Evagoras Papasavvas, a young racing talent born on Christmas Day in 2007, is quickly making a name for himself in INDY NXT by Firestone.

Although originally from Washington, he proudly calls Ohio home, fitting given his deep connection to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a track for which he’s familiar and fond.

At just 17 years old, Papasavvas received a major career opportunity when he tested with HMD Motorsports on April 22 at Mid-Ohio. That test came on the heels of German driver Sophia Floersch parting ways with the team after the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, creating an unexpected opening in the INDY NXT by Firestone lineup.

Papasavvas impressed during his test, earning a chance to drive the No. 24 car in subsequent INDY NXT races at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday, May 4 and during the May 9-10 doubleheader on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

“I really do like that track a lot,” Papasavvas said of Mid-Ohio. “I've had good success there. To have my first test in the INDY NXT car at Mid-Ohio was even more fitting. It was even better. I'm very comfortable with that track. That's the reason why I'm here, and it's the reason why I was at Barber. Just really thankful, and this is what ended up because of all that.”

Papasavvas' rapid rise through the ranks of American open-wheel racing is a testament to his talent, resilience and deep-rooted passion for the sport.

After spending three successful seasons in the USF2000 Championship with Jay Howard Driver Development, where he earned three victories and back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the championship standings (2023-24), Papasavvas made an extraordinary leap. Skipping the traditional step of USF Pro 2000, he vaulted straight into INDY NXT, a rare move. But instead of merely surviving, he thrived.

In his INDY NXT debut weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, Papasavvas qualified third and finished a remarkable second.

“I say that it (INDY NXT car) has fit my driving style quite well,” he said. “With these higher-downforce cars, I feel like it's really nice to be able to throw the car into the corner, and it can stick ... transferring those (USF2000) skills. It was really, really useful.”

That smooth transition stems in part from a deep foundation laid early by his father, Nektarios Papasavvas, who raced in SCCA club-level competition and introduced Evagoras to karting at just 3 years old.

“When I sat in the go-kart, I fell in love with it instantly,” he said. “And I was like, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’ In karting when I first started, that’s all I had was really him (father). He was my mechanic, my engineer, my driver coach — he was everything.”

But the road has not been without hardship. In late 2021, Papasavvas suffered a traumatic brain injury in a frightening karting crash, which required brain surgery and sidelined him for six months.

“It was the worst six months of my life, not driving ... just what I feel like I was born to do,” he said. “To now be back here, where I believe I belong, it really means a lot.”

Rather than derailing his dreams, the setback intensified his drive. With the help of his family and key sponsors, including Body Wise International, which supports his physical health, and Ares Elite Sports Vision, which helped sharpen his neurocognitive function, Papasavvas returned stronger and more focused.

He faced fresh challenges in the INDY NXT doubleheader at the IMS road course, finishing 10th and 13th in races marred by a car setup to which he struggled to adapt. Yet, even amid adversity, he remained grounded.

“That’s how racing is,” he said. “We got ups and downs all the time, and it’s all about how you handle those lows. That’s what makes you who you are.”

Papasavvas' journey from a 3-year-old in a kart to a teenage INDY NXT standout is already inspiring. With his combination of raw talent, family support, and mental resilience, sharpened through hardship — he’s firmly on a trajectory toward the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

"I believe I belong," he said.