What ACTION EXPRESS RACING, LLC does

Action Express Racing, LLC (AXR) is a private, US-based professional motorsports racing team founded in 2010 in Denver, North Carolina, operating primarily out of Daytona Beach, Florida. The team competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as a factory Cadillac Racing entry in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, running the Cadillac V-Series.R - the only naturally aspirated hybrid-electrified LMDh prototype in IMSA, powered by a 5.5L DOHC V8 Hybrid paired with a 7-speed sequential gearbox and producing up to 670 BHP. AXR is the most decorated team in IMSA history with six series championships (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023) and seven Endurance Cup titles (2014-2019, 2023), and in 2025 it became part of Cadillac Racing's expanded three-car factory GTP program alongside Wayne Taylor Racing.

The team's core product is its racing program - the operation, driver management, and engineering of a championship-level endurance prototype across a 10-event North American calendar including the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, and Petit Le Mans. Revenue is generated through long-term corporate sponsorship (anchor sponsor Whelen Engineering for nine years), the factory partnership with Cadillac, technical supplier relationships (Mobil 1, VP Racing Fuels, Michelin Motorsports, Molecule), prize money, VIP hospitality experiences, branded merchandise, and charitable/cause-marketing initiatives (Team Fox, NLEOMF). Customer acquisition is relationship-driven: AXR sells brand exposure, B2B hospitality, and technical validation to enterprise sponsors rather than a priced product to end consumers.

AXR is a lean organization of approximately 13 employees led by General Manager Gary Nelson, with the driver lineup for 2025-2026 featuring Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, and (for the 2026 Rolex 24) Connor Zilisch. The team monetizes its assets through tiered partnership categories - Manufacturer, Partner, Supplier, Charity, and Sanctioning Body - reflecting a B2B sponsorship-led revenue model with no public pricing disclosure. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the entity is privately held with no institutional investment or PE backing indicated.

Name

ACTION EXPRESS RACING, LLC

Legal name

Action Express Racing, LLC

Website

https://axracing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Action Express Racing is a private US motorsports team running the Cadillac V-Series.R in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP class, generating revenue primarily through corporate sponsorships (anchor: Whelen Engineering), the Cadillac factory partnership, prize money, VIP hospitality, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Motorsports Racing Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid Powertrain Integration Manufacturing (ICE-HEV/PHEV modules) (IMACAHAJ)

Keywords

• Professional motorsports racing
• IMSA championship racing
• Factory racing team
• Endurance racing services
• Corporate motorsport sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Daytona Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Racing Competition Services: Action Express Racing generates revenue as a factory racing team through sponsorship agreements with primary partners like Whelen Engineering and technical partnerships with Cadillac. The team competes for prize money, championship winnings, and provides branding/exposure value to sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Action Express Racing is a factory Cadillac racing team that competes in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship using the Cadillac V-Series.R hybrid LMDh prototype. The team sells corporate sponsorship and partnership packages (anchored by Whelen Engineering as primary sponsor), offers VIP hospitality/experience programs, and sells branded team merchandise. Operations are run from a Daytona Beach, FL headquarters and a Denver, NC shop facility.

