Oval Debut: Clean Laps, forward Progress
A milestone weekend for Wesley Gundler at Lucas Oil Raceway — his first-ever oval test and race, and the first oval round of the 2026 USF2000 season. Held over Indy 500 weekend, the field tackled IRP for the Freedom 75. Oval racing is a completely different discipline — a different driving and racing style from anything Wesley had run before, and he met it head-on, running all 75 laps without incident and gaining five positions from his grid spot to finish P11 in his very first oval start.
Wesley Gundler Freedom 75 Positions
In Memory of Kyle Busch
The racing community lost one of its greatest this weekend. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch passed away on May 21, 2026 — the same day as the Freedom 75. A generational talent, a fierce competitor, and a legend of the sport. Our thoughts and prayers are with Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, and the entire Busch family. Rest in peace, Rowdy.
75 Laps. Five Spots Gained. Zero Incidents.
Under the shadow of the Indy 500, Wesley delivered exactly what the weekend called for: clean laps, smart racing, and forward progress. Qualifying made it hard—lined up P16—but what followed was one of the most aggressive drives in the field. On a circuit where momentum and confidence are everything, Gundler was one of the few willing to keep attacking and making decisive moves in traffic, working his way forward with several clean, committed passes en route to P11. The pace was there all weekend; the result showed both the car's speed and the growing confidence within the program.
And, it almost didn't come together. Just before Practice 1, a set of unexpected issues turned the ENVE paddock into a race against the clock, with the crew under real pressure to get the car ready in time. They responded professionally and efficiently, completed the work, and kept the weekend on track.
ENVE Motorsports called it another important step in the program's USF2000 development. A weekend defined by strong race pace, determination, and forward progress. (Read ENVE's full race report.)
Practice — Thursday, 5/21
A measured practice session ahead of qualifying. Wesley continued to find time in each run, finishing P13 in a tight field where the top 15 were separated by less than a second.
Qualifying — Thursday, 5/21
Starting from the back of the grid for the Freedom 75, the work was cut out. But the pace shown in testing gave the team confidence going into the race.
Race — Thursday, 5/21 Finish: P11 ▲First Oval Race
First oval race. 75 laps. Clean and forward.
From P16 to P11 with a spotless sheet and a string of exciting passes. It was the kind of weekend that builds a young driver. Wesley and ENVE now takes the lessons from Lucas Oil Raceway into preparation for the next round of the USF2000 Championship.
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VIP Race Weekend Experience
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NEXT RACE
Road America - June 18-21
More training, testing, and preparation are underway for Wesley. Follow along.
