R. C. Enerson

Last updated
R. C. Enerson
2010 US Grand Nationals Jr Rotax.jpg
Enerson (No. 317) competing in the 2010 Rotax Max Challenge Junior race
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
BornRichard Clayton Enerson
(1997-03-06) March 6, 1997 (age 27)
New Port Richey, Florida, United States
IndyCar Series career
6 races run over 4 years
Team(s)No. 50 (Abel Motorsports)
Best finish28th (2016)
First race 2016 Honda Indy 200 (Mid-Ohio)
Last race 2023 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
WinsPodiums Poles
000
NASCAR Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish39th (2021)
First race 2021 Go Bowling at The Glen (Watkins Glen)
WinsTop tens Poles
000
Previous series
2015-2016
2013-2014		 Indy Lights
U.S. F2000 National Championship

Richard Clayton Enerson (born March 6, 1997) is an American professional racing driver. He is the son of former Indy Lights team owner Neil Enerson, who owned Team E Racing. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 14 Chevrolet Camaro for SS-Green Light Racing.

Contents

Racing career

Enerson's NASCAR Cup car at Watkins Glen in 2021 Rc enerson (51371266844).jpg
Enerson's NASCAR Cup car at Watkins Glen in 2021

After participating in karting and Skip Barber regional racing, Enerson made his professional debut in the 2012 U.S. F2000 National Championship in National Class. He finished in third place with four class victories. He returned to the series in 2013 driving for ZSports/Team E and finished 9th in the championship with 2 podium finishes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Enerson switched to his family's own team for the 2014 U.S. F2000 Winterfest and won the championship, capturing two wins and two other podium finishes in the six races. In the 2014 U.S. F2000 National Championship, Enerson finished second in the championship by only 9 points behind champion Florian Latorre. Enerson won five races, the most of any driver that season, including a sweep of both races at Barber Motorsports Park.

Enerson moved two steps up the Mazda Road to Indy in 2015, competing in the Indy Lights series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. [1] Enerson took his first Indy Lights victory with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course after four podiums in the 2015 season.

Enerson started 2016 competing in Indy Lights again, but following the Freedom 100, he dropped out of the series to pursue a seat in the IndyCar Series. This paid off later in the season, when Dale Coyne Racing signed him to drive at Mid-Ohio, then later extended his contract to include Watkins Glen and Sonoma.

Enerson drove the No. 31 car of Carlin Racing at the 2019 Honda 200 in the NTT IndyCar Series. [2]

It was announced on August 3, 2020 that Enerson would compete in his first NASCAR race, driving in the Xfinity Series race at Road America in the No. 07 for SS-Green Light Racing. [3]

Enerson and his father Neil Enerson purchased 2 complete Dallara DW12 Indycar chassis. A deal was struck with IndyCar newcomers Top Gun Racing to loan the chassis, as well as additional equipment, to the team so that Enerson could be entered in the series. On May 10, 2021, Enerson took part in a test session with Top Gun Racing at World Wide Technology Raceway. [4] On May 12, IndyCar confirmed that Enerson and Top Gun Racing will attempt to qualify for the 2021 Indianapolis 500. [5] After taking part in the last row shootout, Enerson failed to qualify for the 2021 Indianapolis 500.

Enerson and his father were later embroiled in a legal dispute with Top Gun Racing for the return of the 2 chassis and the equipment loaned earlier in the season. This was finally resolved in May 2022. [6] Following this, Enerson and his father announced that plans were underway to enter the 2023 IndyCar Series. In mid-April it was announced that Enerson had reached an agreement with Abel Motorsports to field his entry into the 2023 Indianapolis 500. [7]

Motorsports career results

American open–wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

U.S. F2000 National Championship

YearTeam1234567891011121314RankPoints
2013 ZSports
Team E Racing		 SEB
30		 SEB
18		 STP
8		 STP
12		 LOR
DNS		 TOR
5		 TOR
20		 MDO
2		 MDO
4		 MDO
3		 LAG
12		 LAG
10		 HOU
20		 HOU
9		9th143
2014 Team E STP
2		 STP
1		 BAR
1		 BAR
1		 IMS
7		 IMS
10		 LOR
16		 TOR
3		 TOR
17		 MDO
1		 MDO
8		 MDO
3		 SNM
1		 SNM
2		2nd301

