{"id":32443,"date":"2024-03-22T11:21:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T15:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=32443"},"modified":"2024-03-22T11:21:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T15:21:56","slug":"grosse-pointe-woods-college-student-nolan-allaer-eyes-detroit-gp-as-indy-nxt-racer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/grosse-pointe-woods-college-student-nolan-allaer-eyes-detroit-gp-as-indy-nxt-racer","title":{"rendered":"Grosse Pointe Woods college student Nolan Allaer eyes Detroit GP as Indy NXT racer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michigan drivers who have competed in the Indy 500 are an exclusive list, including names like Scott Brayton, Bryan Herta, Robbie Buhl, Howdy Holmes, and Gordon Johncock.<\/p>\n

Nolan Allaer is eager to join the club.<\/p>\n

The Miami (Ohio) University junior, 22, from Grosse Pointe Woods, won a seat in Indy NXT this year, the feeder series for IndyCar. If the Grand Rapids Griffins are the Detroit Red Wings\u2019 American Hockey League junior hockey affiliate, then Indy NXT is the AHL-equivalent step to IndyCar. A hockey player as a kid, Allaer credits his team sports background with helping graduate to the teamwork required in big league motorsports.<\/p>\n

Allaer will be racing with HMD Motorsports this year, one of the open-wheel series\u2019 top teams, and made his debut at St. Petersburg on March 10.<\/p>\n

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Nolan Allaer at his Indy NXT debut in St. Petersburg. Joe Skibinski, Indy NXT<\/em><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely exciting, this is a dream come true,\u201d Allaer said in an interview ahead of the St. Pete race, where he finished 14th<\/sup>\u00a0in his maiden effort behind the wheel of a winged, 420-horsepower Dallara Indy NXT race car. \u201cTo be this close to IndyCar competing with some of the best open-wheel drivers in the world is an absolute honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allaer will be competing in his Detroit backyard, June 2, when the IndyCar circus rolls into town. The 14-race season also will take him to Indy, road courses like Road America (Wisconsin) and Mid-Ohio, and ovals in Iowa and Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited for Detroit, although I\u2019m a little bit bummed I won\u2019t get to race on Belle Isle,\u201d he said of the track where he grew up watching the IndyCar stars. \u201cTo do it downtown is a is such an incredible opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mechanical engineering major has built an impressive resume in his short career, including three national SCCA championships in Formula Ford\/Formula Continental classes in 2022-23, and two wins in the national F1600 series in 2022. He did not take the traditional route to Indy NXT like many of his peers who started at an early age in the karting circuit.<\/p>\n

\"Nolan<\/figure>\n
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Nolan Allaer, 22, of Grosse Point Woods is competing in Indy NXT for the 2024 season. HMD Motorsports, HMD Motorsports<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Though he grew up watching his grandfather, uncle, and father race (uncle and dad, Robert, have three SCCA championships between them) Nolan\u2019s passion turned to hockey at age 11.<\/p>\n

\u201cI karted in Florida from 2008-11, but I actually quite karting to play hockey,\u201d he said. \u201cI played hockey almost my entire life and I still play now when I\u2019m not racing. I started racing again in 2020 and got back into the sport through (simulator) racing. I\u2019m thankful for my time away from the sport because it makes me appreciate it much more now.\u201d<\/p>\n