Josef Nicolai Newgarden, born on December 22, 1990, in Nashville, Tennessee, is a prominent American professional racing driver competing in the NTT IndyCar Series.
Raised in Hendersonville, Tennessee, he was named Josef to honor his mother’s Danish heritage, a nod to the family’s roots that his parents brought with them when they relocated from Miami, Florida, in 1986 to establish their family photography business.
Newgarden has become one of the most successful American drivers in open-wheel racing, known for his aggressive driving style, particularly his mastery on oval tracks.
Off the track, he is a devoted family man, married to Ashley Newgarden since 2021, with whom he shares a son, Kota Nicolai, born in 2022.
The couple also adopted a dog named Axel in 2020 and actively support charities such as the Nashville Rescue Mission and Wags and Walks Nashville, raising nearly a million dollars through initiatives like his annual Smash for Charity Ping Pong Challenge.
Siblings
Josef has two older sisters, Josephine Newgarden and Kristina Newgarden.
Josephine, the eldest, and Kristina, the second-born, grew up alongside Josef in the supportive environment fostered by their parents, Joey and Tina Newgarden, in Tennessee.
While the sisters have largely stayed out of the public spotlight compared to their racing-star brother, they have played pivotal roles in family milestones, including a remarkable 20-month span in the early 2020s when all three siblings welcomed children of their own after getting married within three years of each other.
Career
Newgarden’s racing odyssey began at age 13 in 2004, when he dove into karting, quickly amassing titles at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana between 2006 and 2008, thanks to the tireless efforts of his father, Joey, who logged countless hours driving him to tracks.
Seeking broader horizons, Newgarden ventured to Europe in 2008, securing a spot on the USA Team Scholarship for the Formula Ford Festival, where he triumphed as the only American winner in its history, followed by a runner-up finish in the 2009 British Formula Ford Championship with nine victories.
His European stint continued into 2010 with the GP3 Series, where he notched a pole position before returning stateside to dominate the 2011 Indy Lights Series, clinching the championship with five wins and ten podiums in 14 races, lapping the field at New Hampshire in a standout performance.
This propelled him into the IndyCar Series in 2012 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, where early seasons brought podiums at Baltimore in 2013 and Iowa in 2014 amid growing pains.
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A pivotal merger formed CFH Racing in 2015, yielding his first two IndyCar wins at Barber Motorsports Park and Toronto, plus his inaugural pole at Milwaukee.
Joining the powerhouse Team Penske in 2017 marked his ascent, as he captured four victories—Barber, Toronto, Mid-Ohio, and Gateway—to secure the series title at age 26, the youngest champion since 2003 and the first American-born winner since 2012.
He defended his crown in 2019 with consistent excellence, including wins at Texas and Iowa.
The 2022 season saw a career-high five triumphs at Texas, Long Beach, Road America, Iowa, and Gateway, though he fell short of the championship.
In 2023, Newgarden etched his name in history by winning the Indianapolis 500 on his 12th attempt with a dramatic last-lap pass, followed by back-to-back Indy 500 victories in 2024—the sixth driver to achieve consecutive wins—alongside a season-opening pole-to-win at St. Petersburg and a fifth victory at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Diversifying in 2024, he co-drove Porsche Penske Motorsport to overall victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the team’s first since 1969, cementing his versatility across disciplines.
Entering 2025 as Team Penske’s No. 2 Dallara/Chevrolet driver, Newgarden boasts 31 career IndyCar wins, tying him for 10th all-time, with his record 282 laps led in a single race at Iowa in 2016 standing as a testament to his endurance and skill.
Accolades
Newgarden’s championship pedigree shines brightest with the 2011 Indy Lights title, which launched his professional career, followed by IndyCar Series championships in 2017 and 2019, where he became the first American-born titlist since 2012 and the youngest since Scott Dixon in 2003.
The pinnacle of his achievements came with consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories in 2023 and 2024, joining an exclusive club of just six drivers while tying Helio Castroneves and Paul Tracy for 10th on the all-time IndyCar wins list with 31 triumphs.
His oval prowess earned him the enduring nickname “The Oval King” after dominating nearly half of IndyCar’s oval races since 2019, including multiple wins at Iowa Speedway and Gateway.
Newgarden’s 18 career pole positions include his first at Milwaukee in 2015 and a second at the Milwaukee Mile in 2024, while his 2016 Iowa win set the series record for most laps led by a victor at 282.
Early recognition came via the 2013 Tony Renna Rising Star Award for embodying the spirit of the late driver, and he claimed the inaugural $1 million PeopleReady Force for Good Challenge in 2022 for charitable impact.
Beyond IndyCar, his 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona overall win made him the 16th driver to conquer both the Indy 500 and Daytona, and nominations for the 2018 and 2023 ESPY Best Driver Award highlight his broader acclaim.
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