David Malukas joins Team Penske for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NICS) season,
becoming just the second driver in team history to sit behind the wheel of the No. 12
Verizon Chevrolet. At 24-years-old, the first-generation Lithuanian American will be the
youngest, full-time NICS driver for the team. He joins the team after spending the 2025
season with AJ Foyt Racing where he had two top five finishes, five top 10 finishes and
97 laps led on the way to an 11 th -place finish in the final series standings.
Despite his youth, Malukas is keenly aware of who he is following into the role of driver
of one of the most-iconic cars in the series. Will Power won two championships and the
2018 Indianapolis 500 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. He sits fourth on the all-time
series wins list and first in career NICS pole positions.
The Chicago native sees it as a prime opportunity in one of the best rides in the sport,
one he has been working towards for over a decade.
His racing career began in 2013 at the karting level where he captured numerous
championships through the 2016 season. It was then that he entered the bottom rung of
the INDYCAR SERIES ladder system and began working his way towards his dream of
an NICS opportunity. Three victories, three pole positions and seven podiums in USF
2000 and USF Pro 2000 from 2017-2018 led Malukas to INDY NXT by Firestone, one
step below the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Malukas entered the 2019 INDY NXT by Firestone season with his family-owned team,
HMD Motorsports. Both driver and team were new to the series, yet the determined
effort allowed Malukas to challenge for podiums during the growing year. Malukas’
sophomore season in INDY NXT by Firestone was postponed from 2020 to 2021 by the
Covid19 pandemic, but the wait proved to be worth it.
Biography
David Malukas joins Team Penske for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NICS) season,
becoming just the second driver in team history to sit behind the wheel of the No. 12
Verizon Chevrolet. At 24-years-old, the first-generation Lithuanian American will be the
youngest, full-time NICS driver for the team. He joins the team after spending the 2025
season with AJ Foyt Racing where he had two top five finishes, five top 10 finishes and
97 laps led on the way to an 11 th -place finish in the final series standings.
Despite his youth, Malukas is keenly aware of who he is following into the role of driver
of one of the most-iconic cars in the series. Will Power won two championships and the
2018 Indianapolis 500 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. He sits fourth on the all-time
series wins list and first in career NICS pole positions.
The Chicago native sees it as a prime opportunity in one of the best rides in the sport,
one he has been working towards for over a decade.
His racing career began in 2013 at the karting level where he captured numerous
championships through the 2016 season. It was then that he entered the bottom rung of
the INDYCAR SERIES ladder system and began working his way towards his dream of
an NICS opportunity. Three victories, three pole positions and seven podiums in USF
2000 and USF Pro 2000 from 2017-2018 led Malukas to INDY NXT by Firestone, one
step below the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Malukas entered the 2019 INDY NXT by Firestone season with his family-owned team,
HMD Motorsports. Both driver and team were new to the series, yet the determined
effort allowed Malukas to challenge for podiums during the growing year. Malukas’
sophomore season in INDY NXT by Firestone was postponed from 2020 to 2021 by the
Covid19 pandemic, but the wait proved to be worth it.
While his 2021 INDY NXT by Firestone season did not end with a championship, the
results for Malukas were eye-popping. After a season-opening win on the streets of St.
Petersburg, Malukas scorched the series for a total of seven wins, six pole positions
and a series-record 16 podium finishes. His championship duel with Kyle Kirkwood
featured a back-and-forth tussle for the championship, one in which Malukas would
finish second after a historic season.
In 2022, Malukas realized his dream as he joined Dale Coyne Racing with HMD
Motorsports in the INDYCAR SERIES. His rookie season was highlighted by a second-
place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway to go along with two additional top 10
finishes. The 2023 NICS season started solidly with a 10 th -place finish at St. Petersburg
followed by a fourth-place run at Texas Motor Speedway.
While the consistency was not what Malukas and the team envisioned, the young driver
was able to capture three additional top 10 finishes before the end of the 2023 season.
The speed shown that year was enough to earn Malukas one of the seats with the
Arrow McLaren INDYCAR Team. Unfortunately, a serious wrist injury suffered in a mountain biking incident in the offseason eventually led to his dismissal from Arrow
McLaren before ever turning a competitive lap. He competed in 10 races during the
2024 season with Meyer Shank Racing after his wrist healed.
