Newgarden ready for Saturday night shootout for Rising Star Racing

Newton, Iowa —  Fresh from an impressive run from last on the grid to eighth at the checkered flag in a race that set an all-time record for speed last weekend at Pocono Raceway, Rising Star Racing’s Josef Newgarden will look to build momentum through a hectic summer of Verizon IndyCar Series action this Saturday night in the Iowa Corn 250 at Iowa Speedway. 

Newgarden showed upward mobility in the 2013 edition of the race, moving up seven spots to come home 15th on the .85-mile track. The Saturday night setting can create some dramatic short-track action, and even when running alone, the quick lap makes for some hard work for the drivers, who will have some 50 additional circuits to take on this year compared to last. 

“Iowa is a very physical race,” said Newgarden, the 2011 Indy Lights champion. “There’s a lot of G-loading in the corners, and it’s such a short lap that you don’t have any rest period; there’s no real straightaway. It’s already a tough race physically, so 50 more laps will make it even harder.”

After a strong performance in a car that showed well with the incredible Strike livery that adorned his Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Dallara/Honda, the No. 67 Honda will sport a different look this weekend as the team looks to bring some glory to team co-owner Wink Hartman’s home state of Kansas, which has stepped up to provide a range of partnerships for the Iowa event.

Branding from Wichita State University (WSU), Go Wichita, Jimmy’s Egg, Chester’s Chop House & Wine Bar, Mort’s, Envision, House of Schwann and Hartman Oil will be on the familiar fast white and black backdrop No. 67 entry. 

“Wichita State University is a really great connection for us with Wink Hartman,” said Newgarden. “Having the entire town of Wichita behind us is awesome because it (the Iowa event) is Wink’s hometown race since we don’t get to race in Kansas anymore. It’s definitely a pretty special weekend for our team.”

While Newgarden makes a mad dash through the fastest and most intense IndyCar Series schedule in history, his two Rising Star Racing teammates are making the most of a brief break in the action. 

Spencer Pigot, who moved back to the top of the Pro Mazda championship standings after the Houston race weekend, and Neil Alberico, who combined with Pigot to take a Rising Star Racing 1-2 in the second race of the weekend, will be back in racing action in August when the Mazda runners head to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In the meantime, the duo are continuing to train and work towards 2015 with some firm goals in mind.

Rising Star Racing