Josh Pierson

Having begun his karting career aged two when his father Greg bought him a go-kart, Pierson soon began competing in regional and national competitions.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-10 |title=Josh Pierson Just Got His Driver's License. Next Up: Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans |url=https://www.gq.com/story/josh-pierson-teenager-le-mans |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=GQ |language=en-US}} The American would win a number of accolades during the 2010s, most notably winning the Rotax Florida Winter Tour in 2016 and taking home the US Rotax Grand Nationals title the subsequent year.{{Cite web |title=About Josh Pierson |url=https://joshpierson.com/about/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Josh Pierson Racing |language=en-US}}

At the age of 14, Pierson made his car racing debut in 2020, competing for Exclusive Autosport in the U.S. F2000 National Championship and partaking in two rounds of the F1600 Championship Series.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive Autosport's Duncalfe Aims to Climb Ladder as Team Owner |url=https://www.indycar.com/News/2020/10/10-09-RTI-Exclusive-Autosport |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=IndyCar.com}} The campaign did not amount to much, as Pierson ended up finishing 20th in the drivers' standings.

The American would return to the USF2000 Championship the following year, this time as part of the Pabst Racing outfit alongside Jace Denmark and Yuven Sundaramoorthy.{{Cite web |title=Road to Indy News and Notes |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/road-to-indy-news-and-notes |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.usf2000.com}} He started out strongly, scoring a pair of third places at Barber, before bettering that performance with two runner-up spots on the Indy Road Course.{{Cite web |title=Sundaramoorthy, Campbell Earn Maiden Wins at Barber |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/sundaramoorthy-campbell-earn-maiden-wins-at-barber |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.usf2000.com}}{{Cite web |title=Sundaramoorthy Near Perfect in Indianapolis Double |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/sundaramoorthy-near-perfect-in-indianapolis-double |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.usf2000.com}} Pierson continued to take regular finishes inside the top ten for the remainder of the season, though he would only manage to add one further podium to his name. He ended the year fourth overall, one place behind teammate Sundaramoorthy.{{Cite web |title=Green Survives Chaotic Finale to Claim First Win |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/green-survives-chaotic-finale-to-claim-first-win |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.usf2000.com}}

On August 17, 2021, United Autosports announced that it had signed Pierson to compete in the LMP2 category of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship.{{Cite web |title=American Teen Josh Pierson Set To Become Youngest Ever LM 24 Starter In 2022 |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/08/17/american-teen-josh-pierson-set-to-become-youngest-ever-lm-24-starter-in-2022.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} This would make Pierson the youngest ever driver to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Having gathered some prototype racing experience at the 24 Hours of Daytona and two rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series, where he managed to take two victories in as many starts, Pierson won his debut race at the 1000 Miles of Sebring alongside teammates Oliver Jarvis and Paul di Resta.{{Cite web |title=Abu Dhabi Race 1: United Autosports Take The Win, Nielsen Racing Take The Championship |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/02/19/abu-dhabi-race-1-united-autosports-take-the-win-nielsen-racing-take-the-championship.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} With the team having controlled the race before an untimely red flag brought a premature end to proceedings, Pierson became the youngest race winner in series history.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |title=American Teen Pierson Becomes Youngest-Ever WEC Winner – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/american-teen-pierson-becomes-youngest-wec-winner/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=sportscar365.com |date=18 March 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Alpine Wins Heavily-Interrupted 1000M Sebring |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/03/19/alpine-wins-heavily-interrupted-1000m-sebring.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} Following a points-scoring round in Spa, Pierson claimed the record of being the youngest starter at Le Mans and ended up finishing sixth.{{Cite web |title=At The Flag: Toyota Gazoo Racing Wins Their Fifth 24 Hours of Le Mans |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/06/12/at-the-flag-toyota-gazoo-racing-wins-their-fifth-24-hours-of-le-mans.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} More points were scored in the subsequent two races, which brought the #23 United crew into outside contention for the LMP2 title come the 8 Hours of Bahrain.{{Cite web |title=FIA WEC Bahrain Preview Part 2 LMP2: JOTA En Route To First WEC Title? |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/11/10/fia-wec-bahrain-preview-part-2-lmp2-jota-en-route-to-first-wec-title.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} Despite finishing second during the race, the result would only yield third in the teams' championship for Pierson and Jarvis, though the American would receive an award for being the "Revelation of the Year" of the 2022 WEC campaign.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-13 |title=Toyota Takes 1-2 in Bahrain; Claims Championship |url=https://www.pitlane-news.com/toyota-takes-1-2-in-bahrain-claims-championship/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Pitlane News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2022-11-13 |title=Bahrain Post-Race Notebook – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-post-race-notebook-9/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Champions Crowned In Post Season FIA WEC Gala |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/11/14/champions-crowned-in-post-season-fia-wec-gala.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}

