Maximilian Opalski (born November 10, 2005) is an American and Polish 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.
Early life and karting Maximilian Opalski was born on November 10, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. 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 and Challenge of the Americas. Transition to car racing and MX5 cup
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. Competing at various tracks around the US, including tracks like The Streets of St. Petersburg, Virginia International Raceway, and Watkins Glen. Opalski finished the 2022 season with top-ten finishes at the Road Atlanta.
In 2023, Opalski returned to the Mazda MX5 Cup grid with Copeland Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway with a fifth-place result. He finished on the poduim twice that here in Road America and Road Atlanta with one pole position and a track record. Opalski finished the 2023 Mazda MX5 cup 4th place in the championship.
Max Opalski Racing and Mustang Challenge
In 2024, at age 18, Opalski founded his own racing team, Max Opalski Racing, to compete in the newly established IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge. 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.
During the 2024 Mustang Challenge season, Opalski drove the No. 2 Mustang and earned competitive results, including a sixth-place at season opener, a top-five finish at Watkins Glen 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. In the final race of the season, Opalski finished Race 1 and 2 in fourth.
2026
In 2026, Opalski competed in the Zenith Racing Series with Automatic Racing, driving the NP01 Prototype. The season included appearances at several road courses in the United States, including Barber Motorsports Park. Other Tracks on the schedule included Sonoma Raceway, Virginia International Raceway, Road America, Watkins Glen International, and Daytona International. The campaign marked Opalski’s participation in prototype sports car competition as part of the Automatic Racing program during the 2026 racing season. Races consist of 7 and 12 hour endurance races.
Career summary SeasonSeriesTeamPosition2019SKUSA Pro TourRPM15thRun Your Rust offN/A1stSkusa Pro TourRPM5thSkusa Pro TourRPM8thColorado Karting TourN/A3rdPro Kart USARPM14thPro Kart USARPM4thUSPKSRPMDNFRotax US FinalsRPM4thColorado Karting TourN/A2ndLAKC RPM2ndPro Kart USARPM3rdSKUSA SuperNationals RPM5th2020LAKCRPM1stChallenge of the AmericasRPMDNFChallenge of the AmericasRPM1stPro Kart USARPM3rdColorado Karting TourN/ADNFRok ChampionshipRPM7thCharlotte karting ChallengeRPM3rdUSPKSRPM4thSKUSA Pro TourRPM2ndSKUSA Pro TourRPM10thSKUSA Pro TourRPM14thSKUSA Pro TourRPMDQSKUSA Pro TourRPM3rdSKUSA Pro TourRPMDNFUSPKSRPM2ndUSPKSRPM1stUSPKSRPM2ndIKF Nationals RPM7th2021Skusa Winter series RPM9thSkusa Winter series RPM5thSkusa Winter series RPMDNFSkusa Winter series RPMDNFChallenge of the AmericasRPM12thUSPKSRPM18thUSPKSRPM14thSKUSA Pro TourRPM7thSKUSA Pro TourRPM16thSKUSA SuperNationals RPM7th2022Mazda MX-5 CupCopeland Motorsports9thWRL3rd2023Mazda MX-5 CupCopeland Motorsports4thNasa Rocky MntNemnick motorsports2ndNasa Rocky Mnt 2nd2024IMSA Ford Mustang ChallengeMax Opalski Racing6thNasa Mid-AtlanticTeam MOR2ndNew River All American SpeedwayThree-sixtheenths motorsports 1stLegends Nationals 22ndLegends Nationals DNS2025Nasa Mid-AtlanticTeam MOR1st2026Zenith Racing Sonoma Automatic Racing 3rdDNFZenith Racing Barber DNF5thSources
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