Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador Callum Hedge has secured his first podium finish of the 2025 Indy NXT season at Laguna Seca. It was a strong showing across the double-header weekend in California.
Hedge came into the round in good form, having strung together four consecutive Top 7 finishes.
While he was still chasing a return to the Top 5 for the first time since Indianapolis back in May, his confidence was high, boosted by both his recent results and the strong pace he’d shown at Laguna Seca during preseason testing.
With the round being a double-header, Qualifying took on extra importance, setting the grid for both of the weekend’s 35-lap races. Hedge had two practice sessions to fine-tune things before it all got underway.
In Practice 1, he was quick out of the gate, firmly in the mix across the session and setting a best time of 1:15.4937 to finish sixth, three-quarters of a second off pace-setter Dennis Hauger.
He improved again in Practice 2, cutting into the deficit to the leaders with a 1:14.6709, just over half a second down on Caio Collet to go fifth overall, looking strong heading into Qualifying.
Drawn into Group 2 for Qualifying, the pressure was on to not only lay down one fast lap but two, as the second-best time sets the grid for Race 2.
Hedge delivered when it counted, spending much of the session in the Top 3. His fastest time of 1:13.5210 had him right in the hunt, with his second-best lap just two-tenths shy at 1:13.7659.
With both laps good enough for third in the group, Hedge would line up fifth on the grid for both races.
The opening race was chaotic from the outset. Starting from the inside of Row 3, Hedge drew alongside teammate Myles Rowe through the opening corners but was squeezed wide on the exit of Turn 3, costing him momentum and leaving him vulnerable into Turn 4.
That’s where Sebastian Murray attempted an ambitious move, spinning out in the process, thankfully without collecting Hedge.
Behind him, multiple cars were caught in the chaos, bringing out an early caution.
Racing resumed on Lap 5 with Hedge holding fifth, slotted in behind Rowe and ahead of Championship contender Lochie Hughes. He remained glued to the fight for the final podium spot, staying within a couple of seconds of Rowe and building a comfortable buffer to Hughes behind.
In the closing laps, Rowe edged away slightly, crossing the line just over three seconds ahead, with Hedge bringing it home in fifth, his best result since May.
Lining up from fifth again for Race 2, the opening stages once again saw drama. Several cars were caught up in incidents through the first few corners, but Hedge navigated the mayhem cleanly, holding his ground before another early caution.
Racing resumed on Lap 5 with Hedge tucked in behind Hughes and fending off Rowe and Max Taylor. He made a good restart and even attempted a move around the outside into Turn 1, but slotted back into line.
For the next dozen laps, Hedge kept Hughes within reach while defending well from Rowe. The race was then neutralised again after fellow Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador Liam Sceats made heavy contact with the wall at Turn 6, thankfully walking away from the incident.
Back to green on Lap 22, Rowe turned up the pressure, but Hedge held firm. However, just a few laps later, another crash brought out another yellow.
With nine laps to go, the race restarted, and this time, it all kicked off. At Turn 1, Rowe made a late dive up the inside of Hedge, with the pair making contact that sent Rowe spinning.
Just ahead, Hauger and Hughes collided and crashed out of third and fourth. The chaos brought out yet another caution, with Hedge now elevated to third behind Collet and Pierson.
When racing resumed with five laps left, Hedge made another great restart and challenged Pierson into Turn 1, but the American held his ground.
From there, the Kiwi managed the gap behind superbly, pulling clear of Max Taylor and crossing the line in third place to seal his first podium of the 2025 season!
It was a brilliant drive and a deserving reward for a season of steady progression.
His double Top 5 finishes also gave him a solid Championship boost, while he remains seventh overall, he’s now just 36 points off the Top 5 and under 100 points from third-placed Hughes.
Hedge now gets a well-earned week off before returning for the final road course of the season at Portland International Raceway.
With just three rounds remaining in the 2025 Indy NXT season, every point counts as Hedge looks to continue climbing the standings.
Header Image: Travis Hinkle | IMS Photo
