Kyle Kirkwood Bio
Kyle MacLean Kirkwood (born October 19, 1998) is an American auto racing driver. He competes in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 27 Dallara-Honda for Andretti Global. Kirkwood is a two-time victor of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, winning in 2023 and 2025.
Born and raised in Jupiter, Florida, Kirkwood rose from karting roots to become one of the most decorated young drivers in the Road to Indy ladder system. His steady climb through junior formulas established him as a consistent winner before his full-time arrival in North America’s top open-wheel series.
Early Life and Background
Kyle MacLean Kirkwood was born on October 19, 1998, in Jupiter, Florida, United States. He grew up in the same community as fellow racing driver Oliver Askew, and the two often competed against each other in karting events from a young age. The South Florida karting scene gave Kirkwood his earliest exposure to competitive motorsport.
Throughout his karting career, Kirkwood built an impressive resume of titles, including the AM Engines Formula Tag Junior championship in 2012, the SKUSA SuperNationals XVII S5 Junior championship in 2013, and back-to-back wins at the Florida Winter Tour in 2015 and 2016. These results marked him as one of the top young American karting talents of his generation.
Path to IndyCar
Kirkwood made his single-seater debut in 2015 in the F1600 Championship with Chastain Motorsports, taking victory in the season opener at Road Atlanta. The following year, he joined the inaugural Formula 4 United States Championship with Primus Racing, winning at Mid-Ohio and finishing third in the standings. He was also awarded the Team USA Scholarship in 2016.
He progressed through the Road to Indy ladder, dominating F3 Americas in 2018 by winning fifteen of seventeen races and claiming the inaugural title. In 2018, he also won the Formula 4 United States Championship with Cape Motorsports, securing nine victories and sealing the title at the Circuit of the Americas. After joining Andretti Autosport’s Indy Lights program, Kirkwood won the 2021 Indy Lights Championship, becoming the first driver to win a championship in every Road to Indy series. Winning the Indy Lights title guaranteed him three IndyCar races in 2022, including the Indianapolis 500.
Kyle Kirkwood Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Kirkwood’s transition to cars began with the F1600 Championship in 2015, where he opened the season with a win at Road Atlanta. After switching to Formula 4 United States with Primus Racing in 2016, he impressed enough to earn the Team USA Scholarship. He then returned to the series in 2017 with Cape Motorsports and dominated the championship with nine wins, including hat-tricks at Indianapolis and Motorsport Park.
His breakthrough continued in 2018 when he joined Abel Motorsports for the inaugural F3 Americas season. Kirkwood won fifteen of the seventeen races, securing the championship at NOLA with a round to spare and earning his third straight title. He also made a one-off appearance with RP Motorsport in the 2019 Euroformula Open finale at Monza, recording a best finish of sixth.
Indy Lights Dominance (2019–2021)
Kirkwood moved to Indy Lights in 2019 with RP Motorsport Racing. After early-season struggles, he found form by taking both wins at Road America, then dominated the second half of the season. He clinched his fourth consecutive title at Laguna Seca despite being taken out by Danial Frost on track.
In 2020, Kirkwood was confirmed at Andretti Autosport for the Indy Lights season, but the campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He used the year to gain experience in sports cars, running four IMSA Prototype Challenge races and a limited GTD schedule with AIM Vasser Sullivan Racing. Returning to Indy Lights in 2021 with Andretti Autosport, Kirkwood won the championship, making history as the first driver to claim a title in every Road to Indy series.
Andretti Era (2023–Present)
After one season at A. J. Foyt Enterprises in 2022, where his best finish was tenth at Long Beach and he ranked 24th in points, Kirkwood returned to the Andretti stable. On June 1, 2022, Andretti Autosport announced that Kirkwood would replace the departing Alexander Rossi for 2023.
Kirkwood opened his Andretti tenure with a breakthrough victory at the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, his first IndyCar win. He added a second win that season at the 2023 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Continuing with the team, now known as Andretti Global, he drives the No. 27 Dallara-Honda and added another Long Beach triumph in 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kirkwood is known for his smooth, precise driving style and his ability to capitalize on strategy calls and restarts. His road course and street circuit pace has been a particular strength, demonstrated by his multiple Long Beach wins. Working alongside his Andretti Global engineering group, he has built a reputation for consistent qualifying speed and clutch performances in mixed-condition races.
Notable Races and Milestones
Kirkwood’s signature moments include his dominant 2018 F3 Americas campaign, the 2021 Indy Lights title that made him the first driver to win championships across every Road to Indy level, and his first IndyCar victory at the 2023 Grand Prix of Long Beach. He added a second Long Beach win in 2025, cementing the event as his personal marquee race.
Kyle Kirkwood Career Wins
Kyle Kirkwood has accumulated victories across karting, junior formulas, Indy Lights, and the IndyCar Series. His win tally reflects steady progression, with championship-clinching performances at every level of the Road to Indy.
IndyCar Highlights
In the IndyCar Series, Kirkwood has three verified wins, all coming with Andretti Autosport or Andretti Global. He took his first victory at the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, added a second win at the 2023 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, and returned to victory lane at the 2025 Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching IndyCar, Kirkwood won races in F1600, Formula 4 United States, F3 Americas, and Indy Lights. His 2018 F3 Americas season, where he won fifteen of seventeen races, and his 2019 Indy Lights title at Laguna Seca stand out as his most dominant pre-IndyCar campaigns.
Kyle Kirkwood Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kyle MacLean Kirkwood was raised in Jupiter, Florida, alongside fellow young racing talent Oliver Askew. The two competed together extensively in karting, helping shape Kirkwood’s early development as a driver. Beyond this connection, limited verified public details about his immediate family are available.
Personal Life
Publicly verified personal details about Kirkwood’s life outside racing remain limited. He is based in the United States and continues to balance his IndyCar commitments with personal time in his home state of Florida.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 IndyCar Series season has continued to showcase Kyle Kirkwood’s growth with Andretti Global. Driving the No. 27 Dallara-Honda, he has remained a consistent presence in the top ten, leveraging the road course and street circuit strengths that defined his earlier successes. His victory at the 2025 Grand Prix of Long Beach marked another milestone in his relationship with the historic street race.
Throughout the season, Kirkwood has worked closely with his Andretti Global engineering group to refine race strategy and qualifying pace. His ability to capitalize on restarts and tire management has translated into regular top-ten results, keeping him in playoff contention as the championship battle intensifies.
With momentum from a second Long Beach win and consistent form across diverse track types, Kirkwood enters the closing stretch of 2025 firmly in the IndyCar playoff picture. His continued development at Andretti Global positions him as a serious contender for deeper playoff runs and additional race wins.