Rinus VeeKay Bio
Rinus van Kalmthout, known professionally as Rinus VeeKay, is a Dutch racing driver born on 11 September 2000 in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. He competes in the IndyCar Series and is set to drive for Juncos Hollinger Racing beginning in 2026, after a single season with Dale Coyne Racing in 2025 and a five-year stint with Ed Carpenter Racing from 2020 through 2024. A versatile open-wheel talent, VeeKay progressed through European karting and American junior formulae before reaching North America’s premier open-wheel championship.
Early Life and Background
Rinus van Kalmthout was raised in Hoofddorp, a city in the province of North Holland, where he discovered karting at a young age. He began his karting career in 2009 at just eight years old, quickly showing speed in the entry-level 4-stroke cadet championship with a DR chassis. His early promise carried him through a successful winter season, after which he moved up the karting ladder with consistent results.
Over the next several seasons, the young Dutchman collected a series of national and regional titles. He won the 4-stroke cadet series during the 2009–2010 winter, then graduated to the Briggs & Stratton World Formula 4-stroke class, taking the Dutch and Benelux championships the following year. He added a Rotax Max Dutch championship in 2012 and a Junior title in 2013, cementing his reputation as one of the Netherlands’ most promising young drivers. In 2014, he was recognized with the KNAF Talent First award, a Dutch federation honor given to emerging motorsport athletes.
Path to NASCAR
Note: This profile covers Rinus VeeKay, whose career has been built in open-wheel racing, including IndyCar and its junior ladder series, rather than NASCAR’s stock car ladder. Sections referring to stock car progression are not applicable to his documented career path.
Rinus VeeKay Career
Junior Open-Wheel Formulæ (2016–2019)
VeeKay moved from karting into car racing by signing with Pabst Racing to compete in the USF2000 Championship, the first step on the Road to Indy ladder. To prepare for the 2017 season, he contested the final two rounds of the French V de V Challenge Monoplace with MP Motorsport, scoring five podium finishes in six races, and he also entered the MRF Challenge for both the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons. In the 2017 U.S. F2000 Championship, he won six races and finished second in the championship behind Oliver Askew.
In 2018, VeeKay captured the Pro Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing, earning his second consecutive runner-up result against Askew a year later in the 2019 Indy Lights championship. Although he finished second in points again, the Indy Lights campaign showcased his readiness to graduate to the top level of American open-wheel racing.
IndyCar Series Breakthrough (2020–2021)
After testing with Ed Carpenter Racing at Portland in July 2019, VeeKay was officially signed as Spencer Pigot’s replacement on 20 November 2019. His 2020 rookie season was eventful: he crashed in practice and qualifying at the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, was launched into the air by Colton Herta at Iowa Speedway during a restart confusion, and later captured his first top-five finish at the Indy GP and his first podium at the Harvest GP. He was named IndyCar Rookie of the Year for 2020.
Re-signed with Ed Carpenter Racing for 2021, VeeKay delivered a breakout sophomore campaign. He won the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis by five seconds over Romain Grosjean, climbing as high as fourth in the championship standings after a string of top-ten finishes, including a runner-up result in Detroit. A cycling accident that fractured his clavicle forced him to miss the Road America round, but the season firmly established him as one of IndyCar’s brightest young talents.
Ed Carpenter Racing Era (2022–2024)
VeeKay continued with Ed Carpenter Racing through the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons, competing on ovals, road courses, and street circuits across the IndyCar calendar. His 2024 campaign produced a best race finish of fifth and a thirteenth-place result in the championship standings. Shortly after that season ended, Ed Carpenter Racing cut ties with VeeKay, a decision he publicly called a surprise as he had been negotiating a contract extension.
Dale Coyne Racing Era (2025)
On 14 February 2025, Dale Coyne Racing announced VeeKay as a full-time entrant for the 2025 IndyCar Series season in the No. 18 entry. Driving for the Illinois-based team, he scored his first podium of the season on 20 July 2025 with a second-place finish at the Grand Prix of Toronto. Shortly after the season finale, it was reported that VeeKay had cut ties with Dale Coyne Racing, setting the stage for his next move.
Juncos Hollinger Racing Era (2026–Present)
On 14 October 2025, it was announced that VeeKay would join Juncos Hollinger Racing as a full-time entrant for the 2026 IndyCar Series season. The move returns him to a team connected to his earlier Pro Mazda and Indy Lights successes with Juncos Racing, and he is expected to bring experience and pace to the small, growing operation.
Driving Style and Strengths
VeeKay is recognized for his aggressive qualifying speed and his comfort on a wide variety of track types, from short ovals to tight street circuits. His ability to rebound from difficult weekends, including recovering from a fractured clavicle and a high-flying crash at Iowa, has highlighted his mental resilience. Teammate and engineer feedback has frequently pointed to his car control in traffic and his willingness to commit to bold passing moves.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2021 victory in the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis road course remains his signature IndyCar win, arriving in only his second season. The 2025 Grand Prix of Toronto podium marked his first top-three result with Dale Coyne Racing. Earlier milestones include his 2018 Pro Mazda Championship title and his 2020 IndyCar Rookie of the Year honor.
Rinus VeeKay Career Wins
Across his IndyCar and junior open-wheel career, Rinus VeeKay has accumulated a verified collection of victories. His most prominent win came in 2021 at the GMR Grand Prix, a road course event held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he led home Romain Grosjean by five seconds.
IndyCar Series Highlights
VeeKay’s lone IndyCar victory to date is the 2021 GMR Grand Prix. Beyond that win, his top results include a runner-up finish at the 2021 Detroit race, a fifth-place best result in 2024, and a second-place finish at the 2025 Grand Prix of Toronto. He was named 2020 IndyCar Rookie of the Year and finished thirteenth in the 2024 championship standings.
Other Wins and Performances
In junior formulae, VeeKay won six races in the 2017 U.S. F2000 Championship, where he finished second overall, and he captured the 2018 Pro Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing. He also finished second in the 2019 Indy Lights championship. Earlier in karting, he won multiple Dutch and Benelux titles, including championships in 4-stroke cadet, Briggs & Stratton World Formula, and Rotax Max categories.
Rinus VeeKay Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
VeeKay was raised in Hoofddoup, Netherlands, where his family supported his early karting efforts. The KNAF Talent First award he received in 2014 recognized him as one of the top young Dutch racing prospects of his generation.
Personal Life
VeeKay is professionally known by the name Rinus VeeKay, derived from his full name Rinus van Kalmthout. He is active on social media, where he engages with fans under the handle @rinusveekay on X and @rinusveekay on Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
VeeKay’s 2025 IndyCar campaign with Dale Coyne Racing was a season of transition. Driving the No. 18 entry, he worked to adapt to a new team environment after five seasons with Ed Carpenter Racing. His standout moment came on 20 July 2025 with a second-place finish at the Grand Prix of Toronto, his first podium result of the year and a strong validation of his pace on temporary street circuits.
Beyond the Toronto podium, VeeKay focused on building consistency across the diverse IndyCar schedule, which mixes high-speed ovals, permanent road courses, and tight street layouts. His experience navigating team changes and the physical demands of the calendar made him a steady contributor to Dale Coyne Racing’s efforts throughout the season.
Shortly after the 2025 season finale, it was reported that VeeKay had parted ways with Dale Coyne Racing. On 14 October 2025, the announcement of his move to Juncos Hollinger Racing for 2026 gave the Dutch driver a clear next chapter and a team environment with which he had prior success in the Road to Indy ladder.