Parallel to his WEC commitments, the youngster also partook in a full-time campaign in the IMSA SportsCar Championship as part of the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2021-12-23 |title=Bomarito Confirmed in Second PR1/Mathiasen Entry – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bomarito-confirmed-in-second-pr1-mathiasen-entry/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |title=32 Entries for Laguna Seca – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/32-entries-for-laguna-seca/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=sportscar365.com |date=20 April 2022 |language=en-US}} Pierson finished sixth in the drivers' standings, having gotten a podium finish at the season-ending Petit Le Mans race.{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2022-10-01 |title=MSR Captures DPi Title with Drama-Filled PLM Victory – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/msr-captures-dpi-title-with-drama-filled-petit-victory/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}

Pierson re-signed with United Autosports to compete in the 2023 WEC season, once again partnering Oliver Jarvis, with a revolving door of drivers claiming the lineup's third seat. As well as that, it was announced that Pierson would join series newcomer TDS Racing for that year's endurance rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

Beginning his sophomore season in the WEC at Sebring, Pierson would inherit the lead from Jarvis and extend their gap during a triple stint. However, their strong race came undone as an onboard camera inside of Pierson's car came loose and hit the ignition switch, pushing it out and causing the #23 United to come to a halt, forcing them to retire in what managing director Richard Dean described as "a one in a million thing".{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2023-03-17 |title=Dean: "One in a Million" Incident Cost United LMP2 Victory – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dean-one-in-a-million-issue-cost-united-lmp2-victory/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} The team bounced back strongly in Portugal, where Pierson, Jarvis and Giedo van der Garde fought to take victory, overcoming a radio issue for Jarvis during their penultimate pitstop that had dropped them to second.{{Cite web |title=#8 Toyota Wins 6H Portimao, Five Factories In The Top Five |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/04/16/8-toyota-wins-6h-portimao-five-factories-in-the-top-five.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} Another podium followed at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where teammate Tom Blomqvist narrowly missed out on the win to Louis Delétraz in the #41 WRT.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=2023-05-01 |title=WRT Got "Back in the Game" at Final Safety Car Period – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wrt-got-back-in-the-game-after-final-safety-car-period/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} The Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans did not yield much success, as Blomqvist experienced a crash following a loss of brakes, leading to an eighth-placed finish, meanwhile Pierson and the team would miss out on a podium again during the Monza round, as a last-lap pass from Deléteaz on Jarvis relegated the #23 to fourth by the flag.{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2023-06-11 |title=Inter Europol Takes Breakthrough LMP2 Victory at Le Mans – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/inter-europol-takes-breakthrough-lmp2-win-at-le-mans/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=2023-07-10 |title=Monza Post-Race Notebook – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/monza-post-race-notebook-6/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=#7 Toyota Beats #50 Ferrari To 6H Monza Win |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/07/09/7-toyota-beats-50-ferrari-to-6h-monza-win.html |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} Fuji ended up burying any remaining title ambitions for the American, who finished fourth alongside Jarvis and Ben Hanley; Pierson had shown impressive pace, though he was also involved in a collision with Rui Andrade for which he was given a 10-second penalty which set the team back, before Hanley lost further time when he was hit by João Paulo de Oliveira's Vanwall.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2023-09-10 |title=Kubica: Fuji Win Puts WRT in "Good Shape" for LMP2 Title – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kubica-fuji-win-puts-wrt-in-good-shape-for-lmp2-title/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Autosports |first=United |title=WEC Fuji: Pole position, podium celebrations and championship points |url=https://base.unitedautosports.com/news/wec-fuji-pole-position-podium-celebrations-and-crucial-championship-points |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=United Autosports |language=en}} After taking eighth place in Bahrain, Pierson and Jarvis finished fifth in the drivers' standings.

