Max Taylor will join HMD Motorsports for a partial season in INDY NXT by Firestone in 2025, team officials announced Jan. 29.

New Jersey native Taylor, 17, will race the No. 18 entry in five events: at Barber Motorsports Park, Detroit Grand Prix, Iowa Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Milwaukee Mile. Taylor also will compete in a full season in USF Pro 2000 with VRD Racing.

“I am anxious and excited to get the 2025 season officially underway,” Taylor said. “I have been fortunate enough to test in INDY NXT as I continue to further my development, but my number one goal and focus is the USF Pro 2000 championship. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me get to this point. It’s going to be a very busy 2025 season.”

Taylor began racing karts at the regional level in 2021 before stepping up to the national level in 2022. After winning the P1 Stars Championship, finishing in second at the IAME Grand Nationals and third in both the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) Pro Tour Championship and SKUSA SuperNationals, Taylor moved up to USF Juniors in 2023.

In his debut year of car racing, Taylor earned one win and finished sixth in the championship in 2023. In 2024, Taylor pulled double-duty by competing full seasons in both USF Juniors and USF2000. He won the USF Juniors title, earning three victories, and finished third in the USF2000 title race, with four wins.

“Max has obvious talent, and his results from the USF ranks prove that,” HMD Team President Mike Maurini said. “Running with the HMD Motorsports program at Sebring during our recent test, Max proved his speed and saw his name near the top of the time charts. At only 17, Max is in a steep learning curve, but from everything we have seen, he has a very bright future in motorsports.”

Taylor will have tested four times with HMD before his INDY NXT debut Sunday, May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park.