David_Malukas

David Malukas

David Malukas

American racing driver (born 2001)


David Malukas (born September 27, 2001) is an American racing driver. He competes in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 6 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren.

Quick Facts Nationality, Born ...

Early career

Lower formula

In 2016 and the early part of 2017, Malukas competed in the Formula 4 UAE Championship for Rasgaira Motorsports.[1] He did not contest the full season but still finished sixth in the championship.

Malukas would move to ADAC Formula 4 to compete for Motopark in 2017. There he would end up finishing nineteenth in the championship.

U.S. F2000 National Championship

Along with his efforts in ADAC Formula 4, Malukas would compete in the U.S. F2000 National Championship in 2017 for BN Racing. At the first race at Road America, he took pole position and finished on the podium in second.

Pro Mazda Championship

After competing part-time in the U.S. F2000 National Championship the previous year, Malukas would move up to the Pro Mazda Championship in 2018 again driving for BN Racing.[2] He would have an impressive season with three wins and six podiums to finish fourth in the championship.

Formula Regional Americas Championship

Due to the 2020 Indy Lights season being cancelled in 2020, Malukas would compete in the Formula Regional Americas Championship for HMD Motorsports. He had a successful season claiming two wins and fifteen podiums to finish second in the championship.

Indy Lights

In 2019, Malukas would once again move up a rung in the Road to Indy ladder to the Indy Lights series driving for BN Racing.[3] In August of that year, Malukas' father Henry acquired BN Racing's Indy Lights operation and established HMD Motorsports. Malukas would only have two podiums at Circuit of the Americas and Gateway Motorsports Park respectively.

Malukas was set to compete in the series in 2020,[4] however the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

After 2020, Malukas returned to the series in 2021 once again with HMD Motorsports.[6] He would claim his maiden pole at the second race at Barber Motorsports Park and would go on to get his first win in the series.[7][8] Malukas would challenge rookie Kyle Kirkwood for the title all season but ultimately finished second in the standings behind Kirkwood. He would have his most impressive season in any category thus far with six poles, sixteen podiums and seven wins.[9]

IndyCar

Dale Coyne Racing (2022–2023)

Malukas driving for Dale Coyne Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

On December 15, 2021, it was announced that Malukas would drive the No. 18 entry full-time for Dale Coyne Racing in partnership with HMD Motorsports during the 2022 IndyCar Series season.[10] At Mid-Ohio, he finished a career-best ninth in his first top-10 of the season.[11] At the next race in Toronto, Malukas made it into the Firestone Fast 6 for a second time that season and qualified a career-best fifth.[12] Malukas took his first podium at Gateway, nearly passing his idol Josef Newgarden for the win on the last lap but ultimately settling for second place.[13]

In 2023, Malukas' second campaign with Dale Coyne started off with a top-10 finish in the chaotic season opener in St. Petersburg, then saw him qualify 9th in the 2023_PPG_375 at Texas Motor Speedway, and finish 4th in a multi-car battle for the win. His promising start went a bit awry, when he managed only 2 top-20 results during the next 6 races in a row. Following a last-place finish in the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America, David shook off the bad luck by qualifying 12th and recording a 6th place finish. The next stop at Toronto would prove to be a let down, being credited with a 20th place after retiring due to contact. Malukas went on to the double-header at Iowa and recorded solid 12th and 8th place finishes. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville he qualified 6th, but suffered a mechanical DNF, and was credited with a last-place finish. After a disappointing qualifying session, at the Gallagher Grand Prix, in Indianapolis, he moved up 7 positions to finish 16th. Returning to Gateway, the site of his breakout performance during the previous season, he came home in 3rd. At Portland, David qualified 24th, then worked his way forward to finish in 8th place. During the season finale in Laguna Seca, he survived a shunt, which left him stranded in a gravel trap, then returned to finish 20th.

Arrow McLaren (2024–)

On September 8, 2023, Arrow McLaren announced Malukas had been signed to a multi-year contract as driver of the No. 6 entry, beginning in 2024.[14]

Personal life

Malukas' parents emigrated from the town of Telšiai in 1991,[15] shortly after Lithuania regained independence from the Soviet Union, which had illegally annexed the country in 1940.[16]

Malukas is a United States citizen. He has said in an interview that while also eligible for Lithuanian citizenship, he has not pursued it.[17]

In 2015, David was one of the featured drivers in the "Kart Life" TV series, which provided a behind the scenes look into the world of young kart racers. [18]

Karting record

Karting career summary

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Racing record

Career summary

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American open–wheel racing results

U.S. F2000 National Championship

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Pro Mazda Championship

More information Year, Team ...

Indy Lights

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  • 1 HMD Motorsports acquired BN Racing's Indy Lights operation in August 2019

Formula Regional Americas Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Team ...


IndyCar Series

(key)

More information Year, Team ...

Indianapolis 500

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References

  1. Rizvi, Ahmed (October 26, 2016). "Richard Cregan and Rasgaira steering Emirati involvement in new F4 UAE Championship". The National. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  2. "My Mazda Road to Indy: BN Racing". www.indypro2000.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  3. "Malukas Adds Three Wins in 2018 in Preparation for Next Step in Motorsports Career". www.indylights.com. December 21, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. "David Malukas Rejoins HMD Motorsports for 2020". www.indylights.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. "Indy Lights set to go on hiatus for 2020". www.motorsport.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  6. "Malukas Set for Championship Run with HMD Motorsports". www.indylights.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  7. Wood, Ida (April 16, 2021). "Malukas wins close duel with Lundqvist for maiden Indy Lights pole". Formula Scout. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  8. "Malukas gets redemption and first win to end Indy Lights's return round". Formula Scout. April 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  9. Woollard, Craig (December 29, 2021). "How Malukas gave Kirkwood the toughest task of his Road to Indy treble". Formula Scout. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  10. Brown, Nathan (December 15, 2021). "Dale Coyne Racing signs David Malukas for No. 18, HMD Motorsports to serve as partner". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  11. "IndyCar rookie David Malukas career-best second Gateway - NBC Sports". NBC Sports. August 21, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  12. BUS BROS Episode 11: This is Chaos, retrieved August 21, 2023
  13. "David Malukas – 2022 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  14. "David Malukas – 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.

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