Indy Lights

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718RankPoints
2015 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports STP
9		 STP
13		 LBH
4		 ALA
3		 ALA
7		 IMS
5		 IMS
2		 INDY
4		 TOR
8		 TOR
5		 MIL
2		 IOW
3		 MDO
1		 MDO
4		 LAG
6		 LAG
6		4th295
2016 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports STP
5		 STP
12		 PHX
3		 ALA
6		 ALA
4		 IMS
8		 IMS
15		 INDY
11		 RDA RDA IOW TOR TOR MDO MDO WGL LAG LAG 14th111

IndyCar Series

YearTeamChassisNo.Engine1234567891011121314151617RankPointsRef
2016 Dale Coyne Racing Dallara DW12 19 Honda STP PHX LBH ALA IMS INDY DET DET RDA IOW TOR MDO
19		 POC TXS WGL
9		 SNM
19		28th55 [8]
2019 Carlin 31 Chevrolet STP COA ALA LBH IMS INDY DET DET TXS
RDA TOR
IOW
MDO
17		 POC
GTW
POR
LAG
35th13 [9]
2021 Top Gun Racing 75 ALA
STP
TXS
TXS
IMS
INDY
DNQ		 DET
DET
ROA
MDO
NSH
IMS
28		 GTW
POR
LAG
LBH
43rd5 [10]
2023 Abel Motorsports50 STP
TXS
LBH
ALA
IMS
INDY
32		 DET
ROA
MDO
TOR
IOW
IOW
NSH
IMS
GTW
POR
LAG
36th5 [11]

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
2021 Dallara Chevrolet DNQ Top Gun Racing
2023 Dallara Chevrolet 2832Abel Motorsports

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536NCSCPtsRef
2021 Rick Ware Racing 15 Chevy DAY DAY HOM LVS PHO ATL BRI MAR RCH TAL KAN DAR DOV COA CLT SON NSH POC POC ROA ATL NHA GLN
34		 IND MCH DAY DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL CLT TEX KAN MAR PHO 39th3 [12]

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233NXSCPtsRef
2020 SS-Green Light Racing 07 Chevy DAY LVS CAL PHO DAR CLT BRI ATL HOM HOM TAL POC IND KEN KEN KAN TEX ROA
20		 DAY DOV DOV DAY DAR RCH RCH BRI LVS TAL CLT KAN TEX MAR PHO 61st18 [13]
2024 SS-Green Light Racing 14 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO COA
28		 RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO -*-* [14]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

IMSA SportsCar Championship

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine12345678910RankPoints
2017 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports P Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
9		 SEB LBH COA DET WGL MOS ELK LGA PET 36th22

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References

  1. ↑ DeZinno, Tony. RC Enerson confirmed for Indy Lights with Schmidt Peterson, NBC Sports, December 19, 2014, Retrieved 2014-12-28
  2. ↑ "RC Enerson to drive for Carlin this weekend at Mid-Ohio". July 23, 2019.
  3. ↑ Nguyen, Justin (August 3, 2020). "Xfinity Newcomers RC Enerson, Jesse Iwuji Among Ringers for Road America". The Checkered Flag.
  4. ↑ Pruett, Marshall (May 10, 2021). "Top Gun Racing makes test debut ahead of Indy 500 entry". Racer.com. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ "NINE WINNERS AMONG DEEP FIELD FOR 105TH INDIANAPOLIS 500". IndyCar. May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ Pruett, Marshall (May 20, 2022). "Enersons working on 2023 Indycar plan". racer.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Enerson To Drive Abel Motorsports' Entry in Indy 500". IndyCar.com.
  8. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2021 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  11. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  14. ↑ "R. C. Enerson – 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
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