By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
The underdog story of this year’s Indianapolis 500 Bump Day has just seen another positive swing to their evolving story. After bumping out Fernando Alonso and McLaren on Sunday, Kyle Kaiser and the Juncos Racing team have landed a lead company to sponsor their No. 32 entry for this Sunday’s 103rd Indianapolis 500.
250ok, an email intelligence company, jumped onboard the Kaiser entry on Wednesday, giving team owner Ricardo Juncos one big smile heading into race weekend.
“We needed a sponsor and were down to the wire,” Juncos said. “When Greg [Kraios, CEO of 250ok] offered to support us, and we connected over our personal journeys, we knew this sponsorship was meant to be. Our team worked hard this season to qualify for the Indy 500, and 250ok was the final piece of the puzzle we needed.”
CEO Kraios had respect for Juncos’ journey, gelling with the never-give-up attitude.
“After hearing Ricardo’s story, and knowing they were in need of a sponsor, I jumped at the opportunity,” Kraios said. “From our similar upbringings, supporting his hardworking and odds-defying team felt like a personal calling.”
The month threw nearly every speed bump at the small single-car Argentine team, who not only lost out on multiple expected sponsors for the month but also suffered a monstorous crash in Turn 3 on Fast Friday.
Scrambling for parts and pieces, the team was ready for qualifying on Saturday. And though being pushed to Bump Day Sunday, Kaiser beat Alonso’s McLaren by just 0.019 mph for the 33rd and final spot in the 500.
“This is the definition of a roller coaster ride here,” Kaiser said Sunday. “This just shows what this place is about. Nobody is safe no matter what your budget, what your resources are. It takes heart. We gave it all we had.”