"Racing for Team Penske is the goal for every young racecar driver, and I am honored
to be one that gets to live out that dream," said Malukas. "Will Power is one of the
legends of our sport and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet is one of the most-recognized
cars on the grid. These are big shoes to fill, but I look at it as an opportunity because I
know that is one of the best teams in the paddock."
Malukas resides in the Lake Norman, NC area where he enjoys filming social media
content, gaming and cooking. He also has a robust fitness routine that includes jiu-jitsu
and plenty of running.
David Malukas Key Accomplishments
Second-place finish in 2025 Indianapolis 500
2016 X30 Junior Europa Karting Champion
2015 X30 Junior IAME International Final Winner
2014 Florida Winter Tour TaG Junior Champion
2014 United States Pro Kart Series Pro Leopard Junior Champion
2013 Rotax Grand Finals Mini Max Champion
2013 Rotax Summer Shootout Mini Max Champion
2014 Superkarts! USA TAG Junior Champion
Team Photos
No photos available at this time.
Career Highlights
2025 - Secures a career-best finish of 11 th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES final standings. Finishes the season with two top-five results – including a second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500, five top-10 finishes and 97 laps led.
2024 - Makes 10 NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts after missing the first part of the season due to a wrist injury. Posts best finish of sixth on the streets of Toronto. Earns two front-row starts at World Wide Technology Raceway and the Milwaukee Mile- Race 1. Qualifies in the top-10 in five additional races. Leads two races for 19 laps.
2023 - Finishes third at World Wide Technology Raceway, his best finish of the season and second consecutive podium at the track. Records top-five result at Texas Motor Speedway (fourth). Posts four top-10 finishes at St Petersburg (10th), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (sixth), Iowa Speedway (eighth) and Portland International Raceway (eighth). Sets the Fastest Lap of the Race at the Indianapolis 500.
2022 - Finishes 16th in his rookie NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Finishes second in the Rookie of the Year standings. Scores a second-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway for his best result of the season. Record three top-10 results at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway. Emerges as highest finishing rookie in the 106th Indianapolis 500. Sets the fastest lap of the race in Detroit and Toronto.
Career Highlights
2025 - Secures a career-best finish of 11 th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES final standings. Finishes the season with two top-five results – including a second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500, five top-10 finishes and 97 laps led.
2024 - Makes 10 NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts after missing the first part of the season due to a wrist injury. Posts best finish of sixth on the streets of Toronto. Earns two front-row starts at World Wide Technology Raceway and the Milwaukee Mile- Race 1. Qualifies in the top-10 in five additional races. Leads two races for 19 laps.
2023 - Finishes third at World Wide Technology Raceway, his best finish of the season and second consecutive podium at the track. Records top-five result at Texas Motor Speedway (fourth). Posts four top-10 finishes at St Petersburg (10th), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (sixth), Iowa Speedway (eighth) and Portland International Raceway (eighth). Sets the Fastest Lap of the Race at the Indianapolis 500.
2022 - Finishes 16th in his rookie NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Finishes second in the Rookie of the Year standings. Scores a second-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway for his best result of the season. Record three top-10 results at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway. Emerges as highest finishing rookie in the 106th Indianapolis 500. Sets the fastest lap of the race in Detroit and Toronto.
2021 - Finishes second in the INDY NXT presented by Firestone championship with seven wins, 16 podiums, six pole positions, four fastest race laps and 18 top-five results in 20 races.
2020 - Finishes second in the FR Americas Powered by Honda Championship with two wins, fifteen podiums, one pole position, one fastest race lap and 17 top-five results in 17 races.
2019 - Records two podium finishes in INDY NXT presented by Firestone season. Finishes sixth in the overall season championship in his rookie season. Receives the Tilton Hart Charger Award at the 2019 INDY NXT presented by Firestone banquet. Receives recognition for contesting in all three levels of the Road to Indy. Announces a return to INDY NXT presented by Firestone with HMD Motorsports for the 2020 season.
