Local Indy 500 Team & Drivers Excited to Support mini-mini Kids’ Run

INDIANAPOLIS (May 1, 2019) – Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, today announced a partnership with the 500 Festival, a nonprofit organization providing life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the legendary Indianapolis 500®.

Through the partnership, the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing WIX Filters Chevrolet, driven by Sage Karam, and the No. 48 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Salesforce Chevrolet, driven by J.R. Hildebrand, will feature branding of the 500 Festival’s mini-mini kids’ run that will take place Saturday, October 5, 2019 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Karam and Hildebrand will also serve as a spokespersons and ambassadors for the mini-mini, which provides a unique opportunity for kids ages 5-12 to run or walk in one of four different race distances. All races will finish at the famous IMS Yard of Bricks finish line.

The mini-mini event logo and a tag line, “Kids Run Here,” will be featured on both Dreyer & Reinbold Racing IndyCars for the 103^rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge later this month. The partnership represents an expansion of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s existing relationship with the 500 Festival as well as its commitment to advancing health and fitness among Indiana youth. Team owner Dennis Reinbold served as a 500 Festival board director from 2002-2008.

“This is a great way to utilize our IndyCar team platform to further highlight the ways that Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is invested in the Indianapolis community where we’re based,” said Reinbold, DRR team owner and an Indianapolis businessman. “Our team and drivers are deeply engaged in their community and we are proud of their participation. Adding the opportunity to provide awareness for programs that meaningfully engage youth throughout the state of Indiana is an exciting addition to our Indy 500 participation.”

“I have admired the efforts of the 500 Festival to leverage the value and significance of the Indy 500 for positive affect on the community,” said Karam. “As you can imagine, fitness is a very big part of our preparation as an IndyCar driver. I look forward to encouraging kids to run on the very track where we compete every May as a catalyst for leading a healthy and fit lifestyle.”

“It’s great to work the 500 Festival and their outstanding mini-mini kids run,” said Hildebrand. “The 500 Festival has been an important part of the month of May in Indianapolis for decades and it’s exciting to have Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as a partner in the youth activities through the organization. I look forward to working with the 500 Festival and their awesome group of people.”

“As a community nonprofit organization with a broad mission to enrich lives, foster positive community impact and celebrate the Indianapolis 500, we look forward to working with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Sage Karam, J.R. Hildebrand and the entire DRR team on this significant opportunity to promote one of our signature youth events, the mini-mini,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “This partnership will help us expand our impact on Hoosier kids and promote a culture of running and walking in the state of Indiana.”

The 500 Festival mini-mini is the only kids run to take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is a timed fun run designed specifically for kids and provides Indiana’s youth with an experience similar to the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon that’s sized just for them. Kids participating in the mini-mini will experience the larger-than-life fun of a 500 Festival running event – complete with course entertainment, cheering sections, a trip through runner’s service, and the coveted mini-mini medal. The 2019 500 Festival mini-mini will take place on Saturday, October 5. Four different race distances are offered, from 0.5 miles to 2 miles, allowing participants ages 5 – 12 to select the race that best meets their age and ability. Now through Tuesday, October 1, you can register for the mini-mini for just $15. All participants will receive a commemorative technical t-shirt, finisher’s medal and a runner's bib with a timing device.

To learn more about the 500 Festival mini-mini or to register, visit indymini.com/minimini or search #Indyminimini on social media.

The 500 Festival mini-mini is supported by the 500 Festival Foundation and Youth Fitness Cornerstone Partners: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, AON, PNC Bank and Crowe LLP.

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About Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was founded in 1999 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, Sage Karam and J.R. Hildebrand. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has successfully qualified all 38 drivers for the Indy 500 in its history. DRR also captured a rallycross championship in 2016. The DRR rallycross team recorded five main event victories, 23 heat race wins and eight fast qualifying honors in 2016.

About Sage Karam:

Karam, 24, is one of the top young open-wheel drivers in the world after an impressive teenage career with championships in Firestone Indy Lights (2013) and US Formula 2000 (2010). 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 31^st 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. 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 as well as the IMSA tour in 2017. Karam has competed at the Indianapolis 500 in five times including four of his five appearance for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. In 2018, Karam run as high as sixth when a cut tire forced him out of the race on lap 154. He’ll attempt to qualify for his sixth Indy 500 in May.

About J.R. Hildebrand:

J.R., 31, is an American race car driver with success in a variety of categories during his career. He finished second in his first Indianapolis 500 in 2011 and was named “Rookie of the Year.” J.R., the 2006 Indy Lights champion and 2004 USF2000 titleholder, has competed in eight Indy 500 with four top-ten finishes. Hildebrand also place second (Iowa) and third (Phoenix) in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series races. Born in San Francisco, J.R. who now resides in Boulder, Colo., with his wife, Kristin. Last year, Hildebrand drove the No. 66 Salesforce/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet to 11^th in the 102^nd Indy 500. He’ll drive the No. 48 DRR Chevrolet in the 103^rd Indy 500 set for May 26. Hildebrand began his IndyCar Series career for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2011, racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sonoma Raceway.  Now, at age 31, Hildebrand also serves as a lecturer at Stanford University and has developed his own STEM education program for high school students.

About the 500 Festival

Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces more than 50 life-enriching events and programs while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and fostering positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $400 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Media Contact: Sabrina List, 500 Festival

317.614.6141 ǀ slist@500festival.com

Tom Blattler, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 317.525.5692, tomblattler@earthlink.net