Arizona Sport Shirts to Sponsor Crown Jewel Cup Program In 2026

BATAVIA, Ohio (March 19, 2026) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is excited to announce that Arizona Sport Shirts has signed on to sponsor the Crown Jewel Cup Program in 2026. The Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup mini-series within the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule will kick off on May 16 at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Nebraska. The event will pay $50,000 to win. Drivers with perfect attendance on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour will earn points at the twelve Crown Jewel events that pay $50,000 or more to win in 2026. The driver who earns the most points at these events will receive a $15,000 cash award at the series’ year-end awards banquet. The runner-up in the Crown Jewel Cup point standings will receive $3,500, with $1,500 awarded to the third-place finisher. “We are thrilled to once again be associated with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing,” said Gerald Newton, Sr. VP of Operations for Arizona Sport Shirts Inc. “Since 1974, our services have been the crown jewel of our industry, and we are honored to celebrate the hard work of car owners, crew members, and drivers who strive to achieve the ultimate goal of winning the Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup.” “We want to thank Arizona Sport Shirts for their support of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series,” said Wayne Castleberry, Sales Representative for FloSports. “Arizona Sport Shirts offers additional bonus money for racers who follow the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The Crown Jewel Cup program is a great complement to the record point fund and other bonus programs that will be awarded in 2026.” For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit LucasDirt.com. 2026 Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup ScheduleSat. May 16 – Eagle Raceway – Eagle, NE – $50,000Sat. May 23 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO – $75,000Sat. Jun. 27 – Lernerville Speedway – Sarver, PA – $50,000Sat. Jul. 18 – Shelby County Speedway – Harlan, IA – $53,000Sat. Aug. 8 – Florence Speedway – Union, KY – $75,000Sat. Aug. 15 – Batesville Motor Speedway – Batesville, AR – $50,000Sat. Aug. 29 – Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, PA – $50,000Sat. Sep. 19 – Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA – $75,000Sat. Sep. 26 – Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN – $50,000Sat. Oct. 3 – Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway – Imperial, PA – $50,000Sat. Oct. 10 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH – $50,000Sat. Oct. 17 – West Virginia Motor Speedway – Mineral Wells, WV – $100,000

Teenage former Micro Sprint racer gets seal of approval from six-time Series champion 

CONCORD, NC (March 19, 2026) — Imagine at 16 years old, packing up your life, going to school online, and moving to Texas to become a crew member on a national Sprint Car racing team.

That’s the story of the newest employee at Hill’s Racing Team, Brody Brown.

The former Micro Sprint and 360 Sprint Car pilot from Lawton, OK, has traded his own steering wheel for a set of wrenches in 2026, converting from a driver to a full-time crew member for six-time and defending American Sprint Car Series champion Sam Hafertepe Jr. Together, they lead the points standings after the first seven races and boast the highest average finish (5.0) of any of the nine championship chasers.

Between 360 and 410 Sprint Car competition, Brown and Hafertepe have spent only 12 races together through the first two-and-a-half months of the year. But their professional relationship has blossomed, making good of the opportunity Brown had hoped for and producing the consistent results Hafertepe needs to make a run for another championship.

“I’ve enjoyed it, and I think we have had the good, strong runs — maybe not the wins that we want, but I think we’ve got a good direction going,” Brown said. “I feel like we’ve been consistent in the speed of our racecar, especially going to two places so far that are a little bit different than we’ll see all year with ASCS.”

And the boss agrees.

“Every week, [Brown] works side-by-side with me and learns certain intricate things the way I like them, and his skills just continue to get better,” Hafertepe said. “I haven’t had to teach him a whole lot of things — he has the know-how on a lot of stuff — just more so teaching him the way I like to do things.”

Starting in Outlaw Karts in the late 2010s, Brown later joined the ranks of Oklahoma’s competitive Micro Sprint scene before his full-size Sprint Car debut in 2023. Since then, he’s contested events in both the 305 and 360 cubic-inch divisions, including an appearance with the American Sprint Car Series at Salina Highbanks Speedway in April 2025.

It was during those steps up through the open-wheel ladder that Brown began to forge his mechanical capabilities and garnered a knack for both the steering wheel and the wrench.

“Whenever I raced myself, I did both sides of it,” Brown said. “I did pretty much all the shop work by myself and then had people at the racetrack to help me, but I felt like I lacked a lot of knowledge on that front, and that was an opening where I felt like I could get a lot farther in the sport working on that side of things, especially working for a guy like Sam.”

Though he came in with some skills, Brown has since molded them to fit Hafertepe’s championship-winning program, be it preparation in the shop during the week or at-track maintenance.

“There’s a lot of things you can do to be flashy in this sport, but the attention to detail is really important,” Brown said. “That’s something that I have understood with people in the past that I’ve worked with or been taught by. But Sam really brings that to a new front for me.

“It makes sense to why he’s been so successful for so long in our industry. Just doing that and trying to be successful but understanding that it takes a team working together to do that. It’s gratifying.”

It’s only year one, and Brown has no plans of ditching the grind of a new adventure. He’s in for the long haul on a path to bettering the future of Sprint Car racing with his youthful involvement.

“I made a commitment to Sam for the year because that’s what he asked,” Brown said. “Whenever you do this deal, it’s something that you want to have a guy for at least a year. You never want to have to change up crew guys mid-season; it doesn’t work well for the morale or flow of a race team.

“This is for sure a this-year thing and would like to keep it going into the future.”

And again, the boss concurs.

“Most people that young don’t have that much knowledge at that age, so he’s definitely far advanced beyond them,” Hafertepe said. “As long as he has the desire to keep going, he should do well.”

The American Sprint Car Series returns to racing on Saturday, April 11 at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, OK. Tickets for the event will be sold at the track on race day.

If you can’t be at the track, how can you watch the American Sprint Car Series in 2026? Every event is broadcast live on DIRTVision.

Brody Brown Capitalizing on Opportunity as Hafertepe’s New Crewman

Teenage former Micro Sprint racer gets seal of approval from six-time Series champion 

CONCORD, NC (March 19, 2026) — Imagine at 16 years old, packing up your life, going to school online, and moving to Texas to become a crew member on a national Sprint Car racing team.

That’s the story of the newest employee at Hill’s Racing Team, Brody Brown.

The former Micro Sprint and 360 Sprint Car pilot from Lawton, OK, has traded his own steering wheel for a set of wrenches in 2026, converting from a driver to a full-time crew member for six-time and defending American Sprint Car Series champion Sam Hafertepe Jr. Together, they lead the points standings after the first seven races and boast the highest average finish (5.0) of any of the nine championship chasers.

Between 360 and 410 Sprint Car competition, Brown and Hafertepe have spent only 12 races together through the first two-and-a-half months of the year. But their professional relationship has blossomed, making good of the opportunity Brown had hoped for and producing the consistent results Hafertepe needs to make a run for another championship.

“I’ve enjoyed it, and I think we have had the good, strong runs — maybe not the wins that we want, but I think we’ve got a good direction going,” Brown said. “I feel like we’ve been consistent in the speed of our racecar, especially going to two places so far that are a little bit different than we’ll see all year with ASCS.”

And the boss agrees.

“Every week, [Brown] works side-by-side with me and learns certain intricate things the way I like them, and his skills just continue to get better,” Hafertepe said. “I haven’t had to teach him a whole lot of things — he has the know-how on a lot of stuff — just more so teaching him the way I like to do things.”

Starting in Outlaw Karts in the late 2010s, Brown later joined the ranks of Oklahoma’s competitive Micro Sprint scene before his full-size Sprint Car debut in 2023. Since then, he’s contested events in both the 305 and 360 cubic-inch divisions, including an appearance with the American Sprint Car Series at Salina Highbanks Speedway in April 2025.

It was during those steps up through the open-wheel ladder that Brown began to forge his mechanical capabilities and garnered a knack for both the steering wheel and the wrench.

“Whenever I raced myself, I did both sides of it,” Brown said. “I did pretty much all the shop work by myself and then had people at the racetrack to help me, but I felt like I lacked a lot of knowledge on that front, and that was an opening where I felt like I could get a lot farther in the sport working on that side of things, especially working for a guy like Sam.”

Though he came in with some skills, Brown has since molded them to fit Hafertepe’s championship-winning program, be it preparation in the shop during the week or at-track maintenance.

“There’s a lot of things you can do to be flashy in this sport, but the attention to detail is really important,” Brown said. “That’s something that I have understood with people in the past that I’ve worked with or been taught by. But Sam really brings that to a new front for me.

“It makes sense to why he’s been so successful for so long in our industry. Just doing that and trying to be successful but understanding that it takes a team working together to do that. It’s gratifying.”

It’s only year one, and Brown has no plans of ditching the grind of a new adventure. He’s in for the long haul on a path to bettering the future of Sprint Car racing with his youthful involvement.

“I made a commitment to Sam for the year because that’s what he asked,” Brown said. “Whenever you do this deal, it’s something that you want to have a guy for at least a year. You never want to have to change up crew guys mid-season; it doesn’t work well for the morale or flow of a race team.

“This is for sure a this-year thing and would like to keep it going into the future.”

And again, the boss concurs.

“Most people that young don’t have that much knowledge at that age, so he’s definitely far advanced beyond them,” Hafertepe said. “As long as he has the desire to keep going, he should do well.”

The American Sprint Car Series returns to racing on Saturday, April 11 at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, OK. Tickets for the event will be sold at the track on race day.

If you can’t be at the track, how can you watch the American Sprint Car Series in 2026? Every event is broadcast live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://ascsracing.com/news/brody-brown-capitalizing-on-opportunity-as-hafertepes-new-crewman/

CONCORD, NC (March 19, 2026) – Springtime is when temperatures rise, flowers bloom, and slide jobs ramp up.

April is on the horizon and ready to bring a major midwestern swing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

After taking Easter weekend off, The Greatest Show on Dirt will tackle some of the baddest bullrings in the country before finalizing the month at one of the country’s most iconic half miles in preparation for the biggest race of the year.

WATCH EVERY LAP ON DIRTVision

Let’s take a look at what’s ahead in April:

I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park | Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic (April 10-11): When it comes to Sprint Car racing, it doesn’t get much better than I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park. The 3/8 mile routinely serves up blistering 10-second laps in Qualifying before slicking off and widening out to produce some of the most thrilling racing fans will ever see.

The tour makes its annual spring visit to the Pevely, MO track with August’s return trip for the grueling Ironman 55 awaiting down the road. Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart split victories in last year’s Spring Classic.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Jacksonville Speedway | Hy-Vee Perks 40 (April 17): A weekend that’s all about battling it out on bullrings begins with a trip to the “Land of Lincoln.” When the green flag waves at Jacksonville Speedway, you hold your breath. What follows is non-stop, wheel-to-wheel action on an oval that might be generously called a 1/4 mile. The drivers simply can’t escape one another at this Illinois dirt track.

Two years ago, David Gravel and Kyle Larson gave fans the race of the year at Jacksonville as Gravel prevailed. Last season, Larson wouldn’t be denied as he wheeled from sixth to victory. The tour will make a stop at Jacksonville for the third consecutive year.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Tri-State Speedway | Southern Indiana Showdown (April 18): After Jacksonville, the weekend is punctuated with a “Hoosier State” staple. The World of Outlaws has visited no track in Indiana more than Haubstadt’s Tri-State Speedway, and that record will grow on April 18.

Sheldon Haudenschild finally conquered Tri-State last year after several close calls. Brady Bacon bagged the two previous visits. Among the current crop of full-timers, Carson Macedo owns the most wins at the 1/4 mile with a trio of triumphs.

With “The Class Track” being a regular stop on the USAC National Sprint Car tour, this race routinely attracts some of the nation’s best Non-wing Sprint Car drivers. With USAC’s premier divisions silent that weekend, expect no different in 2026.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Knoxville Raceway | Premier Chevy Dealers Clash (April 24-25): No track appears more on the 2026 World of Outlaws schedule than the famed Knoxville Raceway, and the first two of nine scheduled visits will close out April’s slate. The tour heads to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” for the first leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash.

The Series also travels to Knoxville on May 23 for the Stars and Stripes Salute, June 12-13 for the second leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash, and, of course, on Aug. 12-15 for the 65th running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.

Rico Abreu topped last year’s April visit to Knoxville.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

THE MONTH AHEAD: April Brings Major Midwestern Swing

CONCORD, NC (March 19, 2026) – Springtime is when temperatures rise, flowers bloom, and slide jobs ramp up.

April is on the horizon and ready to bring a major midwestern swing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

After taking Easter weekend off, The Greatest Show on Dirt will tackle some of the baddest bullrings in the country before finalizing the month at one of the country’s most iconic half miles in preparation for the biggest race of the year.

WATCH EVERY LAP ON DIRTVision

Let’s take a look at what’s ahead in April:

I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park | Federated Auto Parts Spring Classic (April 10-11): When it comes to Sprint Car racing, it doesn’t get much better than I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park. The 3/8 mile routinely serves up blistering 10-second laps in Qualifying before slicking off and widening out to produce some of the most thrilling racing fans will ever see.

The tour makes its annual spring visit to the Pevely, MO track with August’s return trip for the grueling Ironman 55 awaiting down the road. Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart split victories in last year’s Spring Classic.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Jacksonville Speedway | Hy-Vee Perks 40 (April 17): A weekend that’s all about battling it out on bullrings begins with a trip to the “Land of Lincoln.” When the green flag waves at Jacksonville Speedway, you hold your breath. What follows is non-stop, wheel-to-wheel action on an oval that might be generously called a 1/4 mile. The drivers simply can’t escape one another at this Illinois dirt track.

Two years ago, David Gravel and Kyle Larson gave fans the race of the year at Jacksonville as Gravel prevailed. Last season, Larson wouldn’t be denied as he wheeled from sixth to victory. The tour will make a stop at Jacksonville for the third consecutive year.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Tri-State Speedway | Southern Indiana Showdown (April 18): After Jacksonville, the weekend is punctuated with a “Hoosier State” staple. The World of Outlaws has visited no track in Indiana more than Haubstadt’s Tri-State Speedway, and that record will grow on April 18.

Sheldon Haudenschild finally conquered Tri-State last year after several close calls. Brady Bacon bagged the two previous visits. Among the current crop of full-timers, Carson Macedo owns the most wins at the 1/4 mile with a trio of triumphs.

With “The Class Track” being a regular stop on the USAC National Sprint Car tour, this race routinely attracts some of the nation’s best Non-wing Sprint Car drivers. With USAC’s premier divisions silent that weekend, expect no different in 2026.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Knoxville Raceway | Premier Chevy Dealers Clash (April 24-25): No track appears more on the 2026 World of Outlaws schedule than the famed Knoxville Raceway, and the first two of nine scheduled visits will close out April’s slate. The tour heads to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” for the first leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash.

The Series also travels to Knoxville on May 23 for the Stars and Stripes Salute, June 12-13 for the second leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash, and, of course, on Aug. 12-15 for the 65th running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.

Rico Abreu topped last year’s April visit to Knoxville.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/the-month-ahead-april-brings-major-midwestern-swing/

Sixty years ago, “Cars so fast, they need parachutes to stop them” was a slogan Santa Pod Raceway used to advertise its unique arrival on the British motor racing scene. And parachutes remain vital braking equipment to this day. Conventional brakes have improved beyond measure, but so have dragstrip speeds. Late-1960s dragsters astonished fans with finish-line speeds pushing 160mph. Today’s track record is 321mph – that’s 0-321 in 3.7 seconds, performance figures far exceeding the most fevered imagination when Santa Pod opened its gates as Europe’s first permanent dragstrip on Easter Monday 1966. Santa Pod’s 60^th Anniversary calendar taps a rich vein of motorsport and musical attractions. The dragstrip remains the heart of the matter, but Santa Pod has expanded to become much more than just a racing venue. It is a busy place. Every weekend from the beginning of March to the end of October (except August bank holiday, a well-earned weekend off for the staff) yields an event of some kind. Alongside the dragstrip, the Live Action Arena presents Monster Truck and stunt shows, fine family attractions, and a music stage often occupies the acres beyond. Across the strip, the vast, paved paddock can accommodate more than 300 teams at the big races – with their vehicles, transporters and trailers and weekend living facilities – and music stages, funfairs and all manner of displays at the venue’s lifestyle festivals. And there is space too for the regular midweek Public Drift Days. Music is an integral part of the Santa Pod programme, whether as night-time entertainment at the multi-day race meetings or on a grander scale at the festivals, with leading artists often featured. Santa Pod’s 60^th Anniversary celebrations will focus on the two FIA/FIM European Championship events, The Main Event (22-25 May) and the European Finals (10-13 September), and on the venue’s historic drag racing centrepiece, Dragstalgia (26-28 June). Of the two major automotive lifestyle weekends, Bug Jam 39 is just one year short of its own significant anniversary. The massive Volkswagen festival (24-26 July) has been a Santa Pod staple for almost two-thirds of the venue’s existence. A week later, USC-Ultimate Street Car (31 July-2 August) bills itself as “the largest, loudest, hottest and fastest modified car festival in Europe”. To mark the 60^th Anniversary, Santa Pod will release an exclusive branded FIA Championship clothing range and a limited edition anniversary jacket. A special bookazine will celebrate the venue’s entire history on a year-by-year basis, and a range of limited-edition paintings will be issued. Some 400,000 spectators a year pass through Santa Pod’s gates to experience the exceptional and varied programme of events offered by the Raceway. Visit https://santapod.co.uk/events/ to see the full programme. Tickets for all events may be booked online at https://santapodtickets.com/ or by telephoning the Box Office at 01234 782828. PS: So how did the venue come by its memorable name? It’s an amalgam: ‘Santa’ to evoke the spirit of Southern California, the cradle of drag racing; ‘Pod’ for Podington, the WW2-surplus airfield on which it stands. Imaginative fellows, those brave business types who launched the venture on a wing, a prayer and a derelict aerodrome, six boisterous decades ago. 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 18, 2026) – The possibilities are endless as the KICKER AFT Singles and AFT ProSport 450 classes roll into the Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia, on Saturday, March 21, for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track, Round 3 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.  Some Things Never Change…The first race of the ‘26 KICKER AFT Singles season ended in familiar fashion, lining up the class’ three most accomplished active riders on the box.   Reigning champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) came into the year as the title favorites and for good reason.  Each one has reeled in multiple wins over the past few seasons, and together, they’ve provided precious little space for anyone else to join in on the podium celebrations.  And if you needed a little bit of familiar drama to go with the familiar results, Drane and Saathoff obliged, clashing yet again in a dispute over first place that left Saathoff on the ground and with more bitter feelings. It was not the first chapter of this particular tale, and it’s unlikely to be the last.  Drane and Brunner will be competing to hand Yamaha its first-ever win in its home round at Senoia Raceway. Drane already looks to be in fighting form, grabbing the early points lead in his title defense with a DAYTONA 1-2.  Brunner, meanwhile, appeared loose and relaxed on the KMA Racing Yamaha. While riding for big factory teams certainly has its perks, it also comes with a bright spotlight and big expectations. Brunner tends to ride his best when he’s flowing and free, and perhaps his new surroundings will allow him to do just that.  And despite lacking a bit of luck, Saathoff, too, looked fast and confident at the opener. He’s clearly happy to be back on a Husqvarna after riding one throughout his amateur career. Having Jared Mees and Andrew Butler in his corner doesn’t hurt either.   And neither does this week’s return to a track he won at a year ago.  …And Some Things DoWhile Thursday’s top three came as no surprise, the class retains its propensity for radical and immediate change.   Remember how Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) came from seemingly nowhere a year ago to dominate back-to-back rounds to launch his progressional career?  Well, there were triple-digit numbers galore pushing their way up the timesheets and the order at the DAYTONA Flat Track.  Combined qualifying times for the opening race of the season featured four such riders in the top ten, with rookies Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Aaden Savage (No. 277 J&M Logging Husqvarna FC450), Jaymes Arnaiz (No. 227 Arnaiz & Goss Racing KTM 450SX-F), and Jordan Beaulac (No. 156 Picotte Motosport/Dofralex GASGAS MC 450F) running 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th fastest, respectively.   Brucks backed that speed with a fourth-place run in his Progressive AFT debut later that night, while the others all finished in the points.  And Beaulac – the son of Canadian flat track legend and ‘06 Lima Half-Mile winner Dominic Beaulac – was the story of Friday night until he wasn’t. Short of a late-race red flag, we would be talking about an all-new winner.  Dues PaidActually, we still are. While Beaulac’s night took a turn for the worse following the red flag and subsequent restart, fortune smiled instead on Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F)… finally.  Rookie routes à la Tadman are uncommon. More often, riders have to pay their dues, gain experience, and enjoy a bit of luck before they are able to win.   But ultimately talent perseveres. And talent was never a question for Pfanders. Luck, however… Pfanders was well positioned to get that first win here at Senoia Raceway a year ago, slated to start the Main Event from pole after winning his heat. Instead, he was ruled out after going down hard in a scary crash involving Dalton Gauthier that occurred while Pfanders was leading the four-lap 1st Impressions Challenge race.  There are several others in the field who have shown the potential to break through.   In this year’s double opener, Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) was the fastest qualifier and won his heat on Thursday and then ran up front with Beaulac on Friday before suffering a similar fate.  Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) took his turn as the fastest qualifier on Friday and led late in the race before getting bumped off the podium altogether. Santero now owns three career second-place finishes while still hunting that maiden victory.   Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) and Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) have each finished inside the top five, as has Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who is representative of a big group of sophomores looking to level up following respectable rookie campaigns.  The Road Less TraveledSam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) stood victorious when the AFT Pro Sport 450 class made its official debut with the Road to AFT Amateur Invitational on Thursday at DAYTONA.  Drane’s win over runner-up Ryder Bitz-Hay (No. 14 Bitz-Hay Racing KTM 450 SX-F) came one day after finishing second to Bitz-Hay in the qualifying 450 Road to AFT race held at the AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event.  Drane wasn’t finished. After going second on Wednesday and first on Thursday, he made his way over to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway to compete in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup aboard a Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing YZF-R7.  There he finished second on Friday, and then – you guessed it – won on Saturday.   2-1. 2-1.Not a bad four-day run for the young Australian.  The future stars of the sport will showcase their skills on Friday and Saturday at Senoia Raceway, with Friday’s Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event set to determine the amateur entries for Saturday’s AFT ProSport 450 competition.  Time to ShineBeyond the incredible racing, fans will have an abundance of entertainment options available to them at Senoia Raceway. Included among them will be a meet and greet with even Grand Marshals Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes of Moonshiners fame, the Kids Zone, along with a wide variety of food and beverage options to choose from.  Your Seat Awaits (and So Does Your Promo Code) General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $50 (students $30 with a valid ID and kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $60 (all ages). Even better, if you use the Promo Code RESERVED25 you can get one Limited Reserved Grandstand ticket for a mere $25.  There’s also a Military/First Responder Discount available, allowing GOVX fans to purchase tickets at reduced rates.  The Practice Viewing and Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experiences offer General Admission seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops. The Practice Viewing Fan Experience is available for $110, while the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Experience, which also includes up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies, can be purchased for $135 per day.  Trackside Parking ($150) and Multi-Day Camping Passes ($75) are also available to purchase. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280 to reserve your seats today.  Gates will open for fans at 3:15 p.m. ET/12:15 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10 p.m. PT.  How to Watch FloRacingFor those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visitinghttps://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1FOX Sports coverage of the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, March 29, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Darlington RacewayMarch 20-22, 2026

After back-to-back idle weekends, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be back in action to join the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series for a tripleheader weekend at one of the sport’s most iconic venues – Darlington Raceway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Three days of action at the ‘Track Too Tough To Tame’ will kick-off with the Truck Series under the lights Friday evening, where Team Chevy’s Ross Chastain – the event’s 2024 winner – will begin his quest towards a triple-duty sweep. As the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes center stage on Saturday, the Bowtie brand will have the opportunity to reach a record-setting undefeated season of six-straight victories. Earning a pair of podium results in the new Camaro ZL1’s first outing on an intermediate oval, the Chevrolet will look to build onto that momentum Sunday with its first trip to victory lane of the season in NASCAR’s top division.

Leading at the ‘Lady in Black’: Sunday’s Goodyear 400 will mark the NASCAR Cup Series 130th appearance at Darlington Raceway. Chevrolet’s storied history at the South Carolina circuit dates back to the 1955 Southern 500 when NASCAR Hall of Famer, Herb Thomas, drove the manufacturer to its first of a series-leading 44 all-time victories at the track. Among those triumphs includes three in eight races held during the Next Gen era, including a pair of Southern 500 victories (Erik Jones – Sept. 2022; Kyle Larson – Sept. 2023) and William Byron’s victory during the 2023 spring date.

STACKING STRONG POINTS DAYSThe NASCAR Cup Series’ first appearance on an intermediate oval saw Team Chevy’s Chase Elliott and William Byron net their season-best results – bringing home a pair of podium results at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The duo, along with their Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, were among a short list of drivers that put together a strong points day. Among the four-highest point-earners in Sunday’s race, Larson and Byron were able to make a big gain in the points standings to give Chevrolet three drivers in the top-eight heading into the Darlington race weekend.

TRIPLE-DUTY ON DECKTeam Chevy’s Ross Chastain will look to conquer the ‘Track Too Tough To Tame’ and achieve one of the sport’s most difficult feats – a tripleheader sweep. In addition to his full-time ride with Trackhouse Racing in NASCAR’s top division, Chastain will rejoin Niece Motorsports and JR Motorsports to pilot a Chevrolet-powered machine in all three events this weekend. The Alva, Florida, native has already proven he knows how to find victory lane at Darlington Raceway, with the Team Chevy driver earning the manufacturer its most recent Truck Series win at the track in 2024. While it will be his first Truck Series appearance of the season, Chastain already has two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts under his belt with Jordan Anderson Racing – both of which ended with a top-10 finish. This weekend, the Team Chevy driver will compete under the JR Motorsports banner in the second-level series, with the organization riding the wave of three-straight trips to victory lane.  The only driver in NASCAR history to successfully complete a tripleheader weekend sweep is one of the sport’s most decorated drivers – Team Chevy’s Kyle Busch. The two-time Cup Series Champion was able to accomplish the feat twice in his career (2010 and 2017) – both of which took place at Bristol Motor Speedway.

A HISTORY-MAKING WIN ON THE HORIZONChevrolet’s unstoppable season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series continued at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. Taking his turn behind the wheel of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Kyle Larson became the fifth different Team Chevy driver to make his way to victory lane to keep the Bowtie brand undefeated in the second-level series. Heading back to the east coast, Chevrolet is on the brink of making history this weekend. A win in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 would mark its sixth-straight season-opening victory, which would surpass the record that Chevrolet previously set back in 1994.  It’s not just the wins category that Chevrolet has commanded this season. With five races complete, the manufacturer also remains undefeated in stage wins and has sat on the pole in all but one event. In addition, the top-10 of the points standings sees a Team Chevy takeover with the manufacturer’s past-two champions, Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love, leading a contingency of drivers that represent six different Chevrolet organizations.

JRM Streak Continues into South Carolina: Coming off a record season, JR Motorsports is quickly picking up right where they left off. In his first appearance in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series of the season, Kyle Larson turned an uphill battle into a trip to victory lane – driving the No. 88 Chevrolet entry to the organization’s third-straight, and 108th all-time, victory in the division. With Darlington Raceway on deck, JR Motorsports carries a lot of confidence to keep that streak alive. The organization is a seven-time winner at the track, with three coming alongside veteran driver, Justin Allgaier. The organization will field five entries in Saturday’s event, including Team Chevy Cup Series regulars, Larson and Ross Chastain.

Day Tallying Top-10s: In his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR national ranks, Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day is already making impressive gains. The 20-year-old Clovis, California, native closed the chapter of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series west coast swing with his fourth-straight top-nine result – a string of performances that dates back to his career-best fourth-place finish that came in the second race of the season at EchoPark Speedway. Leading his first-ever laps in the division and a points-earning effort in both stages, Day left Las Vegas Motor Speedway with yet another gain in the points standings with the rookie contender ranked seventh heading into his first Darlington appearance.

ECKES EYES OPPORTUNITY AT DARLINGTON While it’s been a rocky start to his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the culmination of a two-week break and his return to a statistically-strong track is just what McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes needs to turn his season around. The 25-year-old Middletown, New York, native is one of just four past Truck Series winners at Darlington Raceway. In his two career starts at the track under the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing banner, Eckes has finished no worse than fourth, including a trip to victory lane in May 2023.

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) Kyle Busch – one win (2008 Southern 500) ·        In 129 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 44 victories. In eight 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 Kyle Larson and JR Motorsports win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Chevrolet remains undefeated this season with five-straight wins – matching the series’ record for a season-opening streak by a single manufacturer, which Chevrolet previously set during the 1994 season. ·        In 149 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of 44.9%.  ·        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 881 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 Series Goodyear 400Sunday, Mar. 22, at 3 p.m. ETFS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesSports Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200Saturday, Mar. 21, at 5:30 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesBuckle Up South Carolina 200Friday, Mar. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat do you think the recipe for success Sunday will look like?  “Darlington Raceway is a place where tires wear out really fast so being good on the long run definitely matters. You’ve got to be able to have a car that keeps going forward on the long run and be able to make passes at the beginning of a run more often than not. We’ve got to do a good job of trying to calculate the additional horsepower and less downforce at Darlington. I think it’s going to be a different race than last year’s race because of that.”  What is the physical toll of racing at Darlington? “You’re dancing the whole time on the edge of what it takes to be good at Darlington. It takes a lot of precision. 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.”    Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts heading into Darlington?“Darlington is going to be a very interesting race. It will be very low grip with a low downforce package and high horsepower. It’s going to be a challenge for everyone – one I’m looking forward to. Hopefully, we can continue to have good speed and have a good race in the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHow do you manage Darlington as a driver?“Darlington Raceway is tough. It’s definitely one of the hardest tracks on the schedule with the way the asphalt is worn out. You’ve got to run right next to the wall at Darlington. Obviously, the place is famous for the ‘Darlington Stripe’ for a reason. One lap, you feel really good. The next lap, you’re out of control, sideways, spinning out. You just never know. A lot of times you go through a lot of changes at that track. Starting out the track is always loose. It gets really tight during the middle part of the race and then starts to free up back up at the end. You’re always chasing it with the car.”  Does moving Darlington earlier in the schedule create any effect on track conditions?“Just the weather a little bit. Hopefully, it will be a little bit nicer for the drivers behind the wheel. Hopefully, we’ll have no rain and we can have a good clean weekend.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Darlington Raceway? “Darlington is always a racetrack where I’m trying to get more and more comfortable. Last year’s Southern 500 was really good for us. So that gives me a little more confidence going back there. But every year is a new year.” What is different this time?“There will be more horsepower, so that changes the way you drive it just a little bit. I’ll keep studying and trying to get better at it. Over the last couple of years though, I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable there and a little more confident. Hopefully, we can unload well, have a good practice and set ourselves up to have a decent 400 miles around that place.”   Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet“Darlington is going to be a fun one, as we’re going to have a lot less downforce with the new rules package, and more motor than last year. So it is going to be a lot of slipping and sliding around, and it’s going to be a curveball for all of the teams to figure out, and it is going to be exciting to see who can put it all together this weekend. I know my guys on the HaasTooling.com Chevrolet Team are up for the challenge.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Having Jack Link’s back with us at Darlington is really cool. They bring a lot of energy to the team, and it’s always fun representing a brand that fans recognize so well. We’re looking forward to giving them a strong run this weekend.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“They call it the track ‘Too Tough to Tame’ for a reason. The way that place is built, it’s just tough, no matter how many times you’ve been there. There’s never a time where you unload off the trailer and fire off for practice and qualifying that you feel comfortable. Even if you have speed and you’re competitive, you’re still on edge. And when your car isn’t where you want it handling-wise, you’re even more on edge. You’re always white-knuckling it, sawing at the wheel, manhandling the racecar every lap. This year, for sure, is going to be more about racing the track and racing the tire. We have more horsepower, less downforce, and the tires are going to wear out faster. It’s going to make for a wild Sunday afternoon. Just focusing on what we need to manage our tires, where we have as little tire degradation and lap-time falloff as we can throughout a run, that’s going to be the key to having a successful day at Darlington. And, of course, being smart when you’re up against that wall, and also navigating restarts. Turn two is always a pretty tricky place, and getting through those first couple of laps on the start and on restarts is going to be very important to having a good day.”    Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThere is a lot of conversation about the tires and fall off in Darlington, what are you expecting?”“I try not to predict what it is going to be like. It’s not that I don’t prepare—we had no downforce in 2014, so you’re slipping and sliding around, and you get used to what that feels like. After that, you had low horsepower and high downforce. We’ve had everything. So, I try not to predict too much because a lot of the time we think that it’s going to be huge and then oversell it. Then you have other times where you think the changes won’t make that much of a difference, and it’s a big deal. I don’t know where it will fall. It is a difficult track already, so if you take away downforce, I think it will make it more difficult, which is pretty obvious, but when you take away downforce, you won’t be able to utilize that power as much either. It will be interesting to see. I think Darlington will be a fun weekend. On top of that, the weather is going to play a part; it could be 60 degrees, or it could be 80, but I am excited to see what the new package is going to be like. It will be fun.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat do you think about your paint scheme heading into Alumni Weekend?“It’s cool that Chili’s, a huge consumer-facing brand, had the idea to honor Dale Earnhardt on Alumni Weekend with a really cool scheme. They basically changed all their brand guidelines to replicate the original car as much as possible for this specific race. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to watch him race, but I watch a ton of old races and have great respect and admiration for those who have come before me. It will be really cool to honor him this weekend.” How does Darlington fit your driving style?“I’ve always been comfortable at Darlington. There’s just not a lot of grip and you have to save your stuff as much as possible. We’re always fast in qualifying at Darlington but I’ve gotten caught up in incidents that keep us from getting the finishes. This weekend is a little bit of an unknown with more horsepower and our new Camaro body, so the pressure will be on the crew chiefs and engineers. I know Luke (Lambert) and the No. 77 guys will bring us a really good car and we will have the opportunity to run well.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts entering Darlington this weekend?“I’m excited to go back to Darlington this weekend. I’ve only been there once in the O’Reilly Series and we finished sixth there last year and I’m looking forward to building on that in the Cup car. We’ve got a really unique package this year that’s going to bring a lot of question marks. The Trackhouse team has been working really hard to make sure that we show up on the right side of it. It’s going to be a chaotic race with low downforce, high horsepower, and soft tire package. I’m excited to see what that’s like. Darlington is a historic track. There’s a lot of lanes to run in Turns 3 and 4 and it’s unique with the amount of tire falloff. Looking forward to getting there in a Cup car for the first time and trying to figure it out.” Managing tire wear is always a challenge at Darlington. How do you learn tire management?“You never want to be spinning the tires. It’s always a bad thing when you’re spinning the tires. You’re not going any faster and you’re only making your issues worse. Whether it was go-kart racing or late model racing, that’s something that I’ve learned along the way. The concepts apply no matter what race car you’re in. I’ve been fortunate to drive a lot of race cars through my career and been able to learn that along the way.”   Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletYou’ve mentioned Darlington is a crazy track. Do you have more confidence heading there this weekend? “Yeah, it will be my fourth race there. Just with more experience, I’ve gotten more comfortable. Darlington qualifying is one of the craziest experiences you’ll feel. You finish practice and will be four seconds slower, than what you are going to do in qualifying. It’s a crazy track, but I enjoy it. It’s probably one of my favorite ovals we go to.” How are you feeling on the ovals? It looks like from the outside you are getting more comfortable and finding more speed. “It’s been good. I think last year we had that trend; it was really getting better. I feel like we’re an eighth to 15th place car most weeks, which probably doesn’t sound like a lot. But we started at tracks running 30th, so it’s been a huge improvement. I’m pretty stoked about that, but still a long way to go.” Bubba (Wallace), said he expects you to win on an oval. What are your thoughts on that?“I’m a long way from that, But I certainly feel and can see it now. I know every week will come with learning more things and I feel a big improvement still. I know what’s going on, rather than deer in headlights (laughs). That’s a pretty cool compliment, but I know I’m still a little bit away from an oval win.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCEDarlington RacewayMarch 20-22, 2026

After back-to-back idle weekends, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be back in action to join the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series for a tripleheader weekend at one of the sport’s most iconic venues – Darlington Raceway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Three days of action at the ‘Track Too Tough To Tame’ will kick-off with the Truck Series under the lights Friday evening, where Team Chevy’s Ross Chastain – the event’s 2024 winner – will begin his quest towards a triple-duty sweep. As the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes center stage on Saturday, the Bowtie brand will have the opportunity to reach a record-setting undefeated season of six-straight victories. Earning a pair of podium results in the new Camaro ZL1’s first outing on an intermediate oval, the Chevrolet will look to build onto that momentum Sunday with its first trip to victory lane of the season in NASCAR’s top division.

Leading at the ‘Lady in Black’: Sunday’s Goodyear 400 will mark the NASCAR Cup Series 130th appearance at Darlington Raceway. Chevrolet’s storied history at the South Carolina circuit dates back to the 1955 Southern 500 when NASCAR Hall of Famer, Herb Thomas, drove the manufacturer to its first of a series-leading 44 all-time victories at the track. Among those triumphs includes three in eight races held during the Next Gen era, including a pair of Southern 500 victories (Erik Jones – Sept. 2022; Kyle Larson – Sept. 2023) and William Byron’s victory during the 2023 spring date.

STACKING STRONG POINTS DAYSThe NASCAR Cup Series’ first appearance on an intermediate oval saw Team Chevy’s Chase Elliott and William Byron net their season-best results – bringing home a pair of podium results at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The duo, along with their Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, were among a short list of drivers that put together a strong points day. Among the four-highest point-earners in Sunday’s race, Larson and Byron were able to make a big gain in the points standings to give Chevrolet three drivers in the top-eight heading into the Darlington race weekend.

TRIPLE-DUTY ON DECKTeam Chevy’s Ross Chastain will look to conquer the ‘Track Too Tough To Tame’ and achieve one of the sport’s most difficult feats – a tripleheader sweep. In addition to his full-time ride with Trackhouse Racing in NASCAR’s top division, Chastain will rejoin Niece Motorsports and JR Motorsports to pilot a Chevrolet-powered machine in all three events this weekend. The Alva, Florida, native has already proven he knows how to find victory lane at Darlington Raceway, with the Team Chevy driver earning the manufacturer its most recent Truck Series win at the track in 2024. While it will be his first Truck Series appearance of the season, Chastain already has two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts under his belt with Jordan Anderson Racing – both of which ended with a top-10 finish. This weekend, the Team Chevy driver will compete under the JR Motorsports banner in the second-level series, with the organization riding the wave of three-straight trips to victory lane.  The only driver in NASCAR history to successfully complete a tripleheader weekend sweep is one of the sport’s most decorated drivers – Team Chevy’s Kyle Busch. The two-time Cup Series Champion was able to accomplish the feat twice in his career (2010 and 2017) – both of which took place at Bristol Motor Speedway.

A HISTORY-MAKING WIN ON THE HORIZONChevrolet’s unstoppable season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series continued at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. Taking his turn behind the wheel of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Kyle Larson became the fifth different Team Chevy driver to make his way to victory lane to keep the Bowtie brand undefeated in the second-level series. Heading back to the east coast, Chevrolet is on the brink of making history this weekend. A win in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 would mark its sixth-straight season-opening victory, which would surpass the record that Chevrolet previously set back in 1994.  It’s not just the wins category that Chevrolet has commanded this season. With five races complete, the manufacturer also remains undefeated in stage wins and has sat on the pole in all but one event. In addition, the top-10 of the points standings sees a Team Chevy takeover with the manufacturer’s past-two champions, Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love, leading a contingency of drivers that represent six different Chevrolet organizations.

JRM Streak Continues into South Carolina: Coming off a record season, JR Motorsports is quickly picking up right where they left off. In his first appearance in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series of the season, Kyle Larson turned an uphill battle into a trip to victory lane – driving the No. 88 Chevrolet entry to the organization’s third-straight, and 108th all-time, victory in the division. With Darlington Raceway on deck, JR Motorsports carries a lot of confidence to keep that streak alive. The organization is a seven-time winner at the track, with three coming alongside veteran driver, Justin Allgaier. The organization will field five entries in Saturday’s event, including Team Chevy Cup Series regulars, Larson and Ross Chastain.

Day Tallying Top-10s: In his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR national ranks, Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day is already making impressive gains. The 20-year-old Clovis, California, native closed the chapter of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series west coast swing with his fourth-straight top-nine result – a string of performances that dates back to his career-best fourth-place finish that came in the second race of the season at EchoPark Speedway. Leading his first-ever laps in the division and a points-earning effort in both stages, Day left Las Vegas Motor Speedway with yet another gain in the points standings with the rookie contender ranked seventh heading into his first Darlington appearance.

ECKES EYES OPPORTUNITY AT DARLINGTON While it’s been a rocky start to his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the culmination of a two-week break and his return to a statistically-strong track is just what McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes needs to turn his season around. The 25-year-old Middletown, New York, native is one of just four past Truck Series winners at Darlington Raceway. In his two career starts at the track under the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing banner, Eckes has finished no worse than fourth, including a trip to victory lane in May 2023.

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) Kyle Busch – one win (2008 Southern 500) ·        In 129 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 44 victories. In eight 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 Kyle Larson and JR Motorsports win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Chevrolet remains undefeated this season with five-straight wins – matching the series’ record for a season-opening streak by a single manufacturer, which Chevrolet previously set during the 1994 season. ·        In 149 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of 44.9%.  ·        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 881 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 Series Goodyear 400Sunday, Mar. 22, at 3 p.m. ETFS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesSports Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200Saturday, Mar. 21, at 5:30 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesBuckle Up South Carolina 200Friday, Mar. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat do you think the recipe for success Sunday will look like?  “Darlington Raceway is a place where tires wear out really fast so being good on the long run definitely matters. You’ve got to be able to have a car that keeps going forward on the long run and be able to make passes at the beginning of a run more often than not. We’ve got to do a good job of trying to calculate the additional horsepower and less downforce at Darlington. I think it’s going to be a different race than last year’s race because of that.”  What is the physical toll of racing at Darlington? “You’re dancing the whole time on the edge of what it takes to be good at Darlington. It takes a lot of precision. 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.”    Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts heading into Darlington?“Darlington is going to be a very interesting race. It will be very low grip with a low downforce package and high horsepower. It’s going to be a challenge for everyone – one I’m looking forward to. Hopefully, we can continue to have good speed and have a good race in the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHow do you manage Darlington as a driver?“Darlington Raceway is tough. It’s definitely one of the hardest tracks on the schedule with the way the asphalt is worn out. You’ve got to run right next to the wall at Darlington. Obviously, the place is famous for the ‘Darlington Stripe’ for a reason. One lap, you feel really good. The next lap, you’re out of control, sideways, spinning out. You just never know. A lot of times you go through a lot of changes at that track. Starting out the track is always loose. It gets really tight during the middle part of the race and then starts to free up back up at the end. You’re always chasing it with the car.”  Does moving Darlington earlier in the schedule create any effect on track conditions?“Just the weather a little bit. Hopefully, it will be a little bit nicer for the drivers behind the wheel. Hopefully, we’ll have no rain and we can have a good clean weekend.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Darlington Raceway? “Darlington is always a racetrack where I’m trying to get more and more comfortable. Last year’s Southern 500 was really good for us. So that gives me a little more confidence going back there. But every year is a new year.” What is different this time?“There will be more horsepower, so that changes the way you drive it just a little bit. I’ll keep studying and trying to get better at it. Over the last couple of years though, I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable there and a little more confident. Hopefully, we can unload well, have a good practice and set ourselves up to have a decent 400 miles around that place.”   Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet“Darlington is going to be a fun one, as we’re going to have a lot less downforce with the new rules package, and more motor than last year. So it is going to be a lot of slipping and sliding around, and it’s going to be a curveball for all of the teams to figure out, and it is going to be exciting to see who can put it all together this weekend. I know my guys on the HaasTooling.com Chevrolet Team are up for the challenge.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Having Jack Link’s back with us at Darlington is really cool. They bring a lot of energy to the team, and it’s always fun representing a brand that fans recognize so well. We’re looking forward to giving them a strong run this weekend.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“They call it the track ‘Too Tough to Tame’ for a reason. The way that place is built, it’s just tough, no matter how many times you’ve been there. There’s never a time where you unload off the trailer and fire off for practice and qualifying that you feel comfortable. Even if you have speed and you’re competitive, you’re still on edge. And when your car isn’t where you want it handling-wise, you’re even more on edge. You’re always white-knuckling it, sawing at the wheel, manhandling the racecar every lap. This year, for sure, is going to be more about racing the track and racing the tire. We have more horsepower, less downforce, and the tires are going to wear out faster. It’s going to make for a wild Sunday afternoon. Just focusing on what we need to manage our tires, where we have as little tire degradation and lap-time falloff as we can throughout a run, that’s going to be the key to having a successful day at Darlington. And, of course, being smart when you’re up against that wall, and also navigating restarts. Turn two is always a pretty tricky place, and getting through those first couple of laps on the start and on restarts is going to be very important to having a good day.”    Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThere is a lot of conversation about the tires and fall off in Darlington, what are you expecting?”“I try not to predict what it is going to be like. It’s not that I don’t prepare—we had no downforce in 2014, so you’re slipping and sliding around, and you get used to what that feels like. After that, you had low horsepower and high downforce. We’ve had everything. So, I try not to predict too much because a lot of the time we think that it’s going to be huge and then oversell it. Then you have other times where you think the changes won’t make that much of a difference, and it’s a big deal. I don’t know where it will fall. It is a difficult track already, so if you take away downforce, I think it will make it more difficult, which is pretty obvious, but when you take away downforce, you won’t be able to utilize that power as much either. It will be interesting to see. I think Darlington will be a fun weekend. On top of that, the weather is going to play a part; it could be 60 degrees, or it could be 80, but I am excited to see what the new package is going to be like. It will be fun.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat do you think about your paint scheme heading into Alumni Weekend?“It’s cool that Chili’s, a huge consumer-facing brand, had the idea to honor Dale Earnhardt on Alumni Weekend with a really cool scheme. They basically changed all their brand guidelines to replicate the original car as much as possible for this specific race. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to watch him race, but I watch a ton of old races and have great respect and admiration for those who have come before me. It will be really cool to honor him this weekend.” How does Darlington fit your driving style?“I’ve always been comfortable at Darlington. There’s just not a lot of grip and you have to save your stuff as much as possible. We’re always fast in qualifying at Darlington but I’ve gotten caught up in incidents that keep us from getting the finishes. This weekend is a little bit of an unknown with more horsepower and our new Camaro body, so the pressure will be on the crew chiefs and engineers. I know Luke (Lambert) and the No. 77 guys will bring us a really good car and we will have the opportunity to run well.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts entering Darlington this weekend?“I’m excited to go back to Darlington this weekend. I’ve only been there once in the O’Reilly Series and we finished sixth there last year and I’m looking forward to building on that in the Cup car. We’ve got a really unique package this year that’s going to bring a lot of question marks. The Trackhouse team has been working really hard to make sure that we show up on the right side of it. It’s going to be a chaotic race with low downforce, high horsepower, and soft tire package. I’m excited to see what that’s like. Darlington is a historic track. There’s a lot of lanes to run in Turns 3 and 4 and it’s unique with the amount of tire falloff. Looking forward to getting there in a Cup car for the first time and trying to figure it out.” Managing tire wear is always a challenge at Darlington. How do you learn tire management?“You never want to be spinning the tires. It’s always a bad thing when you’re spinning the tires. You’re not going any faster and you’re only making your issues worse. Whether it was go-kart racing or late model racing, that’s something that I’ve learned along the way. The concepts apply no matter what race car you’re in. I’ve been fortunate to drive a lot of race cars through my career and been able to learn that along the way.”   Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletYou’ve mentioned Darlington is a crazy track. Do you have more confidence heading there this weekend? “Yeah, it will be my fourth race there. Just with more experience, I’ve gotten more comfortable. Darlington qualifying is one of the craziest experiences you’ll feel. You finish practice and will be four seconds slower, than what you are going to do in qualifying. It’s a crazy track, but I enjoy it. It’s probably one of my favorite ovals we go to.” How are you feeling on the ovals? It looks like from the outside you are getting more comfortable and finding more speed. “It’s been good. I think last year we had that trend; it was really getting better. I feel like we’re an eighth to 15th place car most weeks, which probably doesn’t sound like a lot. But we started at tracks running 30th, so it’s been a huge improvement. I’m pretty stoked about that, but still a long way to go.” Bubba (Wallace), said he expects you to win on an oval. What are your thoughts on that?“I’m a long way from that, But I certainly feel and can see it now. I know every week will come with learning more things and I feel a big improvement still. I know what’s going on, rather than deer in headlights (laughs). That’s a pretty cool compliment, but I know I’m still a little bit away from an oval win.”

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: 0Poles: 1Laps Led: 233Top-Fives: 10Top-10s: 17Stage Wins: 2 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 881 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 767Laps led to date: 256,967Top-fives to date: 4,446Top-10s to date: 9,168                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,215           Chevrolet: 881           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 848                                                                                          Ford: 748           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 207

Ventura, Calif. (March 18, 2026) – Melanie Johnson has been selected as a 2026 grant recipient by the Shift Up Now Foundation. The announcement, made in celebration of Women’s History Month, marks a significant milestone as Johnson becomes the first drag racer in the organization’s history to receive a grant. The Shift Up Now Foundation is dedicated to driving gender equality in motorsports by providing critical funding and resources to talented female athletes. For the 2026 season, the Foundation awarded over $300,000 in grants to 15 drivers across 10 different racing series. “I’m incredibly honored to join the Shift Up Now Athletes this year and represent an organization that is making things happen for females in motorsport,” said Johnson. “To be the first drag racer included in this group is a privilege, and I’m eager to help expand the foundation’s reach into the NHRA community. Thank you to all of the wonderful people and organizations that support the Shift Up Now Foundation.” A second-generation racer and driver of the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster, Johnson has quickly made a name for herself in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Since her debut in 2025, she has secured her first regional victory at Norwalk and multiple semifinal finishes at prestigious events like the U.S. Nationals and the Texas Fall Nationals. Beyond her performance on the track, Johnson is deeply committed to fostering growth for women in the industry. She currently serves as a committee member for the Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) Southern California Chapter, working to create networking and professional development opportunities for women across all disciplines of racing. The support from Shift Up Now joins an existing roster of valued partners, including NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, ARP, and Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE). With the 2026 season underway, Johnson and the McPhillips Racing team remain focused on consistency and championship contention. About Shift Up Now Foundation Launched in December 2022, the Shift Up Now Foundation is a non-profit organization that strives for gender equality for female athletes in motorsport. By providing grants and a platform for visibility, the Foundation helps elite female racers secure the resources necessary to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Jack Beckman and his PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team didn’t begin the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season the way they had planned but John Force Racing’s senior team has every reason to believe the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park is where they will turn their fortunes around.

The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion has earned 37 victories and 76 final-round appearances in the class since making his debut in 2006. Three event wins (2008, 2010, 2011), a runner-up finish (2020) and a semifinal’s showing last season in 15 starts at Firebird give Beckman and the Dan Hood / Tim Fabrisi-led PEAK SQUAD the confidence to rebound after a first-round exit two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.

Beckman qualified ninth (4.029 seconds) at the Gatornationals but faced No. 8 qualifier and John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff (3.990 seconds) in the first round. Beckman’s run of 3.987 seconds was the third quickest of the round but not enough to get past Vandergriff’s 3.970-second run.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after one of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37. Beckman is 11^th with 32 points.

Quotes

How do you put Gainesville in the rearview mirror?

“It was disappointing because we had such a good preseason test session there. I don’t know if it was just different sportsman cars also running on the track, or the preparation was different than testing. A lot of teams just had a tough time adapting to that and we got behind. When we missed it on the Friday night shot. I knew we had a tall order ahead on Saturday. I had to pedal it on the third qualifying run to get in the show that got bumped out on the fourth qualifying session while I sat there in the lanes. We finally made a good run in the final session but we really had to slow the PEAK SQUAD car down to get down that tricky track, and unfortunately, the best I could put us was number 9. So, we went into first round without lane choice against our teammate (Vandergriff). We ran the third quickest run of the round, but he was low ET of the round.” 

Does having won three times at Firebird give you confidence going into this week’s event?

“NASCAR drivers or F1 drivers would tell you that they prepare based on the track that they go to, and it’s not that all the NHRA tracks are identical, even though they’re identical. Each lane’s 30 feet wide. They’re straight, they’re a thousand feet of acceleration. There are different length shutdown areas, but each of them does have its own characteristics and nuances, and even that can change day to day and run to run. And what’s going to be intense is like the hottest track temp we saw in Gainesville was I think about 124 degrees. We’re likely gonna see 145 degrees in Phoenix, and that’s just something where the crew chiefs have to do everything they can to reel back the clutch application to get these things down the racetrack.”

How will the heat and the earlier qualifying schedule affect your race planning?

We’re going to get four qualifying runs so it’s very important and certainly preferred to unload with a good solid run. When you don’t do that, you start out behind the 8 ball. Phoenix is not gonna have that traditional ‘hero run’ on Friday night. In fact, the better runs are probably gonna be the first run Friday and first run Saturday. So, it be a slightly different tempo to what we do, but the strategy remains the same.”

How do you prepare any differently for the extremely hot temperatures in the forecast?

Except for when it’s unseasonably cool, we’re always sweating when we get out of the cars. Because not only are you wearing a fire suit, but you’re wearing socks, shoes, boots, inner gloves and outer gloves, a head sock, and a helmet with a skirt on it, so there’s just not a lot of room to cool yourself in there. You’re sweaty on a 70 degree day so 100-degree days are going to be miserable. I guess the silver lining is we probably won’t have a lot of humidity in Phoenix, but it’s, it’s gonna be interesting. My suggestion is if you’re not prepared to sweat, driving a nitro funny car is probably not the best career. 

Stats

Phoenix	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2006	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2007 (FC)	1st round	9th	0-1
2008 (FC)	Winner	15th	4-1
2009 (FC)	2nd round	11th	5-2
2010 (FC)	Winner	7th	9-2
2011 (FC)	Winner	5th	13-2
2012 (FC)	Semi-finals	6th	15-3
2013 (FC)	1st round	10th	15-4
2014 (FC)	2nd round	6th	16-5
2015 (FC)	1st round	12th	16-6
2016 (FC)	2nd round	6th	17-7
2017 (FC)	1st round	6th	17-8
2018 (FC)	1st round	3rd	17-9
2019 (FC)	2nd round	14th	18-10
2020(FC)	Runner-up	6th	21-11
2021	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2022	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2023	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2024	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2025 (FC)	Semi-finals	3rd	23-12

Starts: 15

Wins: 3 (2008, 2010, & 2011)

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Final Rounds: 4 (2008, 2010, 2011, 2020)

Event Round Record: 23-12

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.

BECKMAN DRAWS ON SUCCESSFUL FIREBIRD HISTORY

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Jack Beckman and his PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team didn’t begin the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season the way they had planned but John Force Racing’s senior team has every reason to believe the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park is where they will turn their fortunes around.

The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion has earned 37 victories and 76 final-round appearances in the class since making his debut in 2006. Three event wins (2008, 2010, 2011), a runner-up finish (2020) and a semifinal’s showing last season in 15 starts at Firebird give Beckman and the Dan Hood / Tim Fabrisi-led PEAK SQUAD the confidence to rebound after a first-round exit two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.

Beckman qualified ninth (4.029 seconds) at the Gatornationals but faced No. 8 qualifier and John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff (3.990 seconds) in the first round. Beckman’s run of 3.987 seconds was the third quickest of the round but not enough to get past Vandergriff’s 3.970-second run.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after one of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37. Beckman is 11^th with 32 points.

Quotes

How do you put Gainesville in the rearview mirror?

“It was disappointing because we had such a good preseason test session there. I don’t know if it was just different sportsman cars also running on the track, or the preparation was different than testing. A lot of teams just had a tough time adapting to that and we got behind. When we missed it on the Friday night shot. I knew we had a tall order ahead on Saturday. I had to pedal it on the third qualifying run to get in the show that got bumped out on the fourth qualifying session while I sat there in the lanes. We finally made a good run in the final session but we really had to slow the PEAK SQUAD car down to get down that tricky track, and unfortunately, the best I could put us was number 9. So, we went into first round without lane choice against our teammate (Vandergriff). We ran the third quickest run of the round, but he was low ET of the round.” 

Does having won three times at Firebird give you confidence going into this week’s event?

“NASCAR drivers or F1 drivers would tell you that they prepare based on the track that they go to, and it’s not that all the NHRA tracks are identical, even though they’re identical. Each lane’s 30 feet wide. They’re straight, they’re a thousand feet of acceleration. There are different length shutdown areas, but each of them does have its own characteristics and nuances, and even that can change day to day and run to run. And what’s going to be intense is like the hottest track temp we saw in Gainesville was I think about 124 degrees. We’re likely gonna see 145 degrees in Phoenix, and that’s just something where the crew chiefs have to do everything they can to reel back the clutch application to get these things down the racetrack.”

How will the heat and the earlier qualifying schedule affect your race planning?

We’re going to get four qualifying runs so it’s very important and certainly preferred to unload with a good solid run. When you don’t do that, you start out behind the 8 ball. Phoenix is not gonna have that traditional ‘hero run’ on Friday night. In fact, the better runs are probably gonna be the first run Friday and first run Saturday. So, it be a slightly different tempo to what we do, but the strategy remains the same.”

How do you prepare any differently for the extremely hot temperatures in the forecast?

Except for when it’s unseasonably cool, we’re always sweating when we get out of the cars. Because not only are you wearing a fire suit, but you’re wearing socks, shoes, boots, inner gloves and outer gloves, a head sock, and a helmet with a skirt on it, so there’s just not a lot of room to cool yourself in there. You’re sweaty on a 70 degree day so 100-degree days are going to be miserable. I guess the silver lining is we probably won’t have a lot of humidity in Phoenix, but it’s, it’s gonna be interesting. My suggestion is if you’re not prepared to sweat, driving a nitro funny car is probably not the best career. 

Stats

Phoenix	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2006	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2007 (FC)	1st round	9th	0-1
2008 (FC)	Winner	15th	4-1
2009 (FC)	2nd round	11th	5-2
2010 (FC)	Winner	7th	9-2
2011 (FC)	Winner	5th	13-2
2012 (FC)	Semi-finals	6th	15-3
2013 (FC)	1st round	10th	15-4
2014 (FC)	2nd round	6th	16-5
2015 (FC)	1st round	12th	16-6
2016 (FC)	2nd round	6th	17-7
2017 (FC)	1st round	6th	17-8
2018 (FC)	1st round	3rd	17-9
2019 (FC)	2nd round	14th	18-10
2020(FC)	Runner-up	6th	21-11
2021	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2022	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2023	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2024	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2025 (FC)	Semi-finals	3rd	23-12

Starts: 15

Wins: 3 (2008, 2010, & 2011)

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Final Rounds: 4 (2008, 2010, 2011, 2020)

Event Round Record: 23-12

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.

###

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff had a successful NHRA professional debut in 2019 at Firebird Motorsports Park when he competed in Top Fuel for his family-owned team and he’s looking to go a couple round-wins better when he returns in the John Force Racing Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car for the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.

This weekend’s event will be just the second time Vandergriff has competed at Firebird Motorsports Park but the Atlanta-area resident made the best of his inaugural visit with a seminal showing. After qualifying fourth, he ran low ET of the first round to defeat Brittany Force and then put Doug Kalitta on the trailer with a holeshot of almost three-hundredths of a second and a run just one-thousandth of a second quicker. Vandergriff cut a strong light in the semifinal against eventual race winner Billy Torrence (.064 to Torrence’s .062) but smoked the tires shortly into the run.

The Cornwell Tools team, led by crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker, qualified eighth and reached the semifinal at this season’s opening round at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. Vandergriff defeated John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the first round, John Smith in the second, and got the holeshot in the semifinal against eventual event winner Chad Green, running 4.068 seconds at 300.40 mph to Green’s 3.980 at 324.83.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.

Quotes

What does it mean for your team to have had a strong start to the season?

It was huge for us, being a new team with Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker as crew chiefs and a whole new crew, and me as a new driver. We came in there and just wanted to do the best we could and that semifinal finish for us is really, really good. We came together so quickly and we’ve gelled so quickly. We knew we could do the job and, looking forward to the rest of the year, we know we’re capable of doing even better.

What are some of the positives you took away from Gainesville?

“The Cornwell Tools Chevy team left Gainesville fourth on the points. You know, that’s really a great start. We’ve gelled so quickly as a team and were able to find some success right off the bat. We know that we’re capable of doing even better so we’re looking forward to Phoenix. Phoenix is going to be hot so the track is going to be tricky, but Gainesville was hot and we handled it pretty well, so I feel confident we’re going to handle Phoenix well, too.”

Do you detach from racing between events or stay at least somewhat in the zone?

“This is my first full season as a race car driver so I’m settling in and figuring out what my day-to-day life is in between races. So far, it’s time spent staying ready, going to the gym, keeping my mind focused, keeping my body ready during the weeks between races. I love being at the race track and I’ll be ready to hit the track again when we get to Phoenix.”

Is there a different way to prepare for triple-digit temperatures expected in Phoenix?

“I think the most important thing is just to stay hydrated. I’ll stay hydrated through this whole week and then, once we get to Phoenix, hydrate even more because you’re gonna lose so much water in your sweat. So, for me it’s just overloading a little bit and, when we get there, just making sure I’m on point with it.”

Stats

Phoenix	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2019 (TF)	Semi-finals	4th	2-1

Starts:

Wins: 0

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Round Record: 2-1

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

VANDERGRIFF TO BUILD ON SOLID START IN AZ HEAT

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff had a successful NHRA professional debut in 2019 at Firebird Motorsports Park when he competed in Top Fuel for his family-owned team and he’s looking to go a couple round-wins better when he returns in the John Force Racing Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car for the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.

This weekend’s event will be just the second time Vandergriff has competed at Firebird Motorsports Park but the Atlanta-area resident made the best of his inaugural visit with a seminal showing. After qualifying fourth, he ran low ET of the first round to defeat Brittany Force and then put Doug Kalitta on the trailer with a holeshot of almost three-hundredths of a second and a run just one-thousandth of a second quicker. Vandergriff cut a strong light in the semifinal against eventual race winner Billy Torrence (.064 to Torrence’s .062) but smoked the tires shortly into the run.

The Cornwell Tools team, led by crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker, qualified eighth and reached the semifinal at this season’s opening round at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. Vandergriff defeated John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the first round, John Smith in the second, and got the holeshot in the semifinal against eventual event winner Chad Green, running 4.068 seconds at 300.40 mph to Green’s 3.980 at 324.83.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.

Quotes

What does it mean for your team to have had a strong start to the season?

It was huge for us, being a new team with Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker as crew chiefs and a whole new crew, and me as a new driver. We came in there and just wanted to do the best we could and that semifinal finish for us is really, really good. We came together so quickly and we’ve gelled so quickly. We knew we could do the job and, looking forward to the rest of the year, we know we’re capable of doing even better.

What are some of the positives you took away from Gainesville?

“The Cornwell Tools Chevy team left Gainesville fourth on the points. You know, that’s really a great start. We’ve gelled so quickly as a team and were able to find some success right off the bat. We know that we’re capable of doing even better so we’re looking forward to Phoenix. Phoenix is going to be hot so the track is going to be tricky, but Gainesville was hot and we handled it pretty well, so I feel confident we’re going to handle Phoenix well, too.”

Do you detach from racing between events or stay at least somewhat in the zone?

“This is my first full season as a race car driver so I’m settling in and figuring out what my day-to-day life is in between races. So far, it’s time spent staying ready, going to the gym, keeping my mind focused, keeping my body ready during the weeks between races. I love being at the race track and I’ll be ready to hit the track again when we get to Phoenix.”

Is there a different way to prepare for triple-digit temperatures expected in Phoenix?

“I think the most important thing is just to stay hydrated. I’ll stay hydrated through this whole week and then, once we get to Phoenix, hydrate even more because you’re gonna lose so much water in your sweat. So, for me it’s just overloading a little bit and, when we get there, just making sure I’m on point with it.”

Stats

Phoenix	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2019 (TF)	Semi-finals	4th	2-1

Starts:

Wins: 0

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Round Record: 2-1

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria reached the final round in her John Force Racing debut two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway and, having earned her first career NHRA Funny Car victory at Firebird Motorsports in 2014, the driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car has every confidence she can pick up another Wally at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.

DeJoria and her Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg team took out Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde and JR Todd enroute to the runner-up finish against Chad Green at this year’s Gatornationals. The three round wins in the 2026 NHRA season-opening event brought her career total to 198 heading into this weekend’s Arizona Nationals.

Her run to victory at the 2014 Arizona Nationals was even more impressive. After a first-round victory over Jeff Arend, the six-time NHRA Funny Car winner bowled over two of her biggest racing heroes – Del Worsham in the second round and current team owner and 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force in the semis. Those two major wins set up the final-round matchup against eventual three-time Funny Car Champion Robert Hight, where she ran 4.043 seconds at 309.63 mph while Hight’s John Force Racing entry lost traction and spun the tires.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.

Quotes

What did it mean to you to get to the finals at Gainesville in your John Force Racing debut?

“It was absolutely wonderful to be able to get to the final round at Gainesville in our very first race with John Force Racing. It had been two years since I’d been to a final so just the way our Bandero team already works so well with the other JFR teams, the camaraderie, the knowledge and expertise is just unmatched gives us a great base to build on heading to Phoenix.”

What was it like beating your drag racing heroes to win your first career Wally at Phoenix?

“Getting my first career Funny Car win in Phoenix in 2014 was such a major deal because I beat my heroes, John Force and Del Worsham, to get there. Those are some huge names there but, my gosh, you’ve got to beat the best to be the best. Going back to Phoenix with the success I’ve had there in the past and what we already have with the current Bandero team, there’s an even greater confidence level in just knowing the racetrack, its little quirks here and there. I was also part of the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty race there, which we’re a part of this week, is a hell of a confidence booster.”

Are you able to detach from racing between NHRA events or do you stay in the zone?

“I’d say that the day after, I don’t even unpack my bags. I try to take 24 hours off. You get maxed out on race weekends. It’s hard going rounds. It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically, but my mind is never far from that race car. I mean, I eat, sleep and dream racing.”

How do you prepare for going into a weekend you know is going to be very hot? 

“It’s just mind over matter. Luckily, we’re not in these cars for hours and hours at a time, so I can’t complain too much. It just takes a lot of meditation and some serious breathing exercises and lots of time in the fresh air.”

Stats

Alexis DeJoria	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2011 (FC)	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2012 (FC)	DNQ	17th	0-0
2013 (FC)	1st round	11th	0-1
2014 (FC)	Winner	4th	4-1
2015 (FC)	Semi-finals	4th	6-2
2016 (FC)	1st round	11th	6-3
2017 (FC)	1st round	10th	6-4
2018	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2019	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2020(FC)	1st round	10th	6-5
2021 (FC)	NHRA Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2022 (FC)	2nd round	9th	7-6
2023 (FC)	Semi-finals	2nd	9-7
2024 (FC)	Runner-up	15th	12-8
2025 (FC)	1st round	6th	12-9

Starts:

Wins: 1 (2014) ***1^st Career Win

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Round Record: 12-9

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

DEJORIA FOCUSED ON FIRST JFR WIN AT SITE OF FIRST CAREER WIN

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria reached the final round in her John Force Racing debut two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway and, having earned her first career NHRA Funny Car victory at Firebird Motorsports in 2014, the driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car has every confidence she can pick up another Wally at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.

DeJoria and her Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg team took out Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde and JR Todd enroute to the runner-up finish against Chad Green at this year’s Gatornationals. The three round wins in the 2026 NHRA season-opening event brought her career total to 198 heading into this weekend’s Arizona Nationals.

Her run to victory at the 2014 Arizona Nationals was even more impressive. After a first-round victory over Jeff Arend, the six-time NHRA Funny Car winner bowled over two of her biggest racing heroes – Del Worsham in the second round and current team owner and 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force in the semis. Those two major wins set up the final-round matchup against eventual three-time Funny Car Champion Robert Hight, where she ran 4.043 seconds at 309.63 mph while Hight’s John Force Racing entry lost traction and spun the tires.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.

Quotes

What did it mean to you to get to the finals at Gainesville in your John Force Racing debut?

“It was absolutely wonderful to be able to get to the final round at Gainesville in our very first race with John Force Racing. It had been two years since I’d been to a final so just the way our Bandero team already works so well with the other JFR teams, the camaraderie, the knowledge and expertise is just unmatched gives us a great base to build on heading to Phoenix.”

What was it like beating your drag racing heroes to win your first career Wally at Phoenix?

“Getting my first career Funny Car win in Phoenix in 2014 was such a major deal because I beat my heroes, John Force and Del Worsham, to get there. Those are some huge names there but, my gosh, you’ve got to beat the best to be the best. Going back to Phoenix with the success I’ve had there in the past and what we already have with the current Bandero team, there’s an even greater confidence level in just knowing the racetrack, its little quirks here and there. I was also part of the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty race there, which we’re a part of this week, is a hell of a confidence booster.”

Are you able to detach from racing between NHRA events or do you stay in the zone?

“I’d say that the day after, I don’t even unpack my bags. I try to take 24 hours off. You get maxed out on race weekends. It’s hard going rounds. It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically, but my mind is never far from that race car. I mean, I eat, sleep and dream racing.”

How do you prepare for going into a weekend you know is going to be very hot? 

“It’s just mind over matter. Luckily, we’re not in these cars for hours and hours at a time, so I can’t complain too much. It just takes a lot of meditation and some serious breathing exercises and lots of time in the fresh air.”

Stats

Alexis DeJoria	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2011 (FC)	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2012 (FC)	DNQ	17th	0-0
2013 (FC)	1st round	11th	0-1
2014 (FC)	Winner	4th	4-1
2015 (FC)	Semi-finals	4th	6-2
2016 (FC)	1st round	11th	6-3
2017 (FC)	1st round	10th	6-4
2018	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2019	Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2020(FC)	1st round	10th	6-5
2021 (FC)	NHRA Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2022 (FC)	2nd round	9th	7-6
2023 (FC)	Semi-finals	2nd	9-7
2024 (FC)	Runner-up	15th	12-8
2025 (FC)	1st round	6th	12-9

Starts:

Wins: 1 (2014) ***1^st Career Win

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Round Record: 12-9

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – It’s been five long years since Josh Hart headed to the second race of the NHRA season as the Top Fuel point leader which is why the Florida resident and driver of John Force Racing’s Burnyzz Speed Shop / Speedmaster Top Fuel team has savored the time since winning the season-opening Gatornationals in his JFR debut and the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.

Hart and his Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led team made the powerful statement at Gainesville that they have every intention of contending for this year’s championship by grabbing the No. 1 Qualifier spot with the low E.T. (3.658 seconds) and top speed (340.30 mph) of the meet and then defeating defending champion Doug Kalitta in the final round. Kalitta beat Hart off the line by less than one-hundredth of a second but Hart took the victory with a run of 3.733 seconds at 337.83 mph to Kalitta’s 3.877 at 319.60.

This year’s Gatornationals win bookended Hart’s NHRA Top Fuel career debut in 2021 when, as the No. 8 qualifier, he defeated Clay Millican, Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley on his way to cutting a 0.026 light and running 3.826 seconds at 323.66 mph to Shawn Langdon’s 4.244 at 219.08.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings are: Josh Hart, 122; Doug Kalitta, 96; Antron Brown, 76; Maddi Gordon, 74; Leah Pruett, 57; Tony Stewart, 54; Tripp Tatum III, 53; Tony Schumacher, 48; Shawn Langdon, 44; Shawn Reed, 32.

Quotes

What’s the feeling heading into Phoenix with the points lead and a win already under your belt?

“The Burnyzz Speed Shop/Speedmaster team checked a lot of boxes at Gainesville and we’re going to take this momentum into Phoenix. We’re not going to take our foot off the gas; actually, quite the opposite. We’ve set the expectation, we know where we need to improve and now it’s just to make sure that I can live up to everybody else’s expectations.”

From a post-race competition meeting standpoint, was it different for you to be simply the driver providing input as opposed to how you ran it with your own team?

“David Grubnic (crew chief) is very much concerned about my feedback, making sure I’m comfortable, making sure that the car is doing what I think it should do. And he’s also interested in all of my feedback as to how it performed throughout the run. So, I feel like I’m really a part of the team because he takes my input and uses it to some extent to improve the next pass.”

What is the pressure you put yourself under now?

“Now it’s just to make sure that I can live up to everybody else’s expectations. I want to earn the trust and respect of the John Force Racing fans. I want to earn the respect of my peers – be a good driver, stage properly – and I obviously want to earn the trust and respect of our team. We’ve made a couple of really good steps in that direction but I know that’s just the beginning.”

Between races, do you detach from racing or do you stay in the zone all the way through? 
Oh yeah, always, always thinking about it, for sure. But I do have the opportunity now to focus on what I’m doing at home, which should just make my life and lifestyle way more efficient and productive.

“As for the weather forecast for Phoenix, I’m from Florida. I’m used to the heat so we’ll be just fine from the driver’s point of view.”

Stats

Phoenix	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2021 (TF)	NHRA Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2022 (TF)	Semi-finals	8th	2-1
2023 (TF)	1st round	12th	2-2
2024 (TF)	1st round	12th	2-3
2025 (TF)	1st round	11th	2-4

Starts: 4

Wins: 0

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Round Record: 2-4

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

HART BRINGING WINNING HEAT TO ARIZONA DESERT

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – It’s been five long years since Josh Hart headed to the second race of the NHRA season as the Top Fuel point leader which is why the Florida resident and driver of John Force Racing’s Burnyzz Speed Shop / Speedmaster Top Fuel team has savored the time since winning the season-opening Gatornationals in his JFR debut and the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.

Hart and his Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led team made the powerful statement at Gainesville that they have every intention of contending for this year’s championship by grabbing the No. 1 Qualifier spot with the low E.T. (3.658 seconds) and top speed (340.30 mph) of the meet and then defeating defending champion Doug Kalitta in the final round. Kalitta beat Hart off the line by less than one-hundredth of a second but Hart took the victory with a run of 3.733 seconds at 337.83 mph to Kalitta’s 3.877 at 319.60.

This year’s Gatornationals win bookended Hart’s NHRA Top Fuel career debut in 2021 when, as the No. 8 qualifier, he defeated Clay Millican, Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley on his way to cutting a 0.026 light and running 3.826 seconds at 323.66 mph to Shawn Langdon’s 4.244 at 219.08.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings are: Josh Hart, 122; Doug Kalitta, 96; Antron Brown, 76; Maddi Gordon, 74; Leah Pruett, 57; Tony Stewart, 54; Tripp Tatum III, 53; Tony Schumacher, 48; Shawn Langdon, 44; Shawn Reed, 32.

Quotes

What’s the feeling heading into Phoenix with the points lead and a win already under your belt?

“The Burnyzz Speed Shop/Speedmaster team checked a lot of boxes at Gainesville and we’re going to take this momentum into Phoenix. We’re not going to take our foot off the gas; actually, quite the opposite. We’ve set the expectation, we know where we need to improve and now it’s just to make sure that I can live up to everybody else’s expectations.”

From a post-race competition meeting standpoint, was it different for you to be simply the driver providing input as opposed to how you ran it with your own team?

“David Grubnic (crew chief) is very much concerned about my feedback, making sure I’m comfortable, making sure that the car is doing what I think it should do. And he’s also interested in all of my feedback as to how it performed throughout the run. So, I feel like I’m really a part of the team because he takes my input and uses it to some extent to improve the next pass.”

What is the pressure you put yourself under now?

“Now it’s just to make sure that I can live up to everybody else’s expectations. I want to earn the trust and respect of the John Force Racing fans. I want to earn the respect of my peers – be a good driver, stage properly – and I obviously want to earn the trust and respect of our team. We’ve made a couple of really good steps in that direction but I know that’s just the beginning.”

Between races, do you detach from racing or do you stay in the zone all the way through? 
Oh yeah, always, always thinking about it, for sure. But I do have the opportunity now to focus on what I’m doing at home, which should just make my life and lifestyle way more efficient and productive.

“As for the weather forecast for Phoenix, I’m from Florida. I’m used to the heat so we’ll be just fine from the driver’s point of view.”

Stats

Phoenix	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2021 (TF)	NHRA Did Not Compete	N/A	N/A
2022 (TF)	Semi-finals	8th	2-1
2023 (TF)	1st round	12th	2-2
2024 (TF)	1st round	12th	2-3
2025 (TF)	1st round	11th	2-4

Starts: 4

Wins: 0

No. 1 Qualifiers: 0

Event Round Record: 2-4

Track & TV Schedules

Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Event: Goodyear 400Date/Time: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3 p.m. ETLocation: Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South CarolinaLayout: 1.366-Mile OvalTV/Radio: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioWhen it comes to iconic car numbers at Darlington Raceway, few carry the history of the No. 21 Ford fielded by Wood Brothers Racing.The Wood Brothers have recorded eight NASCAR Cup Series victories at the Lady in Black – six with Darlington standout David Pearson and one each with NASCAR Hall of Famers Cale Yarborough and Neil Bonnett. The team’s success at the 1.366-mile oval also includes 12 pole positions, 22 top-five finishes and 34 top-10 results across 106 starts.Now, Josh Berry looks to add to that legacy as he returns to one of his favorite tracks on the schedule.Berry, the driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse, has quickly grown comfortable at Darlington and has shown the ability to contend at the historic South Carolina venue.“The history the Wood Brothers have there is really cool,” Berry said. “Darlington is a place I’ve learned to really enjoy over the years. It’s one of my favorite tracks, and I’m looking forward to getting back there.“It’s going to be interesting with the horsepower and downforce changes, but for us it’s about making the right decisions before we get there so we have what we need to compete. No matter what, it’s always fun racing there. It’s such a challenging place, and the history behind it makes it special.”Adding another Darlington victory to the Wood Brothers’ record is something Berry has circled.“When you think about places you’d like to put the Wood Brothers back in Victory Lane, Darlington is definitely near the top of that list.”Berry’s confidence at Darlington took a step forward during the 2024 season, when he finished fourth in both races while driving the No. 4 Ford.“I had mixed results there early on,” he said. “What really clicked for me was my time in the 4 car – learning from Kevin [Harvick] and Rodney [Childers] and their approach to Darlington. That’s when I felt like I started putting things together there, and the confidence came with it.”He carried that momentum into last fall, qualifying third at the track in the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane entry, and continues to embrace the unique challenges Darlington presents.“It’s just a fun place to race – so many different lines and techniques,” Berry said. “It makes it a lot of fun behind the wheel.”Practice for the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 3:40 p.m. ET, with coverage on Prime Video.Sunday’s Goodyear 400 is set to take the green flag just after 3 p.m. ET on FS1. Stage breaks are scheduled for Lap 90 and Lap 185.

COLUMBUS, MS (March 17, 2026) – For the first time since 2018, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision is set to battle in Mississippi.

Four different tracks in the state have hosted The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet in the past, and Magnolia Motor Speedway becomes number five this weekend with the inaugural Duel at the Mag. Following a practice night on Thursday, March 19, racing kicks off on Friday, March 20, with a 40-lap, $12,000-to-win World of Outlaws program. The weekend wraps up on Saturday, March 21, when $20,000 will be up for grabs after 60 laps around the 3/8-mile.

In addition to the World of Outlaws, the schedule also includes CRUSA Modified Sportsman and Crown Vics on Friday and CRUSA Late Model Sportsman and Factory Stocks on Saturday.

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Here are this week’s top storylines:

BACK ON TOP: There’s a new, yet familiar name on top of the points standings following last weekend’s Tennessee doubleheader.

Two-time and defending World of Outlaws champion Bobby Pierce leads Nick Hoffman by seven markers after a third-place run on Friday at Volunteer Speedway and his second win of the year on Saturday at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Those two nights extended his podium streak to six dating back to the first World of Outlaws race of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

Magnolia could be a good place for Pierce to extend that margin. His 10 appearances at the track have included one win in 2020 and four top fives, although he hasn’t been there since 2020. Meanwhile, his closest challenger in Hoffman has never turned a lap at Magnolia.

QUALIFYING BLUES: Tim McCreadie knows exactly what he needs to improve on to join Pierce and Hoffman as a nightly contender, and that’s Qualifying.

Through 10 races, McCreadie has the worst average Feature starting spot of anyone in the top seven in points and is the only driver in that group who has not yet won a Heat Race this year. Nevertheless, he still finds himself third in points with the third-best average finish in the field behind Pierce and Hoffman.

Even though he’s been starting toward the back too often, he’s still managing to pass plenty of cars come Feature time. He’s gained 65 positions in Features this year, second only to Pierce’s 66 cars passed. If McCreadie can find the early-night speed he needs to make his job easier in the Feature, he’s proven he has the speed to reach the front and stay there.

This weekend will be McCreadie’s first trip to Magnolia with the Briggs Transport team, but he was fast nearly every time he unloaded there in his past ride in the Paylor Motorsports No. 39. He won at Magnolia in 2020 and finished on the podium in six of his last 10 starts.

ALL BUNCHED UP: If “T-Mac” needs any extra reasons to get up on the wheel this weekend, all he has to do is look at the logjam of drivers right behind him in the points chase.

Only 22 points separate Ryan Gustin in fourth from Dustin Sorensen in ninth, with Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman, Daulton Wilson and Ethan Dotson all packed between them. Magnolia promises to bring plenty of shuffling amongst them, as the group includes past winners at the track as well as drivers making their first visit.

Wilson is heading to Magnolia with the most momentum out of any of them, as he was the only one to finish in the top 10 at both Volunteer and Smoky Mountain last weekend. Given those results, his lead in the MD3 Rookie of the Year race is already deep into the triple digits entering his Magnolia debut, with Trey Mills sitting 147 points back in second.

Another driver making his first appearance at “The Mag” this weekend is Dustin Sorensen, who is off to the best start of his career in his third season as a full-time Outlaw. His average finish of 13.3 through the first 10 races is already better than last season’s average of 13.8, and the tour has yet to visit any of his best tracks in the upper Midwest.

MISSISSIPPI MISSILES: The Duel at the Mag may be the first World of Outlaws race in Magnolia’s history, but the track is no stranger to hosting high-level Late Model racing.

In addition to Pierce and McCreadie, three other Series regulars have a Magnolia win on their resume. Two of them have been victorious in one of Mississippi’s premier events, the Cotton Pickin’ 100, which Dotson won in 2024 and Mills won in 2025. Additionally, Tyler Erb collected a Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series win at Magnolia in 2017, one of his first triumphs behind the wheel of a Super Late Model.

Those names are part of a long list of Late Model superstars to reach Victory Lane at Magnolia, including Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell, Jonathan Davenport and more.

SUPERMAN RETURNS: Speaking of Davenport, the driver of the No. 49 has a World of Outlaws race on his agenda for the first time in 2026.

The Blairsville, GA native has scaled back his schedule this season to allow for more time at home and more chances to visit some of his favorite tracks, and Magnolia is certainly one of them. He’s a five-time winner there, including a weekend sweep in his most recent visit in 2021.

Several other national stars have announced their plans to battle the World of Outlaws this weekend, including Hudson O’Neal in the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6, Sam Seawright, Luke Morey, Michael Leach and more.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday-Saturday, March 20-21, at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (1328 points)
2. Nick Hoffman (-7)
3. Tim McCreadie (-52)
4. Ryan Gustin (-91)
5. Tyler Erb (-92)
6. Drake Troutman (-100)
7. Daulton Wilson (-103)
8. Ethan Dotson (-108)
9. Dustin Sorensen (-113)
10. Dennis Erb Jr. (-146)

FEATURE WINNERS (7):
Nick Hoffman – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Tim McCreadie – 1
Chris Madden – 1
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Mike Marlar – 1

FEATURE TOP FIVES (16):
Nick Hoffman – 8
Bobby Pierce – 7
Brandon Sheppard – 4
Tim McCreadie – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 4
Drake Troutman – 4
Chris Madden – 3
Tyler Erb – 3
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Ethan Dotson – 2
Dale McDowell – 2
Ryan Gustin – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1

FEATURE LAPS LED (13):
Nick Hoffman – 136
Chris Madden – 73
Bobby Pierce – 42
Mike Marlar – 39
Hudson O’Neal – 35
Tim McCreadie – 28
Ryan Gustin – 22
Brandon Sheppard – 18
Brandon Overton – 12
Michael Leach – 10
Drake Troutman – 7
Sam Seawright – 5
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 2

BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (8):
Nick Hoffman – 2
Chris Madden – 2
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1

SIMPSON QUICK TIME AWARDS (6):
Chris Madden – 5
Drake Troutman – 1
Tyler Erb – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Cody Overton – 1

HEAT RACE WINS (20):
Chris Madden – 7
Nick Hoffman – 5
Bobby Pierce – 4
Tyler Erb – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 3
Ryan Gustin – 3
Brandon Overton – 3
Brandon Sheppard – 2
Drake Troutman – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Mike Marlar – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1
Donald McIntosh – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Austin Smith – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Blair Nothdurft – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (14):
Josh Rice – 3
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Ethan Dotson – 2
Bobby Pierce – 1
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Carson Ferguson – 1
Luke Morey – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
Jake Timm – 1
Logan Zarin – 1
Cory Hedgecock – 1

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL (Practice)
Thursday, Jan. 22 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Chris Madden (1)
Friday, Jan. 23 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Hudson O’Neal (1)
Saturday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tim McCreadie (1)
Thursday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (1)
Friday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Thursday, Feb. 19 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL (Practice)
Friday, Feb. 20 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Bobby Pierce (1)
Saturday, Feb. 21 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Nick Hoffman (3)
Friday, March 13 / Volunteer Speedway / Bulls Gap, TN / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, March 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (2)
Friday, March 20 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS
Saturday, March 21 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS
Friday, March 27 / East Alabama Motor Speedway / Phenix City, AL
Saturday, March 28 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA
Thursday, April 9 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, April 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL
Saturday, April 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL
Friday, April 24 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Saturday, April 25 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Tuesday, April 28 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA
Thursday, April 30 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Friday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Saturday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Wednesday, May 13 / Georgetown Speedway / Georgetown, DE
Thursday, May 14 / Selinsgrove Speedway / Selinsgrove, PA
Friday, May 15 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Saturday, May 16 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Sunday, May 17 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA
Thursday, May 28 / Wayne County Speedway / Orrville, OH
Friday, May 29 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Saturday, May 30 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Friday, June 12 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Saturday, June 13 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Friday, June 19 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Saturday, June 20 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Monday, June 22 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Wednesday, June 24 / I-94 emr Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sunday, June 28 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Tuesday, June 30 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Thursday, July 2 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Wednesday, July 8 / Stateline Speedway / Busti, NY
Friday, July 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 24 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Thursday, July 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Thursday, Aug. 20 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA (Practice)
Friday, Aug. 21 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 22 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Wednesday, Aug. 26 / Southern Iowa Speedway / Oskaloosa, IA
Friday, Aug, 28 / Adams County Speedway / Corning, IA
Saturday, Aug. 29 / Shelby County Speedway / Harlan, IA
Friday, Sept. 25 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, Sept. 26 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Friday, Oct. 2 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 3 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Friday, Oct. 23 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Saturday, Oct. 24 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Wednesday, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: World of Outlaws Mississippi Bound for Magnolia Debut

COLUMBUS, MS (March 17, 2026) – For the first time since 2018, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision is set to battle in Mississippi.

Four different tracks in the state have hosted The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet in the past, and Magnolia Motor Speedway becomes number five this weekend with the inaugural Duel at the Mag. Following a practice night on Thursday, March 19, racing kicks off on Friday, March 20, with a 40-lap, $12,000-to-win World of Outlaws program. The weekend wraps up on Saturday, March 21, when $20,000 will be up for grabs after 60 laps around the 3/8-mile.

In addition to the World of Outlaws, the schedule also includes CRUSA Modified Sportsman and Crown Vics on Friday and CRUSA Late Model Sportsman and Factory Stocks on Saturday.

GET TICKETS

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVISION

Here are this week’s top storylines:

BACK ON TOP: There’s a new, yet familiar name on top of the points standings following last weekend’s Tennessee doubleheader.

Two-time and defending World of Outlaws champion Bobby Pierce leads Nick Hoffman by seven markers after a third-place run on Friday at Volunteer Speedway and his second win of the year on Saturday at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Those two nights extended his podium streak to six dating back to the first World of Outlaws race of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

Magnolia could be a good place for Pierce to extend that margin. His 10 appearances at the track have included one win in 2020 and four top fives, although he hasn’t been there since 2020. Meanwhile, his closest challenger in Hoffman has never turned a lap at Magnolia.

QUALIFYING BLUES: Tim McCreadie knows exactly what he needs to improve on to join Pierce and Hoffman as a nightly contender, and that’s Qualifying.

Through 10 races, McCreadie has the worst average Feature starting spot of anyone in the top seven in points and is the only driver in that group who has not yet won a Heat Race this year. Nevertheless, he still finds himself third in points with the third-best average finish in the field behind Pierce and Hoffman.

Even though he’s been starting toward the back too often, he’s still managing to pass plenty of cars come Feature time. He’s gained 65 positions in Features this year, second only to Pierce’s 66 cars passed. If McCreadie can find the early-night speed he needs to make his job easier in the Feature, he’s proven he has the speed to reach the front and stay there.

This weekend will be McCreadie’s first trip to Magnolia with the Briggs Transport team, but he was fast nearly every time he unloaded there in his past ride in the Paylor Motorsports No. 39. He won at Magnolia in 2020 and finished on the podium in six of his last 10 starts.

ALL BUNCHED UP: If “T-Mac” needs any extra reasons to get up on the wheel this weekend, all he has to do is look at the logjam of drivers right behind him in the points chase.

Only 22 points separate Ryan Gustin in fourth from Dustin Sorensen in ninth, with Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman, Daulton Wilson and Ethan Dotson all packed between them. Magnolia promises to bring plenty of shuffling amongst them, as the group includes past winners at the track as well as drivers making their first visit.

Wilson is heading to Magnolia with the most momentum out of any of them, as he was the only one to finish in the top 10 at both Volunteer and Smoky Mountain last weekend. Given those results, his lead in the MD3 Rookie of the Year race is already deep into the triple digits entering his Magnolia debut, with Trey Mills sitting 147 points back in second.

Another driver making his first appearance at “The Mag” this weekend is Dustin Sorensen, who is off to the best start of his career in his third season as a full-time Outlaw. His average finish of 13.3 through the first 10 races is already better than last season’s average of 13.8, and the tour has yet to visit any of his best tracks in the upper Midwest.

MISSISSIPPI MISSILES: The Duel at the Mag may be the first World of Outlaws race in Magnolia’s history, but the track is no stranger to hosting high-level Late Model racing.

In addition to Pierce and McCreadie, three other Series regulars have a Magnolia win on their resume. Two of them have been victorious in one of Mississippi’s premier events, the Cotton Pickin’ 100, which Dotson won in 2024 and Mills won in 2025. Additionally, Tyler Erb collected a Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series win at Magnolia in 2017, one of his first triumphs behind the wheel of a Super Late Model.

Those names are part of a long list of Late Model superstars to reach Victory Lane at Magnolia, including Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell, Jonathan Davenport and more.

SUPERMAN RETURNS: Speaking of Davenport, the driver of the No. 49 has a World of Outlaws race on his agenda for the first time in 2026.

The Blairsville, GA native has scaled back his schedule this season to allow for more time at home and more chances to visit some of his favorite tracks, and Magnolia is certainly one of them. He’s a five-time winner there, including a weekend sweep in his most recent visit in 2021.

Several other national stars have announced their plans to battle the World of Outlaws this weekend, including Hudson O’Neal in the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6, Sam Seawright, Luke Morey, Michael Leach and more.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday-Saturday, March 20-21, at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (1328 points)
2. Nick Hoffman (-7)
3. Tim McCreadie (-52)
4. Ryan Gustin (-91)
5. Tyler Erb (-92)
6. Drake Troutman (-100)
7. Daulton Wilson (-103)
8. Ethan Dotson (-108)
9. Dustin Sorensen (-113)
10. Dennis Erb Jr. (-146)

FEATURE WINNERS (7):
Nick Hoffman – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Tim McCreadie – 1
Chris Madden – 1
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Mike Marlar – 1

FEATURE TOP FIVES (16):
Nick Hoffman – 8
Bobby Pierce – 7
Brandon Sheppard – 4
Tim McCreadie – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 4
Drake Troutman – 4
Chris Madden – 3
Tyler Erb – 3
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Ethan Dotson – 2
Dale McDowell – 2
Ryan Gustin – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1

FEATURE LAPS LED (13):
Nick Hoffman – 136
Chris Madden – 73
Bobby Pierce – 42
Mike Marlar – 39
Hudson O’Neal – 35
Tim McCreadie – 28
Ryan Gustin – 22
Brandon Sheppard – 18
Brandon Overton – 12
Michael Leach – 10
Drake Troutman – 7
Sam Seawright – 5
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 2

BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (8):
Nick Hoffman – 2
Chris Madden – 2
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1

SIMPSON QUICK TIME AWARDS (6):
Chris Madden – 5
Drake Troutman – 1
Tyler Erb – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Cody Overton – 1

HEAT RACE WINS (20):
Chris Madden – 7
Nick Hoffman – 5
Bobby Pierce – 4
Tyler Erb – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 3
Ryan Gustin – 3
Brandon Overton – 3
Brandon Sheppard – 2
Drake Troutman – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Mike Marlar – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1
Donald McIntosh – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Austin Smith – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Blair Nothdurft – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (14):
Josh Rice – 3
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Ethan Dotson – 2
Bobby Pierce – 1
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Carson Ferguson – 1
Luke Morey – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
Jake Timm – 1
Logan Zarin – 1
Cory Hedgecock – 1

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL (Practice)
Thursday, Jan. 22 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Chris Madden (1)
Friday, Jan. 23 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Hudson O’Neal (1)
Saturday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tim McCreadie (1)
Thursday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (1)
Friday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Thursday, Feb. 19 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL (Practice)
Friday, Feb. 20 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Bobby Pierce (1)
Saturday, Feb. 21 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Nick Hoffman (3)
Friday, March 13 / Volunteer Speedway / Bulls Gap, TN / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, March 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (2)
Friday, March 20 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS
Saturday, March 21 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS
Friday, March 27 / East Alabama Motor Speedway / Phenix City, AL
Saturday, March 28 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA
Thursday, April 9 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, April 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL
Saturday, April 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL
Friday, April 24 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Saturday, April 25 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Tuesday, April 28 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA
Thursday, April 30 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Friday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Saturday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Wednesday, May 13 / Georgetown Speedway / Georgetown, DE
Thursday, May 14 / Selinsgrove Speedway / Selinsgrove, PA
Friday, May 15 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Saturday, May 16 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Sunday, May 17 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA
Thursday, May 28 / Wayne County Speedway / Orrville, OH
Friday, May 29 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Saturday, May 30 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Friday, June 12 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Saturday, June 13 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Friday, June 19 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Saturday, June 20 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Monday, June 22 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Wednesday, June 24 / I-94 emr Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sunday, June 28 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Tuesday, June 30 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Thursday, July 2 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Wednesday, July 8 / Stateline Speedway / Busti, NY
Friday, July 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 24 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Thursday, July 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Thursday, Aug. 20 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA (Practice)
Friday, Aug. 21 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 22 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Wednesday, Aug. 26 / Southern Iowa Speedway / Oskaloosa, IA
Friday, Aug, 28 / Adams County Speedway / Corning, IA
Saturday, Aug. 29 / Shelby County Speedway / Harlan, IA
Friday, Sept. 25 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, Sept. 26 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Friday, Oct. 2 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 3 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Friday, Oct. 23 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Saturday, Oct. 24 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Wednesday, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/top-five-storylines-world-of-outlaws-mississippi-bound-for-magnolia-debut/

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (March 17, 2026) – Dominic Scelzi is planning to kick off the 2026 racing season this weekend at Watsonville Speedway.

Assuming he is cleared this week by his doctor following an off-season surgery, Scelzi will invade the bullring in Watsonville, Calif. – formerly known as Ocean Speedway – on Friday. It was the site of his first career sprint car win in 2012 and he’s been to Victory Lane at the dirt oval eight times, including trips in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

“I’m eager to get the season started and I’m excited to head to Watsonville,” he said. “Things definitely look different this year. My plans are to race when we can, how we can, where we can. I am focused on getting back to Victory Lane as often as possible and on building on how we ran at the end of last year.”

Scelzi is aiming to compete in approximately 50 races along the West Coast, including the events with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing. Some of the marquee events he’ll tackle include the Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup, the Skagit Nationals and the Fred Brownfield 360 Nationals at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash.; the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif.; the Dennis Roth Classic at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif.; and the Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.

“We’re focusing on quality over quantity,” he said. “We want to do the best we can when we show up. We’ll go to each race with the intention of being as fast as we can and growing our program. I’m optimistic about this season.”

Scelzi enters the season riding an 11-year winning streak, including multiple triumphs during each of the last nine seasons.

UP NEXT –

Dominic Scelzi Set to Start Season Friday at Watsonville Speedway 

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (March 17, 2026) – Dominic Scelzi is planning to kick off the 2026 racing season this weekend at Watsonville Speedway.

Assuming he is cleared this week by his doctor following an off-season surgery, Scelzi will invade the bullring in Watsonville, Calif. – formerly known as Ocean Speedway – on Friday. It was the site of his first career sprint car win in 2012 and he’s been to Victory Lane at the dirt oval eight times, including trips in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

“I’m eager to get the season started and I’m excited to head to Watsonville,” he said. “Things definitely look different this year. My plans are to race when we can, how we can, where we can. I am focused on getting back to Victory Lane as often as possible and on building on how we ran at the end of last year.”

Scelzi is aiming to compete in approximately 50 races along the West Coast, including the events with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing. Some of the marquee events he’ll tackle include the Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup, the Skagit Nationals and the Fred Brownfield 360 Nationals at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash.; the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif.; the Dennis Roth Classic at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif.; and the Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.

“We’re focusing on quality over quantity,” he said. “We want to do the best we can when we show up. We’ll go to each race with the intention of being as fast as we can and growing our program. I’m optimistic about this season.”

Scelzi enters the season riding an 11-year winning streak, including multiple triumphs during each of the last nine seasons.

UP NEXT –

Friday at Watsonville Speedway in Watsonville, Calif.

LAWTON, OK (March 17, 2026) – The rich tradition of Sprint Car racing in Oklahoma will continue to grow this week.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is aimed at the “Sooner State” for a full weekend of action.

First up, the tour makes a trip to Lawton Speedway on Friday, March 20. The southern Oklahoma oval was the 19th track to ever host The Greatest Show on Dirt during its inaugural season in 1978. Since then, the Series has made 10 more Lawton stops. Friday will make it a dozen total.

After Lawton, it’s Tulsa time – sort of. Just to the southwest of the city that’s home to the Chili Bowl Nationals is Sapulpa, OK’s Creek County Speedway. The World of Outlaws has never visited “Creekadega,” but that’s set to change on Saturday, March 21, when Creek County becomes the ninth Oklahoma track to host the country’s best Sprint Car drivers.

BUY LAWTON TICKETS HERE
BUY CREEK COUNTY TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top stories to watch in Oklahoma:

2 BACK ON TOP

It didn’t take long for David Gravel to regain control of the top spot in the standings.

After Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew equaled Gravel heading into Kennedale, the Big Game Motorsports team promptly responded by winning their first race of the year. That pushed them six points clear at the top as they chase a third consecutive championship. Gravel has finished on the podium in five of the last six races this year.

The Watertown, CT native’s experience at the Oklahoma tracks ahead is limited. He’s been to Lawton on three occasions and come home in the top five each time, peaking at third in 2020 during his Jason Johnson Racing days. Like several of the current full-time drivers, Gravel will make his Creek County debut on Saturday.

LOVING LAWTON

A couple of the current competitors on the World of Outlaws tour have found their way to Victory Lane at Lawton and will aim for a return trip on Friday.

Carson Macedo topped the 2021 trip to Lawton aboard the JJR No. 41. The Lemoore, CA native followed that with a runner-up a year ago. He’s off to a stout start in 2026 with a 3.57 average finish through seven races and trails Gravel by just six markers in the early title chase.

Last year’s visit belonged to Michael “Buddy” Kofoid as he got his first look at Lawton. That gave Roth Motorsports wins in two of the last three Lawton races as Daryn Pittman took the No. 83 to Victory Lane at his home state track in 2020. Kofoid is in major need of a rebound this weekend after a crash while leading Kennedale on Friday dropped the championship contender to sixth in points.

A CRACK AT CREEKADEGA

Saturday might be the World of Outlaws debut at Creek County, but a handful of the current band of travelers had their paths lead them to “Creekadega” in the past.

Scott Bogucki’s days of touring with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) brought him to Creek County on four occasions. The highlight of those was a fourth-place effort in 2018. The Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies contender will return for the first time in seven years.

Garet Williamson’s experience is similar with ASCS bringing him to Creek County multiple times. He raced there once apiece in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and will head back aboard the Fischer Motorsports No. 23.

Ashton Torgerson’s time in Micro Sprints allowed him to rack up Creek County laps. The Glendale, AZ native was a 2022 runner-up there in Winged A-class. He also drove a Keith Kunz Motorsports Midget at the 1/4 mile two years ago, finishing fourth. Torgerson currently leads the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies chase.

Emerson Axsom made a pair of POWRi Midget appearances in 2020. The result was two top 10s highlighted by a fifth. Axsom is fresh off his best finish of the season in the Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27, eighth at Kennedale.

You’ve got to go back a bit, but Chris Windom circled Creek County a couple times. The Sides Motorsports pilot raced a Non-wing Sprint Car there in 2007 and 2008. His top effort was fifth in his debut.

RIGHTING THE SHIP

Hopes were high for Bill Balog entering his third season with The Greatest Show on Dirt, but it didn’t quite start the way he would’ve liked.

The “North Pole Nightmare” struggled through the opening five nights at Volusia, only managing a best finish of 12th. But since the schedule shifted to some short tracks, Balog is starting to resemble what we saw last year. The No. 17B made the Toyota Dash and came home sixth at Talladega. Balog backed that up by nearly winning at Kennedale, coming up just a corner short as David Gravel forced him to settle for second. On the bright side, it marked his first podium of 2026.

Balog will carry the momentum into Oklahoma this weekend. His Lawton debut a year ago led to a front row starting spot and seventh-place result. He’ll make his first laps at Creek County on Saturday.

ASCS INVASION

Oklahoma is the heart of ASCS country, so many of the nation’s top 360 drivers are planning to add 50 cubic inches between the frame rails and battle the best of the best in familiar territory.

Six-time and defending ASCS champion leads the charge. The Sunnyvale, TX native owns four Lawton checkered flags. His win tally at Creek County reaches double digits as he’s won there with ASCS both nationally and regionally and even picked up a 410 score with POWRi.

Glenpool, OK’s Matt Covington will proudly represent both ASCS and the home state. He’s got plenty of experience at both tracks, including a pair of Lawton victories and one at Creek County to go along with 10 more podiums.

Seth Bergman is originally from the state of Washington, but he’s a “Sooner” these days. The 2024 ASCS titlist has been close to victory at Lawton, including a 2012 runner-up. He’s bagged a dozen ASCS Sooner Region trophies at Creek County.

Blake Hahn may not be currently on tour with ASCS, but he’s a two-time champion and 25-time Feature winner of the Series. Saturday’s race is especially meaningful to Hahn as Creek County is the Sapulpa, OK native’s home track. His résumé shows countless laps at the bullring and victories in Winged Sprint Cars, Non-Wing Sprint Cars, and Midgets.

Both tracks are expected to attract nearly 40 entrants with plenty more Midwestern talent with ASCS ties planning to compete, including the likes of Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), Ryder Laplante (Calera, OK), Austyn Gossel (Fort Collins, CO), Landon Crawley (Benton, AR), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, March 20 at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK
Saturday, March 21 at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK

AROUND THE TURN
Friday, March 27 at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, MO (TICKETS)
Saturday, March 28 at 81 Speedway in Park City, KS (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (7/85 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (950 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-6 PTS)
3. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-42 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-56 PTS)
5. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-66 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-70 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-90 PTS)
8. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-100 PTS)
9. Bill Balog – B2 Motorsports (-100 PTS)
10. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-104 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (6 Drivers):
2 Wins – Anthony Macri
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, David Gravel

FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
31 Laps Led – Bill Balog
27 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
25 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
10 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
6 Laps Led – Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
2 Laps Led – David Gravel
1 Lap Led – Christopher ThramPODIUM FINISHES (9 Drivers):
5 Podiums – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Podium – Spencer Bayston, Ashton Torgerson, Donny Schatz, Bill Balog

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (5 Drivers):
2 Quick Times – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Quick Time – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek

HEAT RACE WINNERS (12 Drivers):
5 Heat Wins – David Gravel
3 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Ashton Torgerson, Michael Kofoid
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (25 Drivers):
6 Dashes – David Gravel
5 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
3 Dashes – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson
2 Dashes – Brent Marks, Tanner Holmes, Bill Balog
1 Dash – Brian Brown, Chase Dietz, Kasey Jedrzejek, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kerry Madsen, Donny Schatz, Bryce Lucius, Spencer Bayston, Christopher Thram, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Thiel

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
1 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Cameron Martin, Chris Windom

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (5 Drivers):
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Donny Schatz
1 Hard Charger – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (6 Drivers):
2 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
1 Fastest Lap – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, Bill Balog

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (5 Drivers):
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
1 Hottest Lap – David Gravel, Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Buddy Kofoid

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)
Sat, March 14 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX (Postponed)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Fri, April 17 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL
Sat, April 18 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, May 1 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Sat, May 2 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sun, May 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sun, May 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Fri, June 5 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, June 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Tues, July 21 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sat, Aug 29 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND
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
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 / TBA
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: Lawton Return, Creek County Debut Set Stage for Oklahoma Weekend

LAWTON, OK (March 17, 2026) – The rich tradition of Sprint Car racing in Oklahoma will continue to grow this week.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is aimed at the “Sooner State” for a full weekend of action.

First up, the tour makes a trip to Lawton Speedway on Friday, March 20. The southern Oklahoma oval was the 19th track to ever host The Greatest Show on Dirt during its inaugural season in 1978. Since then, the Series has made 10 more Lawton stops. Friday will make it a dozen total.

After Lawton, it’s Tulsa time – sort of. Just to the southwest of the city that’s home to the Chili Bowl Nationals is Sapulpa, OK’s Creek County Speedway. The World of Outlaws has never visited “Creekadega,” but that’s set to change on Saturday, March 21, when Creek County becomes the ninth Oklahoma track to host the country’s best Sprint Car drivers.

BUY LAWTON TICKETS HERE
BUY CREEK COUNTY TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top stories to watch in Oklahoma:

2 BACK ON TOP

It didn’t take long for David Gravel to regain control of the top spot in the standings.

After Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew equaled Gravel heading into Kennedale, the Big Game Motorsports team promptly responded by winning their first race of the year. That pushed them six points clear at the top as they chase a third consecutive championship. Gravel has finished on the podium in five of the last six races this year.

The Watertown, CT native’s experience at the Oklahoma tracks ahead is limited. He’s been to Lawton on three occasions and come home in the top five each time, peaking at third in 2020 during his Jason Johnson Racing days. Like several of the current full-time drivers, Gravel will make his Creek County debut on Saturday.

LOVING LAWTON

A couple of the current competitors on the World of Outlaws tour have found their way to Victory Lane at Lawton and will aim for a return trip on Friday.

Carson Macedo topped the 2021 trip to Lawton aboard the JJR No. 41. The Lemoore, CA native followed that with a runner-up a year ago. He’s off to a stout start in 2026 with a 3.57 average finish through seven races and trails Gravel by just six markers in the early title chase.

Last year’s visit belonged to Michael “Buddy” Kofoid as he got his first look at Lawton. That gave Roth Motorsports wins in two of the last three Lawton races as Daryn Pittman took the No. 83 to Victory Lane at his home state track in 2020. Kofoid is in major need of a rebound this weekend after a crash while leading Kennedale on Friday dropped the championship contender to sixth in points.

A CRACK AT CREEKADEGA

Saturday might be the World of Outlaws debut at Creek County, but a handful of the current band of travelers had their paths lead them to “Creekadega” in the past.

Scott Bogucki’s days of touring with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) brought him to Creek County on four occasions. The highlight of those was a fourth-place effort in 2018. The Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies contender will return for the first time in seven years.

Garet Williamson’s experience is similar with ASCS bringing him to Creek County multiple times. He raced there once apiece in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and will head back aboard the Fischer Motorsports No. 23.

Ashton Torgerson’s time in Micro Sprints allowed him to rack up Creek County laps. The Glendale, AZ native was a 2022 runner-up there in Winged A-class. He also drove a Keith Kunz Motorsports Midget at the 1/4 mile two years ago, finishing fourth. Torgerson currently leads the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies chase.

Emerson Axsom made a pair of POWRi Midget appearances in 2020. The result was two top 10s highlighted by a fifth. Axsom is fresh off his best finish of the season in the Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27, eighth at Kennedale.

You’ve got to go back a bit, but Chris Windom circled Creek County a couple times. The Sides Motorsports pilot raced a Non-wing Sprint Car there in 2007 and 2008. His top effort was fifth in his debut.

RIGHTING THE SHIP

Hopes were high for Bill Balog entering his third season with The Greatest Show on Dirt, but it didn’t quite start the way he would’ve liked.

The “North Pole Nightmare” struggled through the opening five nights at Volusia, only managing a best finish of 12th. But since the schedule shifted to some short tracks, Balog is starting to resemble what we saw last year. The No. 17B made the Toyota Dash and came home sixth at Talladega. Balog backed that up by nearly winning at Kennedale, coming up just a corner short as David Gravel forced him to settle for second. On the bright side, it marked his first podium of 2026.

Balog will carry the momentum into Oklahoma this weekend. His Lawton debut a year ago led to a front row starting spot and seventh-place result. He’ll make his first laps at Creek County on Saturday.

ASCS INVASION

Oklahoma is the heart of ASCS country, so many of the nation’s top 360 drivers are planning to add 50 cubic inches between the frame rails and battle the best of the best in familiar territory.

Six-time and defending ASCS champion leads the charge. The Sunnyvale, TX native owns four Lawton checkered flags. His win tally at Creek County reaches double digits as he’s won there with ASCS both nationally and regionally and even picked up a 410 score with POWRi.

Glenpool, OK’s Matt Covington will proudly represent both ASCS and the home state. He’s got plenty of experience at both tracks, including a pair of Lawton victories and one at Creek County to go along with 10 more podiums.

Seth Bergman is originally from the state of Washington, but he’s a “Sooner” these days. The 2024 ASCS titlist has been close to victory at Lawton, including a 2012 runner-up. He’s bagged a dozen ASCS Sooner Region trophies at Creek County.

Blake Hahn may not be currently on tour with ASCS, but he’s a two-time champion and 25-time Feature winner of the Series. Saturday’s race is especially meaningful to Hahn as Creek County is the Sapulpa, OK native’s home track. His résumé shows countless laps at the bullring and victories in Winged Sprint Cars, Non-Wing Sprint Cars, and Midgets.

Both tracks are expected to attract nearly 40 entrants with plenty more Midwestern talent with ASCS ties planning to compete, including the likes of Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), Ryder Laplante (Calera, OK), Austyn Gossel (Fort Collins, CO), Landon Crawley (Benton, AR), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, March 20 at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK
Saturday, March 21 at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK

AROUND THE TURN
Friday, March 27 at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, MO (TICKETS)
Saturday, March 28 at 81 Speedway in Park City, KS (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (7/85 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (950 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-6 PTS)
3. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-42 PTS)
4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-56 PTS)
5. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-66 PTS)
6. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-70 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-90 PTS)
8. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-100 PTS)
9. Bill Balog – B2 Motorsports (-100 PTS)
10. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-104 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (6 Drivers):
2 Wins – Anthony Macri
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, David Gravel

FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
31 Laps Led – Bill Balog
27 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
25 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
10 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
6 Laps Led – Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
2 Laps Led – David Gravel
1 Lap Led – Christopher ThramPODIUM FINISHES (9 Drivers):
5 Podiums – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Podium – Spencer Bayston, Ashton Torgerson, Donny Schatz, Bill Balog

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (5 Drivers):
2 Quick Times – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Quick Time – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek

HEAT RACE WINNERS (12 Drivers):
5 Heat Wins – David Gravel
3 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Ashton Torgerson, Michael Kofoid
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (25 Drivers):
6 Dashes – David Gravel
5 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
3 Dashes – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson
2 Dashes – Brent Marks, Tanner Holmes, Bill Balog
1 Dash – Brian Brown, Chase Dietz, Kasey Jedrzejek, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kerry Madsen, Donny Schatz, Bryce Lucius, Spencer Bayston, Christopher Thram, Emerson Axsom, Scotty Thiel

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
1 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Cameron Martin, Chris Windom

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (5 Drivers):
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Donny Schatz
1 Hard Charger – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (6 Drivers):
2 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
1 Fastest Lap – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, Bill Balog

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (5 Drivers):
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
1 Hottest Lap – David Gravel, Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Buddy Kofoid

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)
Sat, March 14 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX (Postponed)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Fri, April 17 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL
Sat, April 18 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, May 1 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Sat, May 2 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sun, May 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sun, May 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Fri, June 5 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, June 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Tues, July 21 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sat, Aug 29 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND
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
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 / TBA
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-lawton-return-creek-county-debut-set-stage-for-oklahoma-weekend/

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 17, 2026) – In just two days of action, the DAYTONA double opener to the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, created a fascinating dynamic for this year’s Grand National Championship fight as it arrives at Senoia Raceway for the Yamaha Senoia Short Track in Senoia, Georgia on Saturday, March 21. Three for Three?The collective motorcycle dirt track world was already well aware that Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) was the real deal long before he first turned a wheel in anger in Mission AFT SuperTwins competition. But now we understand just how real. While rookie wins are a rare commodity, the respect for Kopp’s talent and work ethic were such that victories were widely expected from him at some point this season. Few, however, could have expected the first to come so quickly. How could they? No flat tracker in the seven-decade-plus history of the Grand National Champion had ever won in their first attempt. King Kenny Roberts – who Kopp studied under last season – along with Ricky Winsett in a true upset – had come the closest, winning in their second go. And Kopp didn’t just do the previously undoable. He went two for two. That’s truly historic stuff. The Latus Motors Racing team deserves a great deal of credit in the achievement, placing Kopp on a proven race-winning machine in the Harley-Davidson XG750R and teaming him with a proven championship-winning crew in Dave Zanotti and Michelle Disalvo. If there was any combination that could have come out swinging the way Kopp did as a rookie, this was it. The question is no longer whether or not they’ll win races, but if they can make a genuine run at the championship. As convincing as his opening salvo was, that’s still a mighty tall order. Kopp acknowledged that the gray clay of Senoia Raceway will present a very different challenge than the welcoming confines of the DAYTONA Flat Track where he’s now won in seven of his last eight attempts across two classes. The Washington native admitted he hasn’t registered many testing laps on clay aboard the twin, and, as a result, this weekend should provide a truer test to his staying power. When he first raced at Senoia Raceway in ‘23, Kopp struggled by his standards (fifth place qualifies as a struggle when you finish on the podium at a greater than 60% clip). However, he came back and won at the venue with relative ease the following season. It’s not just the surface he’ll be dealing with, however. Expectations that were already sky high have reached escape velocity. He’ll come into Round 3 with a target on his back – one placed there by the fastest and most competitive dirt track racers on the planet. Yamaha’s Best Defense is a Good OffenseDallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) is almost certainly less than fully satisfied with a winless DAYTONA opener after having dominated the track in recent seasons, but he’s probably less than heartbroken about the prospect of sharing the target that had been his alone. But even when the spotlight shines elsewhere, Daniels is there collecting points all the while, hauling in runners-up points. And he’ll be hugely motivated to come through in a big way on Yamaha’s home turf this weekend. Yamaha Motor Corporation has enjoyed tremendous success in locally hosted Progressive AFT events since relocating its USA headquarters from California to the greater Atlanta area back in late 2018, having cleaned up at both Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia, and the Yamaha Super TT at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, Yamaha has yet to claim a victory in any class at Senoia Raceway, which is difficult to fathom considering its latter-day championship-winning ways in both Mission AFT SuperTwins and KICKER AFT Singles. Daniels has come close on every previous occasion. He battled for top honors with the legendary Jared Mees in‘23 and ‘24. And last year, he had a front row seat to history (more on that in a bit), crossing the line less than three tenths of a second off the win despite finishing third. Perhaps the arrival of Kopp will provide that final bit of motivation needed to push him over the top. He won’t be alone in defending Yamaha at its home race, with several other capable riders aboard MT-07s, including Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07), and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07). What’s Better than a 1-2?While Kopp admitted to a small measure of doubt regarding his ability to add to his unprecedented undefeated premier-class record when the series arrives at Senoia Raceway, his mount has already demonstrated that it’s up to that task. Last season, the Harley-Davidson XG750R broke through in spectacular fashion in Georgia. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) controlled much of the race before getting overtaken late by the similarly armed Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R), and the two carried on to give the bike its first-ever premier-class win with an emphatic 1-2. Bauman and Robinson will be out to bounce back with similar performances following openers that – while far from great – probably deserve to get logged in the ‘coulda been worse’ category. Bauman was slammed up into the wall and sent sprawling across the dirt moments after the season’s first Main got underway. Robinson, meanwhile, crashed in qualifying, suffered a bike failure in his heat, started from the back of the LCQ, and then had to avoid Bauman who was, again, sent sprawling across the dirt moments after the season’s first Main got underway. As a result, Robinson and Bauman currently stand 5th and 7th, in the points. They didn’t expect to be there, and they certainly don’t expect to stay there. This weekend should provide a good opportunity to perform a bit of hierarchical rehabilitation. What’s possible in 2026? Last year’s 1-2 was a notable highlight for Harley-Davidson in a season that didn’t lack for them. Kopp’s arrival means a 1-2-3 podium sweep isn’t out of the question. And should any of the three falter, there’s still some hope for that elusive podium lockout. Don’t sleep on rookie Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R). Not only was he Friday’s fast qualifier and Main Event 1 third-place finisher at the DAYTONA Flat Track, he’s also something of a Senoia standout. Some of RoosEvans’ best Progressive AFT moments have come at the venue, including back-to-back fourth place runs in 450cc action in 2024 and 2025. On FireThe DAYTONA woes of Bauman and Robinson pale in comparison to those suffered by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet). Lowe consistently ranked as among the very fastest riders at the opener – a promising sign for a program hoping to take that next step forward in 2026. But while the potential was there for a double podium, Thursday went from sure-fire top three to just fire (literally). And even though Friday ended with a strong fourth-placed salvage job, it came at the cost of his provisional start. Ultimately, however, Lowe’s overall performance in the opener indicated that the team continues to be on the right track, backing up last year’s encouraging finish with a strong offseason. KTM/Kawasaki/Royal Enfield/Aprilia/Suzuki Eight manufacturers were in the mix in DAYTONA and each one of them had their moments to shine.Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) looked like a potential race winner on Friday, and he worked wonders to keep Daniels trapped behind him on two of three occasions. Unfortunately for Fisher, Daniels made his way through on the last lap of the last race, which allowed the Yamaha runner to edge ahead 103-102 in the final tally. As a result, Fisher’s podium came in the form of a third as opposed to a second. Still, not a bad way to get things rolling in 2026. And we should not forget, he was right there with Bauman, Robinson, and Daniels in Senoia a year ago, finishing in fourth only 0.865 seconds behind the win. Meanwhile, Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650) gave Kawasaki its first Mission AFT SuperTwins podium since he pulled off an identical magic trick at DAYTONA a year ago. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660) guided the all-new and unique-looking Aprilia Tuareg 660 to a top-ten finish in its first real shakedown race. Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) flashed in his premier-class debut on the Royal Enfield by clocking Thursday’s third fastest lap in qualifying. He’ll also carry high hopes into Senoia – the scene of his maiden Progressive AFT podium a year ago. And Suzuki has expanded its premier-class presence. Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Lisa Niner Racing Suzuki GSX-8S) repeatedly demonstrated the GSX-8S’s potential in 2025, and now he’s joined by Billy Ross (No. 29 Digitrace/Mission Foods/John Franklin Suzuki GSX-8S), who is already calling it his personal favorite SuperTwin racebike to date. Time to ShineBeyond the incredible racing, fans will have an abundance of entertainment options available to them at Senoia Raceway. Included among them will be a meet and greet with even Grand Marshals Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes of Moonshiners fame, the Kids Zone, along with a wide variety of food and beverage options to choose from. Your Seat Awaits (and So Does Your Promo Code)General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $50 (students $30 with a valid ID and kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $60 (all ages). Even better, if you use the Promo Code RESERVED25 you can get one Limited Reserved Grandstand ticket for a mere $25. H.O.G. Members can purchase a special ticket package that includes dedicated Reserved Grandstand Seating and dedicated parking for H.O.G. Guests for $100. There’s also a Military/First Responder Discount available, allowing GOVX fans to purchase tickets at reduced rates. The Practice Viewing and Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experiences offer General Admission seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops. The Practice Viewing Fan Experience is available for $110, while the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Experience, which also includes up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies, can be purchased for $135 per day. Trackside Parking ($150) and Multi-Day Camping Passes ($75) are also available to purchase.Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280 to reserve your seats today. Gates will open for fans at 3:15 p.m. ET/12:15 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10 p.m. PT. How to Watch FloRacingFor those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1FOX Sports coverage of the Yamaha Senoia Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, March 29, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

Daniels to Defend Yamaha’s Home Turf Against Bauman, Kopp and Co. at Senoia Short Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 17, 2026) – In just two days of action, the DAYTONA double opener to the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, created a fascinating dynamic for this year’s Grand National Championship fight as it arrives at Senoia Raceway for the Yamaha Senoia Short Track in Senoia, Georgia on Saturday, March 21. Three for Three?The collective motorcycle dirt track world was already well aware that Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) was the real deal long before he first turned a wheel in anger in Mission AFT SuperTwins competition. But now we understand just how real. While rookie wins are a rare commodity, the respect for Kopp’s talent and work ethic were such that victories were widely expected from him at some point this season. Few, however, could have expected the first to come so quickly. How could they? No flat tracker in the seven-decade-plus history of the Grand National Champion had ever won in their first attempt. King Kenny Roberts – who Kopp studied under last season – along with Ricky Winsett in a true upset – had come the closest, winning in their second go. And Kopp didn’t just do the previously undoable. He went two for two. That’s truly historic stuff. The Latus Motors Racing team deserves a great deal of credit in the achievement, placing Kopp on a proven race-winning machine in the Harley-Davidson XG750R and teaming him with a proven championship-winning crew in Dave Zanotti and Michelle Disalvo. If there was any combination that could have come out swinging the way Kopp did as a rookie, this was it. The question is no longer whether or not they’ll win races, but if they can make a genuine run at the championship. As convincing as his opening salvo was, that’s still a mighty tall order. Kopp acknowledged that the gray clay of Senoia Raceway will present a very different challenge than the welcoming confines of the DAYTONA Flat Track where he’s now won in seven of his last eight attempts across two classes. The Washington native admitted he hasn’t registered many testing laps on clay aboard the twin, and, as a result, this weekend should provide a truer test to his staying power. When he first raced at Senoia Raceway in ‘23, Kopp struggled by his standards (fifth place qualifies as a struggle when you finish on the podium at a greater than 60% clip). However, he came back and won at the venue with relative ease the following season. It’s not just the surface he’ll be dealing with, however. Expectations that were already sky high have reached escape velocity. He’ll come into Round 3 with a target on his back – one placed there by the fastest and most competitive dirt track racers on the planet. Yamaha’s Best Defense is a Good OffenseDallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) is almost certainly less than fully satisfied with a winless DAYTONA opener after having dominated the track in recent seasons, but he’s probably less than heartbroken about the prospect of sharing the target that had been his alone. But even when the spotlight shines elsewhere, Daniels is there collecting points all the while, hauling in runners-up points. And he’ll be hugely motivated to come through in a big way on Yamaha’s home turf this weekend. Yamaha Motor Corporation has enjoyed tremendous success in locally hosted Progressive AFT events since relocating its USA headquarters from California to the greater Atlanta area back in late 2018, having cleaned up at both Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia, and the Yamaha Super TT at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, Yamaha has yet to claim a victory in any class at Senoia Raceway, which is difficult to fathom considering its latter-day championship-winning ways in both Mission AFT SuperTwins and KICKER AFT Singles. Daniels has come close on every previous occasion. He battled for top honors with the legendary Jared Mees in‘23 and ‘24. And last year, he had a front row seat to history (more on that in a bit), crossing the line less than three tenths of a second off the win despite finishing third. Perhaps the arrival of Kopp will provide that final bit of motivation needed to push him over the top. He won’t be alone in defending Yamaha at its home race, with several other capable riders aboard MT-07s, including Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07), and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07). What’s Better than a 1-2?While Kopp admitted to a small measure of doubt regarding his ability to add to his unprecedented undefeated premier-class record when the series arrives at Senoia Raceway, his mount has already demonstrated that it’s up to that task. Last season, the Harley-Davidson XG750R broke through in spectacular fashion in Georgia. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) controlled much of the race before getting overtaken late by the similarly armed Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R), and the two carried on to give the bike its first-ever premier-class win with an emphatic 1-2. Bauman and Robinson will be out to bounce back with similar performances following openers that – while far from great – probably deserve to get logged in the ‘coulda been worse’ category. Bauman was slammed up into the wall and sent sprawling across the dirt moments after the season’s first Main got underway. Robinson, meanwhile, crashed in qualifying, suffered a bike failure in his heat, started from the back of the LCQ, and then had to avoid Bauman who was, again, sent sprawling across the dirt moments after the season’s first Main got underway. As a result, Robinson and Bauman currently stand 5th and 7th, in the points. They didn’t expect to be there, and they certainly don’t expect to stay there. This weekend should provide a good opportunity to perform a bit of hierarchical rehabilitation. What’s possible in 2026? Last year’s 1-2 was a notable highlight for Harley-Davidson in a season that didn’t lack for them. Kopp’s arrival means a 1-2-3 podium sweep isn’t out of the question. And should any of the three falter, there’s still some hope for that elusive podium lockout. Don’t sleep on rookie Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R). Not only was he Friday’s fast qualifier and Main Event 1 third-place finisher at the DAYTONA Flat Track, he’s also something of a Senoia standout. Some of RoosEvans’ best Progressive AFT moments have come at the venue, including back-to-back fourth place runs in 450cc action in 2024 and 2025. On FireThe DAYTONA woes of Bauman and Robinson pale in comparison to those suffered by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet). Lowe consistently ranked as among the very fastest riders at the opener – a promising sign for a program hoping to take that next step forward in 2026. But while the potential was there for a double podium, Thursday went from sure-fire top three to just fire (literally). And even though Friday ended with a strong fourth-placed salvage job, it came at the cost of his provisional start. Ultimately, however, Lowe’s overall performance in the opener indicated that the team continues to be on the right track, backing up last year’s encouraging finish with a strong offseason. KTM/Kawasaki/Royal Enfield/Aprilia/Suzuki Eight manufacturers were in the mix in DAYTONA and each one of them had their moments to shine.Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) looked like a potential race winner on Friday, and he worked wonders to keep Daniels trapped behind him on two of three occasions. Unfortunately for Fisher, Daniels made his way through on the last lap of the last race, which allowed the Yamaha runner to edge ahead 103-102 in the final tally. As a result, Fisher’s podium came in the form of a third as opposed to a second. Still, not a bad way to get things rolling in 2026. And we should not forget, he was right there with Bauman, Robinson, and Daniels in Senoia a year ago, finishing in fourth only 0.865 seconds behind the win. Meanwhile, Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650) gave Kawasaki its first Mission AFT SuperTwins podium since he pulled off an identical magic trick at DAYTONA a year ago. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660) guided the all-new and unique-looking Aprilia Tuareg 660 to a top-ten finish in its first real shakedown race. Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) flashed in his premier-class debut on the Royal Enfield by clocking Thursday’s third fastest lap in qualifying. He’ll also carry high hopes into Senoia – the scene of his maiden Progressive AFT podium a year ago. And Suzuki has expanded its premier-class presence. Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Lisa Niner Racing Suzuki GSX-8S) repeatedly demonstrated the GSX-8S’s potential in 2025, and now he’s joined by Billy Ross (No. 29 Digitrace/Mission Foods/John Franklin Suzuki GSX-8S), who is already calling it his personal favorite SuperTwin racebike to date. Time to ShineBeyond the incredible racing, fans will have an abundance of entertainment options available to them at Senoia Raceway. Included among them will be a meet and greet with even Grand Marshals Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes of Moonshiners fame, the Kids Zone, along with a wide variety of food and beverage options to choose from. Your Seat Awaits (and So Does Your Promo Code)General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $50 (students $30 with a valid ID and kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $60 (all ages). Even better, if you use the Promo Code RESERVED25 you can get one Limited Reserved Grandstand ticket for a mere $25. H.O.G. Members can purchase a special ticket package that includes dedicated Reserved Grandstand Seating and dedicated parking for H.O.G. Guests for $100. There’s also a Military/First Responder Discount available, allowing GOVX fans to purchase tickets at reduced rates. The Practice Viewing and Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experiences offer General Admission seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops. The Practice Viewing Fan Experience is available for $110, while the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Experience, which also includes up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies, can be purchased for $135 per day. Trackside Parking ($150) and Multi-Day Camping Passes ($75) are also available to purchase.Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280 to reserve your seats today. Gates will open for fans at 3:15 p.m. ET/12:15 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10 p.m. PT. How to Watch FloRacingFor those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1FOX Sports coverage of the Yamaha Senoia Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, March 29, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

DALLAS (March 17, 2026) — NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Buddy Hull has announced he will not compete at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, March 20-22, at Firebird Motorsports Park, as his team continues to recover and rebuild following their on-track incident two weeks ago in Gainesville.
 
After an explosive mechanical failure during the event, Hull and his team immediately disassembled the Funny Car to assess the damage and determine next steps. While the team has since secured a replacement body, the time required to properly mount and prepare it for competition will prevent them from making the trip to Phoenix.
 
“Obviously, this isn’t the news we wanted to share this week,” said Hull. “Anytime you have to sit out a race, it’s tough, especially this early in the season. But at the end of the day, making sure everything is right with the car and that our team is safe is what matters most. We’re not going to rush that process. Matt Bynum and the guys are working hard to make sure we return better than ever.”
 
The team has elaborated on the preparation heading into the Gatornationals. They had the Funny Car fully assembled in November of last season, displayed the Funny Car as part of their FS Performance sponsorship and began finalizing preparations well before the departure for Gainesville.
 
Hull also provided an update on his condition following the incident. He suffered minor burns to his back and legs but credited his safety equipment for preventing more serious injuries.
 
“My right hand is healing really well, and I’ve been staying in close contact with the NHRA medical team,” said Hull. “I had some minor burns from the fire, but honestly, my Impact firesuit did its job. It could have been a lot worse, so I’m grateful for that.”
 
Looking ahead, Hull and his team are already evaluating options for the upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, including the possibility of competing in Top Fuel. With current Top Fuel entry numbers sitting below a full field, Hull noted his desire to support the category while also fulfilling sponsor commitments.
 
“We’re looking at every option for Pomona right now, including maybe running my Top Fuel dragster,” said Hull. “We’ve got great partners who count on us, and I also want to do my part to help make sure fans are getting full, competitive fields at these events. We’ll make the best decision for everyone involved.”
 
Despite being sidelined this weekend, Hull will remain engaged with the action.
 
“I’ll be watching every round on NHRA.tv and cheering on all my competitors,” said Hull. “It sounds like it’s going to be a hot one in Phoenix, so I just hope everyone has a safe weekend out there.”
 
Hull also took time to thank the outpouring of support from across the racing community.
 
“The calls, messages, and offers to help from fans, sponsors, and other teams have meant a lot to us,” said Hull. “This sport is a family, and you really see that in moments like this.”

 Buddy Hull at Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford customer appreciation event, photo credit Werner Communications

BUDDY HULL TO SIT OUT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
AS TEAM FOCUSES ON REBUILDING

DALLAS (March 17, 2026) — NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Buddy Hull has announced he will not compete at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, March 20-22, at Firebird Motorsports Park, as his team continues to recover and rebuild following their on-track incident two weeks ago in Gainesville.
 
After an explosive mechanical failure during the event, Hull and his team immediately disassembled the Funny Car to assess the damage and determine next steps. While the team has since secured a replacement body, the time required to properly mount and prepare it for competition will prevent them from making the trip to Phoenix.
 
“Obviously, this isn’t the news we wanted to share this week,” said Hull. “Anytime you have to sit out a race, it’s tough, especially this early in the season. But at the end of the day, making sure everything is right with the car and that our team is safe is what matters most. We’re not going to rush that process. Matt Bynum and the guys are working hard to make sure we return better than ever.”
 
The team has elaborated on the preparation heading into the Gatornationals. They had the Funny Car fully assembled in November of last season, displayed the Funny Car as part of their FS Performance sponsorship and began finalizing preparations well before the departure for Gainesville.
 
Hull also provided an update on his condition following the incident. He suffered minor burns to his back and legs but credited his safety equipment for preventing more serious injuries.
 
“My right hand is healing really well, and I’ve been staying in close contact with the NHRA medical team,” said Hull. “I had some minor burns from the fire, but honestly, my Impact firesuit did its job. It could have been a lot worse, so I’m grateful for that.”
 
Looking ahead, Hull and his team are already evaluating options for the upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, including the possibility of competing in Top Fuel. With current Top Fuel entry numbers sitting below a full field, Hull noted his desire to support the category while also fulfilling sponsor commitments.
 
“We’re looking at every option for Pomona right now, including maybe running my Top Fuel dragster,” said Hull. “We’ve got great partners who count on us, and I also want to do my part to help make sure fans are getting full, competitive fields at these events. We’ll make the best decision for everyone involved.”
 
Despite being sidelined this weekend, Hull will remain engaged with the action.
 
“I’ll be watching every round on NHRA.tv and cheering on all my competitors,” said Hull. “It sounds like it’s going to be a hot one in Phoenix, so I just hope everyone has a safe weekend out there.”
 
Hull also took time to thank the outpouring of support from across the racing community.
 
“The calls, messages, and offers to help from fans, sponsors, and other teams have meant a lot to us,” said Hull. “This sport is a family, and you really see that in moments like this.”

 Buddy Hull at Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford customer appreciation event, photo credit Werner Communications

Off the track, Hull remained active with fans, appearing at a major customer event last weekend at Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford in Dallas. His signature FS Performance Ford Mustang was on display as he signed autographs and met with attendees. The team is planning additional activations with the dealership throughout the season.
 
Hull and his team remain focused on returning to competition as soon as possible, with safety and long-term performance guiding every step of the rebuild process. They will keep the NHRA and their fanbase updated as more decisions are made leading up to the Winternationals. Tickets for the NHRA Arizona Nationals and Winternationals can be purchased at nhra.com.

Jackson County Tourism Signs as All-Season Partner

BATAVIA, Ohio (March 17, 2026) – Officials with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing are excited to announce that the Jackson County Tourism Department has signed on as a partner with the series for the entire season. As part of the partnership, Jackson County Tourism will serve as the presenting sponsor for both nights of racing during the Jackson 100 weekend at Brownstown Speedway on September 25-26. This year’s event will feature two full programs beginning Friday night with the CJ Rayburn Memorial presented by Jackson County Tourism, paying $10,000 to win. Saturday’s main event, the UNOH Jackson 100 presented by Jackson County Tourism, will pay $50,000 to the winner. The Jackson County Tourism office, located in Seymour, Indiana, is a premier resource for everything from outdoor recreation to family-friendly activities. Jackson County offers something for every traveler. The Jackson County Visitor Center is conveniently located just off Exit 50 on Interstate 65, only an hour from Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati, and just a short drive from Bloomington and Nashville, Indiana. Visitors are encouraged to stop by to explore upcoming events, festivals, and hidden gems throughout Jackson County. Whether planning a weekend getaway or a longer adventure, Jackson County Tourism (JacksonCountyIN.com) is your go-to resource for making the most of your visit. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series all season and Brownstown Speedway’s biggest race event of the year,” said Arann Banks of the Jackson County Tourism Department. “We have a lot to offer race fans, racers, and visitors attending events in our area, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the races this year.” For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit LucasDirt.com. About Jackson County Visitor CenterLocated in Seymour, Indiana, the Jackson County Visitor Center is your source for outdoor recreation and family-friendly activities. Jackson County offers something for every traveler. The visitor center is conveniently located just off Exit 50 on Interstate 65, about an hour from Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati, and a short drive from Bloomington and Nashville, Indiana. For more information, visit JacksonCountyIN.com.

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Chevrolet NewsroomCHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESJava House Grand Prix of Arlington2.73-mile, 14-turn Arlington street circuitArlington, TexasFriday Practice ReportMarch 13, 2026 ARLINGTON, TEXAS (March 13, 2026) – Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet, was the quickest of the drivers sporting a Bowtie during the first practice of the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. The drivers and teams are still learning the new track, but the pole-winner on the Streets of St. Petersburg at the first race of the 2026 season clearly enjoys the 2.73-mile, 14-turn Arlington street circuit. “That is instantly my most favorite street circuit ever,” said a beaming McLaughlin after getting out of the car. “It’s such a blast. The DEX Chevy feels great. It’s just an absolute ball to drive. I’m like a little kid again. It’s great, I’m having a blast and so lucky that we’re able to do it. I’m feeling pretty good about everything, and we’ll see how we go.” The first and second practices this season are split into three sessions: 40 minutes, during which all 25 cars run on the Primary Firestone Firehawk racing tires (black), and a pair of 12-minute sessions, during which half the field runs the Alternate Firestone Firehawk racing tires (red). Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet led the first 40 minutes of practice, during which all 25 cars were eligible, and drivers only used the Black tires. His best lap was 95.6861 seconds (101.582mph), which was quickest of the six Chevrolet-powered cars in the top eight, with Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet) second, David Malukas (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) third, Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet) fifth, Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) seventh, and Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 ECR Java House Chevrolet) eighth.  A lap timed at 94.8926 seconds (102.432mph) by McLaughlin, led the first 12-minute session, where all drivers were on Reds. The Kiwi’s lap was more than four-tenths of a second better than the next quickest driver. O’Ward, the quickest driver on the blacks, made it two of the top three for Team Chevy during the session.  Two of the top three in the second 12-minute session on the Reds were Chevrolet-powered drivers, with Rossi and Lundgaard setting the second and third-best times.Combined Friday Practice Times at the Java House Grand Prix of ArlingtonNTT INDYCAR SERIES News ConferenceFriday, March 13, 2026Scott McLaughin Alex PalouPress Conference THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the brand new Streets of Arlington circuit. I think Scott McLaughlin has already become a big fan. Alex Palou will join us here momentarily. Scott joins us, driver of the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet, sitting third in the overall NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings, the podium at St. Pete, second fastest in the all-car session, and then fastest in the group session that just wrapped up. First of all, your general thoughts about the Streets of Arlington circuit, Scott? SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I’m not just saying this because you probably think I’m getting paid to say it, but it’s hands down the best street circuit personally that I’ve driven on. So far it’s got a huge straight, bumpy straight, very hard to test your brake point into turn 10 there. Then there are so many corners that are technical, but then also daring. It’s an absolute blast, and it was honestly a pleasure to learn it and get better and better. Obviously I’m a bit happier because my car is handling really good right now, but a really good start to our weekend. Just wanted a solid session and build on it from here and have a lot of confidence to the point I feel like just polishing the car and just put it in the truck. It feels really good. THE MODERATOR: I was going to ask you, obviously engineering session coming up. What do you think you want to work on, what needs to be worked on to be even faster tomorrow? SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: There are a couple of things I need to look at, and you’ll look at data tonight. There will be guys doing a corner a little bit different to you, and is it good or bad, and just trying to dissect that a little bit. I felt like a strength of mine has been learning new tracks, even since I was a kid. I really enjoy this side of it. I’ll do a deep dive into the data tonight and be ready for tomorrow. THE MODERATOR: Good start to the weekend. We’ll take questions. Q.  It seems like all of Team Penske is on an upbeat after the sweep at Phoenix, both NASCAR and INDYCAR. Did you kind of feel that boost coming here at Arlington?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, I think just a huge weekend for the Captain, and obviously pretty cool to do it with our NASCAR friends. Obviously I wanted to be the guy that won, but at the end of the day, it was great for the team to get some momentum and then have the NASCAR guys win on Sunday and be there for that and then them being there on Saturday. It wasn’t my ideal weekend personally, but from a team perspective, it was great. Q.  You called it your favorite street course ever.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah.Q.  How excited are you? What is it you love about it?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I just think there’s so much — it’s so technical in spots, and then there’s spots where it’s really tough to brake into. You’ve got to maximize high-speed corners, high-speed entries. Yeah, it’s a blast to drive. I don’t know what you think, but –ALEX PALOU: I love it.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, it’s sick. It really is. There’s no other word. Gen Zs will get that.THE MODERATOR: Obviously Alex Palou joins us. Driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. He was ninth in the all-car session and then second overall in the group session through on the alternates. Currently fifth in points after a win at St. Pete two weeks ago, four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion as well, including the last three.Alex, your thoughts about this place?ALEX PALOU: Love it. Yeah, it’s insane. It’s super fun to drive. It’s just a lot more fun than I thought just how the car feels. There’s so many different corners. Like, there’s corners that you can attack so much, and you feel like a superhero. There’s other corners where you need to back off because the grip is very different.Very bumpy. A lot more bumpy than I thought, which makes it super challenging, but super fun. Super fun.THE MODERATOR: More questions. Q.  Obviously both of you planned well, because you’re quick right off the bat. Are there any corners that surprised you once you actually got out there?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: The how bumpy it was down the back straight surprised me and the team a little bit. We definitely had to raise the right height a little bit. I think everyone had the same issue.Then I think it was just more like the corners where you didn’t think it was going to be difficult or it was going to be a little bit simple. To be honest, turn 10, for instance, across the bricks and stuff is super slippery. I don’t know what you thought of that. It made it so much more of a corner, especially if you are committing.So it’s just got so much character. It’s a lot of fun. I feel like it’s a big Nashville. Just a bit more open, you know? Q.  Were you guys scraping the track at all as far as like —SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Scraping? Like bottoming? Q.  Yes.SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you did I think, and I did. Straight away first lap I was, like, Oh, we got to raise this thing. Yeah, I felt like we nailed it. Q.  Then there’s various types of racing surfaces, right? There’s old asphalt and new asphalt, concrete, painted concrete. Is that a challenge? If so, how do you manage that challenge? SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, I think as we both know, it’s going to just keep gripping up. You’ve got to build up with the track. That’s why it’s so important to do as many laps as you possibly can and be happy with your race car.I’m lucky. I feel very comfortable and confident, so that’s a good feeling. Like going into tomorrow where the car is just going to get faster and faster naturally with the track grip as well, and everyone else will as well. You’re going to have to take another step again. Q.  34.8, 34.9, how much more lap time do you think is in this track once you go back to debrief and make your setup changes for tomorrow morning’s practice?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I thought my lap was pretty good, but the track is just going to keep getting better, and you’ll find time by the track just getting better, and you’ll carry speed differently, and it might change corner profiles a little bit for you and stuff. So, yeah, like I said before, you’ve just got to go with the track, because it’s just going to take a lot of rubber. Q.  Scott, you talked about the bumpiness of the track. How do you get used to that and make sure it’s not giving you any issues?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Oh, like I said, you just got to communicate to the team how bad it is and then explain how much do I think I need to go up or down or whatever. Yeah, I thought Raul, my engineer, did a really good job at toning that in, but it’s the same for everyone. I look at it that way. You’ve just got to try and maximize better than most. Q.  Tomorrow for the Fast Six it will be the single lap, single car qualifying. What are your guys’ thoughts on that?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Got to get there first. Q.  A little bit of a follow-up on that. Some of the drivers today think that the first guy out in the Fast Six single lap, when the car is heated up, will have an advantage. By the time you get to the fastest driver entering, the cars cool off enough, it might take time to get the heat up. How do you feel about it?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I mean, yeah, I could see that. That’s kind of why Supercars went away from doing a qualifying shoot-out directly after the qualifying itself to get into the shoot-out. We would qualify two, three hours later. It may not be applicable here, but it’s just whatever. Like Alex said, I think if you get to the Fast Six, it’s a great spot regardless, and you will just choose what you can do. Obviously pole would be nice, but I still think if you have a quick car, it’s not going to take too long to get up to temp and make it happen. Q.  For both of you, some tracks, they reward smoothness, finesse. What does this track reward?SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, a new track, regardless, I think you’ve just got to be flexible. You’ve got to be able to able to — I think this track, long back straight, big braking zones, and then you have some real tight, twisty, technical stuff like Nashville. You’ve just got to be very open to a unique car setup, I imagine. THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Good luck tomorrow. Fan Friendly Fans can visit Team Chevy Display in Fan Zone in the Fan Zone on the east side of AT&T Stadium, near the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock to check out an INDYCAR show car, along with a full line-up of new vehicles, including the Corvette ZR1X, Corvette Stingray (Stars and Steel edition), Equinox, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500 (Stars and Steel edition), Silverado EV (Stars and Stel Edition),Tahoe, and Traverse, Hours are 8 am – 7 pm on Saturday, and 7:30 am – 3 pm on Sunday. NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver appearances Saturday:·       noon – 12:15 pm – Arrow McLaren (Tony Kanaan)·       4:15 pm – 4:30 pm – Juncos Hollinger Racing (Sting Ray Robb & Rinus VeeKay) Tune-In Guide Saturday NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 2:30pm (ET)/1:30pm (CT)/12:30pm (MT)/11:30am (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 SundayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 10am (ET)/9am (CT)/8am (MT)/7am (PT) –FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Java House Grand Prix of Arlington (70 laps) – 12:30pm (ET)/11:30am (CT)/10:30am (MT)/9:30am (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Historical Chevrolet in the INDYCAR SERIES informationINDYCAR SERIES Manufacturer Championships (since 1979)Chevrolet-Powered Wins in the Twin-Turbo 2.2L V6 Era (2012-present)Chevrolet-Powered Wins – All-Time

Fry’s Food Stores backs hometown driver’s first Funny Car appearance 
honoring father’s historic NHRA milestone
 

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 13, 2026) — One year after setting the top speed of eliminations at 330.88 mph in his Fry’s Food Stores Top Fuel Dragster, Phoenix native Travis Shumake will return to Firebird Motorsports Park in a completely different, but far more personal machine. For the first time in his professional career, the NHRA Top Fuel driver will compete behind the wheel of a Funny Car during the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark plugs, March 20-22, 2026. The second-generation professional drag racer will be driving Dave Benjamin’s Nostalgia Funny Car in a special hometown appearance backed by longtime partner Fry’s Food Stores.
 
Shumake, who is licensed in several NHRA categories, will make the debut just weeks before the NHRA is set to honor his late father, Tripp Shumake, during the 1,000th Funny Car race at the upcoming NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, an event Shumake has not ruled out attending.
The elder Shumake’s 1981 Southern Nationals victory behind the wheel of Johnny Loper’s Phoenix-based “Little Hoss” Funny Car marked the 100th Funny Car win in NHRA history.

 
“I actually started out trying to follow my dad tire tracks into a Funny Car when I began my racing career,” explained Shumake. “The twists and turns of this off-season put me in a position where I can get back to my roots and celebrate my dad’s milestone in a very direct way. I am excited to get back into competition and back to literally the roots of the Funny Car class.”
 
Shumake’s Fry’s Food Stores Top Fuel Dragster will also be on display at Firebird Motorsports Park as part of an interactive activation with Kroger Health’s Team Tune Up program, a partnership that will continue beyond the Phoenix race weekend.
 
The opportunity to drive a Funny Car at his home track follows a breakout performance at the 2025 NHRA Arizona Nationals, where Shumake captured the top speed of the event with a 330.88-mph run during eliminations against reigning 2-time Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta.

 
Travis Shumake will get back to his Funny Car root this weekend in Arizona

Travis Shumake Returns to Arizona Nationals in Nostalgia Funny Car

Fry’s Food Stores backs hometown driver’s first Funny Car appearance 
honoring father’s historic NHRA milestone
 

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 13, 2026) — One year after setting the top speed of eliminations at 330.88 mph in his Fry’s Food Stores Top Fuel Dragster, Phoenix native Travis Shumake will return to Firebird Motorsports Park in a completely different, but far more personal machine. For the first time in his professional career, the NHRA Top Fuel driver will compete behind the wheel of a Funny Car during the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark plugs, March 20-22, 2026. The second-generation professional drag racer will be driving Dave Benjamin’s Nostalgia Funny Car in a special hometown appearance backed by longtime partner Fry’s Food Stores.
 
Shumake, who is licensed in several NHRA categories, will make the debut just weeks before the NHRA is set to honor his late father, Tripp Shumake, during the 1,000th Funny Car race at the upcoming NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, an event Shumake has not ruled out attending.
The elder Shumake’s 1981 Southern Nationals victory behind the wheel of Johnny Loper’s Phoenix-based “Little Hoss” Funny Car marked the 100th Funny Car win in NHRA history.

 
“I actually started out trying to follow my dad tire tracks into a Funny Car when I began my racing career,” explained Shumake. “The twists and turns of this off-season put me in a position where I can get back to my roots and celebrate my dad’s milestone in a very direct way. I am excited to get back into competition and back to literally the roots of the Funny Car class.”
 
Shumake’s Fry’s Food Stores Top Fuel Dragster will also be on display at Firebird Motorsports Park as part of an interactive activation with Kroger Health’s Team Tune Up program, a partnership that will continue beyond the Phoenix race weekend.
 
The opportunity to drive a Funny Car at his home track follows a breakout performance at the 2025 NHRA Arizona Nationals, where Shumake captured the top speed of the event with a 330.88-mph run during eliminations against reigning 2-time Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta.

 
Travis Shumake will get back to his Funny Car root this weekend in Arizona

“Fry’s Food Stores is committed to uplifting our local communities and the athletes who inspire them,” said Christina Groth, Fry’s Food Stores Vice President of Merchandising. “Travis embodies determination and hometown pride, and we’re thrilled to support his first Funny Car appearance as he honors a remarkable family milestone in NHRA history.”
 
The appearance is made possible through the continued support of Fry’s Food Stores, which has partnered with Shumake for multiple seasons.
 
“Fry’s has always believed in the hometown story,” Shumake said. “They understand how special Phoenix is to me and why honoring my dad here matters so much. They have been an amazing supporter of my drag racing career and the sport in general.”
 
The Legends Nitro Series kicks off qualifying Friday at 2:30 p.m. Fans can watch coverage on FS1 throughout the weekend.