Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the five biggest moments of 2025 in INDY NXT by Firestone in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 27-31.

Dennis Hauger capped a remarkable debut season by clinching the INDY NXT by Firestone championship Aug. 24 at the Milwaukee Mile.

He became the first rookie since Kyle Kirkwood in 2021 to capture the title.

Hauger, a Norwegian, secured the crown one race early with a poised runner-up finish, a fitting conclusion to a season defined by speed, maturity and consistency.

Driving the No. 28 Nammo Dallara for Andretti Global, Hauger amassed six wins in 14 races, 11 podium finishes, 13 top-fives and 301 laps led -- a level of performance that established him as the benchmark from the opening round.

“As a rookie this year, I didn't really know what to expect,” Hauger said. “I had a great team behind me, pushing me, helping me build confidence. From the first round, we were on it. The season was incredible.”

Clinching the title before the finale provided a welcome exhale, especially with two oval races closing the schedule, an entirely new discipline for Hauger when he arrived in the U.S. His closest challenger, Caio Collet, entered his second INDY NXT season after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 and carried more oval experience. That dynamic made Hauger’s calm, calculated drive at Milwaukee even more impressive.

Hauger arrived in INDY NXT with one of the most decorated junior formula résumés in the field. After rising through karting, he finished fourth in British F4 in 2018 before winning the Italian F4 title and placing second in ADAC F4 in 2019. His breakout came in 2021, when he captured the FIA Formula 3 Championship with four wins and nine podiums. Three subsequent seasons in Formula 2 produced five wins and 13 podiums, while he also spent six years as a Red Bull Junior Driver and served as Red Bull’s Formula One reserve driver in 2022-23.

Despite that pedigree, Hauger shifted his career to North America to learn new tracks and compete in a less pressurized environment. The move paid immediate dividends. He opened the season with back-to-back poles and wins at St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park -- circuits he had never raced -- leading all 79 laps across the two events. He won four of the first five races, setting a commanding early tone.

Over the final eight races, he added two more victories and four runner-up finishes to hold off Collet and secure Andretti Global’s seventh INDY NXT championship. Team manager Don Lambert likened Hauger to past standout rookies, viewing him as a special talent destined for success at the next level.

Hauger will compete as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie in 2026, driving for Dale Coyne Racing.