SPEEDWAY, Ind. — The sweet sound of car engines roaring at 16th and Georgetown remind all of us Hoosiers that the month of May if upon us.
But its not just IndyCar drivers out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“My name is Lucy Barnes. I’m really excited to start racing.”
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Lucy Barnes is a student a Lutheran High School in Indianapolis and takes part in the Grand Prix.
Barnes is among a select group of young people between the ages of 11 to 15 who are part of the NXG Youth Motorsports organization.
The nonprofit serves as a driving force to motivate the youth, particularly those in minority and under-served populations, to be in the drivers seat of their own lives.
“I’m also really excited to be here,” said Michigan’s Gabriel Jones. “This is a lot of fun for me. This is what I want to do with my life.”
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Gabriel Jones travels from Michigan for the program.
The young, NextGenRacers suit up and head head out to a road course created at IMS.
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“I mean, tracks are always fun,” Jones said. “The cart is really fun to drive, and the entire atmosphere, it’s just great.”
The organization provides classes and curriculum that is focused on STEM learning to the drivers. They also learn about safety and other life skills while part of NXG Motorsports. Then a select few graduates get the opportunity to take part in the Grand Prix which consists of 10 races.
“There’s a lot of learning for life lessons in this program,” Barnes said. “It helps me to manage my stress and stay calm while I’m racing.”
The racers also work on their communication skills, discipline and decision-making under the direction of mentors who can help them gain skills for life.
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The racers take part in a Grand Prix, which consists of 10 races.
“Like, you are looking ahead for what you want to do in life, what you want to see. What you want to accomplish,” Jones said.
Michael Smith is the community engagement director for the organization and works with the young drivers.
“I was drum major at my high school marching band, so you know I’m all about being in line and ready,” Smith said. “But that disciple, that structure, is going to help them, not only in their careers and life in motorsports, but in everything they do.”
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Michael Smith is the community engagement director for NXG Youth Motorsports.
Smith says the program’s STEM learning helps the driver put math and science skills to use in a hands-on way.
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“We want you to be able to calculate your miles per hour. We want you to know about the radius. We need to tell you all the other elements as well as to what makes these go carts function, so the mechanical elements,” says Smith.
When driver Jones is behind the wheel, he says many things run through his mind.
“What I can do, where I can go, how far ahead do I think this person is, how is the cart feeling, what can I do better,” Jones said. “I’m just focused on the track, making sure I hit all my apexes, making sure I get all the breaking points right, the turning zones, all of that.”
The racers suit up with helmets, neck braces and uniforms and participate in real races on a road course, putting what they learned in the classroom to the test.
NXG Youth Motorsports has been a part of the Indianapolis community for 17 years, and they are always looking for volunteers and community partners to help make these races a reality.
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Sometimes their help comes from past Grand Prix racers like De’Vyne Wills who is a junior at Covenant Christian and now a crew member for NXG.
“It helps build character,” Wills said. “It just became like my life.”
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De’Vyne Wills is part of the pit crew for NXG Youth Motorsports after participating as a driver when she was younger.
Wills says the program helped her find her footing and community, and so it keeps her coming back for more.
Smith adds that its not just about the drivers in the industry, and that this early exposure and love of motorsports can transcend into future careers.
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“You don’t just have to be a driver,” Smith said. “There are so many opportunities. Everyday when you come to this facility, there are people here working because this industry exists.”
If you want to learn more about NXG Youth Motorsports and how to get involved, visit their website, https://www.nxgyouth.org/
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Three adults were found shot Thursday night at two apartment complexes on the northwest side, and Indianapolis police think the two scenes may be somehow related.
Police went just before 8:40 p.m. Thursday to a report of a person shot in the 3900 block of Wind Drift Drive East. That’s at the Lakeside Crossing at Eagle Creek apartments located northwest of the I-465 interchange for West 38th Street.
At 9 p.m. Thursday, police were called to another report of a person shot in the 4400 block of Moller Road. That’s at the Colonial Square apartments located southwest of the I-65 interchange for Lafayette Road.
Capt. Rob Rider of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says two of the adults were found at the Lakeside Crossing apartments. One adult was stable, and the other was in critical condition.
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IMPD found the third adult at the Colonial Square apartments. That adult was stable.
Crashed vehicles that police found at Lakeside Crossing were believed to be connected to the shootings.
Rider was unsure of the genders of the three adults. He noted that no children were shot despite initial reports from the Lakeside Crossing scene.
Indianapolis police went just before 8:40 p.m. Nov. 21, 2024, to a report of a person shot in the 3900 block of Wind Drift Drive East. (WISH Photo/TJ Whitmer)Indianapolis police went just before 8:40 p.m. Nov. 21, 2024, to a report of a person shot in the 3900 block of Wind Drift Drive East. (WISH Photo/TJ Whitmer)
The Indianapolis Colts today released their Thursday injury report for Week 12 of the NFL season ahead of their Sunday game against the Detroit Lions.
Left tackle Bernhard Raimann missed practice again today due to a knee injury. Raimann has now missed both practices this week and looks like a major doubt for Sunday’s game. Raimann looks increasingly likely to miss a second game in a row due to his knee injury. If he is unable to play then expect rookie tackle Matt Goncalves to take his place at left tackle again as he did last week against the New York Jets.
Defensive end Tyquan Lewis (elbow) was a full participant at practice again today. Lewis spoke to the media today and said he was unsure if he would return this week but two practices in and his chances are looking very positive.
Right tackle Braden Smith (foot) was a full participant today at practice despite being limited yesterday. Smith looks set to be available for Sunday’s game against the Lions despite the limited practice yesterday. Smith should be available barring any late changes in practice tomorrow.
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Corner back Kenny Moore (knee) and wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr (back) and Josh Downs (calf) were all full participants at practice today despite being listed with injuries. Moore and Downs are new additions to the injury report today after not being listed yesterday but both being able to practice fully doesn’t look like the injuries will affect their availability for Sunday.
On Thursday morning, ahead of the team’s Week 12 matchup with the Detroit Lions, the Indianapolis Colts announced a pair of practice squad moves.
The Colts will be bringing back a familiar face in offensive lineman Mark Glowinski and released cornerback Tre Flowers as the corresponding move in order to make room for this addition.
Glowinski is an experienced player, appearing in 124 career games, which includes 96 starts. He was with the Colts specifically from 2017-2021, along with also playing in Seattle from 2015-2017 and most recently with the New York Giants in 2022-2023.
Of Glowinski’s 124 NFL games, 59 came with the Indianapolis Colts.
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Glowinski has spent most of his NFL career playing right guard, but did spend some time at left guard with the Giants last season.
Most recently, he would go on to play 520 offensive snaps during the 2023 season, allowing six sacks and 17 pressures, although he graded out decently well as a run-blocker, according to PFF’s metrics.
The Colts are stockpiling offensive linemen on the practice squad, with Glowinski now the fifth member of that position group.
As of Thursday morning, left tackle Bernhard Raimann was on the Wednesday injury report as a non-participant as he still deals with a knee injury and right tackle Braden Smith was listed as a limited participant with a foot injury.
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