Myles Rowe

After not competing in motorsports for several years, newly formed team Force Indy announced that Rowe and the team would compete in the USF2000 Championship in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Force Indy Announces Myles Rowe as 2021 USF2000 Driver |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/force-indy-announces-myles-rowe-as-2021-usf2000-driver |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=www.usf2000.com}} Rowe would get his first win at the second race in New Jersey.{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Nate |date=2021-08-30 |title=Myles Rowe delivers first victory to Force Indy in USF2000 - NBC Sports |url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2021/08/29/myles-rowe-victory-force-indy-usf2000-team-penske-rod-reid/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=MotorSportsTalk {{!}} NBC Sports |language=en-US}} He would make history by becoming the first African American to win in the series. Rowe would end up finishing 13th by the end of the season.

After the 2021 season concluded, Force Indy announced that it would move up to the Indy Lights series in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-27 |title=How a surprise phone call led to Indy Lights' most exciting rookie yet |url=https://formulascout.com/how-a-surprise-phone-call-led-to-indy-lights-most-exciting-rookie-yet/89081 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} However, this resulted in Rowe being out of a ride for the 2022 season in the USF2000 Championship. Due to a lack of a budget for the full season, Rowe launched a GoFundMe campaign.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-21 |title=Rowe launches GoFundMe campaign to fund second USF2000 season |url=https://racer.com/2021/12/21/rowe-launches-gofundme-campaign-to-fund-second-usf2000-season/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=RACER |language=en-US}} He received a $200,000 donation which allowed him to sign with Pabst Racing to compete at the opening round in St. Petersburg.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-02-22 |title=Penske backs Myles Rowe for USF2000 opener |url=https://formulascout.com/myles-rowe-usf2000-2022/89691 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} After crashing in the first race at St. Petersburg with Thomas Nepveu, Rowe would win the second race and his first with Pabst Racing.{{Cite web |last=Woollard |first=Craig |date=2022-02-27 |title=Rowe rebounds to win messy second USF2000 St. Petersburg race |url=https://formulascout.com/rowe-rebounds-to-win-messy-second-usf2000-st-petersburg-race/90124 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} With additional sponsorship, he was able to compete at the second round at Barber and would win the first race.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-04-30 |title=Rowe boosts his USF2000 prospects with second win from three races |url=https://formulascout.com/rowe-boosts-his-usf2000-prospects-with-second-win-from-three-races/92973 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} Rowe continued into the third round at Indianapolis searching for additional funds with his season likely to be cut short if additional funding could not be found.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=Rowe's USF2000 run continues into round three as budget hunt goes on |url=https://formulascout.com/rowes-usf2000-run-continues-into-round-three-as-budget-hunt-goes-on/93524 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} However, his season was saved due to additional funding from Roger Penske.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=Rowe's USF2000 season saved by additional Penske funding |url=https://racer.com/2022/05/16/rowes-usf2000-season-saved-by-additional-penske-funding/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}

Rowe would continue to run the full season and contend for the 2022 championship. From the round at Indianapolis Raceway Park to the first race in Toronto, he would take three wins and seven straight podiums.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-07-02 |title=Rowe the USF2000 leader again after dominant Mid-Ohio win |url=https://formulascout.com/rowe-the-usf2000-leader-again-after-dominant-mid-ohio-win/95732 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Peter |date=2022-07-02 |title=Rowe passes d'Orlando for second Mid-Ohio USF2000 win |url=https://formulascout.com/rowe-passes-dorlando-for-second-mid-ohio-usf2000-win/95778 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=2022-07-16 |title=Rowe victorious in USF2000's opening Toronto race |url=https://formulascout.com/rowe-victorious-in-opening-usf2000-race/96354 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

The championship battle would go into the final round at Portland between Jace Denmark and Michael d'Orlando.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=2022-09-01 |title=Gold and Rowe lead practice for Road to Indy title deciders at Portland |url=https://formulascout.com/gold-and-rowe-lead-practice-for-road-to-indy-title-deciders-at-portland/98036 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} Rowe was leading the championship with 346 points with d'Orlando (323 points) and Denmark (321 points) sitting in second and third respectively. Rowe would qualify in 4th for race one but ultimately finished in 10th due to running wide trying to defend position from Nikita Johnson. This would reduce Rowe's lead in the championship to just four points ahead of Denmark.{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=2022-09-02 |title=Victory allows Denmark to close in on USF2000 lead |url=https://formulascout.com/victory-allows-denmark-to-close-in-on-usf2000-lead/98098 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

In Race 2, Denmark started in pole position, however Rowe drove over the back of Denmark's car at turn one, causing him to fall down the order. He subsequently finished 16th, with fellow championship contender d'Orlando finishing P4.

Going into the final race, Rowe was still the championship leader with 363 points while Denmark (357 points) and d'Orlando (356 points) were in second and third respectively. Rowe would experience contact on lap one of the race demoting him to 15th. He managed to make up ten places to finish fifth. Ultimately, this was not enough to claim the title since rival d'Orlando managed to win the race and consequently the championship.{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=2022-09-03 |title=D'Orlando snatches USF2000 title with win in dramatic finale |url=https://formulascout.com/dorlando-crowned-usf2000-champion/98171 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

Rowe ended the 2022 USF2000 season with 5 wins, finishing 2nd in the overall championship.

