2025 INDY NXT in Review: Reflecting on Dennis Hauger’s Championship-Winning Season with Andretti Global
The 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season was one to remember for the Andretti Global INDY NXT team, as rookie driver Dennis Hauger captured the team’s seventh Championship title and etched his name in the team’s history books for recording one of the most successful INDY NXT seasons the program has seen.
The 23-year-old Norwegian made the transition from the European racing ranks to take on North American open-wheel racing at the end of 2024, when Hauger signed with the Andretti INDY NXT team. Within his first few laps on American soil, Hauger began turning heads as he topped the charts during pre-season testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Sebring International Raceway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Hauger then carried positive momentum into the 2025 INDY NXT season when it came time to make his racing debut at the season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. He impressed the field by leading Practice 1, capturing the pole position and securing the victory, becoming the first INDY NXT driver to win a race in their debut since 2021.
From that point forward, Hauger made several more appearances on the top step of the podium, collecting victories at Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Streets of Detroit, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Portland International Raceway. In addition to these six victories, Hauger collected seven pole positions, five additional podium finishes and led 301 laps across his rookie season. The No. 28 driver also broke several on-track records, recording the fastest qualifying laps in track history on the Streets of Detroit, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Milwaukee Mile. Amongst these season highlights, Hauger also captured a historic milestone for Andretti Global, as his victory in Mid-Ohio marked the team’s 300th win across all series the team competes in up to that day.
With these impressive stats, broken records and historic moments collected by Hauger, he had one goal on the forefront of his mind: becoming the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone Champion. As the end of the season was nearing, and the Championship battle was heating up, Hauger maintained his focus and managed to clinch the Championship title at the penultimate race of the season at The Milwaukee Mile, repeating what last year’s Champion and current NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver, Louis Foster, did with the Andretti Global team in 2024. Following one of the more successful rookie seasons in INDY NXT history, Dennis Hauger ended 2025 by collecting the second consecutive and seventh total INDY NXT Championship for the Andretti Global INDY NXT team.
“I’m proud to wrap up 2025 as Champion,” said the Norwegian driver. “From the very first race, we were on it, winning races and consistently at the front. It wasn’t always easy, but the team worked so hard to prepare every weekend like it was the last, and that’s what I’m most proud of. Huge thanks to Andretti for making me look good out there and giving me everything I needed to succeed. Winning my first Championship means everything.”
Looking ahead, Hauger’s future remains bright, as it was recently announced that he has secured a seat in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Dale Coyne Racing in 2026, with the technical support of Andretti Global. Drivers like Dennis exemplify the commitment, skill and determination that Andretti Global, a TWG Motorsports team, strives to execute on and off the track. That is made clear through the team’s INDY NXT program, as year after year, they continue to help young drivers further their careers and supply them with the resources they need to hone their skills and experience enough to get one step closer to moving up to the INDYCAR SERIES.
