How a bond between father and son bloomed a two-time Indy 500 champion

Bruce Martin
Special to FOXSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS — At the beginning of Josef Newgarden’s athletic career as a young boy, his father often motivated him by offering him a reward at the end of one of his baseball games.

A hot dog and a Pokémon toy.

"A good hot dog was always a special treat for me," Newgarden told FOX Sports on Thursday. "My dad knew that I would put forth a special effort for a hot dog."

It was Joey Newgarden’s gift to his son for putting in the time for preparation and the importance of discipline.

"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," Newgarden’s father, Joey, told FOX Sports.

"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.’

"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."

From hot dogs and Pokémon as a child to checkered flags and two-faces on the Borg-Warner Trophy as the winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2023 and 2024, Newgarden is one of the most motivated, determined and driven drivers in INDYCAR.

He endures endless workouts at home and has built a physique similar to the Rocky IV boxer Ivan Drago. 

Newgarden is an imposing figure out of the race car in his Team Penske driver’s suit, but even more intimidating behind the wheel of the No. 2 Shell Chevrolet.

He is one of just six drivers who have won the Indianapolis 500 in back-to-back years. The others are Wilbur Shaw (1939, 1940),