\n<\/p>\n
Long before race car drive Josef Newgarden<\/strong> won the 2023 Indy500, he won the heart<\/a> of wife Ashley Newgarden<\/strong> (n\u00e9e Welch).<\/p>\n \u201cIt was coincidental seeing one of the most ancient gardens in Kyoto, because I\u2019ll soon be the Newest Garden of them all,\u201d Ashley captioned photos of Josef proposing in Japan in October 2018 via Instagram. \u201cI never knew that I could love someone the way that I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Gushing Instagram posts aren\u2019t typical for the couple, who have largely kept their life together private after meeting in 2012. They tied the knot in October 2019 and announced in April 2022 that they welcomed their first child together, a baby boy.<\/p>\n \u201cKota Nicolai Newgarden has arrived,\u201d Josef shared on social media at the time. \u201cWe are a pretty private family, so I won\u2019t be sharing much, but since the racing world knows, Ashley and I wanted to say that Kota is here safe and sound. Both mom and little man are doing really great \ud83d\udc99.\u201d<\/p>\n Ashley added an explainer on Kota\u2019s name, which ties back to Japan, the site of their engagement. \u201cJapanese origin meaning \u2018happiness\u2019 and \u2018good fortune\u2019 \u2026 Kota, in just your short time Earth side, you have given us just that. Eternal happiness. \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc99,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n The actress has a long connection to the country, having lived there from 2013 to 2014 while working at Tokyo Disneyland. She played Disney Princesses<\/a> such as Belle from Beauty and the Beast<\/em>, Ariel from The Little Mermaid<\/em> and Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves<\/em> while working abroad just after college.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve come a long way since their start as a young driver and a princess. In May 2023, Ashley watched as her husband race in the Indy 500 for the 12th time \u2014 and he finally won. She was seen breaking down in tears as soon as the ESPYs winner<\/a> passed the finish line.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Josef tried to go straight into the grandstand to be among the fans.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to go into the crowd here in Indianapolis,\u201d Newgarden told NBC Sports<\/a> at the time. \u201cI\u2019ve seen people go up into the fence. I wanted to go through the fence. I wanted to celebrate with the people. I just thought it would be so cool to be in that energy because I know what that energy is like on race day. This was a dream of mine. If this was ever going to happen, I wanted to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ashley captioned photos of his joyous win via Instagram Story, \u201cBABY, YOU DID IT!!\u201d<\/p>\n