In partnership with an exciting, new NASCAR venture, Redline Motorsports, Chicago based IT company Nerds Xpress joins Brad Perez and Alpha Prime Racing at the Chicago Street Course.
Redline Motorsports is a team of diverse Chicago based businessmen and leaders making the first steps to run a full-time effort in a NASCAR National Series in 2026, with a mission to break down barriers and showcase the thrill of NASCAR to a new audience.
The group includes: Tristan Sumpter, an IT sales technologist and real estate entrepreneur; Reverend Attorney Aaron McLeod, a prominent attorney in the Chicagoland area who also serves as a pastor in Evanston, IL; Larry Smith, an entrepreneur and owner of a transportation company; Brett Fickes, a dedicated educator and current CEO of Universal Dental Clinics; and Za’Darius Smith, three time NFL pro bowl defensive end.
“We couldn’t be happier to help introduce a new, diverse group to NASCAR racing,” said Alpha Prime Racing President Tommy Joe Martins. “They have such big goals and ambitions, and it’s really cool having a Chicago based group with us this weekend. Feels like we’re a part of a bigger community surrounding this event.”
For the new team, the name “Redline” carries profound significance, rooted in the history of Chicago. Realtors once used the term to delineate neighborhoods, inadvertently highlighting the racial and social divides in the city. Redline Motorsports aims to transcend these barriers, embracing the belief that NASCAR is for everyone, regardless of background.
Redline hopes to run the number #55 full time – an ode to 1955, the year of Rosa Parks’s courageous stand against segregation, as well as the tragic murder of Emmett Till – a native of Chicago, whose life and legacy continue to resonate in the fight for social justice.
Perez, a 27-year-old working-class, first-generation racer of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, will be making his 5th Xfinity Series attempt of the year for Alpha Prime Racing on Saturday, with a most recent finish of 26th at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
“Having another shot to compete at Chicago in the Xfinity series is awesome,” said Perez. “Bringing in Redline and Nerds Xpress we hope to bring a big splash into the Chicago race and help them make a mark on the national stage.”
The #45 Redline Motorsports Nerds Xpress Chevrolet will tackle the streets of downtown Chicago on July 5th at 3:30pm CT on the CW.
— Alpha Prime Racing —