Noaker Aims to ‘Make Something Out Of’ Ford Junior Status

Photo: Ford Performance

Reigning Mustang Challenge champion Robert Noaker said he aims to “make something” out of his status as a Ford Junior Driver Team member after his selection into the Blue Oval’s development program breathed new life into his professional racing career.

The Robert Noaker Racing team frontman and driver was the first to be selected in the inaugural class of Ford Junior drivers, who receive coaching from Ford factory pilots, testing opportunities, and support both on and off track.

His selection came after being crowned the first-ever series champion in the top Dark Horse class, with his RNR squad also collecting the teams’ title in the process.

“Personally, removing myself from the team aspect, I’m looking to be able to win the championship again,” Noaker told Sportscar365. “And be able to, as a Junior driver, work with Ford to be able to run up front like I am and maybe make something out of it.

“I am able to wear the Ford brand and to be involved in the brand and I’m able to be at these events and say, ‘I am a Ford driver.’ It opens the window if someone in a GT4 were to have a problem, get sick, or get hurt or something, I could be there.

“I am licensed to be able to run in Pilot Challenge and I could possibly fill that seat in a last-minute deal if they would need it. I would think being part of that junior program, I would be at least in the top six drivers to be chosen to fill that seat.”

Noaker, who heads into the series’ second weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a 100-point lead in the current drivers’ standings, said he considered hanging up his helmet in pro racing to focus on helping run his family’s multi-car team just a few years ago.

However, his 2024 success in the IMSA-sanctioned series and subsequent Ford Junior driver appointment steered his decision to stay on the grid while also coaching at and helping operate his eponymous racing team.

“A few years ago it was, ‘I think I’m past the point of being able to do anything career-wise as a driver,’” admitted Noaker. “I took a step back and went back to enjoying it just as a hobby.

“My parents had an offer on their business and they would be able to retire and live off of that. We took a bit of that money to be able to put into this race team so that I could still race at this professional of a level and also have a career that I enjoy doing.

“Having the offer for the Junior Team at the end of last year wasn’t something that was even remotely on my radar. Being able to be in that program has put me at a split in the road of ‘Do I try and go with the driving as a career part or do I do the team thing?’

“Last year, it was already hard to juggle between the personal aspect and the team, and this year might end up being even more difficult.

“You can do both at the same time, but it makes it more tricky because now I want to do the best that I can to beat everyone, even if they’re my teammates. But, on the team side, I want my teammates to be able to beat me.”