​INDIANAPOLIS – Bloomington native Nathan Nicholson began racing due to his love of the Indianapolis 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So it was only right for the first win of his professional career to come at the Racing Capital of the World.Nicholson won Sunday’s Mazda MX-5 Cup race at IMSA’s Battle on the Bricks after placing second in the first race of the weekend Saturday. After a series of podium finishes since he debuted in the Mazda MX-5 Cup in 2024, the Advanced Autosports driver finally broke through to win the 45-minute race.”This place has meant so much to my career and who I’ve become as a person throughout my life, and dreaming to be ambitious and go after my goals,” Nicholson told IndyStar. “So to get my first win here just influences that even more. And I can’t wait to see what comes after this.”Nicholson, 20, first came to IMS for the 2012 Indy 500 – which was on his 6th birthday. Since then, he and his father Don have gone to the race every year. Because he was racing at IMS, Nicholson spent the whole week drinking whole milk in hopes that it would bring him luck.”I’m a true Hoosier through and through,” Nicholson said. “Coming here with my dad – and this being such a special moment – just makes it 10 times more special.”This year, Nicholson made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he’s started four races. With one race weekend left in the season, Nicholson is working to continue climbing the racing ranks, and this win could go a long way.”I’m really excited to see what comes after this,” he said. “I’ve been working on a lot of stuff for next year, taking the next step in my career. It’s awesome to get the first one here and hopefully that attention can skyrocket things.”Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ‘True Hoosier’ Nathan Nicholson wins Mazda race at IMS