At just 12 years old, Jerome Wickham, a 6th-grade student at Bellefontaine Middle School, is racing his way toward his dream of becoming a professional IndyCar driver.
Racing under the team name 12³ Motorsports, Wickham is gearing up for the 2025 season, with the first championship race set to take place on March 30th at New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana.
Before that, he will compete in a season warm-up race at Big Machine Kartway in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 22nd.
Wickham has been racing go-karts for the past two years at both the local and national level.
He currently races a 9-horsepower road racing kart capable of reaching speeds of 60 mph.
In his first two seasons, he secured multiple top-five finishes and placed in the top 10 in the championship standings.
In the final race of 2024, he was on track to claim his first-ever race win, leading the race for the last four laps before being forced off course in the final moments.
Despite this setback, Wickham remains determined to improve and is hopeful for success in the upcoming season.
Wickham’s journey is all the more remarkable considering the health challenges he faces.
He was born with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), a rare genetic metabolic bone disease that affects his bone health.
Despite this, Wickham has become an advocate for XLH, raising awareness about the condition by attending events with his family and connecting with others who share similar experiences.
Wickham’s perseverance and passion for racing serve as an inspiration to those who face similar challenges.
In addition to racing, Wickham is a gifted student with aspirations to earn an engineering degree, ideally focusing on aerospace or auto racing.
During the off-season, he participates in VEX V5 robotics competitions, furthering his interest in engineering.
The 12³ Motorsports 2025 racing season will consist of 18 races across five states.
Wickham’s goal for this year is to secure his first race victory and finish in the top five of the championship standings.
“In my first two seasons, I have had many shining moments, but this season I plan to shine when it matters, at the checkered flag!” Wickham said confidently.
As he races toward his dreams, Jerome Wickham is proving that with passion, determination, and support from his community, even the youngest dreamers can achieve big things.
