CFH signs Newgarden for 2016
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| Josef Newgarden |
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (October 1, 2015) – CFH Racing announced today that Josef Newgarden will return as the driver of the No. 67 Chevrolet for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season. CFH Racing welcomes Newgarden back for a 5th year on the heels of their best championship finishes as a team and a driver, respectively.
"I am very excited to be back at CFH Racing," stated Newgarden. "It all really comes down to the confidence and belief that our owners Ed Carpenter, Sarah Fisher, Wink Hartman, Stuart Reed and Tony George have in me. They've given me all of the tools I could ask for to drive a racecar and to be successful. It's easy to be excited about coming back to work with this group knowing the level that we are operating at. I can see the capabilities that we have and I think we are going to be able to fully execute in 2016."
Newgarden has 67 starts in the Verizon IndyCar Series, all of which occurred with what is now CFH Racing. His IndyCar career started in 2012 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR), one year after he captured the Firestone Indy Lights Championship. When SFHR merged with Ed Carpenter Racing prior to the 2015 season to form CFH, Newgarden remained the team's full-time driver.
"It was great to finalize a deal with Josef to keep him with CFH Racing for 2016. Just as he was a priority to sign before this past season, he was a priority for us again this year," stated team co-owner Carpenter. "We are focused on becoming a force in the Verizon IndyCar Series and we see Josef being a large part of that. It is our intention to have him in a CFH car for a long time."
The Hendersonville, Tenn.-native is coming off the best season of his young IndyCar career. Newgarden earned his breakthrough first win in only the fourth race of 2015 with a dominating performance at Barber Motorsports Park. His second win came seven races later when he beat teammate Luca Filippi to the checkered flag in the streets of Toronto, leading CFH Racing to its first ever one-two finish. Two other podium results followed with second place finishes at Iowa Speedway and Pocono Raceway.
"It is with great pride that our team will support Josef behind the wheel of the 67 car in 2016," said CFH Racing co-owner Sarah Fisher. "I'm certainly encouraged to see the energy, enthusiasm and dedication that Ed and our partners have given to the 67 car program to make this happen. I am looking forward to a second year of racing at a championship level!"
Heading into the final race of the year, Newgarden was one of six drivers that remained eligible for the Verizon IndyCar Series championship and would finish 7th in the standings. The 24-year-old also captured his first career pole position at the Milwaukee Mile and started on the front row of the season finale at Sonoma Raceway. He led five of the final seven races of the year on his way to leading the most laps (345) of all drivers in 2015.
Hartman, also a co-owner of CFH Racing, echoed the sentiments of Carpenter and Fisher. "CFH is excited for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Season to begin and to continue our on track success with Josef in the seat. Josef will be on the podium multiple times next year and I know he will challenge for the series championship," said Hartman.
The 2015 season concluded on August 30. Newgarden and CFH have already participated in one offseason test, occurring September 22 at Road America. A start date for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series has not yet been announced.
CFH Racing