File:Road America June 2023 02 (USF Pro 2000 Championship race).jpg race at Road America]]

For 2023, Rowe moved up to the USF Pro 2000 Championship under the Pabst Racing with Force Indy banner. He was dominant through the first quarter of the season. In the opening round at St. Petersburg, Rowe brought home two podiums, including a win in race 2. At Sebring in late March, he won both the 3rd and 4th rounds, increasing his points total to more than 40 that of his closest competitor.{{cite web |title=Rowe gets first USF Pro 2000 win, second at St. Petersburg |url=https://racer.com/2023/03/05/rowe-gets-first-usf-pro-2000-win-second-at-st-petersburg/ |website=RACER |date=5 March 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Ida |title=Rowe goes three in a row in Sebring race two with latest USFP2000 win |url=https://formulascout.com/rowe-goes-three-in-a-row-in-sebring-race-two-with-latest-usfp2000-win/105014 |website=Formula Scout |date=25 March 2023}} At Indianapolis, Rowe would not finish the first race at IMS but would recover to 5th-place finish in the 2nd race. He would collect a top 5 in the Carb Night Classic at Indianapolis Raceway Park. At Road America he would grab another podium in race 1 and get yet another top 5. At the 6th round at Mid-Ohio he would finish outside of the top 10 for the first time in race 1, in race 2 Rowe would bounce back with winning the race from pole position. Toronto would be a return to form for Rowe, leading the most laps in race 1 before unfortunately falling back to 7th, then in race 2 he would dominate to grab his 5th win of the season. The penultimate round at Circuit of the Americas Myles would lose ground in the championship as title rival Kiko Porto would take home the win the race 1 on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday, meanwhile Rowe grabbed 4th and 6th respectively. At the championship finale triple-header in Portland Myles would come 2nd behind Porto in race 1. The next day in race 2, Rowe, starting alongside Porto would jump him into turn 1 and chased after Lirim Zendeli in 3rd, and by the half-way stage of the race he would pass Lirim for 3rd. For the rest of the race he would keep the cars behind and come across the line in 3rd to become the 2023 USF Pro 2000 champion. In doing so Rowe would also make history in becoming the first African-American driver to win an open-wheel championship. He would also win the $640,000 scholarship to move up to Indy NXT in 2024.

File:Myles Rowe Mid-Ohio 2024.jpg in 2024]]

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 USF Pro 2000 season, it was announced that Rowe would be moving to the No. 99 Force Indy/HMD entry for the 2024 Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports.{{cite web |title=Rowe Climbing to INDY NXT in 2024 with HMD with Force Indy |url=https://www.indycar.com/News/2023/09/09-06-Rowe-HMD-NXT |website=IndyCar.com}}

Rowe switched to Abel Motorsports for the 2025 Indy NXT season.{{Cite web|last=Barnes|first=Joey|url=https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/rowe-joins-abel-motorsports-for-2025-indy-nxt-run/10658173/|date=26 September 2024|title=Rowe joins Abel Motorsports for 2025 Indy NXT run|access-date=27 September 2024|website=Motorsport.com}} He would start his season strong in the opening two races of the season at St. Petersburg and Barber, finishing fourth in both races, which moved him up to third in the championship standings.{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=2025-05-04 |title=Hauger dominates at Barber to make it two wins from two in Indy Nxt |url=https://formulascout.com/hauger-dominates-at-barber-to-make-it-two-wins-from-two-in-indy-nxt/130480 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} For races three and four at Indianapolis, Rowe qualified in fifth.{{Cite web |title=INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Official Results of Session - Qualifications - Race 1 |url=http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/6591/2025-05-09/indynxt-results-quals-r1.pdf |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=IndyNXT.com}}{{Cite web |title=INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Official Results of Session - Qualifications - Race 2 |url=http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/6590/2025-05-09/indynxt-results-quals-r2.pdf |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=IndyNXT.com}} In race one at Indianapolis, Rowe moved up from his starting spot of fifth to third in the opening stages of the race. Following the second caution flag due to an incident between James Roe and Nikita Johnson, Rowe was being challenged by Salvador de Alba on the restart going into turn one. Rowe braked late into turn one and was successfully able to keep his position and stay in front of de Alba. Rowe would stay in third for the remainder of the race and went on to score his maiden podium in the series.{{Cite web |title=INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 Results |url=http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/6444/2025-05-09/indynxt-race-results-r1.pdf |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=IndyNXT.com}}{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=2025-05-10 |title=Hughes puts in near-perfect drive for first Indy Nxt victory at Indianapolis |url=https://formulascout.com/hughes-puts-in-near-perfect-drive-for-first-indy-nxt-victory-at-indianapolis/130757 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

Rowe was born in Powder Springs, Georgia, although he currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

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

* Season still in progress.

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

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

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ACC
1
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ACC
2
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#;"| NOL
1
{{small|}}

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

|style="background:#;"| TSM
1
{{small|}}

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

|style="background:#;"| {{tooltip|NCM
1|NCM Motorsports Park}}
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| {{tooltip|NCM
2|NCM Motorsports Park}}
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| ROA
1
{{small|}}

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

|style="background:#;"| MOH
1
{{small|}}

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

|style="background:#;"| SEB
1
{{small|}}

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

! 19th

! 80

|-

! colspan="20" |Sources: {{Cite web |title=2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series Standings {{!}} Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/lucas-oil-formula-car-race-series/2018 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.driverdb.com}}

|}

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

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

(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:#;"| MDO

| style="background:#;"| IOW

| style="background:#;"| LAG

| style="background:#;"| LAG

| style="background:#;"| POR

| style="background:#;"| MIL

| style="background:#;"| NSH

! style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4th*

! style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 186*

|}

* Season still in progress.

{{Reflist}}

{{Abel Motorsports}}

{{Indy NXT Series teams}}

{{HMD Motorsports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowe, Myles}}

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:Racing drivers from Atlanta

Category:Sportspeople from Powder Springs, Georgia

Category:U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers

Category:African-American racing drivers

Category:Indy Pro 2000 Championship drivers

Category:Indy NXT drivers

Category:HMD Motorsports drivers

Category:American sportspeople of Jamaican descent