Note: This is part of a series of INDY NXT by Firestone team previews for the 2023 season.
Starting Lineup: Reece Gold (No. 75 Ticket Clinic Dallara), Matteo Nannini (No. 76 Dallara)
2022 in Review: Juncos Hollinger (JHR) Racing didn’t compete in INDY NXT last year, opting for a brief hiatus while focusing its efforts on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and USF Pro 2000. Gold won four races and earned seven podium finishes en route to securing second place in the USF Pro 2000 championship.
New for ’23: A return to INDY NXT for JHR also meant the promotion of Gold from USF Pro 2000. Gold already made a strong and positive impression by being the second-fastest during offseason testing last month at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s road course. The team also brought in Matteo Nannini, the 2019 FIA Formula 4 UAE champion. Nannini, an Italian-Argentinian driver and nephew of former Formula One driver Alessandro Nannini, also captured one win and two podiums during the 2021 Formula 3 campaign.
Keep an Eye on This: The continuity between Juncos Hollinger Racing and Gold could help offset any potential early-season struggles that often plague incoming rookies. Gold, an 18-year-old from Miami, was one of the strongest performers in USF Pro 2000 with JHR, earning a record of five wins and 14 podiums in 38 starts that spanned the past two seasons. Gold isn’t a stranger to fast starts, either, scoring a podium in his first-ever USF Pro 2000 start – and with JHR – back in 2021 at Barber Motorsports Park. In one of the most competitive fields in the history of INDY NXT, if Gold adapts quickly, he could shine.
Little-Known Fact: Championships are a common theme in the development of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for Juncos Hollinger Racing. In USF Pro 2000, the team has captured five team titles to go with five driver championships – the first of which was captured by Conor Daly in 2010. Additionally, Juncos Hollinger Racing has propelled two drivers – Spencer Pigot (2015) and Kyle Kaiser (2017) – to the INDY NXT championship.
Reece Gold Matteo Nannini