Despite recent revelations of a $3.5 million sponsorship deficit, Conor Daly’s position at Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) remains secure. The team’s principal, Dave O’Neill, has confirmed that Daly’s role in the No. 77 Chevy was never dependent on the substantial sponsorship sum anticipated from cryptocurrency company Polkadot.
O’Neill, in an interview with RACER, confirmed that Daly’s engagement is unshakeable. “Conor will indeed be at the wheel,” he said. He added that the media storm surrounding the funding fiasco was blown out of proportion. Daly has already brought in some funding, and the team wasn’t banking on the Polkadot money.
The much-discussed $3.5 million figure was not accurate, according to O’Neill. The initial request of $3.5 million was denied, and a subsequent $2.5 million proposal was also turned down. However, another funding proposal is in the works for the Indy 500. “Any funds that come from that will be warmly welcomed at JHR as it will be invested in running the car and the business,” he added.
Daly has more than just one financial backer. “Conor has around five or six potential sponsors in the pipeline, and two or three of these have already been secured,” O’Neill revealed. Daly’s appointment wasn’t solely based on his ability to attract sponsors; his driving skills were also a significant factor. “We didn’t sign him just because he had a certain amount of sponsorship dollars. We signed him because I believe he’s a truly talented driver, and it so happened that he thought he could bring some funding with him.”
However, a clause does exist within JHR that permits the team to bring in another sponsored driver for the No. 77 car if needed to meet the operating budget requirements. Despite this provision, team owners Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger are not rushing to explore this possibility. “We don’t currently have any plans to do that,” O’Neill clarified, adding that the team is committed to having Daly in the cockpit for the full season.
O’Neill is enthusiastic about the upcoming season, not just for Daly’s performance on the ovals but also his prowess on street tracks and road courses, where he’s proven to excel. Despite the financial turbulence, it seems that Daly’s future at Juncos Hollinger Racing remains bright and secure.