ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin – In addition to chasing a victory this weekend in the KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America, Josef Newgarden is carrying the INDYCAR banner for this year’s ESPYS, the annual awards show honoring the best athletes and moments from the past sporting year.
Newgarden, the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series champion and a two-time race winner this year, is nominated in the Best Driver category along with NASCAR’s Martin Truex Jr., Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton and NHRA’s Brittany Force.
“It’s an honor to be a part of this year’s ESPY nominees,” Newgarden said. “I’m happy to be representing INDYCAR amongst a list of incredible athletes in the Best Driver category.”
Newgarden will join a cast of who’s who from the sports world in ABC’s live broadcast from Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 18 (8 p.m. ET). Danica Patrick, who closed her groundbreaking driving career at the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, is hosting the ESPYS.
“This nomination wouldn’t be possible without the hard work from Team Penske,” Newgarden added. “Their efforts put us in a place to win the Verizon IndyCar Series championship last year and this nomination is as much about them as anything. I can’t wait to get to LA and attend the event.”
Newgarden follows in a long line of Indy car drivers to be nominated for Best Driver honors, including Nigel Mansell, Al Unser Jr., Jimmy Vasser, Juan Pablo Montoya, Buddy Lazier, Gil de Ferran, Sam Hornish Jr., Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi and Simon Pagenaud. Mansell, Unser Jr., Vasser and Hunter-Reay are all past winners.
Fans can vote for their favorites in all categories at http://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/page/voting52/vote-best-sports.
KOHLER Grand Prix competition gets underway with two practices today, starting at noon and 4:15 p.m. ET. A final practice is set for noon Saturday, ahead of Verizon P1 Award qualifying at 4 p.m. All practices and qualifying will stream live on RaceControl.IndyCar.com, youtube.com/indycar and the INDYCAR Mobile app. A same-day telecast of qualifying airs at 6:30 p.m. on NBCSN.
The 55-lap race from the 4.014-mile permanent road course airs live at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.
Veach talks perseverance with Boys & Girls Club children
Andretti Autosport driver Zach Veach spread the message of perseverance to accomplish goals when he visited with nearly 100 youths at the Boys & Girls Club in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, less than a half hour from the site of this weekend’s KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America.
The Verizon IndyCar Series rookie also had an ulterior motive for Thursday’s visit.
“The last time I was here with you, I went out and won my race at Road America,” Veach said, referring to his 2016 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires triumph. “I hope to do that again this weekend (in the Verizon IndyCar Series). You kids are my good-luck charms.”
The driver of the No. 26 Relay Group 1001 Honda spoke to the children on a range of topics, ranging from racing to whether he’s been stopped for speeding by police to bullying – an issue Veach dealt with in high school when fellow students tried to dissuade him from pursuing his dream of being an Indy car driver. Veach credited family, teachers and friends close to him for not letting him quit.
“Don’t every give up on your dreams,” he said. “If you really want to be something or do something, you can do it.”
Veach’s visit was coordinated by Racing For Kids, a nonprofit that leverages its place in motorsports to focus attention and raise funds for children’s healthcare needs. Racing For Kids arranges for Verizon IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy drivers to visit a children’s hospital or other facility in each race market.