Nikita Johnson (born 25 May 2008) is an American
racing driver who is currently competing in the
2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship, driving for Velocity Racing Development.
Career
USF2000 Championship
2023
On October 6, 2022, it was announced that Johnson would compete full-time in the
2023 USF2000 Championship
The 2023 USF2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires was the fourteenth season of the USF2000 Championship since its revival in 2010. When the top rung of the Road to Indy ladder system, Indy Lights, was bought by Penske Entertainment (owne ...
driving for Velocity Racing Development.
USF Pro 2000 Championship
2023
On August 21, 2023, Johnson announced that he would make his
USF Pro 2000 Championship debut at the
Circuit of the Americas
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a Grade 1 FIA-specification motor racing track and facilities located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas, in the United States. The facility is home to the Formula One United States G ...
driving for Velocity Racing Development. He would compete in rounds 14-18.
In race 1 at COTA, he would finish on the podium behind fellow USF Pro 2000 debutant Mac Clark and race winner
Kiko Porto. In race 2, Johnson started third behind Clark and Porto. He managed to get past Clark in the opening laps and closed the gap to Porto. On lap 7, Johnson battled with Porto for the lead and Johnson emerged victorious. He extended his gap to Porto to over 17 seconds by races end to win the race. Johnson not only became the youngest race winner in the history of the USF Pro 2000 Championship at age 15, but he also became the first driver to win on all three levels of the
USF Pro Championships ladder.
At the final round of the season at
Portland International Raceway
Portland International Raceway (PIR) is a motorsport facility in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is part of the Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It lies west of the Delta Park/Vanpo ...
, Johnson qualified seven tenths of a second off pole position. In the final race of the season, Johnson lined up second alongside
Michael d'Orlando. Johnson would take the lead of the race going into the first corner. The race was hectic with multiple safety cars and on-track incidents. After the final restart on lap 23, the race would remain green for the final seven laps, and Johnson would go on to win his second race in only five starts.
2024
On November 30, 2023, it was announced that Johnson would compete full-time in the
2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship driving for Velocity Racing Development.
GB3 Championship
2024
On February 21, 2024, Johnson announced that he would be participating in the
2024 GB3 Championship driving for VRD Racing by
Arden. However, he will only be beginning the
GB3 season from round three since he has to sit out the first two rounds because he is still only 15 years old, and the age requirement for
GB3 is 16.
Racing record
Career summary
* Season still in progress.
American open–wheel racing results
USF2000 Championship
(
key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
USF Pro 2000 Championship
(
key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
References
External links
*
2008 births
Living people
U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers
Indy Pro 2000 Championship drivers
Racing drivers from Florida
Sportspeople from St. Petersburg, Florida
{{US-autoracing-bio-stub
Arden International drivers