IndyCar community react as Josef Newgarden welcomes second child

Team Penske star Josef Newgarden and his wife, Ashley, announced the second pregnancy after the 2025 IndyCar season ended. The two-time Indy 500 winner and his wife took to Instagram on December 22 and shared the first image of their second child. The IndyCar community took to the comment section as congratulations were in order.

Josef Newgarden and Ashley got engaged in 2018 and tied the knot a year later. The duo welcomed their first child, Kota, in April 2022, with the three-year-old often making appearances in the paddock, including the 2024 Indy 500, where Newgarden became the first back-to-back winner of the iconic race in 22 years.

In October 2025, Josef Newgarden took to Instagram and uploaded a post, sharing highlights from the offseason. On one of the slides of the post was his wife revealing her baby bump. Ashley Newgarden took to the comments section of the post and suggested she was in the bulking season. The delivery date of the second child was unknown.

Ashley Newgarden took to Instagram and uploaded a photo as she confirmed the arrival of her second child. Josef Newgarden was tagged as a collaborator on the post, as the caption read,

“Our world just got a little brighter ❤️”

The image was of their son, Kota, admiring his newborn sibling in his lap, with his mother, Ashley, and father, Josef, on either side. The Newgarden family hasn't yet revealed the name of the second child.

The IndyCar community took to the comments section and congratulated Josef Newgarden and Ashley.

“Congratulations!” commented Newgarden's 2026 teammate David Malukas Four time IndyCar champion Alex Palou wrote, “Congratulations!!!!😍” “Congratulations 🥰🥰” commented Marcus Ericsson

Image credits: Instagram/@ashleynewgarden

It wasn't only the drivers but also the wives and girlfriends of the drivers who congratulated Josef and Ashley on their second child.

Scott Dixon’s wife Emma Davies Dixon commented, “Congratulations!! Such a beautiful photo 🥹❤️” Marco Andretti’s fiance Billie Jo Powers commented, “So happy for you all!!! What a blessing!!!!” “What a beautiful moment. Congratulations!!!” commented motorsport reporter Jamie Little

Image credits: Instagram/@ashleynewgarden

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Joey Newgarden revealed how a Pokémon toy and a hot dog were all the motivation a young Josef Newgarden needed

Josef Newgarden is a two-time IndyCar champion and a two-time Indy 500 winner. The Team Penske star's father, Joey, came out before the 2025 Indy 500 and revealed how he got his son to push the limit when Josef was a child.

“Starting out from when he was 4 or 5 years old, he started with the discipline that it took to show up for every practice, every practice and every game, and you're tired or you don't want to do it. I would tell him, ‘We're going to go and do this, and you give me a bunch of effort. We're going to go get that Pokémon toy. We're going to get you a hot dog afterwards.’” said Joey Newgarden (via FOX Sports) “That’s what the motivation was for him to get through and really make a big effort because little 4 and 5-year-old kids don’t have a high level of concentration at that point,” he added

Josef Newgarden continues to share the same love for a hot dog. The Team Penske star attempted the three-peat at the 2025 Indy 500, but his progress was derailed following a fuel system issue.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi