As watch this Space for the Portland Teenager’s promising
future…
Yeah I know, I know. Enough of the NXT Jokes
already! Especially since it’s way too easy pickings! And that was way before I
learned via another Marshall Pruett Week in IndyCar Podcast that there’s a WWE
NXT! Y’all know like them World Wide Entertainment Professional Wrasslers’,Yikes!
Being a transplanted Oregonian, I’ve been
loosely aware of Portland teenager Josh Pierson ever since He was signed to
drive for Mr. Zakery Brown’s United Autosport’s FIA World Endurance
Championship (WEC) LMP2 team in 2021, a year before making His Sports Car
debut.
Never having Heard of Pierson before then, I
Had Zero Clue what McLaren Racing’s Head Honcho Zak Brown Saw in the then 15yr
Old youngster. Other than saying He’s very Mature for His Age and it would be
interesting to See how He progresses
As Pierson has gone onto set a few Sports Car
records this past year. First becoming the youngest driver to ever win a Sports
Car race at Age 16. As Pierson, co-Driving with Paul di Resta and Oliver Jarvis
won the season opening Sebring 1000 miles WEC race, where Josh even completed a
triple stint enroute to the LMP2 Class victory!
Next, Josh became the current youngest ever
driver to contest the 24 Heurs du Mans at Age 16yrs 117 Days when joining Oliver
Jarvis and Alex Lynn once again behind the controls of the #23 United Autosport
LMP2 Oreca-Gibson entry.
Prior to Josh’s Sports Car exploits this
season, I was totally unaware about this Rose City (Portland) teenager had finished
fourth Overall in the 2021 U.S. F2000 National championship with five Podiums. Notching
a pair of second places and a trio of third places abord the NO. 24 Pabst
Racing entry.
Then in October, it was announced that Pierson
would resume His Open Wheel Racing career by joining what Marshall jokingly calls
the HMD Motorsports Orphanage, Hya! HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing’s
nine car Indy Lights, OOPS! NXT programme.
As Josh will continue His WEC Sports Car career
for United Autosport in addition to contesting His Rookie Indy NXT season in
2023.
And now comes word that Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR)
has just Inked Pierson to it’s first ever Driver Development program a la Chip
Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) signing of Kyffin Simpson last year. Where Arse-sumedly
Simpson will be contesting His Sophomore campaign in Indy NXT against Pierson.
As Pierson’s also set to get His Debutante
outing aboard one of ECR’s Indy Cars sometime next year.
Whilst Fast Eddy’, aka Ed Carpenter says He’s
also really impressed by the teenager and their plans are to guide Him to an
IndyCar career beginning in 2025, which makes me wonder which of ECR’s current
IndyCar Drivers Days are Numbered? Or is this just insurance if Rinus VeeKay
decides to Bolt to a rival IndyCar team?
As No Pressure Josh. You’ve just got the weight of Zak Brown and Ed Carpenter on your Shoulders! And Hey Zak, did Fast Eddy’ just pull a Zak upon you? As “Let Go of My Eggo,” err Driver…
