By John Sturbin | Raceday San Antonio
Texas-based A.J. Foyt Racing will contest the 2027 INDYCAR schedule with a revamped, international two-driver lineup.
Team President Larry Foyt’s prioritized offseason pursuit of Josh Pierson was rewarded on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with confirmation the 29-year-old native of Portland, Ore., had signed a multi-year agreement to compete in the NTT IndyCar Series beginning in 2027.
A graduate of the INDY NXT by Firestone developmental series, Pierson will team with Foyt newcomer and native Norwegian Dennis Hauger, driver of Foyt Racing’s No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet. Pierson will drive Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevrolet with “a new sponsor spotlighting a complementary program.”
Pierson led more laps than any driver during the 2026 INDY NXT season and started on the front row in each of the final three races, including two pole positions. At The Milwaukee Mile, Pierson set a qualifying record previously held by new teammate Hauger. The following weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., Pierson again qualified on-pole and led every lap en route to victory.
“I’ve been watching Josh closely for the past several seasons,” said Larry Foyt, the son of team-founder/namesake A.J. Foyt Jr. “Few drivers at his age have his depth of experience, and his maturity and work ethic are remarkable. Over the past year, he impressed us in multiple tests in a Panoz DP01 Champ Car alongside current INDYCAR drivers, and again in our Chevy-powered car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course. I believe in Josh, and we’re excited to be part of his continued development.”
Pierson’s career has taken him from local to international karting, through junior formula racing and international sports cars, and back to open-wheel competition in INDY NXT by Firestone. At 16, he became the youngest driver to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance classic. As an FIA gold-rated driver, Pierson’s résumé includes race wins and podium finishes in the World Endurance Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, IMSA and INDY NXT.
“Racing in INDYCAR has been my dream for as long as I can remember,” said Pierson, who finished 11th in the final 2026 INDY NXT standings with Andretti Global. “The variety of racing I’ve done has all been in preparation for this incredible opportunity. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way and tremendously appreciative of the commitment of a new partner that will be announced shortly.” For the record, Pierson has supported the Alzheimer’s Association as an #ENDALZ Athlete since 2022.
Pierson joins the team as it prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Houston native A.J. Foyt’s historic fourth Indianapolis 500 victory. Open-wheel icon “Super Tex,” now 91, became the first four-time winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the event’s 61st running on Sunday, May 29, 1977. Foyt, who started fourth in the traditional 33-car field, led 46 of 200 laps in the No. 14 Gilmore Racing Team Coyote/Foyt.
Foyt retired from INDYCAR racing on May 15, 1993 to concentrate on team ownership. His Waller, Texas-based team has not won a series race since Takuma Sato of Japan won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach street race in April 2013.
Pierson replaces 2026 series rookie Caio Collet in the No. 4 Chevy. A 24-year-old native of Brazil, Collet finished 24th in the final standings with primary sponsorship from Combitrans Amazonia _a Brazilian logistics and intermodal transportation corporation specializing in cargo movement across the Amazon basin and nationwide. Hence the need for Pierson to bring primary sponsorship money to the organization.
“Being a part of A.J. Foyt Racing, a team with incredible history, means the world to me,” Pierson said. “I’m excited about what Larry and the entire team are building for the future. I’m grateful for their confidence in me and look forward to my first NTT IndyCar Series green flag at St. Pete.” The 2027 season will open on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sunday, March 7.
Hauger, the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, was introduced as the new face of Foyt Racing on Sept. 18 after signing a multi-year agreement to drive the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet beginning with the 2027 season.
Hauger finished 22nd in the final 2026 point standings driving Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 19 Honda. A 23-year-old native of Norway, Hauger replaces Santino Ferrucci in Foyt’s signature No. 14 Chevrolet. The 28-year-old Dallas resident placed 17th in the final driver standings during his fourth full-time season (2023-2026) with Foyt’s organization. Ferrucci’s best finish with the team was second on the Streets of Detroit in 2025; his best overall point-finish was ninth in 2024.
Hauger moved to America in 2025 to compete in the INDY NXT series and quickly produced podium results. Hauger won six races and the championship in his rookie season before graduating to INDYCAR in 2026 with DCR.
Prior to racing in America, Hauger navigated his way through the European open-wheel ranks. He was the Italian Formula 4 Champion in 2019 and the FIA Formula 3 Champion in 2021 before moving into Formula 2, where he won five races. Hauger also was a longtime member of the Red Bull Junior Team.
Hauger’s best finish during the 2026 INDYCAR season was eighth on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course on May 9. He advanced 16 positions on the 2.439-mile/14-turn layout to win the Jostens Biggest Mover Award.
“Larry and I have had some very good conversations about the team and where they want to go,” Hauger said during his introductory presser on Sept. 18. “I’ve learned a lot in my first two years racing in America, but I still feel like there is a lot more for me to learn and accomplish in INDYCAR.
“This team has so much history in this sport, but what intrigues me even more was hearing about the future and what they’re building now. I want to work hard with everyone there and see how far we can take it.”
Larry Foyt said the combination of Hauger’s experience, youth and ability to adapt made him an attractive addition as lead driver.
“Dennis has accomplished a lot for someone who is only 23,” said Foyt, who has served in his current role since March 2015. “Every time he’s moved into something new, he’s adapted quickly and he’s won. Coming over here and winning in INDY NXT as a rookie certainly got everyone’s attention, and then we watched how he progressed through his rookie season in INDYCAR.”
Hiring Hauger was an integral part of Larry Foyt’s plan for the future of the team his father founded in 1965. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about where we want this team to go,” said Foyt, a graduate of TCU in Fort Worth. “We’re investing in our people, our technical side and our commercial program because we want to continue moving forward. Dennis is a big part of that plan.
