Jeff Drake Joins PRI Hoosier 500 Leadership Team as Veterans 100 Race Director

INDIANAPOLIS — The PRI Hoosier 500 is proud to announce the addition of Jeff Drake to its leadership team as Race Director for the Anderson Speedway Veterans 100, a featured event in the growing Day Before the 500 lineup.

A Michigan native and a respected veteran of the iRacing IndyCar community, Drake brings more than a decade of sim racing experience to the table. Since first joining the iRacing platform in 2010, he has been a constant presence in the virtual paddock, particularly through his participation in the prestigious iRacing Indianapolis 500 alongside grassroots open-wheel racing on dirt ovals.

“Our team is excited to bring Jeff into the fold and lead operations for the Anderson Speedway Veterans 100 and Day Before the 500 festivities in 2025,” said Tanner Watkins, president and co-owner of the PRI Hoosier 500. “This has been a partnership years in the making, and this really strengthens our leadership group to have a respected voice in the community join us in a key position.

In his new role, Drake will be responsible for overseeing on-track operations during the Veterans 100 and will advise on the rulebook and formula strategy for the event at large. His addition marks a major step in the Hoosier 500’s continued effort to grow its event platform with authenticity and high-quality competition.

“Words cannot express how excited I am to join the PRI Hoosier 500 staff,” said Drake. “For years, this event has been the hallmark of tradition, integrity, and authenticity for 500 mile races. We will replicate this success with our Day Before the 500 events, offering fans and drivers alike fun events intertwined with heated competition. December cannot come soon enough!”

Drake is a graduate of Michigan State University and will officially begin his duties in the coming weeks as preparations ramp up for the 2025 Hoosier 500 race weekend.

The PRI Hoosier 500 returns this December with it’s two-week celebration of virtual open-wheel racing, headlined by the 500-mile main event on December 14 and a lineup of companion races honoring sim racing’s finest traditions. To join the mailing list for competitor information, including this summer’s rule book release and the fall registration period, click here.

ABOUT THE PRI HOOSIER 500
The PRI Hoosier 500 was created in 2019 in an effort to personalize Indianapolis’ Memorial Day classic into a virtual “500” for sim racing competitors – complete with authenticity that positions the event firmly as the World’s Greatest Sim Race. The goal of the event is to present racers with the closest experience possible to what drivers in open-wheel racing enjoy each May. The PRI Hoosier 500 is owned and operated by Indiana residents Ryan Schuld and Tanner Watkins, who are dedicated to elevating the event in the sim racing industry.

ABOUT PERFORMANCE RACING INDUSTRY
Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier auto racing trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.