Alongside his endurance racing commitments, Pierson rejoined the Road to Indy ladder to contest the 2023 Indy NXT campaign with HMD Motorsports.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=18 October 2022|title=WEC racer Josh Pierson to add Indy Lights campaign in 2023|url=https://formulascout.com/wec-racer-josh-pierson-to-add-indy-lights-campaign-in-2023/99914|access-date=20 October 2022|website=Formula Scout|language=en-GB}} Having missed five races, the driver from Oregon ended up 15th in the standings, scoring a best finish of sixth at Iowa.

File:Pierson Mid Ohio 2024.jpg in 2024]]

Pierson remained in Indy NXT for 2024, still driving for HMD Motorsports.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=25 October 2023|title=ECR junior Josh Pierson scales up Indy Nxt commitments for 2024|url=https://formulascout.com/ecr-junior-josh-pierson-scales-up-indy-nxt-commitments-for-2024/112685|access-date=26 October 2023|website=Formula Scout|language=en-GB}} During the season opener at St. Pete, Pierson collided with Jamie Chadwick and was penalised for avoidable contact, eventually ending up 13th.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-10 |title=Siegel dominates St. Petersburg Indy NXT opener |url=https://racer.com/2024/03/10/siegel-dominates-st-petersburg-indy-nxt-opener/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}

Pierson was retained by HMD Motorsports for a third season of Indy NXT in 2025.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=26 September 2024|title=Josh Pierson stays at HMD Motorsports for third Indy Nxt season|url=https://formulascout.com/josh-pierson-stays-at-hmd-motorsports-for-third-indy-nxt-season/124247|access-date=27 September 2024|website=Formula Scout|language=en-GB}}

Pierson joined Ed Carpenter Racing's new racing programme for 2023, becoming a development driver for the 2023 IndyCar Series.{{Cite web|last=Malsher-Lopez|first=David|url=https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/pierson-becomes-ecr-development-driver-targets-indycar-in-2025/10400424/|date=16 November 2022|title=Pierson becomes ECR development driver, targets IndyCar in 2025|access-date=16 November 2022|website=Motorsport.com}}

* Season still in progress.

† As Pierson was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

| ATL
{{small|}}

| ATL
{{small|}}

! style="background:#CFCFFF;" |22nd

! style="background:#CFCFFF;" |72

|}

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WGL
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#;"| ELK
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| IMS

|style="background:#DFDFDF;”| PET
{{small|2}}

!14th

!892

|}

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

*Season still in progress.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

| style="background:#;"|HIG
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"|HIG
3
{{small|}}

! 7th

! 219

|}

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with ^L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| IMS
{{small|17}}

| style="background:#;"| DET
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| DET
{{small|}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RDA
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IOW
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NSH
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS
{{small|8}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| GMP
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR
{{small|17}}

| style="background:#;"| LAG
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| LAG
{{small|}}

! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15th

! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 173

|-

| 2024

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| STP
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| BAR
{{small|17}}

| style="background:#efcfff;"| IMS
{{small|21}}

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| IMS
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| DET
{{small|8}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| RDA
{{small|7}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LAG
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IOW
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GMP
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| POR
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIL
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NSH
{{small|10}}

! style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14th

! style="background:#cfcfff;"| 264

|-

| 2025

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| STP
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BAR
{{small|5}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DET
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#;"| GMP
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;"| RDA

| style="background:#;"| MDO

| style="background:#;"| IOW

| style="background:#;"| LAG

| style="background:#;"| LAG

| style="background:#;"| POR

| style="background:#;"| MIL

| style="background:#;"| NSH

! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 6th*

! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 134*

|}

* Season still in progress.

{{Reflist}}

• {{DriverDB driver|josh-pierson}}

{{HMD Motorsports}}

{{Indy Lights Series teams}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierson, Josh}}

Category:2006 births

Category:Living people

Category:Racing drivers from Portland, Oregon

Category:U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers

Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers

Category:FIA World Endurance Championship drivers

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:United Autosports drivers

Category:Indy NXT drivers

Category:Ed Carpenter Racing drivers

Category:HMD Motorsports drivers

Category:TDS Racing drivers

Category:Toyota Racing Series drivers

Category:21st-century American sportsmen