CONCORD, NC (Jan. 16, 2026) — Matt Covington got back into the win column last year and finished runner-up in the chase for the American Sprint Car Series championship. In 2026, he’s more determined than ever to trade his second-best efforts in for his first national Sprint Car crown.

The 36-year-old from Glenpool, OK, has contested 13 full seasons on the national 360 Sprint Car circuit and finished either second or third in the points standings in each of the last five years. Most recently, he was bested by Sam Hafertepe Jr., who clinched his sixth Series championship, winning 11 Features to Covington’s three.

But there’s reason to believe 2026 will be different as he tackles the entire schedule for the 14th time in his career.

“To me, what’s gonna separate a guy from winning three races versus 11 races is trying to work on myself more,” Covington said. “In my opinion, we’re not gonna change something on the car that’s gonna take us from a three-win year to an 11-win year. It’s gonna be deeper than that. I’ve kinda turned the camera around introspectively, tried to work on myself more to see if we can’t find some speed in the cockpit, so to say.”

During the winter of 2024, Covington underwent an operation to fix various nerve issues in his hands and arms, which caused grip issues when holding his steering wheel. Now fully recovered, he’s got no plans of wasting any time when the season begins in two weeks at Volusia Speedway Park, Jan. 29–31.

“I’m feeling pretty strong right now, not having to overcome having a surgery like that,” Covington said. “I hope to help us get off to a faster start, but really not changing anything. We’re coming back the same way with the same mindset we had last year and try to be one spot better.”

The No. 95 team will keep their same Fisher Racing Engines-powered Triple X Chassis for 2026, which is the same package Hafertepe utilizes. But Covington has spent a great deal of time pondering over the ways in which he can be different — both in the mind and body.

“I think if Sam’s not beating me in the chassis department or the engine department, then where’s it at?” Covington said. “I think it’s in the mentality. The dedication, not just in making sure the car’s perfect and all that, but the dedication away from the racetrack. Putting hours in the gym, with how important that last five laps of focus in the car is gonna be.”

Since his first Series victory in 2010, Covington has compiled 22 Feature wins on the national circuit — 13th-most all-time. He’s proud of all he’s accomplished thus far, but no trophy in his cabinet would stand out as much as the coveted Emmett Hahn Trophy as king of the 360 Sprint Car world.

“It would mean a lot. It’d be a dream come true,” Covington said. “That’s why we’ve fought hard to try and do it every year.”

The 35th American Sprint Car Series season gets underway Thursday–Saturday, Jan. 29–31, at Volusia Speedway Park in the 55th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Tickets are on sale now; click here to purchase.

Covington Focusing on Improving Mind, Body For 2026 ASCS Title Chase

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 16, 2026) — Matt Covington got back into the win column last year and finished runner-up in the chase for the American Sprint Car Series championship. In 2026, he’s more determined than ever to trade his second-best efforts in for his first national Sprint Car crown.

The 36-year-old from Glenpool, OK, has contested 13 full seasons on the national 360 Sprint Car circuit and finished either second or third in the points standings in each of the last five years. Most recently, he was bested by Sam Hafertepe Jr., who clinched his sixth Series championship, winning 11 Features to Covington’s three.

But there’s reason to believe 2026 will be different as he tackles the entire schedule for the 14th time in his career.

“To me, what’s gonna separate a guy from winning three races versus 11 races is trying to work on myself more,” Covington said. “In my opinion, we’re not gonna change something on the car that’s gonna take us from a three-win year to an 11-win year. It’s gonna be deeper than that. I’ve kinda turned the camera around introspectively, tried to work on myself more to see if we can’t find some speed in the cockpit, so to say.”

During the winter of 2024, Covington underwent an operation to fix various nerve issues in his hands and arms, which caused grip issues when holding his steering wheel. Now fully recovered, he’s got no plans of wasting any time when the season begins in two weeks at Volusia Speedway Park, Jan. 29–31.

“I’m feeling pretty strong right now, not having to overcome having a surgery like that,” Covington said. “I hope to help us get off to a faster start, but really not changing anything. We’re coming back the same way with the same mindset we had last year and try to be one spot better.”

The No. 95 team will keep their same Fisher Racing Engines-powered Triple X Chassis for 2026, which is the same package Hafertepe utilizes. But Covington has spent a great deal of time pondering over the ways in which he can be different — both in the mind and body.

“I think if Sam’s not beating me in the chassis department or the engine department, then where’s it at?” Covington said. “I think it’s in the mentality. The dedication, not just in making sure the car’s perfect and all that, but the dedication away from the racetrack. Putting hours in the gym, with how important that last five laps of focus in the car is gonna be.”

Since his first Series victory in 2010, Covington has compiled 22 Feature wins on the national circuit — 13th-most all-time. He’s proud of all he’s accomplished thus far, but no trophy in his cabinet would stand out as much as the coveted Emmett Hahn Trophy as king of the 360 Sprint Car world.

“It would mean a lot. It’d be a dream come true,” Covington said. “That’s why we’ve fought hard to try and do it every year.”

The 35th American Sprint Car Series season gets underway Thursday–Saturday, Jan. 29–31, at Volusia Speedway Park in the 55th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Tickets are on sale now; click here to purchase.

How can you watch the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.

CONCORD, NC (January 16, 2026) – In his first full season piloting the Big Frog Motorsports No. 58V, Daulton Wilson will run the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in 2026.

The Fayetteville, NC driver affectionately known as “Big Perm” is the latest addition to an expanding roster of drivers planning to chase a World of Outlaws championship. Wilson is the fourth first-time Outlaw to join the tour in pursuit of the MD3 Rookie of the Year Award alongside Trey Mills, Logan Zarin and Eli Johnson.

“We just kind of looked at the schedule, starting out kind of down where I’m from,” Wilson said. “They’ve run the Outlaw deal before, and it would be something new for me to do. Just felt like it was a good thing, a good time for a change, and it just kind of fit our program a lot better.”

Wilson teamed up with Big Frog last fall after a four-year run with JRR Motorsports came to an end. The pairing earned a pair of top 10s in their first weekend together in the Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway before traveling to the Dirt Track World Championship, National 100, and World of Outlaws World Finals to round out 2025. By the end of that stint, Wilson knew the combination was capable of bigger things in the new year.

“We just kind of picked some races that we wanted to go run,” Wilson said. “We were just kind of taking it week by week, seeing how everything went. Me and Augie [Burttram, team owner] and everybody, we all got along pretty good. We threw around the idea of maybe putting something together for this year and it just all worked out.”

The 28-year-old has put together a respectable resume in his 15-year Late Model career, including the title of being the last Super Late Model winner at the legendary East Bay Raceway Park in 2024. One missing accolade is a World of Outlaws victory, although he’s come close on multiple occasions.

Most notably, Wilson had a front-row seat for the final-lap thriller between Bobby Pierce and Nick Hoffman at the 2024 Prairie Dirt Classic, crossing the line third that night. It was his third Series podium, as he also finished third at Cherokee in 2021 and 2022.

With a new team around him and a fresh schedule of races to look forward to, Wilson is entering the year feeling better than ever about his chances to break into Victory Lane with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

“Just win some races,” Wilson said regarding his goals for the upcoming season. “Be competitive and, you know, let the points kind of be what they’ll be.”

Wilson will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

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

Daulton Wilson, Big Frog Motorsports Join World of Outlaws Full-Time in 2026

CONCORD, NC (January 16, 2026) – In his first full season piloting the Big Frog Motorsports No. 58V, Daulton Wilson will run the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in 2026.

The Fayetteville, NC driver affectionately known as “Big Perm” is the latest addition to an expanding roster of drivers planning to chase a World of Outlaws championship. Wilson is the fourth first-time Outlaw to join the tour in pursuit of the MD3 Rookie of the Year Award alongside Trey Mills, Logan Zarin and Eli Johnson.

“We just kind of looked at the schedule, starting out kind of down where I’m from,” Wilson said. “They’ve run the Outlaw deal before, and it would be something new for me to do. Just felt like it was a good thing, a good time for a change, and it just kind of fit our program a lot better.”

Wilson teamed up with Big Frog last fall after a four-year run with JRR Motorsports came to an end. The pairing earned a pair of top 10s in their first weekend together in the Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway before traveling to the Dirt Track World Championship, National 100, and World of Outlaws World Finals to round out 2025. By the end of that stint, Wilson knew the combination was capable of bigger things in the new year.

“We just kind of picked some races that we wanted to go run,” Wilson said. “We were just kind of taking it week by week, seeing how everything went. Me and Augie [Burttram, team owner] and everybody, we all got along pretty good. We threw around the idea of maybe putting something together for this year and it just all worked out.”

The 28-year-old has put together a respectable resume in his 15-year Late Model career, including the title of being the last Super Late Model winner at the legendary East Bay Raceway Park in 2024. One missing accolade is a World of Outlaws victory, although he’s come close on multiple occasions.

Most notably, Wilson had a front-row seat for the final-lap thriller between Bobby Pierce and Nick Hoffman at the 2024 Prairie Dirt Classic, crossing the line third that night. It was his third Series podium, as he also finished third at Cherokee in 2021 and 2022.

With a new team around him and a fresh schedule of races to look forward to, Wilson is entering the year feeling better than ever about his chances to break into Victory Lane with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

“Just win some races,” Wilson said regarding his goals for the upcoming season. “Be competitive and, you know, let the points kind of be what they’ll be.”

Wilson will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldof

CONCORD, NC (January 16, 2026) – Dustin Sorensen is embarking on his third season as a touring member of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision with one mission: win.

For much of the 2025 season, the Rochester, MN native’s name was toward the top of the list of potential first-time winners with the Series. There were several nights when he was in position to break through, but for one reason or another, the trophy slipped out of his hands.

Sorensen will get his next chance to finish the job in less than a week at Volusia Speedway Park during the season-opening DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24), and he’s never been more ready to solidify himself as the 105th different winner in World of Outlaws history.

“Like Humboldt [Speedway] last year, I felt like I had a good shot to win it, I just didn’t make the right moves in lap traffic,” Sorensen said. “Highland [Speedway], I felt like I had the car to beat there at Highland too and didn’t get to the lead before the track took rubber. I feel like we have the car to do it, I’ve just got to make the right moves when I get my opportunity.”

The fact that Sorensen was in contention to begin with showed that the program is on the right track, which is why the changes in the No. 19 camp over the winter have been minimal. He’ll travel to Volusia with his familiar combination of Longhorn Chassis and Pro Power Racing Engines, as well as the same crew lineup that he finished 2025 with, all in an effort to hit the ground running in the “Sunshine State.”

“We kind of figured our stuff out at the end of the year last year,” Sorensen said. “Hopefully we can carry the good setups that we had in the car as well as my driving into this season. It takes everything, so when we came out last year and just struggled at the start of the year, I don’t know if it was just a little bit of everything or what. But everything was kind of clicking there at the end of the year, I felt like we had a good car, I was doing my job and we were running up front.”

Sorensen has already had a chance to shake down his equipment prior to making the trip to Florida, as he’s midway through six nights of racing at Central Arizona Raceway’s Wild West Shootout. Following a DNF on Saturday, Sorensen improved to 12th on Sunday and eighth on Wednesday with three nights left to show his full potential.

“I feel like we’re pretty good,” Sorensen said. “I feel like we’ve been a top-five car both nights. The first night, I got myself buried in Qualifying, and then [Sunday] night, I just made a mistake there that cost me a few spots. I was running seventh and I caught the holes wrong and fell back to 12th, but I felt like we had a good enough car to be in the top five.”

Once racing concludes in Arizona on Sunday night, the Sorensen crew will begin the 2,000-mile cross-country journey to Volusia ahead of Wednesday’s practice night. While he’s a two-time winner at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” in a DIRTcar UMP Modified, it hasn’t been one of his better tracks in a Late Model, with a record of two top 10s in 13 starts over the past two years. But given his overall uptick in performance in recent months, Sorensen is optimistic about those numbers changing this year.

“I feel like I’ve been fast there, I’ve just never put together a whole night,” Sorensen said. “I’ve had a couple good runs there, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot going there the past couple of years. Kind of figured out what I need to do to be better there. I feel like our car is in a good spot right now, we learned a lot there last year and hopefully have a good notebook going there this year.”

Sorensen will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

Sorensen’s Quest for Maiden World of Outlaws Victory Continuing in 2026

CONCORD, NC (January 16, 2026) – Dustin Sorensen is embarking on his third season as a touring member of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision with one mission: win.

For much of the 2025 season, the Rochester, MN native’s name was toward the top of the list of potential first-time winners with the Series. There were several nights when he was in position to break through, but for one reason or another, the trophy slipped out of his hands.

Sorensen will get his next chance to finish the job in less than a week at Volusia Speedway Park during the season-opening DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24), and he’s never been more ready to solidify himself as the 105th different winner in World of Outlaws history.

“Like Humboldt [Speedway] last year, I felt like I had a good shot to win it, I just didn’t make the right moves in lap traffic,” Sorensen said. “Highland [Speedway], I felt like I had the car to beat there at Highland too and didn’t get to the lead before the track took rubber. I feel like we have the car to do it, I’ve just got to make the right moves when I get my opportunity.”

The fact that Sorensen was in contention to begin with showed that the program is on the right track, which is why the changes in the No. 19 camp over the winter have been minimal. He’ll travel to Volusia with his familiar combination of Longhorn Chassis and Pro Power Racing Engines, as well as the same crew lineup that he finished 2025 with, all in an effort to hit the ground running in the “Sunshine State.”

“We kind of figured our stuff out at the end of the year last year,” Sorensen said. “Hopefully we can carry the good setups that we had in the car as well as my driving into this season. It takes everything, so when we came out last year and just struggled at the start of the year, I don’t know if it was just a little bit of everything or what. But everything was kind of clicking there at the end of the year, I felt like we had a good car, I was doing my job and we were running up front.”

Sorensen has already had a chance to shake down his equipment prior to making the trip to Florida, as he’s midway through six nights of racing at Central Arizona Raceway’s Wild West Shootout. Following a DNF on Saturday, Sorensen improved to 12th on Sunday and eighth on Wednesday with three nights left to show his full potential.

“I feel like we’re pretty good,” Sorensen said. “I feel like we’ve been a top-five car both nights. The first night, I got myself buried in Qualifying, and then [Sunday] night, I just made a mistake there that cost me a few spots. I was running seventh and I caught the holes wrong and fell back to 12th, but I felt like we had a good enough car to be in the top five.”

Once racing concludes in Arizona on Sunday night, the Sorensen crew will begin the 2,000-mile cross-country journey to Volusia ahead of Wednesday’s practice night. While he’s a two-time winner at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” in a DIRTcar UMP Modified, it hasn’t been one of his better tracks in a Late Model, with a record of two top 10s in 13 starts over the past two years. But given his overall uptick in performance in recent months, Sorensen is optimistic about those numbers changing this year.

“I feel like I’ve been fast there, I’ve just never put together a whole night,” Sorensen said. “I’ve had a couple good runs there, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot going there the past couple of years. Kind of figured out what I need to do to be better there. I feel like our car is in a good spot right now, we learned a lot there last year and hopefully have a good notebook going there this year.”

Sorensen will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

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

Baggsy headed out to Tokyo Auto Salon for the first time, and it turned out to be a mega trip from start to finish. The scale of the show, the quality of the builds, and the overall atmosphere made it something special.It was great catching up with partners and friends across the industry, including ST Suspensions and Liberty Walk, with plenty of positive and exciting conversations happening throughout the weekend. Being on their booths, interacting with their customers, and generally spending time supporting the brands that support us at SB Motorsport was awesome; without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.Outside of the show, Baggsy spent time with Daigo Saito, heading over to his place for a BBQ surrounded by an unreal lineup of cars and some amazing people, a proper highlight of the trip. The trip also included a lot of key meetings to secure parts for the all-new, exciting project coming in 2026 more to come on this very soon.First time at Tokyo Auto Salon and already can’t wait to head back next year.

First Time At Tokyo Auto Salon And It Was Mega!

Baggsy headed out to Tokyo Auto Salon for the first time, and it turned out to be a mega trip from start to finish. The scale of the show, the quality of the builds, and the overall atmosphere made it something special.It was great catching up with partners and friends across the industry, including ST Suspensions and Liberty Walk, with plenty of positive and exciting conversations happening throughout the weekend. Being on their booths, interacting with their customers, and generally spending time supporting the brands that support us at SB Motorsport was awesome; without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.Outside of the show, Baggsy spent time with Daigo Saito, heading over to his place for a BBQ surrounded by an unreal lineup of cars and some amazing people, a proper highlight of the trip. The trip also included a lot of key meetings to secure parts for the all-new, exciting project coming in 2026 more to come on this very soon.First time at Tokyo Auto Salon and already can’t wait to head back next year.

The three-time AFT Singles champion will be atop a Harley-Davidson XG750R in the Mission AFT SuperTwins full-time in 2026.

Kody Kopp Returns to Progressive AFT Competition Full-Time in 2026 with Latus Motors Racing

The three-time AFT Singles champion will be atop a Harley-Davidson XG750R in the Mission AFT SuperTwins full-time in 2026.

Posted on behalf of Latus Motors Racing DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 15, 2026) – Latus Motors Racing is pleased to announce that Kody Kopp will return to competition for the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, making his debut in the Mission AFT SuperTwins class aboard the Harley-Davidson XG750R.A former three-time AFT Singles champion and the winningest rider in AFT Singles history, Kopp returns to the Progressive AFT paddock following a year away from the series spent competing in professional road racing. The Mica, Washington, native will step into the sport’s premier class for the first time in his career, marking a new chapter for both Kopp and Latus Motors as the team takes on Mission AFT SuperTwins competition.Kopp and the Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R are scheduled to make their Mission AFT SuperTwins debut at the Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona, March 5–6, opening the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season. Kody Kopp – Latus Motors Racing:“I am extremely excited for 2026 and grateful for this opportunity to compete in the premier class of American Flat Track. I felt very comfortable from my first few laps aboard the XG750R, and that feeling has only progressed since. I am confident that as a team, we will be prepared to kick off the 2026 season in strong fashion at Daytona!” Team Owner George Latus:“The team is super excited to have Kody as our rider for the season. I’ve had the privilege of working with the Kopp family for over two decades, both when Joe was actively campaigning and now as Kody continues his career on the Harley-Davidson XG750R. I’m personally honored to have Dave Zanotti and Michelle DiSalvo continuing with us, along with Chris Carr, Joe Kopp, and a very supportive group of sponsors. As Kody’s sister, Karly, once said about why she liked our team: ‘They just want to go fast and have a blast.’ We’ll do exactly that in 2026.”

CONCORD, NC (January 15, 2026) – When Jake Timm chased the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision for the first time in 2025, it was much more than a one-time, bucket-list endeavor.

The former Modified standout has every intention of being a long-term fixture at the pinnacle of Late Model racing, and the next step on that path comes in 2026 with his second season as one of The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

Timm’s first season as a full-time Late Model racer yielded six World of Outlaws top 10s – including a season-best of fifth at Norman County Raceway – on the way to a 12th-place finish in the standings. Now that he’s laid the foundation, he’s ready to start the building process toward more strong runs moving forward.

“You always wish you could have done better, but at the end of the day, we learned a lot,” Timm said. “We did have some good runs at certain points throughout the year. I wouldn’t say terrible, but we definitely hope to do better this year. Hopefully start breaking into the top five a little bit more, maybe some top threes here and there. Overall, just try and learn and get better, faster.”

As a first-timer on the national stage last year, one of Timm’s biggest hinderances was his lack of notes and experience to lean on. He had only been to a handful of tracks on the World of Outlaws schedule prior to 2025 and had laps in a Late Model at even less of them. That deficit will be a much smaller factor in 2026, which will allow Timm to focus less on playing catch-up and more on finding an edge over the rest of the field.

“I think it showed last year when we went to tracks that I knew or had been to before,” Timm said. “Just knowing where to be faster, how to race the tracks and how they transitioned throughout the night. It gives you a huge advantage, and you can just make better adjustments, make faster decisions driving and all that. I think that’s going to play a big factor in helping us improve our results this year.”

Timm is already three nights into his 2026 season, as the No. 49 crew was one of several World of Outlaws teams that traveled to Central Arizona Raceway for the Wild West Shootout ahead of next week’s DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) at Volusia Speedway Park. A B-Main exit on Saturday wasn’t the start to the year Timm had in mind, but he’s improved since with finishes of 10th on Sunday and 16th on Wednesday.

“The first night, we tried a different car out,” Timm said. “Kind of had some issues with it and it really kind of ruined our first night. That’s part of why we’re testing [Tuesday], we’re trying to figure that out. The second night, we just got the car out that we ran the majority of the year last year with. We know it’s pretty decent and it proved to still be consistent.”

That positive trajectory puts Timm on track for a vastly improved start in comparison to his rookie year, when he had to wait until June for his first top 10. If he can leave himself a smaller hole to dig out of later in the season, he knows he could find himself in a much more desirable position by the time World of Outlaws World Finals rolls around.

“I’d say our goal is probably to try and get to top eight, top 10 in points,” Timm said. “Run more consistently in the top 10 and get some more top fives, top threes. A win would be awesome. I know how difficult they are, they don’t come easy. Really just improve our results quite a bit over last year.”

Timm Set to Keep Learning, Building in Sophomore World of Outlaws Campaign

CONCORD, NC (January 15, 2026) – When Jake Timm chased the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision for the first time in 2025, it was much more than a one-time, bucket-list endeavor.

The former Modified standout has every intention of being a long-term fixture at the pinnacle of Late Model racing, and the next step on that path comes in 2026 with his second season as one of The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

Timm’s first season as a full-time Late Model racer yielded six World of Outlaws top 10s – including a season-best of fifth at Norman County Raceway – on the way to a 12th-place finish in the standings. Now that he’s laid the foundation, he’s ready to start the building process toward more strong runs moving forward.

“You always wish you could have done better, but at the end of the day, we learned a lot,” Timm said. “We did have some good runs at certain points throughout the year. I wouldn’t say terrible, but we definitely hope to do better this year. Hopefully start breaking into the top five a little bit more, maybe some top threes here and there. Overall, just try and learn and get better, faster.”

As a first-timer on the national stage last year, one of Timm’s biggest hinderances was his lack of notes and experience to lean on. He had only been to a handful of tracks on the World of Outlaws schedule prior to 2025 and had laps in a Late Model at even less of them. That deficit will be a much smaller factor in 2026, which will allow Timm to focus less on playing catch-up and more on finding an edge over the rest of the field.

“I think it showed last year when we went to tracks that I knew or had been to before,” Timm said. “Just knowing where to be faster, how to race the tracks and how they transitioned throughout the night. It gives you a huge advantage, and you can just make better adjustments, make faster decisions driving and all that. I think that’s going to play a big factor in helping us improve our results this year.”

Timm is already three nights into his 2026 season, as the No. 49 crew was one of several World of Outlaws teams that traveled to Central Arizona Raceway for the Wild West Shootout ahead of next week’s DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) at Volusia Speedway Park. A B-Main exit on Saturday wasn’t the start to the year Timm had in mind, but he’s improved since with finishes of 10th on Sunday and 16th on Wednesday.

“The first night, we tried a different car out,” Timm said. “Kind of had some issues with it and it really kind of ruined our first night. That’s part of why we’re testing [Tuesday], we’re trying to figure that out. The second night, we just got the car out that we ran the majority of the year last year with. We know it’s pretty decent and it proved to still be consistent.”

That positive trajectory puts Timm on track for a vastly improved start in comparison to his rookie year, when he had to wait until June for his first top 10. If he can leave himself a smaller hole to dig out of later in the season, he knows he could find himself in a much more desirable position by the time World of Outlaws World Finals rolls around.

“I’d say our goal is probably to try and get to top eight, top 10 in points,” Timm said. “Run more consistently in the top 10 and get some more top fives, top threes. A win would be awesome. I know how difficult they are, they don’t come easy. Really just improve our results quite a bit over last year.”

