Already claiming four wins in five races so far this season with four different drivers, HMD Motorsports has positioned itself as the team to beat in INDY NXT by Firestone. Coming off back-to-back wins in Detroit, the team was determined to add another win and strong weekend results to their rapidly growing list of accomplishments as the team headed to Road America this past weekend for round six of the Championship.

As the weekend got underway on the four-mile circuit, HMD Motorsports once again came out strong in the opening practice rounds with six drivers in the top-ten in Practice One and five drivers in the top-ten in Practice Two. In a stacked field of nineteen drivers, Kyffin Simpson set a new track record of 1:49.1028-seconds on his way to claiming his first INDY NXT by Firestone pole position. Each with one win so far this season, Reece Gold, Nolan Siegel, Christian Rasmussen, and Danial Frost earned their spots in the front half of the field.

On Sunday morning, prior to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America. The INDY NXT field took to the grid as they prepared for their 20-lap race. Leading the field to green, Kyffin Simpson maintained the early lead down the front stretch as 18 drivers scrambled for position behind him. Heading into turn one, Simpson went wide on track and into the grass, ultimately rejoining the field in seventh. Making his way around, Reece Gold took over the lead and Nolan Siegel jumped up from fourth into second in the opening laps. Mid-pack, Kyffin Simpson, Ernie Francis, Jr, Christian Rasmussen, Danial Frost and Josh Pierson battled against each other for position, consistently trading places throughout the first half of the race. Reaching lap eight, Nolan Siegel was able to work his way around the outside of teammate Reece Gold to take over the lead.

At the halfway point, Christian Rasmussen made heavy contact with the wall to bring out the first and only caution of the race. Restarting with seven laps to go, Siegel made an early jump to maintain his lead as his HMD Motorsports teammates went side-by-side throughout the rest of the field. With the field typically spreading out through the long 14-turn circuit, the INDY NXT drivers remained in a tight battle, as drivers swapped positions nearly every lap. As the checkered flag flew, Nolan Siegel was first to cross the finish line with a 1.2695-second lead over the rest of the field to claim back-to-back wins and take over the championship lead. Further back in the field, Ernie Francis Jr. and Christian Bogle both drove strong races, each gaining three positions over the course of the race.

Closing out the sixth round of the championship, Nolan Siegel was the first repeat winner of the year and left the weekend with a 40-point lead in the Championship. Though he had an unfortunate DNF in the race, Christian Rasmussen has had a strong season so far and was able to hold on to second in the standings. As the season reaches the halfway point in two weeks at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, hundreds of points are still up for grabs and the championship is still anyone’s to win.

INDY NXT by Firestone will return alongside the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in less than two weeks at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, June 30-July 2.

Photos: RTD Media / Penske Entertainment