Photos and text from A. J. Foyt Racing
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 16, 2026) — AJ Foyt Racing has signed 2026 NTT INDYCAR Series Rookie of the Year Dennis Hauger to a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2027 season.
Hauger, 23, joins the team following his first season in the NTT INDYCAR Series and brings an impressive résumé for one of the youngest drivers in the paddock.
The Norwegian came to America in 2025 to compete in INDY NXT by Firestone and quickly made
himself known. Hauger won six races and the championship in his rookie season before moving up to INDYCAR in 2026, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors.
Hauger poses with his hardware after winning the FIA Formula 3 title in 2021.
Prior to racing in America, Hauger competed his way through the European open-wheel ranks. He was the Italian Formula 4 Champion in 2019 and the FIA Formula 3 Champion in 2021 before moving into Formula 2, where he won five races. Hauger was also a longtime member of the Red Bull Junior Team.
For Team President Larry Foyt, the combination of Hauger’s experience, youth and ability to adapt made him an attractive addition as Foyt continues to build for 2027 and beyond.
“Dennis has accomplished a lot for someone who is only 23,” said Foyt. “Every time he’s moved into something new, he’s adapted quickly and he’s won. Coming over here and winning in INDY NXT as a rookie certainly got everyone’s attention, and then we watched how he progressed through his rookie season in INDYCAR.
Hauger is looking forward to driving the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet in 2027.
“I’m really excited about it,” said Hauger. “Larry and I have had some very good conversations about the team and where they want to go. I’ve learned a lot in my first two years racing in America, but I still feel like there is a lot more for me to learn and accomplish in INDYCAR.
“This team has so much history in this sport, but what intrigues me even more was hearing about the future and what they’re building now. I want to work hard with everyone there and see how far we can take it.”
Hiring Hauger is an integral part of Foyt’s plan for the future of the team his father founded in 1965.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about where we want this team to go,” Foyt said. “We’re investing in our people, our technical side and our commercial program because we want to continue moving forward. Dennis is a big part of that plan.
“We’re fortunate to have partners like Hendricks Holding Company and Homes For Our Troops who believe in what we’re doing with the No. 14 program. They’ve given us the opportunity to keep building, and now it’s our job to make the most of it.”
Hauger will also be introduced to another important part of the No. 14 program when he makes his first public appearance with AJ Foyt Racing next month.
On October 2, Hauger will join the team at the GM Defense Valor & Velocity Gala at the GM Design Dome in Warren, Michigan, where the Homes For Our Troops Indy car will be on display. The evening supports the Medal of Honor Foundation and will bring together senior GM leadership, military leaders and members of the U.S. defense community.
Also attending will be Diane Hendricks and her daughter Konya Hendricks Schuh of Hendricks Holding Company, Inc., General (USA, Ret) Richard A. Cody, Chairman of the Board of Homes For Our Troops and President/CEO of Homes For Our Troops and Brigadier General, USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer.
The HFOT home is always single level and the doorways and rooms are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. There are many adaptations within the home to help Veterans rebuild their lives and regain their independence.
Homes For Our Troops builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. The organization has been represented throughout the season on Foyt’s No. 14 Chevrolet.
“I’ve been learning more about Homes For Our Troops and what the No. 14 HFOT.org car represents,” Hauger said. “It’s obviously much bigger than racing, and I’m looking forward to meeting General Cody, Diane and Konya and learning more about it. To have my first event with the team connected to Homes For Our Troops and supporting the Medal of Honor Foundation makes it a pretty special way to get started.”
The gala will give Hauger an opportunity to meet many of the people behind the No. 14 program before the focus turns toward preparing for his first season with Foyt.
Hauger’s signing is the first of additional announcements expected from AJ Foyt Racing regarding its 2027 driver lineup in the coming weeks.
For Larry Foyt, the goal behind all of the changes remains pretty simple.
“Dennis wants to win, and we want to win,” Foyt said. “That’s where everything starts.”
About Dennis Hauger
Dennis Hauger, born March 17, 2003, in Norway, is the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year and 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone Champion. His racing résumé includes the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship title, the 2019 Italian Formula 4 Championship title and five Formula 2 victories. A former member of the Red Bull Junior Team, Hauger moved his racing career to the United States in 2025.
About Homes For Our Troops (HFOT)
Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a publicly funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, enabling them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained life-altering injuries, including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent has gone directly to programs supporting Veterans. HFOT has built over 440 specially adapted custom homes nationwide, with 67 active projects and more than 1,800 additional Veterans who may qualify.
About Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. (HHC)
Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. (HHC) is a private holding company that invests in, and oversees diverse, financially strong, and sustainable companies. HHC supports its portfolio companies by providing resources to help them achieve their business goals and deliver best-in-class services.
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