Timm will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

CONCORD, NC (January 14, 2026) – For most dirt Late Model drivers, the winter months involve recharging their batteries after a long season and restocking parts and pieces ahead of the new year. But if you’re Tristan Chamberlain, the break also includes graduating high school.

The 18-year-old’s first two seasons on the road with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision were a balance between attending online school while also racing full-time. There were plenty of days when Chamberlain wrote essays in the toterhome in the morning before putting on his firesuit and rolling out for Hot Laps hours later.

Starting in 2026, Chamberlain will be able to place his full focus on racing, which he believes will accelerate his growth behind the wheel in season three with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

“Before, I’d have school from 8 a.m. to sometimes 1 or 2 p.m.,” Chamberlain said. “It didn’t matter when it was, doing homeschool at the racetrack and it was just my dad out there working. It’s definitely good for me, I get to work on it more to help my dad out, take some of the load off him. Getting more involved, shifting my focus more to it, I can focus more on the driving aspect. I don’t have to switch my brain off and on between school and racing. Definitely looking forward to that this year, it’ll be different than the past two years where I was juggling that.”

Aside from academics, it’s been a busy offseason for the Gibson Racing team as they prepare to head to Volusia Speedway Park next week for the season-opening DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24). Like several teams in the sport, they’re on the hunt for additional crew help while also making a chassis swap.

“I think going to Florida, it’s just going to be the family as of right now,” Chamberlain said. “Our longtime friend, Mark Saul, he’ll be coming down during the February run, so he’ll be helping out. But as of right now, it’s just us. And then my dad went to pick up a new car from Tye Twarog, we’ll be switching back to Longhorn this upcoming year. We’ve got one done right now, then he’s picking up that one, and we’ll be working this week to get it ready since we’ll be leaving Monday. Kind of in a little bit of a pinch, but it won’t be that bad.”

Chamberlain is entering his third year as an Outlaw with a renewed sense of confidence with multiple nights of experience under his belt at most tracks on the schedule. The signs of progress between his freshman and sophomore seasons were there, as evidenced by his back-to-back top 10s at Arrowhead Speedway in August and his six local wins between the Late Model and the DIRTcar UMP Modified he debuted in the second half of 2025.

“Going to all those different tracks, it just takes time,” Chamberlain said. “I mean, you look at all the rookies, it just takes time to adapt to every different racetrack. Even this year, we’re going to a bunch of new racetracks that I’ve never been to before either. That’s one thing with the World of Outlaws, they always end up changing the schedule here and there and involve a bunch of different, unique tracks from down south to up north. The longer you do this, the more you’ll be able to adapt quickly, have a notebook and go back and see what you did before.”

After placing 14th in the final standings in 2024 and 13th in 2025, Chamberlain is ready to take the next step up the order this season and become a true contender. Doing so against the toughest Late Model competition in the nation isn’t going to come easy, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

“Really, I just want good finishes,” Chamberlain said. “I’m not afraid to say I’ve been a 12th, 13th-place car, had some top-10 runs. I definitely want this to be my year. I want to show everyone that I have the speed to do this and the drive to do it, that my team is definitely capable of running the World of Outlaws. As long as I do my job and everyone else does their jobs like they’ve been doing, I think we’ll have a good year.”

Chamberlain will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

Diploma In Hand, Chamberlain Ready to Tackle Third Full-Time World of Outlaws Season

CONCORD, NC (January 14, 2026) – For most dirt Late Model drivers, the winter months involve recharging their batteries after a long season and restocking parts and pieces ahead of the new year. But if you’re Tristan Chamberlain, the break also includes graduating high school.

The 18-year-old’s first two seasons on the road with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision were a balance between attending online school while also racing full-time. There were plenty of days when Chamberlain wrote essays in the toterhome in the morning before putting on his firesuit and rolling out for Hot Laps hours later.

Starting in 2026, Chamberlain will be able to place his full focus on racing, which he believes will accelerate his growth behind the wheel in season three with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

“Before, I’d have school from 8 a.m. to sometimes 1 or 2 p.m.,” Chamberlain said. “It didn’t matter when it was, doing homeschool at the racetrack and it was just my dad out there working. It’s definitely good for me, I get to work on it more to help my dad out, take some of the load off him. Getting more involved, shifting my focus more to it, I can focus more on the driving aspect. I don’t have to switch my brain off and on between school and racing. Definitely looking forward to that this year, it’ll be different than the past two years where I was juggling that.”

Aside from academics, it’s been a busy offseason for the Gibson Racing team as they prepare to head to Volusia Speedway Park next week for the season-opening DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24). Like several teams in the sport, they’re on the hunt for additional crew help while also making a chassis swap.

“I think going to Florida, it’s just going to be the family as of right now,” Chamberlain said. “Our longtime friend, Mark Saul, he’ll be coming down during the February run, so he’ll be helping out. But as of right now, it’s just us. And then my dad went to pick up a new car from Tye Twarog, we’ll be switching back to Longhorn this upcoming year. We’ve got one done right now, then he’s picking up that one, and we’ll be working this week to get it ready since we’ll be leaving Monday. Kind of in a little bit of a pinch, but it won’t be that bad.”

Chamberlain is entering his third year as an Outlaw with a renewed sense of confidence with multiple nights of experience under his belt at most tracks on the schedule. The signs of progress between his freshman and sophomore seasons were there, as evidenced by his back-to-back top 10s at Arrowhead Speedway in August and his six local wins between the Late Model and the DIRTcar UMP Modified he debuted in the second half of 2025.

“Going to all those different tracks, it just takes time,” Chamberlain said. “I mean, you look at all the rookies, it just takes time to adapt to every different racetrack. Even this year, we’re going to a bunch of new racetracks that I’ve never been to before either. That’s one thing with the World of Outlaws, they always end up changing the schedule here and there and involve a bunch of different, unique tracks from down south to up north. The longer you do this, the more you’ll be able to adapt quickly, have a notebook and go back and see what you did before.”

After placing 14th in the final standings in 2024 and 13th in 2025, Chamberlain is ready to take the next step up the order this season and become a true contender. Doing so against the toughest Late Model competition in the nation isn’t going to come easy, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

“Really, I just want good finishes,” Chamberlain said. “I’m not afraid to say I’ve been a 12th, 13th-place car, had some top-10 runs. I definitely want this to be my year. I want to show everyone that I have the speed to do this and the drive to do it, that my team is definitely capable of running the World of Outlaws. As long as I do my job and everyone else does their jobs like they’ve been doing, I think we’ll have a good year.”

Chamberlain will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

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

Three entries in IMSA’s top class to challenge for victories with experienced lineupsDETROIT (Jan. 14, 2026) – Cadillac Racing, in conjunction with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing and Cadillac Whelen, revealed today the liveries of its three Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) racecars that will contest the nine-race 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign. The Roar Before the 24 this week leads into the season-opening 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 24-25. Cadillac Racing, which has four overall victories among 12 podiums in North America’s premier endurance race, welcomes the return of Wayne Taylor Racing for its second season as a Cadillac factory team and Action Express Racing for its 15th consecutive year campaigning a GM prototype in IMSA.

While the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R livery is unchanged, the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R has transitioned from chrome blue to metallic blue with white accents while the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R has transitioned from chrome to black with white accents. The U.S. flag on all three GTPs has been moved to the front fender.

The championship-winning teams are aligned with major primary sponsors for the GTP entries. U.S.-based Whelen Engineering enters its ninth year as primary sponsor of the No. 31 Action Express Racing-run entry. Since 1952, Whelen Engineering has been a proud ally and supporter of our nation’s first responders. Whelen provides the high-quality, reliable products, and technology needed to aid them in their critical missions — from warning lights to white illumination, sirens, controllers and software.U.S.-based DEX Imaging, which is the primary sponsor of the Nos. 10 and 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing entries, is the nation’s largest independent provider and servicer of office technology. Cadillac Racing, entering its fourth year of GTP competition, won the final two races of the 2025 IMSA season and eight drivers return to challenge for 2026 victories: Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 10)* Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque* Will Stevens (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 40)* Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz* Colton Herta (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)Cadillac Whelen (No. 31)* Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber* Frederik Vesti (endurance races, Long Beach)* Connor Zilisch (Daytona) Media resources: Livery reveal photos | Cadillac Racing Rolex 24 At Daytona event guide Cadillac Racing updates for 2026 include joining other manufacturers in aligning timing of EVO use with aerodynamic homologation and introducing a new logo that honors our heritage of innovation, technology and performance while complementing the Cadillac Formula 1Ⓡ Team to ensure brand consistency. For more than a century, racing has provided a testbed for Cadillac to transfer knowledge and technology between racecars and production vehicles, as well to build a fanbase for the brand around the world. What they’re saying

Cadillac Racing unveils GTP liveriesThree entries in IMSA’s top class to challenge for victories with experienced lineupsDETROIT (Jan. 14, 2026) – Cadillac Racing, in conjunction with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing and Cadillac Whelen, revealed today the liveries of its three Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) racecars that will contest the nine-race 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign. The Roar Before the 24 this week leads into the season-opening 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 24-25. Cadillac Racing, which has four overall victories among 12 podiums in North America’s premier endurance race, welcomes the return of Wayne Taylor Racing for its second season as a Cadillac factory team and Action Express Racing for its 15th consecutive year campaigning a GM prototype in IMSA.

While the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R livery is unchanged, the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R has transitioned from chrome blue to metallic blue with white accents while the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R has transitioned from chrome to black with white accents. The U.S. flag on all three GTPs has been moved to the front fender.

The championship-winning teams are aligned with major primary sponsors for the GTP entries. U.S.-based Whelen Engineering enters its ninth year as primary sponsor of the No. 31 Action Express Racing-run entry. Since 1952, Whelen Engineering has been a proud ally and supporter of our nation’s first responders. Whelen provides the high-quality, reliable products, and technology needed to aid them in their critical missions — from warning lights to white illumination, sirens, controllers and software.U.S.-based DEX Imaging, which is the primary sponsor of the Nos. 10 and 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing entries, is the nation’s largest independent provider and servicer of office technology. Cadillac Racing, entering its fourth year of GTP competition, won the final two races of the 2025 IMSA season and eight drivers return to challenge for 2026 victories: Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 10)* Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque* Will Stevens (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 40)* Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz* Colton Herta (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)Cadillac Whelen (No. 31)* Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber* Frederik Vesti (endurance races, Long Beach)* Connor Zilisch (Daytona) Media resources: Livery reveal photos | Cadillac Racing Rolex 24 At Daytona event guide Cadillac Racing updates for 2026 include joining other manufacturers in aligning timing of EVO use with aerodynamic homologation and introducing a new logo that honors our heritage of innovation, technology and performance while complementing the Cadillac Formula 1Ⓡ Team to ensure brand consistency. For more than a century, racing has provided a testbed for Cadillac to transfer knowledge and technology between racecars and production vehicles, as well to build a fanbase for the brand around the world. What they’re saying

Wayne Taylor, co-owner of Wayne Taylor Racing: “As excited as I was at the beginning of last season, I am more excited for this year. Both cars will be presented in a fresh livery with our traditional colors of blue and black. They look spectacular. The all-new bodywork and redesign by GM and Dallara is fantastic. It is also great news to have our long-time partner DEX back with us again on our two Cadillac GTPs. We are coming back stronger with our full-season drivers Ricky, Filipe, Jordan and Louis in place. This Rolex, we have elected to keep each of our cockpits to three drivers and are looking forward to having Colton Herta and Will Sevens join our efforts in the endurance races. Winning is part of Wayne Taylor Racing’s DNA and is our only focus in 2026.” Geoff Marsh, CEO of Whelen Engineering: “As we enter our ninth year partnering with Cadillac Racing and Action Express, we’re proud to continue a collaboration built on trust, performance, and shared purpose,” said. “Everything we build at Whelen is designed to support and protect first responders, and our dedication to reliability and innovation is equally reflected in this program. The 2026 livery represents another exciting chapter together, and we look forward to seeing the No. 31 team compete at the highest level in the IMSA GTP class this season.”

