VeeKay Keeps Momentum Rolling with Stellar Fourth-Place Finish in Portland

VeeKay and Juncos Hollinger Racing Prove Portland is No Fluke in Mid-Season Surge

Rinus VeeKay’s impressive mid-season turnaround reached another high point on Sunday as the Dutchman steered the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet to a stellar fourth-place finish at the Grand Prix of Portland.

Starting from fifth on the grid at the challenging 1.964-mile Portland International Raceway, VeeKay delivered a calculated, error-free drive. By avoiding the opening-lap chaos and relying on sharp execution from his pit crew, the 25-year-old maximized his opportunities to secure his third fourth-place finish in his last five starts. The result consolidates his position inside the top 10 of the IndyCar championship standings.

"We had a really good day," VeeKay said after the race. "Starting up front helps—it saves you from taking a lot of risks that might not pay off. I think we just had a very stellar day. We had a good idea on strategy, and we kept calm and did what we wanted to do at the start while keeping out of trouble."

Pit Lane Precision

While VeeKay’s on-track pace was formidable, the defining moment of his race came during the final round of pit stops. A lightning-fast service from the Juncos Hollinger crew allowed him to leapfrog the Andretti Global pair of Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood, securing track position when it mattered most.

"It was a really good job by the pit crew to get me ahead of both Marcus and Kyle at the end," VeeKay praised. "I'm really happy to deliver a result like this for our partners and to put Chevy right up there at the front."

Unlocking the Road Course Puzzle

VeeKay’s recent string of top-five finishes marks a dramatic transformation for the No. 76 team, which struggled in the early part of the summer. According to VeeKay, the catalyst for this breakthrough was a highly productive test session at Mid-Ohio, which came on the heels of a disappointing weekend at Road America.

"I think we just finally figured out our road course car," VeeKay admitted. "The testing we did in Mid-Ohio made a huge difference for our program. We identified some key areas that desperately needed to change after a really tough weekend in Road America. We are finally starting to figure things out, even this late into the season."

Looking Ahead

With their road course package now firmly dialed in, VeeKay and the Juncos Hollinger squad are transition-ready. The series moves next to a pair of demanding street circuits before wrapping up the season with a highly anticipated oval doubleheader at the historic Milwaukee Mile.

"We have a doubleheader coming up in Milwaukee, so we're really, really excited for that," VeeKay added. "But first, we have two street courses to tackle. It should be a lot of fun."