Forte Racing Announces Two New Drivers for 2025

Daytona Beach, Florida (Wednesday, December 18, 2024) – Forte Racing is pleased to announce that German driver Mario Farnbacher will join Canadian Misha Goikhberg behind the wheel of the GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 for the full 2025 season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, while American driver Parker Kligerman will join the duo for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Michelin Endurance Cup driver is yet to be announced. Goikhberg is returning for his third season with Forte Racing after consecutive fifth place finishes in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship. In 2023, Goikhberg, along with Forte Racing teammates Loris Spinelli and Patrick Liddy, won the prestigious Petit LeMans 10-hour endurance race. Over his two seasons with Forte Racing, Goikhberg has amassed eight top five finishes, including 2nd place finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Virginia International Raceway in addition to a 2nd place finish at Petit Le Mans in 2024.   “Very happy to work alongside Mario (Farnbacher) for the full season,” Goikhberg said. “He needs no introductions in GT racing and has won multiple championships. We were on sister cars in 2020, so we know each other very well.   “Also, I would like to welcome Parker (Kligerman) to the team,” the Canadian driver added. “He is a big stock car talent, and all-around wheelman. Not the worst guy to have matching Rolexes come the end of January.” Farnbacher has successfully competed in multiple series including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Farnbacher won the Michelin Endurance Cup in 2017 with Riley Motorsports followed by GTD class IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championships as a -full-time driver in 2019 and 2020 with Meyer Shank Racing.   After winning the Pro Am class in the GT World Challenge America in 2022 with Racers Edge Motorsports and the 2023 Pro category runner-up title, the Ansbach native returned to IMSA in 2024 driving for Heart of Racing’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTDPRO Championship entry.   “It’s my first day in the new job and it was nice to get into this new environment and into the new challenges as well,” Farnbacher said yesterday. “I think the first test day today was good. Definitely a lot of things that are new that I need to learn and get my head around. I think we made some good progress and are getting to know each other as a new team. Really looking forward to the future and the ROAR and Daytona weekends. I think we have a strong package and I’m really looking forward to this season. I’d like to thank the team and Lamborghini for giving me this opportunity.” Joining the 2025 full season drivers for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is NASCAR driver and announcer Parker Kligerman. The Connecticut-native has raced in all three of NASCAR’s premier series since starting his career in 2013 and has spent the last two seasons competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Big Machine Racing. During his NASCAR career, Kligerman has amassed 3 wins, 37 top five finishes, and 98 top ten finishes across all three series.   Kligerman has served as an analyst and pit reporter for NASCAR on NBC since 2015 and stands as one of the youngest correspondents to ever serve as a pit reporter for a NASCAR Cup race. He has also produced and developed multiple original programs for NBC Sports such as Proving Grounds and In The Wall. This will be Kligerman’s first-time racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.   “This race has been on my bucket list my entire career,” Kligerman said. “I’m super excited and grateful to be doing it with a race winning and top caliber organization like Forte Racing. We’re here to go for a Rolex. The team has been so welcoming to my partners Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers and have created a great atmosphere and cool vibe. This is my first endurance race. I’ve done sims and have done the broadcast the last 5 or 6 years, but to actually be driving in the race is super cool. I’m so pumped! It’s a dream come true.”  Forte Racing GTD Program Manager Michael Harvey is excited to have Goikhberg returning and is looking forward to getting to know the new additions to the team. With fifth place championship finishes in the team’s first two seasons competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTD Championship, Harvey is hoping to start the 2025 season with a strong finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in his quest to win the team's first IWSC GTD title.   “It’s a pleasure to watch this group grow,” Harvey said, “we are very committed to taking the next step as we fight for a championship. So happy to continue this journey with Misha, and super excited to add a multiple champion like Mario to the program, His experience will be invaluable. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be able to add Parker to our Rolex charge, definitely a talent who will shine over the 24 hrs.”   Find out more about Forte Racing on our website Forteracing.com and our Instagram page and make sure to tune in and support Forte Racing's new lineup of drivers for the Rolex 24 at Daytona January 23-26 on NBC, USA and Peacock.     *Photos Courtesy of Brayan Castiblanco

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Kaleb Johnson and Team DGRD Teaming Up in 2025 for Big Season

Delaney Gray secures 2024 INEX N.C. Bandolero Bandit championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – LA GRANGE, N.C. (Dec. 4, 2024) – For the first time in INEX history, a female competitor has captured the North Carolina Bandolero Bandit state championship.

