NFL Quarterback Jameis Winston Gives Rookie Dennis Hauger Pre-Race Pep Talk

Winston fires up the IndyCar rookie ahead of his debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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NFL quarterback Jameis Winston offered an impromptu pre-race pep talk to IndyCar rookie Dennis Hauger just moments before the start of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Winston encouraged Hauger, the reigning Indy NXT champion, to trust his preparation and execution as he made his IndyCar debut.

Why it matters

Rookies often face an uphill battle to earn respect in motorsports, but Winston's high-profile words of encouragement could provide a boost of confidence for Hauger as he looks to make a strong first impression in IndyCar.

The details

Just before the start of the race, Winston met Hauger on the grid and told him, "You were built for this moment. Look at your team. Everybody that's helped you get to this point is intentional. It's a reason that you're here right now." Winston also advised Hauger to "make a decision to go out there and execute today" and praised the work ethic of Hauger's team.

  • The pre-race pep talk took place just seconds before the start of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2, 2026.

The players

Jameis Winston

A veteran NFL quarterback who previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dennis Hauger

An IndyCar rookie making his series debut with Dale Coyne Racing after winning the Indy NXT championship the previous season.

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What they’re saying

“You were built for this moment. Look at your team. Everybody that's helped you get to this point is intentional. It's a reason that you're here right now.”

— Jameis Winston (autoweek.com)

“That's good words. Thanks, man. Now we got to go and do it.”

— Dennis Hauger (autoweek.com)

“It's about execution. Oh, yeah. Your trusting decisions are going to get you where you need to be. All right. You wake up looking like your parents, but you die looking like you're trusting decisions. So make a decision to go out there and execute today.”

— Jameis Winston (autoweek.com)

What’s next

Hauger will look to build on his top-10 finish in his IndyCar debut as he continues his rookie season with Dale Coyne Racing.

The takeaway

Winston's high-profile pep talk could provide a boost of confidence for IndyCar rookie Dennis Hauger as he looks to make a strong first impression in the series, overcoming the typical challenges faced by newcomers.