Inside Havoc Motorsport: Building Drivers, Teams & Sustainable Racing
This episode of The Pits Are Open dives deep into the business, development, and human side of motorsports, as host Will Marotti and engineer Alex Smith welcome John Harkenreiter, General Manager of Havoc Motorsport, for an in-depth conversation recorded after meeting at PRI.
John shares his unique path into professional motorsports—from 15 years as a firefighter to running a Chicago-based, multi-car open-wheel race operation competing in the SCCA Super Tour. He breaks down what it really takes to manage a modern race team: logistics, driver coaching, engineering structure, budgets, crash damage policies, and why “arrive-and-drive” programs are becoming essential for today’s drivers.
The conversation also tackles the rising cost of racing, how young drivers can realistically climb the ladder, and why likability, communication, and sponsorship education now matter as much as raw speed. John explains how Havoc Motorsport works with younger drivers (as young as early teens in testing), partners with development pipelines, and positions itself as a stepping stone toward Indy NXT and beyond.
The show opens with major motorsports headlines, including:
The McLaren vs. Alex Palou lawsuit and what a $12M judgment reveals about the business of IndyCar
A fog-filled Rolex 24 at Daytona, record yellow-flag time, and razor-thin margins across all classes
Early IndyCar, IMSA, and Formula 1 offseason storylines, including manufacturer rivalries and engine futures
Due to scheduling issues, the planned second guest (a Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver) was unable to join live, leading to additional extended discussion on industry trends, sponsorship economics, and the long-term sustainability of professional racing.
Presented by SpeedSport, Redline Ace, Schaeffer Oil, and America’s Christian Credit Union.
🔗 Mentioned Links
Official Website & Newsletter Signup: https://thepitsareopen.com
SpeedSport: https://speedsport.com
| https://speedsport1.com
America’s Christian Credit Union: https://americaschristiancu.com/pits
Redline Ace: https://redlineace.com
Schaeffer Oil: https://schaefferoil.com
🎧 Featured Guest
John Harkenreiter – General Manager, Havoc Motorsport (SCCA Super Tour, open-wheel development team)