Hometown Newgarden Wins Season Finale at Nashville

Josef Newgarden celebrates his first win of the season in the NTT INDYCAR series finale Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot. (Photo: Hayden Hutchison | The Podium Finish)

LEBANON, Tenn. – After a season of utter disappointment, Josef Newgarden was determined more than ever for redemption at his home track.

The Hendersonville, Tennessee native snapped his 20-race winless drought dating back to August 2024 at World Wide Technology Raceway, to earn his first victory of 2025 at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot. This makes Newgarden’s 32^nd victory of his NTT INDYCAR Series career tying him with legend Al Unser, Jr for ninth on the all-time wins list.

“Glad we got one without anything going wrong,” Newgarden said. “Happy to celebrate this team. They deserve it. It’s rewarding for our team. Tough, tough year, but good to get a win at the end.”

Newgarden drove his No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet by .5021 of a second over second place Alex Palou in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, who finally got to celebrate the Astor Challenge Cup with his team in victory lane.

Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet after a grueling battle in the closing stages of the 225-lap race with Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, who ultimately finished fourth for his best oval finish of his career.

“I have to give massive props to Kyffin Simpson,” McLaughlin said. “I put a lot of trust in what Kyffin was doing. I raced him how I would race Alex Palou or Josef or anyone like that. He raced me like them. That’s a huge credit to him and his development. I know he’s put a lot of work in to be better, be stronger.”

Kyffin Simpson on his way to his best career oval finish during the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

Conor Daly completed the top five in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet after advancing an impressive 19 positions from his 24^th place starting place. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Louis Foster drove his No. 45 Desnuda Tequila Honda to a 20^th place finish, clinching the series Rookie of the Year Award by merely two points over PREMA Racing’s Robert Shwartzman.

Newgarden battled his teammate and took the lead for the final time on Lap 205 when McLaughlin’s car drifted out of the racing groove and made slight contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2, bringing out the yellow flag.

On the Lap 214 restart, Newgarden pulled away from Palou, who was unable to reel in Newgarden in the final 11 laps.

McLaughlin was not the only driver to relinquish the lead due to making contact with the SAFER Barrier. NTT P1 Award winner Pato O’Ward led a race-high 116 laps from the pole in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, but his race ended when a flat right front tire caused the car to make contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 on Lap 127.

David Malukas navigates Turn 4 at the Nashville Superspeedway during practice in preparation for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish)

David Malukas was running in second on Lap 83 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet when he backed into the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 after side contact from Foster, who received a penalty for blocking. Malukas was awake and alert after the incident and was released from a local hospital following precautionary evaluation and advanced imaging.

Christian Rasmussen, who earned his first career victory last Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, saw his chance of back-to-back victories end on Lap 1 when his No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet lost control in traffic and made contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2.

As the checkered flag flew for the final time in 2025, in typical Newgarden fashion, he stopped his car on the front straightaway and climbed into the grandstands to celebrate with fans as he did in his two Indianapolis 500 victories in 2023 and 2024.

“It’s satisfying when you win a race in this environment. Then to win it at my hometown was really gratifying. It’s cool to come full circle and to be so close to home. I love being here in Nashville, too, for the season finale. I like it for INDYCAR. It’s a great destination for us.”

In a race that was captivating and drama-filled with joyous celebrations for the race winner and series champion, the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot saw a record 284 passes for position, including 130 in the top 10 and 74 in the top five. The series finale was the exclamation point the series needed to close out the 2025 season as they look to build momentum heading into 2026.

Sunday’s race saw four cautions for a total of 46 laps and the best lap of the race was set by Palou on lap 184 with a speed of 198.368 mph.

Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix Race Results: