LAS VEGAS — Arie Luyendyk Jr. confirmed his participation in the inaugural Davey Hamilton Jr.’s Open Wheel Showdown Dec. 1-2 at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Luyendyk will compete in the $50,000-to-win sprint car main event that shares the card with supermodifieds and pavement midgets.
The son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk will be behind the wheel of a Kirk Morgan Racing sprint car and will race as a teammate to Davey Hamilton Sr. and Davey Hamilton Jr.
“It all started when I went to watch him run the Little 500 in May,” explained Luyendyk. “I just loved that event. It was the first asphalt sprint car race I’d ever seen live. It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do. Shortly after the race, Davey mentioned he was putting a race together in Las Vegas. I jokingly told him that if he needed another diver, I was available.
“He said, “OK, let’s do it.’”
The 42-year-old Luyendyk is confident he can qualify for the 100-lap main event.
“I feel like if I can get into the main and keep my nose clean. That would be good for my first race,” Luyendyk said. “Obviously the first time doing anything new, you’re not gonna be the quickest out of the gate, and I understand that. I think for me, I’ve driven a lot of different stuff, and I love oval racing. I’ve driven a lot of ovals back in my Indy Lights days.
“The sprint car has a lot of horsepower-to-weight ratio. So it’s all about managing traction and making sure you keep your nose clean,” Luyendyk continued. “I’m obviously confident or I wouldn’t try it. But I’m also aware it’s gonna be tough for me.”
There might be some truth to what Luyendyk says. He has run a variety of series in his racing career up to this point including SCCA Formula Ford Series, Skip Barber Formula Didge Series, SCCA Formula Continental, Traxxas TORC Series, Stadium Super Trucks Series, A-1 Grand Prix and Indy Lights. In addition, he finished 28th in the 2006 Indianapolis 500.
“The wing adds a whole different element, it seems like. And that would probably play a little more into my experience, which is good,” Luyendyk said. “The good thing is I’m in good equipment. I’ve got a good car and a good crew. If I’m patient and just learn every lap, I hope it will come to me.”
Most of the series that Luyendyk has competed with have given him experience with down force racing, which may prove useful with the winged sprint car on a three-eighths-mile track.
Luyendyk is taking this venture.
“I went to Idaho to watch Davey race, so I could see how a show is run with heat races and all that stuff,” Luyendyk acknowledged. “It was also an opportunity to hang out with the team a little bit and understand the cars. I’m also gonna test at Madera Speedway and attend the Kruseman Dirt Track Driving School to get some car-control experience.”
The friendship formed between Luyendyk and Hamilton has led to this opportunity.
“I think our friendship started when we started racing Stadium Super Trucks together,” Luyendyk remembered. “It’s been a long time now. I think he was intimidated. It’s almost like a role reversal now. I’d already been doing that for years, and he kinda turned up, and had never driven anything like that before.
“I tried to give him as many tips as I could. It’s kinda cool. Now I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone to drive a sprint car and now he’s there to help me.”
Luyendyk gained additional fame by participating in several reality television shows including “The Bachelor” in 2017. He gained a huge social media following from the show.
“I didn’t have to pay for my beer at the Little 500, which is cool, laughed Luyendyk. “There still are perks. Our family has a good fan base and huge social media following. Most of the people who follow our story are women. Racing is male dominated. I hope they follow us, and I have some of them in the stands rooting for me.”
Luyendyk said his dad (Arie Luyendyk Sr.) wasn’t thrilled with his decision to race a winged sprint car.
“He thinks I’m crazy,” Luyendyk said with a laugh. “It was basically the same reaction I got when I told him I was gonna run a Stadium Truck. ‘Why?’ he said. I was like, ‘Vecause it’s fun.’ My dad’s always funny with that kind of thing. He’s always thinking about safety. I told him I just don’t feel like that fire is gone yet. I wanna try new things. But he, along with the rest of my family, plan on attending.
“I think I can drive anything decently. Maybe I’m better at some things than other things,” Luyendyk said. “I do like to push myself into new experiences. This is the last form of motorsports I haven’t tried yet. I think if I do decent and feel confident, I feel like there may be more races to come. It’s one of those things where I want to check it off the bucket list and say, ‘I’ve done it.’ But at the same time, I want to be competitive.”