Ryan Hunter-Reay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Hunter-Reay |
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Hunter-Reay at Road America in 2021
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| Born | December 17, 1980 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Championship titles | |||||||
| 1999 2012 2014 |
Skip Barber National champion IZOD IndyCar Series champion Indianapolis 500 winner |
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| Awards | |||||||
| 1997 2000 2002 2007 2008 2013, 2014 |
Skip Barber Big Scholarship Barber Dodge Pro Series Rookie of the Year WorldCom Rising Star Award IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Best Driver ESPY Award |
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| IndyCar Series career | |||||||
| 251 races run over 17 years | |||||||
| Team(s) | No. 23 (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing) | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (2012) | ||||||
| First race | 2007 Honda 200 (Mid-Ohio) | ||||||
| Last race | 2025 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| First win | 2008 Camping World Indy Grand Prix at the Glen (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
| Last win | 2018 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma (Sonoma) | ||||||
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| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 43 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Years active | 2003–2005 | ||||||
| Team(s) | American Spirit Team Johansson (2003) Herdez Competition (2004) Rocketsports Racing (2005) |
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| Best finish | 9th (2004) | ||||||
| First race | 2003 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Streets of St. Petersburg) | ||||||
| Last race | 2005 Hurricane Relief 400 (Las Vegas) | ||||||
| First win | 2003 Lexmark Indy 300 (Surfers Paradise) | ||||||
| Last win | 2004 Time Warner Cable Road Runner 250 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
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| Previous series | |||||||
| 1998, 2000–2001 2002 2002, 2010–2013 2003–2005 2006–2013 2006 2012 2014 |
Barber Dodge Pro Series Atlantic Championship American Le Mans Series Champ Car World Series Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series A1 Grand Prix Race of Champions IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship |
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Ryan Christopher Hunter-Reay (born December 17, 1980) is an American professional racing driver. He is famous for winning both the Indianapolis 500 in 2014 and the IndyCar Series championship in 2012. Ryan was the first American driver to win these titles since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006.
He also won races in the former Champ Car World Series and the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Besides Indy car racing, Ryan has competed in other exciting series like the Race of Champions and various sports car races. He currently races part-time in the IndyCar Series for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Ryan used to drive for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series. When he first joined in 2010, he was only set to race for part of the season. However, more sponsors were found, and he ended up racing the whole year. With Andretti, he achieved his biggest wins: the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series championship.
Since 2011, Ryan's car number has been 28. This number represents the estimated 28 million people worldwide living with cancer. Ryan lost his mother to colon cancer in 2009. He is a spokesperson for Racing for Cancer, an organization that supports cancer awareness.
Contents
Ryan's Racing Journey
Starting Out in Racing
Ryan Hunter-Reay started his racing career in karting, winning six national championships. This success earned him a scholarship to race in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Series in 1999, which he won. He then won the Skip Barber Big Scholarship, a prize of $250,000, which helped him compete in the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2000.
Racing in the Barber Dodge Series
Ryan first raced in the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 1998. He drove the #28 car without a sponsor. His first race was at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where he finished 23rd after a crash. He returned later that season but didn't score any points.
In 2000, Ryan came back to the series. He started on pole position at Concord Pacific Place and had his best finish of 4th place at Lime Rock Park. He ended the season 5th in points and won the Rookie of the Year award. This award brought him sponsorship for the next season.
Ryan continued in the series in 2001. He won his first race at Lime Rock Park, leading most of the laps. He won again at Exhibition Place, taking the lead in the final laps. He also had two 2nd-place finishes. He finished 5th in the championship standings that year.
Moving Up to Atlantic Racing
In 2002, Ryan moved up to the Toyota Atlantic Championship. This series was a stepping stone to the FedEx CART Championship Series. He drove for Hylton Motorsports.
Ryan had a strong season, winning three races. His first win came at Laguna Seca Raceway, where he started on pole and led most of the race. He also won at Chicago Motor Speedway and Burke Lakefront Airport. He finished 6th in the overall points standings.
Indy Car Racing
Racing in Champ Car
Ryan Hunter-Reay started racing in the Champ Car World Series in 2003 with American Spirit Team Johansson. The team used Reynard cars, which were not as competitive as other cars that year.
Despite the challenges, Ryan earned his first Champ Car win at the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia. He started 12th and managed to stay on track while others crashed in changing weather conditions. He led 15 laps and took the victory.
