Myles Rowe reached a major milestone in American motorsports at just 23 years old.

On September 2, 2023, Rowe won the Cooper Tires USF PRO 2000 championship. His victory made him the first Black driver to win an INDYCAR-sanctioned championship.

The Atlanta native entered the final race with a 64-point lead. He protected that advantage and secured the title at Portland International Raceway.

Rowe’s championship followed a standout season filled with strong performances. He recorded five wins, four pole positions, three fastest laps, and seven podium finishes.

Rowe’s numbers showed why he was able to capture the championship. He collected more wins than every other driver in the series.

His four pole positions also showed his speed during qualifying. Meanwhile, three fastest laps highlighted his ability during races.

Rowe added seven podium finishes throughout the season. That consistency helped him build a comfortable championship lead before the final race.

“This year was a test to see what I’ve got,” Rowe said. “And luckily, I was able to pull it off.”

The result was especially meaningful after his previous season. Rowe finished second in the 2022 USF 2000 championship.

He ended that season only six points behind the winner. That narrow loss helped set the stage for his championship run.

Rowe’s connection to racing began when he was just four years old. The Atlanta native developed an early fascination with motorsports.

That interest eventually grew into acompetitive racing career. By 2018, Rowe had already won the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series.

His progress continued through the USF racing ladder. The series provided an important pathway toward higher levels of professional motorsports.

Rowe also reached another important milestone in 2021. He became the first Black driver to win an INDYCAR-sanctioned race.

That victory came at New Jersey Motorsports Park. He won the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship race on August 29, 2021.

Rowe’s success is closely connected to Force Indy. The team was created to provide more opportunities for Black and brown talent.

Black Indianapolis business leader Rod Reid and Roger Penske announced the team in December 2020. The announcement came at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Force Indy formed under Penske Entertainment’s Race for Equality & Change initiative. The program aimed to create greater diversity within motorsports.

Reid described the team as a pipeline for talented people of color.

“I saw it as a pipeline to create opportunities for black and brown talent,” Reid said.

He also admitted that the championship arrivedsooner than he expected. Force Indy had won its first race less than two years earlier.

Rowe’s championship car carried meaning beyond the racetrack. His No. 99 USF Pro 2000 car paid tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen.

The car featured a red rear wing. Its design honored the Red-Tailed 99th Squadron.

The championship also continued Force Indy’s tribute to Dewey “Rajo Jack” Gatson. Gatson was a Black racer who was denied entry into the Indianapolis 500.

That history gave Rowe’s victory an added layer of meaning. His success connected past struggles with new opportunities in racing.

The No. 99 therefore represented more than a racing number. It carried a tribute to Black excellence in aviation and motorsports.

Winning the USF Pro 2000 championship also moved Rowe closer to the top levels. His title earned him a place in the INDY NXT by Firestone series.

He advanced to INDY NXT in 2024. The series sits directly below the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

That progression reflects the structure of the American open-wheel racing ladder. Drivers can develop through each level before reaching INDYCAR.

For Rowe, the championship provided another major step forward. It also gave Force Indy a powerful example of its development model.

The team continues to focus on drivers, crew members, and other motorsports professionals.

Rowe’s championship remains an importantpart of his racing career. It also stands out within the wider story of Black representation in motorsports.

Force Indy continues working toward greater diversity across the INDYCAR paddock. Its goal includes creating opportunities for people of color in different roles.

The team’s vision extends beyond drivers. It also includes crew members, leadership, and other racing professionals.

Rowe’s 2023 championship gave that mission a major boost. His performance showed what can happen when talented drivers receive opportunities to compete.

As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES prepares for its first race around Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, Rowe’s name remains part of that conversation.

His journey from a four-year-old racing fan to an INDYCAR-sanctioned champion continues to inspire the next generation.