Monster Trucks, Micros, and Midgets have been on Torgerson’s winter agenda as he gets ready for his first campaign with the World of Outlaws

CONCORD, NC (January 13, 2026) – Some Sprint Car drivers spend their off-season relaxing. Others fly to Australia or New Zealand for the southern hemisphere’s summer to continue racing.

One opted to jump behind the wheel of a Monster Truck.

Less than three weeks after Ashton Torgerson revealed his 2026 plans of a rookie season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in the Shark Racing No. 1A, he climbed aboard one of the 12,000-pound behemoths for an event in Imperial, CA.

The Torgerson name is intertwined with Monster Truck history. Ashton’s grandfather, Stanley Torgerson, was an instrumental figure in the industry’s development, hosting one of the first ever shows with a crowd. That passion traveled through generations as Danny Torgerson, Ashton’s father, became heavily involved and still is today. It was only natural for Ashton to continue the family tradition.

“When I was a newborn baby, I was at the Monster Truck shows right away,” Torgerson said. “I’ve always been a part of it, either going to watch when I was little and have fun watching them or as I got older starting to help out a little bit more and driving a little bit more. It’s definitely unusual for a Sprint Car guy to drive a Monster Truck.”

Torgerson’s off-season action doesn’t end with Monster Trucks. The 19-year-old is fresh off competing in four divisions at the Tulsa Shootout. He’s on Tulsa time again this week as he chases a Golden Driller at the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink. He’ll pilot a Keith Kunz Motorsports entry in Thursday’s prelim to set himself up for Saturday’s finale.

“I think it’s pretty good to run the Micro stuff,” Torgerson said. “I run all four classes and being able to run four classes I feel like it’s more seat time on the track. I know they’re not really like a Midget, and they’re not going to race like a Midget, but I still think it’s that track time I get before Chili Bowl helps to get used to the dirt, the track, and all that… I think it definitely helps to keep in the seat and stay sharp.”

Once the Chili Bowl wraps up, Torgerson’s full focus will be on his run at Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year. The World of Outlaws season is set to fire off with four nights of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, Feb. 4-7.

It’s a position Torgerson didn’t anticipate finding himself in so quickly. After all, he linked with Shark Racing only nine months ago when Bobby and Jacob Allen put the Glendale, AZ driver in the seat of the No. 1A to see how they’d gel.

The pairing immediately began to turn heads. Torgerson, who didn’t even have a full season of 410 Sprint Car racing under his belt before 2025, beat the Pennsylvania Posse at BAPS Motor Speedway in his second night in the car. That was the first of many impressive outings that included a top 10 at Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal, runner-up results at both Lincoln Speedway and Port Royal Speedway, and a pair of top 10s during Ironman 55 weekend with the World of Outlaws. Most of these finishes came at tracks Torgerson was seeing for only the first or second time and against some of the country’s toughest competition.

Torgerson and Shark’s connection boasted so much promise that they announced their intentions to hit the road with the World of Outlaws this year during World Finals. From only a few laps in a 410 Sprint Car to national prominence to joining The Greatest Show on Dirt in less than a year.

“It’s crazy to even think about. It’s honestly just a dream come true,” Torgerson said. “When I first drove the car, it was kind of a weekend deal to see how I did and see how we bonded as a team. We were able to have success right away, and Jacob had me rolling right away. It was nice to be comfortable with the team and have some good speed. Like I said, it’s really just a dream come true to be able to run on the Outlaw tour. This is going to be my first year, so I think there’s a lot to learn.”

Sadly, the team will be missing the man behind the inspirational story of Shark Racing. Bobby Allen passed away last October, leaving a large gap in not only the Shark shop, but the entire sport. “Scruffy” was a racer in the truest sense, going to great lengths like sleeping in ticket booths to keep his dreams alive. And that tenacity led him to cementing himself as one of the sport’s greats.

Carrying on without their leader will undoubtedly be emotionally taxing, but the team knows it’s what Allen would want. They’re ready to usher his legacy into the future by going up and down the road from track to track powered by the no-quit attitude Allen embodied.

“Bobby, he’s a legend and made Shark Racing what it is today,” Torgerson said. “He did all of his own stuff, and he’s one of the best Sprint Car drivers ever. He had such a great career. It’s such an honor to even be able to drive the 1A. Now to put it back on the Outlaw tour is just crazy. I know Bobby was super excited when we won that race, and he was super excited to be at the track with me, so I know we’re going to make Bobby proud this year.”

Torgerson and the Shark Racing crew start the 2026 World of Outlaws campaign on Feb. 4-7 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in Barberville, FL. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

STAYING SHARP: Torgerson’s Busy Off-Season Helping Preparation for Rookie Season

Monster Trucks, Micros, and Midgets have been on Torgerson’s winter agenda as he gets ready for his first campaign with the World of Outlaws

CONCORD, NC (January 13, 2026) – Some Sprint Car drivers spend their off-season relaxing. Others fly to Australia or New Zealand for the southern hemisphere’s summer to continue racing.

One opted to jump behind the wheel of a Monster Truck.

Less than three weeks after Ashton Torgerson revealed his 2026 plans of a rookie season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in the Shark Racing No. 1A, he climbed aboard one of the 12,000-pound behemoths for an event in Imperial, CA.

The Torgerson name is intertwined with Monster Truck history. Ashton’s grandfather, Stanley Torgerson, was an instrumental figure in the industry’s development, hosting one of the first ever shows with a crowd. That passion traveled through generations as Danny Torgerson, Ashton’s father, became heavily involved and still is today. It was only natural for Ashton to continue the family tradition.

“When I was a newborn baby, I was at the Monster Truck shows right away,” Torgerson said. “I’ve always been a part of it, either going to watch when I was little and have fun watching them or as I got older starting to help out a little bit more and driving a little bit more. It’s definitely unusual for a Sprint Car guy to drive a Monster Truck.”

Torgerson’s off-season action doesn’t end with Monster Trucks. The 19-year-old is fresh off competing in four divisions at the Tulsa Shootout. He’s on Tulsa time again this week as he chases a Golden Driller at the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink. He’ll pilot a Keith Kunz Motorsports entry in Thursday’s prelim to set himself up for Saturday’s finale.

“I think it’s pretty good to run the Micro stuff,” Torgerson said. “I run all four classes and being able to run four classes I feel like it’s more seat time on the track. I know they’re not really like a Midget, and they’re not going to race like a Midget, but I still think it’s that track time I get before Chili Bowl helps to get used to the dirt, the track, and all that… I think it definitely helps to keep in the seat and stay sharp.”

Once the Chili Bowl wraps up, Torgerson’s full focus will be on his run at Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year. The World of Outlaws season is set to fire off with four nights of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, Feb. 4-7.

It’s a position Torgerson didn’t anticipate finding himself in so quickly. After all, he linked with Shark Racing only nine months ago when Bobby and Jacob Allen put the Glendale, AZ driver in the seat of the No. 1A to see how they’d gel.

The pairing immediately began to turn heads. Torgerson, who didn’t even have a full season of 410 Sprint Car racing under his belt before 2025, beat the Pennsylvania Posse at BAPS Motor Speedway in his second night in the car. That was the first of many impressive outings that included a top 10 at Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal, runner-up results at both Lincoln Speedway and Port Royal Speedway, and a pair of top 10s during Ironman 55 weekend with the World of Outlaws. Most of these finishes came at tracks Torgerson was seeing for only the first or second time and against some of the country’s toughest competition.

Torgerson and Shark’s connection boasted so much promise that they announced their intentions to hit the road with the World of Outlaws this year during World Finals. From only a few laps in a 410 Sprint Car to national prominence to joining The Greatest Show on Dirt in less than a year.

“It’s crazy to even think about. It’s honestly just a dream come true,” Torgerson said. “When I first drove the car, it was kind of a weekend deal to see how I did and see how we bonded as a team. We were able to have success right away, and Jacob had me rolling right away. It was nice to be comfortable with the team and have some good speed. Like I said, it’s really just a dream come true to be able to run on the Outlaw tour. This is going to be my first year, so I think there’s a lot to learn.”

Sadly, the team will be missing the man behind the inspirational story of Shark Racing. Bobby Allen passed away last October, leaving a large gap in not only the Shark shop, but the entire sport. “Scruffy” was a racer in the truest sense, going to great lengths like sleeping in ticket booths to keep his dreams alive. And that tenacity led him to cementing himself as one of the sport’s greats.

Carrying on without their leader will undoubtedly be emotionally taxing, but the team knows it’s what Allen would want. They’re ready to usher his legacy into the future by going up and down the road from track to track powered by the no-quit attitude Allen embodied.

“Bobby, he’s a legend and made Shark Racing what it is today,” Torgerson said. “He did all of his own stuff, and he’s one of the best Sprint Car drivers ever. He had such a great career. It’s such an honor to even be able to drive the 1A. Now to put it back on the Outlaw tour is just crazy. I know Bobby was super excited when we won that race, and he was super excited to be at the track with me, so I know we’re going to make Bobby proud this year.”

Torgerson and the Shark Racing crew start the 2026 World of Outlaws campaign on Feb. 4-7 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in Barberville, FL. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, CLICK HERE to learn how to watch every race live on DIRTVision.

CONCORD, NC (January 13, 2026) – Last fall, Dennis Erb Jr.’s trip to Victory Lane at Humboldt Speedway signaled to the world that he was back.

Now, he’s ready to maintain his status as a nightly contender in his full-time return to the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

The 2022 Series champion’s Kansas win was far from a fluke – rather, it was one of three top fives in four races in October, a run that highlighted a larger stretch of 10 top 10s in the last 14 races. That consistency has Erb primed for a strong start to 2026, which will be his eighth consecutive season as a member of The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

“I’m looking forward to getting started here,” Erb said. “I think we’re ready to get back at it. Our equipment’s running really good, I’m really happy with the way we finished last year. I’m looking forward to getting a good start here right off the bat.”

In years past, Erb has been known for his willingness to experiment with chassis changes and other new equipment in his ongoing search for an edge over the competition. However, given Erb’s satisfaction with the current state of his program, no such changes are on the horizon ahead of the new season.

“No major changes,” Erb said. “We’ll be coming back with our Rocket cars, Clements motors, McBride Mack and VoMac Truck Sales as our main sponsors. Not much of an offseason here, but we’re getting ready to get started back up again.”

The first stop of Erb’s 2026 tour comes next week at Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24). One of the overarching stories at the event will be the new gumbo clay that was laid down in March with the goal of enhancing the on-track product at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.” As someone who’s been competing at Volusia since his first Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals appearance in 2001, Erb has seen several variations of the track’s surface through the years and has high hopes for what this one can deliver.

“I’m looking forward to it, hopefully they’ll have the track in good shape and we can have a good race there,” Erb said.

Upon leaving the “Sunshine State,” the early-season schedule features multiple fresh additions to the tour that Erb knows well. Among them are Volunteer Speedway (March 13), where Erb has two top fives in his last three World of Outlaws starts, plus a top 10 in last year’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial, as well as East Alabama Motor Speedway (March 27), which hosts the National 100 that he won in 2016 and finished runner up in 2025.

“There’s a lot of good racetracks that we’ve been going to for a long time,” Erb said. “Looking forward to getting back to some of those places. East Alabama is one of them, we go there to race the National 100 pretty much every year at the end of the season down there. I really look forward to going back to that place and running there. You know, our normal Midwest swings and all that, places I feel that we’re really good at. No matter where we go, we’ve just got to be prepared and ready to go at it.”

Erb will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

How can you watch the World of Outlaws? Live on DIRTVision.

Dennis Erb Jr. Looking to Build on Strong End to 2025 in World of Outlaws Return

CONCORD, NC (January 13, 2026) – Last fall, Dennis Erb Jr.’s trip to Victory Lane at Humboldt Speedway signaled to the world that he was back.

Now, he’s ready to maintain his status as a nightly contender in his full-time return to the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

The 2022 Series champion’s Kansas win was far from a fluke – rather, it was one of three top fives in four races in October, a run that highlighted a larger stretch of 10 top 10s in the last 14 races. That consistency has Erb primed for a strong start to 2026, which will be his eighth consecutive season as a member of The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

“I’m looking forward to getting started here,” Erb said. “I think we’re ready to get back at it. Our equipment’s running really good, I’m really happy with the way we finished last year. I’m looking forward to getting a good start here right off the bat.”

In years past, Erb has been known for his willingness to experiment with chassis changes and other new equipment in his ongoing search for an edge over the competition. However, given Erb’s satisfaction with the current state of his program, no such changes are on the horizon ahead of the new season.

“No major changes,” Erb said. “We’ll be coming back with our Rocket cars, Clements motors, McBride Mack and VoMac Truck Sales as our main sponsors. Not much of an offseason here, but we’re getting ready to get started back up again.”

The first stop of Erb’s 2026 tour comes next week at Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24). One of the overarching stories at the event will be the new gumbo clay that was laid down in March with the goal of enhancing the on-track product at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.” As someone who’s been competing at Volusia since his first Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals appearance in 2001, Erb has seen several variations of the track’s surface through the years and has high hopes for what this one can deliver.

“I’m looking forward to it, hopefully they’ll have the track in good shape and we can have a good race there,” Erb said.

Upon leaving the “Sunshine State,” the early-season schedule features multiple fresh additions to the tour that Erb knows well. Among them are Volunteer Speedway (March 13), where Erb has two top fives in his last three World of Outlaws starts, plus a top 10 in last year’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial, as well as East Alabama Motor Speedway (March 27), which hosts the National 100 that he won in 2016 and finished runner up in 2025.

“There’s a lot of good racetracks that we’ve been going to for a long time,” Erb said. “Looking forward to getting back to some of those places. East Alabama is one of them, we go there to race the National 100 pretty much every year at the end of the season down there. I really look forward to going back to that place and running there. You know, our normal Midwest swings and all that, places I feel that we’re really good at. No matter where we go, we’ve just got to be prepared and ready to go at it.”

Erb will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

How can you watch the World of Outlaws? Live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/dennis-erb-jr-looking-to-build-on-strong-end-to-2025-in-world-of-outlaws-return/

SPRINGFIELD, IL (January 12, 2026) – DIRTcar Racing honored its 42nd year of weekly racing at the annual awards banquet at the Springfield Crowne Plaza on Saturday night. 

National and regional points champions were highlighted along with special award winners. Leading the award winners was Adam Mackey, who received DIRTcar’s most prestigious honor, the Bob Memmer Award. DIRTcar Director Sam Driggers received a standing ovation amongst his colleagues for his impending induction to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, and Illinois Stock Car racer Ryan Taylor was recognized with the Lee J. Hall Sportsmanship Award. 

Bob Memmer Award – Adam Mackey 

Mackey, a longtime announcer and promoter, was bestowed the Bob Memmer Award for his continuous work and contributions throughout Illinois dirt track racing. 

Mackey was surprised by the honor from Sam Driggers onstage while hosting the banquet’s events. He returned the favor to Driggers by celebrating his nomination to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2026. 

“When you look at the folks that have won it, there’s guys that have been around for a long time,” Mackey said. “Now, I feel like I’m getting old. It was definitely a surprise, because when I see the people that have won it, it means so much because everyone’s meant so much to racing that I don’t really feel like I’m in that category. It’s really cool.” 

Working alongside Track Enterprises founder Bob Sargent, Mackey oversaw some of the most famed dirt racing events in the “Land of Lincoln.” Since 2016, Mackey and Sargent have promoted Lincoln (IL) Speedway with marquee events that include the DIRTcar Summer Nationals and FloRacing Night in America. 

“I think a lot of that is working with Bob; we get to do big events,” Mackey said. “His consistency for almost 40 years of race promoting, right? We had Macon Speedway for a long time, and it did well when I was there. Then, we’ve had Lincoln Speedway now for like 11 seasons, and we do really well.” 

The race that stands out the most to Mackey is the DIRTcar Fall Nationals, which closes out the points season annually for Super Late Model, UMP Modified, Pro Late Model, Pro Modified, and Street Stock competition. 

“We have the DIRTcar Fall Nationals, and that’s a big event we’ve done,” he said. “I really take a lot of effort just in that event. We draw a good field of cars, and we have great racing. The folks at the track do such a good job with track prep, whether it’s Dennis Vandermeersch or Bob Sargent, they do so well. We have great officials that have been doing it for a long time, so it all helps too.” 

Lee J. Hall Sportsmanship Award – Ryan Taylor 

Taylor, a native of Danville, IL, was surprised with the presentation of the Hall Award for displaying respect and honorable traits between his competitors each night. The award was created three years ago in memory of the former Stock Car driver after he died in 2022. 

Taylor is the fourth recipient of the award, joining Hall’s son, Lee Joseph, Don Hilleary, and Kyle Anderson. In his 2025 campaign, Taylor finished third in Stock Car National points, which included 17 Feature victories, 32 top fives, and 35 top-10 finishes. 

National Points Champions 

Late Model – Jason Feger 

UMP Modified – Cole Falloway 

Pro Late Model – Dakota Ewing 

Pro Modified – Deece Schwartz 

UMP Sportsman – Lee Hobbs 

Stock Car – Nick Seplak 

Factory Stock – Blake Hull 

Sport Compact – Matt Mackey 

Other Special Awards 

Late Model Engine Champion – Clements Racing Engines 

Modified Engine Champion – Mullins Race Engines 

Late Model Chassis Champion – Longhorn Chassis 

DIRTcar Champions, Special Award Winners Receive Accolades at 2025 Banquet 

SPRINGFIELD, IL (January 12, 2026) – DIRTcar Racing honored its 42nd year of weekly racing at the annual awards banquet at the Springfield Crowne Plaza on Saturday night. 

National and regional points champions were highlighted along with special award winners. Leading the award winners was Adam Mackey, who received DIRTcar’s most prestigious honor, the Bob Memmer Award. DIRTcar Director Sam Driggers received a standing ovation amongst his colleagues for his impending induction to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, and Illinois Stock Car racer Ryan Taylor was recognized with the Lee J. Hall Sportsmanship Award. 

Bob Memmer Award – Adam Mackey 

Mackey, a longtime announcer and promoter, was bestowed the Bob Memmer Award for his continuous work and contributions throughout Illinois dirt track racing. 

Mackey was surprised by the honor from Sam Driggers onstage while hosting the banquet’s events. He returned the favor to Driggers by celebrating his nomination to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2026. 

“When you look at the folks that have won it, there’s guys that have been around for a long time,” Mackey said. “Now, I feel like I’m getting old. It was definitely a surprise, because when I see the people that have won it, it means so much because everyone’s meant so much to racing that I don’t really feel like I’m in that category. It’s really cool.” 

Working alongside Track Enterprises founder Bob Sargent, Mackey oversaw some of the most famed dirt racing events in the “Land of Lincoln.” Since 2016, Mackey and Sargent have promoted Lincoln (IL) Speedway with marquee events that include the DIRTcar Summer Nationals and FloRacing Night in America. 

“I think a lot of that is working with Bob; we get to do big events,” Mackey said. “His consistency for almost 40 years of race promoting, right? We had Macon Speedway for a long time, and it did well when I was there. Then, we’ve had Lincoln Speedway now for like 11 seasons, and we do really well.” 

The race that stands out the most to Mackey is the DIRTcar Fall Nationals, which closes out the points season annually for Super Late Model, UMP Modified, Pro Late Model, Pro Modified, and Street Stock competition. 

“We have the DIRTcar Fall Nationals, and that’s a big event we’ve done,” he said. “I really take a lot of effort just in that event. We draw a good field of cars, and we have great racing. The folks at the track do such a good job with track prep, whether it’s Dennis Vandermeersch or Bob Sargent, they do so well. We have great officials that have been doing it for a long time, so it all helps too.” 

Lee J. Hall Sportsmanship Award – Ryan Taylor 

Taylor, a native of Danville, IL, was surprised with the presentation of the Hall Award for displaying respect and honorable traits between his competitors each night. The award was created three years ago in memory of the former Stock Car driver after he died in 2022. 

Taylor is the fourth recipient of the award, joining Hall’s son, Lee Joseph, Don Hilleary, and Kyle Anderson. In his 2025 campaign, Taylor finished third in Stock Car National points, which included 17 Feature victories, 32 top fives, and 35 top-10 finishes. 

National Points Champions 

Late Model – Jason Feger 

UMP Modified – Cole Falloway 

Pro Late Model – Dakota Ewing 

Pro Modified – Deece Schwartz 

UMP Sportsman – Lee Hobbs 

Stock Car – Nick Seplak 

Factory Stock – Blake Hull 

Sport Compact – Matt Mackey 

Other Special Awards 

Late Model Engine Champion – Clements Racing Engines 

Modified Engine Champion – Mullins Race Engines 

Late Model Chassis Champion – Longhorn Chassis 

Modified Chassis Champion – Elite Chassis 

New Time and Updated Format for Competition Plus Power Hour

SPARTANBURG, SC (January 12, 2026) — CompetitionPlus.com has been a leader in online motorsports journalism for over 25 years. Through web stories, commentaries, longform videos and podcasts the media organization founded by Bobby Bennett has been the go-to resource for drag racing fans around the world. For 2026 the wildly popular Power Hour show hosted by Lee Craft and Dujunnea Bland will move to a 5:30 p.m. ET time slot starting this Tuesday, January 13, offering live commentary and guest interviews weekly throughout the season.

“Power Hour is a staple for drag racing interviews and news and we wanted to move to an even better time slot,” said Bobby Bennett, CompetitionPlus.com Founder. “Lee and Dujunnea bring great perspectives and opinions for all forms of drag racing.”


Craft, who operates the Monday Morning Racer media outlet, has been directly in the sport of drag racing as media since 2019. Over that time he has been involved with social media for Top Fuel teams, pit reporting for racing series, race announcing, camera operating, streaming, and marketing efforts with a variety of brands and series.

Bland has 13 years of experience in sports media and he has established himself as a versatile reporter, analyst, and podcast host, covering everything from the NFL to NHRA drag racing. He currently serves as the Senior NFL/Jaguars Insider and Director of Content for SportsJourney.com, while also hosting The NotBland Show, a live YouTube program delivering expert insight and exclusive interviews.

Power Hour will continue to produce new shows throughout the drag racing season. Shows will be broadcast live on the CompetitionPlus.com social media channels. For additional information visit www.competitionplus.com.

Five full-season Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs ready for pre-Rolex 24 testing to start 2026 DETROIT (January 13, 2026) – Five Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs and seven Corvette Racing factory drivers are set to kick off 2026 during the next two weeks at Daytona International Speedway. Things kick off for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the annual three-day Roar Before the 24 starting Friday.

It leads straight into the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona with Corvette Racing eager to capture another class victory – or two – in the opening round of the season. Five full-season Corvette GT3s from four teams are part of the 60-car entry across two of the four classes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Corvette collective will test Friday through Sunday on the 3.56-mile Daytona Road Course ahead of next weekend’s season-opening round:

Corvette Racing Media Resources Documents | Statistics | Photos | Factory Driver Bios | Chevrolet Newsroom

· Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – GTD PRO: Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims, Marvin Kirchhöfer(No. 3 Corvette); Nicky Catsburg, Tommy Milner, Nico Varrone (No. 4 Corvette)· 13 Autosport – GTD: Matt Bell, Orey Fidani, Lars Kern, Ben Green (No. 13 Corvette)· DXDT Racing – GTD: Charlie Eastwood, Mason Filippi, Salih Yoluc, Scott McLaughlin (No. 36 Corvette)· DragonSpeed – GTD: Giacomo Altoé, Henrik Hedman, Casper Stevenson, Matteo Cairoli (No. 81 Corvette)(Factory drivers in bold) This year’s group matches last year’s entry of five Corvettes at Daytona; the biggest change is that all five will contest the entirely of the IMSA season. In addition to returning teams Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in GTD PRO and GTD customer teams 13 Autosport (formally AW) and DXDT Racing, new Corvette team DragonSpeed will debut its Z06 GT3.R at Daytona. As a program, Corvette Racing has a deep and successful history at the Rolex 24 and includes five GT-class victories – one of those an overall win in 2001. The Corvette Racing factory team scored additional class wins in 2015, 2016 and 2021, and 13 Autosport won in GTD last year under the AWA banner for the Z06 GT3.R’s first Rolex 24 triumph. In addition, Corvette’s successes at Daytona have bolstered Chevrolet’s impressive record of 125 wins at the circuit across IMSA and NASCAR’s national series. Corvette Racing and its teams are looking to build on the global success of the Z06 GT3.R from 2025 into the new season. Corvette teams captured 16 race victories across six different global championships, and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports swept the full-season GTD PRO Manufacturers, Drivers and Teams titles. The Roar Before the 24 is set for January 16-18 with seven sessions scheduled across the three days. The Rolex 24 goes green at 1:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 24 with qualifying on Thursday, January 22.