In 2004, Ryan joined Herdez Competition. At the third race of the season, the Time Warner Cable Road Runner 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, he started on pole and led all 250 laps to get his second and final Champ Car win. He finished 9th in the points standings that year.
In 2005, Ryan drove for Rocketsports Racing. The team struggled to find consistent sponsors. His best finishes were two 6th-place results. He was later replaced for the final two races of the season.
Becoming an IndyCar Star
Ryan began his IndyCar Series career in 2007, joining Rahal Letterman Racing for the last six races. He finished 7th in his first race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Even though he only raced part-time, he won the series Rookie of the Year award.
In 2008, Ryan continued with Rahal Letterman Racing. He finished 6th in the Indianapolis 500 and earned the race's Rookie of the Year award. Later that year, he won his first IndyCar Series race at Watkins Glen International. This was also the first win for Rahal Letterman Racing in four years.
After losing his sponsorship at the end of 2008, Ryan joined Vision Racing in 2009. He had a great start, finishing 2nd at the season opener in St. Petersburg. He later moved to A. J. Foyt Enterprises and finished 15th in points for the season.
In 2010, Ryan joined Andretti Autosport for a partial schedule. He won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, leading 64 laps. His strong performance led to him racing the rest of the season. He finished 7th in the final points standings.
The 2011 was challenging for Ryan. He struggled with car issues and crashes. At the Indianapolis 500, he initially failed to qualify but was able to race in another team's car. He later found his stride, earning podium finishes at Toronto and Mid-Ohio. He finished 7th in points.
The 2012 was Ryan's breakout year. He won three races in a row: at the Milwaukee Mile, Iowa Speedway, and Toronto. These wins helped him take the points lead. He later won the Grand Prix of Baltimore. In the final race, he battled Will Power for the championship. Ryan finished 4th and won both the overall IndyCar Series championship and the oval championship. He was the first American to win the series title since 2006.
As the defending champion, Ryan used car number 1 in 2013, with a small 28 inside it. He won the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and the Milwaukee IndyFest. He also finished 3rd at the Indianapolis 500. He ended the season 7th in points.
In 2014, Ryan continued with Andretti Autosport. He won the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. The highlight of his year was winning the Indianapolis 500 by a tiny margin of 0.0600 seconds, the second-closest finish in the race's history. This win put him in the points lead. He also won at Iowa Speedway later in the season. He finished 6th in the final points standings.
Recent IndyCar Seasons (2015-Present)
After his big wins in 2012 and 2014, Ryan faced some tough seasons. From 2015 to 2021, he won five races, with his last win being in 2018. Other younger drivers on his team, like Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta, became the main drivers.
On August 18, 2021, Ryan announced he would leave Andretti Autosport. He decided to take a break from full-time IndyCar racing but planned to return for special events like the Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Ryan did not race in the 2022 IndyCar Series. However, he helped Juncos Hollinger Racing and rookie driver Callum Ilott prepare for the 106th Indianapolis 500.
In 2023, Ryan raced in the 107th Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, finishing 11th. He then joined Ed Carpenter Racing for the rest of the 2023 season. He raced the No. 20 car full-time but left the team at the end of the year. In 2024, Ryan competed in the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 again with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Cusick Motorsports. He is also scheduled to race in the 2025 Indianapolis 500.
Racing for His Country
Ryan competed in A1 Grand Prix during the 2006–07 season, representing A1 Team USA. He raced in New Zealand, finishing 10th in the feature race.
Sports Car Adventures
American Le Mans Series
Ryan first raced in the American Le Mans Series in 2002 at the 12 Hours of Sebring. He returned in 2010 and 2011 with Level 5 Motorsports, winning his class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011. He continued to race in this series through 2013.
Rolex Sports Car Series
Ryan also competed in the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series from 2006 to 2013. He raced in various classes, including GT and DP (Daytona Prototype). In 2007, he won a race at Miller Motorsports Park with Riley-Matthews Motorsports. He also achieved a 3rd-place finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2010.
IMSA SportsCar Championship
After the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series merged, Ryan competed in the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship in 2014. He drove for SRT Motorsports in the GTLM class, finishing 3rd at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Petit Le Mans. He also won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2020 with Mazda Motorsports.
