One of the top GRC Lites competitors in the Red Bull Global Rallycross series, Tanner Whitten, will return to the division for another season in 2016. He’ll join the previously announced Cabot Bigham at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
The full release is below:
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Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) welcomes Tanner Whitten, 2015 Red Bull Global Rallycross feature winner, to its team for the 2016 Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) season. Whitten will drive select races in the No. 24 DRR Red Bull GRC Lites car and showcase DRR partner WIX® Filters primary livery at the legendary Daytona International Speedway June 17-19.
Whitten, 23, battled for the GRC Lites point championship in 2015 after recording a main event win at Belle Isle in Detroit and placing second at Daytona International Speedway in June. Whitten also recorded three podium finishes last year, five qualifying heat wins and one qualifying pole position. Whitten scored a fifth place finishing position in the 2015 GRC Lites Championship as a rookie.
The former late model stock car racer is scheduled to campaign in numerous 2016 GRC Lites events beginning in Dallas on June 4, Washington State on Sept. 17 and the Port of Los Angeles Oct. 8-9.
“Tanner Whitten is a remarkable young driver, and we’re excited to be partnering with him and the DRR team this race season,” said Jennifer Gibson, brand manager of WIX. “It’s this kind of passion and energy that WIX loves to be a part of each year. These opportunities allow us to continue our longtime support of racing and reach new fans. It’s a win-win.”
WIX products include oil, air and fuel filters that have been track-tested and proven in all levels of stock car, dirt track, off-road and drag racing. WIX uses motorsports as a grueling testing ground for scenarios involving high temperatures, fluctuations in pressure and rapid breakdown of engine oil.
“It’s exciting to be joining a very strong and proven operation with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team in 2016,” said Whitten, who was 2010 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Whelen stock car series. “I enjoyed a good rookie season last year with the Detroit win and several podium finishes. The DRR team has proven to field very competitive cars in both GRC SuperCar and Lites divisions. I saw their machines last year in action, and I’m anxious to race with DRR in 2016. I can’t wait for my first race at Dallas next month.”
DRR will field two Red Bull GRC Lites machines in 2016, including the No. 2 DRR Red Bull GRC Lites entry with newcomer Cabot Bigham and Paratek Pharmaceuticals. Coming off a 2015 season with four race wins and eight podium finishes, DRR is poised for continued success in 2016. The DRR organization has been a successful team in the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2000 and continues to expand its effort within both Red Bull GRC SuperCar and Lites series.
“We’re very excited to add Tanner to our 2016 driver lineup for the DRR Red Bull GRC team. Tanner is a team player and has quickly become a part of our racing family. It’s an honor to continue our partnership with WIX within the Lites series, and we’re thrilled to announce additional news about this partnership very soon so stay tuned,” said Dennis Reinbold, team owner of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Former Indy 500 champion Buddy Rice again will serve as a driver consultant and program manager for DRR’s GRC Lites program. DRR will continue to utilize many of his personnel from its IndyCar team, including engineering, mechanical, shock and damper, and management staff.