Hauger Clinches INDY NXT Title at Milwaukee
Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
Given the season he had coming into Sunday’s race at the Milwaukee Mile, it wasn’t a surprise that Dennis Hauger wrapped up the INDY NXT by Firestone season championship. All he had to do was finish one position better than HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet to claim the title. With a second-place finish to Andretti Global teammate Salvador de Alba, Hauger is the first driver since Kyle Kirkwood to win the championship in his first season in the series.
Hauger’s stats for the year show how dominant he really was, scoring six wins, seven poles, 10 podium finishes, 11 top fives, 12 top 10s with one race remaining on the 2025 calendar.
“It's incredible obviously,” said Hauger. “As a rookie this year, I didn't really know what to expect. I had a great team, Andretti, behind me, pushing me, making me build up the confidence throughout the pre-season.
“From the first round we've been on it, winning a lot of races. We could have won more. Always nice. The season's just been incredible. I'm super happy and proud to be a part of Andretti, to get the championship for us.”
Hauger has won on road and street courses this season, but has yet to triumph on an oval. While he came up one position short at Milwaukee, he’ll have another chance next weekend at Nashville Superspeedway to check that box.
“Yeah, that was the goal,” said Hauger. “But we knew the big picture was sort of the priority, and that was the championship.
“Salvador didn't have much to lose. We made a mistake. Congrats to him for that. I wish him nothing but the best. He's a really nice guy. He does a good job on the ovals.
“Yeah, I was hoping it would come, but we still got one more round to go. We'll try to get it next week.”
Paul Hurley/Penske Entertainment
The first driver from Norway to win the title, Hauger admitted there was some relief in wrapping up the championship at Milwaukee, given that he doesn’t have much experience on ovals.
“Yeah, especially the last two races was going to be oval. Obviously, the places I have the least experience. I wasn't sure how it was going to be going into this weekend, but I knew Andretti had been great here in the past, and they have good cars. It was just about staying calm and doing what we've been doing all year.
“In the end we got a 1-2-3 for the team. It's been a great weekend, great way to end the championship. We still got one more round to go, so more experience for me on ovals. We can go into that weekend with a bit more relaxed shoulders. But we'll still fight for wins. That will be still the goal.”
While ovals remain Hauger’s biggest challenge, it’s one he’s definitely up for.
“Yeah, it's been a really cool experience this year. Like, in the pre-season, watching ovals, just seeing how it looks, you never know really what to expect before you get on track.
“I remember the first time I went out in Nashville in the first test day, it's like, Whoa, I feel like a Super Hero driving in a circle (smiling). It can be the coolest thing, craziest thing and the most scary thing, as well.
“Yeah, it's been really cool part of the year to go to so many different type of tracks has been a really cool part of this championship for me. Yeah, great learning curve and something completely new.”
Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
Along with the championship trophy, the 22-year-old former Formula 2 driver will receive a scholarship to apply to the next level, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The $850,000 can cover costs such as the Indianapolis 500 Open Test and Rookie Orientation Program, and an entry for the Indy 500 and one additional IndyCar race in the following season.
“Yeah, obviously it's vital to get to the next step,” commented Hauger. “Clinching the championship was an important part of that. We'll see how we get on in the off-season now. All I can do now and focus on Nashville, try to get a good result for the team again.
“But yeah, obviously it helps. I hope it will help going forward.”
While he couldn’t envision becoming champion ten months ago when he joined the team, Hauger said that’s always the goal at Andretti Global.
“Yeah, it was not in my mind yet at that point. Obviously, the goal became clearer and clearer throughout the season. We just kept working hard as a team, just going into every race weekend with the same mindset. It's been a great year. I'm really happy about it obviously.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.