All posts by ARP Trish

BECKMAN WANTS ANOTHER “PINCH ME” MOMENT AT U.S. NATS

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2026) – Last week Jack Beckman helped unveil the John Force 1996 championship tribute paint scheme the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car will carry during the Sept. 4-7 Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and this week at Indianapolis Raceway Park his goal is to maintain the paint scheme’s perfect race record.

Force won the 1996 NHRA Finals with the now iconic black-and-white flame job scheme to cap the greatest season in modern NHRA Funny Car competition, accumulating 13 event wins, 16 final-round appearances, 13 No. 1 Qualifier spots and 65 round wins in eliminations. Beckman wants to add another win with the paint scheme to maintain its perfect 2-0 record.

Beckman earned NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car titles in 2015 and 2020 and four of the Funny Car special races (2007, 2013, 2015, 2017) currently named the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Call Out.

The PEAK SQUAD is currently fifth in the Funny Car point standings heading into the regular season finale, 62 behind J.R. Todd in fourth and 84 to Matt Hagan in first. The Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals awards 30 points per eliminations round instead of the standard 20 point per round.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 13 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 938; 2.  Jordan Vandergriff, 931; 3. Ron Capps, 926; 4. J.R. Todd, 916; 5. Jack Beckman, 864; 6. Austin Prock, 771; 7. Chad Green, 755; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 737; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 615; 10. Spencer Hyde, 610.

Quotes

What does it mean to you to be competing not only in the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, but during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary?

“When I was out from the end of 2020 through more than half of the 2024 season, it wasn’t lost on me that the NHRA 75th anniversary was coming up and I wasn’t going to be a part of it as a competitor. So, just to be a part of it is a huge deal for me. I still, even as an adult, have a lot of ‘pinch me’ moments. Standing in Monument Circle in Indy last week, rolling back the car cover with Brian Bohlander of PEAK to unveil the car that represents the most dominant season in modern Funny Car racing was one of them. We turned the time machine back 30 years to a car that was specifically painted to run one race to celebrate John Force’s sixth championship. Fast forward 30 years and PEAK has chosen this race to celebrate John’s history. The throwback scheme looks virtually identical to the 1996 car but this one says ‘John Force 16-time Champion’ down the side. To be standing next to John while the media is capturing this unveiling, that was a ‘pinch me’ moment. I’m going to roll out for Q1 while John’s standing behind the car watching me. I don’t think the term ‘pinch me’ even comes close to describing what that means to me.”

How special are your two Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car titles (2015, 2020)?

“In 2015, I had one of the best weekends you can ever have in Funny Car. I won the Shootout and I won the U.S. Nationals. It just doesn’t get any better than that. In 2020, I got my second U.S. Nationals win driving the Infinite Hero car, like a was in 2015, a program that changed a lot of injured veterans’ lives. John Force Racing wasn’t there because they sat out the latter part of the truncated 2020 season due to COVID. It was still a damn tough field of Funny Cars. And then I didn’t have a ride in 2021 and thought that was it. So, if we can close the deal this year and put that car back in its second winner’s circle in just the second time that scheme’s ever been run would be a fairy tale weekend.”

How have you had such great success in the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car special races, regardless of what they’re called?

“I’ve been super fortunate. I’ve won four of the shootout races in my career (2007, 2013, 2015, 2017). I’ve only been in six or seven of them but I’ve had really good success when I have. You could say we go in as the prohibitive favorite but really there are eight good cars competing. It’s going to be a little bit of strategy because two of the three rounds will be during qualifying. There are 23 Funny Cars showing up to qualify at Indy and we have got to get in the show. The perfect scenario is we’ll unload Friday night with probably the best track conditions we’ll have and put that PEAK tribute car on the pole. You can then cross off qualifying and focus on the Call Out. Our first goal is to win the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and the first step for that is qualifying solid. Once we cross that off, our next goal is to win the Funny Car Call Out on Sunday.” 

Weekend Appearances

On Sat., Sept. 5, Beckman will sign autographs from 10-10:30 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display and, at 11 a.m., will participate in the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Call Out event at the Top Eliminator Club. On Sun., Sept. 6, he will sign autographs from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Mission Foods midway display.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, two rounds at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 12 and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 7.

The first round of the Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:40 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

TV Schedule

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 and 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and eliminations at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.

Race Results

IndianapolisRace ResultRound by Round ResultsQualifiedEvent Record
2005 (TF)1st roundLost to Tony Schumacher16th0-1
2006 (FC)Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2007 (FC)2nd roundBeat Scott Kalitta; lost to Mike Ashley3rd1-2
2008 (FC)Runner-upBeat Ashely Force, Cruz Pedregon, Melanie Troxel; lost to Robert Hight10th4-3
2009 (FC)1st roundLost to Mike Neff14th4-4
2010 (FC)Semi-finalsBeat Tim Wilkerson, Melanie Troxel; lost to Ashley Force Hood7th6-5
2011 (FC)2nd roundBeat Paul Lee; lost to Matt Hagan5th7-6
2012 (FC)1st roundLost to Todd Lesenko2nd7-7
2013 (FC)Runner-upBeat Chad Head, Jeff Arend, Tim Wilkerson; lost to Robert Hight8th10-8
2014 (FC)1st roundLost to Blake Alexander2nd10-9
2015 (FC)WinnerBeat Bob Bode, Ron Capps, Del Worsham, Robert Hight1st14-9
2016 (FC)1st roundLost to Dave Richards2nd14-10
2017 (FC)Semi-finalsBeat Tommy Johnson Jr, Del Worsham; lost to R. Capps5th16-11
2018 (FC)1st roundLost to Courtney Force11th16-12
2019 (FC)Runner-upBeat Justin Schriefer, Bob Tasca, J.R. Todd; lost to J. Force1st19-13
2020 (FC)WinnerBeat Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson, J.R. Todd7th23-13
2021Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2022Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2023Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2024 (FC)Semi-finalsBeat Dale Creasy Jr., Cruz Pedregon; lost to Ron Capps3rd25-14
2025 (FC)Runner-upBeat Justin Schriefer, Paul Lee, Alexis Dejoria; lost to Austin Prock1st28-15

Wins: 2 (2015 & 2020)

No. 1 Qualifiers: 3 (2015, 2019 & 2025)

Event Record: 28-15

2026 Results

BECKMAN WANTS ANOTHER “PINCH ME” MOMENT AT U.S. NATS

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2026) – Last week Jack Beckman helped unveil the John Force 1996 championship tribute paint scheme the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car will carry during the Sept. 4-7 Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and this week at Indianapolis Raceway Park his goal is to maintain the paint scheme’s perfect race record.

Force won the 1996 NHRA Finals with the now iconic black-and-white flame job scheme to cap the greatest season in modern NHRA Funny Car competition, accumulating 13 event wins, 16 final-round appearances, 13 No. 1 Qualifier spots and 65 round wins in eliminations. Beckman wants to add another win with the paint scheme to maintain its perfect 2-0 record.

Beckman earned NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car titles in 2015 and 2020 and four of the Funny Car special races (2007, 2013, 2015, 2017) currently named the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Call Out.

The PEAK SQUAD is currently fifth in the Funny Car point standings heading into the regular season finale, 62 behind J.R. Todd in fourth and 84 to Matt Hagan in first. The Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals awards 30 points per eliminations round instead of the standard 20 point per round.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 13 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 938; 2.  Jordan Vandergriff, 931; 3. Ron Capps, 926; 4. J.R. Todd, 916; 5. Jack Beckman, 864; 6. Austin Prock, 771; 7. Chad Green, 755; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 737; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 615; 10. Spencer Hyde, 610.

Quotes

What does it mean to you to be competing not only in the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, but during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary?

“When I was out from the end of 2020 through more than half of the 2024 season, it wasn’t lost on me that the NHRA 75th anniversary was coming up and I wasn’t going to be a part of it as a competitor. So, just to be a part of it is a huge deal for me. I still, even as an adult, have a lot of ‘pinch me’ moments. Standing in Monument Circle in Indy last week, rolling back the car cover with Brian Bohlander of PEAK to unveil the car that represents the most dominant season in modern Funny Car racing was one of them. We turned the time machine back 30 years to a car that was specifically painted to run one race to celebrate John Force’s sixth championship. Fast forward 30 years and PEAK has chosen this race to celebrate John’s history. The throwback scheme looks virtually identical to the 1996 car but this one says ‘John Force 16-time Champion’ down the side. To be standing next to John while the media is capturing this unveiling, that was a ‘pinch me’ moment. I’m going to roll out for Q1 while John’s standing behind the car watching me. I don’t think the term ‘pinch me’ even comes close to describing what that means to me.”

How special are your two Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car titles (2015, 2020)?

“In 2015, I had one of the best weekends you can ever have in Funny Car. I won the Shootout and I won the U.S. Nationals. It just doesn’t get any better than that. In 2020, I got my second U.S. Nationals win driving the Infinite Hero car, like a was in 2015, a program that changed a lot of injured veterans’ lives. John Force Racing wasn’t there because they sat out the latter part of the truncated 2020 season due to COVID. It was still a damn tough field of Funny Cars. And then I didn’t have a ride in 2021 and thought that was it. So, if we can close the deal this year and put that car back in its second winner’s circle in just the second time that scheme’s ever been run would be a fairy tale weekend.”

How have you had such great success in the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals Funny Car special races, regardless of what they’re called?

“I’ve been super fortunate. I’ve won four of the shootout races in my career (2007, 2013, 2015, 2017). I’ve only been in six or seven of them but I’ve had really good success when I have. You could say we go in as the prohibitive favorite but really there are eight good cars competing. It’s going to be a little bit of strategy because two of the three rounds will be during qualifying. There are 23 Funny Cars showing up to qualify at Indy and we have got to get in the show. The perfect scenario is we’ll unload Friday night with probably the best track conditions we’ll have and put that PEAK tribute car on the pole. You can then cross off qualifying and focus on the Call Out. Our first goal is to win the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and the first step for that is qualifying solid. Once we cross that off, our next goal is to win the Funny Car Call Out on Sunday.” 

Weekend Appearances

On Sat., Sept. 5, Beckman will sign autographs from 10-10:30 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display and, at 11 a.m., will participate in the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Call Out event at the Top Eliminator Club. On Sun., Sept. 6, he will sign autographs from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Mission Foods midway display.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, two rounds at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 12 and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 7.

The first round of the Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:40 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

TV Schedule

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 and 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and eliminations at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.

Race Results

IndianapolisRace ResultRound by Round ResultsQualifiedEvent Record
2005 (TF)1st roundLost to Tony Schumacher16th0-1
2006 (FC)Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2007 (FC)2nd roundBeat Scott Kalitta; lost to Mike Ashley3rd1-2
2008 (FC)Runner-upBeat Ashely Force, Cruz Pedregon, Melanie Troxel; lost to Robert Hight10th4-3
2009 (FC)1st roundLost to Mike Neff14th4-4
2010 (FC)Semi-finalsBeat Tim Wilkerson, Melanie Troxel; lost to Ashley Force Hood7th6-5
2011 (FC)2nd roundBeat Paul Lee; lost to Matt Hagan5th7-6
2012 (FC)1st roundLost to Todd Lesenko2nd7-7
2013 (FC)Runner-upBeat Chad Head, Jeff Arend, Tim Wilkerson; lost to Robert Hight8th10-8
2014 (FC)1st roundLost to Blake Alexander2nd10-9
2015 (FC)WinnerBeat Bob Bode, Ron Capps, Del Worsham, Robert Hight1st14-9
2016 (FC)1st roundLost to Dave Richards2nd14-10
2017 (FC)Semi-finalsBeat Tommy Johnson Jr, Del Worsham; lost to R. Capps5th16-11
2018 (FC)1st roundLost to Courtney Force11th16-12
2019 (FC)Runner-upBeat Justin Schriefer, Bob Tasca, J.R. Todd; lost to J. Force1st19-13
2020 (FC)WinnerBeat Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson, J.R. Todd7th23-13
2021Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2022Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2023Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2024 (FC)Semi-finalsBeat Dale Creasy Jr., Cruz Pedregon; lost to Ron Capps3rd25-14
2025 (FC)Runner-upBeat Justin Schriefer, Paul Lee, Alexis Dejoria; lost to Austin Prock1st28-15

Wins: 2 (2015 & 2020)

No. 1 Qualifiers: 3 (2015, 2019 & 2025)

Event Record: 28-15

2026 Results

EventQualifyRound by RoundRound RecordPoints Position
Gainesville9Lost to Jordan Vandergriff0-111
Phoenix2Lost to Daniel Wilkerson0-210
Pomona18Beat Jim Campbell; lost to J.R. Todd1-310
Charlotte6Advanced Rounds 1 & 2; runner-up to Ron Capps3-48
Valdosta11Lost to Matt Hagan3-58
Chicago1Beat Chris King; lost to Matt Hagan4-68
Maryland1Beat Joe Morrison, J.R. Todd, Jordan Vandergriff; lost to Austin Prock7-77
Epping2Beat Phil Burkart Jr., Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jordán Vandergriff11-75
Bristol3Beat Jeff Arend; lost to Daniel Wilkerson12-85
Norwalk4Beat Spencer Hyde, Daniel Wilkerson, Austin Prock; lost to Ron Capps15-94
Sonoma2Beat Jeff Arend, Cruz Pedregon; lost to Daniel Wilkerson17-103
Seattle2Beat Tim Gibbons, Cruz Pedregon; lost to Austin Prock19-112
Brainerd6Lost (DQ) to Chad Green19-125

REGULAR SEASON TITLE ON THE LINE FOR CORNWELL TOOLS TEAM

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2026) – The conclusion of last year’s Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals left Jordan Vandergriff wondering if he’d ever race again but this year finds the driver of John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car with every reason to believe he and his team can and will leave with the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car regular season championship.

The 2025 event was the second and final for Vandergriff who filled in for injured Top Fuel driver Shawn Reed. He qualified second but was eliminated in the first round by Kyle Wurtzel. He got out of the car at the top end wondering if he’d ever get back behind the wheel.

So far this season, the Cornwell Tools Chevy team has earned two wins (Valdosta, Sonoma), two runners-up (Epping, Brainerd) and three No. 1 Qualifier spots (Epping, Sonoma, Brainerd).

Vandergriff enters the Sept. 4-7 Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals just seven points back of leader Matt Hagan and where each round of eliminations will earn 30 championship points instead of the standard 20 points. Vandergriff finished runner-up to Hagan two weeks ago at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 13 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 938; 2.  Jordan Vandergriff, 931; 3. Ron Capps, 926; 4. J.R. Todd, 916; 5. Jack Beckman, 864; 6. Austin Prock, 771; 7. Chad Green, 755; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 737; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 615; 10. Spencer Hyde, 610.

Quotes

What’s your mindset with the regular season championship on the line?

“I think the mindset is that we control our own destiny. One of the Cornwell Tools crew guys, Tristan Norton, said ‘Listen, if we win, we win.’ The points show that whoever’s going to go the farthest is going to win this regular season championship so that’s where we want to be. We want to control our own destiny. If we can just focus on us and win the race, then all those other problems go away and we come away as a regular season champion.” 

What are your thoughts now on the decisions you made in the final round at Brainerd that put you in the position you’re now in? 

“I think we’re right where we want to be. We were the No. 1 qualifier and we made the final. I’d say those are pretty good stats. It was unfortunate that we didn’t come away with the win but it put us just seven points out of first, which is basically a dead heat. If we had won, we would have been 13 points up or something like that. It’s basically a dead heat between the top four cars. We’ve put ourselves in the conversation and showed we have a strong Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy race car that can compete for the championship. We’re right where we want to be and we’re in control of our own destiny.”

What were your thoughts when you got out of the car after last year’s first-round loss at Indy, which was the conclusion of your two-race opportunity with Shawn Reed Racing?

“Looking back on last year’s Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals, we qualified second but, unfortunately, went out in the first round. I remember getting out of the race car at the top end and putting my stuff in the Suburban and realizing, in that moment, that I didn’t know when the next time I’d be able to drive again. I kind of took a moment for myself, looked back at the race car, looked at the racetrack. I took it all in and said to myself this might be the last time and, if it is, what’s going to happen next? Fast forward a year and I’m so fortunate it wasn’t the last time. I was very fortunate to get the call from John Force to represent Cornwell Quality Tools at the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals and my life has become a good dream scenario.”

What does it mean to you to compete in the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals during the 75th anniversary season? 

“As if the stakes couldn’t get any higher, it’s the 75th anniversary of NHRA. It is not only the U.S.  Nationals but the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals. This is the granddaddy of them all, and every kid growing up wants to win the U.S. Nationals. People will always refer to you as the U.S. Nationals winner regardless of whatever else they do in their career. I was doing the ESPN announcing last year and Justin (Ashley) won and I said to him, ‘Now we will forever refer to you as the U.S. Nationals winner.’ And now I want to be referred to as a U.S. Nationals winner. It means everything. It’s our Super Bowl. It’s our Daytona 500. It’s the U.S. Nationals. It’s the Big Go! If people say it doesn’t mean more, they’re lying to you. It means more and I want it.” 

Weekend Appearances

On Sat., Sept. 5, Vandergriff will be signing autographs at the following locations: 9:30-10 a.m. at the Mission Foods midway display; 10-10:30 at the Cornwell Tools midway display; and 11-11:30 with John Force at the John Force Racing merchandise trailer on the on the midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, two rounds at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 12 and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 7.

The first round of the Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:40 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

TV Schedule

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 and 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and eliminations at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.

Race Results

IndianapolisRace ResultRound by Round ResultsQualifiedEvent Record
2019 (TF)1st roundLost to Antron Brown11th0-1
2020Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2021Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2022Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2023Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2024Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2025 (TF)1st roundLost to Kyle Wurtzel2nd0-2

Wins: 0

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Record: 0

2026 Results

EventQualifyRound by RoundRound RecordPoints Position
Gainesville8Beat Jack Beckman, John Smith; lost to Chad Green2-14
Phoenix5Beat Alexis DeJoria, lost to Matt Hagan3-27
Pomona13Beat Daniel Wilkerson, Chad Green; lost to Ron Capps5-35
Charlotte2Won 1st quad; lost in 2nd quad6-45
Valdosta3Beat Jeff Arend, Spencer Hyde, Hunter Green, Ron Capps10-44
Chicago10Lost to Chad Green10-55
Maryland4Beat Dave Richards, Chad Green; lost to Jack Beckman12-65
Epping1Beat Jeff Arend, Chad Green, J.R. Todd; lost to Jack Beckman15-74
Bristol13Beat Alexis DeJoria; lost to Ron Capps16-84
Norwalk11Lost to J.R. Todd16-95
Sonoma1Beat Jason Rupert, Matt Hagan, Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson20-92
Seattle9Beat Spencer Hyde; lost to J.R. Todd21-104
Brainerd1Bye, beat Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd; lost to Matt Hagan24-112

REGULAR SEASON TITLE ON THE LINE FOR CORNWELL TOOLS TEAM

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2026) – The conclusion of last year’s Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals left Jordan Vandergriff wondering if he’d ever race again but this year finds the driver of John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car with every reason to believe he and his team can and will leave with the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car regular season championship.

The 2025 event was the second and final for Vandergriff who filled in for injured Top Fuel driver Shawn Reed. He qualified second but was eliminated in the first round by Kyle Wurtzel. He got out of the car at the top end wondering if he’d ever get back behind the wheel.

So far this season, the Cornwell Tools Chevy team has earned two wins (Valdosta, Sonoma), two runners-up (Epping, Brainerd) and three No. 1 Qualifier spots (Epping, Sonoma, Brainerd).

Vandergriff enters the Sept. 4-7 Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals just seven points back of leader Matt Hagan and where each round of eliminations will earn 30 championship points instead of the standard 20 points. Vandergriff finished runner-up to Hagan two weeks ago at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 13 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 938; 2.  Jordan Vandergriff, 931; 3. Ron Capps, 926; 4. J.R. Todd, 916; 5. Jack Beckman, 864; 6. Austin Prock, 771; 7. Chad Green, 755; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 737; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 615; 10. Spencer Hyde, 610.

Quotes

What’s your mindset with the regular season championship on the line?

“I think the mindset is that we control our own destiny. One of the Cornwell Tools crew guys, Tristan Norton, said ‘Listen, if we win, we win.’ The points show that whoever’s going to go the farthest is going to win this regular season championship so that’s where we want to be. We want to control our own destiny. If we can just focus on us and win the race, then all those other problems go away and we come away as a regular season champion.” 

What are your thoughts now on the decisions you made in the final round at Brainerd that put you in the position you’re now in? 

“I think we’re right where we want to be. We were the No. 1 qualifier and we made the final. I’d say those are pretty good stats. It was unfortunate that we didn’t come away with the win but it put us just seven points out of first, which is basically a dead heat. If we had won, we would have been 13 points up or something like that. It’s basically a dead heat between the top four cars. We’ve put ourselves in the conversation and showed we have a strong Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy race car that can compete for the championship. We’re right where we want to be and we’re in control of our own destiny.”

What were your thoughts when you got out of the car after last year’s first-round loss at Indy, which was the conclusion of your two-race opportunity with Shawn Reed Racing?

“Looking back on last year’s Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals, we qualified second but, unfortunately, went out in the first round. I remember getting out of the race car at the top end and putting my stuff in the Suburban and realizing, in that moment, that I didn’t know when the next time I’d be able to drive again. I kind of took a moment for myself, looked back at the race car, looked at the racetrack. I took it all in and said to myself this might be the last time and, if it is, what’s going to happen next? Fast forward a year and I’m so fortunate it wasn’t the last time. I was very fortunate to get the call from John Force to represent Cornwell Quality Tools at the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals and my life has become a good dream scenario.”

What does it mean to you to compete in the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals during the 75th anniversary season? 

“As if the stakes couldn’t get any higher, it’s the 75th anniversary of NHRA. It is not only the U.S.  Nationals but the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals. This is the granddaddy of them all, and every kid growing up wants to win the U.S. Nationals. People will always refer to you as the U.S. Nationals winner regardless of whatever else they do in their career. I was doing the ESPN announcing last year and Justin (Ashley) won and I said to him, ‘Now we will forever refer to you as the U.S. Nationals winner.’ And now I want to be referred to as a U.S. Nationals winner. It means everything. It’s our Super Bowl. It’s our Daytona 500. It’s the U.S. Nationals. It’s the Big Go! If people say it doesn’t mean more, they’re lying to you. It means more and I want it.” 

Weekend Appearances

On Sat., Sept. 5, Vandergriff will be signing autographs at the following locations: 9:30-10 a.m. at the Mission Foods midway display; 10-10:30 at the Cornwell Tools midway display; and 11-11:30 with John Force at the John Force Racing merchandise trailer on the on the midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, two rounds at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 12 and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 7.

The first round of the Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:40 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

TV Schedule

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 and 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and eliminations at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.

Race Results

IndianapolisRace ResultRound by Round ResultsQualifiedEvent Record
2019 (TF)1st roundLost to Antron Brown11th0-1
2020Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2021Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2022Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2023Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2024Did Not CompeteN/AN/AN/A
2025 (TF)1st roundLost to Kyle Wurtzel2nd0-2

Wins: 0

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Record: 0

2026 Results

EventQualifyRound by RoundRound RecordPoints Position
Gainesville8Beat Jack Beckman, John Smith; lost to Chad Green2-14
Phoenix5Beat Alexis DeJoria, lost to Matt Hagan3-27
Pomona13Beat Daniel Wilkerson, Chad Green; lost to Ron Capps5-35
Charlotte2Won 1st quad; lost in 2nd quad6-45
Valdosta3Beat Jeff Arend, Spencer Hyde, Hunter Green, Ron Capps10-44
Chicago10Lost to Chad Green10-55
Maryland4Beat Dave Richards, Chad Green; lost to Jack Beckman12-65
Epping1Beat Jeff Arend, Chad Green, J.R. Todd; lost to Jack Beckman15-74
Bristol13Beat Alexis DeJoria; lost to Ron Capps16-84
Norwalk11Lost to J.R. Todd16-95
Sonoma1Beat Jason Rupert, Matt Hagan, Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson20-92
Seattle9Beat Spencer Hyde; lost to J.R. Todd21-104
Brainerd1Bye, beat Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd; lost to Matt Hagan24-112

###

Chevy racing–NASCAR–Darlington Advance


TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Darlington RacewaySeptember 5-6, 2026
MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom
Chevrolet’s championship title-defending campaign in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series begins this Labor Day weekend as the sport heads to the historic venue tapped as “The Track Too Tough To Tame” – Darlington Raceway. Saturday night’s Fleetio 200 will launch the nine-race O’Reilly Series postseason schedule, while Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 kicks off the Cup Series’ 10-race run towards the coveted Bill France Cup. After a Daytona finale that reshuffled both fields, Chevrolet rolls into Darlington with a heavy contingent of title contenders across both series.
Chevrolet’s Southern 500 Pedigree: Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 carries its own distinct history for the Bowtie brand. Since the event’s inception in 1950, Chevrolet has claimed 29 Southern 500 victories, the most of any manufacturer in the crown jewel race’s history. Hendrick Motorsports alone accounts for 12 of those wins, also the most by any team. Career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, leads all drivers with six Southern 500 victories – a run that included four-in-a-row from 1995-98.  Chevrolet’s most recent Southern 500 winner is the series’ reigning champion, Kyle Larson, whose 2023 victory doubled as Chevrolet’s 44th all-time Cup Series win at Darlington and the milestone 500th all-time NASCAR national series win for the Hendrick Engine Department. In the Next Gen era, Chevrolet has won three of nine races at Darlington, including back-to-back Southern 500 triumphs with Erik Jones (2022) and Larson (2023), sandwiched around William Byron’s win in the track’s 2023 spring race. Two of those three Next Gen winners – Larson and Byron – return to Darlington this weekend as part of a five-car Chevrolet contingent in the Cup Series Chase field.
FIVE TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS SET FOR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLEWith the 16-driver field officially complete, Chevrolet will send five drivers into battle for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Among those includes a pair of past champions, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, with the duo leading the manufacturer into the postseason seeded in the seventh and eighth positions, respectively. Spire Motorsports, who is on the brink of their first-ever postseason appearance, will have two drivers in the title hunt with Daniel Suarez (11th) and Carson Hocevar (12th). Rounding out the Team Chevy lineup is the 13th seed, William Byron, who is set to embark on his eighth consecutive trip to the postseason.  
Larson, Elliott Among Past Champions: Larson and Elliott have earned a spot on an elite list of just four past NASCAR Cup Series champions that are left to vie for the Bill France Cup. The pair have been staple names in postseason competition in recent years, with 2026 marking their 10th title-contending campaigns in NASCAR’s premier series. Larson, the reigning series champion, heads back to a racetrack where he’s found victory lane before. His 2023 Southern 500 win remains one of two active Chevrolet triumphs at Darlington, alongside Byron’s 2023 spring race win. Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, is still chasing his first Cup win at Darlington but arrives with two wins in the bank this season for Hendrick Motorsports.
Byron Taps Postseason Experience: Byron is no stranger to postseason pressure, with the Chevrolet driver coming off his third-consecutive postseason run that ended in a trip to the Championship Four. While still seeking his first trip to victory lane of the season, the No. 24 team knows its way around Darlington better than most of their competitors and will look to turn that track history into a bounce-back performance in the postseason opener. In six of his last eight starts at the track, the North Carolina native has turned in top-eight results, including his 2023 spring race win. In the Next Gen era, his average finish of 10.3 is third-best in the field. 
Spire Motorsports’ First Postseason Appearance: For Spire Motorsports, it’s already been a season for the record books. Not only will this be the organization’s first appearance in the postseason, but they will send two drivers into the title hunt. Suarez punched his ticket on the strength of one of the strongest regular seasons of his Cup career, highlighted by a rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 win, while Hocevar, in just his third full-time season, is making his first career trip to the Chase.
CHEVROLET HITS DOUBLE-DIGITS IN THE O’REILLY CHASEA record season for Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is only just beginning as the manufacturer hit a near takeover of the postseason lineup. Ten of the 12 drivers who qualified for the nine-race Chase are Chevrolet-powered – headlined by JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who enters as the No. 1 seed and a championship favorite after a career-high six-win regular season. His teammate, Carson Kvapil, enters second after wins at Indianapolis and Iowa. Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love and Austin Hill hold down the fourth and fifth seeds, while Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed – now fielding Chevrolet’s after the organization’s manufacturer switch this season – rounds out the top-three. The Hendrick-backed rookie Corey Day and JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith also transferred into the Chase prior to the regular season finale, entering their championship campaigns seeded seventh and eighth, respectively. Viking Motorsports’ Parker Retzlaff (ninth) and Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer (10th), who entered Daytona holding down provisional transfer spots, both raced their way into the field to give Chevrolet nine of the top-10 seeded positions.  One Chevrolet driver in particular delivers on the promise of last week: Rajah Caruth. Trailing the Chase cutline by 15 points entering Daytona, the young Team Chevy driver went on to score his first career O’Reilly Series pole and positioned himself in winning contention through much of the race. Despite a late-race spin that cost him a shot at a big finish, a strong points effort in the first-two stages was enough to lift the rookie into the 12th and final Chase seed – capping a solid first full-time season split across two different Chevrolet organizations.
BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway:     Kyle Larson – one win (2023 Southern 500)William Byron – one win (May 2023) 

·        In 130 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 44 victories. In nine events in the series’ Next Gen era, Chevrolet has earned three victories – recorded in consecutive events by Erik Jones (Sept. 2022), William Byron (May 2023) and Kyle Larson (Sept. 2023). 

·        With Grant Enfinger’s win at Lime Rock Park, Chevrolet sits just two wins away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win. 

·        With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division’s history. 

·        In 169 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 73 victories – a winning percentage of 43.2%. 

·        Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025. 

·        With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 887 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history. 
TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesCook Out Southern 500Sunday, Sept. 6, at 5:00 p.m. ETUSA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesFleetio 200Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhere does Darlington rank on your list of tracks?“Darlington is my favorite track. I’m very honest about that. I just love it so much. It’s a very challenging track and you have to hit your marks every single time. I want to win there so, so bad. I got the win in the Truck Series in 2024 and that was very special, but man, I really want a Cup win.” How do you like having the longer practice sessions?“I think it’s great. I know as a driver, I love making laps. I still am a fan, but when I was a strictly a fan and not a driver in the series, I loved watching cars on track. So 12-year-old Ross would be pumped to see cars on the track more for practice. As a driver, I think it’s great for us and it’s really great for the younger guys who don’t have much experience in Cup. With testing so limited, these extra few minutes everyone is getting is huge for race preparation.”


Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat is the most challenging part of Darlington Raceway? “Probably just taking care of your stuff, taking care of tires, not stepping over the edge, and then you have to be on the edge to be fast, so it’s like a knife edge. You got guys that are going to run right against the fence, you got guys who are on the bottom, but there’s pace on both of those at different times of the race. You got to be comfortable switching lanes.”   What is the physical toll of racing at Darlington, and how demanding is it on you as a driver? “The precision that it takes, you’ll find yourself at times right up against the wall. Other times you’re underneath people in turn 4, which gets really tight. The bumps off of (turn) 4, you really have to stay on your game because one slip can knock you out of the race and put you in a bad position. You’re dancing the whole time on the edge of the intensity levels of what it takes to be good at Darlington.”   Talk about racing at Darlington Raceway and how much emphasis you place on that race?“Darlington is a place that you’re constantly fighting the track. The track changes with temperature, and the Southern 500 is a race where you’ve just got to work at every lap. You try and work your way to the top, and at times you can come off of it and work different lanes. It gets really tight off of turn 4. But it’s a really cool race because it’s so long, and its grueling and everyone wants to win the Southern 500.” You’ve won two Crown Jewel races. What would it mean to you to win this one?“It would be really cool to win the Southern 500 with the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet. We’ve won a couple of big races – the Coke 600 and Daytona 500 – and the Southern 500 is kind of the three that you would really like to get. I would love to bring home that trophy and it would be an epic game changer for us this year.” How different is Darlington Raceway now compared to a couple of years ago when you finished second in the Southern 500?“It’s not much different. I think the car is the biggest thing. We’ve come a long way with the Next Gen car and it takes a little something different. So hopefully we hit on that with the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet and go have some fun.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow are you feeling heading into Darlington?“I’m really proud of my team and the work we’ve put in to get to this point. To start The Chase at Darlington, we have some good notes from the spring and a solid notebook to build from. The night race is always a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the track changes as the sun goes down. It’s supposed to be pretty hot, so I think the track is going to be tough on tires, which will make tire management a priority. Hopefully, we can take what we learned in the spring, make the right adjustments throughout the night, and put ourselves in a good position to start The Chase strong.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Darlington?“Darlington is one of those tracks that is so much fun to drive, but the race is also one of the longest inside the car. I just love racing against the racetrack there—the Lady in Black. It’s so tough, it’s such a challenge, and you always feel like as a driver you can make an extra difference at that racetrack. And it’s been one of the tracks that [I’ve] had some good results at too.” What is racing at Darlington like?“Darlington is one of the top two tracks on my list with Bristol. I love going to Darlington and how you feel like you’ve gone back in time with the old school track and old school vibe. It’s nice to go back to a track for the second time. It’s one of our longest races, and conditioning, especially in this late summer heat, is going to be a lot. I’m looking forward to it and have a lot of high hopes and confidence going into this weekend.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletThey call Darlington Raceway “The Lady in Black” and “The Track Too Tough to Tame” for a reason. What do you think about going back there with your crew chief Trent Owens?“We’re going back to my crew chief’s (Trent Owens) home track for the second time this season. I’m very lucky to have Trent as my crew chief for many reasons and I feel like we’ve become really good friends over the last year and a half. When Chris Rice and I were talking at the start of the Cup program, when Justin (Haley) was full-time, about who we should get, he said I had the chance to get Trent. I’d worked with Trent at the 47 (formerly JTG Daugherty Racing), especially when he was with (Chris) Buescher, and I got to work with him for the last 10 races when I was there. I just thought he was so good. We had a great run at Darlington last August and finished fifth, but we had a difficult time earlier this year. We’ll do our best this weekend to get out of there with a respectable finish.”


Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts entering your first Southern 500? “I have run a Cup race at Darlington before, but the package we are racing this weekend is completely different so I’m not sure there is much to transfer over. We have more horsepower and a smaller diffuser. It’s the package we’ve been running at tracks like Richmond, Iowa, and Nashville, so we have a base knowledge of what to expect. I think this package is going to play into my hands better though. You can still get tight in dirty air or get loose but it’s not as aggressive. It cuts it probably in half of how bad the dirty air is. If our Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet is good enough, we should be able to drive up through the field, especially with the tire fall-off. Even though the package is different, Darlington is still Darlington to me. How you approach the racetrack is going to be the same as the O’Reilly (Auto Parts Series) car, so that should be a positive. I’m pretty excited about it.” 
 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“We’re coming off a strong fifth-place finish at Daytona, so we want to carry that momentum into Darlington. It’s always a tough place, but we’re looking forward to the challenge and having Ram Self Storage back on the No. 47 Chevrolet. Hopefully we can put together another solid run.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing ChevroletDarlington is known as the track “Too Tough To Tame.” What makes it so tough?“You’ve got a very old racetrack, high banking, high commitment, just running up super close to the wall in both corners of the track. So to be able to qualify well there, you basically hold your breath for a lap and a half. During the race, when you’re side-by-side with low grip and high commitment, things just happen super quick, especially coming off of turn two. And then the tire degradation – even 10, 15 laps into a run, you feel like you’ve been out there for 100 laps. To stay committed and have the focus you need to hit your marks lap after lap at Darlington is hard. And especially with an extra 100 miles compared to the spring race, it makes for a very tough race.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow do you maximize the momentum from Daytona heading into The Chase as a driver who is not eligible for the title?“Daytona was a much-needed result for us. The last few weeks have been tough and we aren’t exactly where we want to be this season. Regardless, having two of our Spire Motorsports Chevrolets locked into The Chase is huge for us as an organization. Our No. 71 team wants to win, and that is still our goal while we keep building our notebook and focus on quality results that we can use as building blocks for next season. Darlington, especially the Southern 500, is such a fun race. Managing tires, running the wall, and watching the track transition from day to night makes for a great weekend all the way around. Hopefully, we can carry the momentum from last weekend into the final stretch of the season and finish 2026 strong.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWith The Chase officially under way, does your mindset shift, at all, heading to Darlington and the final 10 races of the season?“I don’t think anything changes for us. We just get to enjoy it. It is Spire Motorsports’ first time as a part of The Chase, and we’ve got two of us in it. Us and the over 200 employees at Spire get to enjoy, have fun on the journey, and get to go racing for a championship. We are approaching it as we would any other race. Luke (Lambert, crew chief) has a lot of experience in The Chase, and so does Matt McCall (Cup Series Competition Director). No one expected Ryan Newman to make it all the way to Homestead and have a chance in 2014, but they were there, they were competitive, and they did it all with consistency. In that time, the format didn’t reward consistency, and now it does. That’s how we are going to look at it, and we will see how the chips fall while playing the hands we are dealt each week.” Does the Southern 500 have an atmosphere comparable to the other crown jewel events?“For me it does. I enjoy it. First off, I love to rip the fence at Darlington. Then as the run goes on, you really struggle as the tires wear out and you are just trying to hang on. A lot of my friends go to that one just because of the eye candy of the track. You have the old school feel, but you add in the sunset throughout the opening portion of the race, then pure under-the-lights racing for the second half. I think the track suits the nighttime racing more than the daytime, and the place always gets packed out for this one.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow big of a thrill ride is racing at Darlington?“Darlington is definitely high on the fun meter. It took me a little bit to figure it out last year in the O’Reilly series. It was one of the few tracks where I qualified outside the top-10. I remember last year in Stage 1 I was running 20th and I was like man, this is difficult, like just trying to put your car in the right spot as the tires wear and making sure that you’re maximizing what you have. We made one adjustment and the next thing I know we were one of the fastest cars on the racetrack and I was driving through the field. It’s certainly one of the toughest tracks that we go to, probably the toughest, as a driver, just being able to manage your tires. After 30 to 40 laps on a tire run, it’s a handful.” Does the history at Darlington resonate with you?“Darlington has obviously got a lot of history and it’s cool for a guy like me who’s really young to go there and take that all in. You walk across the asphalt and you can tell it’s been around for a while. I definitely enjoy the old school feeling that Darlington has.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletIf somebody had said to you at the start of the year you’d have a shot at making The Chase, what would your reaction have been?“I would have been pretty stoked (laughs). But obviously, you want the whole team to have the opportunity because that means the team is doing well. The reality is that we have struggled a bit, but I’m happy on the No. 97 side, personally, to have matched Ross (Chastain). We know how good he is on the ovals, and I think I’ve made a big jump this year to be able to match him most weeks. And obviously Connor (Zilisch), as well, is a huge talent, so to be comparable to those guys has been really cool for me this year. There’s a lot of hard work going on, but we definitely need to improve if we want to have that opportunity at making it (The Chase) next season.” Despite coming up short of making The Chase, how do you assess the season?“The season is not over yet, but I’m proud that I’m closer to my teammates on ovals. I’ve managed to have a pretty good year. Obviously, I want us to do better as a team, and as team we aren’t quite there yet. But we’ve made good improvement on the ovals, which is important.” What do the next 10 weeks look like for you and the No. 97 team?“I guess we can try things now, take a bit more risk and just have some fun, low stress. But also work to do the best we can and learn more about what we need out of the car at certain tracks and prepare for next season.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Darlington RacewaySeptember 5-6, 2026
MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom
Chevrolet’s championship title-defending campaign in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series begins this Labor Day weekend as the sport heads to the historic venue tapped as “The Track Too Tough To Tame” – Darlington Raceway. Saturday night’s Fleetio 200 will launch the nine-race O’Reilly Series postseason schedule, while Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 kicks off the Cup Series’ 10-race run towards the coveted Bill France Cup. After a Daytona finale that reshuffled both fields, Chevrolet rolls into Darlington with a heavy contingent of title contenders across both series.
Chevrolet’s Southern 500 Pedigree: Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 carries its own distinct history for the Bowtie brand. Since the event’s inception in 1950, Chevrolet has claimed 29 Southern 500 victories, the most of any manufacturer in the crown jewel race’s history. Hendrick Motorsports alone accounts for 12 of those wins, also the most by any team. Career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, leads all drivers with six Southern 500 victories – a run that included four-in-a-row from 1995-98.  Chevrolet’s most recent Southern 500 winner is the series’ reigning champion, Kyle Larson, whose 2023 victory doubled as Chevrolet’s 44th all-time Cup Series win at Darlington and the milestone 500th all-time NASCAR national series win for the Hendrick Engine Department. In the Next Gen era, Chevrolet has won three of nine races at Darlington, including back-to-back Southern 500 triumphs with Erik Jones (2022) and Larson (2023), sandwiched around William Byron’s win in the track’s 2023 spring race. Two of those three Next Gen winners – Larson and Byron – return to Darlington this weekend as part of a five-car Chevrolet contingent in the Cup Series Chase field.
FIVE TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS SET FOR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLEWith the 16-driver field officially complete, Chevrolet will send five drivers into battle for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Among those includes a pair of past champions, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, with the duo leading the manufacturer into the postseason seeded in the seventh and eighth positions, respectively. Spire Motorsports, who is on the brink of their first-ever postseason appearance, will have two drivers in the title hunt with Daniel Suarez (11th) and Carson Hocevar (12th). Rounding out the Team Chevy lineup is the 13th seed, William Byron, who is set to embark on his eighth consecutive trip to the postseason.  
Larson, Elliott Among Past Champions: Larson and Elliott have earned a spot on an elite list of just four past NASCAR Cup Series champions that are left to vie for the Bill France Cup. The pair have been staple names in postseason competition in recent years, with 2026 marking their 10th title-contending campaigns in NASCAR’s premier series. Larson, the reigning series champion, heads back to a racetrack where he’s found victory lane before. His 2023 Southern 500 win remains one of two active Chevrolet triumphs at Darlington, alongside Byron’s 2023 spring race win. Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, is still chasing his first Cup win at Darlington but arrives with two wins in the bank this season for Hendrick Motorsports.
Byron Taps Postseason Experience: Byron is no stranger to postseason pressure, with the Chevrolet driver coming off his third-consecutive postseason run that ended in a trip to the Championship Four. While still seeking his first trip to victory lane of the season, the No. 24 team knows its way around Darlington better than most of their competitors and will look to turn that track history into a bounce-back performance in the postseason opener. In six of his last eight starts at the track, the North Carolina native has turned in top-eight results, including his 2023 spring race win. In the Next Gen era, his average finish of 10.3 is third-best in the field. 
Spire Motorsports’ First Postseason Appearance: For Spire Motorsports, it’s already been a season for the record books. Not only will this be the organization’s first appearance in the postseason, but they will send two drivers into the title hunt. Suarez punched his ticket on the strength of one of the strongest regular seasons of his Cup career, highlighted by a rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 win, while Hocevar, in just his third full-time season, is making his first career trip to the Chase.
CHEVROLET HITS DOUBLE-DIGITS IN THE O’REILLY CHASEA record season for Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is only just beginning as the manufacturer hit a near takeover of the postseason lineup. Ten of the 12 drivers who qualified for the nine-race Chase are Chevrolet-powered – headlined by JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who enters as the No. 1 seed and a championship favorite after a career-high six-win regular season. His teammate, Carson Kvapil, enters second after wins at Indianapolis and Iowa. Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love and Austin Hill hold down the fourth and fifth seeds, while Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed – now fielding Chevrolet’s after the organization’s manufacturer switch this season – rounds out the top-three. The Hendrick-backed rookie Corey Day and JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith also transferred into the Chase prior to the regular season finale, entering their championship campaigns seeded seventh and eighth, respectively. Viking Motorsports’ Parker Retzlaff (ninth) and Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer (10th), who entered Daytona holding down provisional transfer spots, both raced their way into the field to give Chevrolet nine of the top-10 seeded positions.  One Chevrolet driver in particular delivers on the promise of last week: Rajah Caruth. Trailing the Chase cutline by 15 points entering Daytona, the young Team Chevy driver went on to score his first career O’Reilly Series pole and positioned himself in winning contention through much of the race. Despite a late-race spin that cost him a shot at a big finish, a strong points effort in the first-two stages was enough to lift the rookie into the 12th and final Chase seed – capping a solid first full-time season split across two different Chevrolet organizations.
BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway:     Kyle Larson – one win (2023 Southern 500)William Byron – one win (May 2023) 

·        In 130 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 44 victories. In nine events in the series’ Next Gen era, Chevrolet has earned three victories – recorded in consecutive events by Erik Jones (Sept. 2022), William Byron (May 2023) and Kyle Larson (Sept. 2023). 

·        With Grant Enfinger’s win at Lime Rock Park, Chevrolet sits just two wins away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win. 

·        With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division’s history. 

·        In 169 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 73 victories – a winning percentage of 43.2%. 

·        Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025. 

·        With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 887 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history. 
TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesCook Out Southern 500Sunday, Sept. 6, at 5:00 p.m. ETUSA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesFleetio 200Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhere does Darlington rank on your list of tracks?“Darlington is my favorite track. I’m very honest about that. I just love it so much. It’s a very challenging track and you have to hit your marks every single time. I want to win there so, so bad. I got the win in the Truck Series in 2024 and that was very special, but man, I really want a Cup win.” How do you like having the longer practice sessions?“I think it’s great. I know as a driver, I love making laps. I still am a fan, but when I was a strictly a fan and not a driver in the series, I loved watching cars on track. So 12-year-old Ross would be pumped to see cars on the track more for practice. As a driver, I think it’s great for us and it’s really great for the younger guys who don’t have much experience in Cup. With testing so limited, these extra few minutes everyone is getting is huge for race preparation.”


Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat is the most challenging part of Darlington Raceway? “Probably just taking care of your stuff, taking care of tires, not stepping over the edge, and then you have to be on the edge to be fast, so it’s like a knife edge. You got guys that are going to run right against the fence, you got guys who are on the bottom, but there’s pace on both of those at different times of the race. You got to be comfortable switching lanes.”   What is the physical toll of racing at Darlington, and how demanding is it on you as a driver? “The precision that it takes, you’ll find yourself at times right up against the wall. Other times you’re underneath people in turn 4, which gets really tight. The bumps off of (turn) 4, you really have to stay on your game because one slip can knock you out of the race and put you in a bad position. You’re dancing the whole time on the edge of the intensity levels of what it takes to be good at Darlington.”   Talk about racing at Darlington Raceway and how much emphasis you place on that race?“Darlington is a place that you’re constantly fighting the track. The track changes with temperature, and the Southern 500 is a race where you’ve just got to work at every lap. You try and work your way to the top, and at times you can come off of it and work different lanes. It gets really tight off of turn 4. But it’s a really cool race because it’s so long, and its grueling and everyone wants to win the Southern 500.” You’ve won two Crown Jewel races. What would it mean to you to win this one?“It would be really cool to win the Southern 500 with the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet. We’ve won a couple of big races – the Coke 600 and Daytona 500 – and the Southern 500 is kind of the three that you would really like to get. I would love to bring home that trophy and it would be an epic game changer for us this year.” How different is Darlington Raceway now compared to a couple of years ago when you finished second in the Southern 500?“It’s not much different. I think the car is the biggest thing. We’ve come a long way with the Next Gen car and it takes a little something different. So hopefully we hit on that with the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet and go have some fun.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow are you feeling heading into Darlington?“I’m really proud of my team and the work we’ve put in to get to this point. To start The Chase at Darlington, we have some good notes from the spring and a solid notebook to build from. The night race is always a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the track changes as the sun goes down. It’s supposed to be pretty hot, so I think the track is going to be tough on tires, which will make tire management a priority. Hopefully, we can take what we learned in the spring, make the right adjustments throughout the night, and put ourselves in a good position to start The Chase strong.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Darlington?“Darlington is one of those tracks that is so much fun to drive, but the race is also one of the longest inside the car. I just love racing against the racetrack there—the Lady in Black. It’s so tough, it’s such a challenge, and you always feel like as a driver you can make an extra difference at that racetrack. And it’s been one of the tracks that [I’ve] had some good results at too.” What is racing at Darlington like?“Darlington is one of the top two tracks on my list with Bristol. I love going to Darlington and how you feel like you’ve gone back in time with the old school track and old school vibe. It’s nice to go back to a track for the second time. It’s one of our longest races, and conditioning, especially in this late summer heat, is going to be a lot. I’m looking forward to it and have a lot of high hopes and confidence going into this weekend.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletThey call Darlington Raceway “The Lady in Black” and “The Track Too Tough to Tame” for a reason. What do you think about going back there with your crew chief Trent Owens?“We’re going back to my crew chief’s (Trent Owens) home track for the second time this season. I’m very lucky to have Trent as my crew chief for many reasons and I feel like we’ve become really good friends over the last year and a half. When Chris Rice and I were talking at the start of the Cup program, when Justin (Haley) was full-time, about who we should get, he said I had the chance to get Trent. I’d worked with Trent at the 47 (formerly JTG Daugherty Racing), especially when he was with (Chris) Buescher, and I got to work with him for the last 10 races when I was there. I just thought he was so good. We had a great run at Darlington last August and finished fifth, but we had a difficult time earlier this year. We’ll do our best this weekend to get out of there with a respectable finish.”


Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts entering your first Southern 500? “I have run a Cup race at Darlington before, but the package we are racing this weekend is completely different so I’m not sure there is much to transfer over. We have more horsepower and a smaller diffuser. It’s the package we’ve been running at tracks like Richmond, Iowa, and Nashville, so we have a base knowledge of what to expect. I think this package is going to play into my hands better though. You can still get tight in dirty air or get loose but it’s not as aggressive. It cuts it probably in half of how bad the dirty air is. If our Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet is good enough, we should be able to drive up through the field, especially with the tire fall-off. Even though the package is different, Darlington is still Darlington to me. How you approach the racetrack is going to be the same as the O’Reilly (Auto Parts Series) car, so that should be a positive. I’m pretty excited about it.” 
 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“We’re coming off a strong fifth-place finish at Daytona, so we want to carry that momentum into Darlington. It’s always a tough place, but we’re looking forward to the challenge and having Ram Self Storage back on the No. 47 Chevrolet. Hopefully we can put together another solid run.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing ChevroletDarlington is known as the track “Too Tough To Tame.” What makes it so tough?“You’ve got a very old racetrack, high banking, high commitment, just running up super close to the wall in both corners of the track. So to be able to qualify well there, you basically hold your breath for a lap and a half. During the race, when you’re side-by-side with low grip and high commitment, things just happen super quick, especially coming off of turn two. And then the tire degradation – even 10, 15 laps into a run, you feel like you’ve been out there for 100 laps. To stay committed and have the focus you need to hit your marks lap after lap at Darlington is hard. And especially with an extra 100 miles compared to the spring race, it makes for a very tough race.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow do you maximize the momentum from Daytona heading into The Chase as a driver who is not eligible for the title?“Daytona was a much-needed result for us. The last few weeks have been tough and we aren’t exactly where we want to be this season. Regardless, having two of our Spire Motorsports Chevrolets locked into The Chase is huge for us as an organization. Our No. 71 team wants to win, and that is still our goal while we keep building our notebook and focus on quality results that we can use as building blocks for next season. Darlington, especially the Southern 500, is such a fun race. Managing tires, running the wall, and watching the track transition from day to night makes for a great weekend all the way around. Hopefully, we can carry the momentum from last weekend into the final stretch of the season and finish 2026 strong.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWith The Chase officially under way, does your mindset shift, at all, heading to Darlington and the final 10 races of the season?“I don’t think anything changes for us. We just get to enjoy it. It is Spire Motorsports’ first time as a part of The Chase, and we’ve got two of us in it. Us and the over 200 employees at Spire get to enjoy, have fun on the journey, and get to go racing for a championship. We are approaching it as we would any other race. Luke (Lambert, crew chief) has a lot of experience in The Chase, and so does Matt McCall (Cup Series Competition Director). No one expected Ryan Newman to make it all the way to Homestead and have a chance in 2014, but they were there, they were competitive, and they did it all with consistency. In that time, the format didn’t reward consistency, and now it does. That’s how we are going to look at it, and we will see how the chips fall while playing the hands we are dealt each week.” Does the Southern 500 have an atmosphere comparable to the other crown jewel events?“For me it does. I enjoy it. First off, I love to rip the fence at Darlington. Then as the run goes on, you really struggle as the tires wear out and you are just trying to hang on. A lot of my friends go to that one just because of the eye candy of the track. You have the old school feel, but you add in the sunset throughout the opening portion of the race, then pure under-the-lights racing for the second half. I think the track suits the nighttime racing more than the daytime, and the place always gets packed out for this one.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow big of a thrill ride is racing at Darlington?“Darlington is definitely high on the fun meter. It took me a little bit to figure it out last year in the O’Reilly series. It was one of the few tracks where I qualified outside the top-10. I remember last year in Stage 1 I was running 20th and I was like man, this is difficult, like just trying to put your car in the right spot as the tires wear and making sure that you’re maximizing what you have. We made one adjustment and the next thing I know we were one of the fastest cars on the racetrack and I was driving through the field. It’s certainly one of the toughest tracks that we go to, probably the toughest, as a driver, just being able to manage your tires. After 30 to 40 laps on a tire run, it’s a handful.” Does the history at Darlington resonate with you?“Darlington has obviously got a lot of history and it’s cool for a guy like me who’s really young to go there and take that all in. You walk across the asphalt and you can tell it’s been around for a while. I definitely enjoy the old school feeling that Darlington has.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletIf somebody had said to you at the start of the year you’d have a shot at making The Chase, what would your reaction have been?“I would have been pretty stoked (laughs). But obviously, you want the whole team to have the opportunity because that means the team is doing well. The reality is that we have struggled a bit, but I’m happy on the No. 97 side, personally, to have matched Ross (Chastain). We know how good he is on the ovals, and I think I’ve made a big jump this year to be able to match him most weeks. And obviously Connor (Zilisch), as well, is a huge talent, so to be comparable to those guys has been really cool for me this year. There’s a lot of hard work going on, but we definitely need to improve if we want to have that opportunity at making it (The Chase) next season.” Despite coming up short of making The Chase, how do you assess the season?“The season is not over yet, but I’m proud that I’m closer to my teammates on ovals. I’ve managed to have a pretty good year. Obviously, I want us to do better as a team, and as team we aren’t quite there yet. But we’ve made good improvement on the ovals, which is important.” What do the next 10 weeks look like for you and the No. 97 team?“I guess we can try things now, take a bit more risk and just have some fun, low stress. But also work to do the best we can and learn more about what we need out of the car at certain tracks and prepare for next season.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series StatisticsManufacturer Championships:Total (1949-2025): 44First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2025 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Driver Championships:Total (1949-2025): 34First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29 Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2026 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 6Poles: 6Laps Led: 1,859Top-Fives: 43Top-10s: 89Stage Wins: 18 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 887 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 772Laps led to date: 258,593Top-fives to date: 4,479Top-10s to date: 9,240                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,221           Chevrolet: 887           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 854                                                                                          Ford: 754           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 217

Chevy racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Carson Hocevar

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Team Chevy Driver Quotes September 2, 2026


Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Quotes

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NASCAR Cup SeriesChase Media DayTeam Chevy Driver QuotesSeptember 2, 2026


Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Quotes

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On the extra noise/attention:“Whether we run good or bad, there always seems to be some sort of talking point. But I enjoy it, I think it’s funny a lot of times. Hopefully it’s entertaining for the fans and TV and everybody. I’d much rather talk about something than nothing.”


