Kyle Kirkwood: From Underdog to Championship Contender

With his dominant win at the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Kyle Kirkwood has firmly positioned himself as a serious force in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Now sitting second in the championship standings, the 25-year-old American is no longer just a promising talent — he’s emerging as a true contender.

“This might have been the highest I’ve ever been in the championship, if I’m not mistaken,”
Kirkwood reflected during the post-race press conference.

The win marked Kirkwood’s third career IndyCar victory, and notably, his second triumph at Long Beach — a track where he clearly feels at home. Since the start of the 2023 season, no Andretti driver has won more races than Kirkwood, making his growing role within the team increasingly clear.

Yet, despite these achievements, Kirkwood still flies under the radar compared to more high-profile names in the paddock.

“I don’t mind being the underdog to you guys mostly,”
he said when asked about the media spotlight often shining elsewhere.

His ability to quietly deliver big results is becoming harder to ignore. In 2023, he broke through with two wins, becoming the first Andretti driver in years to hit that mark in a single season. Now, just three rounds into 2025, he’s back in Victory Lane — and this time with a performance that showcased not just speed, but strategic racecraft and composure under pressure.

Starting from the front row, Kirkwood executed a clean and calculated race, turning a strong qualifying effort into a commanding win. It’s the kind of weekend that separates champions from contenders — and Kirkwood is beginning to show signs of both.

With each race, his consistency and confidence continue to grow. The question now isn’t whether Kyle Kirkwood can win — he’s already done that.
The question is: how much longer will he be considered underrated?