To call Conor Daly’s motorsports career diverse would be an understatement. At 32, he’s competed in everything from go-karts to open-wheel cars and stock cars, with starts in the IndyCar series, GP2, GP3, and more recently, NASCAR.
Despite his extensive experience, Daly has only completed three full-time IndyCar seasons in 2016, 2017, and 2022. In the interim, he has embraced the role of a journeyman driver, racing wherever opportunities arise, even if only for a single event. Recently, he filled in for an injured driver at an IndyCar race in Iowa and is set to race in both the NASCAR Truck Series and Xfinity Series this weekend.
Though Daly has the pedigree—being the son of former F1 driver Derek Daly—and the talent, maintaining a full-time professional racing career requires more than skill; it demands financial backing. Daly acknowledges, “The only reason I’m racing is not because I have been selected to participate… there’s money involved.”
His ability to secure and nurture partnerships has allowed him to race in both IndyCar and NASCAR. Polkadot, a cryptocurrency services company, sponsored him in this year’s Indianapolis 500 and continues to back him in upcoming NASCAR races. “The only reason I essentially still have a career,” Daly said, “is because of the relationship building that you have to do in this sport.”
These relationships are what keep Daly on the track, albeit often on a part-time basis. “Every deal that we work on is essentially, ‘what can we do with what we have?’” he explained. Daly not only secures sponsorships but also delivers results for his sponsors, like his 10th place finish in this year’s Indy 500.
Looking ahead, Daly hopes to solidify one of his partnerships to secure a full-time racing opportunity next year. However, he admits with a chuckle, “I don’t know if I ever will.”
Daly has competed in the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR’s Daytona 500, and continues to foster the sponsor relationships that enable his participation in both NASCAR and IndyCar. While his ultimate goal is a full-time ride, for now, Daly focuses on keeping sponsors satisfied and racing wherever he can. “I’ve been very lucky,” Daly reflected. “I’ve had a lot of great partners and interactions in this sport. I hope to do more, but for now, I’m here and ready for whatever comes next.”