On whether he’s changed:“I haven’t really had to change much. I just always think it’s crazy that anybody would buy any merch. At Daytona, I decided I’d go get a Kona Ice and just take my golf cart, and the guys around me were freaking out that I was going to go by myself without security. It doesn’t click that there would be a crowd. I could probably get away with saying some answers now that I wouldn’t have been able to before, so it’s been fun.”

 On the incident in the regular season finale race at Daytona: “Everybody I talked to said there’s a lot less downforce on the nose and a lot more lift behind people. Preece even went on podcasts saying it almost happened to him. I’d never gotten loose at a superspeedway in this car before, normally you’re always super stuck. My spotter was laughing, saying it looked like I blew a tire. These cars are super aero-sensitive, and once it got loose, it was over. I moved about 30 feet earlier in the corner, but I wasn’t all the way in the banking to put load on the front. I’d do it the same way all over again, knowing what I knew then, but I’d be a little more aware of it now.”

 On the No. 77 team’s mentality heading into the Chase:  “Our team moral or motto is we’re playing with house money. Luke (Lambert) and Matt McCall were on that 31 team in 2014, and that’s how they approached it, and they finished second. I’m not going to look at the points until the end. They’ll let me know when I walk up at the banquet where I finished.” 

On the tracks in the Chase:  “The faster tracks are better for us. Talladega is exciting. The most difficult one is going to be Martinsville for us, but all the other ones, we’ve run top-five or top-10. I feel good about them excitement-level wise.”

 Inaudible…“I think it’s been healthy for all of them. They’ve been wanting to do that for a long time, and that’s been very good. There’s been a lot of turnaround on the 7 car, so it’s great for the 7 team that they are getting some positive reinforcement.” 

On the Days of Thunder 2 Announcement:  “That was actually the first time I met him (Tom Cruise). We were trying to line up with his team on when to meet him, and his security guard came and grabbed me and stood me right in front of him. I was talking to the sailors earlier, and they were fans of me. He was going down the line of sailors and kind of glanced over to see if there was another one. He looked back and realized it was me. They were telling me, “When he sees you, he’s going to recognize you. He loves you.” That’s super cool, that’s fun. It’s been super cool to put my input into the movie; give ideas and video clips from real-life moments from the last 20 years that haven’t known have existed.” 

On racing for the fans: “I’m a fan myself, and we race for the fans. We appreciate them. I’m thankful my owner lets me do the fun things I do. He appreciates them (fans) just as much as I do. We get to race how I want to race, and that seems to be entertaining. I want to make this journey and Cup thing as fun as I want to make it. If I’m having fun, I think a lot of people enjoy watching me have fun.” 

On starting the Chase at Darlington, where he’s had good results: That helps. I’m excited for that because we started last at that race, too. Darlington has been a good for us. We finished ninth last year and spun out at one point because we were so bad. We made a lot of adjustments that day and I’m looking forward to Darlington because it’s a really fun one to race.”  

On balancing the fun and competition:“The day before we won Talladega, we took three $500 cars and raced the hell out of them a dirt bike track. Mine blew up, so we put it at the top of the hill, put a rock on the gas pedal and sent it off a cliff just to see what happens, and we won the next day. (Sarcastically) I guess I was pretty distracted there too, but it worked out. Not everybody sees that side of things. From a racer’s perspective, there always has to be a reason for anything, whether you’re running good or bad, magically, “if you look at the data five more minutes, you’ll go faster.” I just enjoy it. It’s just common for me to have fun and perform well while doing it.” 

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Daniel Suarez

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Team Chevy Driver Quotes September 2, 2026


Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Quotes

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NASCAR Cup SeriesChase Media DayTeam Chevy Driver QuotesSeptember 2, 2026


Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Quotes

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Inaudible… I’m always looking forward to the next one. I think, overall at Spire Motorsports, we have shown a lot of speed in on the high downforce racetracks. We still have a little bit of work to do on the low downforce racetracks. I mean, with that being said, we also race very well in Darlington and that’s a low downforce track. Hopefully we can get our package a little bit better for low downforce tracks.”   How do you feel about the performance of the No. 7 team during the regular season? “You know, I try not to think about it too much. I’m so focused on the next 10 races that, honestly, I haven’t really sat down and thought about how good of a job we did as a team in the regular season. The only reason why I’m thinking about it right now is because several people have asked me that today. I’m very proud of the effort. With that being said, I still don’t want to think about it too much because, in my mind, the job is not done yet. We still have a quarter of the season left and that’s the most important one. Hopefully we can continue to grow, continue to learn and continue to improve on this No. 7 team.”    On his mindset heading into the postseason: “I think that the main thing is that you have to control what you can control. Sometimes, as a driver, we want to do too much and there’s only so much that is under our control. You know, the only car I can control out there is the No. 7 car and the No. 7 team. I don’t care about what the other guys are doing or not doing. We have to just control what we can control, and if we can focus on that and maximize that, I feel that we’re going to be in a pretty good spot.”    On being on baby watch to start the Chase: “That’s an important question, man. Listen, obviously this is the first time that we’re going through this, right? But right now, Julia is extremely normal. It’s extremely normal. Yesterday, we had a meeting with our doula and I asked her — I said, hey, what are the chances that the baby comes this weekend? And she said, obviously you never know, but I think that’s pretty low, just because she’s not having a lot of issues yet.  So, yes, we’re on baby watch, but I will be surprised if it happens in the next few days. I think for the next handful of days, I think we’re okay. And then after that, getting into Gateway, I think things are going to start getting a little more serious.”   Inaudible…“Yeah, obviously every racetrack is quite different, right? Every racetrack is very unique. But like I said earlier, you know, it’s going to be very important just to maximize your potential. If you have an amazing start in Darlington, great, continue that momentum. But if you don’t, you have to flip the page. You know, I always tell people this all the time — regardless of what happens on Sunday in the race, on Monday, you have to start the journey all over again. It’s very important to recognize that because if you win or you lose, you have to start all over again. So it’s going to be very important to recognize that and work towards that for 10 weeks.”    On his first season with Spire Motorsports: “Yeah, I mean, obviously we work very hard as a team to build fast racecars. We have a lot of men and women that work very, very hard at Spire Motorsports. I feel very privileged to be able to have fast cars. I know how important that is. Last year was difficult. And if you think about it, I’m the same driver, it’s just a different team, different people, different structure, different culture. And now, here we are in the Chase. We almost finished in the top-10 of the regular season, so it’s pretty remarkable. I’m very proud of that. I think I just told you how important it is to be in the right place with the right people around you. That’s with everything in life. Not just in racing, but with everything in life. You have to find the right people around you to be able to be successful. I feel very proud to be an important piece for Spire Motorsports.”   On working with his teammates: “You know, Carson (Hocevar) is a very talented driver. He can make a lot of speed out of the cars. But he still has to learn that to be able to win races and championships, it’s not just about one lap. It’s not just about one pit stop. It’s not just about going fast. You have to be a good team leader. You have to be able to put the entire team together. That’s something that he’s learning with time. You know, this is only his third season, I think, in the Cup Series. He’s still learning all these things. I believe that he has tremendous potential, but he has to continue to be humble, continue to grow and continue to get better and better. I believe that’s something that — I don’t know if he sees these things this way, but I believe that the No. 7 team has made the No. 77 team way better this year because now he has another strong team that are pushing each other. The No. 77 team has obviously made the No. 71 team better, as well. That healthy competition is something that’s extremely important. Michael (McDowell), I believe that he’s a very, very good driver, and hopefully, we can bring Michael into this group, as well, so we can have three strong teams pushing each other every single week.”    What do you credit towards Spire Motorsports recent success? “Honestly, I think the Hendrick Motorsports alliance is an important piece of this puzzle for Spire Motorsports to be successful, but that’s not everything. That’s one of the things that I have been the most impressed about Spire, how much speed is actually made in-house. You know, this team does a great job with that. I don’t think Spire actually sometimes gets enough credit with the kind of speed and people that we have in-house.  I’m very proud of Spire Motorsports with the growth and how things are getting better. But we have to stay humble. We have to stay moving forward and stay hungry. You know, that’s very important. My goal is not to just make the Chase. My goal is to be strong in the Chase. I have made the postseason several times. I think that’s very cool, but we want to be real contenders. I would be lying to you if I told you that, right now, we’re the favorites to win the championship. But I think that we have to have that mentality to always continue to get better and better.”

Chevy racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Kyle Larson

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Team Chevy Driver Quotes September 2, 2026


Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Quotes

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NASCAR Cup SeriesChase Media DayTeam Chevy Driver QuotesSeptember 2, 2026


Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day Quotes

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Inaudible…“I don’t even know what the third track is, but yeah, I don’t know. It’s just important to get good runs in at every track. Obviously, if you can start the Chase off with some solid results, some solid points, you’ll just give yourself better hope throughout it. I mean, 10 weeks is a long time, but I think you can quickly feel like you’re out of it and you don’t want to do that.”   On how he feels going into the postseason: “I don’t know, I’m not as confident as I’ve been, for sure, in other years. But I wasn’t, honestly, sitting here that confident last year, and we were able to win the championship. I know there’s a path to do it. We did it last year without winning a race in the final 10 races, and we weren’t even really all that consistent, from what I remember. I think if we can be ultra-consistent in these final 10 races, there’s no doubt that I could see ourselves winning the championship.  I mean, I could also see ourselves winning four or five races in the Chase. You know, things have to go perfect, but we do have a lot of good tracks for us in these final 10. We just need to execute at a high level, and I think our team is definitely capable of that. We’ll try and do our best.”    Inaudible…“Yeah, I mean, the good thing is we’ve gotten to live through 26 races of it. I know it’s not with the pressure of the final 10, but still, you get to realize how much consistency really matters. You know, there was a point before we started having our 30th-place finishes where it was like, man, we could get to third in points in the regular season. And then, come Daytona, we had an opportunity to finish 12th in the regular season points. So yeah, it can quickly kind of go either direction. We rattled off a good string of races with four top-fives in a row. We scored a lot more points than I think even Denny (Hamlin) had at that point. So yeah, we just have to work hard at it.”    On the different tracks in the Chase: “Gateway would be a track that doesn’t really tend to suit our style of setup and stuff. But we were really good there last year. I actually thought that we were maybe the best car there last year, just the strategy got away from us.  And then, I don’t know, Talladega could go great or go bad. Phoenix, we suck, so I’m glad that’s not the final race anymore (laughs). We were horrible there, so that’s maybe our worst track on the schedule.”   Inaudible…“I don’t think it changes the way I think about a race or approach a race. You show up and do the best job you can every week. I mean, there’s no guarantee that I’m going win a dirt race when I show up either. So, it’s the same at a NASCAR race. I feel like I have a better opportunity sometimes, but this series is just really tough and the teams are good. There’s a team or two that are just way faster than everybody right now. So, we as a team, are working really hard to get back to that point to make wins a lot easier, like they once were. I mean, I think for me, again, you’re just trying to do the best job you can. You realize early on in the race kind of where you’re at for speed and stuff and you adjust your sort of expectations and goals mid-race to that. And then, you try to match it or do better.   On racing at Gateway: “I mean, Gateway, I don’t look at Richmond as really mattering towards that. It’s a totally different surface, totally different track, everything. There’s nothing like it. I think, last year, we were actually really good at Gateway, so I look more at that. Do I think that we’ll be the best car going again this year? I don’t know…hopefully. We have a good baseline for that track. I think it’s pretty solid.”   Inaudible… “Well, I mean, the ceiling is a championship. We’ve done it twice. I know it’s a previous format, but we would have done it in this format last year. There’s still a way to do it. So, absolutely, I think we can win the championship. It’s going to be tougher than most years, just with where we are at with the speed and deficit in points. But it’s absolutely doable.”    On the change for the postseason format: I think for the sport, I’m happy with the change, for sure. And then, also, I mean, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m going to show up and race whatever format they bring. But I think this format, so far, has proven to be really exciting still.”    Inaudible… “Well, I mean, you can recognize it your whole career. I feel like, when I was back at Ganassi, there were a lot of weekends where I would go to the racetrack knowing I would have no shot to win. But you have other goals, you know? So, it’s all kind of the same. It’s just, where’s that bar leading into that weekend?  But I think this year, I think it’s fair to lower your expectations a little bit some weekends, just based off where you’re at realistically. And I think that, a lot of times, that can help you execute better days, you know? You’re not reaching for something that’s not reachable. I think we’re in a really, really good spot as a team. We’re continuing to get our cars better. You know, we have gotten our cars better. I feel like from where we were in April, or even early May, we’re way better. I’m proud of our team for that, and we still have 10 weeks to get better. 10 weeks is a long time.”   On the pressure heading into the Chase: “I don’t know how I feel, either way. You know, I’ve come into playoffs before as the number one seed, and I didn’t feel any more or less pressure then than I do now. It’s just about trying to execute on a high level and try to do a good job. I just enjoy this time of year. It’s fun for all of us to be a part of it.  Do I feel like we’re flying under the radar? No. You just kind of go out there and focus on yourself and try to do the best you can.”    On the announcement of Days of Thunder 2: “Oh, I don’t know. I mean, it’s whatever they want. I think it would be a cool opportunity, for sure, but I’m also not an actor, so I don’t want to make the film worse. It was awesome to get the opportunity to meet him (Tom Cruise). He’s a celebrity like I’ve never met before in my life. You could tell he was different than the rest of us, in a cool way, like really, really cool. We got to meet him in a prior meeting before the driver’s meeting, and it was just cool to hear him talk about us. He kind of already knows a little bit about us, so I thought that was neat. I look forward to kind of seeing the process of them making a movie and having, hopefully, us involved in some form or fashion of helping to build a storyline, be a part of the movie or whatever. I would love them (Hendrick Motorsports) to be involved, and I don’t think there’s another team in the sport that would do as much or as good of a job of helping build the best film possible than Hendrick Motorsports. They just go above and beyond on everything, and they have the experience of helping out with the last one. I haven’t heard if they’re a part of it or not. I hope they are. I think that’d be just really cool and awesome to see that kind of happening within the walls of Hendrick Motorsports. I hope they can do something to work it out to be a part of it because I think it would make the movie even better.”    Is the pressure different in this format compared to the previous? “Yeah, it’s probably a different pressure, for sure. I mean, you wanted to be consistent in the previous format so you didn’t want to have to rely on wins. Thankfully, I don’t think I was ever in a must-win situation in my time of being in a competitive car in the playoffs, so I don’t really know what that pressure is like. But for me, I think it’s pretty straightforward. You want to maximize your days in any format, so we’re going to try and do that.” 

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: Labor Day Weekend Sends World of Outlaws to South Dakota for Huset’s Shootout

BRANDON, SD (September 2, 2026) – The world’s best Sprint Car drivers are heading to Brandon, SD for a huge tripleheader this Labor Day weekend.

The L.G. Everist Huset’s Shootout brings the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series back to Huset’s Speedway for three big nights, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 4-6. A pair of $15,000-to-win prelims will set the stage for a $25,000-to-win Sunday showdown at the 1/3 mile.

Fans can expect an interesting format for the tripleheader. The two prelims will utilize the standard World of Outlaws format, but they’ll set the stage for a unique finale with inverted Heat Races and passing points helping line up the Feature. For the complete format, CLICK HERE.

No days off for The Greatest Show on Dirt this Labor Day weekend. All eyes are on Huset’s.

BUY THREE-DAY HUSET’S TICKET PACKAGE HERE
BUY FRIDAY HUSET’S 
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BUY SATURDAY HUSET’S 
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BUY SUNDAY HUSET’S 
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WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

MONEYMEN

A pair of drivers have made some hefty deposits to their bank accounts over the last few years thanks to Huset’s Speedway.

The first is Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. A devastating mechanical issue while leading the 2023 Huset’s High Bank Nationals lit a fire under him and Roth Motorsports that keeps on burning. Since then, Huset’s has hosted five races offering a six-figure winner’s check, and Kofoid has claimed four of them. The big paydays are only a piece of the Penngrove, CA native’s overall success in Brandon, SD. Overall, he’s won seven of the last 11 World of Outlaws Features at Huset’s. The first of his career also came there in 2022.

The second is two-time and defending Series champion David Gravel. He and Big Game Motorsports kept Tod Quiring’s money in house when they cashed in for $250,000 at the 2023 High Bank Nationals. Then, they did it again when the winner’s share climbed to a record $300,000. Overall, Gravel boasts five Huset’s victories in the Big Game No. 2.

GUNS BLAZIN’

Kofoid and Gravel are far from the only World of Outlaws drivers capable of cleaning up at the Huset’s Shootout.

Donny Schatz has found success at nearly every track he’s ever visited, and Huset’s is no exception. The 1/3 mile is responsible for four of his 317 career wins. The CJB Motorsports No. 15 finished on the podium during the final two nights of this year’s High Bank Nationals.

Sheldon Haudenschild is a fellow four-time Huset’s victor. His first three came with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing before adding one with KCP Racing in June. Haudenschild heads to Huset’s third in the standings, trailing Kofoid by 40 markers.

He’s never won a World of Outlaws event there, but Garet Williamson topped a trio of local Huset’s races before joining The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Fischer Motorsports pilot is fresh off securing his first Series checkered flag at River Cities Speedway.

Carson Macedo’s résumé lists two Huset’s triumphs since joining forces with Jason Johnson Racing (2022 and 2024). They’ll roll into South Dakota with the momentum of four podiums in the last five races.

Logan Schuchart and the Shark Racing No. 1S team snagged a High Bank Nationals prelim in 2023. They stumbled a bit over the weekend in North Dakota, but they’ve still been one of the hottest teams all summer with 14 top fives in the last 20 races.

Spencer Bayston took the CJB Motorsports No. 5 to Huset’s Victory Lane in 2022. The Lebanon, IN native wheeled the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 to a pair of top fives over the weekend in North Dakota.

It wasn’t in a Sprint Car, but Chris Windom grabbed a pair of Huset’s trophies in 2021 with the USAC National Midgets. He’ll chase another this weekend in the Sides Motorsports No. 7S.

TWENTY

A milestone of parity was hit over the weekend in North Dakota as 2026 continues to inch toward a record.

Garet Williamson’s popular first Series win made him the 20th different driver to visit Victory Lane this year with the World of Outlaws. That means 2026 is only the 10th time in 49 seasons of history that at least 20 competitors have topped a race. The record of 25 set in 2004 isn’t out of reach with more than 20 races left on the calendar.

Looking ahead to this weekend at Huset’s and who could be number 21, Bill Balog immediately stands out. Last year the “North Pole Nightmare” topped a High Bank Nationals prelim and followed it up with a runner-up in the finale. Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies leader Emerson Axsom could also add his name. He led laps and finished third at Huset’s in 2024. Cole Macedo is still hunting his first Series victory. His best Huset’s effort is fifth in June this year.

ROOKIE ON A ROLL

Every rookie World of Outlaws campaign is bound to bring some bumps along the way, but Emerson Axsom and Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports are starting to piece together a solid run.

Axsom’s current top-10 streak of five straight is by far his most consistent stretch of the season. The No. 27 has reeled off finishes of 10th at Ogilvie Raceway, fifth at Jackson Motorplex, sixth at River Cites Speedway, sixth at Fix It Forward Speedway, and eighth at Nodak Speedway. That’s an average result of seventh on the dot.

Axsom sits 12th in points as he cruises toward becoming the next Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies. Looking at the standings, Axsom climbing a few spots before the year is over isn’t unrealistic. Bill Balog is 11th and only 22 points in front, and then it’s Spencer Bayston in 10th (48 points ahead), Chris Windom in ninth (74 points ahead), and Cole Macedo in eighth (118 points ahead).

TIMMS’ TURF

There’s another driver with a strong chance to add his name to the list of 2026 winners this weekend, and his name is Ryan Timms.

The 20-year-old may be from Oklahoma City, OK, but Huset’s has become de facto home turf for him over the last couple of years. Timms linked with Liebig Motorsports, a team based in Rapid City, SD, and the pairing has become one of the country’s top combinations among those that follow a pick-and-choose schedule.

This year Timms has taken the No. 10 to 15 total victories, including a dozen in 410 competition. Timms’ 12 trails only Chase Dietz (18) and Aaron Reutzel (14). He’s fresh off locking up track championships at both Huset’s Speedway and Knoxville Raceway. It marked his second year in a row taking the Huset’s title.

Now, Timms and Shane Liebig’s crew aim to protect home turf with the best of the best coming to town. Timms is yet to top the World of Outlaws at Huset’s, but he’s come close with a pair of podiums, including a 2024 runner-up.

Timms will lead the charge of many Huset’s regulars in search of success on the big stage.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday-Sunday, Sept. 4-6 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD

AROUND THE TURN
Friday, Sept. 11 at Belleville High Banks in Belleville, KS (TICKETS)
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, KS (TICKETS)
Monday, Sept. 14 at El Paso County Raceway in Calhan, CO (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (57/81 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (7288 PTS)
2. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-170 PTS)
3. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-210 PTS)
4. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-248 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-318 PTS)
6. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-536 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-580 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-876 PTS)
9. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-920 PTS)
10. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-946 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (20 Drivers):
11 Wins – Michael Kofoid
10 Wins – David Gravel
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Wins – Carson Macedo
3 Wins – Anthony Macri, Logan Schuchart
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Donny Schatz, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Chris Windom, Kyle Larson, Garet Williamson

FEATURE LAPS LED (30 Drivers):
345 Laps Led – David Gravel
303 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
164 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
141 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
110 Laps Led – Garet Williamson
107 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
59 Laps Led – Kyle Larson
58 Laps Led – Bill Balog
56 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
40 Laps Led – Aaron Reutzel, Chris Windom
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
33 Laps Led – Brady Bacon, Rico Abreu
30 Laps Led – Corey Day, Chase Dietz
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne
21 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek
17 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
16 Laps Led – Bryce Lucius
15 Laps Led – Christopher Thram
12 Laps Led – Cole Macedo
11 Laps Led – Giovanni Scelzi, Emerson Axsom
7 Laps Led – Brian Brown
6 Laps Led – Brock Zearfoss
3 Laps Led – Brent MarksPODIUM FINISHES (34 Drivers):
26 Podiums – David Gravel
24 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
22 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Podiums – Carson Macedo
10 Podiums – Logan Schuchart
8 Podiums – Garet Williamson
6 Podiums – Donny Schatz
4 Podiums – Ryan Timms, Anthony Macri, Rico Abreu, Bill Balog
3 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, Aaron Reutzel
2 Podiums – Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Giovanni Scelzi, Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Scott Bogucki, Emerson Axsom, Brad Sweet, Justin Whittall, Troy Wagaman Jr., Kasey Jedrzejek, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Chris Windom, Kelby Watt, Kyle Larson

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (21 Drivers):
21 Quick Times – David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Bill Balog
3 Quick Times – Logan Schuchart, Michael Kofoid, Brady Bacon
2 Quick Times – Kasey Jedrzejek
1 Quick Time – Ashton Torgerson, Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Justin Henderson, Chase Dietz, Carson Macedo, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Kasey Kahne, Tanner Thorson

HEAT RACE WINNERS (57 Drivers):
32 Heat Wins – David Gravel
23 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
16 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
12 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
9 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson
8 Heat Wins – Emerson Axsom
6 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston
4 Heat Wins – Cole Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi, Anthony Macri, Kerry Madsen, Ryan Timms, Christopher Thram
2 Heat Wins – Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl, Jacob Hughes, Tyler Courtney, Justin Whittall, Daryn Pittman, Kelby Watt, Brock Zearfoss, Rees Moran, Steven Snyder Jr. Bryce Lucius, Chris Windom
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Will Armitage, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Chad Trout, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Sam Henderson, Dayne Kingshott, Daison Pursley, Terry McCarl, Kyle Larson, Brady Bacon, Brent Shearer, Logan Rumsey, James McFadden, Danny Sams III, Riley Goodno, Chris Martin, Ayrton Gennetten, Carson McCarl

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (68 Drivers):
39 Dashes – David Gravel
36 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
27 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
23 Dashes – Carson Macedo
21 Dashes – Bill Balog
19 Dashes – Garet Williamson
16 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
12 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
10 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Cole Macedo
8 Dashes – Spencer Bayston
7 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Chris Windom
6 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel
5 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Ryan Timms, Brent Marks, Chase Dietz
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Logan Rumsey, Kelby Watt
3 Dashes – Kerry Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Justin Henderson, Daryn Pittman, Bryce Lucius, Christopher Thram
2 Dashes – Scotty Thiel, Kasey Kahne, Troy Wagaman Jr., Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Austin McCarl, Joe B. Miller, Brenham Crouch, Conner Morrell, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson, Justin Whittall, Cory Eliason, Skylar Gee
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Brock Zearfoss, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich, Logan Rumsey, Kody Hartlaub, Freddie Rahmer, Chad Trout, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Tanner Thorson, Corey Day, D.J. Christie, Ricky Peterson, Lance Dewease, Brent Shearer, Dylan Norris, Steven Snyder Jr., Gage Pulkrabek, Sam Henderson

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (35 Drivers):
4 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz, Garet Williamson
3 LCS Wins – Spencer Bayston, Emerson Axsom
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi, Cole Macedo, Skylar Gee, Logan Schuchart, Tyler Courtney
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Bryce Norris, Doug Hammaker, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Justin Henderson, Joel Myers Jr., Daison Pursley, Zane DeVault, Logan Julien, Jordan Poirier, Matt Farnham, Jordan Thomas, Dylan Norris, Justin Whittall, Brent Shearer, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Lynton Jeffrey, Kelby Watt, Jacob Peterson

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (25 Drivers):
7 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid, Logan Schuchart
6 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
4 Hard Chargers – Spencer Bayston
3 Hard Chargers – Chris Windom
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Cole Macedo, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Hard Charger – Giovanni Scelzi, Ryan Timms, Brady Bacon, Tyler Ross, Cameron Smith, David Gravel, Emerson Axsom, Logan Julien, Tyler Courtney, Kasey Jedrzejek, James McFadden, Danny Dietrich, Corey Day, J.J. Hickle, Tanner Holmes

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (26 Drivers):
8 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
7 Fastest Laps – David Gravel
6 Fastest Laps – Logan Schuchart
4 Fastest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 
3 Fastest Laps – Carson Macedo, Bill Balog
2 Fastest Laps – Brady Bacon, Aaron Reutzel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Garet Williamson, Anthony Macri, Kyle Larson
1 Fastest Lap – Brock Zearfoss, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Kasey Kahne, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Christopher Thram, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Jace Park, Donny Schatz

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (17 Drivers):
18 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
8 Hottest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Hottest Laps – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
3 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart, Garet Williamson
2 Hottest Laps – Ashton Torgerson, Daryn Pittman
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms, Giovanni Scelzi, Bryce Lucius, Nate Dussel, Logan Rumsey, Chris Windom

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner
Wed, Feb 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Spencer Bayston (1)
Fri, Feb 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Michael Kofoid (1)
Sat, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (1)
Sun, March 1 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
Mon, March 2 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (2)
Fri, March 6 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Donny Schatz (1)
Fri, March 13 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / David Gravel (1)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / David Gravel (2)
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / David Gravel (3)
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Carson Macedo (1)
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Michael Kofoid (2)
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (3)
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (4)
Sun, April 19 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Tyler Courtney (1)
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brad Sweet (1)
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (4)
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Michael Kofoid (5)
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kasey Kahne (1)
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (5)
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (1)
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Carson Macedo (2)
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Mon, May 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (6)
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (3)
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI / Carson Macedo (4)
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (1)
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (7)
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (8)
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / David Gravel (7)
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
Thurs, July 9 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Michael Kofoid (9)
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Bryce Lucius (1)
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Corey Day (1)
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Anthony Macri (3)
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada / David Gravel (8)
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (9)
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / Chase Dietz (1)
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (10)
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (10)
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Chris Windom (1)
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Logan Schuchart (2)
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Sheldon Haudenschild
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Kyle Larson
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Donny Schatz
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (1)
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Garet Williamson (1)
Sat, Aug 29 / Fix It Forward Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
Mon, Aug 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND / Michael Kofoid (11)
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, Sept 11 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Fri, Oct 16 / Lincoln Park Speedway / Putnamville, IN
Sat, Oct 17 / Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway / Belleville, IL
Fri, Oct 23 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Sat, Oct 24 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Wed, Nov 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thurs, Nov 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Fri, Nov 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Sat, Nov 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

*denotes unofficial split-field prelim race.

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: Labor Day Weekend Sends World of Outlaws to South Dakota for Huset’s Shootout

BRANDON, SD (September 2, 2026) – The world’s best Sprint Car drivers are heading to Brandon, SD for a huge tripleheader this Labor Day weekend.

The L.G. Everist Huset’s Shootout brings the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series back to Huset’s Speedway for three big nights, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 4-6. A pair of $15,000-to-win prelims will set the stage for a $25,000-to-win Sunday showdown at the 1/3 mile.

Fans can expect an interesting format for the tripleheader. The two prelims will utilize the standard World of Outlaws format, but they’ll set the stage for a unique finale with inverted Heat Races and passing points helping line up the Feature. For the complete format, CLICK HERE.

No days off for The Greatest Show on Dirt this Labor Day weekend. All eyes are on Huset’s.

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Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:

MONEYMEN

A pair of drivers have made some hefty deposits to their bank accounts over the last few years thanks to Huset’s Speedway.

The first is Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. A devastating mechanical issue while leading the 2023 Huset’s High Bank Nationals lit a fire under him and Roth Motorsports that keeps on burning. Since then, Huset’s has hosted five races offering a six-figure winner’s check, and Kofoid has claimed four of them. The big paydays are only a piece of the Penngrove, CA native’s overall success in Brandon, SD. Overall, he’s won seven of the last 11 World of Outlaws Features at Huset’s. The first of his career also came there in 2022.

The second is two-time and defending Series champion David Gravel. He and Big Game Motorsports kept Tod Quiring’s money in house when they cashed in for $250,000 at the 2023 High Bank Nationals. Then, they did it again when the winner’s share climbed to a record $300,000. Overall, Gravel boasts five Huset’s victories in the Big Game No. 2.

GUNS BLAZIN’

Kofoid and Gravel are far from the only World of Outlaws drivers capable of cleaning up at the Huset’s Shootout.

Donny Schatz has found success at nearly every track he’s ever visited, and Huset’s is no exception. The 1/3 mile is responsible for four of his 317 career wins. The CJB Motorsports No. 15 finished on the podium during the final two nights of this year’s High Bank Nationals.

Sheldon Haudenschild is a fellow four-time Huset’s victor. His first three came with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing before adding one with KCP Racing in June. Haudenschild heads to Huset’s third in the standings, trailing Kofoid by 40 markers.

He’s never won a World of Outlaws event there, but Garet Williamson topped a trio of local Huset’s races before joining The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Fischer Motorsports pilot is fresh off securing his first Series checkered flag at River Cities Speedway.

Carson Macedo’s résumé lists two Huset’s triumphs since joining forces with Jason Johnson Racing (2022 and 2024). They’ll roll into South Dakota with the momentum of four podiums in the last five races.

Logan Schuchart and the Shark Racing No. 1S team snagged a High Bank Nationals prelim in 2023. They stumbled a bit over the weekend in North Dakota, but they’ve still been one of the hottest teams all summer with 14 top fives in the last 20 races.

Spencer Bayston took the CJB Motorsports No. 5 to Huset’s Victory Lane in 2022. The Lebanon, IN native wheeled the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 to a pair of top fives over the weekend in North Dakota.

It wasn’t in a Sprint Car, but Chris Windom grabbed a pair of Huset’s trophies in 2021 with the USAC National Midgets. He’ll chase another this weekend in the Sides Motorsports No. 7S.

TWENTY

A milestone of parity was hit over the weekend in North Dakota as 2026 continues to inch toward a record.

Garet Williamson’s popular first Series win made him the 20th different driver to visit Victory Lane this year with the World of Outlaws. That means 2026 is only the 10th time in 49 seasons of history that at least 20 competitors have topped a race. The record of 25 set in 2004 isn’t out of reach with more than 20 races left on the calendar.

Looking ahead to this weekend at Huset’s and who could be number 21, Bill Balog immediately stands out. Last year the “North Pole Nightmare” topped a High Bank Nationals prelim and followed it up with a runner-up in the finale. Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies leader Emerson Axsom could also add his name. He led laps and finished third at Huset’s in 2024. Cole Macedo is still hunting his first Series victory. His best Huset’s effort is fifth in June this year.

ROOKIE ON A ROLL

Every rookie World of Outlaws campaign is bound to bring some bumps along the way, but Emerson Axsom and Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports are starting to piece together a solid run.

Axsom’s current top-10 streak of five straight is by far his most consistent stretch of the season. The No. 27 has reeled off finishes of 10th at Ogilvie Raceway, fifth at Jackson Motorplex, sixth at River Cites Speedway, sixth at Fix It Forward Speedway, and eighth at Nodak Speedway. That’s an average result of seventh on the dot.

Axsom sits 12th in points as he cruises toward becoming the next Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies. Looking at the standings, Axsom climbing a few spots before the year is over isn’t unrealistic. Bill Balog is 11th and only 22 points in front, and then it’s Spencer Bayston in 10th (48 points ahead), Chris Windom in ninth (74 points ahead), and Cole Macedo in eighth (118 points ahead).

TIMMS’ TURF

There’s another driver with a strong chance to add his name to the list of 2026 winners this weekend, and his name is Ryan Timms.

The 20-year-old may be from Oklahoma City, OK, but Huset’s has become de facto home turf for him over the last couple of years. Timms linked with Liebig Motorsports, a team based in Rapid City, SD, and the pairing has become one of the country’s top combinations among those that follow a pick-and-choose schedule.

This year Timms has taken the No. 10 to 15 total victories, including a dozen in 410 competition. Timms’ 12 trails only Chase Dietz (18) and Aaron Reutzel (14). He’s fresh off locking up track championships at both Huset’s Speedway and Knoxville Raceway. It marked his second year in a row taking the Huset’s title.

Now, Timms and Shane Liebig’s crew aim to protect home turf with the best of the best coming to town. Timms is yet to top the World of Outlaws at Huset’s, but he’s come close with a pair of podiums, including a 2024 runner-up.

Timms will lead the charge of many Huset’s regulars in search of success on the big stage.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday-Sunday, Sept. 4-6 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD

AROUND THE TURN
Friday, Sept. 11 at Belleville High Banks in Belleville, KS (TICKETS)
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, KS (TICKETS)
Monday, Sept. 14 at El Paso County Raceway in Calhan, CO (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (57/81 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (7288 PTS)
2. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-170 PTS)
3. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-210 PTS)
4. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-248 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-318 PTS)
6. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-536 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-580 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-876 PTS)
9. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-920 PTS)
10. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-946 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (20 Drivers):
11 Wins – Michael Kofoid
10 Wins – David Gravel
8 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Wins – Carson Macedo
3 Wins – Anthony Macri, Logan Schuchart
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Donny Schatz, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Chris Windom, Kyle Larson, Garet Williamson

FEATURE LAPS LED (30 Drivers):
345 Laps Led – David Gravel
303 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
164 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
141 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
110 Laps Led – Garet Williamson
107 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
59 Laps Led – Kyle Larson
58 Laps Led – Bill Balog
56 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
40 Laps Led – Aaron Reutzel, Chris Windom
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
33 Laps Led – Brady Bacon, Rico Abreu
30 Laps Led – Corey Day, Chase Dietz
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne
21 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek
17 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
16 Laps Led – Bryce Lucius
15 Laps Led – Christopher Thram
12 Laps Led – Cole Macedo
11 Laps Led – Giovanni Scelzi, Emerson Axsom
7 Laps Led – Brian Brown
6 Laps Led – Brock Zearfoss
3 Laps Led – Brent MarksPODIUM FINISHES (34 Drivers):
26 Podiums – David Gravel
24 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
22 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Podiums – Carson Macedo
10 Podiums – Logan Schuchart
8 Podiums – Garet Williamson
6 Podiums – Donny Schatz
4 Podiums – Ryan Timms, Anthony Macri, Rico Abreu, Bill Balog
3 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, Aaron Reutzel
2 Podiums – Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Giovanni Scelzi, Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Scott Bogucki, Emerson Axsom, Brad Sweet, Justin Whittall, Troy Wagaman Jr., Kasey Jedrzejek, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Chris Windom, Kelby Watt, Kyle Larson

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (21 Drivers):
21 Quick Times – David Gravel
5 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Quick Times – Bill Balog
3 Quick Times – Logan Schuchart, Michael Kofoid, Brady Bacon
2 Quick Times – Kasey Jedrzejek
1 Quick Time – Ashton Torgerson, Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Justin Henderson, Chase Dietz, Carson Macedo, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Kasey Kahne, Tanner Thorson

HEAT RACE WINNERS (57 Drivers):
32 Heat Wins – David Gravel
23 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
17 Heat Wins – Bill Balog
16 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
12 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
9 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid, Garet Williamson
8 Heat Wins – Emerson Axsom
6 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston
4 Heat Wins – Cole Macedo, Rico Abreu, Brent Marks
3 Heat Wins – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi, Anthony Macri, Kerry Madsen, Ryan Timms, Christopher Thram
2 Heat Wins – Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl, Jacob Hughes, Tyler Courtney, Justin Whittall, Daryn Pittman, Kelby Watt, Brock Zearfoss, Rees Moran, Steven Snyder Jr. Bryce Lucius, Chris Windom
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Will Armitage, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Chad Trout, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Sam Henderson, Dayne Kingshott, Daison Pursley, Terry McCarl, Kyle Larson, Brady Bacon, Brent Shearer, Logan Rumsey, James McFadden, Danny Sams III, Riley Goodno, Chris Martin, Ayrton Gennetten, Carson McCarl

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (68 Drivers):
39 Dashes – David Gravel
36 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
27 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
23 Dashes – Carson Macedo
21 Dashes – Bill Balog
19 Dashes – Garet Williamson
16 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
12 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
10 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Cole Macedo
8 Dashes – Spencer Bayston
7 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Chris Windom
6 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel
5 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Ryan Timms, Brent Marks, Chase Dietz
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Logan Rumsey, Kelby Watt
3 Dashes – Kerry Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Justin Henderson, Daryn Pittman, Bryce Lucius, Christopher Thram
2 Dashes – Scotty Thiel, Kasey Kahne, Troy Wagaman Jr., Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Austin McCarl, Joe B. Miller, Brenham Crouch, Conner Morrell, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson, Justin Whittall, Cory Eliason, Skylar Gee
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Brock Zearfoss, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich, Logan Rumsey, Kody Hartlaub, Freddie Rahmer, Chad Trout, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Tanner Thorson, Corey Day, D.J. Christie, Ricky Peterson, Lance Dewease, Brent Shearer, Dylan Norris, Steven Snyder Jr., Gage Pulkrabek, Sam Henderson

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (35 Drivers):
4 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz, Garet Williamson
3 LCS Wins – Spencer Bayston, Emerson Axsom
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi, Cole Macedo, Skylar Gee, Logan Schuchart, Tyler Courtney
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Bryce Norris, Doug Hammaker, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Justin Henderson, Joel Myers Jr., Daison Pursley, Zane DeVault, Logan Julien, Jordan Poirier, Matt Farnham, Jordan Thomas, Dylan Norris, Justin Whittall, Brent Shearer, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Lynton Jeffrey, Kelby Watt, Jacob Peterson

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (25 Drivers):
7 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid, Logan Schuchart
6 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
4 Hard Chargers – Spencer Bayston
3 Hard Chargers – Chris Windom
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Cole Macedo, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Hard Charger – Giovanni Scelzi, Ryan Timms, Brady Bacon, Tyler Ross, Cameron Smith, David Gravel, Emerson Axsom, Logan Julien, Tyler Courtney, Kasey Jedrzejek, James McFadden, Danny Dietrich, Corey Day, J.J. Hickle, Tanner Holmes

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (26 Drivers):
8 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
7 Fastest Laps – David Gravel
6 Fastest Laps – Logan Schuchart
4 Fastest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 
3 Fastest Laps – Carson Macedo, Bill Balog
2 Fastest Laps – Brady Bacon, Aaron Reutzel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Garet Williamson, Anthony Macri, Kyle Larson
1 Fastest Lap – Brock Zearfoss, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Kasey Kahne, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Christopher Thram, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Jace Park, Donny Schatz

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (17 Drivers):
18 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
8 Hottest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Hottest Laps – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
3 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart, Garet Williamson
2 Hottest Laps – Ashton Torgerson, Daryn Pittman
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms, Giovanni Scelzi, Bryce Lucius, Nate Dussel, Logan Rumsey, Chris Windom

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner
Wed, Feb 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Spencer Bayston (1)
Fri, Feb 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Michael Kofoid (1)
Sat, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (1)
Sun, March 1 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
Mon, March 2 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (2)
Fri, March 6 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Donny Schatz (1)
Fri, March 13 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / David Gravel (1)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / David Gravel (2)
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / David Gravel (3)
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Carson Macedo (1)
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Michael Kofoid (2)
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (3)
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (4)
Sun, April 19 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Tyler Courtney (1)
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brad Sweet (1)
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (4)
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Michael Kofoid (5)
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kasey Kahne (1)
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (5)
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (1)
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Carson Macedo (2)
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Mon, May 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (6)
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (3)
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI / Carson Macedo (4)
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (1)
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (7)
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (8)
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / David Gravel (7)
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
Thurs, July 9 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Michael Kofoid (9)
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Bryce Lucius (1)
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Corey Day (1)
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Anthony Macri (3)
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada / David Gravel (8)
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (9)
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / Chase Dietz (1)
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (10)
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (10)
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Chris Windom (1)
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Logan Schuchart (2)
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Sheldon Haudenschild
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Kyle Larson
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Donny Schatz
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (1)
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Garet Williamson (1)
Sat, Aug 29 / Fix It Forward Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
Mon, Aug 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND / Michael Kofoid (11)
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, Sept 11 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Fri, Oct 16 / Lincoln Park Speedway / Putnamville, IN
Sat, Oct 17 / Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway / Belleville, IL
Fri, Oct 23 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Sat, Oct 24 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Wed, Nov 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thurs, Nov 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Fri, Nov 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Sat, Nov 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

*denotes unofficial split-field prelim race.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/top-five-storylines-labor-day-weekend-sends-world-of-outlaws-to-south-dakota-for-husets-shootout/

wood Brothers racing–Darlington advance

Event: Cook Out Southern 500Date/Time: Sunday, September 6, 2026, 5 p.m. ETLocation: Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South CarolinaLayout: 1.366-Mile OvalTV/Radio: USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will look to extend their streak of consecutive top-10 finishes to six in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.Berry and the Wood Brothers team have been one of the most consistent performers in the NASCAR Cup Series over the past five races, a stretch that began with a seventh-place finish in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They followed that with finishes of fourth at Iowa, eighth at Richmond and third at New Hampshire before navigating the unpredictability of Daytona to finish ninth last weekend.“We’ve been able to go to a bunch of different race tracks and find a way to come away with solid finishes, and that’s been encouraging,” Berry said. “Daytona is always a little bit of a wild card, so it was good to get through everything at the end and bring home another top-10.”This weekend presents an entirely different test as the Cup Series heads to Darlington, the egg-shaped, 1.366-mile oval known as both the Lady in Black and the Track Too Tough To Tame.At 500 miles, the Southern 500 is one of the longest and most demanding races on the schedule, with changing track conditions and Darlington’s abrasive surface adding to the challenge over the course of the evening.“The Southern 500 is obviously a completely different challenge,” Berry said. “It’s a long, grueling race at a place that demands a lot out of you, and you have to stay on top of the race track as it changes throughout the evening.”Darlington has historically been a strong track for Wood Brothers Racing. The team leads the Ford camp with eight victories at the historic South Carolina track, seven of which came with Mercury. The Wood Brothers also have recorded 22 top-five finishes, 34 top-10s and 12 poles at Darlington.The team’s most recent Darlington top-10 came in 2023, when Harrison Burton finished sixth. Berry has also enjoyed success at the track, highlighted by a career-best Darlington finish of third in 2024.Practice for the Cook Out Southern 500 is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 6 p.m. Coverage of both sessions will be available on truTV and HBO Max.Sunday’s 367-lap, 500-mile race is scheduled to take the green flag shortly after 5 p.m. ET, with television coverage on USA Sports.Stage breaks are scheduled for Laps 115 and 230.
Josh BerryAge: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)Hometown: Hendersonville, TennesseeCrew Chief: Miles StanleyIG: @joshberry88X: @joshberry

ZIZZO RACING FOCUSED ON SUCCESS AT U.S. NATIONALS

CHICAGO (September 2, 2026) — The most important drag race of the year, the 72nd NHRA U.S. Nationals contested outside Indianapolis, Indiana, is coming up for Zizzo Racing and Top Fuel racer TJ Zizzo. A win at “The Big Go,” as it is known in drag racing circles, solidifies every driver’s resume.  for Zizzo Racing, the chance to stand in the winner’s circle on Labor Day Monday is a dream scenario. Piloting the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster in front of tens of thousands of fans in the stands and hundreds of thousands of fans watching on the FOX network makes all the hard work in the shop worth it for Zizzo Racing. This season is the 75th anniversary of the NHRA and Zizzo Racing has been a part of the series for nearly five decades.
 
“NHRA drag racing has been a part of Zizzo Racing and my family for longer than I have been alive,” said TJ Zizzo, a second generation drag racer. “Indy is a magical event and to be a part of the 75th anniversary season at the U.S. Nationals will be awesome. We have run well at this race, and we are looking forward to building on our momentum from the Chicago race earlier this season. This Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster will be ready to make some noise for sure.”
 TJ Zizzo is thrilled to be back at the track for the NHRA U.S. Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase
Earlier this season, Zizzo Racing participated in the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 Nationals outside of Zizzo’s hometown of Chicago. The Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster qualified No. 10 in a stacked Top Fuel field at Route 66 Raceway. In Sunday’s opening round, Zizzo squared off against four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown in one of the most competitive matchups of the first round. Brown narrowly drove around him for the win at the finish line but for Zizzo, the weekend represented far more than just on-track performance. Racing in front of family, friends, sponsors and hometown fans made the Route 66 event a solid start for the Chicago-based driver. The U.S. Nationals will feature the largest field of competitors, 21 Top Fuel teams, vying for one of 16 qualifying positions.
 
“This is the biggest field of Top Fuel dragsters we have ever faced in qualifying in recent history,” said Zizzo. “Everyone wants to qualify and race for the U.S. Nationals Diamond Wally trophy. The 75th anniversary design is so cool I would love to be able to say Zizzo Racing won one of those trophies. It would be an awesome accomplishment. I know everyone on the Zizzo Racing team will be focused on that goal.”
 
Over the offseason, Crew Chief Mike Kern and the Zizzo Racing team spent over 2,000 hours working on every facet of the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster and the race program. Over the past two seasons, Zizzo and the Zizzo Racing team have turned heads scoring No. 1 qualifiers and posting excellent elapsed times. Their career highlight was a runner-up finish during the 2020 season that was delayed due to rain and completed at the historic U.S. Nationals.
 
“We have been steadily improving the past few years even though we haven’t won a race,” said Zizzo. “Thanks to the late Don Schumacher, we upgraded across the board in 2022 and the rest is history. You must have a passion to compete out here and you also need to take risks, in a good way. The U.S. Nationals coming up is an opportunity to really go for it and try and make some history.”
 
Throughout Zizzo’s career, drag racing has been a vehicle for him to celebrate the joy of competition and determination. He is recognized as one of the most popular drivers when he is at the racetrack drawing crowds to autograph sessions, on-stage appearances and even at the ropes in his pits. When Zizzo puts on his Rust-Oleum uniform shirt or firesuit, he knows he is representing all his sponsors to potentially brand-new consumers and fans. The fact that Rust-Oleum is a major part of his life off the track makes this a seamless transition for the professional auto body business owner.
 
“It is cool be to be a part of the Rust-Oleum family on and off the track,” said Zizzo. “Our body shop uses all sorts of Rust-Oleum products every day and our customers can see our Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster when they come to the body shop because it is also our race shop. The dragster is a great conversation starter, and we could not be more proud to have a company like Rust-Oleum on the side as well as all our other marketing partners.”
 
Qualifying for the NHRA U.S. Nationals will begin on Friday, September 15, with one session of the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, fans will be treated to two more qualifying sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The final day of qualifying on Sunday will offer two final opportunities to make the field with runs at 12 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. The quickest 16 race cars, dragsters and motorcycles will race for the famed Diamond Wally trophy beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. The race will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Cruz Pedregon Racing Highlights Hailey’s Army for Children at U.S. Nationals

BROWNSBURG, IN (September 2, 2026) — During the NHRA U.S. Nationals 2-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon will be joining a growing movement to support Hailey’s Army for Children, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Hailey’s Army for Children, Inc. exists to protect children and defend their future through relentless online safety advocacy and prevention training that reflect the realities of today’s digital world. Named in honor of Hailey Paige Buzbee, a 17-year-old from Fishers, Indiana, who went missing in January 2026 and was tragically found deceased. Through training, education, advocacy, and community engagement, Hailey’s Army for Children, Inc. works to give parents, children, and communities the knowledge and tools they need to keep kids safe. For three-time U.S. Nationals Funny Car winner the opportunity to support this cause was an easy decision.

 
“I’m truly honored and proud to be a part of Hailey’s Army for Children,” said Pedregon, a two-time Funny Car champion and father. “As a father myself, supporting a cause that helps children and families hits close to home. Anytime we can use our platform to make a difference and give back, it means a lot to me. I am proud to stand alongside Hailey’s Army and everyone working to make a difference in the lives of children.”
 
Leading up to the NHRA U.S. Nationals Hailey’s Army for Children will have a booth at the Cruz Pedregon Racing Open House on Thursday night, September 3, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. where they will be passing out pink wristbands and additional information on how to support Hailey’s Law. Throughout the race weekend Pedregon’s race team will run a special Hailey’s Army for Children decal on their 12,000-horsepower nitro Funny Car and other NHRA teams will also support the cause. Additionally, a specially designed motorcycle will be on display Sunday, September 6, beside the Cruz Pedregon Racing pit area.
 
“Our family continues to be incredibly grateful for Cruz Pedregon Racing and their continued support,” said Beau Buzbee, Hailey’s father. “Their team has been a tremendous source of encouragement as we honor our daughter Hailey and her kindness by protecting children and fighting to ensure they have the safe and happy childhoods they deserve. They understand the urgency of this mission and the speed at which we must move to better protect our children. They understand that we cannot afford to wait when it comes to their safety and their futures.
We are truly thankful to have Cruz Pedregon Racing standing alongside our family and Hailey’s Army for Children, Inc. as we work to make a real difference for children.”
 
Highlighting the cause at the biggest NHRA national event of the season during the 75th anniversary season shows the team’s commitment to supporting an important cause. Family members and key representatives from Hailey’s Army for Children will be at the race as guests of Cruz Pedregon Racing on Sunday during the race. Cruz Pedregon Racing has been supporting Hailey’s Army for Children throughout the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
 
For more information on Hailey’s Army for Children visit www.haileysarmyforchildren.org. Find information about Cruz Pedregon Racing here and for tickets to the NHRA U.S. Nationals visit www.nhra.com.

Drane Sets His Sights on History at Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II

Tom Drane (No. 1) leads Chase Saathoff (No. 88) during the 2026 DuQuoin Mile.  [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing] Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system
Drane Sets His Sights on History at Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II
Tom Drane (No. 1) leads Chase Saathoff (No. 88) during the 2026 DuQuoin Mile.  [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing] Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 1, 2026) – Even with the 2026 championship already decided, there’s still much in play as the KICKER AFT Singles class closes out the Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, with the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6.  One Last (All) Time If this weekend proves to be his last in the class, Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) has already made a compelling case for the category’s G.O.A.T.   That’s not to say the Australian can’t add even more firepower to that claim this weekend. Already holding the class record for most victories all-time (27), and most Mile victories all-time (9), the Australian can break a three-way tie with Kody Kopp and Dallas Daniels and claim sole possession of most single-season wins all-time. One more would do it, upping his ‘26 tally to nine. And a double win would put it borderline out of reach at ten.  What are the odds he pulls it off? History suggests they’re even better than you likely imagine.  Drane comes into Springfield having won the series’ last six Miles. His Springfield-specific mastery is equally notable, where he’s taken the last five straight (make that seven if you separate out his clean sweep of last year’s Mission Triple Challenge).  But that doesn’t mean it’s likely to come easily. Every single one of the aforementioned victories was measured by – at most – tenths and more often by hundredths and even thousandths of a second.  Incidentally, Drane will be juggling his run at the record books with a glimpse into the future with a Mission AFT SuperTwins wild card entry.  Parting Shots Outside of equaling Kopp’s back-to-back-to-back titles, there seems to be little left for Drane to accomplish before graduating to the premier-class ranks. And considering the performance of his immediate predecessors – reigning Grand National Champion Daniels and runaway Rookie of the Year Kopp – Drane is a likely candidate to move up a weight class.  If that’s the case, this may be the last chance some old foes have at getting the better of Drane, at least on single-cylinder machinery.  First among rivals is Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who has been butting heads and trading paint with Drane pretty much from the start.  Lost in Drane’s superlative season is another standout year for Saathoff. With two races yet to go, he’s already logged ten podiums, including a win and six top twos.  But that hasn’t put him completely out of reach of a trio of riders who still have an outside shot of swiping second in the standings.  Third-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), fourth-ranked Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F) still all hold a mathematical opportunity to overtake Saathoff.   It’s unlikely to happen, especially in the case of Brunner, who would practically need to sweep out and have Saathoff sleep in to pull it off.   But all three could certainly factor in the fight for the wins. Each one took checkered flags within striking distance of Drane here last year, with Brunner walking away with a pair of seconds – one by 0.017 seconds and the other by 0.028.  Year to Remember Regardless of what happens this weekend, 2026 will go down as breakthrough seasons for both Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), who joined the prestigious list of KICKER AFT Singles Main Event winners this year.  But what better way to celebrate than via an exclamation point in Springfield?  Even though Pfanders’ maiden win came in the opener, he’s riding consistently stronger than ever before at this stage of the season, racking up five top-five finishes in his last six outings.  And while Kelleher’s first triumph came at a Super TT, you’d be wise to remember that he   initially burst onto the scene with a front-running ride at the ‘24 DuQuoin Mile.  Beyond Santero While Santero continues to attempt to shed his place atop the list of riders most likely to get their first KICKER AFT Singles win, he’s not alone in growing impatient.  Among the remainder of the field, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) have flashed the speed needed to win most frequently, and they’ve got two last opportunities to get it done before heading into the offseason.  Rookie of the Year Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) has already locked up KICKER AFT Singles Rookie of the Year honors. He’s done so on the strength of eight top tens, including three finishes of sixth or better with a fourth-place ride to his name.  And despite coming close, yet he’s still seeking a rookie-season podium finish. Time is running short.  Get Your Kicks on Route 66 Fans can make their way to the Springfield Mile on Saturday by participating in a special Route 66 Centennial certified ride created and organized by Mees Promotions in partnership with Harley-Davidson.  The ride will depart from Conrad’s Harley-Davidson and travel to the Illinois State Fairgrounds via the historic Route 66. Participation is free with the purchase of a Springfield Mile event ticket. The first 75 to register will also receive an exclusive event t-shirt.  Fans interested in participating in the September 5 ride can register HERE The Race for Your Seats is Underway Bring the whole family and enjoy big-screen viewing, vendor displays, and a wide variety of food and beverage options  Move fast and you can save $10 on all tickets purchased prior to Wednesday. Until then, you can still get Infield tickets for just $25 per day (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult), while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $35 per day (all ages). A Pit Pass can be added to any ticket for an additional $40.  For $150 per day, fans also have the opportunity to receive a Hospitality VIP Experience which provides an upgraded Reserved Grandstand ticket of their choice, food and beverage in the VIP area, and all-day access to the pits.  And for $130 per day (all ages), H.O.G. members can enjoy the Harley-Davidson VIP Experience, which provides dedicated H.O.G. parking and an exclusive seating section, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo ops included, a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag.  Camping is also available through the Illinois State Fairgrounds campgrounds. For reservations or questions, please call 217-524-9894.   To purchase Caterpillar Springfield Mile I tickets, click HERE.     To purchase Caterpillar Springfield Mile II tickets, click HERE.    And for additional savings, purchase your Saturday and Sunday tickets together. To purchase two-day Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II, click HERE.   For more information or media inquiries, please contact Mees Promotions by phone 217-632-0277 or email: meespromotions@gmail.com.   Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:40 p.m. ET (11:40 a.m. PT) on Saturday and 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Sunday.  How to WatchFloRacing For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Caterpillar Springfield Mile II will air the following Sunday, September 20, at  11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT) For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com

FUNNY CAR’S CHRIS KING LOOKING FOR INDY MAGIC AT US NATIONALS WITH NEW LOOK HOT ROD

 CHICAGO (September 1, 2026) — The 72nd NHRA Cornwell Tools U.S. Nationals will be a massive event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHRA. For Funny Car driver and team owner Chris King the event will mark a return to racing action and an opportunity to etch his name into the drag racing history books. The part-time race team has been making steady improvements on and off the track for the past three years and King feels like more positive results are right around the corner for the Competition Products/Howards Cams Funny Car team. To make the moment even bigger King will be debuting a new look 12,000-horsepower Howards Cams/Competition Products nitro Funny Car.

 
“The new Funny Car looks amazing, and we can’t wait to start making passes. We have been trying to build this program the right way on a small budget,” said King, who is a fulltime firefighter in Chicago when he is away from the track. “My crew chief Bob Peck has gotten our tune-up moving in the right direction and our crew guys have really stepped up. I think this weekend in Indy could be a big race for us. There will be a ton of Funny Cars trying to qualify and we just want to be in the mix.”
 
Two years ago King was part of one of the most dramatic final qualifying sessions in recent U.S. Nationals history. Sitting No. 16 going into the final session, King and his team had to watch as several competitors tried to run quicker than his 4.079 second pass. King’s time held up to secure the final spot in one of the quickest fields in U.S. Nationals history. This year there will be 24 Funny Cars vying for 16 spots so the competition during the five qualifying rounds will be intense.
 
“The car count for the U.S. Nationals this year is awesome,” said King. “A few years ago we had a stressful final session, but we got into the show. This year we want to make the most of the qualifying runs and not have to sweat it out. Bob and I have a plan, and we are excited to show off the work we have done leading up to the race. We also have some new marketing partners that we want to highlight.”
 
Since King and the Competition Products/Howards Cams Funny Car were last on track at the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 Nationals outside of Chicago the team has moved into a new shop and made significant upgrades to the Funny Car. The opportunity to showcase those changes is a big priority for King.
 
“It’s great to be coming back and honestly it is way overdue,” said King. “We made some big changes to the car, so we are expecting to see results.  Moving into our new shop has provided us with the chance to make some other big improvements for us to get work done. Every improvement we make is predicated on making the team stronger for the long run.”
 
Leading up to the race King will be one of the featured drivers at the Cruz Pedregon Open House and Car Show on Thursday night September 3 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The annual free event is one of the biggest driver autograph sessions of the year drawing thousands of fans from across the country.
 
“Being a part of the Cruz Pedregon Open House before the race starts really gets you into a great mood,” said King. “There are a ton of fans there and the list of drivers and celebrities is huge. You can’t help but get excited for the race and I appreciate all the fans wishing our team good luck.”
 
Qualifying for the NHRA U.S. Nationals will begin on Friday, September 4, with one session of the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, fans will be treated to two more qualifying sessions at 1:05 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The final day of qualifying on Sunday will offer two final opportunities to make the field with runs at 1:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. The quickest 16 race cars, dragsters and motorcycles will race for the famed Diamond Wally trophy beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. The race will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

GlaD to be Gone: Aaron reutzel Follows Dreadful California Trip with Oregon Victory at Douglas County


Ridge & Sons Racing Scores 10th Win of Season, Cutting Championship Deficit Down to 36-Points
ROSEBURG, ORE. (August 31, 2026) – After a 111-point swing in the championship (from up 61 to down 50) due to four-straight results outside the top-10, nobody was happier than Aaron Reutzel to get the heck out of California and roll into Oregon for Monday’s one-night stand at the Douglas County Dirtrack.
Leaving the six-race swing down south with too much torn up parts and two less provisionals, Reutzel and his Ridge & Sons Racing, PowerPlus #87 team immediately bounced back by winning the SugarBee Apple Showdown on the River presented by Seven Feathers Casino – in his debut at the Roseburg, Oregon oval at that.
His 10th win of the season with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing didn’t come without controversy as a Lap 1 wreck with fellow front row starter Tyler Courtney changed the dynamic of the race before the field even hit the flag stand. Fortunately for Reutzel, his #87 was unharmed and he maintained his spot at the front of the field, then never relinquished the lead once.
Leading all 35 laps for his 17th career win with the series, the Clute, Texas native cut the championship deficit down to 36-points behind Rico Abreu and the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #24. He’ll now head to the $126,000-to-win Skagit Nationals this weekend with three more chances to provide the 12th championship lead change of the season.
Reutzel’s biggest challenger turned into last year’s Douglas County victor, Brent Marks, who is still hunting for his first win aboard the Chase Briscoe Racing, Magical Vacation Planners #19. “The Myerstown Missile” ran in second the entirety of the feature and had his closest call with 10 to go when he peaked underneath the #87 for the lead before a caution was called and ruined his momentum. He’ll go to Skagit, where he ran second in the Super Dirt Cup this summer, with back-to-back P2 finishes to his credit.
Landing on the podium at Douglas County for the second-straight year was Tanner Thorson with a 12th-to-3rd drive aboard the JST Motorsports, Chaotic #88. Like Marks, the Minden, Nevada native is still chasing his first High Limit win since racing under new ownership.
Closing out the top-five on Monday night was Aromas, California’s Justin Sanders in the Mittry Construction #2X and St. Helena, California’s Rico Abreu in the Waste Connections #24.
Finishing out the top-10 of the SugarBee Apple Showdown on the River presented by Seven Feathers Casino Resort was Indiana’s Justin Peck in sixth, California’s Giovanni Scelzi in seventh, Texas’ Chase Randall in eighth, California’s Dominic Scelzi in ninth, and Oklahoma’s Daison Pursley in tenth.
THE ALL-IN NOTEBOOK (8/28/26)Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico, California)SugarBee Apples Showdown on the River presented by Seven Feathers Casino Resort
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps – Giovanni Scelzi (12.237)Capitol Renegade QuickTime – Justin Sanders (11.598)TJ Forged Heat One Winner – Tyler CourtneyDMI Heat Two Winner – Max MittryBR Motorsports Heat Three Winner – Aaron ReutzelRod End Supply Heat Four Winner – Rico AbreuFK Rod Ends Dash Winner – Aaron ReutzelWinters Performance B-Main Winner – Landon BrooksDURST Dice Roll Driver – Giovanni Scelzi (7th-to-7th)Jake’s Golf Carts Fastest Lap – Aaron Reutzel (12.242 on Lap 33)Rod End Supply Hard Charger – Landon Brooks +10 (21st-to-11th)Whiskey Meyers Victory Lane Visitors – Ridge & Sons Racing #87 (10th of year)CASM Win Sticker – Aaron Reutzel (17th of career)Lap Leader(s) – Aaron Reutzel 1-35
Interstate Batteries A-Main Results (35 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[1]; 2. 19-Brent Marks[3]; 3. 88-Tanner Thorson[12]; 4. 2X-Justin Sanders[6]; 5. 24-Rico Abreu[5]; 6. 26-Justin Peck[8]; 7. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 8. 9R-Chase Randall[16]; 9. 5-Dominic Scelzi[15]; 10. 9-Daison Pursley[10]; 11. 21L-Landon Brooks[21]; 12. 55-Kerry Madsen[13]; 13. 4-Kasey Kahne[11]; 14. 42-Sye Lynch[14]; 15. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 16. 77A-Levi Klatt[23]; 17. 7T-Tyler Thompson[18]; 18. 7-Seth Standley[20]; 19. 40-Kinzer Cox[22]; 20. 5K-Dylan Bloomfield[19]; 21. 2XM-Max Mittry[4]; 22. 10-Dominic Gorden[24]; 23. 21-James McFadden[17]; 24. 13-Tanner Holmes[9]
NEW Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Championship Standings (After 38/54 Races):1. 2,219 pts – Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #24 (Rico Abreu)2. -36 pts – Ridge & Sons Racing #87 (Aaron Reutzel)3. -83 pts – Spire Motorsports #77 (Giovanni Scelzi)4. -154 pts – Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC (Tyler Courtney)5. -160 pts – Chase Briscoe Racing #19 (Brent Marks)6. -168 pts – Rudeen Racing #26 (Justin Peck)7. -295 pts – JST Motorsports #88 (Tanner Thorson)8. -345 pts – Vermeer Motorsports #55 (Kerry Madsen)9. -438 pts – Buch Motorsports #13 (Tanner Holmes)10. -441 pts – Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9 (Daison Pursley)11. -636 pts – Mosites Lynch Racing #42 (Sye Lynch)12. -657 pts – CJB Motorsports #5 (Brenham Crouch sub w/ Dominic Scelzi)13. -726 pts – Michael Dutcher Motorsports #17GP (Brock Zearfoss)14. -742 pts – Chase Randall Racing #9R (Chase Randall)15. -869 pts – Randerson Racing #24D (Danny Sams III)
UPDATED Roto-Rooter Midweek Series Points (Through 13/14 Rounds):1. 797 pts – Brent Marks2. -17 pts – Aaron Reutzel3. -42 pts – Rico Abreu4. -45 pts – Giovanni Scelzi5. -61 pts – Justin Peck6. -65 pts – Tyler Courtney
WHAT’S NEXT: The highest-paying event of the 2026 Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing campaign awaits this weekend as the $126,000-to-win Angel of the Winds Skagit Nationals takes teams to Alger, Washington’s Skagit Speedway from Thursday-Saturday, September 3-5. Tickets are available for purchase at HighLimitRacing.com, or you can watch every event live on FloRacing.

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM: Kofoid Claims Thrilling World of Outlaws Return to Nodak

Kofoid crosses over Macedo’s last corner slide job for his 11th win of the season

MINOT, ND (August 31, 2026) – Mother Nature had other plans twice, but the long-awaited return to Nodak Speedway proved to be well worth the wait.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series completed the Gerdau Metals Recycling Magic City Showdownon Monday and gave the patient fans their money’s worth with a thrilling duel between two of the best.

A pair of “Golden State” stars in Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Carson Macedo put on a show in the 30-lap main event. Macedo started on the pole and took early command in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41, and the battle commenced on Lap 8 when traffic slowed Macedo and allowed Kofoid to clear a slide job in Turns 1 and 2. Macedo countered with a crossover, and the two made slight contact as Macedo moved back ahead. The lead changed hands for the third time in half a lap as the Roth Motorsports No. 83 dove under Macedo into Turn 3 and slid back ahead and closed the door.

Lapped cars help set the stage for a wild conclusion as Macedo motored back up to Kofoid’s tail tank in the closing laps. The white flag flew, and the door opened one last time for Macedo in the final set of corners. He fired a slider that cleared and brought the fans to their feet but couldn’t quite make it stick as Kofoid ducked back under exiting the turn and grabbed the checkered flag.

“When I slid him and he crossed me back under, things got a little hairy,” Kofoid explained. “I’m glad that we both were able to just keep going and still put on a good race. It was tricky obviously. I was still pounding the top, and I felt like I was kind of slipping a little bit more and more. I could see it was getting darker and darker, and I was like okay, I need to be down here. I think just those two cars coming together let him have a chance. I checked up for them and didn’t know where they were going to go. I kind of gave up on the top, and then after the checkered I ran the top again was like that was still good. I’m just glad to come home with another win.”

The win gave Kofoid sole possession of the most World of Outlaws victories in 2026 as he’s now up to 11 this year and 33 in his career. The 24-year-old has tallied 31 of those with Roth Motorsports, meaning he’s now just 10 away from equaling Danny Lasoski as Dennis and Teresa Roth’s winningest competitor with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Macedo settled for the second spot, the fourth podium in the last five races for the Lemoore, CA native and the JJR crew.

Sheldon Haudenschild made a late charge to put the KCP Racing NOS Energy Drink No. 18 on the final step of the podium.

Garet Williamson and Spencer Bayston completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Garet Williamson claimed the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

David Gravel completed a sweep of all three Simpson Quick Time Awards over the weekend in North Dakota.

Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Carson Macedo (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), and Bill Balog (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Carson Macedo.

Macedo also topped the Toyota Dash.

Donny Schatz drove from 13th to 6th to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

David Gravel was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

A fifth straight top 10 made Emerson Axsom the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Buddy Kofoid clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Brandon, SD’s Huset’s Speedway for the L.G. Everist Huset’s Shootout over Labor Day weekend on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-6. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.

Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 5. 17-Spencer Bayston[6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 7. 2-David Gravel[3]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[10]; 10. 16C-Skylar Gee[9]; 11. 2C-Cole Macedo[12]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 14. 28M-Conner Morrell[16]; 15. 6-Bryce Lucius[17]; 16. 15L-Laela Eisenschenk[18]; 17. 6N-Greg Nikitenko[21]; 18. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[11]; 19. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[15]; 20. 4-Colton Young[20]; 21. 17M-Todd Mickelson[22]; 22. 1-Amelia Eisenschenk[19]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM: Kofoid Claims Thrilling World of Outlaws Return to Nodak

Kofoid crosses over Macedo’s last corner slide job for his 11th win of the season

MINOT, ND (August 31, 2026) – Mother Nature had other plans twice, but the long-awaited return to Nodak Speedway proved to be well worth the wait.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series completed the Gerdau Metals Recycling Magic City Showdownon Monday and gave the patient fans their money’s worth with a thrilling duel between two of the best.

A pair of “Golden State” stars in Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Carson Macedo put on a show in the 30-lap main event. Macedo started on the pole and took early command in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41, and the battle commenced on Lap 8 when traffic slowed Macedo and allowed Kofoid to clear a slide job in Turns 1 and 2. Macedo countered with a crossover, and the two made slight contact as Macedo moved back ahead. The lead changed hands for the third time in half a lap as the Roth Motorsports No. 83 dove under Macedo into Turn 3 and slid back ahead and closed the door.

Lapped cars help set the stage for a wild conclusion as Macedo motored back up to Kofoid’s tail tank in the closing laps. The white flag flew, and the door opened one last time for Macedo in the final set of corners. He fired a slider that cleared and brought the fans to their feet but couldn’t quite make it stick as Kofoid ducked back under exiting the turn and grabbed the checkered flag.

“When I slid him and he crossed me back under, things got a little hairy,” Kofoid explained. “I’m glad that we both were able to just keep going and still put on a good race. It was tricky obviously. I was still pounding the top, and I felt like I was kind of slipping a little bit more and more. I could see it was getting darker and darker, and I was like okay, I need to be down here. I think just those two cars coming together let him have a chance. I checked up for them and didn’t know where they were going to go. I kind of gave up on the top, and then after the checkered I ran the top again was like that was still good. I’m just glad to come home with another win.”

The win gave Kofoid sole possession of the most World of Outlaws victories in 2026 as he’s now up to 11 this year and 33 in his career. The 24-year-old has tallied 31 of those with Roth Motorsports, meaning he’s now just 10 away from equaling Danny Lasoski as Dennis and Teresa Roth’s winningest competitor with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Macedo settled for the second spot, the fourth podium in the last five races for the Lemoore, CA native and the JJR crew.

Sheldon Haudenschild made a late charge to put the KCP Racing NOS Energy Drink No. 18 on the final step of the podium.

Garet Williamson and Spencer Bayston completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Garet Williamson claimed the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

David Gravel completed a sweep of all three Simpson Quick Time Awards over the weekend in North Dakota.

Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Carson Macedo (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), and Bill Balog (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Carson Macedo.

Macedo also topped the Toyota Dash.

Donny Schatz drove from 13th to 6th to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

David Gravel was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

A fifth straight top 10 made Emerson Axsom the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Buddy Kofoid clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Brandon, SD’s Huset’s Speedway for the L.G. Everist Huset’s Shootout over Labor Day weekend on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-6. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.

Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 4. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 5. 17-Spencer Bayston[6]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[13]; 7. 2-David Gravel[3]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[7]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[10]; 10. 16C-Skylar Gee[9]; 11. 2C-Cole Macedo[12]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 14. 28M-Conner Morrell[16]; 15. 6-Bryce Lucius[17]; 16. 15L-Laela Eisenschenk[18]; 17. 6N-Greg Nikitenko[21]; 18. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[11]; 19. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[15]; 20. 4-Colton Young[20]; 21. 17M-Todd Mickelson[22]; 22. 1-Amelia Eisenschenk[19]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/third-times-a-charm-kofoid-claims-thrilling-world-of-outlaws-return-to-nodak/

Mitch Kalitta Scores First Top Alcohol Dragster Win at JEGS SportsNationals with Randy Meyer Racing

Aug 31, 2026 | Race Results

Randy Meyer Racing overcame a challenging start to the weekend to deliver a storybook finish at the JEGS SportsNationals at Beech Bend Raceway Park, with rookie driver Mitch Kalitta claiming his first career Top Alcohol Dragster victory in just his second start in the class.

The win marked Randy Meyer Racing’s 131st drag racing victory, the team’s sixth win at Beech Bend Raceway Park and its third consecutive victory at the Bowling Green facility. Matt Cummings won at Beech Bend in 2025, while Zack Sackman took the victory in 2024.

However, the weekend did not begin as smoothly as the team had hoped.

Both of Randy’s Top Alcohol Dragsters struggled to make clean qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday. Kalitta, making only his second Top Alcohol Dragster start of the season as a rookie, recorded an 8.227-second pass at 266.32 mph as his best qualifying effort after missing Q1 due to work. The number on the scoreboard, however, did not reflect the performance of the car.

During the staging procedure, Kalitta accidentally double-staged the dragster. Rather than rushing through the post-pre-stage steps required to launch the car — turning the fuel fully on and releasing the clutch — he took the time to complete the process correctly. Because the elapsed-time clock begins when the green light is on, those additional seconds were included in the official elapsed time. The result was an 8.227-second recorded pass even though the dragster was actually traveling at a five-second pace once it was fully underway to the quarter-mile. It was a valuable rookie lesson for Kalitta.

Jennifer Wiens was facing an even bigger learning curve. The JEGS SportsNationals marked her first Top Alcohol Dragster event after completing her license upgrade from Top Dragster with the team on Monday following the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Wiens also struggled to make a clean A-to-B qualifying pass, with her best qualifying effort coming in at 8.489 seconds.

Despite the difficult qualifying sessions, Randy Meyer Racing’s crew continued working through the issues and the two drivers ultimately qualified fourth and fifth, putting the Meyer dragsters on opposite sides of the elimination ladder. That gave the team the best possible opportunity to bring both cars to the final round, and Sunday proved to be a completely different story.

Wiens came out swinging in the opening round, delivering the quickest pass of the entire event by any car — a 5.23-second run at 277 mph — to defeat Jackie Fricke. With only five cars entered for the eight-car field, Wiens received a bye in the second round, securing her spot in the final round while the other side of the ladder played out where kalitta’s path to the final was anything but easy.

In the second round, Kalitta faced veteran Jared Dreher and put together a 5.34-second pass at 269 mph to defeat Dreher’s 5.52 at the same speed.

The semifinal matched Kalitta against No. 1 qualifier Melanie Johnson. Kalitta once again posted a 5.34-second run, while Johnson encountered shake and had to pedal her dragster, ultimately recording a 5.55, and Kalitta earned his place in the finals.

That set up an all-Meyer final round, with both Kalitta and Wiens lining up for their first-ever Top Alcohol Dragster finals. Both drivers delivered strong passes, but Kalitta saved his best run of the weekend for the moment that mattered most. Kalitta powered the Kalitta Air dragster to an impressive 5.26-second pass at 267 mph, defeating Wiens’ Hedinger’s Equipment/NGK Spark Plugs and Coils strong 5.32-second run at 272 mph, and securing his first career Top Alcohol Dragster victory.

“I had a great weekend here at Bowling Green, it’s a super cool facility with lots of history and character,” said Kalitta. “It was my first time there, which seems to be a rarity for me as our family has raced at so many different tracks. Qualifying did not go as planned, I had a rookie mistake on the second run, but it was good to get that one out of the way before heading to Indy. Randy, JJ, & the whole Randy Meyer team had my Kalitta Air car running smooth and strong on Sunday winning all three rounds. I’m super honored to get my first NHRA win with such great people, I could not do it without them and the support from my family. Now we are focused on Indy for the Big Go!”

For Wiens, the weekend represented an impressive debut in Top Alcohol Dragster competition. After only earning her upgraded license days earlier, she immediately found herself in her first final round and posted the quickest pass of the entire event along the way.

“Qualifying was a little rough, and we faced the number two qualifier first round and somehow ended up low E.T. for the weekend,” said Wiens. “I had a bye into the final, and in the final I think we still ran a great pass, but Mitch prevailed and it was a great weekend overall. I can’t wait to do it again.”

The result was a significant milestone not only for Kalitta, but for the entire Randy Meyer Racing organization. The victory was the team’s 131st overall and continued a unique streak at Beech Bend Raceway Park, where Randy Meyer Racing has now won three consecutive years with three different drivers.

Hedinger’s Equipment was also on board both Randy Meyer Racing dragsters throughout the JEGS SportsNationals weekend. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hedinger’s Equipment is an authorized wrecker dealership for Miller, Century, Vulcan, Chevron and Landoll trailers, offering an extensive selection of new and pre-owned equipment backed by a strong focus on customer service. The company has partnered with Randy Meyer Racing to support the team and a shared commitment to performance and excellence in both the drag racing and towing industries.

The Hedinger’s Equipment branding will remain on the Randy Meyer Racing dragsters next weekend at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, where Kalitta will return to competition alongside TJ Tindle.

Mitch Kalitta Scores First Top Alcohol Dragster Win at JEGS SportsNationals with Randy Meyer Racing

Aug 31, 2026 | Race Results

Randy Meyer Racing overcame a challenging start to the weekend to deliver a storybook finish at the JEGS SportsNationals at Beech Bend Raceway Park, with rookie driver Mitch Kalitta claiming his first career Top Alcohol Dragster victory in just his second start in the class.

The win marked Randy Meyer Racing’s 131st drag racing victory, the team’s sixth win at Beech Bend Raceway Park and its third consecutive victory at the Bowling Green facility. Matt Cummings won at Beech Bend in 2025, while Zack Sackman took the victory in 2024.

However, the weekend did not begin as smoothly as the team had hoped.

Both of Randy’s Top Alcohol Dragsters struggled to make clean qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday. Kalitta, making only his second Top Alcohol Dragster start of the season as a rookie, recorded an 8.227-second pass at 266.32 mph as his best qualifying effort after missing Q1 due to work. The number on the scoreboard, however, did not reflect the performance of the car.

During the staging procedure, Kalitta accidentally double-staged the dragster. Rather than rushing through the post-pre-stage steps required to launch the car — turning the fuel fully on and releasing the clutch — he took the time to complete the process correctly. Because the elapsed-time clock begins when the green light is on, those additional seconds were included in the official elapsed time. The result was an 8.227-second recorded pass even though the dragster was actually traveling at a five-second pace once it was fully underway to the quarter-mile. It was a valuable rookie lesson for Kalitta.

Jennifer Wiens was facing an even bigger learning curve. The JEGS SportsNationals marked her first Top Alcohol Dragster event after completing her license upgrade from Top Dragster with the team on Monday following the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. Wiens also struggled to make a clean A-to-B qualifying pass, with her best qualifying effort coming in at 8.489 seconds.

Despite the difficult qualifying sessions, Randy Meyer Racing’s crew continued working through the issues and the two drivers ultimately qualified fourth and fifth, putting the Meyer dragsters on opposite sides of the elimination ladder. That gave the team the best possible opportunity to bring both cars to the final round, and Sunday proved to be a completely different story.

Wiens came out swinging in the opening round, delivering the quickest pass of the entire event by any car — a 5.23-second run at 277 mph — to defeat Jackie Fricke. With only five cars entered for the eight-car field, Wiens received a bye in the second round, securing her spot in the final round while the other side of the ladder played out where kalitta’s path to the final was anything but easy.

In the second round, Kalitta faced veteran Jared Dreher and put together a 5.34-second pass at 269 mph to defeat Dreher’s 5.52 at the same speed.

The semifinal matched Kalitta against No. 1 qualifier Melanie Johnson. Kalitta once again posted a 5.34-second run, while Johnson encountered shake and had to pedal her dragster, ultimately recording a 5.55, and Kalitta earned his place in the finals.

That set up an all-Meyer final round, with both Kalitta and Wiens lining up for their first-ever Top Alcohol Dragster finals. Both drivers delivered strong passes, but Kalitta saved his best run of the weekend for the moment that mattered most. Kalitta powered the Kalitta Air dragster to an impressive 5.26-second pass at 267 mph, defeating Wiens’ Hedinger’s Equipment/NGK Spark Plugs and Coils strong 5.32-second run at 272 mph, and securing his first career Top Alcohol Dragster victory.

“I had a great weekend here at Bowling Green, it’s a super cool facility with lots of history and character,” said Kalitta. “It was my first time there, which seems to be a rarity for me as our family has raced at so many different tracks. Qualifying did not go as planned, I had a rookie mistake on the second run, but it was good to get that one out of the way before heading to Indy. Randy, JJ, & the whole Randy Meyer team had my Kalitta Air car running smooth and strong on Sunday winning all three rounds. I’m super honored to get my first NHRA win with such great people, I could not do it without them and the support from my family. Now we are focused on Indy for the Big Go!”

For Wiens, the weekend represented an impressive debut in Top Alcohol Dragster competition. After only earning her upgraded license days earlier, she immediately found herself in her first final round and posted the quickest pass of the entire event along the way.

“Qualifying was a little rough, and we faced the number two qualifier first round and somehow ended up low E.T. for the weekend,” said Wiens. “I had a bye into the final, and in the final I think we still ran a great pass, but Mitch prevailed and it was a great weekend overall. I can’t wait to do it again.”

The result was a significant milestone not only for Kalitta, but for the entire Randy Meyer Racing organization. The victory was the team’s 131st overall and continued a unique streak at Beech Bend Raceway Park, where Randy Meyer Racing has now won three consecutive years with three different drivers.

Hedinger’s Equipment was also on board both Randy Meyer Racing dragsters throughout the JEGS SportsNationals weekend. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hedinger’s Equipment is an authorized wrecker dealership for Miller, Century, Vulcan, Chevron and Landoll trailers, offering an extensive selection of new and pre-owned equipment backed by a strong focus on customer service. The company has partnered with Randy Meyer Racing to support the team and a shared commitment to performance and excellence in both the drag racing and towing industries.

The Hedinger’s Equipment branding will remain on the Randy Meyer Racing dragsters next weekend at the NHRA U.S. Nationals, where Kalitta will return to competition alongside TJ Tindle.

With a first career win now on his résumé and Wiens already showing championship-level potential in her Top Alcohol Dragster debut, the Randy Meyer Racing team leaves Bowling Green with plenty of momentum heading into the biggest race of the NHRA season.

Ryan Preece Wins First NASCAR Cup Series Race At Daytona and Secures Final CHase Spot

Daytona BEACH, FL. – August 31, 2026 – Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing’s Ryan Preece scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series points-paying victory Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in overtime and securing the 16th and final spot in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
RYAN PREECE WINS FIRST NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE AT DAYTONA AND SECURES FINAL CHASE SPOTDAYTONA BEACH, FL. – August 31, 2026 – Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing’s Ryan Preece scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series points-paying victory Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in overtime and securing the 16th and final spot in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
Preece entered the regular-season finale 31 points behind for the final Chase position. With his victory, Preece vaulted past Shane van Gisbergen by 17 points to earn his first career Cup Series win and a spot in the 10-race championship pursuit. The victory marked the 144th NASCAR Cup Series win for team owner Jack Roush and the seventh Cup Series victory under the Roush Fenway Keselowski banner. It was also Ford’s fifth Cup Series victory in the last seven races.

Five Ford Mustang drivers advanced to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase: Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing, along with Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric of Team Penske.
“Congratulations to Jack, Brad, Chip, Derrick, Ryan and everyone at Roush Fenway Keselowski on the win at Daytona International Speedway,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Ryan battled through some challenges at the end of Stage 1 but drove through the field from 38th position in Stage 2 to earn his first points win. To win five of the last seven races is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the employees at Ford Racing, RFK Racing, Team Penske and Roush Yates Engines. We finished the regular season with tremendous momentum, and we’re looking forward to the Chase.”

“Unreal. The Northeast is gonna burn it down tonight because when we won the Clash all I heard was, ‘That was a non-points race.’ Well, now we’ve won a points race and now we’re in the playoffs. We came with our back against the wall and we fought. That was a heavyweight fight and we were never out. Thank you to OIKOS, Kroger, Fastenal, Mr. Jack Roush, everybody at RFK, Brad Keselowski, Tad Geschickter, all our friends and family, Ford for the awesome race car, Doug Yates for the awesome motor. I’m just super, super proud. I’m proud to be a Northeast guy,” commented Preece.
RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher qualified second, earning a front-row starting position, while Preece qualified fourth. Team Penske’s teammates Austin Cindric started eighth and Joey Logano ninth in Saturday’s race. Buescher and Preece raced at the front of the field late in Stage 1, but contact involving Buescher and Kyle Larson collected both RFK Racing Fords and sent all three cars through the infield grass. Preece rebounded from the incident and charged through the field in Stage 2, finishing second behind Ford teammate Ryan Blaney, who won the stage. 

Race Teams leveraged various pit strategies during the final stage, while Preece stayed out and remained in contention at the front of the field. He took the lead in the closing laps while stretching fuel mileage and was running among the leaders when an incident on lap 155 brought out a caution and sent the race into overtime. Preece held his position during the overtime restart and took the lead in the closing laps. When another caution flew following a series of final-lap incidents, Preece was ahead of Daniel Suárez and was declared the winner.
Team Penske’s Austin Cindric finished sixth, while Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry finished ninth at Daytona.

The NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Darlington Raceway for the Cook Out Southern 500, the opening race of the 10-race 2026 Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. The Chase begins Sunday, September 6, at 5 p.m. ET.
RYAN PREECE WINS FIRST NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE AT DAYTONA AND SECURES FINAL CHASE SPOTDAYTONA BEACH, FL. – August 31, 2026 – Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing’s Ryan Preece scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series points-paying victory Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in overtime and securing the 16th and final spot in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
Preece entered the regular-season finale 31 points behind for the final Chase position. With his victory, Preece vaulted past Shane van Gisbergen by 17 points to earn his first career Cup Series win and a spot in the 10-race championship pursuit. The victory marked the 144th NASCAR Cup Series win for team owner Jack Roush and the seventh Cup Series victory under the Roush Fenway Keselowski banner. It was also Ford’s fifth Cup Series victory in the last seven races.

Five Ford Mustang drivers advanced to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase: Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing, along with Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric of Team Penske.
“Congratulations to Jack, Brad, Chip, Derrick, Ryan and everyone at Roush Fenway Keselowski on the win at Daytona International Speedway,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Ryan battled through some challenges at the end of Stage 1 but drove through the field from 38th position in Stage 2 to earn his first points win. To win five of the last seven races is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the employees at Ford Racing, RFK Racing, Team Penske and Roush Yates Engines. We finished the regular season with tremendous momentum, and we’re looking forward to the Chase.”

“Unreal. The Northeast is gonna burn it down tonight because when we won the Clash all I heard was, ‘That was a non-points race.’ Well, now we’ve won a points race and now we’re in the playoffs. We came with our back against the wall and we fought. That was a heavyweight fight and we were never out. Thank you to OIKOS, Kroger, Fastenal, Mr. Jack Roush, everybody at RFK, Brad Keselowski, Tad Geschickter, all our friends and family, Ford for the awesome race car, Doug Yates for the awesome motor. I’m just super, super proud. I’m proud to be a Northeast guy,” commented Preece.
RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher qualified second, earning a front-row starting position, while Preece qualified fourth. Team Penske’s teammates Austin Cindric started eighth and Joey Logano ninth in Saturday’s race. Buescher and Preece raced at the front of the field late in Stage 1, but contact involving Buescher and Kyle Larson collected both RFK Racing Fords and sent all three cars through the infield grass. Preece rebounded from the incident and charged through the field in Stage 2, finishing second behind Ford teammate Ryan Blaney, who won the stage. 

Race Teams leveraged various pit strategies during the final stage, while Preece stayed out and remained in contention at the front of the field. He took the lead in the closing laps while stretching fuel mileage and was running among the leaders when an incident on lap 155 brought out a caution and sent the race into overtime. Preece held his position during the overtime restart and took the lead in the closing laps. When another caution flew following a series of final-lap incidents, Preece was ahead of Daniel Suárez and was declared the winner.
Team Penske’s Austin Cindric finished sixth, while Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry finished ninth at Daytona.

The NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Darlington Raceway for the Cook Out Southern 500, the opening race of the 10-race 2026 Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. The Chase begins Sunday, September 6, at 5 p.m. ET.
42 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 491 WINS – 454 POLES
 

Corvette Racing at COTA: Triple Threat

CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: Triple Threat
TF Sport aiming for third straight win in Corvette’s home race DETROIT (August 31, 2026) – TF Sport is bringing its pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs home to the U.S. as the FIA World Endurance Championship makes its lone American stop this weekend at Circuit of The Americas for Sunday’s six-hour Lone Star Le Mans. America’s sports car is on a two-race win streak in the highly competitive LMGT3 class with both the No. 33 TF Sport and No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvettes firmly entrenched in the championship standings as a result.
Texan Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg are the reigning 24 Hours of Le Mans winners in the No. 33 Corvette. That result catapulted the No. 33 crew into the lead of the Teams points standings, and the top-three in the Drivers Championship are Edgar, Catsburg and Keating, in that order. Catsburg missed the previous race in Brazil due to his commitments in IMSA, and Keating sat out the first two rounds of the season due to an elbow injury.  The trio of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey were winners at Sāo Paulo for their first victory of the season. The result moved the No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette to fourth in the Teams championship, and only the No. 33 sister car has scored more points the last three races than the red No. 34 entry. Of note, Eastwood and Yoluc were TF Sport teammates in a winning run in Austin at the 2020 COTA WEC race. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R already is a winner at Circuit of the Americas, having won in GT World Challenge America competition in 2024 and 2025. As a program, Corvette Racing has five victories in both IMSA and SRO competition. Three generations of Corvette – C6.R, C7.R and Z06 GT3.R – have won at the circuit. The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans race for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 6. Live streaming coverage of the race, qualifying and Hyperpole, plus timing and scoring is available through a subscription on FIA WEC Plus with additional live streaming on the HBO Max app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will provide live streaming audio coverage of all sessions as well.
ANDREA HIDALGO, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “We’re all very excited for Sunday’s race at Circuit of The Americas, especially with it being our home round of the WEC season. It’s a big deal for us, for everyone at TF Sport and the fans who will be watching. Obviously we couldn’t ask for better momentum coming into the event off wins for TF Sport at Le Mans and Brazil. Everything is clicking together nicely: the performance of the drivers, the engineering preparation and strategy as well as the execution and setup by the crew. This event will be a challenge, as it always is. The competition will be tough but so will the extreme heat both on and off the track. The way the team is able to manage that through the car, the tire degradation and themselves will go a long way toward finding success – and more points – this weekend.”
CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The result in Brazil means I can’t win the championship anymore but I kind of knew that was going to be the situation. We saw that coming so for Jonny it was important to score some points. But the goal is always to win the championship. Even though it might be just Jonny, we’ve all done it together – with Nico’s help and also with Blake’s help. But the goal remains the same: we need to have good races and score as many points as possible. Brazil was very good for them. With the additional weight, the team did a great job to get points. I feel like COTA might be a little difficult again in terms of weight. It’s a home race for Ben so it’s cool to be there. I like the high-speed first sector, but what I dislike about it is that you can do track limits everywhere and it’s a very un-American track in that way. But it’s still a cool place to go to and it’s a track I haven’t been to in a very long time. I’m looking forward to it.”
JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I really enjoyed driving at COTA last year, especially Sector One. It was a difficult race for us. We struggled for pace in the wet and had a lot of different things go wrong. It was one of those days but I’m looking forward to going back. I feel like this year going back to this track for the second time, I’m much more comfortable straight away. In general I feel much more comfortable in the car. Last year was my first full season in GT racing so I feel quite a big improvement in my own performance. I feel like everything comes easier now. I can jump in and drive naturally and not have to think quite as much. Hopefully it’s a similar improvement at COTA. It’s Corvette’s home race and Ben’s as well. We want to do well everywhere but obviously there is extra incentive to have a good race this weekend.”
BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We come to my home race leading the championship and having won Le Mans. It will be tough because we are still carrying some success ballast and it’s such a long track. Having said all that, I’ve been very successful at COTA through the years. I think I won the first four races I did there including a 24-hour race overall. I’m also planning to have a lot of guests there. As I have my name on the side of the car from my Keating Chevrolet dealership, it would be great to win in Texas or be on the podium. We will see.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We’re coming off finally breaking through with the win at Brazil. The team effort was amazing, and both Peter and Salih drove really well to put us in a position where I just needed to bring it home. Now we’re hoping to continue that at COTA, which is a completely different track but it’s one I really enjoy. It’s the home race for Corvette and Peter’s only chance to race in the U.S., so we want to give it all we can to make it two in a row. There is a lot of good momentum within TF Sport at the moment – our win, the great result at Le Mans and how things are going with the ELMS entry. Really looking forward to this weekend to see if we can keep it up.”
SALIH YOLUC, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It will be good to go back to COTA. We won there with TF the last time I raced there and I really like it there. It’s fast and flowing, especially the first sector. It has a little bit of everything. I don’t think you can really compare it to any other track on the calendar. That’s what makes it quite unique in its own way.”
PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s another new track for me. I tested a Radical there back when we had a Radical team but I never raced there. Obviously it’s Corvette’s home race and my home race at this point of my life. It will feel good to come in after the win in Brazil, and I think we are still on a high from it. The track in Austin is a tricky one. In a GT3 car it’s going to be all about track usage. You want to make sure you’re good in the brake zones but also use the track to maximize track limits. It’s very different to Interlagos, for example, where you don’t get away with much. It will be a new experience so I’m looking forward to it.”
2026 FIA World Endurance Championship PointsLMGT3 Drivers Standings1. Jonny Edgar – 762. Nicky Catsburg – 723. Ben Keating – 544. Riccardo Pera/Richard Lietz/Yasser Shahin – 495. Anthony McIntosh/Daniel Harper/Parker Thompson – 436. Charlie Eastwood/Peter Dempsey/Salih Yoluc – 43 LMGT3 Teams Standings1. No. 33 TF Sport – 762. No. 92 The Bend Manthey – 493. No. 69 Team WRT – 434. No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF – 435. No. 21 Vista AF Corse – 42 CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: By the Numbers• 2: Consecutive race wins for TF Sport in FIA WEC competition: 24 Hours of Le Mans (No. 33 Corvette) and Six Hours of Sāo Paulo (No. 34 Corvette)• 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at COTA since 2013 – Corvette C6.R (2013), Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and the mid-engine Corvette C8.R – which raced at COTA for the first time in WEC competition in 2020 – and Z06 GT3.R, both of which are eighth-gen Corvettes• 5: Class wins at COTA for Corvette Racing entries in two championships: IMSA and GT World Challenge America. The latest came in 2025 from DXDT Racing in GT World Challenge America Pro-Am• 11: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R including two earlier this year at Circuit of The Americas• 15: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 35: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Indianapolis, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sāo Paulo (Brazil), Sebring, Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Sonoma, Spa-Francorchamps, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 44: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list were TF Sport’s Peter Dempsey and Salih Yoluc at Sāo Paulo in WEC• 73: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year• 86: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. Steller Motorsports’ Lenny Ried joined the list at the 24 Hours of Spa• 159: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 119 in IMSA, 10 at Le Mans, six in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia, GT America and the European Le Mans Series, and one in IGTC/GT World Challenge Europe• 387: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999• 6,256.04: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 12 previous events at Circuit of The Americas• 511,683.39: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. The program went over the half-million mark at this year’s 24 Hours of Spa Corvette Racing at Circuit of The Americas (wins in bold)2013 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTNo. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 11th in GT 2014 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 9th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 10th in GTLM 2014 FIA WEC – No. 65 Corvette C7.R: Tommy Milner/Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor – 7th in GTE Pro (FIA WEC entry) 2015 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 6th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 8th in GTLM 2016 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 3rd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 5th in GTLM 2017 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 1st in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 7th in GTLM 2020 FIA WEC – No. 63 Corvette C8.R: Jan Magnussen/Mike Rockenfeller: 6th in GTE Pro 2024 SRO America – No. 63 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Alec Udell – 1st, 1st in GTWC ProNo. 08 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Bryan Sellers/Scott Smithson – 6th, 11th in GTWC Pro-Am 2024 FIA WEC – No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 8th in LMGT3No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Daniel Juncadella/Sebastien Baud/Hiroshi Koizumi – 17th in LMGT3 (DNF) 2025 SRO America – No. 11 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Blake McDonald/Matt Bell – 1st, 3rd in GTWC Pro-AmNo. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest/Aaron Povoledo – 8th, 11th in GTWC Pro-AmNo. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest – 4th, 3rd in GT America SRO3 2025 FIA WEC – No. 33 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Daniel Juncadella/Jonny Edgar/Ben Keating – 7th in LMGT3No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 2nd in LMGT3 2026 SRO America – No. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest – 3rd, 5th in GT America SRO3
CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: Triple ThreatTF Sport aiming for third straight win in Corvette’s home race DETROIT (August 31, 2026) – TF Sport is bringing its pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs home to the U.S. as the FIA World Endurance Championship makes its lone American stop this weekend at Circuit of The Americas for Sunday’s six-hour Lone Star Le Mans. America’s sports car is on a two-race win streak in the highly competitive LMGT3 class with both the No. 33 TF Sport and No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvettes firmly entrenched in the championship standings as a result.
Texan Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg are the reigning 24 Hours of Le Mans winners in the No. 33 Corvette. That result catapulted the No. 33 crew into the lead of the Teams points standings, and the top-three in the Drivers Championship are Edgar, Catsburg and Keating, in that order. Catsburg missed the previous race in Brazil due to his commitments in IMSA, and Keating sat out the first two rounds of the season due to an elbow injury.  The trio of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey were winners at Sāo Paulo for their first victory of the season. The result moved the No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette to fourth in the Teams championship, and only the No. 33 sister car has scored more points the last three races than the red No. 34 entry. Of note, Eastwood and Yoluc were TF Sport teammates in a winning run in Austin at the 2020 COTA WEC race. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R already is a winner at Circuit of the Americas, having won in GT World Challenge America competition in 2024 and 2025. As a program, Corvette Racing has five victories in both IMSA and SRO competition. Three generations of Corvette – C6.R, C7.R and Z06 GT3.R – have won at the circuit. The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans race for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 6. Live streaming coverage of the race, qualifying and Hyperpole, plus timing and scoring is available through a subscription on FIA WEC Plus with additional live streaming on the HBO Max app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will provide live streaming audio coverage of all sessions as well.
ANDREA HIDALGO, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “We’re all very excited for Sunday’s race at Circuit of The Americas, especially with it being our home round of the WEC season. It’s a big deal for us, for everyone at TF Sport and the fans who will be watching. Obviously we couldn’t ask for better momentum coming into the event off wins for TF Sport at Le Mans and Brazil. Everything is clicking together nicely: the performance of the drivers, the engineering preparation and strategy as well as the execution and setup by the crew. This event will be a challenge, as it always is. The competition will be tough but so will the extreme heat both on and off the track. The way the team is able to manage that through the car, the tire degradation and themselves will go a long way toward finding success – and more points – this weekend.”
CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The result in Brazil means I can’t win the championship anymore but I kind of knew that was going to be the situation. We saw that coming so for Jonny it was important to score some points. But the goal is always to win the championship. Even though it might be just Jonny, we’ve all done it together – with Nico’s help and also with Blake’s help. But the goal remains the same: we need to have good races and score as many points as possible. Brazil was very good for them. With the additional weight, the team did a great job to get points. I feel like COTA might be a little difficult again in terms of weight. It’s a home race for Ben so it’s cool to be there. I like the high-speed first sector, but what I dislike about it is that you can do track limits everywhere and it’s a very un-American track in that way. But it’s still a cool place to go to and it’s a track I haven’t been to in a very long time. I’m looking forward to it.”
JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I really enjoyed driving at COTA last year, especially Sector One. It was a difficult race for us. We struggled for pace in the wet and had a lot of different things go wrong. It was one of those days but I’m looking forward to going back. I feel like this year going back to this track for the second time, I’m much more comfortable straight away. In general I feel much more comfortable in the car. Last year was my first full season in GT racing so I feel quite a big improvement in my own performance. I feel like everything comes easier now. I can jump in and drive naturally and not have to think quite as much. Hopefully it’s a similar improvement at COTA. It’s Corvette’s home race and Ben’s as well. We want to do well everywhere but obviously there is extra incentive to have a good race this weekend.”
BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We come to my home race leading the championship and having won Le Mans. It will be tough because we are still carrying some success ballast and it’s such a long track. Having said all that, I’ve been very successful at COTA through the years. I think I won the first four races I did there including a 24-hour race overall. I’m also planning to have a lot of guests there. As I have my name on the side of the car from my Keating Chevrolet dealership, it would be great to win in Texas or be on the podium. We will see.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We’re coming off finally breaking through with the win at Brazil. The team effort was amazing, and both Peter and Salih drove really well to put us in a position where I just needed to bring it home. Now we’re hoping to continue that at COTA, which is a completely different track but it’s one I really enjoy. It’s the home race for Corvette and Peter’s only chance to race in the U.S., so we want to give it all we can to make it two in a row. There is a lot of good momentum within TF Sport at the moment – our win, the great result at Le Mans and how things are going with the ELMS entry. Really looking forward to this weekend to see if we can keep it up.”
SALIH YOLUC, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It will be good to go back to COTA. We won there with TF the last time I raced there and I really like it there. It’s fast and flowing, especially the first sector. It has a little bit of everything. I don’t think you can really compare it to any other track on the calendar. That’s what makes it quite unique in its own way.”
PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s another new track for me. I tested a Radical there back when we had a Radical team but I never raced there. Obviously it’s Corvette’s home race and my home race at this point of my life. It will feel good to come in after the win in Brazil, and I think we are still on a high from it. The track in Austin is a tricky one. In a GT3 car it’s going to be all about track usage. You want to make sure you’re good in the brake zones but also use the track to maximize track limits. It’s very different to Interlagos, for example, where you don’t get away with much. It will be a new experience so I’m looking forward to it.”
2026 FIA World Endurance Championship PointsLMGT3 Drivers Standings1. Jonny Edgar – 762. Nicky Catsburg – 723. Ben Keating – 544. Riccardo Pera/Richard Lietz/Yasser Shahin – 495. Anthony McIntosh/Daniel Harper/Parker Thompson – 436. Charlie Eastwood/Peter Dempsey/Salih Yoluc – 43 LMGT3 Teams Standings1. No. 33 TF Sport – 762. No. 92 The Bend Manthey – 493. No. 69 Team WRT – 434. No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF – 435. No. 21 Vista AF Corse – 42 CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: By the Numbers• 2: Consecutive race wins for TF Sport in FIA WEC competition: 24 Hours of Le Mans (No. 33 Corvette) and Six Hours of Sāo Paulo (No. 34 Corvette)• 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at COTA since 2013 – Corvette C6.R (2013), Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and the mid-engine Corvette C8.R – which raced at COTA for the first time in WEC competition in 2020 – and Z06 GT3.R, both of which are eighth-gen Corvettes• 5: Class wins at COTA for Corvette Racing entries in two championships: IMSA and GT World Challenge America. The latest came in 2025 from DXDT Racing in GT World Challenge America Pro-Am• 11: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R including two earlier this year at Circuit of The Americas• 15: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 35: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Indianapolis, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sāo Paulo (Brazil), Sebring, Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Sonoma, Spa-Francorchamps, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 44: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list were TF Sport’s Peter Dempsey and Salih Yoluc at Sāo Paulo in WEC• 73: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year• 86: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. Steller Motorsports’ Lenny Ried joined the list at the 24 Hours of Spa• 159: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 119 in IMSA, 10 at Le Mans, six in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia, GT America and the European Le Mans Series, and one in IGTC/GT World Challenge Europe• 387: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999• 6,256.04: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 12 previous events at Circuit of The Americas• 511,683.39: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. The program went over the half-million mark at this year’s 24 Hours of Spa Corvette Racing at Circuit of The Americas (wins in bold)2013 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTNo. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 11th in GT 2014 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 9th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 10th in GTLM 2014 FIA WEC – No. 65 Corvette C7.R: Tommy Milner/Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor – 7th in GTE Pro (FIA WEC entry) 2015 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 6th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 8th in GTLM 2016 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 3rd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 5th in GTLM 2017 IMSA – No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 1st in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 7th in GTLM 2020 FIA WEC – No. 63 Corvette C8.R: Jan Magnussen/Mike Rockenfeller: 6th in GTE Pro 2024 SRO America – No. 63 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Alec Udell – 1st, 1st in GTWC ProNo. 08 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Bryan Sellers/Scott Smithson – 6th, 11th in GTWC Pro-Am 2024 FIA WEC – No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 8th in LMGT3No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Daniel Juncadella/Sebastien Baud/Hiroshi Koizumi – 17th in LMGT3 (DNF) 2025 SRO America – No. 11 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Blake McDonald/Matt Bell – 1st, 3rd in GTWC Pro-AmNo. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest/Aaron Povoledo – 8th, 11th in GTWC Pro-AmNo. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest – 4th, 3rd in GT America SRO3 2025 FIA WEC – No. 33 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Daniel Juncadella/Jonny Edgar/Ben Keating – 7th in LMGT3No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 2nd in LMGT3 2026 SRO America – No. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest – 3rd, 5th in GT America SRO3

Jett Barnes Takes First ASCS National Tour Win in Sheridan Speedway Debut

Jett Barnes Takes First ASCS National Tour Win in Sheridan Speedway Debut SHERIDAN, WY (August 30, 2026) — Jett Barnes did not have trouble finding Victory Lane with the American Sprint Car Series.

In his third career start with the National Tour, the 15-year-old wheeled the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14 around Wyoming’s Sheridan Speedway for the first time, earning a $4,000 score to close the opening weekend of Frontier Speedweek.

Starting from the front row of the 25-lap Feature with polesitter Matt Covington, Barnes used his position on the outside line to get the jump on Covington through the first set of corners on the opening lap for the lead.

As Barnes established his dominance on the cushion through the Feature’s first quarter, Covington and the field of 360 Sprint Cars followed in tow around the outside line as the Visalia, CA driver expanded to a one-second lead until the first wave of lap traffic helped Covington reel the teenager back in his sights.

While Barnes felt rising pressure from Covington for the lead, Garrett Benson joined the fight by reaching the back bumper of the No. 95 Sprint Car as the two began to exchange racing lines, attempting to power over the other for the position.

With Covington and Benson fighting for the runner-up position at the halfway point, it helped Barnes expand to a 4.9-second lead in clean air until the final wave of lapped cars arrived in the final eight laps.

After Covington held off Benson for second place, he charged back to Barnes, closing to within 2.5 seconds until the sole caution of the Feature flew on the final lap for Saturday podium finisher Cole Schroeder.

For the green-white-checkered run to the finish, Barnes kept his No. 14 glued to the cushion as Covington trailed in hot pursuit. Reaching a near two-second lead at the waving of the twin checkered flags, Barnes celebrated being the second-youngest Feature winner in National Tour history at 15 years, three months, and three days old.

“Tonight, I honestly didn’t expect this,” Barnes said. “It’s pretty big, and you really got to use your wing a lot to get around there. It was technical getting through lap traffic. I think these tracks are awesome, and I honestly enjoyed them a lot.”

Covington drove to a second-place finish as Benson took third. Sam Hafertepe Jr. finished in fourth, and Brogan Carder took the final place in the top five for his highest result of the 2026 season.

Leaving the opening weekend of Frontier Speedweek, the points at the top shifted once more as Covington retook the points lead by six markers over Hafertepe. 2024 Series champion Seth Bergman is 55 points back after finishing the Sunday battle in 10th place.

Recap Notes:

Quick Time Award: Jett Barnes (13.787 sec.)

Heat Race Winners: Matt Covington, Garrett Benson, Ryder Laplante

Last Chance Showdown Winner: Zach Blurton

Honest Abe Roofing Dash Winner: Matt Covington

Hard Charger Award: Zach Blurton (+7)

UP NEXT: The American Sprint Car Series will return to Montana for the final weekend of Frontier Speedweek with Gallatin Speedway on Friday, Sept. 4, then two nights of Montana Roundup at Electric City Speedway on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 5-6.

GALLATIN INFO

ELECTRIC CITY INFO

RESULTS: Feature (25 Laps): 1. 14-Jett Barnes[2]; 2. 95-Matt Covington[1]; 3. 2B-Garrett Benson[3]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[7]; 5. 88C-Brogan Carder[4]; 6. 88R-Ryder Laplante[5]; 7. 45X-Kyler Johnson[6]; 8. 16G-Austyn Gossel[12]; 9. 2J-Zach Blurton[16]; 10. 23-Seth Bergman[11]; 11. 88-Terry Easum[9]; 12. 81-Kelly Miller[13]; 13. 8M-Kade Morton[14]; 14. 7F-Decklyn Fleming[15]; 15. 14B-Blayne Brink[20]; 16. 0J-Damon McCune[19]; 17. 17F-Paxton Fleming[17]; 18. 511-Josh Broadbent[21]; 19. 3-Cole Schroeder[8]; 20. 38B-Bryan Brown[22]; 21. 12H-Rich Bailey[18]; 22. 24M-Ian Myers[10]

Jett Barnes Takes First ASCS National Tour Win in Sheridan Speedway Debut SHERIDAN, WY (August 30, 2026) — Jett Barnes did not have trouble finding Victory Lane with the American Sprint Car Series.

In his third career start with the National Tour, the 15-year-old wheeled the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14 around Wyoming’s Sheridan Speedway for the first time, earning a $4,000 score to close the opening weekend of Frontier Speedweek.

Starting from the front row of the 25-lap Feature with polesitter Matt Covington, Barnes used his position on the outside line to get the jump on Covington through the first set of corners on the opening lap for the lead.

As Barnes established his dominance on the cushion through the Feature’s first quarter, Covington and the field of 360 Sprint Cars followed in tow around the outside line as the Visalia, CA driver expanded to a one-second lead until the first wave of lap traffic helped Covington reel the teenager back in his sights.

While Barnes felt rising pressure from Covington for the lead, Garrett Benson joined the fight by reaching the back bumper of the No. 95 Sprint Car as the two began to exchange racing lines, attempting to power over the other for the position.

With Covington and Benson fighting for the runner-up position at the halfway point, it helped Barnes expand to a 4.9-second lead in clean air until the final wave of lapped cars arrived in the final eight laps.

After Covington held off Benson for second place, he charged back to Barnes, closing to within 2.5 seconds until the sole caution of the Feature flew on the final lap for Saturday podium finisher Cole Schroeder.

For the green-white-checkered run to the finish, Barnes kept his No. 14 glued to the cushion as Covington trailed in hot pursuit. Reaching a near two-second lead at the waving of the twin checkered flags, Barnes celebrated being the second-youngest Feature winner in National Tour history at 15 years, three months, and three days old.

“Tonight, I honestly didn’t expect this,” Barnes said. “It’s pretty big, and you really got to use your wing a lot to get around there. It was technical getting through lap traffic. I think these tracks are awesome, and I honestly enjoyed them a lot.”

Covington drove to a second-place finish as Benson took third. Sam Hafertepe Jr. finished in fourth, and Brogan Carder took the final place in the top five for his highest result of the 2026 season.

Leaving the opening weekend of Frontier Speedweek, the points at the top shifted once more as Covington retook the points lead by six markers over Hafertepe. 2024 Series champion Seth Bergman is 55 points back after finishing the Sunday battle in 10th place.

Recap Notes:

Quick Time Award: Jett Barnes (13.787 sec.)

Heat Race Winners: Matt Covington, Garrett Benson, Ryder Laplante

Last Chance Showdown Winner: Zach Blurton

Honest Abe Roofing Dash Winner: Matt Covington

Hard Charger Award: Zach Blurton (+7)

UP NEXT: The American Sprint Car Series will return to Montana for the final weekend of Frontier Speedweek with Gallatin Speedway on Friday, Sept. 4, then two nights of Montana Roundup at Electric City Speedway on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 5-6.

GALLATIN INFO

ELECTRIC CITY INFO

RESULTS: Feature (25 Laps): 1. 14-Jett Barnes[2]; 2. 95-Matt Covington[1]; 3. 2B-Garrett Benson[3]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[7]; 5. 88C-Brogan Carder[4]; 6. 88R-Ryder Laplante[5]; 7. 45X-Kyler Johnson[6]; 8. 16G-Austyn Gossel[12]; 9. 2J-Zach Blurton[16]; 10. 23-Seth Bergman[11]; 11. 88-Terry Easum[9]; 12. 81-Kelly Miller[13]; 13. 8M-Kade Morton[14]; 14. 7F-Decklyn Fleming[15]; 15. 14B-Blayne Brink[20]; 16. 0J-Damon McCune[19]; 17. 17F-Paxton Fleming[17]; 18. 511-Josh Broadbent[21]; 19. 3-Cole Schroeder[8]; 20. 38B-Bryan Brown[22]; 21. 12H-Rich Bailey[18]; 22. 24M-Ian Myers[10]

ARTICLE:https://ascsracing.com/recap/jett-barnes-takes-first-ascs-national-tour-win-in-sheridan-speedway-debut/

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Milwaukee Post Race

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES Snap-on Makers and Fixers 2501.015-mile Milwaukee Mile short oval Milwaukee, Wisconsin Saturday/Sunday Race ReportAugust 29/30, 2026
Milwaukee (August 29/30, 2026) – Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet capped off a memorable day at the historic Milwaukee Mile, winning Race #1 after winning Race #2 earlier on Sunday. O’Ward is the first driver to win a pair of INDYCAR races on the same day since Rick Mears won a pair of 125-mile races at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1981. O’Ward is the second Arrow McLaren driver to win twice on the same day, joining Johnny Rutherford, who won twice at Atlanta in 1979. 
“Congratulations to Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren on a memorable day,” said Chevrolet INDYCAR program manager Andrew Schutter. “Winning once is an incredible achievement; winning twice takes incredible execution by the driver and team. The No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew performed flawlessly, and O’Ward had the right mix of patience and aggression, putting his stamp on a memorable day at the historic Milwaukee Mile. Thank you to our Chevrolet engineering team and all our partners; a pair of podium sweeps requires incredible dedication and hard work.”
O’Ward, who led 119 laps, won his 12th career race, all of them coming with Chevrolet power. O’Ward’s double win gives Team Chevy seven wins on the season, 134 since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012 and 244 all-time. 
David Malukas, in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, led 93 laps on the way to a second-place finish. Rinus VeeKay, driving the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, was on his way to fourth-place finish number four, but was able to find the final step of the podium in the final five laps continuing his second-half hot streak. 
Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet), Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet), Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) and Josef Newgarden gave Team Chevy the top seven finishing positions. 
Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 – race results
What They’re Saying Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet won:I’ve dreamt of weekends like this, having the doubleheaders just a couple times in my career and wishing that I would win both in a weekend, and today we got to win both in a day. It’s a dream come true for myself and for the team. I’m just so happy we were able to get back on our oval form that we’ve been chasing all year. What a way to wrap up the oval races after some tough challenges. Going onto Laguna Seca, my car will look different for the first time in years outside of the Indy 500. I’m sure you’re going to love the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevy livery because I sure do!”
Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet finished 3rd:“Podium Baby! After three fourth place finishes this season, a podium feels incredible. It was a bit of an interesting one having to restart a race a day later on used tires.  But it worked out really well.  I think strategy was really good, and the car was incredible with the cooler conditions here.  Big shoutout to the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger crew. And to be part of an all-Chevy podium-not me-but the second all-Chevy podium that was really cool.  Big thank you to Chevy for giving me all the power I needed to make all those passes from 24th to third.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Clarience Technologies Team Penske Chevrolet finished 4th:“All in all, not a bad weekend for the Clarience / PPG Chevy but it should have been two podiums. (Scott) Dixon is my hero so I don’t want to say too much about what happened but we gifted the 76 a podium, simple as that. The 3 car was fantastic all weekend. Really proud of the effort from the crew because they were thrown into a tough situation with the weather. One more weekend to get a win and we are going to Laguna (Seca) to do just that.”
Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet finished 5th:“An 8th and a 5th place finish is great for us. It takes some pressure off on the Leader’s Circle battle going into Laguna. Strong finishes for us, but you always want more! We had some good restarts there towards the end and were moving forward. We had a good racecar, we improved the Splenda Stevia Chevy from Race 2 to Race 1 and were able to finish a couple spots higher. I am happy about today!”
Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet finished 6th:“I’m happy with today, with an oval podium and sitting in second in the championship into the season finale. It’s unfortunate because I feel we were really good in pit lane in Race 1 today, and we did a good job in Race 2 when we were really fighting for it. If we could have maybe merged those a little better, we could have potentially had a win earlier today. It was a good weekend overall. We hauled in a bunch of points and got to celebrate a podium today.”
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet finished 7th:“It was a hard weekend, a really hard weekend. It was a disappointing weekend. It was tough weekend. Tough for the team. We wanted a lot more here. They showed up and put in the effort. Put in the work and don’t have a lot of reward for it. I want to thank everybody on the No. 2 crew more than anything. They did a great job. There always hanging in there and doing anything that is needed. First race, I couldn’t quite get the car to do what I wanted, and I forced the issue and spun off Turn 4. Just trying too hard and making a mistake. Second race. All over the place. Really struggling. Couldn’t quite get what I wanted out of the car. Then kind of got shoved around a couple of times. Side-checked into the marbles. Thankfully didn’t hit the fence. Went way backwards then and tried to recover as much as we could, but didn’t have the pace. Didn’t have the feel in the car on the tires. Ended up in seventh at the end. We fought back to something reasonable, but not what we wanted and what this crew is capable of. We’re going to leave here disappointed and wanting more. Thanks to my two teammates, they did a great job. We’ve got one more to go. Put in max effort and try to end the year on a good note.”
Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Kohler Arrow McLaren Chevrolet finished 13th:“Overall we salvaged what we could and made the most of a bad situation from yesterday. I’m very proud of the crew for hanging in there. Race 1, which was after Race 2 oddly today, was a good recovery and a good building block. We made progress and salvaged some good points from what could have been a much more damaging weekend. I’m thankful to the crew for the work they put in and the engineers for a solid strategy to bring me forward. Awesome job to Pato for two wins today and Christian for his first oval podium. I’ve got to give a shoutout to Kohler and Chevy. It was great to race representing both their brands over the doubleheader weekend.”
Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet finished 14th:“These were a tough couple of races. We couldn’t ever get the balance quite right. A lot of changes in the conditions made it challenging. There were some good moments, but ultimately we came up short.”
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet finished 20th:“Race 2 obviously we’re really happy with the car. We thought we were in a good spot. Going back into race 1 this evening, we made a couple of small adjustments, and we just tipped over the balance. We’re not entirely sure, how we did that. So we’re going to go look at the data and kind of figure it out. It’s just a really tough day. No, the guys did a great job getting the car in and out of pit lane all day. It was long day for everybody. Everybody’s been up since basically 4, 4:30 in the morning and grinding away until seven something at night. Really, really thankful for the crew and everybody to be as good as they were all day long.  Not the result we wanted in race 1, we know we’re better than that. Just got to figure out what happened.”Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet finished 22nd:“Part two of Race One rather disappointing.  Starting a lap down because of us pitting right away just cost us everything. Not much you can do from a lap down to everybody else.  We never got it back and we were unlucky with yellows.  Day to forget, but fun driving because it was the best car we’ve had for a weekend and made good changes on it.  Just unfortunate when you start a lap down.  You can’t do much.”
Caio Collet, No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet finished 24th:“Just a really tough weekend in general.  Since practice, I’ve been struggling quite a lot just with feeling — and driving, especially. It’s hard to understand why because we’ve been quite quick at the other ovals, and here was just kind of a really big struggle the whole weekend. Qualifying, we were kind of competitive, but yeah, the race runs that was not really something that we could have done. So hopefully we can have a stronger weekend at Laguna and finish off the season okay.”
Up Next
A trip west for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale, the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey, just south of the San Francisco, California metro, brings a close to an exciting campaign on Sunday, September 6. The 2.238-mile, 11-turn Weather Raceway Laguna Seca road course, featuring the famous ‘Corkscrew,’ is the 18th race of the season and will air on FOX at 2:30 pm (ET)
Christian Rasmussen and the No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet crew celebrate a win at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2025
CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESSnap-on Makers and Fixers 2501.015-mile Milwaukee Mile short ovalMilwaukee, WisconsinSaturday/Sunday Race ReportAugust 29/30, 2026
Milwaukee (August 29/30, 2026) – Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet capped off a memorable day at the historic Milwaukee Mile, winning Race #1 after winning Race #2 earlier on Sunday. O’Ward is the first driver to win a pair of INDYCAR races on the same day since Rick Mears won a pair of 125-mile races at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1981. O’Ward is the second Arrow McLaren driver to win twice on the same day, joining Johnny Rutherford, who won twice at Atlanta in 1979. 
“Congratulations to Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren on a memorable day,” said Chevrolet INDYCAR program manager Andrew Schutter. “Winning once is an incredible achievement; winning twice takes incredible execution by the driver and team. The No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew performed flawlessly, and O’Ward had the right mix of patience and aggression, putting his stamp on a memorable day at the historic Milwaukee Mile. Thank you to our Chevrolet engineering team and all our partners; a pair of podium sweeps requires incredible dedication and hard work.”
O’Ward, who led 119 laps, won his 12th career race, all of them coming with Chevrolet power. O’Ward’s double win gives Team Chevy seven wins on the season, 134 since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012 and 244 all-time. 
David Malukas, in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, led 93 laps on the way to a second-place finish. Rinus VeeKay, driving the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, was on his way to fourth-place finish number four, but was able to find the final step of the podium in the final five laps continuing his second-half hot streak. 
Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet), Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet), Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) and Josef Newgarden gave Team Chevy the top seven finishing positions. 
Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 – race results
What They’re Saying Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet won:I’ve dreamt of weekends like this, having the doubleheaders just a couple times in my career and wishing that I would win both in a weekend, and today we got to win both in a day. It’s a dream come true for myself and for the team. I’m just so happy we were able to get back on our oval form that we’ve been chasing all year. What a way to wrap up the oval races after some tough challenges. Going onto Laguna Seca, my car will look different for the first time in years outside of the Indy 500. I’m sure you’re going to love the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevy livery because I sure do!”
Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet finished 3rd:“Podium Baby! After three fourth place finishes this season, a podium feels incredible. It was a bit of an interesting one having to restart a race a day later on used tires.  But it worked out really well.  I think strategy was really good, and the car was incredible with the cooler conditions here.  Big shoutout to the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger crew. And to be part of an all-Chevy podium-not me-but the second all-Chevy podium that was really cool.  Big thank you to Chevy for giving me all the power I needed to make all those passes from 24th to third.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Clarience Technologies Team Penske Chevrolet finished 4th:“All in all, not a bad weekend for the Clarience / PPG Chevy but it should have been two podiums. (Scott) Dixon is my hero so I don’t want to say too much about what happened but we gifted the 76 a podium, simple as that. The 3 car was fantastic all weekend. Really proud of the effort from the crew because they were thrown into a tough situation with the weather. One more weekend to get a win and we are going to Laguna (Seca) to do just that.”
Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet finished 5th:“An 8th and a 5th place finish is great for us. It takes some pressure off on the Leader’s Circle battle going into Laguna. Strong finishes for us, but you always want more! We had some good restarts there towards the end and were moving forward. We had a good racecar, we improved the Splenda Stevia Chevy from Race 2 to Race 1 and were able to finish a couple spots higher. I am happy about today!”
Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet finished 6th:“I’m happy with today, with an oval podium and sitting in second in the championship into the season finale. It’s unfortunate because I feel we were really good in pit lane in Race 1 today, and we did a good job in Race 2 when we were really fighting for it. If we could have maybe merged those a little better, we could have potentially had a win earlier today. It was a good weekend overall. We hauled in a bunch of points and got to celebrate a podium today.”
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet finished 7th:“It was a hard weekend, a really hard weekend. It was a disappointing weekend. It was tough weekend. Tough for the team. We wanted a lot more here. They showed up and put in the effort. Put in the work and don’t have a lot of reward for it. I want to thank everybody on the No. 2 crew more than anything. They did a great job. There always hanging in there and doing anything that is needed. First race, I couldn’t quite get the car to do what I wanted, and I forced the issue and spun off Turn 4. Just trying too hard and making a mistake. Second race. All over the place. Really struggling. Couldn’t quite get what I wanted out of the car. Then kind of got shoved around a couple of times. Side-checked into the marbles. Thankfully didn’t hit the fence. Went way backwards then and tried to recover as much as we could, but didn’t have the pace. Didn’t have the feel in the car on the tires. Ended up in seventh at the end. We fought back to something reasonable, but not what we wanted and what this crew is capable of. We’re going to leave here disappointed and wanting more. Thanks to my two teammates, they did a great job. We’ve got one more to go. Put in max effort and try to end the year on a good note.”
Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Kohler Arrow McLaren Chevrolet finished 13th:“Overall we salvaged what we could and made the most of a bad situation from yesterday. I’m very proud of the crew for hanging in there. Race 1, which was after Race 2 oddly today, was a good recovery and a good building block. We made progress and salvaged some good points from what could have been a much more damaging weekend. I’m thankful to the crew for the work they put in and the engineers for a solid strategy to bring me forward. Awesome job to Pato for two wins today and Christian for his first oval podium. I’ve got to give a shoutout to Kohler and Chevy. It was great to race representing both their brands over the doubleheader weekend.”
Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet finished 14th:“These were a tough couple of races. We couldn’t ever get the balance quite right. A lot of changes in the conditions made it challenging. There were some good moments, but ultimately we came up short.”
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet finished 20th:“Race 2 obviously we’re really happy with the car. We thought we were in a good spot. Going back into race 1 this evening, we made a couple of small adjustments, and we just tipped over the balance. We’re not entirely sure, how we did that. So we’re going to go look at the data and kind of figure it out. It’s just a really tough day. No, the guys did a great job getting the car in and out of pit lane all day. It was long day for everybody. Everybody’s been up since basically 4, 4:30 in the morning and grinding away until seven something at night. Really, really thankful for the crew and everybody to be as good as they were all day long.  Not the result we wanted in race 1, we know we’re better than that. Just got to figure out what happened.”Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet finished 22nd:“Part two of Race One rather disappointing.  Starting a lap down because of us pitting right away just cost us everything. Not much you can do from a lap down to everybody else.  We never got it back and we were unlucky with yellows.  Day to forget, but fun driving because it was the best car we’ve had for a weekend and made good changes on it.  Just unfortunate when you start a lap down.  You can’t do much.”
Caio Collet, No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet finished 24th:“Just a really tough weekend in general.  Since practice, I’ve been struggling quite a lot just with feeling — and driving, especially. It’s hard to understand why because we’ve been quite quick at the other ovals, and here was just kind of a really big struggle the whole weekend. Qualifying, we were kind of competitive, but yeah, the race runs that was not really something that we could have done. So hopefully we can have a stronger weekend at Laguna and finish off the season okay.”
Up Next
A trip west for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale, the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey, just south of the San Francisco, California metro, brings a close to an exciting campaign on Sunday, September 6. The 2.238-mile, 11-turn Weather Raceway Laguna Seca road course, featuring the famous ‘Corkscrew,’ is the 18th race of the season and will air on FOX at 2:30 pm (ET)
Christian Rasmussen and the No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet crew celebrate a win at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2025
Chevrolet at the Milwaukee Mile
Chevrolet wins at the Milwaukee Mile: 14
2026 Race #2 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2026 Race #1 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2025 – Christian Rasmussen – ECR2024 Race #2 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2024 Race #1 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2015 – Sebastien Bourdais – KV Racing Technology2014 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – Ryan Hunter-Reay – Andretti Global2012 – Ryan Hunter-Reay – Andretti Global1991 – Michael Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1990 – Al Unser Jr. – Galles Racing1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1988 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1981 Race #1 – Mike Mosley – All-American Racers
Chevrolet poles at the Milwaukee Mile: 10
2026 Race #1 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2024 Race #2 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2024 Race #1 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2015 – Josef Newgarden – Ed Carpenter Racing2014 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – Marco Andretti – Andretti Global1992 – Bob Rahal – Rahal Hogan Racing1991 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1990 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske

Chevrolet podiums at the Milwaukee Mile: 40
Chevrolet podiums at the Milwaukee Mile by driver: Emerson Fittipaldi (3)Scott McLaughlin (3), Rick Mears (3), Pato O’Ward (3), Will Power (3), Michael Andretti (2), Helio Castroneves (2), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2), Tony Kanaan (2), David Malukas (2), John Andretti (1), Mario Andretti (1), Sebastien Bourdais (1), Scott Brayton (1) Conor Daly (1), James Hinchcliffe (1), Juan Montoya (1), Mike Mosley (1), Bob Rahal (1), Christian Rasmussen (1), Eddie Sachs (1), Tomas Scheckter (1), Danny Sullivan (1), Al Unser Jr. (1), Rinus VeeKay (1)

Chevrolet podiums at the Milwaukee Mile by team: Team Penske (16), Arrow McLaren (4), Andretti Global (3), Newman Haas Racing (3), Juncos Hollinger Racing (2), KV Racing Technology (2), All-American Racers (1), Chip Ganassi Racing (1), Dick Simon Racing (1), ECR (1), Galles Racing (1), Hall-VDS Racing (1), Panther Racing (1), Patrick Racing (1), Rahal Hogan Racing (1), and Walter Meskowski (1). 

Chevrolet laps led at the Milwaukee Mile: 2595
Chevrolet laps led at the Milwaukee Mile by driver: Pato O’Ward (307), Michael Andretti (229), Scott McLaughlin (193), Al Unser Jr. (156), Ryan Hunter-Reay (149), Sebastien Bourdais (118), David Malukas (118), Josef Newgarden (118), Mario Andretti (93), Emerson Fittipaldi (69), Marco Andretti (61), Paul Tracy (55), Helio Castroneves (50), Alexander Rossi (46), Mike Mosley (45), Don Davis (39), EJ Viso (37),, Rinus VeeKay (25), Bob Rahal (20), Christian Rasmussen (19), Tony Kanaan (17), Santino Ferrucci (6), Scott Dixon (5), Scott Goodyear (4), Juan Montoya (4), Ed Carpenter (3), Danny Sullivan (2), Gary Bettenhausen (1), Mike Groff (1), James Hinchcliffe (1)
Chevrolet laps led at the Milwaukee Mile by team:  Team Penske (1116), Arrow McLaren (353), Newman Haas Racing (322), Andretti Global (221), KV Racing Technology (145), ECR (131), Galles Racing (74), Patrick Racing (69), All-American Racers (45), Racing Associates (39), Chip Ganassi Racing (22), Rahal Hogan Racing (21), A.J. Foyt Racing (6), Walker Racing (4), Grant King Racers (1)

Manufacturer History at the Milwaukee Mile
Wins (with competition):
49- Offenhauser (1976 #1, 1975 #2, 1974 #2, 1974 #1, 1973 #2, 1973 #1, 1972 #2, 1972 #1, 1971 #2, 1969 #1, 1968 #2, 1968 #1, 1965 # 3, 1964 #1, 1963 #1, 1962 #2, 1962 #1, 1961 #2, 1961 #1, 1961 #2, 1961 #1, 1960 #2, 1960 #1, 959 #2, 1959 #1, 1958 #2, 1958 #1, 1957 #2, 1957 #1, 1956 #2, 1956 #1, 1955 #2, !955 #1, 1954 #2, 1954 #1, 1953 #2, 1953 #2, 1952 #2, 1952 #1, 1951 #2, 1951 #1, 1950 #2, 1950 #1, 1949 #2, 1949 #1, 1948 #3, 1948 #2, 1948 #1, 1947 #3, 1939)17 – Cosworth (1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982 #2, 1982 #1, 1981 #2, 1980 #2, 1980 #1, 1979 #2, 1979 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1977 #2, 1977 #1, 1976 #2)17 – Ford (2001, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1971 #1, 1970 #2, 1970 #1, 1969 #2, 1967 #2, 1967 #1, 1966 #2, 1966 #1, 1965 #2, 1965 #1, 1963 #2)14- Chevrolet (2026 Race #2, 2026 Race #1, 2025, 2024 #2, 2024 #1, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1981 #1)4 – Honda (2004 IRL, 2002, 1999, 1998)2 – Toyota (2005 IRL)2 – Winfield (1946, 1941)1 – Foyt (1975 #1)1 – Ilmor (1994)1 – Lencki (1947 #2)1 – Mercedes (1997)
Pole starts (with competition): 
45 – Offenhauser (1977 #1, 1976 #2, 1975 #2, 1973 #2, 1973 #1, 1972 #2, 1972 #1, 1971 #2, 1971 #1, 1965 #3, 1963 #1, 1962 #2, 1962 #1, 1962 #2, 1961 #2, 1961 #1, 1960 #2, 1960 #1, 1959 #2, 1959 #1, 1958 #2, 1958 #1, 1957 #2, 1957 #1, 1956 #2, 1956 #1, 1955 #2, 1955 #1, 1954 #2, 1954 #1, 1953 #2, 1953 #1, 1952 #2, 1952 #1, 1951 #2, 1951 #1, 1950 #2, 1950 #1, 1949 #2, 1949 #1, 1948 #3, 1948 #2, 1948 #1, 1947 #3, 1947 #2, 1947 #1, 1939)18 – Cosworth (1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982 #2, 1982 #1, 1981 #2, 1981 #1, 1980 #2, 1980 #1, 1979 #2, 1979 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1977 #2)18 – Ford (2001, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1970 #2, 1970 #1, 1969 #2, 1969 #1, 1968 #1, 1967 #2, 1967 #1, 1966 #2, 1966 #1, 1965 #2, 1965 #1, 1964 #2, 1964 #1, 1963 #2, 10 – Chevrolet (2026 Race #1, 2024 #2, 2024 #1, 2015, 2014, 2013, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989)4 – Mercedes (1999, 1998, 1997, 1996)4 – Honda (2025, 2004 IRL, 1999, 1998)3 – Ford (1975 #1, 1974 #2, 1974 #1)2 – Toyota (2005 IRL, 2000)2 – Winfield (1946, 1941)1 – DGS (1976 #1)1 – Pratt & Whitney (1968 #2)

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Milwaukee Post Race

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Chevrolet NewsroomCHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESSnap-on 2501.015-mile Milwaukee Mile short ovalMilwaukee, WisconsinSunday Race Report #2August 30, 2026
Milwaukee (August 30) – Pato O’Ward, in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, led a top-four sweep in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 at the historic track at the Wisconsin State Fair. It’s the 10th time in 16 races that a driver wearing the Arrow McLaren papaya was the top-finishing driver wearing the Bowtie in 2026. The Mexican driver is leading Saturday’s race, which will be completed this evening, with the green flag soon after 6 pm (ET) and 160 laps remaining.
O’Ward, who got the 11th win of his career and second at the Milwaukee Mile, recovered from a slight delay in his first pit stop to take the lead on the final pit exchange, leading the final 55 laps to cross under the twin checkered flags 0.7916 seconds ahead of Scott McLaughlin in the No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. 
McLaughlin, the only driver to utilize a four-stop strategy, went a race-high 70 laps on his fourth stint of the race, giving his fast Chevrolet-powered car the track position needed to stand on the third podium of the 2026 season and 24th of his career. 
O’Ward’s teammate Christian Lundgaard, driving the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, joined him on the podium, gaining eight spots from his inside sixth-row starting position. 
David Malukas, in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, finished fourth, his seventh top-five finish of the 2026 season. 
Rinus VeeKay, driving the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, ended the race in seventh place, his seventh top-ten finish of the year. A winner at the Milwaukee Mile last year, Christian Rasmussen in the No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet finished eighth. .Snap-on 250 – race resultsWhat They’re Saying Snap-on 250 
Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet won:“We were feeling really good yesterday. I believe it’s an all Team Chevy podium. That’s amazing. We like Milwaukee. Yesterday, the car was feeling really good. I can’t say I wasn’t struggling a little bit in the race; I definitely was. It took me little bit to find a rhythm. The track was hotter today and it definitely makes these things a little bit more on the edge. I used it up when we needed. We had the car and power to do it. We had a little bit of a bad first pit stop but I was confident with what was under me that we could find our way forward and keep making it better. It’s a long race.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet finished 2nd:How difficult was it to do in four, opposed to five with everybody else going on a five stop strategy? 
“It was difficult, because you save a set of tires there, but we just wanted to track position because we had a fast car fast car. Proud of the PPG Chevy, I was frustrated I couldn’t get through the lap traffic fast enough. Really thought we had something there for Pato-congrats to him and his team. But I wanted that bad. So, we’ve got another shot now. reload and go again. 
What did you learn in race number two, that you could take to race number one? “As the track gripped up, we were better. You know, we got faster and faster. I think the track’s coming to our car, but we’re going to need a little bit more, I think.”
Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet finished 3rd:“I feel like the car’s been good really since, since qualifying. We made some changes going into there. Obviously, race one, the first half was, was good. We drove our way from seven to third. We had a few bobbles on pit stop, and pit lane today, which was very unfortunate. The guy’s been awesome all year. I think that just proves how good we were today, still getting a podium out of it.”
What did you learn for race number one? 
“Right-stay in it. It’s a long race. It’s going to be a little shorter this afternoon, but just happy we’re out there. We’re scoring points, so the guys we need to score points on, and getting hardware at the same time.”
David Malukas, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet finished 4th:“We needed a few pit stops to get the wing where we wanted it to be. We also started on used tires, so the whole strategy was to kind of push towards the end, and things played out. Still a few kinks and mistakes throughout that second half that we want to clean up for the race later this evening. But overall, it was a good race.”
What do you learn from this that translates?  “We just have to figure out how to set up this car on these lanes. That depends on what you want to run the bottom lane, top lane, and kind of anticipate for this weather difference that we’re going to have.”
Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet finished 7th:“Pretty good race, I think. We had a good first part of the race and moved forward. Moved to the lead at one point about 100 laps in. Unfortunately, we lost some time during a few a pit stops. Dropped back a little and moved forward again on the restarts again. I think we had a lot more today than seventh. We learned some stuff on strategy for the finish of race #1. Happy. The car feels good. It’s going to be interesting. I’m excited to go out and finish race #1. I’m restarting 10th, so I’m looking for another solid result and some hardware, which we honestly deserve as a team at this point.”
Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet finished 8th:
Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet finished 11th:
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet finished 12th:“Our long run pace is really good. We just need to find something in the car for the first 15 to 20 laps of the stint to make it a bit better, and I think we’ll be good to go for Race 2.”
Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Future Techs Arrow McLaren Chevrolet finished 17th:
Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet finished 18th:“Today was a bit of a tough one. Our balance was tricky. I think everyone struggled with tire degradation. Finding a way to get through the field was touch for us. I think our strategy didn’t help either. So we will see what we can do for part two of race one and go from there. I think we can make some good adjustments and hopefully we beat the rain and hopefully fly to the front like we did yesterday.”
Caio Collet, No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet finished 23rd:Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet finished 25th:“I just made a mistake, got loose, couldn’t get the car to do quite what I wanted, so I forced the issue there too much. When you try and force it too much, you make a mistake like that. I feel sorry for our guys. They’ve done a great job all weekend. We’ve got fast cars as you can see. I wanted to do a little better job for Snap-on there and try not to make that mistake in race #2.”Re: race #2“Reset, and go back out. I don’t think the car is too bad. I almost got it to just get the wing, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”NTT INDYCAR SERIES News ConferenceSunday, August 30, 2026Scott McLaughlinChristian LundgaardPress Conference
THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Scott McLaughlin.Scott, congratulations. Kind of a crazy race. You were up front a little bit. Did you learn anything today that might apply for the second race today?
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, learnt enough to make a little few changes. We made a lot of changes overnight. I was wrecking loose to start. Nearly spun at turn three. First lap is going to be a hell of an on-board. Look forward to watching that. Outside of that, the car was a lot better as the race went on, which is good, which bodes well for race one tonight.Yeah, just a bit frustrated. I think Pato as well, with lap traffic. Yeah, guys three laps down or something like that, racing to the death. I think at the same time what goes around comes around. We got plenty of memories. Going to be fun next time I get a lap down.
THE MODERATOR: Open it up for questions.
Q.  Hell of an on-board.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Did you see it? It was massive.
Q.  The strategy call to stay out on that one caution sequence, really looked like that made your race.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, for sure. Right on the edge in terms of tire life. We chose track position and hoped I could hold those guys off as long as I could with the clear air.Once I got hold of some dirty air, that’s when the guys with the fresh tires were slightly better. I thought we held on really well. Our car came into its own in that stint. Excited to see what we have at the next run.
Yeah, at the start of the race, though, I was battling pretty hard. Finally got it sorted, the yellow came out. We chose to stay out.
Q.  The dirty air, seems like it’s tougher to pass lap cars.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: They’re air blocking. Mirror driving. I get when you’re a lap down, trying to stay on the lead lap in front of the leader. Once you’re four seconds back of the lead, no chance of you getting on the lap, you are a lap down, I don’t know why you’re fighting so hard.
If I was leading, it’s going to be worse out for the leader, but that’s the rules. I just think a little bit of etiquette there, yep. Speak to whoever I need to.
THE MODERATOR: Christian Lundgaard also joins us here.
Feel good about this and ready for another one or what?
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I mean, I felt pretty good yesterday. I knew race two was going to be just fine. I think we probably have one of the fastest cars out there. We put it to use today, which was nice.
Just to echo what Scott said a second ago, the traffic is miserable out there. I don’t know if it’s the wind direction compared to last year that makes it so tough. Obviously we saw the outside in three and four last year work excellent. This year it doesn’t really seem to work as well.
Yeah, you’re just trying to find clean air out there.
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Adding to that, I think everyone’s better. I wouldn’t say it’s a package thing or anything like that. It’s just definitely you can make some hay if you need to. But once you get to a point, you’re pretty toast.
Q.  Scott, looked like in the closing laps Tim Cindric was trying to get hold of your box to let you by Rossi. Any thoughts on that?
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I said what I said. It is what it is. Like, I get their situation. Pato makes a mistake, they get their lap back or something like that. At the same time, I don’t know, it’s one of those you got to wave the white flag I guess.
Q.  One eye on the championship, but going for wins, very important, especially with your last win being here at Milwaukee two years ago.
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I don’t care. Like I don’t. I just want to win. Don’t care. Just want to drive hard.
Q.  Christian, others have said in the past that ovals aren’t your strong suit. You’ve proved everyone wrong on that. How important is that to show that here?CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: I mean, I don’t necessarily see it more important than any other race weekend. We’re fighting for the top in the championship. It’s obviously a stretch to Alex. I don’t even know if we can reach him now.
But obviously Kirkwood is what we’re aiming at. We got some points on him today. Just got to do the same this afternoon.
We know we’re strong in Laguna, on the road courses. I think we have a chance there. Obviously it’s nice to get it done.
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Pretty decent oval driver.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Thanks. Likewise (smiling).
Q.  Christian, throughout the year all three of you have been upset with the oval car at times. What’s been the difference this weekend?CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: It’s been faster. I mean, we finished first and third, so I think we haven’t really done that much this year.
Q.  What did you see or what happened on those pit stops that maybe had you behind?CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I mean, I don’t really know. I haven’t really spoken to anyone yet. Obviously from my perspective, the car was in the air longer than it needed to be. Obviously we lost some time there. I don’t really know where Power went or what happened to him. I got a little confused when they told me I was third.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: He sped.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I mean, obviously not great. We got another half race this afternoon to figure that out.
Q.  Scott, you talked about the lap car situation. Will said it needs to be a handshake agreement. Do you think there needs to be an actual rule or just understood?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: No, I don’t know. I get the fighting, like, a lap down on the oval. That’s part of it. That’s INDYCAR history.
I get more frustrated when you’re five or six seconds back of the leader, I’m trying to chase down Pato. Yeah, you just got to get out of the way. At that point you’re done. Not going to get the lap back.
It’s tough being the leader, but that’s part and parcel of racing in INDYCAR with the lap traffic. It’s just more I feel like the more gentleman agreement is when you’re toasted, you just get out of the way, especially when you’re three laps down. That one was crazy.
Q.  Do you treat this a little bit like an endurance race? You ran your stint, now three hours before you do a second stint.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, you could say that. Go have a sleep in the bus or something. But I doubt it. I can never sleep during the daytime.
I will go have a nice cold sort shower, semi sort of ice bath. Couldn’t drink Champagne or I’ll have Champagne later on.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: I would assume he’s going to play PlayStation like he did yesterday.
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Probably have to be a dad at some point.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Okay. I got a few years (smiling).
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: You’re on your way, though.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: I’ve never really done an endurance race. I don’t know. Take it as it comes, I guess.
Q.  How has INDYCAR handled having a race in the middle of a suspended race, you could do pretty much whatever you want to the cars, change engines before this resumption of the next race coming up?
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: My big worry is if the second half of race one doesn’t happen today, the guys that had engine penalties yesterday, what happens to them, right? At the end of the day if round 16, if that suddenly doesn’t count, when are they going to take their actual engine penalty?
I do think we’ll get it in, if it’s just a halfway or the full race distance. It feels weird. I’ve never done a race two before race one was completed. I don’t think any of us here have.
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I did it in Supercars actually.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: You did?
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Uh-huh.
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: That explains why he’s on the podium.
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I think it’s a new situation. I mean, like, what can you do? I like how they’ve impounded the tires and the fuel. I think that was a strategy that we played before like that happened. Sort of neutralizes that.
Now we have to make some hay on those tires. Everyone has had a chance to change their cars. At the same time those people that have that strategy gain, whatever we think, have done that, too. You just got to trust that you made the decision that you made the car better. I think it’s the same for everyone. Just get on with it.
It’s a tough situation when you have an oval that doesn’t have lights. Part and parcel of a doubleheader. What can you do? I think they’ve done as good as they can.
Q.  Christian, you mentioned the car is fast. I think it’s a car that you could drive confidently. You made a lot of confident moves. Talk about the importance of having that on an oval.CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I mean, I think we all know the deg races specifically you really got to struggle less than anybody else. I think we see our car come to life much more kind of mid end stint than most other teams and other cars.
I wouldn’t really say we were anywhere up till qualifying. Even then we were just mid pack. The cars come alive in the race. I think we’re good at taking cares of the tires and making the car better for the second half of the stint.
Yeah, I’m surprised that Scott made them last for as long as he did. Obviously staying out there at the end, those are probably the most miserable 20 laps I’ve ever done, the last ones.
Q.  Scott, which Supercars weekend was that?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I can’t remember. I am too old now. It was one of the early ones. I think it was 2013, 2014. There’s another. 2014 Bathurst we had a red flag. My car was bad fast at the start. We had these rules where you could change the cars on the fly.
Someone’s car like yesterday the 60 was pretty fast. That’s frustrating ’cause everyone changed, probably going to catch back up. I’ve been in that position. Part of it. Everyone gets a shot to make their car better, so it is what it is.
Q.  (No microphone.)SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I mean, I’ve got an opportunity to do that today.
Q.  (No microphone.)SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I guess. I haven’t done that.
Q.  Started the day today with a pretty green track, rubbered in by the end. How do you expect that to develop through the second race? What do you need to do to your cars to continue to progress?
CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: I mean, I think the wind honestly plays a bigger factor. Correct me if I’m wrong, Scott, I think the track definitely was slippery in the beginning of the race. I think we saw some cars being incredibly strong in the beginning, maybe not so strong at the end.
Again, is that the changes that they’re making to the car or is that the track getting better for some cars? Don’t really know.I am interested in seeing how the track really performs when it gets cooler tonight.THE MODERATOR: We’ll let you go. Good luck this afternoon for race number one.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES News ConferenceSunday, August 30, 2026Pato O’WardTony KanaanPress Conference
THE MODERATOR: Two-time winner here at the Milwaukee Mile, Pato O’Ward. Leading race one well, as well.
PATO O’WARD: First time I win a race and I’m leading another one at the same time. That’s a new one (smiling).
Today we fought really hard for that one. We were forwards, then backwards, then forwards. Good thing we stayed there.
Yeah, just fighting hard, determined. I think that was a great showing of just the hunger that we have to turn these ovals around this year. That was second-to-last opportunity. A little bit finish off the last one.
THE MODERATOR: Tony Kanaan, team principal at Arrow McLaren.Good day today with Christian and Pato.
TONY KANAAN: My thought is I looked extremely nervous on TV and everybody is making fun of me.
Yeah, great result for the team. We came here and test. We were pretty decent in the test. I think was a statement yesterday. Pato is still leading that race. Longest race ever he’s probably led for 24 hours.
Great result for the team. Great result for us. We are still fighting for the championship. Let’s face it, second and third is really realistic. It’s all we’re trying to build.
Obviously Christian also did a fantastic job. I think that’s why we’ve been working with him for whole year. I think he broke through. Hopefully that will be something he will carry on. That’s all he needed, to get some help I guess.
People either will make fun of me or we’re going to go battle the next whole year together.THE MODERATOR: We’ll start with questions.
Q.  Pato, the man to your right was a beast here at the Milwaukee Mile. Now it seems like your second win in the last couple of years, you might be able to take over that mantle. What is it about this track that is so satisfying and really clicks with you?PATO O’WARD: I mean, it’s quite different to a lot of the other ovals that we go to. It was one that just sat very comfortably with me as soon as I came to test here in 2024. That was my first race here, that we also won.
I don’t know what about it really. It’s been a place… I mean, I wouldn’t say every race I’ve done here has been phenomenal because last year I was kind of just… I just know what I needed this weekend, coming into this weekend, in order to put myself in a position to at least feel like I’m back in 2024 here.
That’s what I’ve been searching for. Definitely on the edge, for those of you that were watching. But it’s a show, right?
Q.  What do you do over the next two and a half hours to get ready to close out a race that you’re already leading?PATO O’WARD: Yeah, got to make the car better. Yesterday was better. Today with the hotter track temps really exposed it. I was struggling with it so much more. Just got to calm that boy down a little bit.
Q.  Pato, you talked about the struggles you’ve had on ovals this year. What is that work, that preparation, that came into this weekend?PATO O’WARD: Hunger, kind of not taking no for an answer. Putting all our cards on the table really. Even for me, like, to close out this season, there really isn’t much on my mind. If we try this, is it going to put us in a bad position? It’s like if you don’t try it, you probably will just accept defeat at this point.
Yeah, I’m open to just finding something because obviously all year it’s been a big struggle. I’ve never struggled in an oval. I’ve always been really strong. Going into an oval weekend for me, even when we have double weekends, it was like we can win both of them. If we don’t win both of them it’s because one of them went a little bit unlucky, maybe get on the podium or something.
They were always weekends that I had kind of in my pocket as like a savior for my championship to keep on racking up the points. This year it’s been the absolute opposite a lot of places, sadly.
Yeah, we’ve turned it around – at least for race two, while still not finishing race one. But we’re leading the other one. I’m confident we’re going to make this car better so we can be a little bit more comfortable to not get my engineer and Tony over here some more gray hairs.
TONY KANAAN: I don’t have any hair. I don’t know what I’m going to lose. Heart attack maybe (smiling)?
PATO O’WARD: Trust me. I was feeling it in there.
Q.  What were you able to do after the first pit stop that put you back?PATO O’WARD: I kept getting stuck after that first pit stop. I was like, Shit! I just waited a little bit. Whenever the other sequences started, the yellows started coming out, restarts. I was like don’t forget about your two old pals in between your legs, let’s get this show on the road, yeah.
TONY KANAAN: Snap-on, too?
PATO O’WARD: One of these, bro (laughter). I’m sorry.
TONY KANAAN: Ask the question (laughter).
Q.  With a long-term extension signed for this racetrack, how important do you think it is to stay in the Milwaukee market?
PATO O’WARD: Honestly, the fans here are great. The fans here are giving some great energy. Every time we come here, it always is such a great atmosphere. I definitely am on the Milwaukee train. We got to keep this on the calendar.
We got to go to places where people are excited for us to be there. We got to go to places where people want to go and see us. We’re obviously coming off a weekend that I think showed exactly that, Washington, DC. It’s crazy.
What you want to look at is you don’t want to see an empty seat out there. You want to see it full of color and people that are pumped to be there.
Q.  Obviously coming out here with two races, how are you going to take this little gap between races and reset?PATO O’WARD: Not much of a reset. Kind of like an extension of closing out this year strong. We want to keep it up later today with race one that we haven’t quite finished.Going into Laguna, it’s also been a track where personally I haven’t had my Laguna weekend ever. I’ve had good qualifyings there, but in the race I just haven’t really found my way. I’m determined to find that because I want to close it out on a good note.
Oh, my God, we have this bad-ass livery on the 5. My livery is always the same all year, except maybe Indy that we do the white. We have this really cool livery and suit which I’m not going to tell you what it looks like, but it’s definitely better than the one I’m wearing right now.
Q.  Tony, you said that Christian was eventually going to figure out the ovals. Today he figured it out, in your words. Are you worried about competing against him next year?TONY KANAAN: If I’m going to worry about things that I can’t control, I’ll go crazy.I’ve always said that he was going to be a threat. The question was not that he could win on the oval, the question was when.
In my opinion, when I made the decision, I wasn’t sure. I think if that was what took him to come up and bring himself to the next level, obviously we didn’t give up on him, ’cause look what he’s doing right now.
Hey, life is full of tough decisions on both ends. If that actually is what he needed, we’re going to give him a hell of a fight next year, and likewise. The sport is going to be better. The fans are going to watch it.
Like I said, they’re going to have a jab at me, then that’s the way life is all about. I’m not going to dwell on my decisions. I’m not the person that I regret things just because.I’m happy for him. He’s a human being, also race car driver. Deserves to be in INDYCAR. Deserves to have a job. We agreed to disagree on my opinions and his opinions. That’s quite normal.
Was really proud of him. That’s when you show. That’s why I say, if that’s what he needed to do what he did, good for him. What can I say? Maybe in a way I helped.
Q.  Pato, physically how are you doing? Is the next race going to be more difficult?PATO O’WARD: I mean, obviously won’t be as long. I’m just going to hydrate, get some food in my system. Should be good to go.
Q.  Pato, how much momentum does this give you going into next season, given you’re going to have a couple changes within the team?PATO O’WARD: I mean, I’m not unfamiliar with change, so… I don’t really think it does much. Every year is starting from zero.
If we compare what last year was versus this year, it definitely doesn’t look like we built off of it. Every year’s different. Every year we change the tire. What we learned from a previous event usually doesn’t translate. Aka, one of them was actually here. So glad we had the test to actually find what this year’s tire was going to do.
So yeah, you just got to treat every year like it’s a new one. Obviously the experience of the races under your belt is what ultimately allows you to make maybe wiser decisions.Yeah, just because I did well here previous year doesn’t mean it’s going to be good the next. Also vice versa. You might have done very badly, doesn’t mean you’re going to do bad again.
Q.  Tony, from the team perspective, does that give you any excitement going into next season knowing you’ve had a strong end to the season?TONY KANAAN: If Zak gave any excitement to me?
Q.  No. Does it give you excitement the end of the season that you’ve done really well going into next year?TONY KANAAN: I think you guys know me enough, I’m plenty excited every day when I wake up.
Yes, my motivation hasn’t changed. I think I made a lot of changes to the team. It’s going to be up to us. There’s a lot of work to be done.
Yeah, I’m working with the people I wanted to work. I have a lot of friends actually inside the team, people that have worked with me with all my victories in INDYCAR. Now some more.
I’m pumped. I’m ready to go. Still have a race to win today, though. Let’s worry about that. I can come back to Zak that we won two races in a day. That would help me a lot.PATO O’WARD: That’s one for history. That would be a pretty cool day for the rest of our lives. I mean, in INDYCAR history.
TONY KANAAN: The last guy that did it was your future teammate.PATO O’WARD: Dixie?
TONY KANAAN: Yeah.
PATO O’WARD: I’m going to buy him a goat. I’m going to deliver it to his front door. Have a goat. Kids probably going to be like, Yeah, we got a dog (laughter).
Q.  Pato, it’s rare when a driver has a long relationship with an engineer like you do with Will. When you do have long relationships, it usually means you have a lot of success. You’re still achieving at such a high level after many years. Tell us about what makes the relationship so strong.
PATO O’WARD: I mean, one thing with Will is he really try to understand, like, my language and how I express what I need from the race car. I think that’s very, very important whenever you’re working with an engineer, they not have to read your mind.But I’m a very vocal person and I show a lot with my hands. I immerse you into the car with me. He actually used to drive cars, so he knows a little bit of what I’m talking about. When I’m screaming on the radio, I’m sure he doesn’t take it personal because it gets tough out there, gets tough.Yeah, I mean, it’s been a hell of a run so far. We’ve got some pretty strong Indy 500s together. We’ve got a lot of oval wins together, podiums. Obviously road and street courses, we’ve basically won on every and anything.Yeah, definitely someone I enjoy having on my side.
Christian Rasmussen and the No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet crew celebrate a win at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2025Chevrolet at the Milwaukee Mile
Chevrolet wins at the Milwaukee Mile: 13
2026 Race #2 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2025 – Christian Rasmussen – ECR2024 Race #2 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2024 Race #1 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2015 – Sebastien Bourdais – KV Racing Technology2014 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – Ryan Hunter-Reay – Andretti Global2012 – Ryan Hunter-Reay – Andretti Global1991 – Michael Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1990 – Al Unser Jr. – Galles Racing1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1988 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1981 Race #1 – Mike Mosley – All-American Racers
Chevrolet poles at the Milwaukee Mile: 9
2024 Race #2 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2024 Race #1 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2015 – Josef Newgarden – Ed Carpenter Racing2014 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – Marco Andretti – Andretti Global1992 – Bob Rahal – Rahal Hogan Racing1991 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1990 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske

Chevrolet podiums at the Milwaukee Mile: 37
Chevrolet podiums at the Milwaukee Mile by driver: Emerson Fittipaldi (3)Scott McLaughlin (3), Rick Mears (3), Will Power (3), Michael Andretti (2), Helio Castroneves (2), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2), Tony Kanaan (2), Pato O’Ward (2), John Andretti (1), Mario Andretti (1), Sebastien Bourdais (1), Scott Brayton (1) Conor Daly (1), James Hinchcliffe (1), David Malukas (1), Juan Montoya (1), Mike Mosley (1), Bob Rahal (1), Christian Rasmussen (1), Eddie Sachs (1), Tomas Scheckter (1), Danny Sullivan (1), Al Unser Jr. (1) 

Chevrolet podiums at the Milwaukee Mile by team: Team Penske (15), Andretti Global (3), Arrow McLaren (3), Newman Haas Racing (3), KV Racing Technology (2), All-American Racers (1), Chip Ganassi Racing (1), Dick Simon Racing (1), ECR (1), Galles Racing (1), Hall-VDS Racing (1), Juncos Hollinger Racing (1), Panther Racing (1), Patrick Racing (1), Rahal Hogan Racing (1), and Walter Meskowski (1). 

Chevrolet laps led at the Milwaukee Mile: 2381
Chevrolet laps led at the Milwaukee Mile by driver: Michael Andretti (229), Scott McLaughlin (193), Pato O’Ward (188), Al Unser Jr. (156), Ryan Hunter-Reay (149), Sebastien Bourdais (118), Josef Newgarden (118), Mario Andretti (93), Emerson Fittipaldi (69), Marco Andretti (61), Paul Tracy (55), Helio Castroneves (50), Alexander Rossi (46), Mike Mosley (45), Don Davis (39), EJ Viso (37), David Malukas (25), Rinus VeeKay (25), Bob Rahal (20), Christian Rasmussen (18), Tony Kanaan (17), Santino Ferrucci (6), Scott Dixon (5), Scott Goodyear (4), Juan Montoya (4), Ed Carpenter (3), Danny Sullivan (2), Gary Bettenhausen (1), Mike Groff (1), James Hinchcliffe (1)
Chevrolet laps led at the Milwaukee Mile by team:  Team Penske (1023), Newman Haas Racing (322), Arrow McLaren (234), Andretti Global (221), KV Racing Technology (145), ECR (130), Galles Racing (74), Patrick Racing (69), All-American Racers (45), Racing Associates (39), Chip Ganassi Racing (22), Rahal Hogan Racing (21), A.J. Foyt Racing (6), Walker Racing (4), Grant King Racers (1)

Manufacturer History at the Milwaukee Mile
Wins (with competition):
49- Offenhauser (1976 #1, 1975 #2, 1974 #2, 1974 #1, 1973 #2, 1973 #1, 1972 #2, 1972 #1, 1971 #2, 1969 #1, 1968 #2, 1968 #1, 1965 # 3, 1964 #1, 1963 #1, 1962 #2, 1962 #1, 1961 #2, 1961 #1, 1961 #2, 1961 #1, 1960 #2, 1960 #1, 959 #2, 1959 #1, 1958 #2, 1958 #1, 1957 #2, 1957 #1, 1956 #2, 1956 #1, 1955 #2, !955 #1, 1954 #2, 1954 #1, 1953 #2, 1953 #2, 1952 #2, 1952 #1, 1951 #2, 1951 #1, 1950 #2, 1950 #1, 1949 #2, 1949 #1, 1948 #3, 1948 #2, 1948 #1, 1947 #3, 1939)17 – Cosworth (1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982 #2, 1982 #1, 1981 #2, 1980 #2, 1980 #1, 1979 #2, 1979 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1977 #2, 1977 #1, 1976 #2)17 – Ford (2001, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1971 #1, 1970 #2, 1970 #1, 1969 #2, 1967 #2, 1967 #1, 1966 #2, 1966 #1, 1965 #2, 1965 #1, 1963 #2)13 – Chevrolet (2026, Race #2, 2025, 2024 #2, 2024 #1, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1981 #1)4 – Honda (2004 IRL, 2002, 1999, 1998)2 – Toyota (2005 IRL)2 – Winfield (1946, 1941)1 – Foyt (1975 #1)1 – Ilmor (1994)1 – Lencki (1947 #2)1 – Mercedes (1997)
Pole starts (with competition): 
45 – Offenhauser (1977 #1, 1976 #2, 1975 #2, 1973 #2, 1973 #1, 1972 #2, 1972 #1, 1971 #2, 1971 #1, 1965 #3, 1963 #1, 1962 #2, 1962 #1, 1962 #2, 1961 #2, 1961 #1, 1960 #2, 1960 #1, 1959 #2, 1959 #1, 1958 #2, 1958 #1, 1957 #2, 1957 #1, 1956 #2, 1956 #1, 1955 #2, 1955 #1, 1954 #2, 1954 #1, 1953 #2, 1953 #1, 1952 #2, 1952 #1, 1951 #2, 1951 #1, 1950 #2, 1950 #1, 1949 #2, 1949 #1, 1948 #3, 1948 #2, 1948 #1, 1947 #3, 1947 #2, 1947 #1, 1939)18 – Cosworth (1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982 #2, 1982 #1, 1981 #2, 1981 #1, 1980 #2, 1980 #1, 1979 #2, 1979 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1977 #2)18 – Ford (2001, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1970 #2, 1970 #1, 1969 #2, 1969 #1, 1968 #1, 1967 #2, 1967 #1, 1966 #2, 1966 #1, 1965 #2, 1965 #1, 1964 #2, 1964 #1, 1963 #2, 10 – Chevrolet (2025, Race #1, 2024 #2, 2024 #1, 2015, 2014, 2013, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989)4 – Mercedes (1999, 1998, 1997, 1996)4 – Honda (2025, 2004 IRL, 1999, 1998)3 – Ford (1975 #1, 1974 #2, 1974 #1)2 – Toyota (2005 IRL, 2000)2 – Winfield (1946, 1941)1 – DGS (1976 #1)1 – Pratt & Whitney (1968 #2)