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Conor Daly will be a full-time driver for Ed Carpenter Racing in IndyCar

Nat Newell
Indianapolis Star
Conor Daly will be the full-time driver of the No. 20 BitNile Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing in IndyCar

Conor Daly will be the full-time driver of the No. 20 BitNile Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, the team announced Friday morning. BitNile Holdings, Inc. has signed a multi-year deal, according to the news release, and will be an associate sponsor for ECR's No. 21 car.

Daly and Rinus VeeKay, who will drive the No. 21, will be ECR's two full-time drivers with Carpenter also running the Indianapolis 500. Carpenter's participation in three additional oval races may come at a later date, according to the release.

It will be Daly's third season with ECR but first as a full-time driver. He previous raced road and street courses and the Indianapolis 500 with Ed Carpenter Racing and the other ovals for Carlin. Daly, 30, has competed in 80 IndyCar races, leading the most laps in 2021 Indy 500.

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Ed Carpenter Racing driver Conor Daly (47) talks with Tony Stewart on Sunday, May 30, 2021, before the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Being chosen to represent BitNile is without a doubt one of the most important opportunities of my career," Daly, a Noblesville native, said in a news release. "This is an incredible partnership that we look forward to being able to strengthen and grow as we go after race wins together!

“To be able to come back to Ed Carpenter Racing for the full season is incredible. I haven’t had the chance to be with one team for the entire year since 2017, so this is something I am very, very thankful for."

Daly will be competing in the Chili Bowl Nationals on Friday and Saturday. He and Carpenter will be on BitNile founder and executive chairman Todd Ault's podcast, Risk On, Wednesday on YouTube at 4 p.m.

BitNile Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company specializing in cryptocurrencies and innovations in the field of Decentralized Finance.

“I’ve been a fan of Indy car racing for a long time, and we are proud to have the opportunity to team up with Ed Carpenter Racing," Ault said in a statement. "BitNile operates with a ‘Risk On’ philosophy where risk is an integral element if you want to win. Conor Daly and ECR share that mindset, making us in perfect alignment.”

Contact IndyStar Deputy Sports Editor Nat Newell at (317) 444-6182 or nat.newell@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NatJNewell.