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Targeting a 2025 EncoreFive full-season Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs ready for pre-Rolex 24 testing to start 2026 DETROIT (January 13, 2026) – Five Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs and seven Corvette Racing factory drivers are set to kick off 2026 during the next two weeks at Daytona International Speedway. Things kick off for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the annual three-day Roar Before the 24 starting Friday.

It leads straight into the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona with Corvette Racing eager to capture another class victory – or two – in the opening round of the season. Five full-season Corvette GT3s from four teams are part of the 60-car entry across two of the four classes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Corvette collective will test Friday through Sunday on the 3.56-mile Daytona Road Course ahead of next weekend’s season-opening round:

Corvette Racing Media Resources Documents | Statistics | Photos | Factory Driver Bios | Chevrolet Newsroom

· Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – GTD PRO: Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims, Marvin Kirchhöfer(No. 3 Corvette); Nicky Catsburg, Tommy Milner, Nico Varrone (No. 4 Corvette)· 13 Autosport – GTD: Matt Bell, Orey Fidani, Lars Kern, Ben Green (No. 13 Corvette)· DXDT Racing – GTD: Charlie Eastwood, Mason Filippi, Salih Yoluc, Scott McLaughlin (No. 36 Corvette)· DragonSpeed – GTD: Giacomo Altoé, Henrik Hedman, Casper Stevenson, Matteo Cairoli (No. 81 Corvette)(Factory drivers in bold) This year’s group matches last year’s entry of five Corvettes at Daytona; the biggest change is that all five will contest the entirely of the IMSA season. In addition to returning teams Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in GTD PRO and GTD customer teams 13 Autosport (formally AW) and DXDT Racing, new Corvette team DragonSpeed will debut its Z06 GT3.R at Daytona. As a program, Corvette Racing has a deep and successful history at the Rolex 24 and includes five GT-class victories – one of those an overall win in 2001. The Corvette Racing factory team scored additional class wins in 2015, 2016 and 2021, and 13 Autosport won in GTD last year under the AWA banner for the Z06 GT3.R’s first Rolex 24 triumph. In addition, Corvette’s successes at Daytona have bolstered Chevrolet’s impressive record of 125 wins at the circuit across IMSA and NASCAR’s national series. Corvette Racing and its teams are looking to build on the global success of the Z06 GT3.R from 2025 into the new season. Corvette teams captured 16 race victories across six different global championships, and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports swept the full-season GTD PRO Manufacturers, Drivers and Teams titles. The Roar Before the 24 is set for January 16-18 with seven sessions scheduled across the three days. The Rolex 24 goes green at 1:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 24 with qualifying on Thursday, January 22.

SELECT CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R DRIVER QUOTESANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “In a lot of ways, the Rolex 24 each year at Daytona feels like the championship. I think not many people who are there think about the championship very much during the week. That’s something you think about Monday. Last year when we finished second, it wasn’t that great until Monday and we realized we had second-place points! It seems like there everyone is fighting all-out for the win, which is classic Daytona. It will be good to be back there with Alex and bring in Marvin. If he brings to us something of what he had last year in the race, we’ll be very happy! He and the AWA guys did a great job to end up winning the race, which was great for all of Corvette. He’s been around the paddock and in a lot of the big races here and in Europe. The experience is there and the speed is there as he showed last year. We’re happy to have him and looking forward to working with him this year.” ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s nice to have continuity again going into a third season with the same main team, and it’s a great addition having Marvin with us. The core group of people on our car are mostly staying the same… Andy Ramsey our race engineer and obviously myself and Antonio, plus Tommy, Nicky and Nico in the other Corvette. That’s a huge bonus and should give us strength. I think that’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve had three years in a row with the same co-driver and engineer, so that’s very nice.”We were second last year at Daytona, and I’m quite keen to try and go one better. As with all of the races, the championship is the No. 1 focus and then race wins and other things would be fantastic along the way. That generally tends to happen if you win the championship so we obviously need to try and maximize every race. Daytona being the big one straight off the bat is an immediate opportunity and a great challenge.” MARVIN KIRCHHÖFER, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was really nice being back behind the wheel of the Corvette (at November test at Sebring). I was generally quite impressed by the whole setup of the team. I got a nice welcome, too, from my teammates as well. I already knew Nicky from previous racing before, too. That was very nice and I really, really enjoyed working with them. Everyone has been very supportive and very helpful getting me up to speed within the team and getting reacquainted with the Corvette. I also had the DIL test a couple of weeks ago in Charlotte, which also was quite interesting. I must say overall that it has been very good and very positive… good preparation for the Rolex coming up in a couple of weeks. Hopefully we’ve done our parts and our work well and can make it a good 2026 Daytona 24 race.” TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Hopefully this Daytona is a boring one! Boring in the sense that we are three laps ahead by Hour Six and it’s the most boring GT race ever! Last year was disappointing on a number of levels for us on the No. 4 side. We had a great race going for a majority of it and then unraveled a little bit there at the end. I’m hopeful we can have another strong race as we did last year. There’s no reason why that should change. Daytona is always that crown jewel event and first race in the U.S. each season with a lot of emotions around it. For me, this race and the GTD PRO class in particular gets more and more competitive each year, and the excitement ramps up as we get closer.” NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s good to be back and start working with everyone. I’m looking forward to being back in Daytona as always. Like every year it’s an amazing beginning of the season with one of the most important races of the year. At the start, I feel like this year on the No. 4 side we need to take a little bit more of a cautious approach to the race. It’s very important that we finish well because it kind of sets you up for the rest of the season. I feel like sometimes people can get a little over-excited because it’s Daytona. I really want to do well in the championship. The dream is to win the driver championship with the 4 car this year rather than 3! So I’m looking forward to realizing that. Daytona is always a very fun time with the teammates, as well. We have a couple of days off between the Roar and the race which is always a good time to sharpen up our Pickleball skills or paddle skills or mini-golf skills or whatever else we can do!” MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m really looking forward to defending our Daytona 24 win from last year. It’s very exciting to be coming back under the new 13 Autosport banner while essentially keeping the same group of people that we succeeded with 12 months ago. There are not many teams that have defended their 24-hour win in the past, so our objective is to join the few that have.” OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m very excited about this new 13 Autosport venture heading into Daytona. We’re going into our third year as a part of Team Chevy, and over the course of the past two seasons we have learned so much and made significant leaps with our No. 13 Corvette. We’re all very eager to continue to further contribute to Chevrolet’s success at Daytona and into the rest of the rounds. I’m ready to kick off another season with Matt and Lars, and we’re all looking forward to bringing Ben into the family.” CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m really looking forward to being back at Daytona with DXDT and the Corvette. Last year wasn’t what we hoped for in my first race with the team in our first race in IMSA. There were a lot of things to learn and ultimately we didn’t end up finishing the race. But throughout the year the team made some massive strides and everyone is super motivated to get a good result. I think everyone knows if you can do that at Daytona, it really starts your championship off well. We have a great lineup. Having Scott is brilliant as he brings a lot to the team with his previous experience with the Corvette and in big races. I think we have a really good shot at it.” GIACOMO ALTOE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s a new beginning for me with DragonSpeed and Corvette. I’m very excited for what’s coming. The project is a big one and we committed properly to do everything in the best way possible. It will be great to race together with Henrik for his comeback to racing and we have high goals in GTD. It’s a very competitive class and it’s always special to start at Daytona, with a 24-hour race. I can’t wait to be with the crew again and to get to know everyone at Chevy and Corvette Racing to start this new project together!”

CONCORD, NC (January 9, 2026) – One year ago, Bobby Pierce famously dubbed his 2025 campaign that would eventually lead him to his second World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision championship the “Vengeance Tour.”

Now that the “Smooth Operator” is set to begin his quest for title number three in less than two weeks at DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24), does 2026 have a theme yet?

“It’s always a vengeance tour, really,” Pierce said. “Super competitive as always, so hopefully we go and get that third championship.”

Since the No. 32 team’s debut season with the World of Outlaws in 2023, they have reached double-digit Series wins each year, won more than 100 races overall in the past three seasons and have been widely regarded as one of the best Late Model teams in the nation across that span.

For any other team in the pits, it’s easy to use Pierce’s operation as an example to strive toward. But when you’re already at the top of the mountain, staying motivated to continue finding new ways to improve can be a challenge for some. Nevertheless, Pierce keeps on winning and shows no signs of slowing down.

“It’s kind of like a drug. When you win a race, you just want to keep winning more of them,” Pierce said. “That’s for me anyways, and I think my dad too and most of my team. It’s just a really good feeling when you can accomplish your goals, and really, the last couple years, we’ve kind of gone past our goals.

“It’s tough when you race so much through the year, it is a grind and you have to stay motivated. Even if you have a bad night, you want to then go and perform well the next day to redeem yourself. And then if you win, it’s a good feeling, and you just want to get that feeling again. Either way, I feel like it’s pretty easy to stay motivated.”

Should Pierce ever need a refresh amid the never-ending grind of national Late Model racing, one look at the Series record books makes the end goals crystal clear. Less than five years removed from his first World of Outlaws win in 2021, Pierce has already made 42 trips to Victory Lane, placing him in a tie with Billy Moyer for fifth all-time. His next target isn’t far off, as he needs six more to catch Shane Clanton in fourth.

“I was just on the phone with Ruben [Mireles] yesterday, updating something for my profile,” Pierce said. “I was like, ‘Hey, how many wins do I have?’ And he was like, ‘Oh, you’re fifth, tied with [Billy] Moyer. And I’m like, ‘Dang, that’s pretty cool.’ As far as setting records and stuff, that’s definitely somewhat in the back of your mind.

“When you look at the list of guys that I’m starting to catch, it’s kind of getting into another tier of drivers. Like Billy Moyer, he’s the GOAT, so to be tied with him is pretty impressive. It makes me feel very accomplished, it’s a good feeling, and hopefully we can just keep going. Maybe someday, you never know, catch Brandon [Sheppard] and Josh [Richards]. That’ll be a long time from now, but we’ll just keep digging.”

Pierce will travel to plenty of tracks he’s never been to as an Outlaw in 2026, with eight hosting their first Series race and eight more returning to the schedule after a hiatus. One of the most notable additions is the revived Mansfield Speedway for the $57,000-to-win, $5,700-to-start 57 Special on May 29-30. But the largest purse of the season isn’t the only reason that weekend is circled on the calendar – it’s the chance to avenge his near miss at the track in 2018.

“That Mansfield race, that’s interesting because the last time I was there, it was the Dirt Million,” Pierce said. “I was leading that race and a caution came out toward the very end. I got passed by Earl Pearson Jr. and I ran second, so that would have been one of my biggest wins. I’m excited to go back to that place, I know they’ve done a lot to it.”

While the site of the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park isn’t new, the surface at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” will still throw teams a curveball in comparison to recent years. Last spring, a layer of dark gumbo clay was laid down in an effort to bring back the wide, slick racing of Volusia’s past, and the track’s weekly racing program in 2025 delivered exactly that.

Given Pierce’s sluggish start last season with only one top five in five World of Outlaws starts at Volusia between Sunshine Nationals and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, he welcomes the change as a chance to reset and begin his title defense in peak form.

“That dirt that they used to have, as long as its shaped right and stuff, I feel like that track was really fun,” Pierce said. “That dirt that they had on recently, with how the track was graded, it kind of felt like the middle was always fast for such a long time. The track didn’t necessarily widen out really good every night. I feel like it’s going to help really get a bottom and a top going like it used to. I’m looking forward to it.”

