Colin Kaminsky returned to the Indy NXT by Firestone grid in 2026 after a year away from full-time racing.
His comeback season has featured flashes of pace, but the results have not always followed. Speaking exclusively to Pit Debrief, Kaminsky reflected on his return to the series and what he can take away from 2026 so far.
Finding the positives in his Indy NXT comeback
Kaminsky has shown pace at several points throughout the season. However, putting together a complete weekend has proved more difficult.
“We had a couple of practices, like Detroit, St. Louis, Mid-Ohio and Nashville. We’ve had a couple practices or some sessions of some form where we’re top five.
“But yeah, and then just not have anything good. So I think we’re gonna have to make sure that we’re good. I feel like I can still hang my hat on certain results.
Road America was one of those weekends. Kaminsky started 18th and worked his way forward superbly before a crash ended his race in the closing laps.
“Even Road America, I was running super well until I crashed. It’s super dumb to shoot yourself in the foot, right? But at the same time, you’re not gonna look back on one year and be like, ‘Oh, well, I got P5 or P6 at Road America starting 18th, like yippee, that’s end-all, be-all,’ right?
“That would have been good and nice, but at the same time, it still would have only been one.”
Kaminsky returned to formula cars after spending time away competing in Porsche Carrera Cup and launching a family business. Meanwhile, many of his Indy NXT competitors had continued racing throughout that period.
“I do feel like, to sit out of a car for a long time and then realise, a lot of these kids are putting in three years in this car, or a couple years in F2 [like Enzo Fittipaldi], or a couple years in highly competitive formula series, and they’re doing it all the time.
“Whereas I didn’t get to do that the last year, two years in formula cars anyways. So I think there are glimmers or small little pieces of just competitiveness and still being relevant.
Those flashes have given Kaminsky something to take away from a season where the finishing results have not always reflected his pace. He is really pleased with the work ethic he has delivered this year.
“I can still be proud of the effort for sure. I put a lot more effort into this year, I feel like, than I have in other years prior, so that’s a positive.
“And again, just having times of being on the pace to show, ‘okay, you still got what it takes. When things go right, you still got good results in you.’
“There’s some things you gotta be positive about. You can’t be all negative. Honestly, I feel like the only negative things have been the results.”
Kaminsky always planned to return to racing
Kaminsky stepped away from full-time competition before making his Indy NXT comeback in 2026.
When asked whether he ever questioned returning to racing, Kaminsky said the uncertainty surrounded what his return would look like rather than whether it would happen.
“I definitely knew I’d always come back. I guess I didn’t know at what capacity.
“I do have a family company to be able to support me that can afford to go racing, so it was a little bit less of like, ‘Am I gonna get the opportunity?’
“I honestly didn’t know or think that I would be able to come back to NXT, so I’m super grateful for that. But I definitely knew we would be able to do something to be able to continue to race and try to find more opportunities.”
The question was never whether Kaminsky wanted to drive again. Instead, he had to determine what racing could look like in the years ahead.
“I definitely wanted to come back.
“I think, as I still ask that question myself about this year, next year, years after, right, like what do you want to do in life? I don’t think there’ll ever be a point where it’s like, ‘No, not for me.’
Kaminsky sees several paths that could allow him to continue racing beyond the traditional open-wheel ladder.
“There’s enough professional-level series out there, whether it’s like Trans Am, sports cars, you know, or anything… you can continue to just find series to run.
“As long as you still want to, I think you can, which I think is really cool. You don’t get that in other sports.
“I definitely have the drive to continue, yeah, to be back racing, for sure. You do have to have the drive.”
