Elliott Skeer is a competitor who never backs down from a challenge, and his ability to adapt and overcome proved to be essential as the Wright Motorsports team stepped up to the Pro class plate and hunted down a championship trophy.
He recognized that moving from Pro-Am to Pro would be a big undertaking, but he and teammate Adam Adelson have become quite accustomed to quick progression. As he recalled, it was less of a conversation between the two, and more of a decisive statement; “Last year, Adam walked into the trailer, looked me in the eye, and said, 'Hey, we’re running SRO Pro next year.' It was a bold statement, and I remember thinking, ‘Okay, challenge accepted.’”
Although it would still be a similar story for Skeer, who had already been racing alongside fellow Pro drivers for many years, he knew that moving to a higher level would consist of a more significant jump for Adelson. With this in mind, and recognizing that they would be going head-to-head with some of the best in the business, it only fueled Skeer’s motivation.
“Our approach was to maximize every weekend,” he explained. “The season opener at Sonoma Raceway was definitely a highlight. Everything clicked, and we started the season with back-to-back wins and we were firing on all cylinders. It was a perfect weekend, laying the groundwork and showing Adam he could compete at this level.”
However, the competition continued to heat up with every round, as more teams joined the fray and began challenging each other for top results.
“We found ourselves consistently in second place, but our goal remained clear; stay strong and avoid having any weak weekends,” he said. “Winning a championship requires a lot of hard work and consistency, and that means perfecting every detail as a team.”
“We gave it our all every single race weekend,” he detailed. “Even though at times it felt like we were just out of reach and always searching for that little bit extra to be at the top, everything came together beautifully at Indy. That weekend, all the elements finally worked out for us, but the middle of the season was a grind and a test of our commitment to staying consistent.”
Knowing that the endeavor would be, in his own words, a huge leap for Adelson, they tried to be as perfect as possible and chased down every opportunity. By the time they reached the season finale, the Indy 8 Hour, they knew it was all or nothing. The duo’s prior experiences at the Speedway have been tumultuous, having endured some of their biggest setbacks at that circuit.
“Indy has always been a highly emotional place for us,” he chuckled. “Adam and I joked about how it has never given us a straightforward race. The Brickyard is arguably one of the greatest tracks in motorsports, but it’s also been a wild ride where we’ve faced so many championship-deciding heartbreaks, usually ending in pretty spectacular fashion.”
This time, Skeer was dead set on making sure the outcome would be different. He knew that enough was enough, and used that previous history as a tool for heightened focus and determination, and went into the event with an unapologetic mindset.
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“We knew we had to execute flawlessly, and we did. Crossing the finish line first, ahead of even the European teams, was the perfect ending. Winning the championship there, after so many attempts, was surreal. It was Adam’s first championship title, and to share that moment with him and Wright Motorsports, nine years after my first title with them, was indescribable. I always felt like I had another chapter to write with this team, and I’m glad this is the way it went. It was easily the most special weekend of my life.”
Skeer is also especially grateful to have been able to accomplish this feat alongside Adelson and add their own page in the history books together.
“Adam and I have a unique bond. We spend our weekends racing, then we fly back to Southern California, hang out, drive cars, and just spend time together as friends. That level of trust and connection is rare. I’ve been with him since pretty much the beginning of his racing career and I’ve seen first hand the amount of effort he has put in. He has so much natural talent, but he's also doing the hard work.”
“He trusted me to be his coach, co-driver, and teammate, and that’s something I’ll forever be grateful for. It’s a cool feeling to be able to do this alongside someone I have become so close to, and I genuinely enjoy watching him set off every time he gets in the car. I fully trust him, and I can’t thank him enough for giving me these opportunities to realize these childhood dreams. Being a part of his journey is the coolest experience I’ve ever had.”
