Pardus Racing Inc Overview
Pardus Racing Inc is a family-owned American motorsports team based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The team is associated with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where it fields the No. 50 Chevrolet Camaro SS, and it is closely linked to the career of driver Preston Joseph Pardus, who competes part-time in the series. The team has competed under multiple car numbers, including 50, 43, 90, and 91, and has received primary sponsorship from Danus Utilities, Inc., a family-owned underground utility company. Pardus Racing Inc has built its identity around grassroots sports car racing roots, family leadership, and Chevrolet-powered stock car programs.
The team’s modern operations are built on a foundation of family involvement, with the Pardus family at the center of ownership and day-to-day decisions. Its primary public presence in national NASCAR competition has come through Preston Joseph Pardus, the son of former NASCAR driver Dan Pardus. The organization has expanded its footprint from regional Sports Car Club of America competition into the upper levels of American stock car racing, while maintaining close ties to its New Smyrna Beach home base.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Pardus Racing Inc was established as a family-owned racing operation rooted in the New Smyrna Beach, Florida, motorsports community. The team’s creation grew out of a household with deep ties to American auto racing, as the Pardus family had a longstanding presence in the sport through Dan Pardus, who formerly competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series, and ARCA Re/Max Series. The team’s earliest competitive foundation was built in Spec Miata competition, where driver Preston Joseph Pardus developed his skills in the Sports Car Club of America.
From its early days, the organization relied on family support and a small operational structure designed to compete in amateur and professional racing. The team’s personnel grew around a core group tied to the family, with sponsorship backing from Danus Utilities, Inc., a business owned by the Pardus family. This combination of family ownership and family-run business sponsorship provided the financial and operational base that allowed the team to grow beyond club-level racing.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
The team’s entry into NASCAR national series competition began when Preston Joseph Pardus made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at the 2019 CTECH Manufacturing 180 at Road America. The team entered the event with a Chip Ganassi Racing chassis, an Earnhardt Childress Engines powerplant, and an at-track effort led by crew chief Tony Furr. This debut marked the transition of Pardus Racing Inc from regional SCCA competition into one of NASCAR’s top national series.
After the debut, the team continued to build its NASCAR presence through a combination of its own entries and partnerships with other organizations, including DGM Racing. Driver Preston Joseph Pardus later returned to compete for his own team in the Xfinity Series, with the organization switching to the No. 50 entry and operating as a Chevrolet team. The growth of the team’s national program has been closely tied to the development of its driver and the support of the Pardus family’s business network.
Pardus Racing Inc Competitive Journey
Pardus Racing Inc’s competitive journey has moved from Sports Car Club of America Spec Miata racing into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with the team building experience in national stock car competition while maintaining its Chevrolet identity. The organization has grown from a small family operation into a recognizable name in the Xfinity garage, with a record of multi-year development and steady on-track progress.
Early Seasons and Development
The team’s earliest notable successes came in Spec Miata competition, where Preston Joseph Pardus won the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs with a last-lap pass. That same year, Pardus was selected by Mazda Motorsports as a finalist for the Mazda Road to 24 Shootout. In 2019, Pardus opened the SCCA Super Tour with a win at Sebring International Raceway, competing in the Central Florida region, and went on to claim the SCCA Majors Southeast Conference Championship, topping a series with more than 150 entrants.
These early achievements laid the foundation for the team’s move into NASCAR. The 2019 Xfinity Series debut at Road America was a learning experience for a small family team stepping into the national series spotlight. With an older chassis and a limited operational footprint, the team gained important experience that shaped its future direction and long-term NASCAR ambitions.
Breakthrough in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
The team scored a significant breakthrough in 2020 when Preston Joseph Pardus returned to the Xfinity Series for the Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, driving for DGM Racing. After starting nineteenth, Pardus finished tenth, securing his first top-ten result in NASCAR national series competition. That same year, the team’s SCCA program continued to grow, as Pardus captured his second Runoffs victory in the Spec Miata class and earned the 2020 Super Sweep award, which recognizes a driver who wins the Runoffs, a major conference championship, and the national point standings in the same season.
In 2021, the team continued its development in the Xfinity Series through its partnership with DGM Racing, where Pardus ran the road course events. After a misfire with the No. 91 entry at the Daytona Road Course, the team shifted to the No. 90, and Pardus posted his best result of the season with a seventh-place finish at the Charlotte Roval. The team’s growing comfort with road course racing and stock car setups became a defining trait of this era.
Modern Program and Current Direction
The team’s modern direction was shaped in 2023, when Preston Joseph Pardus returned to drive for his own organization in the Xfinity Series for the first time since 2019. The team adopted the No. 50, a number previously used by his father Dan Pardus in the Cup Series in 1999 with Midwest Transit Racing, and the first race of the renewed program came at Circuit of the Americas. Additional races followed at the Chicago Street Course and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, while Preston also piloted entries for SS-Green Light Racing during the year.
Today, Pardus Racing Inc continues to operate as a Chevrolet team out of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with primary sponsorship from Danus Utilities, Inc. The organization maintains a part-time Xfinity Series program focused on road course events, a schedule that complements the team’s SCCA development efforts. With the Pardus family at the core of the operation, the team has set its sights on continued growth within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Pardus Racing Inc’s identity is built on family ownership, a Chevrolet technical package, and a strong emphasis on road course competition. The team has built much of its NASCAR experience on technical and varied road circuits, where the Spec Miata background of its driver translates into a confident approach to complex circuits. Sponsorship from the family-owned Danus Utilities, Inc. provides long-term stability that supports a focused, development-driven program.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key milestones for the team include the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs win, the 2019 Xfinity Series debut at Road America, the 2020 Super Sweep award in the Spec Miata division, and the 2023 return to a self-entered No. 50 in the Xfinity Series. The team’s best Xfinity Series result to date is a seventh-place finish at the Charlotte Roval in 2021, while its best season ranking is 36th overall in 2021.
Pardus Racing Inc Achievements and Results
Pardus Racing Inc’s verified accomplishments include multiple Sports Car Club of America Spec Miata championships won by driver Preston Joseph Pardus, as well as a developing record in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team has recorded top-ten finishes and consistent road course results, building a foundation for future growth in national series competition.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Achievements
In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the team has recorded zero wins, three top-ten finishes, and zero pole positions through its history. Its first top-ten result came in 2020 at the Pennzoil 150 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, and the team’s best series finish is 36th overall, recorded in the 2021 season. The 2025 season position stands at 67th, with the most recent recorded race being the 2026 United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 in San Diego.
Conference Achievements
The team has built a strong record in the SCCA’s Central Florida and Southeast Conference competitions. Preston Joseph Pardus won the SCCA Majors Southeast Conference Championship in 2019, a series that featured more than 150 entrants. This conference-level success served as a key building block for the team’s later national and NASCAR accomplishments.
Divisional Achievements
Within the Spec Miata division, Pardus Racing Inc has emerged as a consistent championship contender. Preston Joseph Pardus claimed the 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2023 SCCA National Championship Runoffs titles in the Spec Miata class, and he also secured the 2020 Super Sweep award, which recognized his combined Runoffs, point standings, and conference championship performance in the division.
Series Achievements
Across the broader SCCA national series, the team has established itself as a multi-year championship-winning operation in Spec Miata competition. With four Runoffs titles in the class and a Super Sweep honor, the Pardus Racing Inc program has proven capable of performing at the highest levels of amateur and professional road racing in the United States.
