HMD Motorsports opened the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season at the streets of St. Petersburg with a podium result and a clear message: the team’s campaign is only just beginning. Rookie Tymek Kucharczyk led the charge with a third-place finish in his series debut, highlighting the potential within HMD’s four-car lineup, which also featured Salvador de Alba, Jack Beeton, and Enzo Fittipaldi.
Originally scheduled for 45 laps, the race was converted to a timed contest as drivers navigated the tight and demanding street circuit. With the team’s drivers starting from multiple positions across the grid, the weekend became an early test of execution and adaptability, providing both a strong result and valuable lessons moving forward.
Celebrating his 20th birthday weekend, Kucharczyk delivered a composed and confident drive, executing key overtakes at the start of the race and managing to compete with maturity beyond his experience level. His third-place finish marked an impressive introduction to the series and an encouraging early indicator of what the team believes is still to come.
“I’m just really grateful because I got the opportunity, the team behind me, the team itself — the HMD crew for car #71,” explained Kucharczyk. “They did an amazing job this weekend. They gave me a really happy place, a safe zone, where I can just develop myself and have all of them help me work on myself, and every session was better, better, better.”
Behind him, the rest of the lineup focused on laying groundwork for the season ahead. De Alba advanced from tenth to finish eighth, collecting important data and points. Beeton, also making his series debut, rebounded from a first-lap spin to recover to 11th, demonstrating resilience and race pace through the field.
Fittipaldi earned the Jostens Biggest Mover Award after climbing from 24th to 17th during the 55-minute race. After a difficult qualifying session placed him deep in the field, he methodically worked forward to salvage a solid finish and contribute to the team’s opening weekend momentum.
With the first race complete, HMD Motorsports now shifts its attention to the Grand Prix of Arlington, March 13–15. The team heads to Texas determined to build on its early progress and continue evolving into a regular frontrunner in the 2026 championship fight.
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Photo Credit: RTD Media