Charlotte, NC (June 17, 2024) - It will be a very different view of the racetrack for Michael d’Orlando this weekend at the next round of the Indy NXT by Firestone series. After garnering impressive results over the first six races to start the 2024 season, the Charlotte, NC resident will be relegated to the side lines for the double-header at Laguna Seca in Monterery, CA due to budget limitations.
Coming off a challenging weekend at Road America, with an 11th place result after a flat-spotted tire affected his entire 80-mile effort in the main event, d’Orlando will return to the track only as a spectator. This is the first time that he has had to watch his fellow competitors compete without him since he began full-time competition in 2019.
The 22-year-old 2022 USF2000 Champion has been on a race-by-race basis this entire season due to budget limitations. Despite the added pressure of competing with only a couple days notice for the majority of the races this year, d’Orlando has shown speed and been able to put his #3 Andretti Cape Indy NXT machine in the front half of the grid in every race he has competed in and challenged for podium results in two of the six events. The support of partners like Flatrock Motorclub, Rising Star Racing, Priority Technology Holdings and Andretti Cape which is an alliance between Angretti Global and Cape Motorsports, have been instrumental in his efforts. Despite the pressure to perform and the insecurity of future opportunities for more races, d’Orlando has proven he is a contender for podiums and race wins in the NTT INDYCAR series feeder program.
“I was looking forward to my first race at Laguna Seca in the Indy NXT by Firestone series.” states d’Orlando. “We have really showed some strong results in the last few rounds, and we were fairly strong at Laguna in testing. We’ve been working hard to get back on the grid, especially for a double-header, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to find the funding. I am sincerely grateful for all the support from Rising Star Racing, Priority Technology Holdings, and Flatrock Motorclub for the opportunities in the first few races, and appreciate the support of my team at Andretti Cape Indy NXT. We look forward to continuing to expand on these partnerships while we also build new relationships. Even though I’m not racing this weekend, I’ll be there to support my brother, Nick as he fights for the championship lead in the Radical Cup series with Graham Rahal Performance. He has been by my side all these years and I am eager to be there to support him again.”
d'Orlando will continue to work with his partners to continue for more opportunities to compete this season. d’Orlando Enterprises LLC has growing network of B2B opportunities. To support Michael’s efforts to return to the Indy NXT by Firestone series, please contact Sherri d’Orlando at sherri@dorlandoracing.com or Art Wilmes at art.wilmes@risingstarracing.com.
Broadcast of all Indy NXT by Firestone events can be found on the Indycar app, Indycar Radio and Sirius XM, with race day events broadcast on NBC's streaming service, Peacock.
To stay up to date on Michael d'Orlando, check out his website at www.michaeldorlando.com and follow his social media on Instagram (dorlandoracing, michaeldorlandoofficial), Facebook (Michael d'Orlando Racing), Twitter (dorlandoracing and michaeldOrland1), and on LinkedIn.
About INDY NXT by Firestone:
Indy NXT by Firestone (previously known as "Indy Lights") is the official development series and the primary support series for the NTT INDYCAR series. Wholly owned and operated by Penske Entertainment Corp, the Indy NXT series participates in 14 race events spanning 12 weekends across the USA and Canada.
About d'Orlando Enterprises LLC: d'Orlando Enterprises LLC, also known as "DELLC", is a driver management, marketing, event planning and activation company with specific focus in the motorsports industry. We develop unique and remarkable VIP experiences, behind the scenes access, and other entertainment opportunities for partners and corporations at race events across the country, including the Indy500.
d'Orlando Enterprises LLC | Headquarters, Hartsdale, New York 10530 |
917-952-0243 | info@dorlandoracing.com | www.dorlandoracing.com
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