Biography

Scott McLaughlin continued his evolution from a championship-winning touring car driver to an NTT INDYCAR SERIES superstar in 2025 by showing leadership necessary for the team to find its footing after a mid-season shakeup. Despite not winning a race for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2021, the New Zealander was consistently competitive throughout the season to finish in the top 10 in the final standings for the fourth consecutive season. He will again compete in 2026 with the backing of an outstanding partner lineup that includes DEX Imaging, XPEL, PPG, AAA, Gallagher, Pennzoil, Sonsio, Odyssey Battery and Freightliner as he looks to return to race-winning form.

McLaughlin began the 2025 season by winning the NTT P1 Award at St. Petersburg, extending his Team Penske record of 70 career pole positions. With four top five finishes in the first five races of the year, the 2024 Indianapolis 500 pole winner was ready for another solid month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, despite not being part of the qualifying controversy that engulfed his teammates, McLaughlin dealt with the loss of his race strategist, Kyle Moyer, when the top three Team Penske INDYCAR executives were dismissed in the fallout of the qualifying drama. After navigating the ripple effect of the changes following the Indianapolis 500, McLaughlin and the No. 3 Chevrolet team entered a lull in their season until regrouping at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for Roun 14 of the championship. McLaughlin scored top 10 finishes over the final four races of the season – including a pair of third place finishes at Milwaukee and Nashville to end the year – to give the team plenty of momentum heading into 2026.

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