HIGH POINT, N.C. – Silver Hare Racing confirms that Rafa Matos will not be driving the No. 57 entry this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
Matos, who has delivered a strong season with the team—including four consecutive podium finishes, a dominant win at Laguna Seca, and a recent runner-up at Mid-Ohio—informed the team earlier last week that he had a broken hand which indicated he would be unable to compete. He also notified the team that he was experiencing “signs of a concussion” following the most recent event.
The update follows a challenging outing at Road America, where Matos made contact with teammate Noah Harmon, followed by a spin into traffic on the next green-flag lap. Despite the incident, the Silver Hare crew worked swiftly to prepare the No. 57 for Watkins Glen.
“We’ve been very impressed with both Rafa and Noah this season,” said team owner Laura Hull. “Our team has worked well together with our drivers and brought a lot of speed and professionalism to the program. We were disappointed to hear about Rafa’s injury and the symptoms he reported, and we discussed whether we should place another driver in the car temporarily to allow him time to recover and hopefully return for the Canadian round. We would never ask any of our drivers to risk their physical recovery—whether it’s a hand injury or a concussion—for the sake of a race.”
However, Silver Hare Racing was surprised to find Matos listed on the official Watkins Glen entry list with another team—despite his indication that he would be sidelined due to injury and without being released by Silver Hare.
“In light of his reported broken hand and concussion symptoms, it was certainly confusing to see Rafa entered with another team this weekend,” Hull said. “He has not been released or let go by Silver Hare Racing.”
Adding to the situation, Matos announced last month that he will be moving to a different team for the 2026 season—news that Silver Hare also learned through social media.
“We were stunned to learn of his move the same way many others did—on social media,” Hull added. “That said, we wish Rafa the best. Every driver has to make the decisions they feel are best for their career. At Silver Hare, we’re proud of the team we’ve built and the quality of our equipment and personnel. We remain focused on doing things the right way—with professionalism and pride.”
Noah Harmon is not scheduled to compete at Watkins Glen due to a scheduling conflict with his MX-5 Cup commitments but will return for the remainder of the season.
Silver Hare Racing remains fully committed to competing at the highest level and looks forward to closing out the 2025 season strong.
MORE ON SILVER HARE RACING
Silver Hare Racing is committed to competing at a high level in the Trans Am TA2 Series while developing the next generation of drivers. The team provides top-tier equipment and leadership, helping racers maximize their potential with talent and integrity.
For more information, visit www.silverhareracing.com.
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