Expanding beyond the Indy 500
In December 2022, Abacus Racing announced that Spirit of Speedway — launched by Will Marotti of Marotti Autosport — would be the primary sponsor of Daniel Whitley’s No. 57 entry in the 2023 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. For Marotti, the opportunity represented a natural extension of Spirit of Speedway’s mission: honoring the heritage of Indianapolis while supporting grassroots racing at one of the most prestigious midget events in the world.
Linking history and future
Spirit of Speedway began in 2021 as the most successful crowd fund in INDYCAR history. Designed to give fans and individual investors a chance to participate alongside corporate sponsors, the initiative celebrated the hometown of the Indianapolis 500 — Speedway, Indiana — while building toward Marotti Autosport’s next Indy 500 entry.
“Racing is as much about honoring its history as it is about future innovation,” Marotti said. “With Spirit of Speedway, we’re paying tribute to the roots of Indy while also opening doors for fans to feel like they’re truly part of the journey.”
The Chili Bowl connection
Often called “the Indy 500 of Midget Racing,” the Chili Bowl draws over 300 cars each January in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For drivers and teams, simply reaching the A-Main is a career highlight. Abacus Racing team principal Brent Cox explained the connection:
“The Indianapolis 500 is the reason I love racing. Seeing Will’s passion and Spirit of Speedway’s mission, it felt like a perfect fit for us to work together on this stage.”
Bigger than one race
For Marotti, the sponsorship underscored a larger vision: blending IndyCar’s prestige with grassroots accessibility. “The Indy 500 is the biggest race in the world. The Chili Bowl is the biggest midget race in the world. To be part of both shows what Spirit of Speedway is all about.”
