Josef Newgarden, an American racing driver who races the No. 2 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet in the IndyCar Series, is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner in 2023 and 2024.
He credits his success to his supportive parents, Joey and Tina Newgarden, who understand the challenges and risks of racing.
Highlights
- Josef Newgarden is the youngest son of Joey and Tina Newgarden and grew up with his two sisters.
- His parents homeschooled him when he displayed high energy and creativity in school, which sometimes clashed with traditional classroom settings.
- His close bond and shared passion with his father laid the foundation for his legendary racing career.
Josef Nicolai Newgarden’s first race vehicle was a motorized scooter purchased at a skate shop, and he began competing in events across the country in 2001.
He began competitive kart racing at a young age and focused on local and regional championships to stay efficient with funding rather than competing nationally.
He secured two championships in the KRA Junior Can division and repeated as the TAG World Champion in the junior division in 2006. Likewise, he won the 200-mile endurance race twice.
Josef started his open-wheel car career in the Skip Barber Racing School series in 2006 and became the only American to secure the Formula Ford Festival title.
He won his first Indy Lights race in the season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg at the start of 2011 and was announced as the driver for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.
Similarly, he became the 2017 and 2019 IndyCar Series Champion.
During the 2025 Indy 500 qualifying, Newgarden and Will Power failed inspection due to modified attenuators. Their strategists were initially suspended, and the team lost qualifying points.
It looks like some fuel pressure issues, so I’m not sure. It’s some kind of anomaly or something we’ve never seen before. It’s just unfortunate for the whole group. It’s a team sport, which that very much shows it. You guys were definitely right on pace for what you had to do today to have a shot to make history.
Josef Newgarden
Josef Newgarden’s Parents Fueled A Champion
Josef Nicolai Newgarden, the son of Joey Newgarden and Tina Newgarden, was born on December 22, 1990, in Nashville, Tennessee.
His parents named him “Josef” to honor his mother’s Danish heritage and raised him alongside his two sisters.
Joey and Tina are the strong pillars of support who played pivotal roles in shaping Josef’s career and personal development.
Josef grew up in a family that valued hard work, creativity, and passion for sports. His parents, originally from Miami, Florida, relocated to Tennessee in 1986 with their family photography business.
Tina’s Danish descent allowed the racer to obtain a Danish passport, which later proved helpful in racing opportunities in Europe.
She recognized early on that her son had a unique spark. Josef displayed high energy and creativity in school, which sometimes clashed with traditional classroom settings.
After teachers noted his animated personality, Tina and Joey decided to homeschool Josef, believing it would provide him with the best environment for thriving.
Eventually, he returned to public school for seventh and eighth grade, where he continued to showcase his physical talents.
Meanwhile, Joey is an avid motorsports fan, introducing Josef to NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1 at an early age. These shared moments watching races on TV ignited Josef’s passion for racing.
He’s just a very distinct human being. But he has an amazing talent for optimism, and that can’t be understated how he’s given that to me. I can be a very realistic and pragmatic person. Those don’t always line up, having extreme optimism and trying to be realistic about something and see all scenarios. I think I’m able to be both now. I try to see things truly for what they are, and I don’t overreach. But I also have ultimate belief that anything can happen and anything is possible. My dad embodied that from the very beginning.
Josef Newgarden
Moreover, Joey has had a successful career in business, holding executive roles in various companies. In 1973, he served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nationwide Studios, and by 2010, he took on a similar role at Newgy Industries.
Since May 2004, he has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gen3 Solutions, a company specializing in business consulting and operational solutions.
Beyond his professional life, his enthusiasm for racing helped foster Josef’s early interest, leading to karting and professional open-wheel racing.
Recognizing Josef’s potential, his parents fully supported his transition from multi-sport athlete to dedicated racer.
Josef Newgarden Shares A Close Bond With His Father
Josef Newgarden’s journey to becoming a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion was shaped by the unwavering support and motivation of his father, Joey.
Their close bond, built on trust, encouragement, and shared passion, laid the foundation for his legendary racing career.
Josef was just a young boy playing baseball, fueled by his father’s playful incentives.
Joey knew how to motivate his son by offering a special reward after a game: a hot dog and a Pokémon toy.
These small but meaningful rewards taught Josef the value of hard work and dedication. However, by the time he finished eighth grade, his interests began shifting toward racing.
Joey didn’t immediately say yes when Josef expressed his desire to race go-karts. Instead, he made a deal with his son that he could pursue karting if he put more effort on the basketball court and baseball diamond.
However, Josef faced a physical disadvantage and competed against much larger athletes. Then, he approached his father and decided to pursue a career in racing.
Joey supported his decision without hesitation, and their racing journey began at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana.
In 2005 and 2006 alone, Joey and Josef made 23 round trips per year, competing in regional and national races. The hours spent on the road were filled with conversations, lessons, and an unbreakable bond forming between them.
Looking back, those karting days were more than just the beginning of a racing career; they defined their relationship.
Joey’s dedication to his son’s dream, from hauling karts across state lines to offering simple rewards for hard work, set the stage for Josef’s future success.
It was very important. I’ve had the great fortune of being supported by my parents. My Dad was very supportive and so was my mom. I treasure the times getting to ride up here with my dad and drive go-karts. It’s all I wanted to do as a kid.
Josef Newgarden
I got to bond with my Dad going to the track. I bonded with my Mom; she came a lot of times. I’m a lucky guy. I had really, really, really good parents.
To me, it was a dream. To be here at the Indianapolis 500 is very surreal, still.
Additional Information
- Josef Newgarden engaged his longtime girlfriend, Ashley Welch, on a trip to Japan and married in the fall of 2019 in Nashville.
- He has a son, Kota Nicholai Newgarden, born in April 2022.
- He is a gamer who has been a brand ambassador for the Microsoft title Forza Motorsport 7.
- As of 2025, his net worth is estimated at $5 million.
