PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout Set for NJMP This Fall

For the fifth straight year, PT Autosport will give eight young hopefuls the chance to make their motorsports aspirations come true, with applications now open for the team’s Aspiring Driver Shootout.

The Aspiring Driver Shootout winner will earn a multi-year racing partnership valued at up to $250,000 USD ($50,000 guaranteed). Prospective applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 23, but no prior racing experience is required – or expected.

Founded in 2022, PT Autosport has created a racing ladder system intended to foster an environment focused on learning and development, both on and off track.

Inaugural Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury was awarded rookie of the year honors in the 2024 Toyota GR Cup series.

2024 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Zach Hollingshead and third-place finisher Max Stallone split the GR Cup season behind the wheel of the PT Autosport/Race Brew by Momentum Brewery/STEM Racing Toyota GR86 Cup Car.

Stallone took that depth of experience to the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout, winning the $150,000 scholarship package that entered him into the 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin.

PT Autosport is equally committed to filling crew-based positions, having brought on board Jay Dennis, entering his third season as a race car technician and systems engineering associate, this season with Murillo Racing in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and Sebastian Hazbun, a mechanic with Copeland Motorsports.

888 initial application spots are available, with 88 drivers chosen to proceed to round two. From those 88, eight potential drivers will make it to the finals at NJMP.

The aspiring drivers will participate in a tough competition measuring a wide range of skills, including fitness, media, problem-solving, teamwork, and of course, driving. The winner will take the grand prize, with awards also going to the second and third place finishers, as well as additional prizes for the top three provided by team partner OMP Racing.

One spot for the finals will be awarded to the winner of the soon-to-be announced PT Autosport online eSeries.

Last year’s Aspiring Driver Shootout winner, Luis Beilicke, earned his spot in the finals by winning the eSeries, and went on to capture the Shootout win.

Beilicke, 22, recently made a very successful debut in the UK-based Ginetta GT Academy with the multiple title winning team W2R, sweeping the weekend by taking both race pole positions and both race victories.

As preparations continue for this year’s Shootout, team principal Jason Myers emphasized PT Autosport’s continued vision: to help deserving young drivers who would otherwise not have had the budget or the opportunity to start their journey up the racing ladder.

“We’ve learned a lot in the previous four iterations: we’ve had some great accomplishments and winners in the past, along with some missteps along the way, but that is all part of the process,” he said.

“Our winner from last year in 2025, Luis Beilicke, has had an incredible start to his racing season: testing a GT4 car at Portimao, experiencing ice driving in Sweden, earning his international racing license, and is now competing in the Ginetta GT Academy series in the UK.

“Our selection process is going to be different and more refined this year, with our challenges even tougher as we improve not only our interview process, but our finalists chosen as well.

“We ran the 2025 Shootout with the Ginetta G56 platform and will do so again in 2026,. We will also compete in the Ginetta Challenge North America championship for the second year in a row, while also campaigning in the Ginetta UK GT Academy series for the first time.

“We appreciate Ginetta’s continued support, and look forward to our partnership throughout 2026 and beyond.”