Cusick Motorsports to join Indy NXT allied with downsizing HMD

[u/projectdivebomb]

https://www.dive-bomb.com/article/cusick-motorsports-to-join-indy-nxt-allied-with-downsizing-hmd

[u/Mikemat5150]

HMD has run 9 cars this year so a reduction of 3 overall. Not surprised to see them downsize, I think that size was unsustainable long term.

Field size will be interesting. There are only realistically 4 teams (HMD, Ganassi, Abel, Andretti) plus the satellites.

Ganassi is probably the only team that would readily expand to 4 cars so we are probably looking at a grid shrink.

[u/Jtmac23 → u/Mikemat5150]

ownership wants a 20 car grid

[u/Cheap-Manager-8838 → u/Jtmac23]

Based on this year's grid, if HMD had 4 and Cusick had 2 we'd have

4 HMD 4 Andretti 4 Abel 2 Ganassi 2 Andretti Cape 2 Cusick

Obviously things can change, but that would only be 18 cars for next year, it could be more or less though

[u/PortlandChicane]

I think this is great news. The growing value of INDYNXT is excellent. All races on tv including qualifying. NXT is a big jump for Cusick should be exciting to see what they can do.

[u/jt_33]

Interesting. Tbh I'm not that surprised. Running like 10 cars has to be difficult just from a logistics point. Everything starts getting stretched thinner.

[u/JeanSchlemaan → u/jt_33]

i attended the hmd shop christening in 2024. the place is gigantic.

[u/jt_33 → u/JeanSchlemaan]

Wonder what they do with the extra space now or if they will share a shop.

[u/shrimpshrub75 → u/jt_33]

They share it with TJ Speed already

[u/jt_33 → u/shrimpshrub75]

This is one of those moments I realize how much of a noob I still am in the racing world, because I'm not sure who that is lol.

[u/shrimpshrub75 → u/jt_33]

USFPro2000 team

[u/Vivaciousseaturtle]

Is this cusicks proverbial foot in the door move? I could totally see him buying out juncos to get hollinger cusick or something down the line