IMSA: Nolan Siegel looks to continue impressing at Road Atlanta this weekend
Nolan Siegel is what you call a Swiss Army knife in the racing world.
Siegel will be stepping out of his usual IndyNXT ride this weekend, taking control of the CrowdStrike Racing LMP2 entry at the Petit Le Mans this weekend at Road Atlanta.
But don’t let his young age fool you.
With success across both respective series, the 18-year-old California native has found love and success.
“I'm super excited to be a part of it,” says Siegel, responding to being part of the new era of racing. "I think it's shaping up to be another kind of golden age in motorsports, and everything has been so competitive. IndyNXT last year was one of the biggest fields in history. IndyCar is one of the biggest fields in history, and to see LMP2 growing and the GTP field growing, it's exciting.
"It’s an honor to be in these endurance races with such amazing teams and drivers, and the competition is super strong, so it makes all the success even more special for me.”
One of those special moments came with CrowdStrike Racing back in June in the six-hour endurance race at Watkins Glen, where Siegel grabbed the first IMSA victory of his career, making a moment not only for himself but also for the team.
“Yeah, it was extremely special," he said, looking back at the win. “It was my first IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship win, and to do it in Watkins Glen, one of the big four races in the US and North America (and) one of the biggest endurance races in the world.
"To be able to win with CrowdStrike was really special. And I believe it was all our first. It was Ben’s (Hanley) first win there. George’s (Kurtz) first win there. I believe it was the team's first win there. We were all really excited about it, and it was a good kind of first win for the team in North America. First win for Algarve (Pro Racing). So, we're looking to keep it going.”
Keeping the momentum will be the name of the game this weekend for CrowdStrike and Siegel, with the team 100 points outside of the championship. But keeping it going even implies continuing the momentum Siegel has had during his first full season in IndyNXT, finishing 3rd in the standings and grabbing two wins early.
“It was a big confidence booster, and I think as a rookie, you go into a lot of these weekends on the back foot just because other people have raced on that track in that car before,” he said, discussing the importance of getting the wins coming early. “Detroit, going into it, I knew that that was going to be one of my best chances because it was an even playing field, and on that even playing field, we were super, super strong.
"I think that showed that, maybe in places where other people were better, it just came down to a lack of experience for me in that car on that track. Road America was a place that I've raced a ton in the past and I felt very confident about that, and it was kind of the same thing. We went in, and we're just very strong.
"Now next year, that's a big confidence booster, because I've now done a year in IndyNXT and raced at all these places, and there's no one with more experience. I think we'll be able to come out just as strong as we did in Detroit and Road America next year.”
But along with the successes come the highs and lows, something that Siegel experienced this season. Following his wins at Detroit and Road America, he would have some bad luck, but by having his support, Siegel has been able to grow with his team, HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing, resigning an extension just moments after the interview.
“It's huge in IndyNXT,” says Siegel. “I think that that experience comes more from the engineers and the team side. Getting to learn from not just my engineer but the other eight engineers that are in the trailer is massive. They all have lots of IndyCar and sports car racing experience.
"Then, on the sports car side, I've driven with amazing drivers throughout my career. I've driven even with Colin Braun, who is one of the most successful sports car drivers in history. Ben Hanley is the same thing—an LMP2 driver and an IndyCar driver.
"These guys have taught me a huge amount, and just getting to be a part of the weekend with them is really beneficial for me. I can see their mindset, and you know, figure out how they go about things.”
That growth by Siegel was very apparent this season, and being a quick contender early on in the IndyNXT season, battling for an opening race win, there is a lot of excitement surrounding Siegel's future.
But even though Siegel is now among the top up-and-coming talents, there is always a moment for all drivers to experience getting to race with their idols, something that Siegel is very excited about this weekend.
“I learn a ton,” when asked what he can take away from racing against these top stars. “I get to follow these guys on-track, and I get to hang out with them off-track, which is really fun. It's a cool experience for me. In IMSA, I feel like everyone's more laid-back and everyone's really friendly, and it's just a cool way to socialize with people that have been my heroes for a long time.
"Yeah, I think it's really beneficial for me. I can learn a ton from them. It just takes the professionalism of the series to the next level. I have to adhere to that as well. It helps me learn how I need to conduct myself off-track and how I need to drive on-track. Overall, it just helps me learn about what I need to do to become them someday.”
Siegel is well on his way to becoming one of the future stars on the IndyCar circuit, and don’t be surprised if you see the California kid up with his heroes as one of the best to do it in the not-so-distant future, whether sportscars or open-wheel.