Another IndyNXT by Firestone double-header was on tap for this weekend’s event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The traditional event on Independence Day weekend was even more patriotic on account of America’s milestone anniversary on July 4. Cape Motorsports powered by ECR worked hard through heat and humidity, and came away with another podium trophy for their efforts.
At the beginning of the first race on Saturday afternoon, both Cape drivers were embroiled in tight battles through the first couple turns. Nikita Johnson was three wide at one point and held strong while powersliding around the outside of Turn 5. Matteo Nannini was in a battle of his own a little further back, and remained side by side for over half of the first lap through the track’s wild elevation changes.
There were three cautions that interrupted the action and both drivers gained and lost positions through the ensuing restarts. On the lap 15 restart, Johnson drafted past Josh Pierson, hung on the outside of Turn 4, and expertly swept back into seventh place. He defended well and held that spot for the remainder of the 35-lap event.
Nannini was side by side more often throughout the race, fighting hard in numerous midfield battles. The 22-year-old came out ahead in many of them, however, moving forward from 18th up to 14th by time the checkered flags flew.
With only one evening to recover from the physical battle against the temperatures, the cars were prepared for a second full race Sunday morning. Both drivers were more than prepared, and made much of their gains within the first couple laps of race 2.
Johnson started in fifth position, and used the same outside line in Turn 5 that he was familiar with from the day before to skip ahead to fourth straight away. On the second lap, the 18-year-old skillfully held his line as Alessandro de Tullio spun off course and came back on track in front of him. Johnson was pleased to take third position away in the process and kept the podium position all the way through the rest of the event.
Nannini fanned out wide at the green flag to take the racing three wide. Getting one of the best starts past the flag stand, Nannini gained two positions before the first couple turns were complete. He moved further forward towards the end of the race, and held off challenges from other drivers at the same time. Nannini finished in 12th, ahead from his starting position for the second straight day.
With Johnson securing his sixth podium of the season, he gained valuable points on the weekend and continues his streak of finishing inside the top seven for every race this year. He slipped down to third in the incredibly tight points battle, but is still well within fighting distance with five races left in the 2026 season.
Nikita Johnson:
Really happy that the Cape boys worked super hard. We started a little bit on the back foot, but the crew after yesterday, they worked extremely hard last night. They gave me a really good race car today, and I was able to go pick up a few positions. I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work and all their determination.
Consistency is where it’s at. That’s what wins championships. That’s what I learned from USF Pro, where ultimately we should have won that championship in ’24. I always try to get the max out of the car, but I’m not going to try to go overachieve and throw off a good points day. We take it race by race and try to maximize the results and the points.
Matteo Nannini:
I’m a bit disappointed this weekend. We had a few things happen that were out of my control, and qualifying did not go to plan, which set us back for both races. We were able to move forward a bit, but I know we have ability to fight at the front of the field.
What’s past is past, so time to look ahead to the next race at Nashville.
