Nikita Johnson

Last updated
Nikita Johnson
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
BornNikita Johnson
(2008-05-25) 25 May 2008 (age 16)
Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States
USF Pro 2000 Championship career
Debut season 2023
Current teamVelocity Racing Development
Car number17
Starts5 (5 entries)
Wins2
Podiums4
Poles0
Fastest laps2
Best finish17th in 2023
Previous series
2022–23
2022
2022		 USF2000 Championship
USF Juniors
YACademy Winter Series
Championship titles
2022YACademy Winter Series

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. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

USF2000 Championship

2023

On October 6, 2022, it was announced that Johnson would compete full-time in the 2023 USF2000 Championship driving for Velocity Racing Development. [3]

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 driving for Velocity Racing Development. [4] 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. [5]

At the final round of the season at Portland International Raceway, Johnson qualified seven tenths of a second off pole position. [6] 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. [7]

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. [2]

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 only began the GB3 season from round three since he had to sit out the first two rounds because he was still only 15 years old at the time, and the minimum age requirement for GB3 is 16. [8]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2022YACademy Winter SeriesVelocity Racing Development631351031st
USF Juniors 16325103523rd
USF2000 Championship 800118518th
2023 USF2000 Championship Velocity Racing Development1812283442nd
USF Pro 2000 Championship 5202411817th
2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship Velocity Racing Development124476215*3rd*
GB3 Championship VRD Racing by Arden 3000012*24th*

* 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)

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718RankPoints
2022 Velocity Racing Development STP
1
STP
2
ALA
1
ALA
2
IMS
1
IMS
2
IMS
3
IRP
ROA
1
19		 ROA
2
8		 MOH
1
16		 MOH
2
4		 MOH
3
8		 TOR
1
TOR
2
POR
1
2		 POR
2
17		 POR
3
18		18th85
2023 Velocity Racing Development STP
1
3		 STP
2
1*		 SEB
1
16		 SEB
1
8		 IMS
1
3*		 IMS
2
3		 IMS
3
2		 IRP
5		 ROA
1
3		 ROA
2
5		 MOH
1
5		 MOH
2
4		 MOH
3
2		 TOR
1
7*		 TOR
2
18		 POR
1
4		 POR
2
3		 POR
3
7		2nd344

USF Pro 2000 Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718RankPoints
2023 Velocity Racing Development STP
1
STP
2
SEB
1
SEB
2
IMS
1
IMS
2
IRP
ROA
1
ROA
2
MOH
1
MOH
2
TOR
1
TOR
2
COTA
1
3		 COTA
1
1*		 POR
1
14		 POR
2
2		 POR
3
1*		17th118
2024 Velocity Racing Development STP
1
4		 STP
2
1		 LOU
1 		LOU
2 		LOU
3 		IMS
1 		IMS
2 		IMS
3 		IRP ROA
1 		ROA
2 		ROA
3 		MOH
1 		MOH
2 		TOR
1 		TOR
2 		POR
1 		POR
2 		2nd*51*

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References

  1. ↑ "Driver: Nikita Johnson". 28 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Johnson Returns to USF Pro 2000 for Championship Assault with VRD Racing". www.usfpro2000.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  3. ↑ Wood, Ida (2022-10-06). "VRD brings 14-year-old Nikita Johnson into USF2000 full-time for 2023". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  4. ↑ "Johnson to Make USF Pro 2000 Debut with VRD Racing at COTA". www.usfpro2000.com. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  5. ↑ "Johnson becomes youngest winner in USF Pro 2000 on debut at COTA". RACER. 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  6. ↑ Wood, Ida (2023-09-01). "D'Orlando pips Johnson to Portland pole in USF Pro 2000". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  7. ↑ Wood, Ida (2023-09-04). "Nikita Johnson gets his second win from five USF Pro 2000 starts". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  8. ↑ "Nikita Johnson to Make European Debut in the GB3 Championship for 2024 // Infinity Sports Management". www.infinitysportsmanagement.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-06.


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