Pierce will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

Pierce Starting Chase for Third World of Outlaws Championship at Sunshine Nationals

CONCORD, NC (January 9, 2026) – One year ago, Bobby Pierce famously dubbed his 2025 campaign that would eventually lead him to his second World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision championship the “Vengeance Tour.”

Now that the “Smooth Operator” is set to begin his quest for title number three in less than two weeks at DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24), does 2026 have a theme yet?

“It’s always a vengeance tour, really,” Pierce said. “Super competitive as always, so hopefully we go and get that third championship.”

Since the No. 32 team’s debut season with the World of Outlaws in 2023, they have reached double-digit Series wins each year, won more than 100 races overall in the past three seasons and have been widely regarded as one of the best Late Model teams in the nation across that span.

For any other team in the pits, it’s easy to use Pierce’s operation as an example to strive toward. But when you’re already at the top of the mountain, staying motivated to continue finding new ways to improve can be a challenge for some. Nevertheless, Pierce keeps on winning and shows no signs of slowing down.

“It’s kind of like a drug. When you win a race, you just want to keep winning more of them,” Pierce said. “That’s for me anyways, and I think my dad too and most of my team. It’s just a really good feeling when you can accomplish your goals, and really, the last couple years, we’ve kind of gone past our goals.

“It’s tough when you race so much through the year, it is a grind and you have to stay motivated. Even if you have a bad night, you want to then go and perform well the next day to redeem yourself. And then if you win, it’s a good feeling, and you just want to get that feeling again. Either way, I feel like it’s pretty easy to stay motivated.”

Should Pierce ever need a refresh amid the never-ending grind of national Late Model racing, one look at the Series record books makes the end goals crystal clear. Less than five years removed from his first World of Outlaws win in 2021, Pierce has already made 42 trips to Victory Lane, placing him in a tie with Billy Moyer for fifth all-time. His next target isn’t far off, as he needs six more to catch Shane Clanton in fourth.

“I was just on the phone with Ruben [Mireles] yesterday, updating something for my profile,” Pierce said. “I was like, ‘Hey, how many wins do I have?’ And he was like, ‘Oh, you’re fifth, tied with [Billy] Moyer. And I’m like, ‘Dang, that’s pretty cool.’ As far as setting records and stuff, that’s definitely somewhat in the back of your mind.

“When you look at the list of guys that I’m starting to catch, it’s kind of getting into another tier of drivers. Like Billy Moyer, he’s the GOAT, so to be tied with him is pretty impressive. It makes me feel very accomplished, it’s a good feeling, and hopefully we can just keep going. Maybe someday, you never know, catch Brandon [Sheppard] and Josh [Richards]. That’ll be a long time from now, but we’ll just keep digging.”

Pierce will travel to plenty of tracks he’s never been to as an Outlaw in 2026, with eight hosting their first Series race and eight more returning to the schedule after a hiatus. One of the most notable additions is the revived Mansfield Speedway for the $57,000-to-win, $5,700-to-start 57 Special on May 29-30. But the largest purse of the season isn’t the only reason that weekend is circled on the calendar – it’s the chance to avenge his near miss at the track in 2018.

“That Mansfield race, that’s interesting because the last time I was there, it was the Dirt Million,” Pierce said. “I was leading that race and a caution came out toward the very end. I got passed by Earl Pearson Jr. and I ran second, so that would have been one of my biggest wins. I’m excited to go back to that place, I know they’ve done a lot to it.”

While the site of the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park isn’t new, the surface at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” will still throw teams a curveball in comparison to recent years. Last spring, a layer of dark gumbo clay was laid down in an effort to bring back the wide, slick racing of Volusia’s past, and the track’s weekly racing program in 2025 delivered exactly that.

Given Pierce’s sluggish start last season with only one top five in five World of Outlaws starts at Volusia between Sunshine Nationals and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, he welcomes the change as a chance to reset and begin his title defense in peak form.

“That dirt that they used to have, as long as its shaped right and stuff, I feel like that track was really fun,” Pierce said. “That dirt that they had on recently, with how the track was graded, it kind of felt like the middle was always fast for such a long time. The track didn’t necessarily widen out really good every night. I feel like it’s going to help really get a bottom and a top going like it used to. I’m looking forward to it.”

Pierce will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision. 

CONCORD, NC (January 8, 2026) – Garet Williamson is back for more in 2026 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series after his Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign with Fischer Motorsports.

The Columbia, MO native cemented his name in the history books in 2025 by standing atop a stout crop of seven rookies. Williamson’s debut campaign yielded seven top fives, 26 top 10s, a pair of Quick Times, six Heat wins, and a dozen Dash appearances.

With 2025 behind him, the upcoming season is the continuation of a dream for Williamson. He looked up to World of Outlaws drivers throughout his childhood. He wanted to be one more than anything. Now, he’s here. He’s at the highest level of the sport. He’s a World of Outlaws driver that kids see at the racetrack and tell themselves they want to be where he is one day. It’s a position he’s not taking for granted.

“It’s been my dream and goal since I was a kid,” Williamson said. “So, now I’m just trying to make sure I’m doing my job good enough to keep having a good ride and keep doing it. I’m just super grateful for the partners I have and owners I have that let us go up and down the road and believe in us to keep growing.”

The only missing piece from Williamson’s Rookie of the Year campaign was a win. The closest he came in 2025 was third at Huset’s Speedway, his second career World of Outlaws podium. The 25-year-old knows making a trip to Victory Lane is easier said than done. It requires beating the best of the best. It requires no mistakes. Of the thousands that have tried, only 155 competitors can call themselves a winner with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“The biggest thing is a win,” Williamson said. “I feel like that’s kind of what I lack right now is a win, but it’s not easy. It’s super hard to beat those guys. I think that’s one of the big ones, and being more consistent. I think that’s how wins come. Your top 10s, top fives, and podiums, they’ll turn into wins eventually. I want to be a threat to be there for big races. As a team, I want to keep proving we belong.”

Progress is also on Williamson’s mind as the season nears. The Rookie of the Year box was checked last year, and now he’s ready to climb toward the veterans above him in the standings. Consistently compete up front with the ones that have been on tour for years as he labors to reach his ultimate goal of becoming a World of Outlaws champion.

“I think it starts with bad nights being top 10s, not 22nd or anywhere back there,” Williamson explained. “You can’t be running back there. If you’re having a bad night, you’ve got to make up for it. You’ve got to salvage more than some of the bad nights we had.”

Williamson and the Fischer Motorsports crew kick off the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season on Feb. 4-7 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in Barberville, FL. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Williamson plans to get a few extra Volusia laps during DIRTcar Nationals by competing with the American Sprint Car Series, Jan. 29-31, aboard a Dennis Gainey entry.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

Garet Williamson Locked In for Sophomore World of Outlaws Season with Fischer Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (January 8, 2026) – Garet Williamson is back for more in 2026 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series after his Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year campaign with Fischer Motorsports.

The Columbia, MO native cemented his name in the history books in 2025 by standing atop a stout crop of seven rookies. Williamson’s debut campaign yielded seven top fives, 26 top 10s, a pair of Quick Times, six Heat wins, and a dozen Dash appearances.

With 2025 behind him, the upcoming season is the continuation of a dream for Williamson. He looked up to World of Outlaws drivers throughout his childhood. He wanted to be one more than anything. Now, he’s here. He’s at the highest level of the sport. He’s a World of Outlaws driver that kids see at the racetrack and tell themselves they want to be where he is one day. It’s a position he’s not taking for granted.

“It’s been my dream and goal since I was a kid,” Williamson said. “So, now I’m just trying to make sure I’m doing my job good enough to keep having a good ride and keep doing it. I’m just super grateful for the partners I have and owners I have that let us go up and down the road and believe in us to keep growing.”

The only missing piece from Williamson’s Rookie of the Year campaign was a win. The closest he came in 2025 was third at Huset’s Speedway, his second career World of Outlaws podium. The 25-year-old knows making a trip to Victory Lane is easier said than done. It requires beating the best of the best. It requires no mistakes. Of the thousands that have tried, only 155 competitors can call themselves a winner with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“The biggest thing is a win,” Williamson said. “I feel like that’s kind of what I lack right now is a win, but it’s not easy. It’s super hard to beat those guys. I think that’s one of the big ones, and being more consistent. I think that’s how wins come. Your top 10s, top fives, and podiums, they’ll turn into wins eventually. I want to be a threat to be there for big races. As a team, I want to keep proving we belong.”

Progress is also on Williamson’s mind as the season nears. The Rookie of the Year box was checked last year, and now he’s ready to climb toward the veterans above him in the standings. Consistently compete up front with the ones that have been on tour for years as he labors to reach his ultimate goal of becoming a World of Outlaws champion.

“I think it starts with bad nights being top 10s, not 22nd or anywhere back there,” Williamson explained. “You can’t be running back there. If you’re having a bad night, you’ve got to make up for it. You’ve got to salvage more than some of the bad nights we had.”

Williamson and the Fischer Motorsports crew kick off the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season on Feb. 4-7 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in Barberville, FL. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Williamson plans to get a few extra Volusia laps during DIRTcar Nationals by competing with the American Sprint Car Series, Jan. 29-31, aboard a Dennis Gainey entry.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, CLICK HERE to learn how to watch every race live on DIRTVision.

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 8, 2026) — Sam Hafertepe Jr. made history in 2025, winning his sixth American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) championship. In 2026, he’ll go for a seventh national title with new crew help and renewed competitive drive.

Hafertepe, 40, of Sunnyvale, TX, will embark on a 10th full-time season with the national 360 Sprint Car circuit this year as the defending champion for the first time since 2020. In clinching his sixth ASCS national championship — most of any driver — he also ascended into second place on the all-time Feature wins list with 11 main event victories in 2025, now holding a total of 88 national Series wins.

He and the Ontario-based Hill’s Racing Team will begin their ninth consecutive year together in the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park — Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 29–31 — as part of the 55th annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Hafertepe drove the familiar Townline Variety, Fisher Racing Engines-powered Triple X Chassis No. 15H to two top-10 finishes, including a podium on opening night, at the historic Florida 1/2-mile oval one year ago.

These strong runs against a deep field of over 50 cars gave him the early advantage in the points standings he needed in the chase for the points title. He’s already working overtime to ensure even better results in 2026.

“The preparation’s a little more than usual just because we really have to be fully prepared once we get down there because the points season does start so early,” Hafertepe said.

To aid in his preparation, Hafertepe’s hired some new crew help in 16-year-old Brody Brown. The former Micro Sprint racer from Lawton, OK, spent last year racing in the 305 and 360 Sprint Car ranks and will assume the role of car chief on the No. 15H in 2026.

As Hafertepe begins his 31st season as a driver in the motorsports world and commemorates a decade of national 360 Sprint Car racing, he now stares down only one man in the ASCS record books — his hero, Gary Wright.

Wright, a four-time ASCS national champion from 2004–2007, amassed a total of 128 Feature wins in his career — an ASCS record — and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall-of-Fame in 2011.

Hafertepe now stands 40 Feature wins away from tying Wright’s mark. It will take a great deal of skill, longevity and patience to reach that height, but Hafertepe is optimistic about his career and its future with ASCS. 

“We hope to get excited about the future of ASCS and where World Racing Group can take it,” Hafertepe said. “It may be small strides or little-by-little, but that’s the kind of stuff that I do get excited to see out of ASCS, and hopefully it can continue to grow through the years.”

Sam Hafertepe Jr. to Defend American Sprint Car Series Championship in 2026

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 8, 2026) — Sam Hafertepe Jr. made history in 2025, winning his sixth American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) championship. In 2026, he’ll go for a seventh national title with new crew help and renewed competitive drive.

Hafertepe, 40, of Sunnyvale, TX, will embark on a 10th full-time season with the national 360 Sprint Car circuit this year as the defending champion for the first time since 2020. In clinching his sixth ASCS national championship — most of any driver — he also ascended into second place on the all-time Feature wins list with 11 main event victories in 2025, now holding a total of 88 national Series wins.

