Racing prodigy and St. Petersburg native Nikita Johnson recently cemented his hometown hero status after making motorsport history as the youngest INDY NXT champion. He is not about to rest on his laurels.
Johnson, 18, clinched the title in IndyCar’s top support series on Sept. 6 – during the final race of the 2026 NXT season, his first. He was also named Rookie of the Year.
Local civic leaders, race promoters, supporters and a contingent of kids from Thurgood Marshall Middle School came together on Sept. 14 to celebrate Johnson’s meteoric rise in open-wheel racing. Mayor Ken Welch presented the phenom, who has “accomplished so much at the age of 18,” with a key to the city.
“Today means even more to all of us here because you started this story right here in the city of St. Petersburg,” Welch said to Johnson. “In just a few short years, you’ve gone from a young driver with big ambitions to a champion, competing at one of the highest levels of the sport.”
Johnson remains as ambitious as ever. After the ceremony, he confirmed plans to secure a spot in the premier NTT IndyCar Series after just one season in NXT.
The 2027 IndyCar Series begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 7.
“I feel like I’m ready to move up, and most teams agree with that,” Johnson told the Tampa Bay Reporter. “It would be awesome to start the year in St. Pete. It’s amazing to be here, and I’m fortunate to be racing in my backyard.”
Johnson has secured historic wins at each rung of the developmental ladder. At 15, he became the youngest race winner in USF Pro 2000 history.
Johnson earned three USF Juniors victories in 2022, one USF2000 victory and two USF Pro 2000 victories in 2023, eight USF Pro 2000 victories and two GB3 Championship victories in 2024 and a Formula Regional Oceania victory last season. He began the 2026 NXT season with a checkered flag on the streets of St. Petersburg – three months before his 18th birthday.
Driving for Cape Motorsports, Johnson then won the season’s third race, the Grand Prix of Alabama. While that was his final victory of 2026, he never finished worse than 8th throughout 17 competitions.
Johnson held a three-point lead coming into the NXT finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Central California. He finished second to secure the season title.
“I’ve been with so many great teams, and sometimes you just don’t get that,” Johnson said of his success. “They’ve made me into the driver I am today. It’s not all me.”
The championship earned Johnson an $850,000 scholarship for a full-time IndyCar ride. He has “always wanted to fast-track” his career.
Johnson, however, still lacks an IndyCar team. Although several have expressed interest, they currently have no available spots for new drivers.
“So, somebody would have to either get fired or decide to retire,” explained Johnson. Should a seat not materialize, he could compete professionally for another promotion or take a reserve role to race in the Indy 500 before joining IndyCar full-time in 2028, he said.
Johnson’s mother, Olesya Pyankova, also believes that “the job is not done.” However, she admittedly hoped her son would gravitate toward hockey as a toddler.
Pyankova now works to maintain a calm exterior despite a “storm inside” on race days. “As a parent, I have to be supportive no matter what he does,” she said. “And travel, school – just live that life.”
His father, Obie, said he never expected Johnson to make motorsport history when he first began carting. That changed after his son recorded the second-fastest time on a dirt track at 12 years old.
“I just thought we were going to have fun racing on the weekends,” said Obie, also a St. Petersburg native. “But that evolved into more of a planned approach than we ever thought about at the very beginning.”
All three hope Johnson continues competing in North America-based IndyCar, which would keep him closer to home. City Councilmember Copley Gerdes noted the city’s rich racing history.
“That’s why, frankly, you carrying the torch for St. Pete is so important,” Gerdes said to Johnson. “That’s what St. Pete is about, and you represent that across the world. St. Pete is extremely proud of you.”