Product overview

Action Express Racing is a professional motorsports team competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as a Cadillac factory team in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. The team's core product is its racing program featuring the Cadillac V-Series.R, the only naturally aspirated hybrid-electrified LMDh prototype in IMSA, powered by a 5.5L DOHC V8 Hybrid engine producing up to 670 BHP. The team offers sponsorship and partnership programs, VIP access experiences, and branded merchandise. Founded in 2010 and based in Denver, NC, Action Express Racing is the most winningest team in IMSA history with 6 IMSA Series and 7 Endurance Cup championship wins.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cadillac V-Series.R GTP Racing Program Endurance racing competition services in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship using the Cadillac V-Series.R, a 5.5L DOHC V8 Hybrid LMDh prototype producing up to 670 BHP. Delivered to corporate sponsors as a platform for brand exposure and to Cadillac as a factory motorsport program.
• Sponsorship and Partnership Programs Multi-tier corporate sponsorship packages (Manufacturer, Partner, Supplier, Charity, Sanctioning Body) that embed partner brands on Cadillac V-Series.R race vehicles, team apparel, and event hospitality. Designed for enterprise brands seeking motorsport-driven visibility and B2B association with high-performance engineering; primary partner Whelen Engineering has been a sponsor since 2017.
• VIP Access Experience Premium hospitality offering that grants fans and corporate guests access to paddock areas, team hospitality, and behind-the-scenes racing content during IMSA race weekends. Targeted at sponsor guests and high-value supporters.
• Team Merchandise Branded apparel and accessories featuring Action Express Racing and partner branding, sold direct to consumers via axracing.com.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CadillaccoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Cadillac provides the V-Series.R LMDh racecars for Action Express Racing's IMSA GTP program. This is a factory Cadillac Racing partnership entering its fourth year of GTP competition (2024-2026). The team runs the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen entry as the Cadillac factory team.
• Whelen EngineeringcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Whelen Engineering is the primary sponsor of the No. 31 Action Express Racing entry, entering their 9th year in 2026. Founded in 1952, Whelen is a leading provider of warning lights and emergency equipment for first responders.
• IMSAcoreOthersIMSA is the sanctioning body for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship where Action Express Racing competes. IMSA provides the racing series, rules, and championship structure.
• Team Fox / Michael J. Fox FoundationminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting Parkinson's disease research. The team participates in fundraising and awareness activities, with special liveries honoring law enforcement officers killed in duty.
• M-ExperimentminorOthersEyewear manufacturer partnership dating to 2023. Several Action Express Racing drivers are part of M-Experiment's M-Athletes roster, showcasing the brand within top-level endurance racing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Team Penske: Team Penske operates multi-series factory racing programs including IMSA and IndyCar, and co-owns Porsche Penske Motorsport. A broader incumbent comparable in operating multiple factory racing efforts with deep sponsor relationships and championship pedigree.
• Andretti Autosport: Andretti Autosport is a major North American multi-series racing organization operating across IndyCar, IMSA and other categories. A broader incumbent motorsport entity comparable in scale and sponsorship-driven operating model, though not directly competing with AXR in GTP.

Direct peers

• Wayne Taylor Racing: Wayne Taylor Racing is Cadillac's other factory GTP team that joined the IMSA WeatherTech program in 2025, running alongside AXR as part of a three-car Cadillac Racing effort. Direct competitor in the same GTP class with similar Cadillac V-Series.R equipment and overlapping sponsor/series exposure.
• Chip Ganassi Racing: Chip Ganassi Racing runs the Cadillac V-Series.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship as Cadillac's other factory partner, including Le Mans. Sister Cadillac factory team with parallel technical development and commercial program structure.
• Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is a long-tenured North American motorsport organization that has run factory-affiliated IMSA GT programs. Comparable professional racing operation with sponsor-driven commercial model and tiered partnership programs.
• BMW M Team RLL: BMW M Team RLL runs the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh in the IMSA WeatherTech GTP class. Direct LMDh-class competitor to AXR in IMSA GTP with a similar factory-backed team structure targeting championships and endurance cup titles.
• Meyer Shank Racing: Meyer Shank Racing (with Acura) competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP class, fielding the Acura ARX-06 LMDh. Direct on-track competitor to AXR in the same GTP class on the same North American circuits.
• Hertz Team Jota: Hertz Team Jota runs the Cadillac V-Series.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship, partnering with Earl Bamber prior to his move to AXR. Operates as a Cadillac customer factory effort in WEC, comparable to AXR's IMSA factory team role.
• Porsche Penske Motorsport: Porsche Penske Motorsport fields the Porsche 963 LMDh in both IMSA and WEC as a factory effort. Direct LMDh-class competitor to AXR on track and a peer in operating a manufacturer-funded multi-series prototype racing program.

Others

• Cadillac Racing: Cadillac Racing is GM's factory motorsport program that supplies V-Series.R LMDh cars to AXR and other factory teams. Not a competitor — it is the manufacturer partner whose multi-team GTP strategy AXR is operationally aligned with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/action-express-racing-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACTION EXPRESS RACING, LLC