CARMEL, Ind. – Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has announced that Indianapolis 500 driver Sage Karam will join the DRR ARX2 Rallycross effort this year.

The former Indy Lights champion will make his Americas Rallycross Championship debut in four ARX2 Series races with sponsorship from WIX Filters and IMSI Springs in the No. 24 DRR race car.

Karam, 24, began his racing career at age nine in karting and made the rapid rise to an open-wheel star with championship runs in 2010 with the USF2000 title and in 2013 with the Indy Lights crown in 2013.

The Nazareth, Pa., racer began his IndyCar Series career in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 when he drove from the 31st position to ninth at the checkered flag and was honored as Hard Charger of the Race as a rookie. Karam will attempt to qualify for his sixth Indianapolis 500 next month in the No. 24 WIX Filters DRR Chevrolet.

Karam’s racing career has also included sports cars but the ARX2 class action will be Sage’s initial venture into rallycross with action at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 8-9 in the No. 24 WIX Filters car and Gateway Motorsports Park on July 13-14 in the No. 24 ISMI Springs machine.

Karam will make his ARX Rallycross debut on the DRR team by joining teenage racing star Cole Keatts, who was announced for an ARX2 full season in the No. 53 DRR machine.

“I am very excited to jump into the ARX2 class at Mid-Ohio and Gateway in June and July with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing,” said Karam. “I have tested the ARX2 car for DRR last year, but the dirt component is completely new to me. I have only raced on pavement throughout my career, so getting onto the dirt side will be a learning process. Cole’s background is through the dirt in off-road racing and he can help me a bit.

“But overall the ARX Rallycross series looks to be a blast and I can’t wait to test the DRR race car soon. And then drive the WIX Filters/ISMI Springs machine at the races.”

Dennis Reinbold, DRR team owner whose squad won the 2016 U.S. rallycross lites series championship, has entered Karam in five Indianapolis 500 races including the impressive rookie performance in 2014 and is anxious to see Sage behind the wheel of one of his ARX2 vehicles this year.

“We have always seen the potential and development of Sage as a racing driver through our Indy 500 program,” said Reinbold, who has entered and qualified 37 cars in the Indy 500 since 1999. “But we are excited to see him at the wheel of one of our ARX2 cars this year. We were impressed with Sage’s performance in a test last year and we wanted to give him this opportunity now after the Indy 500. We are also exploring more possibilities for Sage to compete in the reminder of the 2019 ARX2 season.”