That competitor is 12-year-old Delaney Gray, who secured the state championship thanks to an incredible season that included 21 victories and 31 top five finishes. Her wins came at a variety of tracks, including Southern National Motorsports Park and New River All American Speedway.

“Seeing Delaney’s hard work and determination pay off is extremely gratifying,” said Brandon Gray, Delaney’s father. “She has to work extremely hard to race at a competitive level and it’s simply amazing to see what God is doing in her life and the lessons she is learning. She has a big heart and a ton of drive to be successful and she has a great mentor in her crew chief, Blaise Brinkley.

“Blaise has helped her development to a point she could contend for a state title. This is just as much his as it is hers. I’m so proud of what they have accomplished together.”

The INEX North Carolina Bandolero Bandit state championship is a monumental achievement for Gray, who began her racing career just a few short years ago.

Last year she ranked fourth in the North Carolina Bandolero Bandit standings after scoring 11 wins, which gave her all the motivation she needed to pursue the championship again during the 2024 season.

“Being crowned the North Carolina Bandit champion is an honor and my largest accomplishment so far,” said Delaney Gray. “Being the first female to accomplish this in my age bracket is so amazing. I’m so thankful God has blessed me the ability and platform to perform at a high level. I hope that I can encourage other your females to follow their dreams and show them that hard work pays off.

“I owe a big thank you to my Mom and Dad, crew chief Blaise Brinkley, Matt and Zach for always believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. I want to Thank my sisters Emalyn and Olivia for traveling all over and giving up valuable family time for me to race. Mr. Mike Gordon, I do not know what else to say. Words cannot express how grateful I am that you took me in, treated me like family and gave us bad fast cars. And finally, Miss Tonya from MPM Marketing, you are much more than my agent, you are a life coach, mentor and a dear friend to me.”

Delaney is already looking forward to the upcoming 2025 season. Her plans will be announced soon.

Delaney would like to thank her family and all of her sponsors, including Carolina Family Pool & Patio, MPM Marketing, Bob’s Muffler Shop of Goldsboro, W.G. Speeks Inc., Carolina Mobile Refrigeration, K1 RaceGear and Swift Springs.

BRENT SEXTON WRAPPED UP HIS 2024 SEASON AT THE TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX  

(Lakeside, CA, December 4, 2023)  A little over 10 months after it all began, Sexton Gatlin Racing’s Brent Sexton wrapped up the 2024 campaign on Thanksgiving weekend in the 83rd running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at the Ventura Raceway. The veteran racer competed in the Inland Rigging Ultimate Sprint Car Series portion of the program.

The two-night show matched Lakeside, California-based Sexton against a stellar field of drivers from around the nation.  Friday’s preliminary night saw 50 cars show up at the tiny 1/5 of a mile track on the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Sexton, a 52-year-old Tennessee native, qualified fifth fastest in his group with a lap of 12.789.  Powered by a former Rico Abreu Shaver 360 engine, the three-time lightning sprint car champion had a good starting position in his heat race on the inside of row three.  Unfortunately, a tap with another car saw his right rear go flat.  The deflation saw him finish 10th.

That flat tire meant that Brent had to go to one of the B mains.  The race was only 12 laps long and would go by in the blink of an eye on the little track.  Starting ninth in the 10-car field, the wily veteran had to finish third to transfer to the A main.  The laps wound down quickly and Sexton drove his way to sixth.  However, time ran out before he could get past three more cars, and he was done for the night.

The following evening, Brent had one shot at making the A-main.  That came in one of the three B mains.  It was a 12-lapper like Friday night, and he was starting ninth.  However, this time he only had to get to fourth.  Once again, he began passing cars and raced his way up to sixth.  But like the night before, the laps ticked off quickly.  Brent ended up two spots shy of the transfer.  That ended his racing weekend and put wraps on his 2024 season.   

SGR is already making plans for the 2025 campaign, with the first race of the year coming in February.  If you would like to join the team for a fun, exciting ride on the sprint car trail, call Brent Sexton or email him at the contact information at the top of this release.

Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2024 season possible. East County Electric Works, Keys Brothers, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Valley Lubricant Services, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt.