Immediately after Kyle Kirkwood won what is now the SCCA Pro Racing FR Americas Championship Powered by Honda in 2018, his racing career was uncertain. The inaugural year for that SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned FIA open-wheel series came with a scholarship to be used by the champion in another FIA series, but Kirkwood was unsure whether he’d cash it in. “I have to pick a path,” he told SCCA’s SportsCar magazine at the time. “It’s tough figuring it all out, but hopefully I will have something sorted out soon.” This year, it has become very apparent that Kirkwood, indeed, figured it out.
In the years since his drive to the top in the SCCA Pro Racing series as a Florida Region member of the SCCA, Kirkwood claimed championships in Indy Pro in 2019 and Indy Lights in 2021, which came in addition to his 2018 USF2000 title. Those successes laid the groundwork for Kirkwood’s current career.
Earlier this year, Kirkwood took the green in the NTT IndyCar Series driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises for his rookie IndyCar season. Then on May 29, 2022, Kirkwood lined up once more in the IndyCar grid, this time for his first Indy 500, driving the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet.
That Sunday, the 23-year-old Kirkwood started 28th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – a mere one spot behind Helio Castroneves – and drove to a 17th-place finish. A few days later, Kirkwood announced his ride for the 2023 IndyCar Series season, where he will pilot Andretti Autosport’s No. 27 AutoNation Honda, replacing the team’s seven-year driver Alexander Rossi and rejoining the team Kirkwood raced for in Indy Lights.
“I couldn’t be more excited to return to Andretti Autosport next year and represent AutoNation and Honda.” said Kirkwood. “Andretti Autosport is a place I’ve called home for years past and I have truly felt like family. I have a ton of loyalty to the team, and it means a lot to have Michael and the Andretti team offer me this opportunity. AutoNation has been doing great work in raising awareness and funding for cancer research. I’m honored to Drive Pink (DRVPNK) next season.”
Still, his 2022 IndyCar rookie season is far from over. “I have worked extremely hard this season and will continue to work harder every day for the A.J. Foyt team,” Kirkwood continued. “I want to thank the entire team at A.J. Foyt Racing for giving me the opportunity to compete in the NTT IndyCar Series. The group on the No. 14 car have been incredible and I am beyond grateful to them for all the amazing experiences we have been able to share together so far this season.”
Beyond IndyCar, Kirkwood will be competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this year, racing in this weekend’s Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at Belle Isle with Vasser Sullivan in the No. 17 Lexus RC F GT3.
Back to Kirkwood’s 2018 SportsCar magazine interview, he revealed his ultimate aspiration has been steadfast throughout his motorsports career: “Since I started in karting when I was 5, the goal has been IndyCar.”
Kirkwood certainly did figure things out.
Photo courtesy Kyle Kirkwood
