CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES Good Ranchers 2501-mile, Phoenix Raceway short ovalAvondale, Arizona Race AdvanceMarch 6-7, 2026 DETROIT (March 4, 2026) – Chevrolet-powered cars have visited INDYCAR victory lane at Phoenix Raceway ten times, but the sacred place in Chevrolet racing history goes far beyond the wins at the historic one-mile oval.  In 1969, George Follmer drove a Cheetah powered by a Chevrolet Z/28 engine to the brand’s first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory outside the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.  In 1986, Al Unser, while driving for Team Penske, made the first start for a Chevrolet factory-backed INDYCAR engine. The venerable 2.65L turbocharged V8 built by Ilmor would go on to win 86 races over the next eight seasons of Championship Auto Racing Teams competition.  The Detroit brand will add one more piece of lore to the history books in 2026, when Chevrolet is the only brand to compete in all four races at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. A dozen NTT INDYCAR SERIES entries will join 18 NASCAR Cup Series entries, 30 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entries and 18 ARCA Menards Series entries, for a total of 75 Chevrolet-powered entries across the four races.  “Chevrolet is proud to be the only manufacturer powering the field across all three races this weekend,” said Jim Campbell, Vice President, Performance and Motorsports Commercial Operations, General Motors. “Our heritage has been built on both stock car and open-wheel competition, and Phoenix Raceway is a great example of that legacy. Chevrolet has earned 27 NASCAR Cup Series wins and three championships at Phoenix, along with 10 additional NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories and two more titles. In INDYCAR competition, Chevrolet-powered drivers have added 10 wins at this track. That shared success reflects the strength of our teams, our technology and our commitment to winning across every discipline in which we compete.”

An unlikely winner A year-old chassis with a 320-cubic-inch Chevrolet and 35-year-old sports car veteran Follmer at the wheel didn’t garner much attention against brand-new chassis powered by turbocharged Offenhauser and Ford engines driven by names like Andretti, Foyt and Unser.  Follmer, a star in sports cars, and his one-year-old Cheetah, powered by an Al Bartz, of Traco fame, built engine sourced from a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and costing only $5,500, got their attention after qualifying on the outside of the front row alongside Al Unser.

Folmer’s No. 62 dropped back, but watched Al Unser, A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Roger McCluskey and Gordon Johncock drop out with mechanical issues. That left the Chevrolet-powered car fighting Bobby Unser in a new All-American Racers Eagle powered by a turbocharged Offenhauser. Unser’s engine let go with 30 of the 150-mile event remaining, allowing Follmer to win by an impressive three laps.  “I just wanted to keep Bobby in sight,” explained Follmer to the Arizona Republic in 1969 after the race. “Because I just couldn’t pass him on the straights. He’s got over 700 horsepower, and I’ve got 550. That doesn’t multiply right.  “I was just waiting for my fuel load to go down.”

Factory-backed effort makes debut  On April 6, 1986, the 2.65L turbocharged V8 Chevrolet, which terrified Championship Auto Racing Teams competitors in the late 1980s and early 1990s, made a surprise debut at the season opener at Phoenix Raceway with Al Unser behind the wheel of Team Penske’s No. 11.  The PC-15 had just arrived in the Arizona desert from England a few days earlier, and after fitting the new Chevrolet powerplant, had only completed a three-lap shakedown at nearby Firebird Raceway Park. The initial plan was only to have Unser, who legend has it lost a coin flip with Mears over who would drive the new combination, only in practice before switching to the known quantity, a March powered by a Cosworth.  More on the first factory-backed effort by Chevrolet in INDYCAR as we approach the 40th anniversary of its debut.

Short oval success Over the long haul Wins Between George Follmer’s stunning victory by three laps at Phoenix Raceway in 1969, through NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins by Pato O’Ward (Iowa Speedway), Christian Rasmussen (Milwaukee Mile) and Josef Newgarden (Nashville Superspeedway), Chevrolet has had tremendous success on the short ovals,* driving to victory lane 55 times. Twenty-five drivers have won on short ovals for Team Chevy, but one stands out. Josef Newgarden, the driver of the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, leads the next closest driver, Team Penske legend Rick Mears, by nine. Team Penske has 54.5% (30 of 55) of Chevrolet-powered wins and is one of 17 teams with wins on short ovals. Bowtie adorned engines have won races at nine short ovals, with Iowa Speedway (14), the Milwaukee Mile (12) and Phoenix Raceway (10) all reaching double digits in trips to victory lane.  PolesBetween Jim Hurtubise, at the treacherous Langhorne Speedway in 1963 and Power (World Wide Technology Raceway At Gateway), Newgarden (Iowa Speedway) and O’Ward (Nashville Superspeedway) last year, Chevrolet power has won the pole at short ovals 55 times. Will Power and Mears lead the 18 drivers that have won the pole on short ovals with 11 a piece Even more impressive than their win percentage, Team Penske, one of 13 teams to win poles with Chevrolet power, has 74.5% (41 of 55) of those inside front row starts. Bowtie adorned cars have scored poles at a baker’s dozen tracks, with the 13 at Iowa Speedway leading the way.  Even better recently Since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012, Chevrolet-powered drivers and teams have dominated on short ovals (Iowa Speedway, the Milwaukee Mile, Nashville Superspeedway, Phoenix Raceway, and World Wide Technology Raceway At Gateway) In those 14 seasons Chevrolet power has: Won 31 of 40 racesStarted on 30 of 40 polesStood on 85 of 120 podiumsLed 7973 of 10250 laps

Notable Numbers 6 – the number of different countries represented by Team Chevy drivers – United States (6) – Denmark (2) – Brazil (1) – Mexico (1) – Netherlands (1) – New Zealand (1)9 – the number of wins by current Team Chevy teams, Arrow McLaren and ECR12 – the number of drivers representing Team Chevy in the season-opening NTT INDYCAR SERIES race13 – the number of driver championships won by Chevrolet all-time26.7 – the average age of the dozen Chevrolet-powered drivers in the 2026 season opener – Josef Newgarden is the elder statesman at 3532 – the number of wins by Josef Newgarden, the winningest Team Chevy driver all-time 40 – the number of different drivers that have won INDYCAR races while powered by Chevrolet70.8 – percentage of short oval podiums Team Chevy has stood on since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 201275 – percentage of short oval races where Team Chevy won the pole since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 201277.5 – percentage of short oval races won by Team Chevy since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 201277.8 – percentage of laps led in short oval races since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012124 – the number of Bowtie-backed wins by Team Penske since their first at Pocono Raceway by Rick Mears in 1987127 – the number of wins by Chevrolet since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012142 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012237 – the number of wins by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time246 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time362 – the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012678 –  the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time3034 -laps led on short ovals by Josef Newgarden while powered by Chevrolet since 2012 5350 – laps led by Team Penske drivers on short ovals since 2012

Pacing the field The sleek and luxurious 2026 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray will pace the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday afternoon. Electrified all-wheel-drive technology, 655-hp combined, indulgent leather seating, functional and intuitive technology, including 6.6-, 12.7-, and 14-inch screens, and a full suite of modern safety features combine to create an unrivaled blend of performance, creature comforts, and security. Fan Friendly Fans can visit Team Chevy Display in Fan Zone near Gate 2 and behind the grandstands to check out the INDYCAR and NASCAR show cars, along with a full line-up of new vehicles, including the Colorado Trailboss, Corvette E-Ray, Equinox Active, Equinox EV RS, Tahoe Z71, Traverse Z71, Silverado 1500 RST, and Silverado EV. Hours are 11:30 am – 7 pm on Friday, 9 am – 5:30 pm on Saturday, and 8 am – 1 pm on Sunday. NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver appearances Saturday:Rinus VeeKay: 10 am – 10:15 amRyan Hunter-Reay: 10:15 am – 10:30am  NASCAR O’Rielly Auto Parts and Cup series appearances Saturday:Parker Retzlaff: 3:15 pm – 3:30 pmSheldon Creed & Sam Mayer: 3:30 pm – 3:45 pmJeremy Clements: 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Sunday:Connor Zilisch: 8:30 am – 8:45 amRoss Chastain: 8:45 am – 9:00 amKyle Busch: 9:05 am – 9:20 amMichael McDowell: 9:20 am – 9:30 am Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 9:30 am – 9:45 amKyle Larson: 9:45 am – 10:00 amWilliam Byron: 10:00 am – 10:15 am

What They’re Saying A.J. Foyt RacingCaio Collet, No. 4 COMBITRANS AMAZONA Chevrolet:How did the Phoenix test go and what did you learn from it?”The test at Phoenix Raceway was very productive. It was all about getting comfortable with the rhythm of a short oval and understanding how the car reacts. We focused getting comfortable with the changes and what I need to be confident and quick, also understanding the weight jacker adjustments, and how small balance changes affect tire degradation over a run. It was a valuable step in building confidence on ovals.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Chevrolet:How did testing go?”It was up and down. I mean, we unrolled pretty good. We made some small changes. We didn’t really run much. We had a couple of issues with the brake pedal. Then we had rain interrupt the session on the second day. We were continuing to build on the oval car, just making it better to drive, more compliant. Just little things, we didn’t really learn anything massive, I don’t think we needed to.” Arrow McLaren Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m excited to head back to Phoenix after testing there a few weeks back. We learned a lot at the test, so I’m confident we can take that forward and be competitive this weekend. It’s nice to get a new oval on the calendar. The track is a nice mix of some other ovals that we’ve raced.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“As a group, we really made some good progress at the open test in February. I feel good about our setup, and I think we’ll be as strong as we have been on other short ovals. We built a foundation and had good pace on primary tires in St. Pete. Now we just need to build on that and convert that speed into more points this weekend.” Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“We got off to a strong start last weekend with a podium and obviously want to keep the momentum going into Phoenix, but of course, we’re always pushing for more. I’m looking forward to attacking ovals this season, and I think overall we had a good test here recently. With St. Pete, Phoenix and then Arlington, this is an important opening stretch, so let’s keep it going.” ECRAlexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet:“I love this schedule and being back on track this weekend. It allows us to put the past behind us and focus on an exciting weekend where we are returning to Phoenix for the first time in eight years. We had a great team test there and I look forward to doing it for real when we get back!”  Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet:“I am looking forward to getting back to short oval racing at Phoenix! The test there went really well for ECR, and ovals were definitely a strength for the No. 21 last year. We showed a lot of potential at times in St. Pete, even if we didn’t come away with the result we wanted. We’re fully focused on bouncing back at Phoenix for Round 2 of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship!”

Tune-In Guide FridayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 10am (ET)/9am (CT)/8am (MT)/7am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 2pm (ET)/1pm (CT)/noon (MT)/11am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Saturday Good Ranchers 250 (250 laps) – 3pm (ET)/2pm (CT)/1pm (MT)/noon (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Chevrolet history at Phoenix Raceway General Motors Wins – 15 Chevrolet Wins – 10 2018 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2017 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske2016 – Scott Dixon – Chip Ganassi Racing2002 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske1992 – Bob Rahal – Rahal Hogan Racing1991 – Arie Luyendyk – Doug Shierson Racing1990 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1988 – Mario Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1969 – George Follmer – George Follmer Oldsmobile Wins – 5 2001 – Sam Hornish – Panther Racing2000 – Buddy Lazier – Hemelgarn Racing1999 – Scott Goodyear – Panther Racing1998 – Scott Sharp – Kelley Racing1997 – Jim Guthrie – Blueprint Racing General Motors Poles – 13 Chevrolet Poles – 8 2017 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske2016 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske2002 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske1991 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1990 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1988 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1987 – Mario Andretti – Newman Haas Racing Oldsmobile Wins – 5 2001 – Greg Ray – Team Menard2000 – Greg Ray – Team Menard1999 – Greg Ray – Team Menard1998 – Jeff Ward – ISM Racing1997 – Tony Stewart – Team Menard General Motors Podiums – 39 Chevrolet Podiums: 25 Driver Podiums:  Bob Rahal (3), Emerson Fittipaldi (2), Rick Mears (2), Simon Pagenaud (2), Will Power (2), Al Unser Jr. (2), Mario Andretti (1), Helio Castroneves (1), Gil de Ferran (1), George Follmer (1), Scott Dixon (1), Roberto Guerrero (1), JR Hildebrand (1), Sam Hornish (1), Arie Luyendyk (1), Josef Newgarden (1), Danny Sullivan (1), Jimmy Vasser (1) Team Podiums: Team Penske (12), Galles Racing (4), Chip Ganassi Racing (1), Doug Shierson Racing (1), ECR (1), George Follmer (1), Granatelli Racing (1), Hayhoe Racing (1), Newman Haas Racing (1), Panther Racing (1), Rahal Hogan Racing (1) Oldsmobile Podiums: 14  Driver Podiums: Scott Goodyear (2), Buddy Lazier (2), Tony Stewart (2), Billy Boat (1), Jim Guthrie (1), Davey Hamilton (1), Donnie Beechler (1), Sam Hornish (1), Eliseo Salazar (1), Scott Sharp (1) Jeff Ward (1) Team Podiums: A.J. Foyt Racing (3), Panther Racing (3), Hemelgarn Racing (2), Team Menard (2), Blueprint Racing (1), Cahill Racing (1), Kelley Racing (1), Pagan Racing (1) General Motors Laps Led: 2977 Chevrolet Laps Led: 1990 Driver Laps Led: Rick Mears (247), Bob Rahal (242), Mario Andretti (198), Helio Castroneves (174), Scott Dixon (155), Paul Tracy (151), Will Power (139), Arie Luyendyk (129), Simon Pagenaud (119), Michael Andretti (88), Sam Hornish (67), Al Unser Jr. (65), Juan Montoya (56), Danny Sullivan (53), Josef Newgarden (32), George Follmer (29), Gil de Ferran (15), Kevin Cogan (13), Emerson Fittipaldi (10), Eliseo Salazar (7), Tomas Scheckter (1) Team Laps Led: Team Penske (996), Newman Haas Racing (286), Rahal Hogan Racing (200), Chip Ganassi Racing (155), Doug Shierson Racing (129), Panther Racing(68), Galles Racing (68), Kelley Racing (39), George Follmer (29), Patrick Racing (13),  A.J. Foyt Racing (7) Oldsmobile Laps Led: 987 Driver Laps Led: Tony Stewart (212), Sam Hornish (140), Scott Goodyear (134), Scott Sharp (94), Jim Guthrie (74), Greg Ray (61), Buddy Lazier (45), Billy Boat (41), Stephan Gregoire (36), Eddie Cheever (28), Jeff Ward (25), Kenny Brack (24), Al Unser Jr. (22), Mark Dismore (14), Affonso Giaffone (13), Robbie McGehee (11),  Robbie Buhl (5), Helio Castroneves (4), Gil de Ferran (3), Donnie Beechler (1) Team Laps Led: Panther Racing (274), Team Menard (273), Kelley Racing (104), Blueprint Racing (74), Galles Racing (46), A.J. Foyt Racing (45), Hemelgarn Racing (45),  Dick Simon Racing (36), Team Cheever (28), ISM Racing (25), Chitwood Motorsports (13), Treadway Racing (11), Team Penske (7), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (5), Cahil Racing (1)

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESGood Ranchers 2501-mile, Phoenix Raceway short ovalAvondale, Arizona Race AdvanceMarch 6-7, 2026 DETROIT (March 4, 2026) – Chevrolet-powered cars have visited INDYCAR victory lane at Phoenix Raceway ten times, but the sacred place in Chevrolet racing history goes far beyond the wins at the historic one-mile oval.  In 1969, George Follmer drove a Cheetah powered by a Chevrolet Z/28 engine to the brand’s first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory outside the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.  In 1986, Al Unser, while driving for Team Penske, made the first start for a Chevrolet factory-backed INDYCAR engine. The venerable 2.65L turbocharged V8 built by Ilmor would go on to win 86 races over the next eight seasons of Championship Auto Racing Teams competition.  The Detroit brand will add one more piece of lore to the history books in 2026, when Chevrolet is the only brand to compete in all four races at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. A dozen NTT INDYCAR SERIES entries will join 18 NASCAR Cup Series entries, 30 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entries and 18 ARCA Menards Series entries, for a total of 75 Chevrolet-powered entries across the four races.  “Chevrolet is proud to be the only manufacturer powering the field across all three races this weekend,” said Jim Campbell, Vice President, Performance and Motorsports Commercial Operations, General Motors. “Our heritage has been built on both stock car and open-wheel competition, and Phoenix Raceway is a great example of that legacy. Chevrolet has earned 27 NASCAR Cup Series wins and three championships at Phoenix, along with 10 additional NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories and two more titles. In INDYCAR competition, Chevrolet-powered drivers have added 10 wins at this track. That shared success reflects the strength of our teams, our technology and our commitment to winning across every discipline in which we compete.”

An unlikely winner A year-old chassis with a 320-cubic-inch Chevrolet and 35-year-old sports car veteran Follmer at the wheel didn’t garner much attention against brand-new chassis powered by turbocharged Offenhauser and Ford engines driven by names like Andretti, Foyt and Unser.  Follmer, a star in sports cars, and his one-year-old Cheetah, powered by an Al Bartz, of Traco fame, built engine sourced from a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and costing only $5,500, got their attention after qualifying on the outside of the front row alongside Al Unser.

Folmer’s No. 62 dropped back, but watched Al Unser, A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Roger McCluskey and Gordon Johncock drop out with mechanical issues. That left the Chevrolet-powered car fighting Bobby Unser in a new All-American Racers Eagle powered by a turbocharged Offenhauser. Unser’s engine let go with 30 of the 150-mile event remaining, allowing Follmer to win by an impressive three laps.  “I just wanted to keep Bobby in sight,” explained Follmer to the Arizona Republic in 1969 after the race. “Because I just couldn’t pass him on the straights. He’s got over 700 horsepower, and I’ve got 550. That doesn’t multiply right.  “I was just waiting for my fuel load to go down.”

Factory-backed effort makes debut  On April 6, 1986, the 2.65L turbocharged V8 Chevrolet, which terrified Championship Auto Racing Teams competitors in the late 1980s and early 1990s, made a surprise debut at the season opener at Phoenix Raceway with Al Unser behind the wheel of Team Penske’s No. 11.  The PC-15 had just arrived in the Arizona desert from England a few days earlier, and after fitting the new Chevrolet powerplant, had only completed a three-lap shakedown at nearby Firebird Raceway Park. The initial plan was only to have Unser, who legend has it lost a coin flip with Mears over who would drive the new combination, only in practice before switching to the known quantity, a March powered by a Cosworth.  More on the first factory-backed effort by Chevrolet in INDYCAR as we approach the 40th anniversary of its debut.

Short oval success Over the long haul Wins Between George Follmer’s stunning victory by three laps at Phoenix Raceway in 1969, through NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins by Pato O’Ward (Iowa Speedway), Christian Rasmussen (Milwaukee Mile) and Josef Newgarden (Nashville Superspeedway), Chevrolet has had tremendous success on the short ovals,* driving to victory lane 55 times. Twenty-five drivers have won on short ovals for Team Chevy, but one stands out. Josef Newgarden, the driver of the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, leads the next closest driver, Team Penske legend Rick Mears, by nine. Team Penske has 54.5% (30 of 55) of Chevrolet-powered wins and is one of 17 teams with wins on short ovals. Bowtie adorned engines have won races at nine short ovals, with Iowa Speedway (14), the Milwaukee Mile (12) and Phoenix Raceway (10) all reaching double digits in trips to victory lane.  PolesBetween Jim Hurtubise, at the treacherous Langhorne Speedway in 1963 and Power (World Wide Technology Raceway At Gateway), Newgarden (Iowa Speedway) and O’Ward (Nashville Superspeedway) last year, Chevrolet power has won the pole at short ovals 55 times. Will Power and Mears lead the 18 drivers that have won the pole on short ovals with 11 a piece Even more impressive than their win percentage, Team Penske, one of 13 teams to win poles with Chevrolet power, has 74.5% (41 of 55) of those inside front row starts. Bowtie adorned cars have scored poles at a baker’s dozen tracks, with the 13 at Iowa Speedway leading the way.  Even better recently Since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012, Chevrolet-powered drivers and teams have dominated on short ovals (Iowa Speedway, the Milwaukee Mile, Nashville Superspeedway, Phoenix Raceway, and World Wide Technology Raceway At Gateway) In those 14 seasons Chevrolet power has: Won 31 of 40 racesStarted on 30 of 40 polesStood on 85 of 120 podiumsLed 7973 of 10250 laps

Notable Numbers 6 – the number of different countries represented by Team Chevy drivers – United States (6) – Denmark (2) – Brazil (1) – Mexico (1) – Netherlands (1) – New Zealand (1)9 – the number of wins by current Team Chevy teams, Arrow McLaren and ECR12 – the number of drivers representing Team Chevy in the season-opening NTT INDYCAR SERIES race13 – the number of driver championships won by Chevrolet all-time26.7 – the average age of the dozen Chevrolet-powered drivers in the 2026 season opener – Josef Newgarden is the elder statesman at 3532 – the number of wins by Josef Newgarden, the winningest Team Chevy driver all-time 40 – the number of different drivers that have won INDYCAR races while powered by Chevrolet70.8 – percentage of short oval podiums Team Chevy has stood on since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 201275 – percentage of short oval races where Team Chevy won the pole since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 201277.5 – percentage of short oval races won by Team Chevy since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 201277.8 – percentage of laps led in short oval races since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012124 – the number of Bowtie-backed wins by Team Penske since their first at Pocono Raceway by Rick Mears in 1987127 – the number of wins by Chevrolet since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012142 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012237 – the number of wins by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time246 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time362 – the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012678 –  the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time3034 -laps led on short ovals by Josef Newgarden while powered by Chevrolet since 2012 5350 – laps led by Team Penske drivers on short ovals since 2012

Pacing the field The sleek and luxurious 2026 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray will pace the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday afternoon. Electrified all-wheel-drive technology, 655-hp combined, indulgent leather seating, functional and intuitive technology, including 6.6-, 12.7-, and 14-inch screens, and a full suite of modern safety features combine to create an unrivaled blend of performance, creature comforts, and security. Fan Friendly Fans can visit Team Chevy Display in Fan Zone near Gate 2 and behind the grandstands to check out the INDYCAR and NASCAR show cars, along with a full line-up of new vehicles, including the Colorado Trailboss, Corvette E-Ray, Equinox Active, Equinox EV RS, Tahoe Z71, Traverse Z71, Silverado 1500 RST, and Silverado EV. Hours are 11:30 am – 7 pm on Friday, 9 am – 5:30 pm on Saturday, and 8 am – 1 pm on Sunday. NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver appearances Saturday:Rinus VeeKay: 10 am – 10:15 amRyan Hunter-Reay: 10:15 am – 10:30am  NASCAR O’Rielly Auto Parts and Cup series appearances Saturday:Parker Retzlaff: 3:15 pm – 3:30 pmSheldon Creed & Sam Mayer: 3:30 pm – 3:45 pmJeremy Clements: 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Sunday:Connor Zilisch: 8:30 am – 8:45 amRoss Chastain: 8:45 am – 9:00 amKyle Busch: 9:05 am – 9:20 amMichael McDowell: 9:20 am – 9:30 am Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 9:30 am – 9:45 amKyle Larson: 9:45 am – 10:00 amWilliam Byron: 10:00 am – 10:15 am

What They’re Saying A.J. Foyt RacingCaio Collet, No. 4 COMBITRANS AMAZONA Chevrolet:How did the Phoenix test go and what did you learn from it?”The test at Phoenix Raceway was very productive. It was all about getting comfortable with the rhythm of a short oval and understanding how the car reacts. We focused getting comfortable with the changes and what I need to be confident and quick, also understanding the weight jacker adjustments, and how small balance changes affect tire degradation over a run. It was a valuable step in building confidence on ovals.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Chevrolet:How did testing go?”It was up and down. I mean, we unrolled pretty good. We made some small changes. We didn’t really run much. We had a couple of issues with the brake pedal. Then we had rain interrupt the session on the second day. We were continuing to build on the oval car, just making it better to drive, more compliant. Just little things, we didn’t really learn anything massive, I don’t think we needed to.” Arrow McLaren Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m excited to head back to Phoenix after testing there a few weeks back. We learned a lot at the test, so I’m confident we can take that forward and be competitive this weekend. It’s nice to get a new oval on the calendar. The track is a nice mix of some other ovals that we’ve raced.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“As a group, we really made some good progress at the open test in February. I feel good about our setup, and I think we’ll be as strong as we have been on other short ovals. We built a foundation and had good pace on primary tires in St. Pete. Now we just need to build on that and convert that speed into more points this weekend.” Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“We got off to a strong start last weekend with a podium and obviously want to keep the momentum going into Phoenix, but of course, we’re always pushing for more. I’m looking forward to attacking ovals this season, and I think overall we had a good test here recently. With St. Pete, Phoenix and then Arlington, this is an important opening stretch, so let’s keep it going.” ECRAlexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet:“I love this schedule and being back on track this weekend. It allows us to put the past behind us and focus on an exciting weekend where we are returning to Phoenix for the first time in eight years. We had a great team test there and I look forward to doing it for real when we get back!”  Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet:“I am looking forward to getting back to short oval racing at Phoenix! The test there went really well for ECR, and ovals were definitely a strength for the No. 21 last year. We showed a lot of potential at times in St. Pete, even if we didn’t come away with the result we wanted. We’re fully focused on bouncing back at Phoenix for Round 2 of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship!”

Tune-In Guide FridayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 10am (ET)/9am (CT)/8am (MT)/7am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 2pm (ET)/1pm (CT)/noon (MT)/11am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Saturday Good Ranchers 250 (250 laps) – 3pm (ET)/2pm (CT)/1pm (MT)/noon (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Chevrolet history at Phoenix Raceway General Motors Wins – 15 Chevrolet Wins – 10 2018 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2017 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske2016 – Scott Dixon – Chip Ganassi Racing2002 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske1992 – Bob Rahal – Rahal Hogan Racing1991 – Arie Luyendyk – Doug Shierson Racing1990 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1988 – Mario Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1969 – George Follmer – George Follmer Oldsmobile Wins – 5 2001 – Sam Hornish – Panther Racing2000 – Buddy Lazier – Hemelgarn Racing1999 – Scott Goodyear – Panther Racing1998 – Scott Sharp – Kelley Racing1997 – Jim Guthrie – Blueprint Racing General Motors Poles – 13 Chevrolet Poles – 8 2017 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske2016 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske2002 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske1991 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1990 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1989 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1988 – Rick Mears – Team Penske1987 – Mario Andretti – Newman Haas Racing Oldsmobile Wins – 5 2001 – Greg Ray – Team Menard2000 – Greg Ray – Team Menard1999 – Greg Ray – Team Menard1998 – Jeff Ward – ISM Racing1997 – Tony Stewart – Team Menard General Motors Podiums – 39 Chevrolet Podiums: 25 Driver Podiums:  Bob Rahal (3), Emerson Fittipaldi (2), Rick Mears (2), Simon Pagenaud (2), Will Power (2), Al Unser Jr. (2), Mario Andretti (1), Helio Castroneves (1), Gil de Ferran (1), George Follmer (1), Scott Dixon (1), Roberto Guerrero (1), JR Hildebrand (1), Sam Hornish (1), Arie Luyendyk (1), Josef Newgarden (1), Danny Sullivan (1), Jimmy Vasser (1) Team Podiums: Team Penske (12), Galles Racing (4), Chip Ganassi Racing (1), Doug Shierson Racing (1), ECR (1), George Follmer (1), Granatelli Racing (1), Hayhoe Racing (1), Newman Haas Racing (1), Panther Racing (1), Rahal Hogan Racing (1) Oldsmobile Podiums: 14  Driver Podiums: Scott Goodyear (2), Buddy Lazier (2), Tony Stewart (2), Billy Boat (1), Jim Guthrie (1), Davey Hamilton (1), Donnie Beechler (1), Sam Hornish (1), Eliseo Salazar (1), Scott Sharp (1) Jeff Ward (1) Team Podiums: A.J. Foyt Racing (3), Panther Racing (3), Hemelgarn Racing (2), Team Menard (2), Blueprint Racing (1), Cahill Racing (1), Kelley Racing (1), Pagan Racing (1) General Motors Laps Led: 2977 Chevrolet Laps Led: 1990 Driver Laps Led: Rick Mears (247), Bob Rahal (242), Mario Andretti (198), Helio Castroneves (174), Scott Dixon (155), Paul Tracy (151), Will Power (139), Arie Luyendyk (129), Simon Pagenaud (119), Michael Andretti (88), Sam Hornish (67), Al Unser Jr. (65), Juan Montoya (56), Danny Sullivan (53), Josef Newgarden (32), George Follmer (29), Gil de Ferran (15), Kevin Cogan (13), Emerson Fittipaldi (10), Eliseo Salazar (7), Tomas Scheckter (1) Team Laps Led: Team Penske (996), Newman Haas Racing (286), Rahal Hogan Racing (200), Chip Ganassi Racing (155), Doug Shierson Racing (129), Panther Racing(68), Galles Racing (68), Kelley Racing (39), George Follmer (29), Patrick Racing (13),  A.J. Foyt Racing (7) Oldsmobile Laps Led: 987 Driver Laps Led: Tony Stewart (212), Sam Hornish (140), Scott Goodyear (134), Scott Sharp (94), Jim Guthrie (74), Greg Ray (61), Buddy Lazier (45), Billy Boat (41), Stephan Gregoire (36), Eddie Cheever (28), Jeff Ward (25), Kenny Brack (24), Al Unser Jr. (22), Mark Dismore (14), Affonso Giaffone (13), Robbie McGehee (11),  Robbie Buhl (5), Helio Castroneves (4), Gil de Ferran (3), Donnie Beechler (1) Team Laps Led: Panther Racing (274), Team Menard (273), Kelley Racing (104), Blueprint Racing (74), Galles Racing (46), A.J. Foyt Racing (45), Hemelgarn Racing (45),  Dick Simon Racing (36), Team Cheever (28), ISM Racing (25), Chitwood Motorsports (13), Treadway Racing (11), Team Penske (7), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (5), Cahil Racing (1)

Manufacturer History at Phoenix International Raceway Wins 17 – Cosworth (1987, 1986 #2, 1986 #2, 1985, 1984 #2, 1984 #1, 1983, 1982 #2, 1982 #1, 1981 #2, 1981 #1, 1980, 1979 #2, 1979 #1, 1978 #2, 1977 #1, 1976 #2)15 – General Motors (Chevrolet & Oldsmobile)13 – Offenhauser – (1976 #1, 1975 #1, 1974 #2, 1974 #1, 1973, 1972 #2, 1972 #1, 1968 #2, 1968 #1, 1967#1, 1965 #1, 1964 #2, 1964 #1)12 – Ford (1996, 1995, 1993, 1971 #2, 1971 #1, 1970 #2, 1970 #1, 1969 #2, 1967 #2, 1966 #2, 1966 #1, 1965 #2)10 – Chevrolet (2018, 2017, 2016, 2002, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1969 #1)5 – Oldsmobile (2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997)2- DGS (1978 #1, 1977 #2)2 – Honda (2004, 2003)1 – Toyota (2005)1 – Ilmor (1994)1- Foyt (1975 #2) Poles 18 – Cosworth (1986 #2, 1986 #1, 1985, 1984 #2, 1984 #1, 1983, 1982 #2, 1982 #1, 1981 #2, 1981#1, 1980, 1979 #2, 1979 #1, 1978 #2, 1978 #1, 1977 #2, 1977 #1, 1976 #1)14 – Offenhauser (1976 #2, 1975 #1, 1974 #2, 1974 #1, 1973, 1972 #2, 1972 #1, 1971 #2, 1971 #1, 1968 #2, 1968 #2, 1967 #1, 1965 #2, 1964 #1)13 – General Motors (Chevrolet and Oldsmobile)13 – Ford (1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1970 #2, 1970 #1, 1969 #2, 1969 #1, 1967 #2, 1966 #2, 1966 #1, 1965 #1, 1964 #2)8 – Chevrolet (2017, 2016, 2002, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987)5 – Oldsmobile (2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997)4 – Honda (2018, 2005, 2004, 2003)1 – DGS (1975 #2)1 – Ilmor (1994) Historical Chevrolet in the INDYCAR SERIES information INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturer Championships (since 1979)Chevrolet-Powered Wins in the Twin-Turbo 2.2L V6 Era (2012-present)Chevrolet-Powered Wins – All-Time

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Phoenix Raceway March 5-8, 2026

A two-race west coast swing kicks off this weekend for the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with the pair traveling to the desert for their first of two appearances at Phoenix Raceway this season.

The Bowtie brand’s return to the one-mile oval sparks some pristine memories from its most recent visit to the venue with Phoenix Raceway serving as the site that delivered the manufacturer its 34th Cup Series Driver Championship and 23rd O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Driver Championship.

A Special Weekend for Chevrolet: The weekend will feature a rare crossover between two of motorsport’s most competitive series – NASCAR and the NTT INDYCAR Series. For Chevrolet, the weekend is an opportunity to display its diverse profile in both stock car and open-wheel racing with the Bowtie brand boasting as the only manufacturer that will compete in all four events. A combined total of 75 Team Chevy drivers are entered for this weekend’s competition including 18 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 30 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, 15 in the ARCA Menards Series and 12 in the NTT INDYCAR Series.  Chevrolet has had a long history of success at the one-mile desert oval, including three championship-clinching performances and 27 wins in the Cup Series and two championships and 10 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. In INDYCAR, the Bowtie brigade earned its first win on an oval in 1969 at Phoenix Raceway, also marking its first of 10 all-time wins at the track.

MAKING MOVES With the first road course event in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series points standings sees three fresh faces in the top-10 – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp. Capitalizing on their road racing prowess, Shane van Gisbergen, AJ Allmendinger and Michael McDowell all earned top-10 results at Circuit of The Americas to propel each of them to a double-digit jump in the standings heading into the west coast swing. Leading the charge was the 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native that drove his No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet to his season-best runner-up finish in the Lone Star State – marking back-to-back top-five results to kick-off the season. The finish, along with a 45-point day, was enough to push Van Gisbergen up 11 spots to fifth in the standings. Allmendinger and McDowell each earned their best finish of the season at COTA and will head to Phoenix ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, in the points standings.

DOUBLING-UP Sharing the seat of the organization’s third NASCAR Cup Series entry, Austin Hill will take his turn behind the wheel of the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet this weekend for his first of five starts in the division this season. Currently competing in his fifth full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with the Chevrolet organization, Hill enters the weekend with 15 Cup Series starts under his belt, including a career-best finish of ninth that came in the entry at the Chicago Street Race last season.  The 31-year-old Winston, Georgia, native has already earned one trip to victory lane this season – driving his No. 21 Chevrolet to the win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Since then, Hill has managed to maintain the points lead through the first-three weekends – holding a 28-point lead over his teammate and reigning champion, Jesse Love. Hill’s experience at the one-mile desert oval includes eight career starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – producing six top-10s, including a best-finish of fourth in the March 2024 event.

BYRON’S BACK With a rotation of Team Chevy drivers behind the wheel of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet this season, it’s the 2017 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champion, William Byron, that will be behind the reigns for a double-duty weekend in the desert. The 28-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native has a short but successful resume in the second-tier series. Byron competed in just one full-time campaign in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series before his venture to the Cup Series – a stint that ended with four wins, ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors and a championship title.  The Team Chevy driver made two appearances in the series last season – finishing no worse than second, including the win in front of a hometown crowd at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Byron is on an elite list of drivers that have earned victories in both of NASCAR’s top-two divisions at Phoenix Raceway – earning one win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with JR Motorsports in 2017 and one win in the Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports in 2023.

LOVE BEAMS IN CONFIDENCE AND CONSISTENCY Phoenix Raceway with forever hold a special place in Jesse Love’s NASCAR career. Just a few months ago at the one-mile desert oval, the Menlo Park, California, native turned his sophomore campaign into a championship-earning season – driving his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to the race win and his first career championship title in the NASCAR national ranks. The only driver in the series to finish inside the top-10 in all three races this season, Love’s early consistency has paid dividends with the Team Chevy driver sitting just behind his teammate and points leader, Austin Hill, in the standings. Hungry for his first win of the season, there’s no better place for Love to check that box than at Phoenix Raceway. In his four career starts at the track, Love has yet to qualify and finish outside of the top-10, with his most notable result coming last November when he took the win and the championship title.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the NASCAR, NTT INDYCAR and ARCA Menards Series race weekend at Phoenix Raceway, with the Corvette Stingray leading each series to the green flag in their respective events.  ·        As the only manufacturer that will compete in all four events at Phoenix Raceway, a combined total of 75 Team Chevy drivers are entered for this weekend’s competition including 18 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 30 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, 15 in the ARCA Menards Series and 12 in the NTT INDYCAR Series. ·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway:   Kyle Busch – three wins (2019, 2018, 2005)Ross Chastain – one win (2023)William Byron – one win (2023)Kyle Larson – one win (2021)Chase Elliott – one win (2020) ·        In 59 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded 27 victories, including a record-setting streak of 10 straight – earned by six different drivers between 2005-2010. ·        In 147 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of 45.6%.  ·        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.

FOR THE FANS: ·        Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Phoenix Raceway, which will feature a variety of vehicles including: Tahoe Z71, Silverado 1500 RST, Silverado EV, Colorado Trail Boss, Traverse Z71, Equinox EV RS, Corvette E-Ray, Equinox ACTIV, and NASCAR and INDYCAR show cars.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Saturday, March 7Rinus VeeKay: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Ryan Hunter-Reay: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Parker Retzlaff: 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sheldon Creed & Sam Mayer: 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Jeremy Clements: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8Connor Zilisch: 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Ross Chastain: 8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Kyle Busch: 9:05 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Michael McDowell: 9:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Kyle Larson: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. William Byron: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, March 6: 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500Sunday, Mar. 8, at 3:30 p.m. ETFS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesGOVX 200Saturday, Mar. 7, at 7:30 p.m. ETCW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NTT INDYCAR SeriesGood Ranchers 250Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m. ETFOX ARCA Menards SeriesGeneral Tire 150Thursday, Mar. 5, at 6 p.m. ETFS1 and FOX One

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Phoenix Raceway?“Phoenix Raceway is a tough place. We’ve tried. We’ve worked hard, really hard, to try and get our cars better there. I’m looking forward to the challenge of it. You try and turn it into a short track, but the aero platform in the car really matters. One end of the track is flat, one end is banked, and you’re just trying to get the car neutral in both. So, you’re constantly working on it, but we’re always optimistic every time we go to Phoenix Raceway. We are committed to getting better.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThree races into the season with Spire Motorsports, how are you feeling about the team’s performance, and how has your experience behind the wheel been so far?“My experience has been very good. I feel like we started off strong in Daytona and Atlanta. We have good speed and momentum. I am very pleased with Spire Motorsports. We are pushing ourselves to get better and better each week.  You never know, you can work very hard, have all these meetings, communications, and chemistry, but you just never know exactly where you are going to stack up. I am impressed with the structure and speed at Spire. I was expecting to be fast, but this is faster than what I was expecting. In Daytona, I probably had the fastest superspeedway car I’ve ever been in. I still am learning the team and car, but so far to this point I am very impressed with what we are bringing to the racetrack.” Who will you be rooting for in INDYCAR, and what do you think about crossover races with NASCAR?”“I have a couple of friends in the IndyCar series — my amigo Paisano Pato, who I’ve known for over 20 years and also Scott McLaughlin. I’ll definitely be rooting for them. I think the INDYCAR Series is amazing. I really love watching those guys race. INDYCAR has a different fan base than NASCAR, which makes it great to bring families together to enjoy both series. I really enjoyed crossing over between the two at Indianapolis – it was a lot of fun – and I’m looking forward to doing it again.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat makes racing at Phoenix unique compared to other tracks? tomorrow“Phoenix Raceway is a really cool racetrack because it’s only a mile in length, but it still races like a big track. Some of the most exciting opportunities at Phoenix to set up passes and make moves are on restarts. Everybody is so close together at the dogleg, which is really unique because it lends itself to ten wide racing where you can be ten lanes wide with grooves to operate in. You’re going to venture to get away from everybody that’s around you, but it all funnels down to about two to three lanes wide when you get to the corners, so it gets pretty tight when you get into the turns. You want to make your passes right after the restarts.” How does the flat layout of the track affect the way you drive the track? “Phoenix being a flat racetrack, has ten degrees of banking at one end and four degrees of banking on the other, so it’s pretty flat. You basically feel like you’re on ice and drifting around the track keeping as much speed possible and making sure you got a good handling racecar, one that grips the track better than everyone else so you can go out there, pass them and win.” Do you think teams will be more conservative on tires this weekend compared to last November’s race? “I think you’ll see a more conservative approach with tires this weekend, just because it’s the beginning of the season, and people wanting to take care of their equipment and try to get through the West Coast swing. So, you definitely don’t want to be tearing up too much equipment.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat is your mindset going into Phoenix after having a tough race the last time there? “Phoenix is a racetrack that for whatever reason, whether racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly NASCAR Xfinity Series) or the NASCAR Cup Series, it’s just a racetrack that as a company we have struggled at in the past. You know, I think it’s about going there and trying to have realistic expectations. We are just trying to be better and have speed. We do want to have a solid improvement from where we have typically been there and put on a good showing for Campers Inn RV.” What is the best approach? “We know we are going to face some challenges, but it’s how we handle them and stay positive that matters most. Over the next few weeks, we’ll really get to see where we stand as a race team with our cars. Our focus is making the most of every weekend and that’s unloading with speed, improving through practice/qualifying and getting better when it counts in the race.” How are you feeling after receiving medical attention from the heat upon exiting your race car at COTA last Sunday? “I feel okay. I was just a little sore earlier in the week, but otherwise, really, I feel pretty good now. All things considered, we got a solid top-10 finish out of the day at COTA, some stage points, and gained spots in the points standings.”   Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your overall thoughts of driving a Cup Series car for the first time at Phoenix Raceway?“I’m looking forward to being back in the United Rentals Chevrolet this weekend. Based on my time in the simulator, I’m not sure how much the O’Reilly car is going to help me on the Cup side with the shifting differences and techniques of how you drive the Cup car. My approach will certainly be different from the O’Reilly race on Saturday to the Cup race on Sunday. Practice will be key to stay ahead of the racetrack. The track changes a lot in temperature and the way rubber is laid down, so we need to make sure we are not fighting the track and focusing only on the drivability of our car. You have to know where the track is going to go which we have gotten better with on the O’Reilly side. In that car, you want to be a couple numbers free in practice, because the track is going to tighten up as the race goes on. I’m not sure if that will translate to the Cup car, but that will be something to pay attention to. If we can get a decent qualifying effort, stay out of trouble, and play strategy at the end of the race, we should end up with a good finish.” What is the expectation for the No. 33 team this weekend at Phoenix Raceway?“We’ve been able to finish inside the top-10 before, although it was on a road course. A top-15 would be a great day, a top-20 would be a good day. In my opinion, we are past having the goal of just completing all of the laps. With the amount of times I’ve run on the Cup side now, we need to perform and have good results. If we can do that and finish around our teammates, the No. 3 and the No. 8, it would be a good day for us.”   Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet“I think everyone is looking forward to going to Phoenix, as it’s going to be the first true test of the year from an oval standpoint. So we are looking forward to see how our HaasTooling.com Chevrolet Camaro will truly start the year off.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“We’re really excited to welcome Pylon Aviation to the team this weekend in Phoenix. Bringing a new partner on board is always a big deal for everyone at Hyak Motorsports — it gives us extra motivation to go out and perform. We take a lot of pride in representing our partners the right way, both on and off the track. Hopefully we can put together a strong run and give Pylon Aviation something to celebrate in their first race with us.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“Phoenix has always been a difficult racetrack. It’s not really a short track because it’s so wide and so fast. It kind of blends the lines of an intermediate, downforce-style track into a short track. Like a short track, we’re doing a lot of shifting at Phoenix, and there are different ways to approach the corners in regard to how many times you’re shifting and where you’re shifting. Loose is fast at Phoenix, and the setups there are very aggressive. You’ve got to run the car mechanically free, so you never feel good around Phoenix. Even though it’s only a 312-lap race, it feels like a very long 312 laps. You’re out of breath at the end of it.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletPhoenix and Las Vegas will be your first traditional ovals of the year, what are you expecting?“I feel like with Phoenix and Vegas you start to see and feel where you are as a team, because you go back-to-back on superspeedways and then a road course with Circuit of the Americas. They are all important. They all count points, but you don’t know really where you stack up on your overall program until you get through all those different types of tracks. So, building off last year, our Phoenix package was good. We finished in the top 10 last fall and we were fast. We have good notes and a good baseline going into Phoenix this weekend.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat is your outlook heading into the next few weeks?“We are right where we want to be heading into this part of the schedule. Anything can happen at Daytona and Atlanta, and road courses aren’t my favorite, but we are still 10th in points with some really good tracks coming up for us. We qualified really well with MINER at Phoenix last year, but got caught up in someone else’s mess. We excel at the 1.5-mile tracks like Vegas, and we ran in the top 10 at the Southern 500 last year. I’m excited to get into the heart of the schedule.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat is your assessment of the first three Cup races this season? How different is the racing in Cup versus the O’Reilly Series?“I feel like it’s aggressive in Cup, but when I was coming through the field at COTA there were a lot more guys who were generous than I remember on Saturdays. Even when you get to the top-10, guys aren’t racing you when they know that you’re faster. On Saturdays I feel like every guy races you hard for every spot, even if you’re a second faster. I can’t say the restarts are any less aggressive in Cup because I got taken out twice last Sunday. The Cup guys are all really smart. I feel like they make a lot more intelligent move to put you in bad spots. It’s a lot harder to make up positions in those moments than it is on Saturday.” What are your thoughts entering Phoenix this weekend?“I’m excited to go back to Phoenix and I love racing there. That track is awesome and the restarts are crazy. It’s wide and there’s a lot of room to make moves and move around to change the balance on your car. I’m looking forward to getting out there and sharing the track with IndyCar this weekend. We’ll get to see them in person for the first time in a few years, probably since the Indy road course. I’m looking forward to seeing the friends that I have in the IndyCar paddock.”  Can you describe what the restarts are like at Phoenix going from the flat surface back up on the banking?“Even in the O’Reilly Series there were times you had to pull your helmet back down because pulling back onto the track is so aggressive. It’s a big bump coming back up on the racetrack after getting down on the dogleg. The restarts at Phoenix are just crazy. I feel bad for the spotters having to call however many wide you are, how many are outside of you and how many are inside. It’s always chaotic there. I’m looking forward to seeing how it is with the Cup guys.” Is running at the very bottom on Turn 1 an option at Phoenix?“It’s an option but you have to have a tire advantage on the cars ahead of you to make it work. If you are on similar tires to the people around you and you go down there, you’re going to come off Turn 2 going what feels like 20 miles an hour slower and everybody is going to be blowing by you on the outside. It’s risky. You’ve got to get clear and be able to take other people’s momentum. If you exit Turn 2 all the way down by the wall, that’s where you’re going to get yourself into trouble.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletYou’ve only started your NASCAR career a little over two years ago. Now you have 11 road course wins across the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. How cool is that?“It’s been pretty awesome! I’ve had a whole lot of fun racing here. Every year I’ve enjoyed it so much and it doesn’t seem like a grind. I got to the end of last year and I was tired, but I had a week off and I was ready to get going again (laughs). There is such a great group of guys and girls at Trackhouse, and it makes racing every weekend so enjoyable.” You are starting to head to some tracks for the second and third time. What do you want to do better as you approach these tracks in the 2026 season?“There are a couple of tracks I really struggle at for some reason, Phoenix is one of them. It’s a type of track I need to improve myself. I know my car can do it, but that racing is so much more tough with not a lot of practice. It’s hard, but that is where I need to get better personally. Then, just continue to keep growing at the bigger tracks. I felt like we’ve made some real progress there, so we need to keep it going.” You talk about set-up and different stuff like that, how different is it when you have that year in the Cup Series under your belt?“You just learn what you want and need from a car. My driving style was very different to most, I guess. The way I make the car work or want it to work is very different to others. We noticed a lot of trends which took a while to get everyone to adjust to. I adjusted a bit but now we’re sort of coming my way a bit, which has kind of helped me. It’s interesting. The cars are set up so different to what I’m used to, and I’m still trying to understand what I need or want from the car.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCEPhoenix RacewayMarch 5-8, 2026

A two-race west coast swing kicks off this weekend for the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with the pair traveling to the desert for their first of two appearances at Phoenix Raceway this season.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

The Bowtie brand’s return to the one-mile oval sparks some pristine memories from its most recent visit to the venue with Phoenix Raceway serving as the site that delivered the manufacturer its 34th Cup Series Driver Championship and 23rd O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Driver Championship.

A Special Weekend for Chevrolet: The weekend will feature a rare crossover between two of motorsport’s most competitive series – NASCAR and the NTT INDYCAR Series. For Chevrolet, the weekend is an opportunity to display its diverse profile in both stock car and open-wheel racing with the Bowtie brand boasting as the only manufacturer that will compete in all four events. A combined total of 75 Team Chevy drivers are entered for this weekend’s competition including 18 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 30 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, 15 in the ARCA Menards Series and 12 in the NTT INDYCAR Series.  Chevrolet has had a long history of success at the one-mile desert oval, including three championship-clinching performances and 27 wins in the Cup Series and two championships and 10 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. In INDYCAR, the Bowtie brigade earned its first win on an oval in 1969 at Phoenix Raceway, also marking its first of 10 all-time wins at the track.

MAKING MOVES With the first road course event in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series points standings sees three fresh faces in the top-10 – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp. Capitalizing on their road racing prowess, Shane van Gisbergen, AJ Allmendinger and Michael McDowell all earned top-10 results at Circuit of The Americas to propel each of them to a double-digit jump in the standings heading into the west coast swing. Leading the charge was the 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native that drove his No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet to his season-best runner-up finish in the Lone Star State – marking back-to-back top-five results to kick-off the season. The finish, along with a 45-point day, was enough to push Van Gisbergen up 11 spots to fifth in the standings. Allmendinger and McDowell each earned their best finish of the season at COTA and will head to Phoenix ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, in the points standings.

DOUBLING-UP Sharing the seat of the organization’s third NASCAR Cup Series entry, Austin Hill will take his turn behind the wheel of the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet this weekend for his first of five starts in the division this season. Currently competing in his fifth full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with the Chevrolet organization, Hill enters the weekend with 15 Cup Series starts under his belt, including a career-best finish of ninth that came in the entry at the Chicago Street Race last season.  The 31-year-old Winston, Georgia, native has already earned one trip to victory lane this season – driving his No. 21 Chevrolet to the win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Since then, Hill has managed to maintain the points lead through the first-three weekends – holding a 28-point lead over his teammate and reigning champion, Jesse Love. Hill’s experience at the one-mile desert oval includes eight career starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – producing six top-10s, including a best-finish of fourth in the March 2024 event.

BYRON’S BACK With a rotation of Team Chevy drivers behind the wheel of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet this season, it’s the 2017 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champion, William Byron, that will be behind the reigns for a double-duty weekend in the desert. The 28-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native has a short but successful resume in the second-tier series. Byron competed in just one full-time campaign in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series before his venture to the Cup Series – a stint that ended with four wins, ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors and a championship title.  The Team Chevy driver made two appearances in the series last season – finishing no worse than second, including the win in front of a hometown crowd at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Byron is on an elite list of drivers that have earned victories in both of NASCAR’s top-two divisions at Phoenix Raceway – earning one win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with JR Motorsports in 2017 and one win in the Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports in 2023.

LOVE BEAMS IN CONFIDENCE AND CONSISTENCY Phoenix Raceway with forever hold a special place in Jesse Love’s NASCAR career. Just a few months ago at the one-mile desert oval, the Menlo Park, California, native turned his sophomore campaign into a championship-earning season – driving his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to the race win and his first career championship title in the NASCAR national ranks. The only driver in the series to finish inside the top-10 in all three races this season, Love’s early consistency has paid dividends with the Team Chevy driver sitting just behind his teammate and points leader, Austin Hill, in the standings. Hungry for his first win of the season, there’s no better place for Love to check that box than at Phoenix Raceway. In his four career starts at the track, Love has yet to qualify and finish outside of the top-10, with his most notable result coming last November when he took the win and the championship title.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the NASCAR, NTT INDYCAR and ARCA Menards Series race weekend at Phoenix Raceway, with the Corvette Stingray leading each series to the green flag in their respective events.  ·        As the only manufacturer that will compete in all four events at Phoenix Raceway, a combined total of 75 Team Chevy drivers are entered for this weekend’s competition including 18 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 30 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, 15 in the ARCA Menards Series and 12 in the NTT INDYCAR Series. ·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway:   Kyle Busch – three wins (2019, 2018, 2005)Ross Chastain – one win (2023)William Byron – one win (2023)Kyle Larson – one win (2021)Chase Elliott – one win (2020) ·        In 59 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded 27 victories, including a record-setting streak of 10 straight – earned by six different drivers between 2005-2010. ·        In 147 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of 45.6%.  ·        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.

FOR THE FANS: ·        Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Phoenix Raceway, which will feature a variety of vehicles including: Tahoe Z71, Silverado 1500 RST, Silverado EV, Colorado Trail Boss, Traverse Z71, Equinox EV RS, Corvette E-Ray, Equinox ACTIV, and NASCAR and INDYCAR show cars.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Saturday, March 7Rinus VeeKay: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Ryan Hunter-Reay: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Parker Retzlaff: 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sheldon Creed & Sam Mayer: 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Jeremy Clements: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8Connor Zilisch: 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Ross Chastain: 8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Kyle Busch: 9:05 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Michael McDowell: 9:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Kyle Larson: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. William Byron: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, March 6: 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500Sunday, Mar. 8, at 3:30 p.m. ETFS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesGOVX 200Saturday, Mar. 7, at 7:30 p.m. ETCW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NTT INDYCAR SeriesGood Ranchers 250Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m. ETFOX ARCA Menards SeriesGeneral Tire 150Thursday, Mar. 5, at 6 p.m. ETFS1 and FOX One

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Phoenix Raceway?“Phoenix Raceway is a tough place. We’ve tried. We’ve worked hard, really hard, to try and get our cars better there. I’m looking forward to the challenge of it. You try and turn it into a short track, but the aero platform in the car really matters. One end of the track is flat, one end is banked, and you’re just trying to get the car neutral in both. So, you’re constantly working on it, but we’re always optimistic every time we go to Phoenix Raceway. We are committed to getting better.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThree races into the season with Spire Motorsports, how are you feeling about the team’s performance, and how has your experience behind the wheel been so far?“My experience has been very good. I feel like we started off strong in Daytona and Atlanta. We have good speed and momentum. I am very pleased with Spire Motorsports. We are pushing ourselves to get better and better each week.  You never know, you can work very hard, have all these meetings, communications, and chemistry, but you just never know exactly where you are going to stack up. I am impressed with the structure and speed at Spire. I was expecting to be fast, but this is faster than what I was expecting. In Daytona, I probably had the fastest superspeedway car I’ve ever been in. I still am learning the team and car, but so far to this point I am very impressed with what we are bringing to the racetrack.” Who will you be rooting for in INDYCAR, and what do you think about crossover races with NASCAR?”“I have a couple of friends in the IndyCar series — my amigo Paisano Pato, who I’ve known for over 20 years and also Scott McLaughlin. I’ll definitely be rooting for them. I think the INDYCAR Series is amazing. I really love watching those guys race. INDYCAR has a different fan base than NASCAR, which makes it great to bring families together to enjoy both series. I really enjoyed crossing over between the two at Indianapolis – it was a lot of fun – and I’m looking forward to doing it again.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat makes racing at Phoenix unique compared to other tracks? tomorrow“Phoenix Raceway is a really cool racetrack because it’s only a mile in length, but it still races like a big track. Some of the most exciting opportunities at Phoenix to set up passes and make moves are on restarts. Everybody is so close together at the dogleg, which is really unique because it lends itself to ten wide racing where you can be ten lanes wide with grooves to operate in. You’re going to venture to get away from everybody that’s around you, but it all funnels down to about two to three lanes wide when you get to the corners, so it gets pretty tight when you get into the turns. You want to make your passes right after the restarts.” How does the flat layout of the track affect the way you drive the track? “Phoenix being a flat racetrack, has ten degrees of banking at one end and four degrees of banking on the other, so it’s pretty flat. You basically feel like you’re on ice and drifting around the track keeping as much speed possible and making sure you got a good handling racecar, one that grips the track better than everyone else so you can go out there, pass them and win.” Do you think teams will be more conservative on tires this weekend compared to last November’s race? “I think you’ll see a more conservative approach with tires this weekend, just because it’s the beginning of the season, and people wanting to take care of their equipment and try to get through the West Coast swing. So, you definitely don’t want to be tearing up too much equipment.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat is your mindset going into Phoenix after having a tough race the last time there? “Phoenix is a racetrack that for whatever reason, whether racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly NASCAR Xfinity Series) or the NASCAR Cup Series, it’s just a racetrack that as a company we have struggled at in the past. You know, I think it’s about going there and trying to have realistic expectations. We are just trying to be better and have speed. We do want to have a solid improvement from where we have typically been there and put on a good showing for Campers Inn RV.” What is the best approach? “We know we are going to face some challenges, but it’s how we handle them and stay positive that matters most. Over the next few weeks, we’ll really get to see where we stand as a race team with our cars. Our focus is making the most of every weekend and that’s unloading with speed, improving through practice/qualifying and getting better when it counts in the race.” How are you feeling after receiving medical attention from the heat upon exiting your race car at COTA last Sunday? “I feel okay. I was just a little sore earlier in the week, but otherwise, really, I feel pretty good now. All things considered, we got a solid top-10 finish out of the day at COTA, some stage points, and gained spots in the points standings.”   Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your overall thoughts of driving a Cup Series car for the first time at Phoenix Raceway?“I’m looking forward to being back in the United Rentals Chevrolet this weekend. Based on my time in the simulator, I’m not sure how much the O’Reilly car is going to help me on the Cup side with the shifting differences and techniques of how you drive the Cup car. My approach will certainly be different from the O’Reilly race on Saturday to the Cup race on Sunday. Practice will be key to stay ahead of the racetrack. The track changes a lot in temperature and the way rubber is laid down, so we need to make sure we are not fighting the track and focusing only on the drivability of our car. You have to know where the track is going to go which we have gotten better with on the O’Reilly side. In that car, you want to be a couple numbers free in practice, because the track is going to tighten up as the race goes on. I’m not sure if that will translate to the Cup car, but that will be something to pay attention to. If we can get a decent qualifying effort, stay out of trouble, and play strategy at the end of the race, we should end up with a good finish.” What is the expectation for the No. 33 team this weekend at Phoenix Raceway?“We’ve been able to finish inside the top-10 before, although it was on a road course. A top-15 would be a great day, a top-20 would be a good day. In my opinion, we are past having the goal of just completing all of the laps. With the amount of times I’ve run on the Cup side now, we need to perform and have good results. If we can do that and finish around our teammates, the No. 3 and the No. 8, it would be a good day for us.”   Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet“I think everyone is looking forward to going to Phoenix, as it’s going to be the first true test of the year from an oval standpoint. So we are looking forward to see how our HaasTooling.com Chevrolet Camaro will truly start the year off.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“We’re really excited to welcome Pylon Aviation to the team this weekend in Phoenix. Bringing a new partner on board is always a big deal for everyone at Hyak Motorsports — it gives us extra motivation to go out and perform. We take a lot of pride in representing our partners the right way, both on and off the track. Hopefully we can put together a strong run and give Pylon Aviation something to celebrate in their first race with us.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“Phoenix has always been a difficult racetrack. It’s not really a short track because it’s so wide and so fast. It kind of blends the lines of an intermediate, downforce-style track into a short track. Like a short track, we’re doing a lot of shifting at Phoenix, and there are different ways to approach the corners in regard to how many times you’re shifting and where you’re shifting. Loose is fast at Phoenix, and the setups there are very aggressive. You’ve got to run the car mechanically free, so you never feel good around Phoenix. Even though it’s only a 312-lap race, it feels like a very long 312 laps. You’re out of breath at the end of it.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletPhoenix and Las Vegas will be your first traditional ovals of the year, what are you expecting?“I feel like with Phoenix and Vegas you start to see and feel where you are as a team, because you go back-to-back on superspeedways and then a road course with Circuit of the Americas. They are all important. They all count points, but you don’t know really where you stack up on your overall program until you get through all those different types of tracks. So, building off last year, our Phoenix package was good. We finished in the top 10 last fall and we were fast. We have good notes and a good baseline going into Phoenix this weekend.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat is your outlook heading into the next few weeks?“We are right where we want to be heading into this part of the schedule. Anything can happen at Daytona and Atlanta, and road courses aren’t my favorite, but we are still 10th in points with some really good tracks coming up for us. We qualified really well with MINER at Phoenix last year, but got caught up in someone else’s mess. We excel at the 1.5-mile tracks like Vegas, and we ran in the top 10 at the Southern 500 last year. I’m excited to get into the heart of the schedule.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat is your assessment of the first three Cup races this season? How different is the racing in Cup versus the O’Reilly Series?“I feel like it’s aggressive in Cup, but when I was coming through the field at COTA there were a lot more guys who were generous than I remember on Saturdays. Even when you get to the top-10, guys aren’t racing you when they know that you’re faster. On Saturdays I feel like every guy races you hard for every spot, even if you’re a second faster. I can’t say the restarts are any less aggressive in Cup because I got taken out twice last Sunday. The Cup guys are all really smart. I feel like they make a lot more intelligent move to put you in bad spots. It’s a lot harder to make up positions in those moments than it is on Saturday.” What are your thoughts entering Phoenix this weekend?“I’m excited to go back to Phoenix and I love racing there. That track is awesome and the restarts are crazy. It’s wide and there’s a lot of room to make moves and move around to change the balance on your car. I’m looking forward to getting out there and sharing the track with IndyCar this weekend. We’ll get to see them in person for the first time in a few years, probably since the Indy road course. I’m looking forward to seeing the friends that I have in the IndyCar paddock.”  Can you describe what the restarts are like at Phoenix going from the flat surface back up on the banking?“Even in the O’Reilly Series there were times you had to pull your helmet back down because pulling back onto the track is so aggressive. It’s a big bump coming back up on the racetrack after getting down on the dogleg. The restarts at Phoenix are just crazy. I feel bad for the spotters having to call however many wide you are, how many are outside of you and how many are inside. It’s always chaotic there. I’m looking forward to seeing how it is with the Cup guys.” Is running at the very bottom on Turn 1 an option at Phoenix?“It’s an option but you have to have a tire advantage on the cars ahead of you to make it work. If you are on similar tires to the people around you and you go down there, you’re going to come off Turn 2 going what feels like 20 miles an hour slower and everybody is going to be blowing by you on the outside. It’s risky. You’ve got to get clear and be able to take other people’s momentum. If you exit Turn 2 all the way down by the wall, that’s where you’re going to get yourself into trouble.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletYou’ve only started your NASCAR career a little over two years ago. Now you have 11 road course wins across the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. How cool is that?“It’s been pretty awesome! I’ve had a whole lot of fun racing here. Every year I’ve enjoyed it so much and it doesn’t seem like a grind. I got to the end of last year and I was tired, but I had a week off and I was ready to get going again (laughs). There is such a great group of guys and girls at Trackhouse, and it makes racing every weekend so enjoyable.” You are starting to head to some tracks for the second and third time. What do you want to do better as you approach these tracks in the 2026 season?“There are a couple of tracks I really struggle at for some reason, Phoenix is one of them. It’s a type of track I need to improve myself. I know my car can do it, but that racing is so much more tough with not a lot of practice. It’s hard, but that is where I need to get better personally. Then, just continue to keep growing at the bigger tracks. I felt like we’ve made some real progress there, so we need to keep it going.” You talk about set-up and different stuff like that, how different is it when you have that year in the Cup Series under your belt?“You just learn what you want and need from a car. My driving style was very different to most, I guess. The way I make the car work or want it to work is very different to others. We noticed a lot of trends which took a while to get everyone to adjust to. I adjusted a bit but now we’re sort of coming my way a bit, which has kind of helped me. It’s interesting. The cars are set up so different to what I’m used to, and I’m still trying to understand what I need or want from the car.”

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: 142Top-Fives: 7Top-10s: 11Stage Wins: 1 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 881 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 767Laps led to date: 256,876Top-fives to date: 4,443Top-10s to date: 9,162                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,215           Chevrolet: 881           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 847                                                                                          Ford: 747           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 206

Mar 3, 2026 | Featured, Pre-Race Releases

The 2026 NHRA season officially kicks off this weekend at the legendary NHRA Gatornationals, and Randy Meyer Racing (RMR) is heading to Gainesville looking to build on last year’s Gatornationals victory.

Matt Cummings, Florida-native, captured the win at this event in 2025, helping him secure a 2nd place in the national standings last year, setting the tone for a strong second season with RMR in 2026. As the defending event champions, the team returns motivated and ready to start the new year with the same momentum.

“It is so awesome to start the race season close to home,” Matt said. “We are going back to try and defend our 2025 GatorNats victory. It’s been too long since I have been with my team and in the dragster.”

While Matt looks to defend his title, this weekend marks a milestone for McKenna Bold as she makes her first career start at the Gatornationals. After an offseason focused on preparation, she’s ready to officially begin her 2026 NHRA championship campaign.

“Race one of the 2026 season is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited to be back with my team,” McKenna said. “All the hard work in the offseason leads to this so I know my guys are going to give me a great race car and I’ll try to do my best job behind the wheel. The goal heading into this weekend and really the entire year will be simple; take every race one round at a time and turn on as many win lights as possible, and hopefully collect some of the new 75th edition Wallys along the way.”

Off the track, fans have been getting their first look at McKenna’s new 2026 livery. The team recently installed the updated design on her Top Alcohol Dragster, and a full behind-the-scenes video of the wrap process is now live on YouTube, giving fans an inside look at how the new look came together.

To celebrate the new season, McKenna’s 2026 t-shirts are officially now in stock and now available to order! The new design highlights her 2025 regional championship and showcases the fresh dragster look that will debut this weekend. Orders are shipping now, just in time for race season.

Qualifying begins Thursday in Gainesville, with eliminations set for Saturday and Sunday. Fans can follow along on NHRA.tv and across RMR’s Facebook channel for updates throughout the weekend.

Randy Meyer Racing Opens 2026 Season at NHRA Gatornationals, Looking to Defend Title

Mar 3, 2026 | Featured, Pre-Race Releases

The 2026 NHRA season officially kicks off this weekend at the legendary NHRA Gatornationals, and Randy Meyer Racing (RMR) is heading to Gainesville looking to build on last year’s Gatornationals victory.

Matt Cummings, Florida-native, captured the win at this event in 2025, helping him secure a 2nd place in the national standings last year, setting the tone for a strong second season with RMR in 2026. As the defending event champions, the team returns motivated and ready to start the new year with the same momentum.

“It is so awesome to start the race season close to home,” Matt said. “We are going back to try and defend our 2025 GatorNats victory. It’s been too long since I have been with my team and in the dragster.”

While Matt looks to defend his title, this weekend marks a milestone for McKenna Bold as she makes her first career start at the Gatornationals. After an offseason focused on preparation, she’s ready to officially begin her 2026 NHRA championship campaign.

“Race one of the 2026 season is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited to be back with my team,” McKenna said. “All the hard work in the offseason leads to this so I know my guys are going to give me a great race car and I’ll try to do my best job behind the wheel. The goal heading into this weekend and really the entire year will be simple; take every race one round at a time and turn on as many win lights as possible, and hopefully collect some of the new 75th edition Wallys along the way.”

Off the track, fans have been getting their first look at McKenna’s new 2026 livery. The team recently installed the updated design on her Top Alcohol Dragster, and a full behind-the-scenes video of the wrap process is now live on YouTube, giving fans an inside look at how the new look came together.

To celebrate the new season, McKenna’s 2026 t-shirts are officially now in stock and now available to order! The new design highlights her 2025 regional championship and showcases the fresh dragster look that will debut this weekend. Orders are shipping now, just in time for race season.

Qualifying begins Thursday in Gainesville, with eliminations set for Saturday and Sunday. Fans can follow along on NHRA.tv and across RMR’s Facebook channel for updates throughout the weekend.

The 2026 season starts now – and Randy Meyer Racing is ready to make it count.

EASTABOGA, AL (March 4, 2026) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is ready for some southern hospitality.

After a Bike Week invasion of Florida, it’s a quick turnaround for The Greatest Show on Dirt as the tour makes its only stops of 2026 in Alabama and Mississippi this week.

First up is the Series’ 14th ever visit to Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track on Friday, March 6. The bullring sits just down the street from its pavement counterpart, the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. Then it’s over to Columbus, MS’ Magnolia Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 7. “The Mag” has welcomed the country’s premier Sprint Car drivers on three previous occasions.

Thanks to AMKUS Rescue Systems, both races will be First Responder Nights. First responders will receive a $10 discount on their tickets and can get 20% off at the World of Outlaws merch trailer by showing their ID at the gates on race day.

It’s time to get dirty in the “Dirty South.”

BUY TALLADEGA TICKETS HERE
BUY MAGNOLIA TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top five storylines to watch unfold down south:

BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

David Gravel has racked up a remarkable 120 World of Outlaws victories in his illustrious career, and he gets to head to where the winning began this weekend.

Rewind to October of 2011 when the World of Outlaws rolled into Talladega Short Track. Jason Meyers was riding a five-race win streak and powering toward his second consecutive championship. But his streak came to a halt when a 19-year-old from Watertown, CT wheeled by him and held off Donny Schatz for his first career checkered flag.

Now, Gravel returns to Talladega as the two-time and defending champion and seventh-winningest driver in Series history. He’s been to the Alabama oval twice since that night, finishing fourth in 2023 and runner-up a year ago with Big Game Motorsports.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Gravel has also been to Magnolia Victory Lane, topping last year’s visit.

Gravel currently leads the points and carries a run of four straight podiums into the weekend.

ICE IN HIS VEINS

The man who made Gravel settle for second last year at Talladega? That would be Bill Balog.

The “North Pole Nightmare” drove with ice in his veins around the 1/3 mile. Balog wheeled from fourth to the lead in his second-ever appearance at the track. The job wasn’t done there as he had to hold off a charging Gravel, but he managed to pull it off. His first World of Outlaws win since 2016 ignited a memorable campaign. He went on to top a trio of races and improve his statistics nearly across the board compared to his 2024 rookie season.

Balog could use a stout showing this weekend to shake off a slow start. He battled gremlins throughout Florida and is yet to crack the top 10 this season through five races.

CAN BUDDY BOUNCE BACK?

The season is still young, but Michael “Buddy” Kofoid needs a strong weekend.

If something could go wrong on Monday at Volusia Speedway Park for the championship contender, it did. Heat Race and Last Chance Showdown problems forced the Roth Motorsports crew to use a provisional. Then, after swapping cars for the Feature, the No. 83 wouldn’t fire for the main event. The resulting 27th-place finish dropped Kofoid to fourth in the standings and 46 markers behind point leader Gravel.

Fortunately for the 24-year-old, he’s heading into a stretch of tracks that have treated him well. He won at Talladega two years ago with CMS Racing. The Penngrove, CA native marched from ninth to fourth last year at Magnolia. Looking a little further ahead, Kofoid has been victorious at Kennedale Speedway Park, where the tour visits on March 13-14, and Lawton Speedway, which is the March 20 destination.

There’s no denying this is the scenario that Kofoid and company hoped to avoid, but with more than 80 races to go and this team proving they can get hot, their title hopes are far from over.

HAUD’S HEATING UP

It hasn’t taken long for the new pairing of Sheldon Haudenschild and KCP Racing to find their footing.

They didn’t get off to the quickest start at the season-opening Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, but the Bike Week Jamboree return to Volusia shows an entirely different story. Haudenschild dominated Sunday’s portion by leading every lap for the 47th World of Outlaws triumph of his career. He backed that up by starting on the pole and bagging a top 10 the next night.

Can the Wooster, OH native continue building momentum this weekend? The statistics nearly guarantee he’ll be up front at Magnolia on Saturday. Haudenschild topped the Series debut at the Mississippi track in 2021. He then finished third in both 2023 and 2025 to be the only driver to stand on the podium during all three World of Outlaws visits.

ROOKIE ON A ROLL

Many viewed Emerson Axsom as the immediate favorite for the 2026 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies when he and Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports committed, but Ashton Torgerson has other plans.

The Glendale, AZ native was wildly impressive over the campaign’s first five races at Volusia with Shark Racing. It began with him setting Simpson Race Products Quick Time in the season opener and finishing the night with a top 10. During the Bike Week Jamboree, he finished seventh on Sunday then wheeled from sixth to second in the finale. Had the race been a lap or two longer, he might’ve been able to sneak by Anthony Macri for his first career World of Outlaws win.

Many new experiences await the 19-year-old in the near future. Of the seven tracks remaining in March, he’s raced at none of them in a Sprint Car. He does have some Midget laps at Creek County Speedway (March 21), US 36 Raceway (March 27), and 81 Speedway (March 28) under his belt that he hopes will help during those stops.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, March 6 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL
Saturday, March 7 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS

AROUND THE TURN
Friday-Saturday, March 13-14 at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, TX (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (5/86 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (-0 PTS)
2. Anthony Macri – Macri Motorsports No. 39M (-2 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-8 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-46 PTS)
5. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-50 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-54 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-74 PTS)
8. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-76 PTS)
9. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-82 PTS)
10. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-82 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (4 Drivers):
2 Wins – Anthony Macri
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild

FEATURE LAPS LED (8 Drivers):
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
25 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
10 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
6 Laps Led – Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
1 Lap Led – David GravelPODIUM FINISHES (7 Drivers):
4 Podiums – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri
1 Podium – Spencer Bayston, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Ashton Torgerson

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (3 Drivers):
2 Quick Times – David Gravel
1 Quick Time – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild

HEAT RACE WINNERS (9 Drivers):
4 Heat Wins – David Gravel
3 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (18 Drivers):
5 Dashes – David Gravel
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Dashes – Michael Kofoid, Brent Marks, Tanner Holmes
1 Dash – Brian Brown, Chase Dietz, Kasey Jedrzejek, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kerry Madsen

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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (4 Drivers):
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson
1 Hard Charger – Michael Kofoid, Donny Schatz, Chris Windom

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (5 Drivers):
1 Fastest Lap – Michael Kofoid, Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (3 Drivers):
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
1 Hottest Lap – David Gravel, Austin McCarl, Brent Marks

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: Dirty South Doubleheader Takes World of Outlaws to Talladega, Magnolia

EASTABOGA, AL (March 4, 2026) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is ready for some southern hospitality.

After a Bike Week invasion of Florida, it’s a quick turnaround for The Greatest Show on Dirt as the tour makes its only stops of 2026 in Alabama and Mississippi this week.

First up is the Series’ 14th ever visit to Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track on Friday, March 6. The bullring sits just down the street from its pavement counterpart, the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. Then it’s over to Columbus, MS’ Magnolia Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 7. “The Mag” has welcomed the country’s premier Sprint Car drivers on three previous occasions.

Thanks to AMKUS Rescue Systems, both races will be First Responder Nights. First responders will receive a $10 discount on their tickets and can get 20% off at the World of Outlaws merch trailer by showing their ID at the gates on race day.

It’s time to get dirty in the “Dirty South.”

BUY TALLADEGA TICKETS HERE
BUY MAGNOLIA TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top five storylines to watch unfold down south:

BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

David Gravel has racked up a remarkable 120 World of Outlaws victories in his illustrious career, and he gets to head to where the winning began this weekend.

Rewind to October of 2011 when the World of Outlaws rolled into Talladega Short Track. Jason Meyers was riding a five-race win streak and powering toward his second consecutive championship. But his streak came to a halt when a 19-year-old from Watertown, CT wheeled by him and held off Donny Schatz for his first career checkered flag.

Now, Gravel returns to Talladega as the two-time and defending champion and seventh-winningest driver in Series history. He’s been to the Alabama oval twice since that night, finishing fourth in 2023 and runner-up a year ago with Big Game Motorsports.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Gravel has also been to Magnolia Victory Lane, topping last year’s visit.

Gravel currently leads the points and carries a run of four straight podiums into the weekend.

ICE IN HIS VEINS

The man who made Gravel settle for second last year at Talladega? That would be Bill Balog.

The “North Pole Nightmare” drove with ice in his veins around the 1/3 mile. Balog wheeled from fourth to the lead in his second-ever appearance at the track. The job wasn’t done there as he had to hold off a charging Gravel, but he managed to pull it off. His first World of Outlaws win since 2016 ignited a memorable campaign. He went on to top a trio of races and improve his statistics nearly across the board compared to his 2024 rookie season.

Balog could use a stout showing this weekend to shake off a slow start. He battled gremlins throughout Florida and is yet to crack the top 10 this season through five races.

CAN BUDDY BOUNCE BACK?

The season is still young, but Michael “Buddy” Kofoid needs a strong weekend.

If something could go wrong on Monday at Volusia Speedway Park for the championship contender, it did. Heat Race and Last Chance Showdown problems forced the Roth Motorsports crew to use a provisional. Then, after swapping cars for the Feature, the No. 83 wouldn’t fire for the main event. The resulting 27th-place finish dropped Kofoid to fourth in the standings and 46 markers behind point leader Gravel.

Fortunately for the 24-year-old, he’s heading into a stretch of tracks that have treated him well. He won at Talladega two years ago with CMS Racing. The Penngrove, CA native marched from ninth to fourth last year at Magnolia. Looking a little further ahead, Kofoid has been victorious at Kennedale Speedway Park, where the tour visits on March 13-14, and Lawton Speedway, which is the March 20 destination.

There’s no denying this is the scenario that Kofoid and company hoped to avoid, but with more than 80 races to go and this team proving they can get hot, their title hopes are far from over.

HAUD’S HEATING UP

It hasn’t taken long for the new pairing of Sheldon Haudenschild and KCP Racing to find their footing.

They didn’t get off to the quickest start at the season-opening Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, but the Bike Week Jamboree return to Volusia shows an entirely different story. Haudenschild dominated Sunday’s portion by leading every lap for the 47th World of Outlaws triumph of his career. He backed that up by starting on the pole and bagging a top 10 the next night.

Can the Wooster, OH native continue building momentum this weekend? The statistics nearly guarantee he’ll be up front at Magnolia on Saturday. Haudenschild topped the Series debut at the Mississippi track in 2021. He then finished third in both 2023 and 2025 to be the only driver to stand on the podium during all three World of Outlaws visits.

ROOKIE ON A ROLL

Many viewed Emerson Axsom as the immediate favorite for the 2026 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies when he and Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports committed, but Ashton Torgerson has other plans.

The Glendale, AZ native was wildly impressive over the campaign’s first five races at Volusia with Shark Racing. It began with him setting Simpson Race Products Quick Time in the season opener and finishing the night with a top 10. During the Bike Week Jamboree, he finished seventh on Sunday then wheeled from sixth to second in the finale. Had the race been a lap or two longer, he might’ve been able to sneak by Anthony Macri for his first career World of Outlaws win.

Many new experiences await the 19-year-old in the near future. Of the seven tracks remaining in March, he’s raced at none of them in a Sprint Car. He does have some Midget laps at Creek County Speedway (March 21), US 36 Raceway (March 27), and 81 Speedway (March 28) under his belt that he hopes will help during those stops.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, March 6 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL
Saturday, March 7 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS

AROUND THE TURN
Friday-Saturday, March 13-14 at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, TX (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (5/86 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (-0 PTS)
2. Anthony Macri – Macri Motorsports No. 39M (-2 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-8 PTS)
4. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-46 PTS)
5. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-50 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-54 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-74 PTS)
8. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-76 PTS)
9. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-82 PTS)
10. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-82 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (4 Drivers):
2 Wins – Anthony Macri
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild

FEATURE LAPS LED (8 Drivers):
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
25 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild
12 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
10 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
6 Laps Led – Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
1 Lap Led – David GravelPODIUM FINISHES (7 Drivers):
4 Podiums – Carson Macedo, David Gravel
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri
1 Podium – Spencer Bayston, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Ashton Torgerson

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (3 Drivers):
2 Quick Times – David Gravel
1 Quick Time – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild

HEAT RACE WINNERS (9 Drivers):
4 Heat Wins – David Gravel
3 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (18 Drivers):
5 Dashes – David Gravel
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Dashes – Michael Kofoid, Brent Marks, Tanner Holmes
1 Dash – Brian Brown, Chase Dietz, Kasey Jedrzejek, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson, Brock Zearfoss, Kerry Madsen

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

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (4 Drivers):
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson
1 Hard Charger – Michael Kofoid, Donny Schatz, Chris Windom

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (5 Drivers):
1 Fastest Lap – Michael Kofoid, Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (3 Drivers):
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
1 Hottest Lap – David Gravel, Austin McCarl, Brent Marks

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 (1)
Fri, March 6 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Sat, March 7 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS
Fri, March 13 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX
Sat, March 14 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX
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

MOORESVILLE, NC – March 4, 2026 – Roush Yates Engines and Nextivity announce a strategic technical partnership to enhance connectivity, communication, and operational efficiency across Roush Yates’ advanced manufacturing and engine development facilities.

Nextivity, based in San Diego, California, designs and develops intelligent cellular coverage solutions that deliver industry-leading performance, reliability, and network-safe signal amplification. Their award-winning CEL-FI systems are engineered to provide robust in-building cellular coverage for mission-critical environments, ensuring uninterrupted communication where precision and speed are paramount.

Through this partnership, Nextivity will support Roush Yates Engines (RYE) and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions (RYMS) by providing advanced cellular coverage systems throughout their Mooresville, North Carolina facilities. Enhanced connectivity will strengthen real-time communication across engineering, machining, quality control, and race support operations, maximizing responsiveness in high-performance, time-sensitive environments.

“Nextivity is a technology-driven organization focused on delivering reliable connectivity solutions,” said Todd English, CEO of Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions. “Seamless communication across our facilities is critical to maintaining our competitive edge in NASCAR and manufacturing solutions for various industries that include aerospace, defense, space, and medical. Aligning with innovative partners like Nextivity ensures our team can operate at peak efficiency without interruption.”

“As an industry technology leader, Roush Yates Engine and Manufacturing Solutions teams need seamless connectivity every minute of every day,” said Michiel Lotter, CEO of Nextivity. “Both in the factory and trackside, having a reliable network infrastructure keeps the team connected and focused on what they do best – helping their customers win. We are pleased to support Roush Yates through this partnership and look forward to integrating our ‘Do More with DAS’ IoT solutions into Roush Yates factories to enhance both communications and overall operations.”

ROUSH YATES ENGINES FORMS TECHNICAL ALLIANCE WITH NEXTIVITYMOORESVILLE, NC – March 4, 2026 – Roush Yates Engines and Nextivity announce a strategic technical partnership to enhance connectivity, communication, and operational efficiency across Roush Yates’ advanced manufacturing and engine development facilities.

Nextivity, based in San Diego, California, designs and develops intelligent cellular coverage solutions that deliver industry-leading performance, reliability, and network-safe signal amplification. Their award-winning CEL-FI systems are engineered to provide robust in-building cellular coverage for mission-critical environments, ensuring uninterrupted communication where precision and speed are paramount.

Through this partnership, Nextivity will support Roush Yates Engines (RYE) and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions (RYMS) by providing advanced cellular coverage systems throughout their Mooresville, North Carolina facilities. Enhanced connectivity will strengthen real-time communication across engineering, machining, quality control, and race support operations, maximizing responsiveness in high-performance, time-sensitive environments.

“Nextivity is a technology-driven organization focused on delivering reliable connectivity solutions,” said Todd English, CEO of Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions. “Seamless communication across our facilities is critical to maintaining our competitive edge in NASCAR and manufacturing solutions for various industries that include aerospace, defense, space, and medical. Aligning with innovative partners like Nextivity ensures our team can operate at peak efficiency without interruption.”

“As an industry technology leader, Roush Yates Engine and Manufacturing Solutions teams need seamless connectivity every minute of every day,” said Michiel Lotter, CEO of Nextivity. “Both in the factory and trackside, having a reliable network infrastructure keeps the team connected and focused on what they do best – helping their customers win. We are pleased to support Roush Yates through this partnership and look forward to integrating our ‘Do More with DAS’ IoT solutions into Roush Yates factories to enhance both communications and overall operations.”

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation, performance, and continuous improvement, ensuring both organizations remain at the forefront of technology within motorsports and other industries.

Briar Bauman (No. 3) and Brandon Robinson (No. 44) battle at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2025. [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing]Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 4, 2026) — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce the return of Harley-Davidson as an official partner for the 2026 season. This renewed collaboration brings one of the most iconic names in motorcycling history back to the forefront of the world’s premier dirt track racing series. The partnership reinforces the historic legacy between the Milwaukee-based manufacturer and the sport of flat track. As Progressive AFT prepares to launch its 2026 campaign, the involvement of Harley-Davidson ensures that fans will experience a deep connection to the brand’s racing heritage at events across the country. Throughout the season, the partnership will focus on enhancing the fan experience and celebrating the performance-driven culture that has defined Harley-Davidson for over a century. The return of Harley-Davidson follows a powerhouse 2025 performance that reestablished the brand as a dominant force in professional flat track. Throughout the 2025 Progressive AFT season, Harley-Davidson riders Briar Bauman and Brandon Robinson kept the XG750R at the front of the pack, combining for a series-leading nine victories. Their relentless performance and consistent podium finishes ultimately secured the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturer Championship for Harley-Davidson, a title that underscores the brand’s deep-rooted engineering excellence and enduring commitment to America’s Original Extreme Sport. For more information about Harley-Davidson, visit https://www.harley-davidson.com.

Harley-Davidson Returns as Official Partner of Progressive American Flat Track for 2026

Briar Bauman (No. 3) and Brandon Robinson (No. 44) battle at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2025. [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing]Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 4, 2026) — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce the return of Harley-Davidson as an official partner for the 2026 season. This renewed collaboration brings one of the most iconic names in motorcycling history back to the forefront of the world’s premier dirt track racing series. The partnership reinforces the historic legacy between the Milwaukee-based manufacturer and the sport of flat track. As Progressive AFT prepares to launch its 2026 campaign, the involvement of Harley-Davidson ensures that fans will experience a deep connection to the brand’s racing heritage at events across the country. Throughout the season, the partnership will focus on enhancing the fan experience and celebrating the performance-driven culture that has defined Harley-Davidson for over a century. The return of Harley-Davidson follows a powerhouse 2025 performance that reestablished the brand as a dominant force in professional flat track. Throughout the 2025 Progressive AFT season, Harley-Davidson riders Briar Bauman and Brandon Robinson kept the XG750R at the front of the pack, combining for a series-leading nine victories. Their relentless performance and consistent podium finishes ultimately secured the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturer Championship for Harley-Davidson, a title that underscores the brand’s deep-rooted engineering excellence and enduring commitment to America’s Original Extreme Sport. For more information about Harley-Davidson, visit https://www.harley-davidson.com.

Next Up The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season debuts at Daytona International Speedway Flat Track on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase Daytona Short Track I & II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack. After the season opener, the series will head north for the Atlanta Short Track at Senoia Raceway on March 21. Tickets are available now at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280 How to Watch FloRacing For 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. FS1 FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

CONCORD, NC (March 4, 2026) – There aren’t many states that play a more integral role in the history of dirt Late Model racing than Tennessee.

From Memphis to Bristol, the “Volunteer State” has delivered several of the sport’s most memorable moments and is home to some of its biggest stars. Since 1989, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision has been going to battle across the state, stopping at a dozen of Tennessee’s most recognizable tracks.

Ahead of next weekend’s return to two of them – Volunteer Speedway on Friday, March 13, and Smoky Mountain Speedway on Saturday, March 14, here’s a look at the places and faces that have shaped Late Model racing in Tennessee.

Smoky Mountain Speedway: No track in Tennessee has held more World of Outlaws races than Smoky Mountain Speedway.

Less than a week after Rick Eckert won his first Series race at Hagerstown Speedway in 2004, “Scrub” rolled into Smoky Mountain and won for the second time in seven days in the track’s first World of Outlaws event. Following a nine-year break, the Series returned to the Maryville, TN oval in 2013 for a race that saw Shane Clanton fend off Steve Casebolt for the win.

Clanton’s victory kicked off a southern stranglehold on the track that lasted for nearly a decade. Between 2013 and 2022, all 10 World of Outlaws races at Smoky Mountain were won by a driver from Tennessee, Georgia or South Carolina. The streak ended in 2025, when Bobby Pierce went to Victory Lane in his Smoky Mountain debut to become the first non-southerner to conquer the track in World of Outlaws action in 21 years.

Volunteer Speedway: Nestled right off Interstate 75 in Bulls Gap, TN, Volunteer Speedway has been delivering some of the most entertaining racing in the region for decades.

The inaugural World of Outlaws race at “The Gap” ended with Brian Birkhofer taking the checkers in 2004. The 2007 schedule included a pair of trips to Bulls Gap, with Chris Madden winning in August and Steve Francis following in October. A two-night weekend in 2008 was split by Jimmy Owens and Shane Clanton, but it would be a decade before the track reappeared on the schedule in 2018 for a race won by Owens.

Volunteer was one of the first tracks the Series visited coming out of the COVID pause in June 2020. Brandon Sheppard won the first night of the doubleheader before Zack Mitchell claimed the finale, joining Birkhofer and Owens as the third driver to win their first World of Outlaws race in Bulls Gap. The most recent World of Outlaws race at the track came on Labor Day weekend in 2021, when Sheppard returned to Victory Lane for the eighth and final win of that championship season.

Tazewell Speedway: If you’re looking for a track with more banking on the straightaways than most tracks have in the corners, Tazewell Speedway is the place for you.

“The Bad Fast Taz” welcomed the World of Outlaws for the first time in 2010 for a 50-lap contest won by Shane Clanton. The following year, the festivities expanded to a two-night show on Independence Day weekend, culminating with a 101-lap main event won by Chris Madden.

The distance went back to 50 laps in 2012, and that year’s visit saw Bub McCool score his first of two World of Outlaws wins. Mike Marlar scored his maiden victory in 2014 before Billy Ogle Jr. pulled off a last-lap pass on Josh Richards in 2015, giving Tazewell its third-straight first-time World of Outlaws winner.

Clanton got the job done in 2017 to win the most recent Series race at Tazewell, but the track hasn’t been lacking in high-level Late Model racing in the years since. Tazewell has become a staple of the Southern Nationals schedule and is home to the Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial, with recent winners including Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell and Tyler Erb.

Duck River Raceway Park: Located an hour south of Nashville in Shelbyville, TN, Duck River was a regular stop for the tour throughout the 2010s.

These days, Eric Wells is best known as the owner of Infinity Chassis and Wells Motorsports, but the Kentucky native made his lone trip to World of Outlaws Victory Lane in Duck River’s first World of Outlaws race in 2013. Five more unique winners followed in the next five appearances, as Darrell Lanigan (2014), Dale McDowell (2016), Mike Marlar (2017), Brandon Sheppard (2019) and Josh Richards (2020) all made their way to Victory Lane. Richards’ triumph was an especially meaningful one, as it was his first World of Outlaws win in four years and his first since making the move from his family-owned Rocket1 Racing ride to Clint Bowyer Racing.

In the years since its last World of Outlaws race, Duck River’s schedule has included seven Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series races, as well as an inaugural visit by the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in 2025.

411 Motor Speedway: 411 has been a fan-favorite in the southeast for decades, but it did not have a spot on the World of Outlaws schedule until 2018. When the touring regulars finally came to town, they were greeted with one of east Tennessee’s finest in the form of Cory Hedgecock defending home turf for his first World of Outlaws win in his first Feature start with the Series.

Hedgecock was again in contention in 2019, leading laps early in the Feature before dropping out of the race with engine trouble and handing the lead to eventual winner Brandon Overton. Following Chris Madden’s win in 2020, 411 was absent from the schedule in 2021 and 2022, but it came back with a bang in 2023. After a three-way battle with Dale McDowell and Kyle Bronson, Hedgecock pulled the upset on the Outlaws for the second time.

That event stands as the most recent World of Outlaws stop at 411, as the track was sold in 2023 and has sat dormant since June 2024.

Bristol Motor Speedway: The idea of covering “The Last Great Colosseum” in dirt first became reality in 2000 and 2001 with a pair of race weekends for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Late Models were also on the card both years under Hav-A-Tampa sanction, as Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist and Jimmy Mars each scored wins.

When the concept was brought back 20 years later, the fendered side of the World of Outlaws family got to join in on the fun. The 2021 visit saw Josh Richards score the 78th and most recent Series win of his career in the opener before Devin Moran topped the finale. Jonathan Davenport went to Victory Lane on Friday in the 2022 edition, one year before returning to the Bristol dirt to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut with Kaulig Racing. Saturday’s race went to Ricky Weiss in what is also his latest Series victory.

In addition to the four World of Outlaws races contested at the track, Super Late Models were also part of the Bristol Dirt Nationals in 2021 and 2022, with Davenport, Chris Ferguson, Chris Madden and Dale McDowell each collecting wins. Current MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Trey Mills is also a former Bristol winner, as he won in a 602 Late Model in 2021 at age 12.

Atomic Motor Speedway: Touting itself as one of the fastest tracks in the region, the high-banked, 1/3-mile Atomic Motor Speedway in Lenoir City, TN, had plenty of experience hosting national-level Late Model racing with the Hav-A-Tampa Series throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s.

When the World of Outlaws was revived in 2004, Atomic made three appearances on that season’s schedule. Billy Moyer and Scott Bloomquist split a March doubleheader, while Bloomquist won when the Series came back in September.

The World of Outlaws never returned, but Atomic remained on the Southern All Stars schedule through its closure at the end of the 2006 season. The track was soon demolished and is now the site of a terminal for the Crete Carrier trucking company.

Memphis Motorsports Park: The Millington, TN facility is best known for its 3/4-mile paved oval that previously hosted the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as its dragstrip that was an annual stop for the NHRA.

But at one time, Memphis was also home to dirt racing, originally on a 3/8-mile track that Billy Moyer won on in 1989. That track was demolished in the 1990s to make room for the pavement oval, and a new 1/4-mile dirt track was built on a plot of land once occupied by a go-kart track. Steve Francis won the lone World of Outlaws race held at the new facility in 2005, the last season of operation for the dirt track.

Milan Speedway: More than two decades after a visit by the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars in 1982, the Late Models swung through Milan as part of their rebirth season in 2004. Scott Bloomquist was the night’s victor, a crucial win on his way to collecting his first championship by 13 points over Steve Francis.

The following season in 2005 turned out to be Milan’s last year of operation. The track sat abandoned for several years afterwards until it was dismantled in 2011.

Clarksville Speedway: Tim McCreadie’s eight-win 2005 season still stands as the winningest of his World of Outlaws career, and the last of those triumphs came at Clarksville.

The World of Outlaws may have been a one-and-done at Clarksville, but the same can’t be said for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals. The Hell Tour was an annual invader from 1998 until the track’s closure in 2025, with names like Tony Stewart, Billy Moyer, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr. and Brandon Sheppard among the list of winners.

Clarksville was also famous for the Toilet Bowl Classic held every March, which attracted several of the sport’s biggest names who were looking to turn some early-season laps.

Wartburg Speedway: Independence Day weekend in 2010 was an unforgettable one for Wartburg fans, as it meant the long-awaited debut of the World of Outlaws at their home track.

In front of what was called the largest crowd in track history, Tim McCreadie led all 50 laps around the 1/4-mile bullring for his third Series win of the season. In the years since Wartburg’s lone World of Outlaws race, the track has primarily been a home for local and regional Crate Late Model racing. Open-motor Late Models have been a rare treat, although Wartburg did host the Southern All Stars for the first time in 2025 for a race won by Camaron Marlar.

Thunderhill Raceway Park: The latest addition to the list of Tennessee tracks that have hosted a World of Outlaws is Thunderhill, which joined the tour for the first time in 2024.

Originally set for a March date, rain pushed the event back to April, then to June due to further inclement weather. Once the skies finally cleared, Brandon Sheppard prevailed over Cade Dillard to score his first World of Outlaws win with the Longhorn Factory Team with Sheppard Riggs Racing, a combination that went on to claim the World of Outlaws championship at season’s end.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision returns to Tennessee for the only time in 2026 for stops at Volunteer Speedway (Friday, March 13) and Smoky Mountain Speedway (Saturday, March 14). Get tickets for both events in advance by clicking here.

Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.

Race-by-Race History
April 29, 1989 – Memphis Motorsports Park – Billy Moyer
March 13, 2004 – Atomic Motor Speedway – Billy Moyer
March 14, 2004 – Atomic Motor Speedway – Dale McDowell
March 27, 2004 – Volunteer Speedway – Brian Birkhofer
April 30, 2004 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Rick Eckert
Aug. 28, 2004 – Milan Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
Sept. 4, 2004 – Atomic Motor Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
July 22, 2005 – Memphis Motorsports Park – Steve Francis
Sept. 24, 2005 – Clarksville Speedway – Tim McCreadie
Aug. 23, 2007 – Volunteer Speedway – Chris Madden
Oct. 13, 2007 – Volunteer Speedway – Steve Francis
Aug. 20, 2008 – Volunteer Speedway – Jimmy Owens
Aug. 21, 2008 – Volunteer Speedway – Shane Clanton
July 2, 2010 – Wartburg Speedway – Tim McCreadie
July 3, 2010 – Tazewell Speedway – Shane Clanton
July 3, 2011 – Tazewell Speedway – Chris Madden
April 28, 2012 – Tazewell Speedway – Bub McCool
April 26, 2013 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Shane Clanton
April 28, 2013 – Duck River Raceway Park – Eric Wells
April 12, 2014 – Tazewell Speedway – Mike Marlar
May 18, 2014 – Duck River Raceway Park – Darrell Lanigan
April 11, 2015 – Tazewell Speedway – Billy Ogle Jr.
May 9, 2015 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
April 8, 2016 – Duck River Raceway Park – Dale McDowell
May 7, 2016 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
May 13, 2017 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Brandon Overton
May 14, 2017 – Duck River Raceway Park – Mike Marlar
June 2, 2017 – Tazewell Speedway – Shane Clanton
April 27, 2018 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Chris Madden
April 28, 2018 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Dale McDowell
June 1, 2018 – 411 Motor Speedway – Cory Hedgecock
June 2, 2018 – Volunteer Speedway – Jimmy Owens
March 22, 2019 – Duck River Raceway Park – Brandon Sheppard
March 23, 2019 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Jimmy Owens
Oct. 5, 2019 – 411 Motor Speedway – Brandon Overton
March 6, 2020 – Duck River Raceway Park – Josh Richards
March 7, 2020 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Mike Marlar
June 19, 2020 – Volunteer Speedway – Brandon Sheppard
June 20, 2020 – Volunteer Speedway – Zack Mitchell
Oct. 3, 2020 – 411 Motor Speedway – Chris Madden
March 6, 2021 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Chris Madden
April 9, 2021 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Josh Richards
April 11, 2021 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Devin Moran
April 29, 2022 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Jonathan Davenport
April 30, 2022 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Ricky Weiss
Sept. 2, 2022 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Jimmy Owens
April 20, 2023 – 411 Motor Speedway – Cory Hedgecock
June 20, 2024 – Thunderhill Raceway Park – Brandon Sheppard
March 14, 2025 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Bobby Pierce

World of Outlaws Winners from Tennessee
Scott Bloomquist – Mooresburg, TN – 33
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 21
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 18
Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 2
Billy Ogle Jr. – Knoxville, TN – 1

A Look Back at 24 Seasons of World of Outlaws History in the Volunteer State

CONCORD, NC (March 4, 2026) – There aren’t many states that play a more integral role in the history of dirt Late Model racing than Tennessee.

From Memphis to Bristol, the “Volunteer State” has delivered several of the sport’s most memorable moments and is home to some of its biggest stars. Since 1989, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision has been going to battle across the state, stopping at a dozen of Tennessee’s most recognizable tracks.

Ahead of next weekend’s return to two of them – Volunteer Speedway on Friday, March 13, and Smoky Mountain Speedway on Saturday, March 14, here’s a look at the places and faces that have shaped Late Model racing in Tennessee.

Smoky Mountain Speedway: No track in Tennessee has held more World of Outlaws races than Smoky Mountain Speedway.

Less than a week after Rick Eckert won his first Series race at Hagerstown Speedway in 2004, “Scrub” rolled into Smoky Mountain and won for the second time in seven days in the track’s first World of Outlaws event. Following a nine-year break, the Series returned to the Maryville, TN oval in 2013 for a race that saw Shane Clanton fend off Steve Casebolt for the win.

Clanton’s victory kicked off a southern stranglehold on the track that lasted for nearly a decade. Between 2013 and 2022, all 10 World of Outlaws races at Smoky Mountain were won by a driver from Tennessee, Georgia or South Carolina. The streak ended in 2025, when Bobby Pierce went to Victory Lane in his Smoky Mountain debut to become the first non-southerner to conquer the track in World of Outlaws action in 21 years.

Volunteer Speedway: Nestled right off Interstate 75 in Bulls Gap, TN, Volunteer Speedway has been delivering some of the most entertaining racing in the region for decades.

The inaugural World of Outlaws race at “The Gap” ended with Brian Birkhofer taking the checkers in 2004. The 2007 schedule included a pair of trips to Bulls Gap, with Chris Madden winning in August and Steve Francis following in October. A two-night weekend in 2008 was split by Jimmy Owens and Shane Clanton, but it would be a decade before the track reappeared on the schedule in 2018 for a race won by Owens.

Volunteer was one of the first tracks the Series visited coming out of the COVID pause in June 2020. Brandon Sheppard won the first night of the doubleheader before Zack Mitchell claimed the finale, joining Birkhofer and Owens as the third driver to win their first World of Outlaws race in Bulls Gap. The most recent World of Outlaws race at the track came on Labor Day weekend in 2021, when Sheppard returned to Victory Lane for the eighth and final win of that championship season.

Tazewell Speedway: If you’re looking for a track with more banking on the straightaways than most tracks have in the corners, Tazewell Speedway is the place for you.

“The Bad Fast Taz” welcomed the World of Outlaws for the first time in 2010 for a 50-lap contest won by Shane Clanton. The following year, the festivities expanded to a two-night show on Independence Day weekend, culminating with a 101-lap main event won by Chris Madden.

The distance went back to 50 laps in 2012, and that year’s visit saw Bub McCool score his first of two World of Outlaws wins. Mike Marlar scored his maiden victory in 2014 before Billy Ogle Jr. pulled off a last-lap pass on Josh Richards in 2015, giving Tazewell its third-straight first-time World of Outlaws winner.

Clanton got the job done in 2017 to win the most recent Series race at Tazewell, but the track hasn’t been lacking in high-level Late Model racing in the years since. Tazewell has become a staple of the Southern Nationals schedule and is home to the Lil’ Bill Corum Memorial, with recent winners including Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell and Tyler Erb.

Duck River Raceway Park: Located an hour south of Nashville in Shelbyville, TN, Duck River was a regular stop for the tour throughout the 2010s.

These days, Eric Wells is best known as the owner of Infinity Chassis and Wells Motorsports, but the Kentucky native made his lone trip to World of Outlaws Victory Lane in Duck River’s first World of Outlaws race in 2013. Five more unique winners followed in the next five appearances, as Darrell Lanigan (2014), Dale McDowell (2016), Mike Marlar (2017), Brandon Sheppard (2019) and Josh Richards (2020) all made their way to Victory Lane. Richards’ triumph was an especially meaningful one, as it was his first World of Outlaws win in four years and his first since making the move from his family-owned Rocket1 Racing ride to Clint Bowyer Racing.

In the years since its last World of Outlaws race, Duck River’s schedule has included seven Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series races, as well as an inaugural visit by the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in 2025.

411 Motor Speedway: 411 has been a fan-favorite in the southeast for decades, but it did not have a spot on the World of Outlaws schedule until 2018. When the touring regulars finally came to town, they were greeted with one of east Tennessee’s finest in the form of Cory Hedgecock defending home turf for his first World of Outlaws win in his first Feature start with the Series.

Hedgecock was again in contention in 2019, leading laps early in the Feature before dropping out of the race with engine trouble and handing the lead to eventual winner Brandon Overton. Following Chris Madden’s win in 2020, 411 was absent from the schedule in 2021 and 2022, but it came back with a bang in 2023. After a three-way battle with Dale McDowell and Kyle Bronson, Hedgecock pulled the upset on the Outlaws for the second time.

That event stands as the most recent World of Outlaws stop at 411, as the track was sold in 2023 and has sat dormant since June 2024.

Bristol Motor Speedway: The idea of covering “The Last Great Colosseum” in dirt first became reality in 2000 and 2001 with a pair of race weekends for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Late Models were also on the card both years under Hav-A-Tampa sanction, as Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist and Jimmy Mars each scored wins.

When the concept was brought back 20 years later, the fendered side of the World of Outlaws family got to join in on the fun. The 2021 visit saw Josh Richards score the 78th and most recent Series win of his career in the opener before Devin Moran topped the finale. Jonathan Davenport went to Victory Lane on Friday in the 2022 edition, one year before returning to the Bristol dirt to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut with Kaulig Racing. Saturday’s race went to Ricky Weiss in what is also his latest Series victory.

In addition to the four World of Outlaws races contested at the track, Super Late Models were also part of the Bristol Dirt Nationals in 2021 and 2022, with Davenport, Chris Ferguson, Chris Madden and Dale McDowell each collecting wins. Current MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Trey Mills is also a former Bristol winner, as he won in a 602 Late Model in 2021 at age 12.

Atomic Motor Speedway: Touting itself as one of the fastest tracks in the region, the high-banked, 1/3-mile Atomic Motor Speedway in Lenoir City, TN, had plenty of experience hosting national-level Late Model racing with the Hav-A-Tampa Series throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s.

When the World of Outlaws was revived in 2004, Atomic made three appearances on that season’s schedule. Billy Moyer and Scott Bloomquist split a March doubleheader, while Bloomquist won when the Series came back in September.

The World of Outlaws never returned, but Atomic remained on the Southern All Stars schedule through its closure at the end of the 2006 season. The track was soon demolished and is now the site of a terminal for the Crete Carrier trucking company.

Memphis Motorsports Park: The Millington, TN facility is best known for its 3/4-mile paved oval that previously hosted the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as its dragstrip that was an annual stop for the NHRA.

But at one time, Memphis was also home to dirt racing, originally on a 3/8-mile track that Billy Moyer won on in 1989. That track was demolished in the 1990s to make room for the pavement oval, and a new 1/4-mile dirt track was built on a plot of land once occupied by a go-kart track. Steve Francis won the lone World of Outlaws race held at the new facility in 2005, the last season of operation for the dirt track.

Milan Speedway: More than two decades after a visit by the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars in 1982, the Late Models swung through Milan as part of their rebirth season in 2004. Scott Bloomquist was the night’s victor, a crucial win on his way to collecting his first championship by 13 points over Steve Francis.

The following season in 2005 turned out to be Milan’s last year of operation. The track sat abandoned for several years afterwards until it was dismantled in 2011.

Clarksville Speedway: Tim McCreadie’s eight-win 2005 season still stands as the winningest of his World of Outlaws career, and the last of those triumphs came at Clarksville.

The World of Outlaws may have been a one-and-done at Clarksville, but the same can’t be said for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals. The Hell Tour was an annual invader from 1998 until the track’s closure in 2025, with names like Tony Stewart, Billy Moyer, Don O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr. and Brandon Sheppard among the list of winners.

Clarksville was also famous for the Toilet Bowl Classic held every March, which attracted several of the sport’s biggest names who were looking to turn some early-season laps.

Wartburg Speedway: Independence Day weekend in 2010 was an unforgettable one for Wartburg fans, as it meant the long-awaited debut of the World of Outlaws at their home track.

In front of what was called the largest crowd in track history, Tim McCreadie led all 50 laps around the 1/4-mile bullring for his third Series win of the season. In the years since Wartburg’s lone World of Outlaws race, the track has primarily been a home for local and regional Crate Late Model racing. Open-motor Late Models have been a rare treat, although Wartburg did host the Southern All Stars for the first time in 2025 for a race won by Camaron Marlar.

Thunderhill Raceway Park: The latest addition to the list of Tennessee tracks that have hosted a World of Outlaws is Thunderhill, which joined the tour for the first time in 2024.

Originally set for a March date, rain pushed the event back to April, then to June due to further inclement weather. Once the skies finally cleared, Brandon Sheppard prevailed over Cade Dillard to score his first World of Outlaws win with the Longhorn Factory Team with Sheppard Riggs Racing, a combination that went on to claim the World of Outlaws championship at season’s end.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision returns to Tennessee for the only time in 2026 for stops at Volunteer Speedway (Friday, March 13) and Smoky Mountain Speedway (Saturday, March 14). Get tickets for both events in advance by clicking here.

Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.

Race-by-Race History
April 29, 1989 – Memphis Motorsports Park – Billy Moyer
March 13, 2004 – Atomic Motor Speedway – Billy Moyer
March 14, 2004 – Atomic Motor Speedway – Dale McDowell
March 27, 2004 – Volunteer Speedway – Brian Birkhofer
April 30, 2004 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Rick Eckert
Aug. 28, 2004 – Milan Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
Sept. 4, 2004 – Atomic Motor Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
July 22, 2005 – Memphis Motorsports Park – Steve Francis
Sept. 24, 2005 – Clarksville Speedway – Tim McCreadie
Aug. 23, 2007 – Volunteer Speedway – Chris Madden
Oct. 13, 2007 – Volunteer Speedway – Steve Francis
Aug. 20, 2008 – Volunteer Speedway – Jimmy Owens
Aug. 21, 2008 – Volunteer Speedway – Shane Clanton
July 2, 2010 – Wartburg Speedway – Tim McCreadie
July 3, 2010 – Tazewell Speedway – Shane Clanton
July 3, 2011 – Tazewell Speedway – Chris Madden
April 28, 2012 – Tazewell Speedway – Bub McCool
April 26, 2013 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Shane Clanton
April 28, 2013 – Duck River Raceway Park – Eric Wells
April 12, 2014 – Tazewell Speedway – Mike Marlar
May 18, 2014 – Duck River Raceway Park – Darrell Lanigan
April 11, 2015 – Tazewell Speedway – Billy Ogle Jr.
May 9, 2015 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
April 8, 2016 – Duck River Raceway Park – Dale McDowell
May 7, 2016 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Scott Bloomquist
May 13, 2017 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Brandon Overton
May 14, 2017 – Duck River Raceway Park – Mike Marlar
June 2, 2017 – Tazewell Speedway – Shane Clanton
April 27, 2018 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Chris Madden
April 28, 2018 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Dale McDowell
June 1, 2018 – 411 Motor Speedway – Cory Hedgecock
June 2, 2018 – Volunteer Speedway – Jimmy Owens
March 22, 2019 – Duck River Raceway Park – Brandon Sheppard
March 23, 2019 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Jimmy Owens
Oct. 5, 2019 – 411 Motor Speedway – Brandon Overton
March 6, 2020 – Duck River Raceway Park – Josh Richards
March 7, 2020 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Mike Marlar
June 19, 2020 – Volunteer Speedway – Brandon Sheppard
June 20, 2020 – Volunteer Speedway – Zack Mitchell
Oct. 3, 2020 – 411 Motor Speedway – Chris Madden
March 6, 2021 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Chris Madden
April 9, 2021 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Josh Richards
April 11, 2021 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Devin Moran
April 29, 2022 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Jonathan Davenport
April 30, 2022 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Ricky Weiss
Sept. 2, 2022 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Jimmy Owens
April 20, 2023 – 411 Motor Speedway – Cory Hedgecock
June 20, 2024 – Thunderhill Raceway Park – Brandon Sheppard
March 14, 2025 – Smoky Mountain Speedway – Bobby Pierce

World of Outlaws Winners from Tennessee
Scott Bloomquist – Mooresburg, TN – 33
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 21
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 18
Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 2
Billy Ogle Jr. – Knoxville, TN – 1

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/a-look-back-at-24-seasons-of-world-of-outlaws-racing-in-the-volunteer-state/

Event: Straight Talk Wireless 500Date/Time: Sunday, March 8, 2026, 3:30 p.m. ETLocation: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, ArizonaLayout: 1-Mile OvalTV/Radio: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioJosh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing head to one of Berry’s strongest tracks this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series visits Phoenix Raceway for Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500. This weekend also marks the first time the eero colors will adorn the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in 2026, featuring a slightly refreshed look for the new season.Berry delivered two strong performances at the one-mile, relatively flat oval in the Sonoran Desert last season, finishing fourth in the spring race and seventh in the season finale.In five career Cup Series starts at Phoenix, Berry owns an average finish of 14.2 with three top-10 results, including a 10th-place finish in his first Cup race there in 2023.“Phoenix has been a good track for me,” Berry said. “We’ve had some solid runs there, including two top-10 finishes last season, so that definitely gives us confidence going back.“It’s a place where track position and execution really matter. If we can qualify well and keep ourselves in position, I think we can put ourselves in position for another strong day.”Practice for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 1:10 p.m. ET. Coverage of the on-track activity will be provided on Prime Video.Sunday’s 312-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on FS1. Stage breaks are planned for Lap 60 and Lap 185.Josh BerryAge: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)Hometown: Hendersonville, TennesseeCrew Chief: Miles StanleyIG: @joshberry88X: @joshberryAbout eero eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.

Sebring, FLORIDA – March 4, 2026 – TopLiner™ and Burtin Racing opened the 2026 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season with a confident and competitive performance at the legendary Sebring International Raceway, setting a positive tone for the development and evolution of the Burtin Racing built TA racecars. The highly anticipated season opener delivered dramatic Florida weather even before the green flag. Qualifying was canceled due to rain and lightning, resulting with the starting grid based on practice session times. This meant the two TopLiner™ Burtin Racing Chevrolet Camaros starting from P3 and P9. Martin Ragginger in the No. 7 racecar  posted a time of 2:01.491 in practice for third place while Adam Andretti’s commitments to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series prevented him from registering a practice time in the No. 17 car and was regulated to start in the back.  When the race went green Andretti was quick to make up ground, passing Tomy Drissi and establishing himself in P5 by Lap 5. Ragginger meanwhile was comfortable in P3. The excellent Austrian-born pilot was briefly headed by David Pintaric mid-race while Tomy Drissi was forced to retire with seven laps remaining, leaving the way clear for Martin and Adam to guide the TopLiner™ Camaros home in P3 and P4. There were four cautions in all during the race. On Saturday, February 28 in St. Petersburg, Andretti qualified P10 and finished in P23 in the No. 5 TopLiner™ Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  “The start of a new season always brings excitement, and Sebring is one of the toughest places to begin,” said Claudio Burtin, Team Principal of Burtin Racing. “With qualifying canceled, preparation and adaptability became even more important. The entire Burtin Racing crew did an outstanding job, and we’re proud to represent TopLiner™ at track and deliver an opening performance of two top-five finishes at Sebring.” Live coverage of the TA/GT race began at 9:00 a.m. ET and was streamed worldwide via the Trans Am Series YouTube channel, @TheTransAmSeries, and broadcast live on RacingAmerica. TV, allowing fans across the globe to follow the action from one of North America’s most historic racing venues. The race is available to watch on the TransAm YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/live/vv6GzrBvwMw?si=XB6dZmC4KXYy-0I7 TopLiner™ continues to align its brand with elite motorsports performance, innovation, and durability—values exemplified by Burtin Racing’s approach both on and off the track. With Round 1 complete, Burtin Racing now turns its focus toward the next event on the calendar at Road Atlanta March 12 to 15 with Ragginger and Andretti entered for the team’s home race. Follow @BurtinRacing on Facebook and Instagram and visit online: www.burtinracing.com for team news and information about the team.

GAINESVILLE, FL (March 3, 2026) — The 2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will rev up March 5-8, 2026, at the historic NHRA Gatornationals, with two-time world champ Mark Pawuk looking to hold off a host of challengers. Pawuk, the 2024 Gatornationals winner, will strap into the all-new, Hemi-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection and will face some of the toughest competition from Ford Cobra Jets and Chevrolet COPO Camaros in on-track action over a nine-race coast to coast schedule. The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will be one of the many highlight classes at Gainesville Raceway as the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary as the premiere drag racing sanctioning body in the world.
 
“I started racing in the 1970s with Dodge and Plymouth, and I’ll finish my career with Dodge,” Pawuk said. “Debuting the new Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary is special. We see tremendous potential. It’ll take time to develop—but I want to win one of those 75th-season Wallys, and I believe this car can do it.” 

 Two-time world champion Mark Pawuk will debut his new Dodge Challenger this weekend at the NHRA Gatornationals, photo credit Mark Pawuk Racing

Pawuk’s return follows a dominant two-year run in the Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, where he claimed back-to-back championships in 2024–2025 with victories at Bristol and Norwalk, plus multiple semifinal finishes. After several successful test sessions in Florida, the veteran from Richfield, Ohio, now sets his sights on a historic three-peat—this time in an entirely new platform.
 
“Did I think I’d get two world championships? No,” said Pawuk. “Now I’m going to try for three, and all I can do is hope and pray that everything goes our way. We have a lot of tough competition out there again.”
 
Looking to stop Pawuk’s reign as world champion will be perennial championship contenders Scott Libersher and Lee Hartman. Libersher and his Chevrolet COPO Camaro are eager to get back on track and start a new season. The excitement level is not lost on the veteran driver from Wilmington, Ill., who has been battling with Pawuk for years.
 
“Dodge has got some stuff going on so I am kind of interested to see what’s going on with the competition,” said Libersher. “We did some engine work with a little R&D with Barton Racing and we got a bit more horsepower for this Chevy. This is the first time I’ll be in the race car this year, and I think it’s just kind of like opening day with baseball. I like seeing what everybody’s doing and it’s the whole vibe.”
 
For Hartman he will bring his competitive Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to the Gatornationals looking for his first career win in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series. He raced to several final rounds last season but the driver from Canfield, Ohio will be looking to break through in 2026. His first opportunity for victory will be this weekend.

 Championship contender Lee Hartman will be looking for his first Gatornationals win this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery

WORLD CHAMPION MARK PAWUK CHASES HISTORIC THREE-PEAT AS FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN REVS UP AT NHRA GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, FL (March 3, 2026) — The 2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will rev up March 5-8, 2026, at the historic NHRA Gatornationals, with two-time world champ Mark Pawuk looking to hold off a host of challengers. Pawuk, the 2024 Gatornationals winner, will strap into the all-new, Hemi-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection and will face some of the toughest competition from Ford Cobra Jets and Chevrolet COPO Camaros in on-track action over a nine-race coast to coast schedule. The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will be one of the many highlight classes at Gainesville Raceway as the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary as the premiere drag racing sanctioning body in the world.
 
“I started racing in the 1970s with Dodge and Plymouth, and I’ll finish my career with Dodge,” Pawuk said. “Debuting the new Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary is special. We see tremendous potential. It’ll take time to develop—but I want to win one of those 75th-season Wallys, and I believe this car can do it.” 

 Two-time world champion Mark Pawuk will debut his new Dodge Challenger this weekend at the NHRA Gatornationals, photo credit Mark Pawuk Racing

Pawuk’s return follows a dominant two-year run in the Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, where he claimed back-to-back championships in 2024–2025 with victories at Bristol and Norwalk, plus multiple semifinal finishes. After several successful test sessions in Florida, the veteran from Richfield, Ohio, now sets his sights on a historic three-peat—this time in an entirely new platform.
 
“Did I think I’d get two world championships? No,” said Pawuk. “Now I’m going to try for three, and all I can do is hope and pray that everything goes our way. We have a lot of tough competition out there again.”
 
Looking to stop Pawuk’s reign as world champion will be perennial championship contenders Scott Libersher and Lee Hartman. Libersher and his Chevrolet COPO Camaro are eager to get back on track and start a new season. The excitement level is not lost on the veteran driver from Wilmington, Ill., who has been battling with Pawuk for years.
 
“Dodge has got some stuff going on so I am kind of interested to see what’s going on with the competition,” said Libersher. “We did some engine work with a little R&D with Barton Racing and we got a bit more horsepower for this Chevy. This is the first time I’ll be in the race car this year, and I think it’s just kind of like opening day with baseball. I like seeing what everybody’s doing and it’s the whole vibe.”
 
For Hartman he will bring his competitive Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to the Gatornationals looking for his first career win in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series. He raced to several final rounds last season but the driver from Canfield, Ohio will be looking to break through in 2026. His first opportunity for victory will be this weekend.

 Championship contender Lee Hartman will be looking for his first Gatornationals win this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery

“After looking at the Weather Channel, it looks like we’re gonna have a great week,” said Hartman. “I believe that the first race is go time, right? When we finished the last race at St. Louis, as soon as we crossed the finish line, we started thinking about this season. ‘What can we do better?’ We spent all winter reviewing what we did in the past at every location, every race. We looked at what worked and what didn’t work. The Gatornationals will be the first chance to see all that hard work pay off.”
 
“Winning the Gatornationals would be awesome, but there’s some loaded guns coming this year. My son’s one of them, so he’s not going to be laying down lightly for dad or anyone else. Aaron and Greg Stanfield have been working with him. We are looking to have a lot of success this year,” added Hartman.
 
Qualifying in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown category is scheduled for Friday at 12:45 p.m. ET, with eliminations scheduled at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. Tune in to NHRA.tv to watch this historic race milestone live! 
 

DALLAS (March 2, 2026) — When the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season kicks off at the legendary AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8, at Gainesville Raceway, Buddy Hull will roll into the staging lanes with more momentum, and more pride, than ever before.
 
The event marks Hull’s third season competing in the ultra-competitive Funny Car category, but more importantly, it signifies his debut as a Funny Car team owner with Hull Racing. The Texas-based driver has spent the offseason building the program from the ground up alongside his wife, Madi, laying the foundation for what he believes will be a breakout year.
 
“This offseason has been the most meaningful of my career,” said Hull. “Madi and I have poured everything we have into Hull Racing. There were long nights, tough decisions and a lot of faith involved. But standing here now, heading into Gainesville as a team owner, I couldn’t be more excited. We didn’t cut corners. We built this the right way.”

 Team owner and Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is excited to get 2026 NHRA season started at Gatornationals,
photo credit Innovative Creation Experts

BUDDY HULL MAKING FUNNY CAR TEAM OWNERSHIP DEBUT IN GAINESVILLE

DALLAS (March 2, 2026) — When the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season kicks off at the legendary AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8, at Gainesville Raceway, Buddy Hull will roll into the staging lanes with more momentum, and more pride, than ever before.
 
The event marks Hull’s third season competing in the ultra-competitive Funny Car category, but more importantly, it signifies his debut as a Funny Car team owner with Hull Racing. The Texas-based driver has spent the offseason building the program from the ground up alongside his wife, Madi, laying the foundation for what he believes will be a breakout year.
 
“This offseason has been the most meaningful of my career,” said Hull. “Madi and I have poured everything we have into Hull Racing. There were long nights, tough decisions and a lot of faith involved. But standing here now, heading into Gainesville as a team owner, I couldn’t be more excited. We didn’t cut corners. We built this the right way.”

 Team owner and Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is excited to get 2026 NHRA season started at Gatornationals,
photo credit Innovative Creation Experts

The 2026 Gatornationals once again boasts a stacked Funny Car field, with 19 entries battling for just 16 qualified spots on race day, ensuring that every qualifying pass will count at one of the most historic events in NHRA competition.
 
“There’s no better place to start this next chapter than Gainesville,” said Hull. “The Gatornationals are iconic. The legends of this sport have won here. To kick off the season at such a prestigious race during the NHRA’s 75^th anniversary, knowing we’ve got a strong car and a great team behind us, it fires me up.”
 
Hull Racing will debut its 2026 livery featuring primary partners FS Performance and Sam Pack Ford, organizations Hull says have been instrumental in bringing the new team to life.
 
“We’re incredibly proud to represent FS Performance and Sam Pack Ford,” said Hull. “They believe in what we’re building. When partners believe in your vision the way they do, it gives you even more confidence to go out and perform.”
 
A key part of Hull’s optimism comes from the leadership atop his pit box. Crew chiefs Mike Guger and Matt Bynum will call the shots for the Funny Car in 2026, and Hull has full faith in their ability to deliver.
“I have 100 percent confidence in Mike and Matt,” said Hull. “These guys are some of the smartest in this business. They’ve put together a combination that we truly believe can run with anyone in the field. When I strap in, I know I’ve got two crew chiefs who have done their homework and aren’t afraid to push. That gives me all the confidence in the world.”
 
Before the on-track action begins, Hull will sign autographs and connect with fans at the annual Burnyzz FanFest on Wednesday, March 4, 7-8:30 p.m., where he will appear as a featured driver to help launch race week festivities in Gainesville.
 
“The Burnyzz FanFest is such a cool way to kick off the Gatornationals,” said Hull. “The fans are the heart of NHRA and getting to spend time with them before we even fire the engines makes the whole weekend even more special.”
 
With a new team, trusted leadership, committed partners, and unwavering belief in the work done during the offseason, Hull is ready to make a statement at the first race of the 2026 season.
 
“We’re not here just to participate,” said Hull. “We’re here to compete. We’ve done the work. We’ve built a strong foundation. Now it’s time to show what Hull Racing can do.”
 
Fans will get the chance to catch up with Hull when he is a guest with NHRA personality Hannah Rickards on the NHRA stage on Friday at 10 a.m. in the middle of the Gatornationals pit area.
 
The Hull Racing team will be on track for the first time this season with two qualifying runs on Friday, March 6 and then two more qualifying runs on March 7 at Gainesville Raceway. The top 16 quickest Funny Cars will battle it out for the Wally and a special Gatornationals trophy starting on Sunday, March 8 at 10 a.m. ET with the first round of eliminations live on FS1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Gatornationals visit nhra.com.

BATAVIA, Ohio (March 3, 2026) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is thrilled to announce that The Massengill Company has signed on as the sponsor of the Sportsman of the Year award for the 2026 season. The Sportsman of the Year will receive a $2,000 cash award at the year-end series awards banquet. Fans can vote each week for the Sportsmanship Driver of the Week on The Massengill Company’s Facebook page. At the conclusion of the season, The Massengill Company will tally the weekly votes and announce the Sportsman of the Year at the annual awards banquet. The Massengill Company has been a trusted name in the roofing industry since 1995. Over the years, the company has built a reputation for excellence in both residential and commercial roofing services. Serving Florida and Georgia, The Massengill Company provides everything from roof repairs to complete roof replacements — start to finish. To learn more, visit TheMassengillCo.com. “We are happy to have The Massengill Company partner with the Series and sponsor the Sportsman of the Year,” said Wayne Castleberry, Sales Representative for FloRacing. “It is a category the Series is proud to offer, giving drivers recognition for their sportsmanship and allowing fans to be part of the voting process. We look forward to working with Tony Massengill and everyone at his company in 2026.” For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit LucasDirt.com. About The Massengill CompanyLocated in Yulee, Florida, The Massengill Company Roofing understands that your roof is one of the most important investments you will make to protect your home or business. The company is committed to delivering quality craftsmanship and dependable service from start to finish. For more information, visit TheMassengillCo.com.

The Massengill Company to Sponsor the Sportsman of the Year in 2026

BATAVIA, Ohio (March 3, 2026) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is thrilled to announce that The Massengill Company has signed on as the sponsor of the Sportsman of the Year award for the 2026 season. The Sportsman of the Year will receive a $2,000 cash award at the year-end series awards banquet. Fans can vote each week for the Sportsmanship Driver of the Week on The Massengill Company’s Facebook page. At the conclusion of the season, The Massengill Company will tally the weekly votes and announce the Sportsman of the Year at the annual awards banquet. The Massengill Company has been a trusted name in the roofing industry since 1995. Over the years, the company has built a reputation for excellence in both residential and commercial roofing services. Serving Florida and Georgia, The Massengill Company provides everything from roof repairs to complete roof replacements — start to finish. To learn more, visit TheMassengillCo.com. “We are happy to have The Massengill Company partner with the Series and sponsor the Sportsman of the Year,” said Wayne Castleberry, Sales Representative for FloRacing. “It is a category the Series is proud to offer, giving drivers recognition for their sportsmanship and allowing fans to be part of the voting process. We look forward to working with Tony Massengill and everyone at his company in 2026.” For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit LucasDirt.com. About The Massengill CompanyLocated in Yulee, Florida, The Massengill Company Roofing understands that your roof is one of the most important investments you will make to protect your home or business. The company is committed to delivering quality craftsmanship and dependable service from start to finish. For more information, visit TheMassengillCo.com.

The Pennsylvanian comes out on top of a three-leader battle in Florida

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 2, 2026) – Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, it doesn’t matter where Anthony Macri shows up. He just wins.

Last month the Dillsburg, PA native and his Macri Motorsports crew rolled down to Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park stole the show. They collected finishes of third, fourth, and a $20,000 win in the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationalsfinale to bag the Big Gator.

They opted to return to the “Sunshine State” 1/2 mile this week for the Bike Week Jamboree with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, and the decision paid off.

Macri came out on top of an absolute thriller on Monday at Volusia. Carson Macedo took the lead from David Gravel on the opening circuit, and the two dueled for several laps. Gravel got around him multiple times only for Macedo to continue returning the favor. Then Macri snuck up on the two and snatched the lead away on Lap 14.

Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies contender Ashton Torgerson drove up to second late and closed in on Macri, but the clock expired as Macri took the checkered flag for the second time this year at Volusia.

“Hats off to these guys, they gave me a badass car,” Macri said. “I was able to maneuver. I don’t know, it’s surreal. We used to suck here. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. To be able to be this competitive and run up front with these guys is definitely something special. It makes it a little more rewarding to be standing up here.

“Joe (Mooney) and I kind of talked there before we started the Feature to just kind of pace with those guys and let them race and kind of wear their stuff. That’s what I did. I was just trying to keep my pace up with those guys and run where they weren’t. Obviously, you’re not going to pass them following them.”

Macri becomes the first driver to two wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2026. He’s now the 13th competitor in Series history to top multiple races at Volusia. While they don’t have plans of following the tour full-time, it’s worth noting the Pennsylvania Posse superstar is a mere two markers behind David Gravel for the point lead with five races in the books.

The runner-up spot went to an extremely impressive Ashton Torgerson. The 19-year-old looks wise beyond his years as he and Shark Racing have rattled off three top fives in five starts to start the year highlighted by Monday’s result.

David Gravel came home third to notch his fourth consecutive podium finish.

Carson Macedo and Daryn Pittman completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES:

Logan Schuchart laid down his second Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night in 2026.

Sheldon Haudenschild clocked his first Simpson Quick Time of 2026.

Heat Races belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Ashton Torgerson (DIRTVision Heat Two), and Carson Macedo (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to David Gravel.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Dash.

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Chris Windom drove the Sides Motorsports No. 7S from 21st to seventh to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger. That also made Windom the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Ashton Torgerson’s runner-up gave him a third Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race in 2026.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Buddy Kofoid.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars stay in the south with a weekend at Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track on Friday, March 6 and Columbus, MS’ Magnolia Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 7. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

POWER OFF THE PORCH: Macri Claims Volusia Bike Week Jamboree Barnburner

The Pennsylvanian comes out on top of a three-leader battle in Florida

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 2, 2026) – Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, it doesn’t matter where Anthony Macri shows up. He just wins.

Last month the Dillsburg, PA native and his Macri Motorsports crew rolled down to Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park stole the show. They collected finishes of third, fourth, and a $20,000 win in the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationalsfinale to bag the Big Gator.

They opted to return to the “Sunshine State” 1/2 mile this week for the Bike Week Jamboree with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, and the decision paid off.

Macri came out on top of an absolute thriller on Monday at Volusia. Carson Macedo took the lead from David Gravel on the opening circuit, and the two dueled for several laps. Gravel got around him multiple times only for Macedo to continue returning the favor. Then Macri snuck up on the two and snatched the lead away on Lap 14.

Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies contender Ashton Torgerson drove up to second late and closed in on Macri, but the clock expired as Macri took the checkered flag for the second time this year at Volusia.

“Hats off to these guys, they gave me a badass car,” Macri said. “I was able to maneuver. I don’t know, it’s surreal. We used to suck here. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. To be able to be this competitive and run up front with these guys is definitely something special. It makes it a little more rewarding to be standing up here.

“Joe (Mooney) and I kind of talked there before we started the Feature to just kind of pace with those guys and let them race and kind of wear their stuff. That’s what I did. I was just trying to keep my pace up with those guys and run where they weren’t. Obviously, you’re not going to pass them following them.”

Macri becomes the first driver to two wins with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2026. He’s now the 13th competitor in Series history to top multiple races at Volusia. While they don’t have plans of following the tour full-time, it’s worth noting the Pennsylvania Posse superstar is a mere two markers behind David Gravel for the point lead with five races in the books.

The runner-up spot went to an extremely impressive Ashton Torgerson. The 19-year-old looks wise beyond his years as he and Shark Racing have rattled off three top fives in five starts to start the year highlighted by Monday’s result.

David Gravel came home third to notch his fourth consecutive podium finish.

Carson Macedo and Daryn Pittman completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES:

Logan Schuchart laid down his second Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night in 2026.

Sheldon Haudenschild clocked his first Simpson Quick Time of 2026.

Heat Races belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Ashton Torgerson (DIRTVision Heat Two), and Carson Macedo (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to David Gravel.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Dash.

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Chris Windom drove the Sides Motorsports No. 7S from 21st to seventh to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger. That also made Windom the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Ashton Torgerson’s runner-up gave him a third Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race in 2026.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Buddy Kofoid.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars stay in the south with a weekend at Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track on Friday, March 6 and Columbus, MS’ Magnolia Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 7. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]; 2. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[6]; 3. 2-David Gravel[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[3]; 5. 69K-Daryn Pittman[10]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[9]; 7. 7S-Chris Windom[21]; 8. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 9. 55-Kerry Madsen[8]; 10. 17-Spencer Bayston[14]; 11. 16C-Scotty Thiel[7]; 12. 2C-Cole Macedo[16]; 13. 44-Chris Martin[11]; 14. 28M-Conner Morrell[27]; 15. 9-Daison Pursley[15]; 16. 27-Emerson Axsom[20]; 17. 17B-Bill Balog[26]; 18. 15-Donny Schatz[19]; 19. 6-Kasey Jedrzejek[18]; 20. 51-Scott Bogucki[12]; 21. 19-Brent Marks[13]; 22. 23-Garet Williamson[23]; 23. 11-TJ Stutts[24]; 24. 13-Tanner Holmes[5]; 25. 4-Cameron Martin[22]; 26. 88-Austin McCarl[17]; 27. (DNS) 83-Michael Kofoid

Daniels Launches Title Defense Against Stacked Mission AFT SuperTwins Field in DAYTONA

Defending Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 32) drops the clutch at the season opening rounds at DAYTONA in 2025. [Photo: Kristen Lassen for AMA Pro Racing]

Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2026) – Following months of planning, preparation, and testing, the rubber is finally about to hit the dirt. The 2026Grand National Championship will officially get underway when the stars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kick off a brand-new campaign with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at the DAYTONA Flat Track on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6. More than two dozen of the world’s most elite motorcycle dirt trackers representing eight different brands will compete in the spotlight as a half-million enthusiasts flock to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the 85th annual Bike Week.  #1 For the first time since 2020, a Mission AFT SuperTwins pilot will be brandishing the #1 plate in the premier class for the very first time. Defending champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) has long imaged this day and admitted to putting considerable thought into crafting just the right look for his new number display.  And for good reason. While the #1 plate is a great honor, it can also be a heavy burden. However, it’s difficult to imagine a rider better prepared to accept that challenge. Daniels previously successfully defended a #1 plate when he became the first back-to-back KICKER AFT Singles champion in history in 2021. And while he was not defending the throne in ‘25, he did carry the pressure of being the heavy preseason favorite.  While he was pushed to the limit in order to make good on those lofty expectations, Daniels ultimately came through to earn what he hopes to be the first of many Grand National Championships.   And he will be all the stronger for the experience. Even though he won the crown in 2025, Daniels and his Estenson Racing crew were never 100% satisfied with the state of their racebike a season ago. By contrast, they come into 2026 confident in the package they’ve developed over the offseason.  If they live up to their own expectations, that could prove a scary proposition for the opposition.   Hog Wild As mentioned above, Daniels was given all he could handle a year ago – a challenge that was fronted by a pair of Harley-Davidson XG750Rs, a platform that met the opportunity presented by the shift to an all-production-based ruleset.   Piloted by two-time Grand National ChampionBriar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/ Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) and perennial contender Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), the Harley led all bikes with nine wins a year ago. Bauman alone claimed a class-leading eight while Robinson at last scored the XG win he first set his sights on back in 2017.  The two finished second and third in the title fight and closed out the ‘25 campaign with a rousing 1-2 at the Lake Ozark finale, repeating the coup they pulled off while giving the bike its first victory earlier in the season on Yamaha’s home turf in Senoia.   Bauman and Robinson are armed with Harley-Davidsons again in 2026, and they’re bringing reinforcements.  Triple KICKER AFT Singles king Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davison XG750R) is back in the series full time and at last making his Mission AFT SuperTwins debut. Supported by an all-star crew, Kopp has everything he needs to fight his way into the mix early and often.  Meanwhile, two-and four-wheel dirt track ace Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) will also graduate to premier-class competition in 2026 aboard a Harley-Davidson XG750R.  And in This Corner… While the 2025 season was largely dominated by the battles waged by Daniels and Bauman – and to a lesser extent Robinson – they didn’t have things all their way.  That was most plainly evident when Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) powered Honda to its first twin-cylinder premier-class victory in more than a quarter century. That performance both marked the bike’s arrival as a full-blown SuperTwins threat and provided the team with added motivation to make the most of the offseason in order to prepare for bigger and better things in ‘26.  Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), meanwhile, collected multiple podiums in his debut season on the KTM en route to yet another top-five championship ranking. Fisher is well positioned to build on what was originally expected to be a learning season, returning to again pilot the Rackley Racing KTM alongside Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke).  Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) andDeclan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) have each notched up podium finishes for On The Box Racing in recent seasons. This year, they’ll be looking to do so as teammates, as the outfit expands to bring a 1-2 punch to the premier class in ‘26.  Nine-time premier-class Short Track Main Event winner Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650) is back on the Kawasaki Ninja 650 that he hustled to the podium in last year’s season opener.  And don’t forget about Bike Week legend Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/OnlyFans/ Castrol Yamaha MT-07), who is tied with Robinson and trails only Daniels and Jake Johnson for most career DAYTONA ST victories with four prior wins.  Adding to the Intrigue Several other faces – both established and new – will look to enter into the podium mix.   2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award and 2024 Progressive AFT Rookie of the YearEvan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) has been drafted up to the premier class to contend aboard the official Royal Enfield entry.  And we know that bike is capable of finishing on the box because it did so a couple years ago in the capable of hands of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660). Gauthier will now look to turn a similar trick on the Fairway/JMC Motorsports-developed Aprilia.  Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Lisa Niner Racing Suzuki GSX-8S) repeatedly demonstrated that Suzuki can run inside the top five a year ago – a performance that seemingly tempted the talented Billy Ross(No. 29 Digitrace/Mission Foods/John Franklin Suzuki GSX-8S) to make a go on a GSX-8S as well.  And Yamaha further adds to its combined strength with the entries ofChad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07) andCameron Smith(No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07).  Single-Minded. Doubleheader. Triple Challenge. The 2026 Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight will open with all the usual fanfare and in its standard race format on Thursday night. Friday will then mix things up with the return of the Mission Triple Challenge, which first debuted at last season’s Lima Half-Mile.  The Triple Challenge format, which features three Main Events of increasing length, pressure, and stakes to determine the final results, is destined to deliver an incredibly tense and exciting night of racing when paired with the close confines of the DAYTONA Flat Track.  Bike Week Bonus Per usual, Daytona Beach will be jam-packed with two-wheeled activities throughout Bike Week. And fans at the track will have plenty to keep them entertained beyond the on-track action, including a wide range of vendors, numerous food and beverage options, and extensive designated motorcycle parking.  That’s the Ticket Upper Rim Road Standing Room Only tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free with the purchase of an adult ticket) each day, while General Admissiontickets are just $35 ($25 for students with a valid ID and $10 for kids 10 and under). Reserved Grandstandand Premium Reserved Grandstandtickets are only $45 and $55 more (all ages), respectively, per day. There’s also a Military/First Responder Discountavailable, allowing GOVXfans to purchase tickets at reduced rates.  The Practice Viewing andOpening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experiences offer reserved grandstand seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops. The Practice Viewing Fan Experience is available for $100, while the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Experience, which also includes up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies, can be purchased for $125 per day.  To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA Itickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-i-150573.  To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA IItickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-ii-150638.  And to purchase Thursday and Friday tickets together via the Multi-Day Ticket for the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-149220.  Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) both days with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT) on Thursday and 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on Friday.   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 will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

Daniels Launches Title Defense Against Stacked Mission AFT SuperTwins Field in DAYTONA

Defending Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 32) drops the clutch at the season opening rounds at DAYTONA in 2025. [Photo: Kristen Lassen for AMA Pro Racing]

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2026) – Following months of planning, preparation, and testing, the rubber is finally about to hit the dirt. The 2026Grand National Championship will officially get underway when the stars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kick off a brand-new campaign with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at the DAYTONA Flat Track on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6. More than two dozen of the world’s most elite motorcycle dirt trackers representing eight different brands will compete in the spotlight as a half-million enthusiasts flock to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the 85th annual Bike Week.  #1 For the first time since 2020, a Mission AFT SuperTwins pilot will be brandishing the #1 plate in the premier class for the very first time. Defending champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) has long imaged this day and admitted to putting considerable thought into crafting just the right look for his new number display.  And for good reason. While the #1 plate is a great honor, it can also be a heavy burden. However, it’s difficult to imagine a rider better prepared to accept that challenge. Daniels previously successfully defended a #1 plate when he became the first back-to-back KICKER AFT Singles champion in history in 2021. And while he was not defending the throne in ‘25, he did carry the pressure of being the heavy preseason favorite.  While he was pushed to the limit in order to make good on those lofty expectations, Daniels ultimately came through to earn what he hopes to be the first of many Grand National Championships.   And he will be all the stronger for the experience. Even though he won the crown in 2025, Daniels and his Estenson Racing crew were never 100% satisfied with the state of their racebike a season ago. By contrast, they come into 2026 confident in the package they’ve developed over the offseason.  If they live up to their own expectations, that could prove a scary proposition for the opposition.   Hog Wild As mentioned above, Daniels was given all he could handle a year ago – a challenge that was fronted by a pair of Harley-Davidson XG750Rs, a platform that met the opportunity presented by the shift to an all-production-based ruleset.   Piloted by two-time Grand National ChampionBriar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/ Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) and perennial contender Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), the Harley led all bikes with nine wins a year ago. Bauman alone claimed a class-leading eight while Robinson at last scored the XG win he first set his sights on back in 2017.  The two finished second and third in the title fight and closed out the ‘25 campaign with a rousing 1-2 at the Lake Ozark finale, repeating the coup they pulled off while giving the bike its first victory earlier in the season on Yamaha’s home turf in Senoia.   Bauman and Robinson are armed with Harley-Davidsons again in 2026, and they’re bringing reinforcements.  Triple KICKER AFT Singles king Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davison XG750R) is back in the series full time and at last making his Mission AFT SuperTwins debut. Supported by an all-star crew, Kopp has everything he needs to fight his way into the mix early and often.  Meanwhile, two-and four-wheel dirt track ace Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) will also graduate to premier-class competition in 2026 aboard a Harley-Davidson XG750R.  And in This Corner… While the 2025 season was largely dominated by the battles waged by Daniels and Bauman – and to a lesser extent Robinson – they didn’t have things all their way.  That was most plainly evident when Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) powered Honda to its first twin-cylinder premier-class victory in more than a quarter century. That performance both marked the bike’s arrival as a full-blown SuperTwins threat and provided the team with added motivation to make the most of the offseason in order to prepare for bigger and better things in ‘26.  Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), meanwhile, collected multiple podiums in his debut season on the KTM en route to yet another top-five championship ranking. Fisher is well positioned to build on what was originally expected to be a learning season, returning to again pilot the Rackley Racing KTM alongside Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke).  Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) andDeclan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) have each notched up podium finishes for On The Box Racing in recent seasons. This year, they’ll be looking to do so as teammates, as the outfit expands to bring a 1-2 punch to the premier class in ‘26.  Nine-time premier-class Short Track Main Event winner Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650) is back on the Kawasaki Ninja 650 that he hustled to the podium in last year’s season opener.  And don’t forget about Bike Week legend Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/OnlyFans/ Castrol Yamaha MT-07), who is tied with Robinson and trails only Daniels and Jake Johnson for most career DAYTONA ST victories with four prior wins.  Adding to the Intrigue Several other faces – both established and new – will look to enter into the podium mix.   2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award and 2024 Progressive AFT Rookie of the YearEvan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) has been drafted up to the premier class to contend aboard the official Royal Enfield entry.  And we know that bike is capable of finishing on the box because it did so a couple years ago in the capable of hands of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660). Gauthier will now look to turn a similar trick on the Fairway/JMC Motorsports-developed Aprilia.  Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Lisa Niner Racing Suzuki GSX-8S) repeatedly demonstrated that Suzuki can run inside the top five a year ago – a performance that seemingly tempted the talented Billy Ross(No. 29 Digitrace/Mission Foods/John Franklin Suzuki GSX-8S) to make a go on a GSX-8S as well.  And Yamaha further adds to its combined strength with the entries ofChad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07) andCameron Smith(No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07).  Single-Minded. Doubleheader. Triple Challenge. The 2026 Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight will open with all the usual fanfare and in its standard race format on Thursday night. Friday will then mix things up with the return of the Mission Triple Challenge, which first debuted at last season’s Lima Half-Mile.  The Triple Challenge format, which features three Main Events of increasing length, pressure, and stakes to determine the final results, is destined to deliver an incredibly tense and exciting night of racing when paired with the close confines of the DAYTONA Flat Track.  Bike Week Bonus Per usual, Daytona Beach will be jam-packed with two-wheeled activities throughout Bike Week. And fans at the track will have plenty to keep them entertained beyond the on-track action, including a wide range of vendors, numerous food and beverage options, and extensive designated motorcycle parking.  That’s the Ticket Upper Rim Road Standing Room Only tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free with the purchase of an adult ticket) each day, while General Admissiontickets are just $35 ($25 for students with a valid ID and $10 for kids 10 and under). Reserved Grandstandand Premium Reserved Grandstandtickets are only $45 and $55 more (all ages), respectively, per day. There’s also a Military/First Responder Discountavailable, allowing GOVXfans to purchase tickets at reduced rates.  The Practice Viewing andOpening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experiences offer reserved grandstand seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops. The Practice Viewing Fan Experience is available for $100, while the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Experience, which also includes up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies, can be purchased for $125 per day.  To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA Itickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-i-150573.  To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA IItickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-ii-150638.  And to purchase Thursday and Friday tickets together via the Multi-Day Ticket for the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-149220.  Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) both days with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT) on Thursday and 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on Friday.   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 will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

DALLAS (March 2, 2026) — Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB) is wasting no time gearing up for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The free-to-play bracket game launches the year with the return of The Majors, beginning at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8. Adding to the excitement, Burnyzz Speed Shop is back on board as an event sponsor.
 
Introduced in 2024, The Majors is one of several DRBB mini-series designed to break the 20-race season into more focused, high-energy segments. The three-race series highlights some of the sport’s most historic events: the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals (March 5-8), the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals (April 9-12), and the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals (September 2-7). In addition to awarding five DRBB event plaques at each race, the top performers across The Majors earn bonus prizes, all part of the free game.

 
“We continue to get tremendous feedback about The Majors,” said DRBB creator Elon Werner. “Fans appreciate having added incentive around marquee races outside of the Countdown. The Gatornationals, Winternationals and U.S. Nationals are cornerstone events, and we’re thankful Burnyzz has once again partnered with us to put a spotlight on the Gatornationals.”
 
Owned by Top Fuel driver Josh Hart and his wife, Brittanie, Burnyzz Speed Shop is headquartered in Ocala, about an hour south of Gainesville Raceway. Since opening in 2010, the business has expanded to fill an entire city block dedicated to automotive performance and restoration. Services include paint and body work, full vintage and modern builds, engine swaps, custom interiors and restorations and dyno tuning. Guided by its motto, “Quality over Quantity, every time,” Burnyzz has earned national recognition as “Hot Rod Heaven,” featuring a 100,000 sq. ft. auto sales showroom, classic car restoration facilities, detailing services and a state-of-the-art service center.
 
“Burnyzz and NHRA drag racing are both personal passions,” said Hart. “The Gatornationals is my home race, and where I earned my first Top Fuel victory in 2021, so it means a lot to me. This year is extra special because it marks my debut driving for John Force Racing. We try to be as involved as possible, including hosting our annual FanFest the Wednesday before the race. When fans think of the Gatornationals, I want Burnyzz to be part of that conversation. Supporting Drag Race Bracket Bonanza is another way to make that happen.”
 
DRBB will be on-site at the Burnyzz FanFest on Wednesday, March 4, from 6-9 p.m. at Burnyzz Speed Shop (1 Aspen Rd., Ocala, FL 34480). The event will feature a driver autograph session from 7-8 p.m. with more than 30 NHRA drivers, plus a live band, food trucks, face painting, balloon artists, a raffle and a car show. Admission is free, with proceeds benefiting The Fostering Foundation, a local nonprofit supporting foster families with resources and assistance.
 
“As fans line up for hero cards and autographs, we’ll be there signing people up to play Drag Race Bracket Bonanza,” said Werner. “We’ll have stickers, prizes on display and everything fans need to jump into our free bracket game. I’m grateful to Burnyzz for giving us the opportunity to connect directly with fans, that’s how we continue to build momentum.”
 
During FanFest, the DRBB Major Moments Top Fuel bracket will remain open, giving fans the opportunity to vote on the most iconic Top Fuel moment in 75 years of NHRA history while waiting to meet their favorite drivers.
 
For the Gatornationals, players can complete their first 2026 brackets once qualifying concludes at Gainesville Raceway on Saturday, March 7. Picks must be submitted before the opening round of eliminations begins Sunday, March 8, at 10 a.m. EST. Fans can catch race coverage on FS1 and follow DRBB on social media for stats, prize updates and news on Twitter/X at @dragracebb and on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at @DragRaceBracketBonanza.

BRABHAM SCORES DOMINATING WIN FOR CD RACING IN SEBRING TRANS AM SEASON OPENER

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 2, 2026) – Matthew Brabham, CD Racing’s primary driver for the 2026 season, drove the #16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang to a clean sweep Sunday at the Trans Am by Pirelli season-opening race at Sebring International Raceway. Brabham started from pole position, set the race’s fastest lap, led every lap and was unchallenged in any of the event’s four yellow-flag restarts. Brabham, who closed out the team’s 2025 with a win in Austin, added his 9th career series win at Sebring in similarly emphatic fashion: he won the final-lap, “green-white-checker” shootout by a stunning three-second margin over second-place Paul Menard. “The car was so good to drive,” said an exultant Brabham, who also won for CD Racing at Sebring in 2023. “It was just awesome! Thanks to Chris and Rob (Dyson) and the team for the opportunity they are giving me.” Brabham noted that Sebring’s notoriously bumpy racing surface, which contributes to the historic circuit’s unique character also provided a challenge in setting up the car. “The team did a fantastic job of putting the car together for this weekend. The track surface conditions were very tricky all weekend, but we had a car that was quickest the whole time. Pretty special.”  “This is a phenomenal start to the season,” said Chris Dyson, whose business commitments precluded his presence at the track. “Our cars were fast enough to win at every race last year, but as a team we weren’t as consistent as we needed to be. There were a couple of unforced errors that cost us dearly. “Over the winter we made some technical and organizational tweaks that I believe will let us achieve the consistency that will bring CD Racing a fourth Trans Am championship and Matty’s first. And I’m looking forward to pursuing more wins as a driver, as my schedule permits.” Click here for more on Chris Dyson Racing. Road Atlanta Next On Trans Am Calendar The next event on the Trans Am by Pirelli calendar is Road Atlanta, March 20-22. Brabham won at Road Atlanta last year, standing in for Chris Dyson who was recovering from injuries suffered in the series season-opener at Sebring.  Re-Broadcast of Sebring Race Rebroadcasts of all Trans Am races are available on the Trans Am You Tube channel.

CASA GRANDE, AZ (March 1, 2026) — Most 15-year-olds aren’t racing head-to-head and winning against the nation’s best 360 Sprint Car drivers.

But Levi Hillier isn’t like most 15-year-olds.

The native of Burlington, WA, made a statement Sunday night at Central Arizona Raceway with first career American Sprint Car Series Feature win, leading all 30 circuits around the 3/8-mile oval and banking the $6,000 prize in the finale of the inaugural Sonoran Clash.

In doing so, Hillier became the second-youngest Feature winner in Series history, falling shy of only Ryan Timms, who set the mark in May of 2021 at Missouri’s Lake Ozark Speedway at the age of 14.

“This is awesome,” Hillier said. “Hats off to this entire Rudeen Racing team. Kevin and Monika, they believe in me so much, it’s pretty awesome. I’ve got great backing with my guys — my dad and Tyler, Justin and DJ — they’ve been working their butts off. I’m just… out of words. It’s pretty surreal.”

From the drop of the green flag, Hillier was the driver to beat. He jumped out to a lead of over a second-and-a-half on the field less than 10 laps in and, without much hesitation, jumped into lapped traffic with the gap closing behind him.

Closing that gap was six-time Series champion Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Hillier’s Rudeen Racing teammate, Justin Peck. Peck, who had won two of the first three races of the Sonoran Clash, was able to slip by Hafertepe on the bottom out of Turn 2 on Lap 17 and immediately set his sights on his teammate out front.

But try as he may, Peck was unable to get close enough to make the pass. With four laps left, Hillier stumbled slightly getting by a lapped car in Turn 2, opening the door for Peck, who closed right to the rear bumper of the No. 26R. But that lapped car held his line on the bottom going into Turn 3, forcing Peck to check-up and allowing Hillier to scamper away in the closing laps.

Hillier crossed the finish line with a gap of over one second on Peck to cap what was a caution-free race that took only nine minutes and 26 seconds to complete.

Hafertepe finished third — good enough to net him the Sonoran Clash points championship and a $4,000 bonus check, courtesy of Avanti Windows & Doors. Though he was unable to break through to Victory Lane, he recorded finishes of third, fourth, second and third in the four-race stretch, and maintains the lead in the overall championship standings by 40 over Matt Covington.

“It was reasonable; we wanted to be in position to win some of these races,” Hafertepe said. “I think our Dash draws could’ve been better, maybe help us win some of them. We were lacking just a couple of the nights, and that just puts you behind the eight-ball. Even tonight, we were lacking a little bit. Last night we were pretty good and Saturday night last week, we were pretty good.

“All in all, we have nothing to hang our heads about. We learned a lot this week, and to be running this good early in the season means good things going forward.”

2024 Series champion Seth Bergman finished a season-best fourth, while Kyler Johnson rounded-out the top five.

UP NEXT

The American Sprint Car Series returns to competition 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 attend, how can you watch the American Sprint Car Series? Every event is broadcast live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Levi Hillier Scores First Career ASCS Win, Hafertepe Wins Sonoran Clash Title at Central Arizona

CASA GRANDE, AZ (March 1, 2026) — Most 15-year-olds aren’t racing head-to-head and winning against the nation’s best 360 Sprint Car drivers.

But Levi Hillier isn’t like most 15-year-olds.

The native of Burlington, WA, made a statement Sunday night at Central Arizona Raceway with first career American Sprint Car Series Feature win, leading all 30 circuits around the 3/8-mile oval and banking the $6,000 prize in the finale of the inaugural Sonoran Clash.

In doing so, Hillier became the second-youngest Feature winner in Series history, falling shy of only Ryan Timms, who set the mark in May of 2021 at Missouri’s Lake Ozark Speedway at the age of 14.

“This is awesome,” Hillier said. “Hats off to this entire Rudeen Racing team. Kevin and Monika, they believe in me so much, it’s pretty awesome. I’ve got great backing with my guys — my dad and Tyler, Justin and DJ — they’ve been working their butts off. I’m just… out of words. It’s pretty surreal.”

From the drop of the green flag, Hillier was the driver to beat. He jumped out to a lead of over a second-and-a-half on the field less than 10 laps in and, without much hesitation, jumped into lapped traffic with the gap closing behind him.

Closing that gap was six-time Series champion Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Hillier’s Rudeen Racing teammate, Justin Peck. Peck, who had won two of the first three races of the Sonoran Clash, was able to slip by Hafertepe on the bottom out of Turn 2 on Lap 17 and immediately set his sights on his teammate out front.

But try as he may, Peck was unable to get close enough to make the pass. With four laps left, Hillier stumbled slightly getting by a lapped car in Turn 2, opening the door for Peck, who closed right to the rear bumper of the No. 26R. But that lapped car held his line on the bottom going into Turn 3, forcing Peck to check-up and allowing Hillier to scamper away in the closing laps.

Hillier crossed the finish line with a gap of over one second on Peck to cap what was a caution-free race that took only nine minutes and 26 seconds to complete.

Hafertepe finished third — good enough to net him the Sonoran Clash points championship and a $4,000 bonus check, courtesy of Avanti Windows & Doors. Though he was unable to break through to Victory Lane, he recorded finishes of third, fourth, second and third in the four-race stretch, and maintains the lead in the overall championship standings by 40 over Matt Covington.

“It was reasonable; we wanted to be in position to win some of these races,” Hafertepe said. “I think our Dash draws could’ve been better, maybe help us win some of them. We were lacking just a couple of the nights, and that just puts you behind the eight-ball. Even tonight, we were lacking a little bit. Last night we were pretty good and Saturday night last week, we were pretty good.

“All in all, we have nothing to hang our heads about. We learned a lot this week, and to be running this good early in the season means good things going forward.”

2024 Series champion Seth Bergman finished a season-best fourth, while Kyler Johnson rounded-out the top five.

UP NEXT

The American Sprint Car Series returns to competition 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 attend, how can you watch the American Sprint Car Series? Every event is broadcast live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 26R-Levi Hillier[1]; 2. 26-Justin Peck[7]; 3. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 4. 23-Seth Bergman[2]; 5. 45X-Kyler Johnson[5]; 6. 17GP-Hank Davis[11]; 7. 34-Sterling Cling[10]; 8. 2-Whit Gastineau[14]; 9. 77X-Alex Hill[3]; 10. 95-Matt Covington[6]; 11. 16G-Austyn Gossel[9]; 12. 15-Nick Parker[13]; 13. 11J-Wyatt Miller[8]; 14. 88R-Ryder Laplante[15]; 15. 29K-Levi Kuntz[21]; 16. 31BW-Braxton Weger[16]; 17. 01-Carson McCarl[18]; 18. 2B-Garrett Benson[17]; 19. 88C-Brogan Carder[20]; 20. 42-Caleb Saiz[19]; 21. 88-Terry Easum[22]; 22. 17W-JJ Hickle[12]; 23. 3-Cole Schroeder[23]

Haudenschild rebounds from subpar start to the season with a revitalizing Volusia victory

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 1, 2026) – There’s no denying that 2026 didn’t get off to exactly the start Sheldon Haudenschild would’ve liked.

A fresh start brought hope. The 32-year-old headed to KCP Racing for his 10th year with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. Longtime crew chief came along to join him on the next chapter after a successful tenure at Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing.

But the new pairing stumbled out of the gate. Haudenschild’s best finish in three nights at February’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals was 11th, and his average result was 16.33.

A few weeks off allowed the KCP crew to regroup, and they came back swinging as the tour returned to Volusia Speedway Park Sunday night for the Bike Week Jamboree. Haudenschild unloaded with speed and never slowed down. He wound up with the pole for the 25-lap Feature and never looked back once the green flag flew. Lapped traffic offered some obstacles, but nothing was stopping Haudenschild on his way to Victory Lane.

“It’s just rewarding honestly” Haudenschild said. “(Kyle) Ripper and Adam (Clark), they put the work in this winter. These are the nicest race cars I’ve ever driven. From every nut and bolt to every component on that car, it’s top of the line and put together well. I cannot thank Ripper, Adam, and Dauson (Heitritter) enough. That was Ripper’s win right there. That car was dialed in and rolling good. Huge win to get going with a new team.

“It feels so good to get this win out of the way this week. I’m motivated. My next 10 to 15 years of racing is what I’ve got to take advantage of.”

Haudenschild is up to 47 career victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Four of those have come at Volusia, making it the second winningest track on his résumé behind only Beaver Dam Raceway. The Wooster, OH native becomes the third different driver to top a World of Outlaws race with KCP Racing, joining Giovanni Scelzi (eight wins) and Ian Madsen (four wins).

David Gravel recorded his third consecutive runner-up finish as he and Big Game Motorsports took the point lead. Carson Macedo finished third aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 to remain the only competitor to stand on the podium through all four races of 2026.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Daison Pursley completed the top five.

RACE NOTES:

Brent Marks ripped the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

David Gravel clocked his second Simpson Quick Time of 2026, coming within a tenth of the Volusia track record (12.569) that’s stood since 2011.

Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Sheldon Haudenschild (DIRTVision Heat Two), and Tanner Holmes (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Carson Macedo.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Dash.

Cameron Martin won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Garet Williamson marched the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 from 21st to 11th to bag his second KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the Year.

Ashton Torgerson was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher, which also earned him the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race Award.

Sheldon Haudenschild took the ACME Trading Company Fastest Lap with a 13.461.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Scotty Thiel.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finish the Bike Week Jamboree at Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park on Monday, March 2. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NEW HOME, SAME HAUD: Dominant Volusia Drive Leads Haudenschild to First Win with KCP Racing

Haudenschild rebounds from subpar start to the season with a revitalizing Volusia victory

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 1, 2026) – There’s no denying that 2026 didn’t get off to exactly the start Sheldon Haudenschild would’ve liked.

A fresh start brought hope. The 32-year-old headed to KCP Racing for his 10th year with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. Longtime crew chief came along to join him on the next chapter after a successful tenure at Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing.

But the new pairing stumbled out of the gate. Haudenschild’s best finish in three nights at February’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals was 11th, and his average result was 16.33.

A few weeks off allowed the KCP crew to regroup, and they came back swinging as the tour returned to Volusia Speedway Park Sunday night for the Bike Week Jamboree. Haudenschild unloaded with speed and never slowed down. He wound up with the pole for the 25-lap Feature and never looked back once the green flag flew. Lapped traffic offered some obstacles, but nothing was stopping Haudenschild on his way to Victory Lane.

“It’s just rewarding honestly” Haudenschild said. “(Kyle) Ripper and Adam (Clark), they put the work in this winter. These are the nicest race cars I’ve ever driven. From every nut and bolt to every component on that car, it’s top of the line and put together well. I cannot thank Ripper, Adam, and Dauson (Heitritter) enough. That was Ripper’s win right there. That car was dialed in and rolling good. Huge win to get going with a new team.

“It feels so good to get this win out of the way this week. I’m motivated. My next 10 to 15 years of racing is what I’ve got to take advantage of.”

Haudenschild is up to 47 career victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Four of those have come at Volusia, making it the second winningest track on his résumé behind only Beaver Dam Raceway. The Wooster, OH native becomes the third different driver to top a World of Outlaws race with KCP Racing, joining Giovanni Scelzi (eight wins) and Ian Madsen (four wins).

David Gravel recorded his third consecutive runner-up finish as he and Big Game Motorsports took the point lead. Carson Macedo finished third aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 to remain the only competitor to stand on the podium through all four races of 2026.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Daison Pursley completed the top five.

RACE NOTES:

Brent Marks ripped the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

David Gravel clocked his second Simpson Quick Time of 2026, coming within a tenth of the Volusia track record (12.569) that’s stood since 2011.

Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Sheldon Haudenschild (DIRTVision Heat Two), and Tanner Holmes (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Carson Macedo.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Dash.

Cameron Martin won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Garet Williamson marched the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 from 21st to 11th to bag his second KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the Year.

Ashton Torgerson was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher, which also earned him the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race Award.

Sheldon Haudenschild took the ACME Trading Company Fastest Lap with a 13.461.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Scotty Thiel.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars finish the Bike Week Jamboree at Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park on Monday, March 2. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[12]; 5. 9-Daison Pursley[8]; 6. 39M-Anthony Macri[15]; 7. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[6]; 8. 13-Tanner Holmes[5]; 9. 19-Brent Marks[13]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[14]; 11. 23-Garet Williamson[21]; 12. 88-Austin McCarl[10]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[17]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog[25]; 16. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 17. 2C-Cole Macedo[24]; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 19. 51-Scott Bogucki[27]; 20. 32-Bryce Lucius[11]; 21. 16C-Scotty Thiel[9]; 22. 6-Kasey Jedrzejek[26]; 23. 27-Emerson Axsom[20]; 24. 4-Cameron Martin[19]; 25. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[4]; 26. (DNF) 15K-Creed Kemenah[23]; 27. (DNS) 69K-Daryn Pittman

Event: DuraMAX Texas Grand PrixLocation: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TexasDate: Sunday, March 1, 2026Start: 22ndFinish: 26thThanks to a late surge in Sunday’s DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX team were in contention for a top-25 finish before ultimately coming home 26th.Berry started the first road-course race of the season from 22nd and finished Stage 1 – a 20-lap green-flag run – in the same position.Following a pit stop during the Stage break, he restarted 33rd in Stage 2 and advanced to 22nd by the end of the 25-lap segment.After another trip down pit road for service and adjustments to the DEX Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Berry restarted 37th and steadily worked his way up to 18th before making another stop on Lap 65. He rejoined the race in 34th and climbed back inside the top 30 before a caution flew for an incident involving Ross Chastain.Berry made his final pit stop on Lap 76 of 95 and quickly returned to the top 30, briefly breaking into the top 25 with eight laps remaining. He slipped back one position in the closing laps to finish 26th, matching his result at the Austin, Texas, road course one year ago.Berry and the Wood Brothers team now turn their focus to next Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

·        Shane van Gisbergen capped off a strong trip to Texas with a runner-up finish in the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas. The result – his career-best finish in NASCAR’s top division at the Austin, Texas, circuit – came after the 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native drove Chevrolet and JR Motorsports to the win in yesterday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.  ·        Van Gisbergen led Chevrolet to a season-best showing of five drivers from four different organizations taking home top-10 results with the Trackhouse Racing driver leading Spire Motorsports’ Michael McDowell, who also earned his season-best result with a fifth-place finish. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott took the checkered flag in the sixth- and seventh-positions, respectively, with Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger rounding out the Team Chevy top-10 with a ninth-place result.  Race Recap:  Stage One: Looking for his second NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain put together a strong Saturday performance that led to a front-row starting spot for the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne. Entering what is arguably the most chaotic corner of the circuit, Chastain managed to maintain position and settle into a top-three running position for the opening laps of Stage One. It was his teammate and yesterday’s O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series race winner, Shane van Gisbergen, that started making an early climb – cracking the top-10 from a 13th-place starting position just three laps into the race. A rather calm opening stint saw the first green flag pit cycle begin with four laps remaining in the stage. As then race leader, Ryan Blaney, hit pit road as the field approached the Lap 18 marker, Chastain went on to inherit the top position with a pair of Team Chevy drivers, Van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell, in tow. Opting to run out the stage for points, the trio went on to hold onto their respective positions en route to the first green-white checkered flag of the race.  Stage Two: Looking for better drive in his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, crew chief, Brandon McSwain, called for an air pressure adjustment to help rear drive on their first trip to pit road of the day. With a handful of the field flipping the opening stage, Chastain ultimately lined up in the 21st position for the start of the next 25-lap run. Among those who pitted prior to the stage end included Hendrick Motorsports’ Williams Byron, with the 2024 COTA winner making a jump up into the second row to take the green flag for Stage Two. As another long green flag run began, Byron remained part of the top-three contenders that progressively pulled to a near four-second margin lead over the field as the stage hit the halfway mark. Among those with fresher tires, Van Gisbergen was the only driver to really capitalize on the strategy – making the march all the way up into the third position before the team made the call to flip the stage and hit pit road with two laps to go in Stage Two. With pit strategy shaking up the leaderboard once again, it was road course ringer, AJ Allmendinger, that led the Bowtie brigade to the second green-white checkered flag – earning second-place stage points in his No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.  Final Stage: Byron and Van Gisbergen were among the four drivers that flipped the stage and still managed to collected top-10 points in Stage Two. Staying out under the stage break, the pair lined up on the second row to take the green flag with 45 laps remaining in the race. With the field quickly singling out, it was the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet that once again led the Team Chevy crew from the third position. With the longest run on the horizon, the Bowtie brigade made a strong statement with seven drivers in the top-nine running positions as the green flag pit cycle began. With the top-two drivers making their scheduled stops, Van Gisbergen took over the top position before crew chief, Stephen Doran, made the call for the driver to hit pit road on Lap 71 – powering off a 10-second flat stop and ultimately rejoining the field back in the top-five. With his long-run speed coming to light, Van Gisbergen progressively closed the gap to then race leader, Tyler Reddick – closing the gap to just 0.392-seconds as the leaders crossed the line to mark 10 laps to go. The Auckland, New Zealand, native went on to tally his career-best finish at COTA with a runner-up result.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos.     Driver 2nd – Shane van Gisbergen5th – Michael McDowell6th – Kyle Larson7th – Chase Elliott9th – AJ AllmendingerChevrolet’s season statistics with three NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 0Poles: 1Top-Fives: 7Top 10s: 11Stage Wins: 1

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Phoenix Raceway with the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on Sunday, March 8, at 3:30 P.M. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Post-Race Driver Quotes:  Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 19th “This No. 3 team just never gives up, man. We had to work hard for that one today. Things kept putting us in the back and we would drive forward. I flat-spotted a tire in the opening laps which affected the balance of our BREZTRI AEROSPHERE (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate)® Chevrolet in Stage 1. We made a good pit call to gain track position and showed the pace that our car had in Stage 2. Unfortunately, a bolt came loose in our shifter handle which put us behind to start the last stage. We kept chipping away at it and then got behind again with contact on pit road. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Proud of the effort.” Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 6th You battled all day with a cool suit issue. How did you stay in the game? “Thankfully, I had enough fluids in me. I started feeling progressively better as the race went on with just dumping water on me, putting ice on my chest and drinking a lot of fluids. I felt good there at the end, but I was hot early in the race. I was getting nervous. But I think it kind of cooled down outside too, which helped.  All-in-all, it was a great day for this No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team. It was good to get our first top-10 finish of the season, and hopefully we can just build off of it.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 12th“The entire No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet team battled all day here at Circuit of The Americas. We started deep in the field and were able to make the needed adjustments to drive inside the Top 15. I’m proud of everyone’s efforts today and now we’ll turn our attention West as we head to Phoenix next weekend.” Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletFinished: 16th“It was a great weekend for our No. 10 Patriot Mobile Chevrolet team. We had no thrills, which is what we need. I think when we execute, we are a great team and we just keep getting better. We had that kind of a day here today. We had no mistakes on pit road or on-track, and we came home with a 16th-place finish. Just very proud of this team. Our goal was to cash-in at least 20 points. That hasn’t been our strong suit, but we did that. We’ll roll onto some track where we have some good finishes.” Jesse Love, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Finished: 27th “We ended up with some tow link damage today that affected our race, but overall the No. 33 C4 Chevrolet was pretty good. We got our handling better throughout the day and even though we made gains at it, we never got it exactly where I wanted it to be. All of the pieces were there today but we never put them together.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 5th“Overall, the No. 71 Katz Coffee Chevrolet was good. We didn’t need that last caution. We were running long there. I don’t know how the math would have worked out, but I think we would have had a good shot of having better tires over everyone else at the end, so that caution really hurt us. I think we restarted 12th or 13th, so to get back up into the top-five is a solid day for this team. But we’re not looking for solid days, we’re looking for wins. It’s definitely a step in the right direction.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 14th“Our No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet was really fast all day. We were putting ourselves in a spot there at the end at that last caution to have a chance to go win the race and got wrecked again in turn one. I don’t know if I need to do something different, but it was just one of those days. It was good to drive up through the field again. As a racecar driver, I’m not satisfied, but I proved that I could do it.”  Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 2ndWhat else did you need today? “Just a little bit of everything. We lacked a little bit of turn and a little bit of drive. Tyler (Reddick, race winner) was just amazing. The way he was driving was really good and his car was good. We just didn’t quite have enough, but it was a great points day for this No. 97 Safety Culture Chevrolet team, which is what we need for getting into the Chase. It was still an amazing result, but you’re always disappointed with second when the expectations are so high. But overall, it was a really good day.”

Shane van Gisbergen Drives to Season-Best Runner-Up Finish at Circuit of The Americas

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

·        Shane van Gisbergen capped off a strong trip to Texas with a runner-up finish in the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas. The result – his career-best finish in NASCAR’s top division at the Austin, Texas, circuit – came after the 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native drove Chevrolet and JR Motorsports to the win in yesterday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.  ·        Van Gisbergen led Chevrolet to a season-best showing of five drivers from four different organizations taking home top-10 results with the Trackhouse Racing driver leading Spire Motorsports’ Michael McDowell, who also earned his season-best result with a fifth-place finish. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott took the checkered flag in the sixth- and seventh-positions, respectively, with Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger rounding out the Team Chevy top-10 with a ninth-place result.  Race Recap:  Stage One: Looking for his second NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain put together a strong Saturday performance that led to a front-row starting spot for the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne. Entering what is arguably the most chaotic corner of the circuit, Chastain managed to maintain position and settle into a top-three running position for the opening laps of Stage One. It was his teammate and yesterday’s O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series race winner, Shane van Gisbergen, that started making an early climb – cracking the top-10 from a 13th-place starting position just three laps into the race. A rather calm opening stint saw the first green flag pit cycle begin with four laps remaining in the stage. As then race leader, Ryan Blaney, hit pit road as the field approached the Lap 18 marker, Chastain went on to inherit the top position with a pair of Team Chevy drivers, Van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell, in tow. Opting to run out the stage for points, the trio went on to hold onto their respective positions en route to the first green-white checkered flag of the race.  Stage Two: Looking for better drive in his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, crew chief, Brandon McSwain, called for an air pressure adjustment to help rear drive on their first trip to pit road of the day. With a handful of the field flipping the opening stage, Chastain ultimately lined up in the 21st position for the start of the next 25-lap run. Among those who pitted prior to the stage end included Hendrick Motorsports’ Williams Byron, with the 2024 COTA winner making a jump up into the second row to take the green flag for Stage Two. As another long green flag run began, Byron remained part of the top-three contenders that progressively pulled to a near four-second margin lead over the field as the stage hit the halfway mark. Among those with fresher tires, Van Gisbergen was the only driver to really capitalize on the strategy – making the march all the way up into the third position before the team made the call to flip the stage and hit pit road with two laps to go in Stage Two. With pit strategy shaking up the leaderboard once again, it was road course ringer, AJ Allmendinger, that led the Bowtie brigade to the second green-white checkered flag – earning second-place stage points in his No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.  Final Stage: Byron and Van Gisbergen were among the four drivers that flipped the stage and still managed to collected top-10 points in Stage Two. Staying out under the stage break, the pair lined up on the second row to take the green flag with 45 laps remaining in the race. With the field quickly singling out, it was the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet that once again led the Team Chevy crew from the third position. With the longest run on the horizon, the Bowtie brigade made a strong statement with seven drivers in the top-nine running positions as the green flag pit cycle began. With the top-two drivers making their scheduled stops, Van Gisbergen took over the top position before crew chief, Stephen Doran, made the call for the driver to hit pit road on Lap 71 – powering off a 10-second flat stop and ultimately rejoining the field back in the top-five. With his long-run speed coming to light, Van Gisbergen progressively closed the gap to then race leader, Tyler Reddick – closing the gap to just 0.392-seconds as the leaders crossed the line to mark 10 laps to go. The Auckland, New Zealand, native went on to tally his career-best finish at COTA with a runner-up result.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos.     Driver 2nd – Shane van Gisbergen5th – Michael McDowell6th – Kyle Larson7th – Chase Elliott9th – AJ AllmendingerChevrolet’s season statistics with three NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 0Poles: 1Top-Fives: 7Top 10s: 11Stage Wins: 1

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Phoenix Raceway with the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on Sunday, March 8, at 3:30 P.M. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Post-Race Driver Quotes:  Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 19th “This No. 3 team just never gives up, man. We had to work hard for that one today. Things kept putting us in the back and we would drive forward. I flat-spotted a tire in the opening laps which affected the balance of our BREZTRI AEROSPHERE (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate)® Chevrolet in Stage 1. We made a good pit call to gain track position and showed the pace that our car had in Stage 2. Unfortunately, a bolt came loose in our shifter handle which put us behind to start the last stage. We kept chipping away at it and then got behind again with contact on pit road. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Proud of the effort.” Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 6th You battled all day with a cool suit issue. How did you stay in the game? “Thankfully, I had enough fluids in me. I started feeling progressively better as the race went on with just dumping water on me, putting ice on my chest and drinking a lot of fluids. I felt good there at the end, but I was hot early in the race. I was getting nervous. But I think it kind of cooled down outside too, which helped.  All-in-all, it was a great day for this No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team. It was good to get our first top-10 finish of the season, and hopefully we can just build off of it.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 12th“The entire No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet team battled all day here at Circuit of The Americas. We started deep in the field and were able to make the needed adjustments to drive inside the Top 15. I’m proud of everyone’s efforts today and now we’ll turn our attention West as we head to Phoenix next weekend.” Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletFinished: 16th“It was a great weekend for our No. 10 Patriot Mobile Chevrolet team. We had no thrills, which is what we need. I think when we execute, we are a great team and we just keep getting better. We had that kind of a day here today. We had no mistakes on pit road or on-track, and we came home with a 16th-place finish. Just very proud of this team. Our goal was to cash-in at least 20 points. That hasn’t been our strong suit, but we did that. We’ll roll onto some track where we have some good finishes.” Jesse Love, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Finished: 27th “We ended up with some tow link damage today that affected our race, but overall the No. 33 C4 Chevrolet was pretty good. We got our handling better throughout the day and even though we made gains at it, we never got it exactly where I wanted it to be. All of the pieces were there today but we never put them together.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 5th“Overall, the No. 71 Katz Coffee Chevrolet was good. We didn’t need that last caution. We were running long there. I don’t know how the math would have worked out, but I think we would have had a good shot of having better tires over everyone else at the end, so that caution really hurt us. I think we restarted 12th or 13th, so to get back up into the top-five is a solid day for this team. But we’re not looking for solid days, we’re looking for wins. It’s definitely a step in the right direction.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 14th“Our No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet was really fast all day. We were putting ourselves in a spot there at the end at that last caution to have a chance to go win the race and got wrecked again in turn one. I don’t know if I need to do something different, but it was just one of those days. It was good to drive up through the field again. As a racecar driver, I’m not satisfied, but I proved that I could do it.”  Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 2ndWhat else did you need today? “Just a little bit of everything. We lacked a little bit of turn and a little bit of drive. Tyler (Reddick, race winner) was just amazing. The way he was driving was really good and his car was good. We just didn’t quite have enough, but it was a great points day for this No. 97 Safety Culture Chevrolet team, which is what we need for getting into the Chase. It was still an amazing result, but you’re always disappointed with second when the expectations are so high. But overall, it was a really good day.”