“We’re fortunate to have partners like Hendricks Holding Company and Homes For Our Troops who believe in what we’re doing with the No. 14 program. They’ve given us the opportunity to keep building, and now it’s our job to make the most of it.”
A.J. Foyt Racing development driver Aidan Schuh will compete in the 2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy series in New Zealand beginning in January. The four-round championship will open at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and conclude with the 71st NAPA New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsports Park.
Schuh, 23, is racing in the Formula Regional Americas Championship this season with Crosslink Motorsports, which partnered with Foyt Racing earlier this year. Part of the team’s driver development program includes the INDY NXT by Firestone series.
A native of Wisconsin now living in Charlotte, N.C., Schuh wheels the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Ligier for Crosslink. At Virginia International Raceway on Sept. 20, Schuh finished third in the second race of the weekend to earn his first Formula Regional Americas podium. Schuh switched to cars in 2025 after competing in downhill mountain biking.
“My goal is to adapt quickly to the car, the tracks and the competition and to continue to develop as a driver throughout the championship in New Zealand,” Schuh said. “I want to maximize each session, become more competitive each weekend and put myself in a position to fight for strong finishes and podiums. Racing with Kiwi Motorsport in New Zealand will be another step in the right direction.”
Kiwi Motorsport Team Owner Garry Orton, winner of multiple championships, added, “I’m excited to bring Aidan to New Zealand; his growth in 2026 has been fantastic with massive improvement. Aidan is part of the A.J. Foyt Racing junior program and I’m honored to be tasked with looking after Aidan in NZ. It’s going to be a fantastic learning experience for him.”
The New Zealand series will give Schuh four race weekends against an international field during the North American offseason. The 2027 championship will use a new generation of Formula Regional cars and has a full field of 22 drivers scheduled to compete.
The 2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy schedule opens Jan. 8-10 at Hampton Downs, followed by Taupo International Motorsport Park Jan. 15-17 in Taupo and Teretonga Park in Invercargill Jan. 22-24. The 71st NAPA New Zealand Grand Prix will conclude the series Jan. 29-31 at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell.
The Repco NextGen NZ Championship is Motorsport New Zealand’s Premier Race Championship series. Its focus is on celebrating talent, developing drivers, captivating fans and being financially sustainable.
The series is headlined by the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, Bridgestone GR86 Championship, Summerset GT New Zealand Championship, SP Tools TA2 New Zealand Championship, NZ Porsche Racing Championship, Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Super Series, GTRNZ, BMW Race Driver Series, MSC Formula 5000, Historic Formula Atlantic & Formula Racing and the HVRA Historic Saloons & Heritage Touring Cars. The third season of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship will span six events from November 2026 through February 2027.
Final 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 631; 2, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 545; 3, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 535; 4, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 522; 5, David Malukas, Team Penske, 514; 6, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 482; 7, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 429; 8, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 423; 9, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing; 412; 10, Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 378;
11, Will Power, Andretti Global, 368; 12, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 331; 13, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 327; 14, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 320; 15, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 307; 16, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 302; 17, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 368; 18, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 267; 19, Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing, 259; 20, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 259;
21, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 245; 22, Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing, 228; 23, Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 213; 24, Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 203; 25, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 182; 26, Derek Daly, Dryer & Reinbold Racing, 24; 27, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 20; 28, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 8; 29, Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports, 6; 30, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian, 5;
31, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 5; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Arrow McLaren, 5; 33, Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing, 5.
Final 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone Point Standings _ 1, Nikita Johnson, Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR, 585; 2, Enzo Fittipaldi, HMD Motorsports, 556; 3, Tymek Kucharczyk, HMD Motorsports, 551; 4, Max Taylor, Andretti Global, 470; 5, Lochie Hughes, Andretti Global, 453; 6, Alessandro de Tullio, A.J. Foyt Racing, 442; 7, J.M. Correa, Cusick Morgan Motorsports, 389; 8, Myles Rowe, ABEL Motorsports, 388; 9, Jack Beeton, HMD Motorsports, 382; 10, Max Garcia, ABEL Motorsports, 381;
11, Josh Pierson, Andretti Global, 364; 12, Matteo Nannini, Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR, 362; 13, Seb Murray, Andretti Global, 306; 14, Bryce Aron, Chip Ganassi Racing, 298; 15, Niels Koolen, Chip Ganassi Racing, 268; 16, Salvador de Alba, HMD Motorsports, 245; 17, Nicolas Stati, Cusick Morgan Motorsports, 227; 18, Colin Kaminsky, ABEL Motorsports, 222; 19, Jordan Missig, ABEL Motorsports, 216; 20, James Roe, Chip Ganassi Racing, 214;
21, Alexander Koreiba, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 207; 22, Carson Etter, Chip Ganassi Racing, 182; 23, Nicholas Monteiro, A.J. Foyt Racing, 179; 24, Ricardo Escotto, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 142; 25, Jacob Abel, ABEL Motorsports, 101; 26, Nolan Allaer, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 67; 27, Bart Harrison, HMD Motorsports, 51; 28, Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Cusick Morgan Motorsports, 9.
2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES FULL SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 7 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Saturday, March 13 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Sunday, March 21 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas
Sunday, April 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.
Sunday, April 18 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif.
Saturday, May 15 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course
Sunday, May 30 _ The 111th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval
Sunday, June 6 _ Streets of Downtown Detroit
Sunday, June 13 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.
Sunday, June 27 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Sunday, July 4 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Sunday, July 18 _ Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
Sunday, Aug. 1 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway
Sunday, Aug. 15 _ Streets of Markham, Canada
Saturday, Aug. 28 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis.
Sunday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis.
Sunday, Sept. 5 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.
Note _ All races televised live on FOX Sports; start times TBA
