion and Skip Barber Formula Dodge Eastern Regional Series Champion / Named Barber Dodge "Scholarship Winner."

1998 - Skip Barber Formula Dodge Southern Regional Series Championship Rookie of the Year.

1997 - Won six WKA / FIA National Series Championships and Three Grand National Titles / First WKA Triple Crown Winner / WKA Competitor of the Year.

Notable Honors

-2008 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year

-2007 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year

-First American Rookie in over a decade to earn a Podium (Mid-Ohio 2003)

-First American Rookie in over 20 years to win a Champ Car race (Australia 2003)

-Holds the record for the most laps lead (250) in a single race (Milwaukee 2004)

-Youngest American to ever Win an Oval Race (2004)