Who Is David Malukas? The Gen Z Driver, Grasp Meme-Maker & Video Recreation Lover

Meet the Meme King of INDYCAR.

At 23 years old, David Malukas already has 53 starts in the series, and it could have been more if not for a broken wrist suffered while mountain biking that turned his 2024 year into turmoil — the injury resulting in him being released from Arrow McLaren before ever appearing in a race.

The now-A.J. Foyt Racing driver (who is seen as a possible replacement for Will Power at Team Penske) is 12th in the standings after 10 races this season. 

He is also a self-proclaimed video game addict and master meme-maker, as he details in this interview with FOX Sports.

Who is David Malukas?

David Malukas is a Gen Z INDYCAR driver. I like memes. I like to go fast.

How would your friends or your girlfriend describe you? 

That’s how, I think, they would describe me. Just very, I’d say, real. I am who I am. No matter the situation, I like to just be myself, show my jokes, my memes — no matter how serious things can be.

We’re at Road America, a place where you saw your dad race. How cool is it to race at a place where you watched your dad? (Father Henry is a racer and owner of HMD Motorsports in INDY NXT)

It’s very cool. And it was really cool because he was in the Corvette, too. I grew up here as a kid, did some karting and watched my dad drive around here, so it’s pretty fun. Me and him can always talk and converse about how much INDYCAR is going through the carousel and the kink. He’s always blown away that we’re actually flat [on the throttle] going via there. It’s superior. 

Does he offer you recommendation on easy methods to drive an INDYCAR?

No, undoubtedly not. No recommendation from his facet. When he was nonetheless doing a little driving right here and there, he was truly asking me for some recommendation, easy methods to undergo it. He did DD2 [karting], … and he truly made it to the kart masters finals. So he was fairly good on the time. He was on it.

You are from the Chicago space, so are you a Bulls fan in Indiana nation?

For me, I used to be by no means an excessive amount of into the entire basketball factor. So truly, I went to the Pacers video games and form of had a connection. The sport I attempted to go to was once they have been going towards the Bulls. For me, it was a win-win state of affairs. It doesn’t matter what occurs right here, I’ll be completely satisfied. That was a strategic sport to go watch.

Cubs or White Sox?

It was at all times simply motorsports, motorsports as a child. However you form of at all times needed to choose a facet. And for me, once I was very, very younger, it was the White Sox. However now, we have been Cubs.

As a Gen Z driver, do you suppose they want higher music on the monitor? What’s the suggestion of a Gen Z driver for an INDYCAR race?

It’s at all times to make issues simply really feel enjoyable. I feel there’s at all times a stability between being skilled and clearly having some jokes right here and there. For me, a little bit bit looser strolling across the paddock, making some extra jokes, such as you mentioned some good music. Something that has to do with memes and simply making memes out of every little thing. That is form of been my spiel.

What number of memes have gotten you in hassle, and what number of memes do individuals actually like?

I’ve to undergo a really intensive course. It takes me hours or typically days earlier than I even publish one thing to make it possible for the meme I am posting will not get taken incorrect in any manner. I ask so many alternative individuals of all totally different classes. I am like, “What do you see out of this?” Nearly all of the individuals exterior of Gen Z say, “I do not even know what meaning.” So I’m like, “OK, nice.” That’s what I wished to listen to as a result of then no one even understands what is going on on. So we do take intensive care to make it possible for what I publish shouldn’t be going to be conflicting in any manner. But in addition, a number of the time, that’s a part of the Gen Z jokes is pushing the sting a little bit bit on a whole lot of stuff.

It looks as if that sort of angle has additionally in all probability helped you over the past 18 months.

After all — one hundred pc. You go into it having full confidence, and I simply do what I wish to do. I do not let something form of change who I’m or change what I wish to do. I simply go on the market and do my factor.

And you’re a little little bit of a gamer, too? Or rather a lot?

Yeah, rather a lot.

So what’s the perfect sport you’re enjoying proper now?

Soccer Supervisor is what I am enjoying proper now. It’s soccer. Throughout my puberty years, I actually bought related with soccer — soccer internationally — as a result of I lived in England and the Premier League over there may be simply such a giant deal. It is large over there. So I bought that connection over there. Shout out my workforce, Chelsea. I’ve simply been in love with soccer. So I bought on this Soccer Supervisor, tremendous nerdy, actually into element. Something that you might consider from a administration standpoint, ensuring that everyone’s completely satisfied after which the gamers are in the fitting temper, and determining their ability units. It goes tremendous into element. And I find it irresistible. Rising up as a child, it was Name of Responsibility, the informal ones. And now it is extra very nerdy stuff. The extra mind intensive to treatment my ADHD, the higher.

Are you any individual who cannot begin enjoying as a result of you are going to play it for 4 hours so that you simply don’t begin?

Sure. That is all of the video games that I play. By the point you truly get into the zone and begin the sport, it is like two hours have passed by. So, usually, in these instances when it is like half-hour, an hour, I am unable to actually get it achieved.

So you do not even strive?

No, I don’t even strive. It is simply not going to occur.

Do you ever fear about getting addicted?

Addicted? I’m already addicted. one hundred pc, sure. It’s what it’s. My entire household, ADHD is a giant factor. Something that may assist with our hyper-fixations, the higher. So for me, gaming simply lets me form of change every little thing off and be tremendous hyper-fixated on this one factor that is occurring. And I feel that additionally correlates to my successes on monitor. You get so hyper-fixated on what’s in entrance of you and hitting your strains, and also you get into this rhythm, this different zone, and it simply cures no matter’s occurring inside my mind.

Do you might have pseudonym identify so no one is aware of who you might be on these video games?

Oh, yeah, one hundred pc.

So you’ve got by no means had anyone come as much as you on the monitor and be like, ‘Hey, I used to be enjoying you’?

No, however being a super-intense gamer, I am on Reddit, by the best way, you Redditors. Man, if I’ve had a nasty race, I do not go on Reddit as a result of persons are aggressive, so avoid Reddit. However I am on Reddit. I am on Discord. I am truly a part of the INDYCAR Discord channel, so I’ve related with a whole lot of gamers on there, and they also truly know my identify and see me play. And clearly, Discord tells them what I am enjoying. So some individuals undoubtedly do know from the INDYCAR paddock, however most don’t.

Lastly, do you attempt to clarify these items to your workforce boss Larry Foyt?

I have never even tried. I feel it could go proper over his head.

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.

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