DHL and Chip Ganassi Racing Announce The Maker Society as Ultimate Small Business INDYCAR Experience Sweepstakes Winner

INDIANAPOLIS (April 7, 2025) – As part of the Ultimate Small Business INDYCAR Experience Sweepstakes, The Maker Society, a Southern California-based small business dedicated to enhancing K-12 STEM education, will take center stage at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Maker Society’s logo will be prominently displayed on the No. 10 DHL Honda driven by three-time INDYCAR champion Alex Palou, and its leadership will receive a VIP race weekend experience, courtesy of DHL and Chip Ganassi Racing.

The Small Business Sweepstakes program demonstrates DHL’s commitment to elevating small and medium-sized enterprises around the world.

Coverage of the race begins at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT on April 13, live on FOX.

Notes of Interest:

• Long Beach Roots: Founded by a group of students from California State University, Long Beach, The Maker Society started as a small club dedicated to 3D printing and design. Their passion evolved into a business that now serves clients across North America, providing prototype and design services while also creating STEM curriculum and educational tools for students. In 2020, the company demonstrated its commitment to community support by producing and donating hundreds of 3D-printed face shields to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Delivering Excellence: Now, The Maker Society will “ride along” with back-to-back INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou and the No. 10 team as they attempt to secure a third consecutive victory to start the 2025 season in Long Beach. Co-owner Carlos Vergara, a longtime racing fan, previously volunteered at the 2016 Grand Prix of Long Beach but spent most of the event working security. Now, he will watch the race with an entirely new perspective—seeing his company’s logo on the championship-leading racecar.
• Committed to Small Businesses: DHL’s commitment to small businesses extends beyond this sweepstakes. Through initiatives like the U.S. Small Business PartnerSHIP Program, DHL provides resources, mentorship, and tailored logistics solutions to help SMEs scale and compete in a global marketplace.

Quoteboard:

• Chet Paul, SVP, Global Customers, DHL Express Americas: “As a global leader in logistics, DHL is devoted to empowering small businesses, which are the backbone of our communities and the global economy. Through this partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, and campaigns like this one, we hope to provide a platform for small businesses to accelerate their growth and achieve new milestones. As a company that started in 1969 as a small California-based business itself, DHL understands the challenges SMEs face and are proud to celebrate The Maker Society during one of the biggest racing events of the year.”
• Carlos Vergara, Co-Owner, The Maker Society: “Winning DHL and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Ultimate Small Business INDYCAR Experience Sweepstakes is a tremendous honor for us. We started as a small group of college students passionate about technology, and to now be recognized on such a large stage is surreal. We’re excited to showcase how STEM education can make a difference in our community and beyond.”

About The Maker Society

From our humble beginnings as a club based in Cal State Long Beach, we have grown into an educational institution of our own with one purpose in mind: to bridge the gap between what we are taught in school and what the real world is like. The Maker Society offers tutorials, curriculum, resources and kits aimed to enrich the educational experience of K-12 students and even higher education students and professionals looking to expand their knowledge and gain an edge in industry. We cater to makers of all levels and believe learning is a life-long endeavor. To learn more, visit www.lbmakersociety.org.

About DHL Group

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”. 

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. 

About Chip Ganassi Racing

Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for more than 35 years and is considered one of the most successful and innovative owners in motorsports. Today, his teams include three Honda cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and two entries in INDY NXT by Firestone. Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has won 23 championships and more than 260 races, including five wins in the Indianapolis 500, eight Rolex 24 At Daytona victories, and wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. CGR boasts state-of-the-art facilities in Indianapolis, where the INDYCAR and INDY NXT teams are located, and a corporate office in Pittsburgh. For more information, visit ChipGanassiRacing.com.