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Ganassi sponsor Journie launches Canadian karting academy
07/20/2024 10:44 AM
Journie, the sponsor of the No. 4 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson, has launched a new venture with the Journie Driving Academy in Canada to focus on identifying and developing homegrown talent at the karting level.
The formation of the academy by the Canadian gas station and convenience story chain owned by the Simpsons includes oversight and guidance from the Ganassi team, led by Simpson's race strategist and karting industry veteran Chris Wheeler, along with financial assistance to continue competing in karts.
With a criteria of selecting three promising drivers from the age of 10-13, Sloan Sterling (pictured above), Marley Chaudhaury, and Nigel Longley were chosen as the first class to represent the academy. A “signing day” event was held for the trio in June, and with IndyCar's annual trip to Canada taking place this weekend at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto event, Sterling, Chaudhaury and Longley have been embedded with the Ganassi team to learn about the inner working of the team and series.
"In the early stages when we were working with Journie on the development and the structure of what this program was going to be, the messaging internally about how this opportunity could really change the outcome of somebody’s very impactful teenage years, and also potentially their lives, really hit home for all of us in that process," Wheeler told RACER.
"This is going to give not just this first class, but future generations of this class the opportunity to do things that normally they wouldn’t be able to do. It’s going to allow them to be in a group of their peers and to work within some really good karting teams."
Karting was instrumental for Simpson, as it was for most drivers in open-wheel and sports car racing, on the path that led him from the Cayman Islands to IndyCar. The stop in Toronto for the NTT IndyCar Series also serves as a reminder of how large of a presence Canadian drivers once held in the championship, but with no Canadians on the Honda Indy Toronto grid, or on the cusp of reaching IndyCar in its top Indy NXT development series, the need to assist at the grassroots level stood out to the Simpsons.
Through the Journie Driving Academy, a hope is held to see the Sterlings, Chaudhaurys, Longleys and whomever will follow behind them in the next class work their way up the racing ladder to the big leagues.
"The Canadian karting scene has been one of those environments that’s produced such good talent that has found success globally," Wheeler added. "And so for us to be able to help Journie put a spotlight on the talent coming out of Canada is a really unique opportunity. Oftentimes, I feel like some of the young Canadian talent gets overlooked because they're not in development programs or some of these other karting series that are in the United States.
"One of my favorite parts about this program is the three drivers that were chosen are attached to three teams we'll work with that are owned and operated by people who have a lot of experience, they've been passionate about karting for decades, and have gone through the stages of their life in karting. They’re dedicated to karting, they’re dedicated to the kids, and they’re dedicated to teaching strong values, to hard work and to have discipline for all the kids that they develop in their program."
The first class were included in a photo shoot with the team earlier this week and have Wheeler, Simpson, and fellow Ganassi IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong sharing insights and welcoming the kids into the team's extended family at Toronto.
"This sport is all about the next generations and supporting them the right way," Wheeler said. "And that really starts in a meaningful way for everyone throughout the Chip Ganassi Racing team this weekend where we get to have these Journie Driving Academy drivers and their families join us at the track and get to know us a little bit more as we get to know them and really introduce them to the pinnacle of motorsports in North America."