18-Year-Old Driver Nikita Johnson Wins First INDY NXT Title

At just 18 years old, Nikita Johnson rewrote the record books by becoming the youngest champion in INDY NXT history, proving that sometimes the biggest victories come from the smallest teams.

Johnson clinched the championship for Cape Motorsports at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 6, beating second-place Enzo Fittipaldi by 29 points. The win broke a seven-year championship streak held by racing giants Andretti Global and HMD Motorsports.

Cape Motorsports had spent years building champions in lower racing categories, winning 14 USF2000 titles and earning a reputation for developing young talent. But in INDY NXT, the team had struggled to find success since its brief appearances in 2007 and 2008.

Brothers Dominic and Nicholas Cape never gave up on their dream of returning to the series. They relocated the team in 2020, partnered briefly with Andretti Global, then made the risky decision to go it alone with engineering support from ECR for the 2026 season.

The gamble paid off when they signed Johnson, who had won at least one race in every professional season of his career. Together, they formed an unstoppable combination built on consistency and trust.

Johnson finished in the top 10 in all 17 races this season and was the only driver to complete every single lap. He and teammate Matteo Nannini each won two races, giving Cape Motorsports four victories total.

The Ripple Effect

Johnson's championship creates a complete development pathway from junior karting all the way to professional INDYCAR racing. Young drivers now have proof that joining a smaller team with a family atmosphere can lead to the biggest wins.

The partnership between Cape Motorsports, ECR, and Jay Howard Driver Development shows how collaboration between organizations of different sizes can challenge established powerhouses. Johnson committed to the team before they even had a major partner, betting on the bond and attention to detail he saw in the Cape brothers.

"Cape is a small but mighty team," Johnson said. "We're going against all the big teams, and we're kind of surprising people with how well we've done as underdogs."

Nicholas Cape summed up the season perfectly: "When you got somebody with his talent that wants to be with you, and we're starting a new venture, that speaks volumes."

The youngest champion in series history just proved that age is only a number when you've got skill, support, and a team that believes in you.