Better Late Than Never for Newgarden at Nashville
James Black/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
In a year where it appeared that nothing went right, Team Penske and driver Josef Newgarden took a win in the final race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at Nashville Superspeedway.
It was the first win of the season for the two-time series champion and the 32nd of Newgarden’s career, tying him for ninth all-time with Al Unser, Jr.
Newgarden winning a race seemed like a normal thing - until this year. But despite the crazy year, the driver of the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet seemed to take Sunday’s win in stride.
“It doesn't feel that different,” said Newgarden. “Nothing went diabolically wrong. I tried to throw it in the bin there in the final pit stop. On the edge, but not over it.
“Like a meteor didn't come out of the sky today, which was nice. Other than that, it felt like a normal day in a lot of respects. It was not an easy race. I did not have the car where I wanted it at the start right away. I'm like, Okay, we're nowhere where we need to be, let's be patient.
“We just did our thing like we always do: assessed everybody, hung there, went when we needed to go. We got the car in a really good spot in the end. I was like, Now we have a race-winning car. Let's close the deal.
“That whole sequence felt very normal to me. Just proud of the team. More than anything, when I show up and I'm ready to see the team rewarded for the effort. I really mean that. You have no idea what goes on. Some of you guys do know what goes on.
“It is grueling to get to these races and to get through the weekend, put a car on the track that's capable of winning, hitting all your marks every second of the race. It's just so difficult to do.
“To get that reward for the team... We had it in Portland, which was great for everybody. We had it today. That's probably the highlight for me, just to see everybody rewarded for the effort and what they put in the end.”
Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
While Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot isn’t the Indianapolis 500, winning at home ranked pretty high for the Nashville native.
“Oh, definitely up there,” declared Newgarden. “This was a hard race to win today. There was no gimmes. Got such depth across the board, everybody is so close as far as the competitive landscape, it's just hard to find an advantage on anyone nowadays. This was a hard race to win.
“It's satisfying when you win a race in this environment. Then to win it at my hometown was really gratifying. I mean, I used to come here when was 12, 13 years old and I would watch stock car races, INDYCAR races. I'd watch anything that came here. I sat in those stands, wherever I was able to go at the end of the race. Had no idea that I would have a racing career at that point in my life.
“It's cool to come full circle and to be so close to home. I love being here in Nashville, too, for the season finale. I like it for INDYCAR. It's a great destination for us. Good for Nashville and certainly good for the series. I think we should continue that tradition.
“I love this track. Whether it's here, somewhere else in the future, as long as we're in the Nashville vicinity, I'm going to be a happy guy.”
Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
As far as what his final race of the season means for Newgarden heading to 2026, he says it makes no difference.
“Honestly, I think it's probably more a team question. This season, tough year on the team. I think the schedule was tough this year. Everybody just kept working, kept their head down, kept doing their jobs. If anything, that's what's gratifying I think for us as a unit. It definitely can send us into the off-season and we can go to work.
“At the end of the day we need to go to work. We need to have a better 2026, and we're ready to do that.”
Does Newgarden’s win change the way he looks back at 2025?
“Boy, that's a good question.
“I don't know. No. I mean, probably not, if I really think about it. Mostly because I've seen the win potential in this team all year, I mean, so many different times. Whether it's Indianapolis or it's a place like Long Beach or St. Petersburg. Actually, I think the glaring weak point for us right now is road courses. But there's been a lot of strength across the calendar.
“This win, it's not even like it's validation. I saw the potential of it all year for the group. I don't really feel differently about it being realized. I'm just happy for everybody. Happy that they're able to enjoy it.”
Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
Salvaging his season with a win at home, Newgarden claimed he didn’t take an extra moment to savor his win.
“Not yet. I'm ready to go home.”
With the season now over, and a second child on the way, Newgarden admits to looking forward to not racing and just being a husband and father again.
“Yeah, I mean, candidly I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to go away and start to miss it again. Sometimes that's what you want, is to miss something. That's my plan.”
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.