Race of Champions
Ryan was invited to race in the Race of Champions in 2012. He was the only driver representing the IndyCar Series. He teamed up with Mexican driver Benito Guerra Jr. for the Americas team. He returned to the event in 2014, teaming up with Kurt Busch.
Personal Life
Family Life
Ryan Hunter-Reay is married to Beccy Gordon, who was a pit reporter for the Champ Car World Series and an off-road racing driver. Beccy is the sister of famous racer Robby Gordon. Ryan and Beccy have three children.
His Special Car Number
Since the 2011 season, Ryan's car number has been 28. This number is very meaningful to him. It represents the estimated 28 million people around the world who are living with cancer. Ryan's mother passed away from colon cancer in 2009. He uses his racing platform to raise awareness for cancer research.
In 2013, because he was the defending IndyCar Series champion, he used the number 1 on his car. This was a tradition for champions. However, he still included a small number 28 inside the 1 to keep its special meaning.
Life Outside the Track
Ryan Hunter-Reay lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In his free time, he enjoys fishing. He says it's a great way to relax and escape from the pressures of racing. He even owns a 42-foot yacht called Inside Line that he uses for his fishing trips.
On TV and in Films
Ryan Hunter-Reay has appeared on television. He was featured in an episode of the NBC Sports Network series IndyCar 36. This episode showed his race weekend at the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
After he won the 2012 championship, a documentary called Ryan Hunter-Reay: An American Champion was made. It showed Ryan, his wife Beccy, and their newborn son Ryden in the months after his big win. The film was shown on the NBC Sports Network.
Racing Record
American Open–Wheel Racing Summary
Champ Car World Series Summary
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums (Non-win) |
Top 10s (Non-podium) |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 43 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
IndyCar Series Summary
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Indianapolis 500 Wins |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 4 | 165 | 5 | 16 | 44 | 82 | 1 | 1 (2012) |
Indianapolis 500 Results
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Dallara | Honda | 20 | 6 | Rahal Letterman Racing |
| 2009 | 32 | 32 | Vision Racing | ||
| 2010 | 17 | 18 | Andretti Autosport | ||
| 2011 | DNQ | ||||
| 33 | 23 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | |||
| 2012 | Chevrolet | 3 | 27 | Andretti Autosport | |
| 2013 | 7 | 3 | |||
| 2014 | Honda | 19 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | 16 | 15 | |||
| 2016 | 3 | 24 | |||
| 2017 | 10 | 27 | |||
| 2018 | 14 | 5 | |||
| 2019 | 22 | 8 | |||
| 2020 | 5 | 10 | |||
| 2021 | 7 | 22 | |||
| 2023 | Chevrolet | 18 | 11 | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | |
| 2024 | 12 | 26 | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing w/ Cusick Motorsports | ||
| 2025 | 25 | 21 | |||
Images for kids
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Hunter-Reay at Road America in 2021
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Hunter-Reay at the Autosport International in 2005.
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Hunter-Reay practicing for the Indianapolis 500 in 2008.
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Hunter-Reay In 2007
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Hunter-Reay in 2010 at an autograph signing.
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Hunter-Reay competing in the 2010 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the Streets of St. Petersburg.
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Hunter-Reay in May 2010 at an autograph signing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Hunter-Reay competing in the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway.
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Hunter-Reay competing in the 2011 Indy Japan: The Final at Twin Ring Motegi.
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Hunter-Reay competing in the 2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the Streets of St. Petersburg.
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Hunter-Reay's car at the 2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the Streets of St. Petersburg.
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Hunter-Reay's car at the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Streets of Long Beach.
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Hunter-Reay competing in the 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Streets of St. Petersburg.
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Hunter-Reay prior to the 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Streets of St. Petersburg.
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Hunter-Reay (right) competing with Simon Pagenaud at the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Streets of Long Beach.
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Hunter-Reay (right) posing with teammate James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Briscoe following Pole Day qualifying for the 2012 Indianapolis 500.
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Hunter-Reay competing in the 2012 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix at Belles Isle State Park.
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Hunter-Reay with his co-drivers at the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
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Hunter-Reay prior to the 2012 Race of Champions.
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Hunter-Reay with his wife, Beccy Gordon
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Hunter-Reay being interviewed by NBC Sports in 2015
See also
In Spanish: Ryan Hunter-Reay para niños
