Myles Rowe Bio
Myles Rowe (born June 19, 2000) is an American racing driver of Jamaican descent. He currently competes in the 2025 Indy NXT series, driving the No. 99 car for Abel Motorsports with Force Indy. Rowe is recognized as the 2023 USF Pro 2000 champion and as the first African-American driver to win an American open-wheel championship. He has continued to break barriers in the sport, most recently becoming the first Black driver to win a race in the Indy NXT series.
Early Life and Background
Myles Rowe was born in Powder Springs, Georgia, on June 19, 2000. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Rowe holds both American and Jamaican nationality, reflecting his family heritage.
Rowe initially pursued golf as a young athlete, but his direction changed at the age of ten. After watching racing on television with his father, he became interested in motorsport and Formula One. That shared family moment sparked the passion that would lead him toward a career in open-wheel racing.
Path to NASCAR
Rowe’s professional racing path has been rooted in the American open-wheel ladder rather than stock car racing. He made his car-racing debut in 2017 and continued in junior formula car competition through 2018. His full-time professional career began in 2021, when Force Indy brought him into the USF2000 Championship. From there, he advanced through USF Pro 2000 and into Indy NXT, where he continues to compete at the national level.
Myles Rowe Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Before stepping into a professional open-wheel car, Rowe competed in the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. These early seasons allowed him to develop his race craft and adapt to formula-style machinery.
After a break from competitive motorsport, Rowe returned to racing in 2021 with a clear goal: to build a professional career. His opportunity came through Force Indy, a team created to expand opportunity in the sport, and the partnership set the foundation for everything that followed.
USF2000 Championship (2021–2022)
Rowe joined Force Indy for the 2021 USF2000 Championship and made an immediate impact. He captured his first victory in the second race of the season in New Jersey, becoming the first African American to win in the series. He finished the year 13th in the championship standings.
The 2022 season brought significant challenges. When Force Indy moved up to Indy Lights, Rowe was left without a full-season budget. He launched a GoFundMe campaign and received a $200,000 donation, allowing him to sign with Pabst Racing for the opening round at St. Petersburg. After crashing in race one, he responded by winning race two. Additional sponsorship, including support from Roger Penske, allowed him to run the full season. He posted five wins, seven straight podiums, and a run from Indianapolis Raceway Park through Toronto, ultimately finishing second in the championship after a dramatic final-round battle at Portland decided in favor of Michael d’Orlando.
USF Pro 2000 Championship (2023)
For 2023, Rowe stepped up to the USF Pro 2000 Championship with Pabst Racing with Force Indy. He opened the year with a win at St. Petersburg and swept both races at Sebring, building a 40-plus-point lead by the spring. The title fight tightened in the second half as rival Kiko Porto challenged him, but Rowe secured the championship at the Portland finale by finishing third in race two.
With the title, Rowe became the first African-American driver to win an American open-wheel championship. He also earned a $640,000 scholarship to advance to Indy NXT in 2024, marking a major milestone in his ascent through the Road to Indy ladder.
Indy NXT (2024–Present)
Rowe moved to Indy NXT in 2024 with the No. 99 Force Indy/HMD Motorsports entry. He adapted to the series throughout his rookie campaign and built momentum heading into 2025. He switched to Abel Motorsports for the 2025 season and started strong, finishing fourth at both St. Petersburg and Barber to climb to third in the standings.
At Indianapolis, Rowe scored his first Indy NXT podium with a third-place result. He then delivered a breakthrough win at Iowa Speedway, passing Dennis Hauger with fourteen laps remaining to become the first Black driver to win a race in the Indy NXT series. The season is ongoing, and he is set to remain with Abel Motorsports for 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rowe is known for his composure under pressure and his ability to recover from difficult situations. He has repeatedly shown a knack for late-race moves, including his winning pass on Hauger at Iowa and his charge from last to first at Gateway. His consistency on road and street circuits, combined with a willingness to fight for position on restarts, has become a hallmark of his racing style.
Notable Races and Milestones
Rowe’s most significant milestones include his first USF2000 win at New Jersey in 2021, his USF Pro 2000 title in 2023, and his historic Indy NXT victory at Iowa Speedway. The Gateway win, where he started last and charged to victory, stands as one of the most dramatic moments of his career and a defining result for the series.
Myles Rowe Career Wins
Across his open-wheel career, Rowe has built a verified record of wins in USF2000, USF Pro 2000, and Indy NXT competition. His championship-level success in 2023 and his breakthrough Indy NXT wins in 2025 mark him as one of the most significant American open-wheel drivers of his generation.
USF Pro 2000 Highlights
Rowe won the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with multiple victories, including a sweep of the Sebring rounds and a win from pole at Mid-Ohio. The title made him the first African-American driver to win an American open-wheel championship and earned him a $640,000 scholarship to advance to Indy NXT.
Other Wins and Performances
In USF2000, Rowe recorded five wins across 2021 and 2022, highlighted by his first series victory in New Jersey and a string of three consecutive wins in 2022. He has also added Indy NXT victories at Iowa Speedway and Gateway in 2025, further extending his list of career milestones.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indy NXT | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Myles Rowe Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rowe was raised in Powder Springs, Georgia, and holds both American and Jamaican nationality. His father played an important role in introducing him to motorsport, sharing Formula One broadcasts that sparked his early passion for racing.
Personal Life
Rowe currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. He has spoken about the importance of his family in supporting his racing journey, including the public fundraising efforts that helped him return to competition in 2022.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a breakthrough year for Rowe with Abel Motorsports in Indy NXT. He opened with back-to-back fourth-place finishes at St. Petersburg and Barber, which moved him up to third in the championship standings. At Indianapolis, he scored his first Indy NXT podium with a third-place run, signaling his growing comfort with the series.
Rowe then delivered his first career Indy NXT victory at Iowa Speedway, passing Dennis Hauger with fourteen laps to go and becoming the first Black driver to win in the series. He added another dramatic win at Gateway, charging from the back of the field to the lead. Heading into the rest of the 2025 schedule, he remains firmly in the championship fight and is confirmed to return with Abel Motorsports in 2026.
