January 31, 2025

Rising rally talent Conner Martell, a 27-year-old native of Vermont, is set to tackle the 2025 American Rally Association (ARA) Championship with a new sponsor: Kubota Tractor Corporation. The partnership will see Martell piloting a Kubota-branded Subaru WRX rally car in select events of the 2025 ARA season. Martell will continue his partnership with veteran co-driver Alex Gelsomino as they aim to build on their recent success.

Martell enters the new season with momentum after an impressive 2024 campaign, which included a victory at the Boone Forest Rally and podium finishes at both the Ojibwe Forest Rally and Lake Superior Performance Rally. Known for his versatility, Martell has also earned accolades in rallycross, including winning the 2018 ARX2 rallycross championship and competing most recently in the top Group E category of Nitrocross. With Kubota’s support, he is eager to take on new challenges, including his debut at the legendary Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, Michigan, on February 7-9.

“I’m excited to team up with an amazing and supportive brand like Kubota,” said Martell. “We proved last season that we can fight for wins, and I’m eager to get back out on the stages. I’ve never competed at Sno*Drift, and it’s been a few years since I’ve raced in the snow, but Alex has been there numerous times. I have a lot of confidence after our solid results last year, so we’re feeling good.”

Held in Montmorency County in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Sno*Drift has been the traditional launching point for the U.S. rally season since 1997. Known for its twisting snow and ice-covered forest roads, the rally is uniquely challenging as it’s the only true ARA winter event and doesn't allow for studded tires, making traction fleeting and challenging.

Building on its growing presence in motorsports, Kubota has become a prominent supporter of rally and auto racing in recent years with partnerships in NASCAR’s Cup and Truck Series and most recently becoming the presenting sponsor of the ARA Championships for the 2025 season. This new partnership with Martell highlights Kubota’s dedication to fostering talent in the rally world and growing the sport of stage rally.

“At Kubota, we’re driven by a commitment to hard work, perseverance, and versatility—all things Conner Martell demonstrates every time he takes to the rally stage,” said Theresa Duncan, Associate Director for Marketing and Advertising, Kubota Tractor Corporation. “We’re excited to partner with Conner as he builds on the momentum from last season and we’re looking forward to seeing him represent Kubota Country.”

Fans can follow Martell and Gelsomino’s journey online at @connermartell21 and @alexgelsomino. For the latest stage results and ARA news, follow the ARA series at @ara-rally or visit www.americanrallyassociation.org. For more information about Kubota, visit www.KubotaUSA.com.

_{About Conner Martell:
Conner Martell is a 27-year-old rally driver and a rising star in the motorsport world with a versatile background in rallycross, stage rally, and circuit racing. Martell dominated the 2018 ARX2 rallycross season, claiming the championship, before competing in the high-tech Nitrocross Group E category. Over the past two seasons, he has shifted his focus to stage rally, earning victories at the Boone Forest Rally in 2023 and 2024, along with podium finishes at the Lake Superior Performance Rally. When not racing, Martell serves as a test and development driver for Vermont SportsCar and enjoys outdoor adventures in his home state of Vermont.}

_{About Conner Martell:
Kubota Tractor Corporation, Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors of up to 200 Gross hp, performance-matched implements, compact construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, hay tools, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer locations, contact: Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], Ext. 900, or visit KubotaUSA.com. *factory estimated rating}