Q: What’s your earliest car memory?
Nolan Allaer: One of the earliest things I can remember was my dad’s 2005 Mustang GT. I remember that being one of the first cool cars I really appreciated, and loved when we got to take it out. Sometimes he would even drive me to school in it! The powerful V8 sound and quickness of it is something I’ll always remember.
Q: Do you have a favorite ride, or a dream ride?
NA: Once you start driving race cars, it’s hard to compare. I’d say the newly announced Corvette ZR1. I’ve been in the C8 and it is pretty sensational, and the cockpit feels like a fighter jet. You can’t beat the power, sound and the feeling it gives. That new ZR1 is a street legal racecar!
Q: Tell us about your family history with racing; your dad, grandpa, and now you?
NA: It’s something I never really imagined I’d be talking about. Racing in my family started with my great grandfather who raced hydroplanes. He passed that love of speed down to my grandpa who did some boat racing, but mostly karting and then car racing. My uncle was then given the opportunity to race cars in the SCCA, and later, when my dad was given the opportunity, he actually did really well with it as well. He loves it more than anything else.
All four of us ultimately started at Waterford Hills; it’s been our home base. It’s where I got my novice license, and my dad got his there too. It’s really cool that that’s the track where I got my first experience in a race car. It was supposed to be a one time deal. It was actually a graduation gift from my parents in the summer of 2020 to go to driver’s school, and for me to drive my dad’s race car there. I had a bit of success in sim racing, so my parents thought I would like this opportunity. After those two days of school, I ended up being two tenths of a second off of my dad’s track record there, and that’s when they said we should maybe look into doing this.
We did an SCCA Regional and it went really well. So then we did another one. Soon enough, I did the SCCA National Series, and SCCA Runoffs. Simultaneously, I was going to college, and every time I’d get into a race car I thought it might be my last opportunity. And then I’d get a call saying, “…let’s try this event”, and I’d do it and it would go really well.
In 2022, I signed my first contract to run the SCCA Pro Series with Team Pelfrey and F1600 (Formula Ford). That season went very well, I was the highest finishing rookie and only rookie to take a race win. We took two wins that year and nine podiums, and I finished fourth in the championship. In 2023, the opportunity presented itself to race in England in the British Formula Ford series, which is known for being incredibly competitive with really good track time. I finished sixth overall in those standings, but the big highlight for me was winning a heat race in the prestigious Formula Ford Festival. Along with an idol of mine Josef Newgarden, I became only the fourth American ever to accomplish that.
Everywhere you looked was something new, exciting and cool, and you just wanted to stand and admire each one for 30 minutes, but you couldn’t because you’d miss the rest!
Q: What about 2024?
NA: I originally thought about staying in England and racing the GB3 (British Formula 3) Series, but got an opportunity to test in INDY NXT and ultimately, that went pretty well and we decided to go that route. We had an incredible year of progress and learning with HMD Motorsports. Our data showed improvements in performance during every weekend, and by the end of the year we were consistently fighting for top 10s. Now we’re signed for another season of INDY NXT in 2025, and I can’t be happier that we went this route for 2024.
Q: Last year was the first Detroit Grand Prix you raced in. How was that experience?
NA: It’s something I grew up hearing about and watching on TV. The track is less than 10 miles from the house I grew up in. An incredibly iconic event in INDYCAR racing, and now it’s racing through the streets of the Motor City. Being able to do 173 miles an hour down Jefferson is something you never think you’d be able to do. As a race driver, and someone from this city, it just means that much more to me. Bringing three iconic Detroit sponsors to the Grand Prix – National Coney Island, Faygo, and the Detroit Lions – made it all the more significant to us.
Q: Have you ever gone to the Detroit Auto Show while growing up?
NA: Oh yeah. My grandpa, dad and I went many years and we try to go whenever we can. One of the most memorable things was just the scale of it; I couldn’t believe how big it was. It blew me away that there were that many cars, and each was unique and had its own story. Everywhere you looked was something new, exciting and cool, and you just wanted to stand and admire each one for 30 minutes, but you couldn’t because you’d miss the rest!
Q: What’s in the future for you?
NA: My dream is to keep racing professionally. With last year being my first in professional motorsport, I now know I want to spend the rest of my life competing. I’m working hard to make it to the top level of INDYCAR, and to fight for wins and championships.
I’d also love to build a relationship with one of the big three auto companies in Detroit. I’ve always thought it would be incredible to be one of their test drivers – a person that gets a ‘Super License’ that allows you to test the prototype cars you see at the auto show. I’m in my final year of mechanical engineering at Miami University, and a degree like that will help me in many ways. In a race car, my communication with my engineers will be much smoother as we can speak the same language. Of course, in the automotive world, my degree and experience would put me in a great position to accomplish my goals.
My Cause:
Q: Are there any organizations or causes that are important to you?
NA: My family has been very involved for years with Leader Dogs for the Blind. We’ve raised two leader dogs, and my mom regularly volunteers there as well. Also, the Run, Walk, and Roll here in Grosse Pointe also does incredible work and I love their cause.