Hauger in, Ferrucci out at Foyt for 2027 IndyCar season

AJ Foyt Racing has kept the silly season alight with the surprise signing of 2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger. The Norwegian replaces Santino Ferrucci in the No. 14 Chevrolet, which will continue to feature primary sponsorship from Homes For Our Troops.

“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about where we want this team to go," said team president Larry Foyt. "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.”

Hauger had a handful of impressive performances with the Dale Coyne Racing team during his first IndyCar campaign which netted Rookie of the Year honors, and while the Coyne team wanted to continue with Hauger and potentially elevate him to the lead car, Foyt swept in and signed the 23-year-old.

Hauger and his associate sponsors join a Foyt team that’s looking to rebound after taking a significant rearward step last season. Having reached as high ninth in the championship with Ferrucci in 2024 and 11th in 2025 with the Penske-bound David Malukas in the second entry, Ferrucci’s took 17th this year which, along with rookie Caio Collet’s run to 24th, left Foyt and the No. 14’s sponsors to contemplate a reboot.

Ferrucci, who joined the Foyt program in 2023, was rumored to be on his way out in July, but appeared to be headed towards a contract extension with the team in August until talks with Hauger ramped up in recent weeks and led to the pivot towards a promising young talent. Hauger finds himself as the new face of HFOT.org’s IndyCar involvement, and with a No. 14 Chevy entry that receives technical support from Team Penske. The first official activity for Foyt’s new lead driver is set for next month.

“On October 2, Hauger will join the team at the GM Defense Valor & Velocity Gala at the GM Design Dome in Warren, Michigan, where the Homes For Our Troops Indy car will be on display,” the team explained. “The evening supports the Medal of Honor Foundation and will bring together senior GM leadership, military leaders and members of the U.S. defense community.

“Also attending will be Diane Hendricks and her daughter Konya Hendricks Schuh of Hendricks Holding Company, Inc., General (USA, Ret) Richard A. Cody, Chairman of the Board of Homes For Our Troops and President/CEO of Homes For Our Troops and Brigadier General, USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer.”

Hauger has been studying for the big event. And he’s by no means unfamiliar with military-related sponsors, as his championship-winning Indy NXT entry and his No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing featured primary sponsorship from Nammo, the Nordic Ammunition Company which specializes in aerospace and defense solutions.

“I’ve been learning more about Homes For Our Troops and what the No. 14 HFOT.org car represents,” he said. “It’s obviously much bigger than racing, and I’m looking forward to meeting General Cody, Diane and Konya and learning more about it. To have my first event with the team connected to Homes For Our Troops and supporting the Medal of Honor Foundation makes it a pretty special way to get started.”

The identity of Hauger’s teammate won’t be known for a little while. As Foyt shared with RACER, the team planned to field Josh Pierson, but the 20-year-old Indy NXT veteran will need to successfully complete IndyCar’s licensing evaluation process before Foyt could place him in the No. 4 Chevy.

Collet’s next move is unconfirmed, and potential landing spots for Ferrucci – at least in a full-time capacity – could be limited. His services for the Indianapolis 500, however, would be in high demand if the Connecticut native is unable to find a new opportunity at one of the few remaining teams with vacancies to fill.