Here is an interesting alliance hitting the paddock. AJ Foyt Racing, GM Defense, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society have officially pulled the cover off Project Accelerator, a brand-new initiative designed to forge links between leaders across motorsports, defense, and technology.
That means new colors on the track. Josh Pierson, who was announced Oct. 27 as driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet with the team, will proudly carry the logos of Project Accelerator and its founding partners right through the 2027 NTT IndyCar SERIES season. If you are looking for where this all kicks off in person, the very first Project Accelerator Hub activation hits the track during the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington race weekend on March 19-21, featuring a networking event at the National Medal of Honor Museum sitting right adjacent to the circuit.
Hearing Medal of Honor Recipients share their stories at GM Defense’s Valor & Velocity gala was something I’ll never forget,
AJ Foyt Racing President Larry Foyt leaned into the team's grit when discussing the partnership. Reflecting on his father's words, Larry Foyt noted, “My dad (A.J. Foyt) always said, ‘Determination that just won’t quit — that’s what it takes,’ I believe that’s more true today than ever. We’re the underdog, but we’re determined to get this team back to the front.” He added that the program honors what his father built while opening up a way to do something meaningful for the men and women serving the country.
The initiative itself is built to use networking-focused hospitality and Accelerator Hubs at select IndyCar SERIES events throughout the 2027 season. The goal is to bring together defense technology companies, investors, industry leaders, military and government representatives, and members of the Congressional Medal of Honor community.
Ken Morris, GM senior vice president of global product safety, integration and motorsports and GM Defense chief operating officer, pointed out the shared DNA between the two fields. “Motorsports and defense both demand disciplined innovation and the ability to perform when conditions are unforgiving,” Morris said. Beyond the networking, the program aims to highlight career paths in motorsports and defense-related industries, introducing fresh talent to engineering, software, data, manufacturing, and operations.
Earl Plumlee, Medal of Honor recipient and vice president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, shared his pride in seeing Josh Pierson carry the society’s logo onto the track to share the medal's legacy with a new generation. For his part, the driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet emphasized how much the mission means to him. The 20-year-old native of Portland, Oregon, who joined AJ Foyt Racing following four seasons in INDY NXT by Firestone, shared that meeting recipients at a GM Defense gala and attending a Homes For Our Troops home dedication left a massive impact on him. “Hearing Medal of Honor Recipients share their stories at GM Defense’s Valor & Velocity gala was something I’ll never forget,” Pierson said. “The next day, I attended a Homes For Our Troops home dedication and saw firsthand the difference the organization makes for veterans and their families. Both experiences had a tremendous impact on me. I’m grateful for GM Defense’s support and honored to represent the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.”
