David Malukas to race for Team Penske in 2026
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Team Penske signed ‘Lil Dave’ to the biggest deal of his NTT INDYCAR Series career as David Malukas will take over for Will Power in 2026.
Penske confirmed the long-anticipated signing Thursday. Malukas will race the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet in 2026 “and beyond”, according to the team.
“We are excited to add David Malukas as the next driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet,” Roger Penske said. “We feel that Team Penske will provide David everything needed to take the next step in his career, and we are confident that he will continue the great legacy of the Verizon Chevrolet.”
When Power announced his departure for Andretti, many favored Malukas as his successor. Malukas is a first-generation Lithuanian American whose family’s American Dream helped open the door for him to become a rising racing star in recent years.
Since making his INDYCAR debut in the 2022 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Malukas has racked up five top-five finishes and 16 top-10 finishes in 61 races. He attracted attention from top teams, including McLaren who signed him to a deal for the 2024 season.
Unfortunately, a wrist injury meant Malukas never made a start with the team. However, A.J. Foyt Racing picked him up for 2025 – just at the right time as they aligned with Penske. Malukas finished second in the Indianapolis 500, helping propel him to Penske in 2026.
“Racing for Team Penske is the goal for every young racecar driver, and I am honored to be one that gets to live out that dream,” said Malukas. “Will Power is one of the legends of our sport and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet is one of the most-recognized cars on the grid. These are big shoes to fill, but I look at it as an opportunity because I know that it is one of the best teams in the paddock.”
Malukas’ first race with Penske is the March 1, 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com