Rasmussen to have a Thanksgiving to remember with Turkey Night Grand Prix outing

ECR’s Christian Rasmussen is going to have a fun Thanksgiving week in California as the Dane takes part in the 85th Annual Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Rasmussen will trade his No. 21 ECR Chevy Indy car for the No. 98 Agajanian Special, a Cofer/Esslinger Spike short-arm chassis powered by a 350hp four-cylinder SR-11 engine at the USAC National Midget Championship season finale.

It’s the same car his girlfriend Maria Cofer has raced, which makes competing for her father Johnny Cofer and Dan Esslinger a special treat for the IndyCar race winner. Once it’s wrapped, the car will carry a tribute livery that celebrates Troy Ruttman’s 1952 Indianapolis 500-winning entry.

The car Rasmussen will drive will carry a livery paying tribute to Troy Ruttman’s 1952 Indy 500 winner. IMS Photo

“I'm excited to try something that is completely out of my wheelhouse,” Rasmussen said. “But most of all, I’m excited to get to work with Johnny Cofer and Dan Esslinger. It’s an honor to run the 1952 Agajanian Special paint scheme, and it couldn’t be at a more fitting event.”

Rasmussen won get much time in the car, or learning to race on dirt for the first time, before the legendary Turkey Night event gets under way.

“I want to thank ECR for the opportunity to work with Christian,” Coffer said. “He’s an incredibly special talent. It’s been so special to work with my daughter, Maria, on this entry, and I’m fired up to go racing again with Dan Esslinger. Tapping into his brilliant mind will make this even more exciting. Having the whole family back together again means a great deal to all of us.”

Rasmussen will be getting a taste of something rather different this Thanksgiving. Image courtesy of Christian Rasmussen

The 2023 Indy Lights champion will become the latest IndyCar driver to try his hand at short track racing. Among his contemporaries, Conor Daly and Santino Ferrucci have climbed into midgets with limited mileage.

“To be able to go racing with Johnny Cofer again is like a dream come true for me,” Esslinger added. “To add Maria Cofer and Christian Rasmussen together with my whole family is really something special. I only wish my dad was still here to see it. For now, this is just a one race deal. But stay tuned, this could get interesting.”

Hear more from Rasmussen on the opportunity and his trying 2026 IndyCar season: