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Aaron Telitz

{{short description|American racing driver}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Aaron Telitz

| image = Aaron Telitz Victory Lane Road America 2018.jpg

| imagesize = 240px

| caption = Telitz at Road America in 2018

| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1991|12|13}}

| birth_place = Birchwood, Wisconsin

| racing licence = 12px FIA Silver {{small|(until 2021)}}
12px FIA Gold {{small|(2022–)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/11/10/fia-publish-provisional-2021-driver-rankings-2.html|title=Updated 2022 Provisional FIA Driver Rankings Published|website=Dailysportscar|last=Goodwin|first=Graham|date=10 November 2021|access-date=21 February 2025}}

| current series = Indy Lights

| first year = 2017

| current team = Belardi Auto Racing

| car number = 4

| former teams =

| starts = 39

| wins = 3

| poles = 3

| fastest laps = 4

| best finish =

| year =

| prev series = U.S. F2000 National Championship
Pro Mazda Championship

| prev series years = 2014–2015
2016

| awards = Team USA Scholarship

| award years = 2014

}}

Aaron Telitz (born December 13, 1991) is an American race car driver. He currently competes full-time in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, driving for AIM Vasser Sullivan.

Career

Born in Birchwood, Wisconsin, Telitz began his racing career in karting in 1998. He remained in karting until 2012. In 2014, Telitz moved into open-wheel racing, competing in the U.S. F2000 National Championship with ArmsUp Motorsports. He claimed a win and six podiums in 14 races, ending fourth in the season standings. Telitz returned to the series in 2015, moving to Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. He got a win and 11 podiums in 16 races, finishing third in the final classification.

In 2016, Telitz moved up the Road to Indy ladder, graduating into the Pro Mazda Championship with Team Pelfrey.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indycar.com/Series/Pro-Mazda/Aaron-Telitz |title=Aaron Telitz |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822052704/http://www.indycar.com/Series/Pro-Mazda/Aaron-Telitz |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} He collected six wins and six second place finishes in 16 races, claiming the championship over teammate Patricio O'Ward.

File:9 Aaron Telitz 2018 Road America Grand Prix.jpg car at Road America]]

Belardi Auto Racing signed Telitz for the 2017 Indy Lights season, and he scored a second-place finish in the Freedom 100.{{cite web |title=Telitz thrilled with second place in Freedom 100 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/video/aaron-telitz-thrilled-second-place-freedom-100 |website=IndyCar on NBC |date=May 26, 2017 |accessdate=14 June 2019}} He stayed with the team for the following year.{{cite web |last1=Kallman |first1=Dave |title=Indianapolis 500 hopeful Aaron Teltiz sells paintings to stay on track |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2018/04/18/artsy-aaron-telitz-gets-creative-keep-his-racing-dreams-alive-after-costly-setback/518301002/ |website=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |accessdate=14 June 2019}} Also during 2018, Telitz tested an IndyCar for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.{{cite web |last1=Pruett |first1=Marshall |title=Telitz finding unique ways to pay off crash damage |url=https://racer.com/2018/04/03/telitz-finding-unique-ways-to-pay-off-crash-damage/ |website=RACER |date=April 3, 2018 |accessdate=14 June 2019}}

After not finding enough funding to remain in open-wheel racing for 2019, Telitz was contacted by Jimmy Vasser in late 2018 to compete for his WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team for the four endurance championship events, starting with the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona with co-drivers Townsend Bell, Frankie Montecalvo and Jeff Segal. As part of the deal, Telitz would accompany Vasser's IMSA and IndyCar teams to all other events in hopes of moving to the IndyCar operation.{{cite web |last1=Kallman |first1=Dave |title=Sports cars might not be the detour they seem for Indy hopeful Aaron Telitz |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2019/01/24/aaron-telitz-racing-rolex-24-daytona-looking-toward-indy-500/2636699002/ |website=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |accessdate=14 June 2019}} He started off the season with a second place at Daytona.{{cite web |last1=Glendenning |first1=Mark |title=AIM Vasser Sullivan tie validates Telitz's IndyCar ambitions |url=https://racer.com/2019/04/12/aim-vasser-sullivan-tie-validates-telitzs-indycar-ambitions/ |website=RACER |date=April 12, 2019 |accessdate=14 June 2019}}

Telitz still found his way into open-wheel racing during 2019; however, as he signed with Belardi for the Freedom 100, which was derailed with a broken half shaft.{{cite web |title=Tough Going for Belardi Auto Racing in the Freedom 100 |url=https://www.indylights.com/news/tough-going-for-belardi-auto-racing-in-the-freedom-100 |website=Indy Lights |accessdate=14 June 2019 |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615193220/https://www.indylights.com/news/tough-going-for-belardi-auto-racing-in-the-freedom-100 |url-status=dead }} A month later, he returned to Belardi for his home event at Road America.{{cite web |title=Telitz returns to Belardi Indy Lights team for Road America |url=https://racer.com/2019/06/13/telitz-returns-to-belardi-indy-lights-team-for-road-america/ |website=RACER |date=June 13, 2019 |accessdate=14 June 2019}} His schedule expanded as the season went on, eventually winning a Lights contest in Toronto.{{cite web |last1=Allan |first1=Lance |title=Wisconsin native hoping for call-up to IndyCar Series |url=https://www.tmj4.com/video/sports/wisconsin-native-hoping-for-call-up-to-indycar-series |website=WMTJ |accessdate=August 1, 2020 |date=October 7, 2019}}

For 2020, Telitz initially re-upped with AVS Vasser Sullivan for four WTSCC endurance events. That schedule was expanded to a full-time ride in June when original full-time driver Parker Chase found that the reconfigured schedule would clash with his educational pursuits.{{cite web |last1=Allaway |first1=Phil |title=Aaron Telitz to Drive Remainder of 2020 for AVS Vasser Sullivan |url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2020/06/24/aaron-telitz-to-drive-remainder-of-2020-for-avs-vasser-sullivan/ |website=Frontstretch |accessdate=June 25, 2020 |date=June 24, 2020}}

Personal life

Telitz is a painter and during his 2018 season sold paintings to pay for crash damage.

On November 22, 2021, Aaron's wife Maggie gave birth to a son.

Racing record

=Career summary=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"

! Season

! Series

! Team

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! Position

2013

|align=left| F1600 Championship Series

|align=left| WISKO Race Engineering

|12

|1

|2

|1

|6

|396

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

2014

|align=left| U.S. F2000 National Championship

|align=left| ArmsUp Motorsports

| 14

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 6

| 246

| 4th

2015

|align=left| U.S. F2000 National Championship

|align=left| Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing

| 16

| 1

| 0

| 3

| 11

| 348

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

2016

|align=left| Pro Mazda Championship

|align=left| Team Pelfrey

| 16

| 6

| 10

| 4

| 13

| 421

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

2017

|align=left| Indy Lights

|align=left| Belardi Auto Racing

| 16

| 2

| 1

| 1

| 4

| 271

| 6th

2018

|align=left| Indy Lights

|align=left| Belardi Auto Racing

| 16

| 0

| 1

| 1

| 5

| 316

| 6th

rowspan=2| 2019

|align=left| Indy Lights

|align=left| Belardi Auto Racing

| 7

| 1

| 1

| 2

| 2

| 133

| 9th

align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

|align=left| AIM Vasser Sullivan

| 4

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1

| 96

| 25th

2020

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

|align=left| AIM Vasser Sullivan

| 11

| 3

| 4

| 0

| 5

| 267

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

2021

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

|align=left| Vasser Sullivan Racing

| 13

| 1

| 2

| 0

| 3

| 2640

| 7th

rowspan="4" | 2022

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro

| rowspan="2" align=left| Vasser Sullivan Racing

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

|265

|30th

align="left" | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

| 11

| 0

| 2

| 1

| 4

| 2341

| 10th

align=left| Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS

|align=left| TGR Riley Motorsports

|1

|0

|0

|0

|0

|260

|52nd

align=left| GT4 America Series - Pro-Am

|align=left| TGR Smooge Racing

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

2023

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

|align=left| Vasser Sullivan Racing

| 11

| 1

| 0

| 0

| 2

| 2927

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

rowspan="3" | 2024

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

|align=left| Vasser Sullivan

| 5

| 0

| 2

| 1

| 1

| 1135

| 31st

align=left| Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS

|align=left| Archangel Motorsports

|10

|1

|0

|2

|3

|2220

|8th

align=left| 24H Series - GT3

|align=left| Optimum Motorsport

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

2024-25

|align=left| Asian Le Mans Series - GT

|align=left| Dragon Racing

| 3

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| NC†

rowspan="3" | 2025

|align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro

| rowspan="2" align="left" | Vasser Sullivan Racing

| 4

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1003

| 10th*

align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD

| 1

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 1

| 325

| 39th*

align=left| GT World Challenge America - Pro-Am

|align=left| Archangel Motorsports

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

† Telitz was ineligible for points.

* Season still in progress.

=American open-wheel racing results=

==U.S. F2000 National Championship==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! Rank

! Points

2014

! ArmsUp Motorsports

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| STP
16

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| STP
12

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BAR
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BAR
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IMS
3

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS
11

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LOR
1

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| TOR
6

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOR
3

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
7

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MDO
2

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
7

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SNM
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SNM
4

|

|

!style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4th

!style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 246

2015

! Cape Motorsports
Wayne Taylor Racing

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| STP
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| STP
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NOL
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NOL
16

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BAR
1

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BAR
4

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IMS
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IMS
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LOR
3

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| TOR
6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOR
5

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO
3

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MDO
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LAG
4

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LAG
2

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 348

==Pro Mazda Championship==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

!15

!16

! Rank

! Points

2016

! Team Pelfrey

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| STP
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| STP
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ALA
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ALA
2

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS
7

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IMS
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LOR
5

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| RDA
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| RDA
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| TOR
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| TOR
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MOH
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MOH
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LGA
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGA
5

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LGA
1

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 421

==Indy Lights==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! Rank

! Points

2017

! Belardi Auto Racing

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| STP
1

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| STP
5

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ALA
13

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALA
5

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS
6

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS
13

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| INDY
2

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RDA
11

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RDA
5

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IOW
9

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOR
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TOR
2

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
8

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MDO
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GMP
15

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| WGL
1

|

|

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 6th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 271

2018

! Belardi Auto Racing

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| STP
DNS

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| STP
9

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ALA
8

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALA
4

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IMS
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IMS
2

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| INDY
6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RDA
5

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| RDA
3

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IOW
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOR
4

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOR
3

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
7

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GTW
5

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| POR
6

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| POR
2

|

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 6th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 316

2019

! Belardi Auto Racing

| STP
{{small| }}

| STP
{{small| }}

| COA
{{small| }}

| COA
{{small| }}

| IMS

| IMS

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| INDY
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| RDA
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RDA
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| TOR
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| TOR
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
{{small|6}}

| GTW

| POR

| POR

| LAG

| LAG

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 133

=Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Class

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! Rank

! Points

2019

! AIM Vasser Sullivan

! GTD

! Lexus RC F GT3

! Lexus 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEB
{{small|9}}

| MDO

| DET

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WGL
{{small|9}}

| MOS

| LIM

| ELK

| VIR

| LGA

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PET
{{small|11}}

|

! 25th

! 96

2020

! AIM Vasser Sullivan

! GTD

! Lexus RC F GT3

! Lexus 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|12}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DAY
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SEB
{{small|1†}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ELK
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| VIR
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ATL
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MDO
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PET
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGA
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SEB
{{small|12}}

|

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 267

2021

! Vasser Sullivan Racing

! GTD

! Lexus RC F GT3

! Lexus 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
{{small|16}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEB
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MDO
{{small|13}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DET
{{small|4†}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WGL
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| WGL
{{small|1†}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LIM
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ELK
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGA
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LBH
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| VIR
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PET
{{small|15}}

! 7th

! 2640

rowspan=2| 2022

! rowspan=2| Vasser Sullivan

! GTD

! rowspan=2| Lexus RC F GT3

! rowspan=2| Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|15}}

|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LBH
{{small|3†}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGA
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DET
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WGL
{{small|16}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOS
{{small|6†}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LIM
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ELK
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| VIR
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PET
{{small|13}}

! 10th

! 2341

GTD Pro

|

|style="background:#EFCFFF"| SEB
{{small|7}}

| colspan=10|

! 30th

! 265

2023

! Vasser Sullivan Racing

! GTD

! Lexus RC F GT3

! Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEB
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LBH
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LGA
{{small|14}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| WGL
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOS
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LIM
{{small|12}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ELK
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| VIR
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IMS
{{small|14}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PET
{{small|16}}

|

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 2927

2024

! Vasser Sullivan Racing

! GTD

! Lexus RC F GT3

! Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
{{small|15}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEB
{{small|13}}

| LBH

| LGA

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WGL
{{small|4}}

| MOS

| ELK

| VIR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IMS
{{small|22}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PET
{{small|3}}

|

|

! 31st

! 1135

rowspan=2| 2025

!rowspan=2| Vasser Sullivan Racing

! GTD Pro

!rowspan=2| Lexus RC F GT3

!rowspan=2| Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.0 L V8

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SEB
{{small|11}}

|

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGA
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DET
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#;"| WGL
{{small

}

|style="background:#;"| MOS
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| ELK
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| VIR
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| IMS
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| PET
{{small|}}

|

! 10th*

! 1003*

|-

! GTD

|

|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LBH
{{small|3}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

! 39th*

! 325*

|}

† Points only counted towards the WeatherTech Sprint Cup and not the overall GTD Championship.

* Season still in progress.

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.aarontelitz.com}}
  • {{DriverDB driver|aaron-telitz}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-sports}}

{{succession box|title=Pro Mazda Championship
Champion| before = Santiago Urrutia | after = Victor Franzoni | years = 2016}}

{{succession box|title= WeatherTech Sprint Cup
Champion|before= Zach Robichon|after=Ross Gunn
Roman De Angelis|years= 2020|with=Jack Hawksworth}}

{{s-end}}

{{IMSA GTD Pro teams|state=collapsed}}

{{Belardi Auto Racing}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2016}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Telitz, Aaron}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Racing drivers from Wisconsin

Category:U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers

Category:Indy Pro 2000 Championship drivers

Category:Indy Lights drivers

Category:People from Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Category:24 Hours of Daytona drivers

Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers

Category:Belardi Auto Racing drivers

Category:Wayne Taylor Racing drivers

Category:Team Pelfrey drivers

Category:Michelin Pilot Challenge drivers

Category:24H Series drivers

Category:Asian Le Mans Series drivers

Category:GT World Challenge America drivers