31-01-2025
Taylor to combine USF Pro 2000 and partial Indy NXT campaign with HMD
Max Taylor will join HMD Motorsports for a partial season in Indy NXT by Firestone. The 17-year-old driver from New Jersey will race the No. 18 entry in five events, including Barber Motorsports Park, the Detroit Grand Prix, Iowa Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and the Milwaukee Mile. On non-conflicting weekends, Taylor will also compete in a full season in USF Pro 2000 with VRD Racing.
'I am anxious and excited to get the 2025 season officially underway,' said Taylor. 'I have been fortunate enough to test in Indy NXT as I continue to further my development, but my number one goal and focus is the USF Pro 2000 championship. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me get to this point. It's going to be a very busy 2025 season.'
With a short motorsports career spanning only four years, Taylor began racing karts at a regional level in 2021 before stepping up to the national level the following year. After winning the P1 Stars Championship, finishing in second at the IAME Grand Nationals, and third in both the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) Pro Tour Championship and SKUSA SuperNationals, Taylor moved up to USF Juniors in 2023. In his debut year, Taylor earned one win and finished sixth in the championship. In 2024, Taylor pulled double duty, contesting full seasons in both USF Juniors and USF2000. In USF Juniors he claimed three wins on his way to claiming the championship title. His USF2000 campaign was also a success, with four wins and a third-place result in the championship chase.
'Max has obvious talent and his results from the USF ranks prove that,' said team president Mike Maurini. 'Running with the HMD Motorsports program at Sebring during our recent test, Max proved his speed and saw his name near the top of the time charts. At only 17, Max is on a steep learning curve, but from everything we have seen, he has a very bright future in motorsports.'
Before the start of his Indy NXT season, Taylor will have participated in four series tests with HMD Motorsports. Both the Indy NXT and USF Pro 2000 seasons are set to commence during the last weekend of February in St. Petersburg, Fla., where Taylor will make his USF Pro 2000 debut. His Indy NXT debut is scheduled for early May at Barber Motorsports Park.
Although Taylor will share the No. 18 seat throughout the season, his car will prominently feature support from his partners, including PINK, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Simplify Asset Management, Unicorn, and Hedgeye.
Story originally appeared on Racer
