Hauger Smashes Record, One Step from INDY NXT Title

Dennis Hauger has one hand on the INDY NXT by Firestone championship trophy after a record-breaking qualifying run at the Milwaukee Mile.

The Andretti Global driver stormed to pole with a two-lap average of 152.639 mph in the No. 28 Nammo machine, a new track record that eclipsed Louis Foster’s mark from last year. It was Hauger’s seventh pole of the season to go alongside six wins from 12 starts.

“Qualifying, we’re there,” Hauger said. “Feels really good. We still have stuff to work on for the race. Hopefully, we will figure that out tomorrow. I’m super happy. A great step forward for tomorrow’s championship clinch. That’s the goal, so we’ll keep pushing.”

The Norwegian now leads Caio Collet by 54 points, exactly the maximum haul on offer in a single race, with just two events remaining. With the pole point already secured, Hauger only needs to finish ahead of Collet in Sunday’s race to lock down the title. Collet will start from seventh in his HMD Motorsports entry.

Salvador de Alba looked set for a shock pole after smashing the one-lap record at 153.773 mph, but a big drop-off on his second tour left him second overall, still a career best, and secured an Andretti Global front-row sweep.

Kiwi Callum Hedge equalled his season-best qualifying in third for Abel Motorsports, with Australian Lochie Hughes slotting into fourth for Andretti. Myles Rowe, winner at Iowa, will start fifth for Abel/Force Indy, alongside Ganassi’s Bryce Aron in sixth.

The INDY NXT feature goes green at 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday (1:30 a.m. AEST Monday), with Hauger in prime position to clinch the championship under lights at the historic Milwaukee Mile.

Starting Grid

Position – Driver – Time

1. Dennis Hauger – 00:47.8777

2. Salvador de Alba – 00:48.1616

3. Callum Hedge – 00:48.2898

4. Lochie Hughes – 00:48.4395

5. Myles Rowe – 00:48.4431

6. Bryce Aron – 00:48.4449

7. Caio Collet – 00:48.4516

8. Michael d’Orlando – 00:48.6061

9. Josh Pierson – 00:48.6364

10. James Roe – 00:48.6498

11. Tommy Smith – 00:49.0515

12. Niels Koolen – 00:49.1549

13. Jordan Missig – 00:49.2503

14. Jack William Miller – 00:49.4434

15. Davey Hamilton Jr. – 00:49.6373

16. Max Taylor – 00:49.7545

17. Sebastian Murray – 00:49.9803

18. Hailie Deegan – 00:49.9905