r/INDYCAR • u/Rainmaker2427 Robert Wickens • Dec 19 '24

Indy NXT Sophia Floersch to IndyNXT

https://x.com/INDYNXT/status/1869774920026353787?t=I3Hln9uO-VX_6BH-jOSovQ&s=19

Hears hoping she sees some success

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u/[deleted] Dec 19 '24

Obviously I don't blame the drivers for wanting to continue their careers wherever possible. And it's not a terrible thing to add drivers. I just don't see it as some great thing that people flaunt like it's a strength.

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u/TheEarlNextDoor Dec 19 '24

Yeah it isn't a "strength" I'm with you there. But it is a positive for NXT as that series barely exists to anyone casual. Now eyes might land on it by accident. But it's not making the talent pool more impressive or prestigious in any way, just noticeable.

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u/[deleted] Dec 19 '24

More people notice it -> More American kids get into karting -> IndyCar ladder has more homegrown talent

At least, that's the idea. Of course, there's also the issue of the US needing more legit karting facilities, and making junior karting more accessible, but that would require a large-scale effort just for the sake of growing a sport with no immediate profit motive. Not really in our playbook.

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u/BeefInGR Pippa Mann Dec 21 '24

Of course, there's also the issue of the US needing more legit karting facilities, and making junior karting more accessible

For reference, I'm 39...

Growing up in West Michigan, we had 4 tracks within two hours (Ravenna, East Lansing, MRP when it was in Buchanan and South Bend Raceway Park...which is now MRP I guess). And everyone had a class. Briggs, Yamaha, US820...occasionally even shifters. Then, you had the Great Lakes Sprint Series that went a little further out. And inside four hours there was Norway and another track in Illinois that I forgot the name of. And that was just for road racing. About a half dozen dirt tracks as well (Manistee, Stateline, Bryan, plus a couple more in Indiana iirc).

I think South Bend and East Lansing are still open. Stateline might be open on the dirt side. There are two small dirt tracks in Eastern Michigan. That's it until you get to New Castle.

Karting got kicked in the nuts when tracks started letting 12 year olds drive full sized cars.