Maximilian Opalski

Maximilian Opalski (born November 10, 2005) is an American racing driver and team owner currently competing in sports car racing. He is known for his participation in the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup and the IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge, as well as for founding his own racing team.^[1][2]

Maximilian Opalski was born on October 11, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.^[3] He began racing at the age of five in karting, competing in regional series such as the World Karting Association (WKA) and Route 66 series. Through the late 2010s, he progressed through various karting classes, achieving multiple top-ten finishes at national events and podium results in regional competitions. In 2019, Opalski achieved notable success with multiple race victories and strong results with podium finishes in the United States Pro Kart Series^[4] and Challenge of the Americas.^[5][6][7]

Opalski transitioned from karting to sports car racing in 2022, joining Copeland Motorsports to compete in the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich.^[8] Competing at various tracks around the US, including tracks like The Streets of St. Petersburg,^[9] Virginia International Raceway,^[10] and Watkins Glen.^[11] Max Opalski finished the 2022 season with top ten finishes at the notible Road Atlanta.^[12] He returned to the series with Copeland Motorsports for the 2023 season, where he aimed to build on his initial experience in the championship and secure competitive finishes.^[13]

After announcing his intentions to rejoin Copeland Motorsports and the 2023 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BF Goodrich, Max Opalski is finally ready for the first green flag of the season at the famed Daytona International Speedway.[14]  Opalski was able to drive to a fifth-place result, his best career result in MX-5 competition as he completed his best weekend of car racing at that time.[15][16] It wasn't until Road America later that year where Opalski and Noaker had a photo finish for third. Opalski took the spot by just 0.018s over Noaker for his first-ever MX-5 Cup podium.[17] Opalski did it again at Road Atlanta when he was able to take advantage of the Turn 10 incident, but had to hold off Wagner and Gonzalez for two laps to take the final podium spot.[18] Max Opalski finished the 2023 MX5 Cup season in 4th place[19]

In 2024, at age 18, Opalski founded his own racing team, Max Opalski Racing, to compete in the newly established IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge.^[20] The team was announced to run a Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, with Opalski entered as its first confirmed driver. He was reported as one of the youngest team owners in the IMSA paddock at that time.^[21]

During the 2024 Mustang Challenge season, Opalski drove the No. 2 Mustang and earned competitive results, including a sixth-place at season opener,^[22] a top-five finish at Watkins Glen^[23] and sixth-place results at Road America under his independent entry. He later joined McCumbee McAleer Racing for the remainder of the season, competing alongside a larger team structure.^[24] In the final race of the season Max Opalski finished Race 1 and 2 in fourth^[25][26][27]