By: Ashley McCubbin

Juncos Hollinger Racing will be returning to Indy NXT competition for the 2023 campaign, with a familiar face behind the wheel as Reece Gold makes the jump up after placing second in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires standings. The American recently shared his thoughts with NEWS FROM THE PITS.

What are your thoughts going into the 2023 season?

I’m super excited to continue my time with Juncos-Hollinger Racing – my first season in Indy NXT, and their first season back in Indy NXT. The field looks really competitive and I’m super excited to continue with my team. Everyone I’ve been working with the past few years, I’m really looking forward to it.

What are your goals for this year knowing it’s your rookie campaign?

As a racecar driver, you always want to win. But I think it’s my rookie campaign so I definitely set realistic goals but I’d love to just be fighting for podiums and wins, and be on pace, and do my best, and give the team what they deserve and what they give me in return.

What track are you most looking forward to on the schedule?

Probably Laguna Seca. I love just the track, the history, the whole city is awesome.

What is one thing you feel you could’ve done better last year to make your Indy Pro 2000 Championship season better?

I think overall it was pretty successful. I think certain races I just lacked, missed the pace and set-up, and I think those two weekends cost us. But overall, it was a pretty good season. I think there were some small mistakes on my end that I could’ve fixed.

How did you get started in racing?

I started when I was five-years-old. My dad bought me a go-kart. I hopped in it and drove around the neighborhood. From there, I moved up the ranks.

What’s been the most memorable moment in racing so far for you?

That’s hard. There are a lot of memorable moments. I’d say one of them has to be my first win on the Road to Indy at Indianapolis (Motor Speedway). (It’s) just an awesome place to get your first win at the speedway. That’s definitely one of them.

What would it mean to you one day if you were able to race in the NTT IndyCar Series?

That would be – I’ve been racing since I was five and it’s always been a dream of mine. So that’d be absolutely amazing to drive an IndyCar.

Now is there anything out there besides open-wheel that you’d love to get behind the wheel of?

I’ve always liked SportsCars and I’ve been able to drive a few, but I’d love to be able to do LeMans or Daytona. That’s definitely a bucket list race right there.

Lastly, what would be one piece of advice for the next racer out there hoping to get to where you are?

That’s hard. There’s a lot of factors that go into racing. But I think just stay focused, give it your all, and if you really give it your hardest, you can make it professionally.