Ryan Persing joins Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing for season opener at Sebring

Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing is excited to announce the addition of Ryan Persing to the team’s Sebring Mustang Challenge lineup.

Persing will drive the No. 29 entry in the Dark Horse class, marking his first-ever start in IMSA competition. The Mustang Challenge is one of the support series for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, making this an ideal platform for Persing to make his IMSA debut.

The addition of Persing is the latest in a string of momentum-building moves leading into the 2026 season for the Paley Motorsport with AAG Racing program.

Paley Motorsport is coming off of a successful 2025 season in which team owner Sam Paley claimed five podiums in the Dark Horse class. The team has also achieved great success abroad.

In 2025, Paley scored two podiums in the Le Mans Invitational in France. Paley Motorsport also helped support Alex Bachoura to his championship in the Dark Horse Legends class in 2025.

For Persing, Sebring is simply another milestone in a rapidly moving career. He comes to the track with a wealth of karting experience, including multiple championships and a podium finish at the prestigious Vegas Nationals. Persing moved up to sports car racing in 2025, competing in Radical Cup North America with Cameron Racing. He was coached throughout the season by his brother Nick, a former series champion, and showed good speed and consistency, including podiums at Road Atlanta. Now, he joins the Paley Motorsport and hopes to continue his upward progression in racing.

Team owner Sam Paley shared his enthusiasm for Persing’s debut with the team:

“To say that I am excited to have Ryan join our Mustang Challenge program at Sebring International Raceway is an understatement. I have known the Persing family for a long time, and I have been following Ryan’s career for years.

Ryan is an incredibly talented young driver, and we’re very enthusiastic to be aiding his transition in to the IMSA and sports-car paddock. Ryan has had great success in go-karting and the Radical Cup, and I’m positive he’ll have a quick and successful transition in to the Dark Horse R.

Ryan will certainly be a Dark Horse, no pun intended, for the opening rounds, and I’m eager to see him compete under the Paley Motorsport banner.”

As he prepares for his IMSA debut, Persing sees Sebring as both a learning opportunity and a chance to compete at a high level. Adjusting to a new car while racing on such a historic circuit is a challenge he’s eager to take on as he continues working toward his long-term goals in motorsports. Persing shared his excitement ahead of the weekend:

“I’m super excited for this opportunity to join Paley Motorsports in Sebring for the Mustang Challenge. Being a part of the IMSA paddock has long been a goal of mine and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Mustang Challenge car and hopefully compete for race wins and podiums.”

Speedway Pulse Media will continue to cover this story as it further develops.