He and the Ontario-based Hill’s Racing Team will begin their ninth consecutive year together in the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park — Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 29–31 — as part of the 55th annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. Hafertepe drove the familiar Townline Variety, Fisher Racing Engines-powered Triple X Chassis No. 15H to two top-10 finishes, including a podium on opening night, at the historic Florida 1/2-mile oval one year ago.

These strong runs against a deep field of over 50 cars gave him the early advantage in the points standings he needed in the chase for the points title. He’s already working overtime to ensure even better results in 2026.

“The preparation’s a little more than usual just because we really have to be fully prepared once we get down there because the points season does start so early,” Hafertepe said.

To aid in his preparation, Hafertepe’s hired some new crew help in 16-year-old Brody Brown. The former Micro Sprint racer from Lawton, OK, spent last year racing in the 305 and 360 Sprint Car ranks and will assume the role of car chief on the No. 15H in 2026.

As Hafertepe begins his 31st season as a driver in the motorsports world and commemorates a decade of national 360 Sprint Car racing, he now stares down only one man in the ASCS record books — his hero, Gary Wright.

Wright, a four-time ASCS national champion from 2004–2007, amassed a total of 128 Feature wins in his career — an ASCS record — and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall-of-Fame in 2011.

Hafertepe now stands 40 Feature wins away from tying Wright’s mark. It will take a great deal of skill, longevity and patience to reach that height, but Hafertepe is optimistic about his career and its future with ASCS. 

“We hope to get excited about the future of ASCS and where World Racing Group can take it,” Hafertepe said. “It may be small strides or little-by-little, but that’s the kind of stuff that I do get excited to see out of ASCS, and hopefully it can continue to grow through the years.”

Tickets for the 2026 American Sprint Car Series season opener at Volusia Speedway Park are on sale now: click here to save in advance. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

CONCORD, NC (January 8, 2026) – The man they call “Terbo” has a new title: “Outlaw.”

Tyler Erb is gearing up to run the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision tour for the first time since 2018, with his sights set on clinching a championship at World of Outlaws World Finals in November.

“The last two years, I’ve just picked and chose,” Erb said. “It’s been really good and I’m glad we did. The way the money is now, the money keeps going up and up for the major series. It was just time for us to give it another go this year and hopefully try to win the points. That’s the whole goal behind it.”

Despite not chasing season-long points, the New Waverly, TX native hasn’t been lacking in the win column in recent seasons. He’s won 33 times in the past two years, including major scores like his World of Outlaws win at Mississippi Thunder Speedway last May and the last two National 100s at East Alabama Motor Speedway.

The way Erb sees it, the quantity of his wins and the variety of tracks they’ve come at proves that his Best Performance Motorsports team is returning to the tour with everything they need to contend for a title.

“It’s just a good time for us to do it,” Erb said. “I feel like we have all our ducks in a row, our equipment’s the best it’s ever been. My owner Eric [Brock], all of my sponsors are super excited to try and do it again, and it just seems like the perfect time to do it. And on top of that, we’re running good. The last two years, we’ve gotten a good grasp on what’s going on, so it’s just time to make the most of it. Winning a championship would be the ultimate deal here.”

Many of Erb’s biggest moments as of late have come while following the DIRTcar Summer Nationals full-time in 2024 and 2025. He earned a combined 17 wins across those two campaigns and scored his first Hell Tour title in 2024, all while learning firsthand what it takes to race for a championship.

“We won it the first year, and last year we came up a little bit short,” Erb said. “It wasn’t from a lack of speed or effort, it’s just a tough deal. You’re not going to win every single thing you go to, but we were obviously very consistent both years doing it. It’s been good, just because we can kind of say, ‘OK, we ran 30 races and this is what it took, this is how we did it.’ So, to spread that out over a year, it just really puts it into perspective what you need to do to have a chance to win the Outlaw points.”

Erb is set to join a clash of titans all season long, with the likes of reigning champion Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Tim McCreadie, Ryan Gustin and more committed to the full tour. By the end of the season, Erb wants to be known as more than the driver with the goofy firesuits and quirky line of merchandise. He wants to go down as one of the best in this generation of Late Model superstars.

“It’s just a testament to our team, we can unload anywhere,” Erb said. “We’ve won all the way from Arizona to Florida, New York, Wisconsin, anything and anywhere in between. We obviously don’t shy away from going to races. Really, for the last five or six years, I’ve gone to basically every major event. I feel like I’ve got good notes and a good idea, and just trying to put it all into fruition this year.”

Tyler Erb Returning to Full-Time World of Outlaws Competition in 2026

CONCORD, NC (January 8, 2026) – The man they call “Terbo” has a new title: “Outlaw.”

Tyler Erb is gearing up to run the full World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision tour for the first time since 2018, with his sights set on clinching a championship at World of Outlaws World Finals in November.

“The last two years, I’ve just picked and chose,” Erb said. “It’s been really good and I’m glad we did. The way the money is now, the money keeps going up and up for the major series. It was just time for us to give it another go this year and hopefully try to win the points. That’s the whole goal behind it.”

Despite not chasing season-long points, the New Waverly, TX native hasn’t been lacking in the win column in recent seasons. He’s won 33 times in the past two years, including major scores like his World of Outlaws win at Mississippi Thunder Speedway last May and the last two National 100s at East Alabama Motor Speedway.

The way Erb sees it, the quantity of his wins and the variety of tracks they’ve come at proves that his Best Performance Motorsports team is returning to the tour with everything they need to contend for a title.

“It’s just a good time for us to do it,” Erb said. “I feel like we have all our ducks in a row, our equipment’s the best it’s ever been. My owner Eric [Brock], all of my sponsors are super excited to try and do it again, and it just seems like the perfect time to do it. And on top of that, we’re running good. The last two years, we’ve gotten a good grasp on what’s going on, so it’s just time to make the most of it. Winning a championship would be the ultimate deal here.”

Many of Erb’s biggest moments as of late have come while following the DIRTcar Summer Nationals full-time in 2024 and 2025. He earned a combined 17 wins across those two campaigns and scored his first Hell Tour title in 2024, all while learning firsthand what it takes to race for a championship.

“We won it the first year, and last year we came up a little bit short,” Erb said. “It wasn’t from a lack of speed or effort, it’s just a tough deal. You’re not going to win every single thing you go to, but we were obviously very consistent both years doing it. It’s been good, just because we can kind of say, ‘OK, we ran 30 races and this is what it took, this is how we did it.’ So, to spread that out over a year, it just really puts it into perspective what you need to do to have a chance to win the Outlaw points.”

Erb is set to join a clash of titans all season long, with the likes of reigning champion Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Tim McCreadie, Ryan Gustin and more committed to the full tour. By the end of the season, Erb wants to be known as more than the driver with the goofy firesuits and quirky line of merchandise. He wants to go down as one of the best in this generation of Late Model superstars.

“It’s just a testament to our team, we can unload anywhere,” Erb said. “We’ve won all the way from Arizona to Florida, New York, Wisconsin, anything and anywhere in between. We obviously don’t shy away from going to races. Really, for the last five or six years, I’ve gone to basically every major event. I feel like I’ve got good notes and a good idea, and just trying to put it all into fruition this year.”

Erb will begin his 2026 season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

CONCORD, NC (January 6, 2026) – For Eli Johnson, there’s no better time than now to turn a dream into reality.

The driver of the Clyde Johnson Contracting & Roofing No. 55 has signed up for his first full season of national Late Model racing, joining Trey Mills and Logan Zarin as this year’s third MD3 Rookie of the Year contender with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

The 31-year-old Clewiston, FL native spent a half-decade racing locally at a variety of “Sunshine State” tracks leading into 2025, when Johnson dove headfirst into the Super Late Model world. The team put more miles on the hauler than ever, traveling to major events including the Dirt Late Model Dream, World 100, and World of Outlaws World Finals. In between, Johnson teamed up with his fellow Floridians Brenden and Brody Smith to take on the majority of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals schedule.

All that effort was put in with one goal in mind – learn as much as possible in advance of his debut World of Outlaws season in 2026.

“Some sponsors wanted to step in and basically see if we could hang and get involved,” Johnson said. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for Summer Nationals, the Smith guys, if I didn’t have the opportunity to do that, I wouldn’t be doing it at all right now. I mean, I’m super thankful for those guys.”

Johnson proved on multiple occasions last year that he could run up front, collecting a pair of Hell Tour top fives at Shadyhill Speedway and Oakshade Raceway, plus one more with the Southern All Stars at Wartburg Speedway. Matching those numbers at the pinnacle of the sport will be no easy feat, which is why he’s enlisted the help of those who know national Late Model racing inside and out.

“I mean, I feel pretty prepared,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot that we don’t know. I’ve got Boom Briggs, he’s helping me a lot. Kind of letting me know what’s going to happen and how I need to move forward in the program. I feel like we’ll be OK, mainly because we’ve got a lot of help from him also.”

nazsxcvbOne circumstance that could play into Johnson’s favor is the fact that the first three weeks of the season will take place in his home state. Following two trips to Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), the tour will head south to Johnson’s home track, Hendry County Motorsports Park.

The Swamp Cabbage 100 (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21) will be the first national Late Model race in the track’s history, giving Johnson his lone opportunity in 2026 to have the upper hand in experience over the rest of the World of Outlaws field.

“I’m really excited for that one, mainly because I’ve got so many laps around that place,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be really exciting, I hope it’s a really good race. I think a lot of the guys will like the place. It’s going to be fun for sure, having all those guys down here.”

Once the calendar turns to spring, Johnson will begin venturing out to plenty of uncharted territory throughout his first season on tour. He knows he’s in for the tallest task of his career and nothing will be handed to him, but he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I’d like to get quite a few top 10s and some top fives,” Johnson said. “Obviously, if I was to get a win this year, that would be amazing. The biggest thing is to just be consistent.”

Johnson will begin his 2026 season at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/eli-johnson-plans-2026-rookie-of-the-year-run-with-world-of-outlaws/

Eli Johnson Plans 2026 Rookie of the Year Run with World of Outlaws

CONCORD, NC (January 6, 2026) – For Eli Johnson, there’s no better time than now to turn a dream into reality.

The driver of the Clyde Johnson Contracting & Roofing No. 55 has signed up for his first full season of national Late Model racing, joining Trey Mills and Logan Zarin as this year’s third MD3 Rookie of the Year contender with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

The 31-year-old Clewiston, FL native spent a half-decade racing locally at a variety of “Sunshine State” tracks leading into 2025, when Johnson dove headfirst into the Super Late Model world. The team put more miles on the hauler than ever, traveling to major events including the Dirt Late Model Dream, World 100, and World of Outlaws World Finals. In between, Johnson teamed up with his fellow Floridians Brenden and Brody Smith to take on the majority of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals schedule.

All that effort was put in with one goal in mind – learn as much as possible in advance of his debut World of Outlaws season in 2026.

“Some sponsors wanted to step in and basically see if we could hang and get involved,” Johnson said. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for Summer Nationals, the Smith guys, if I didn’t have the opportunity to do that, I wouldn’t be doing it at all right now. I mean, I’m super thankful for those guys.”

Johnson proved on multiple occasions last year that he could run up front, collecting a pair of Hell Tour top fives at Shadyhill Speedway and Oakshade Raceway, plus one more with the Southern All Stars at Wartburg Speedway. Matching those numbers at the pinnacle of the sport will be no easy feat, which is why he’s enlisted the help of those who know national Late Model racing inside and out.

“I mean, I feel pretty prepared,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot that we don’t know. I’ve got Boom Briggs, he’s helping me a lot. Kind of letting me know what’s going to happen and how I need to move forward in the program. I feel like we’ll be OK, mainly because we’ve got a lot of help from him also.”

One circumstance that could play into Johnson’s favor is the fact that the first three weeks of the season will take place in his home state. Following two trips to Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), the tour will head south to Johnson’s home track, Hendry County Motorsports Park.

The Swamp Cabbage 100 (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21) will be the first national Late Model race in the track’s history, giving Johnson his lone opportunity in 2026 to have the upper hand in experience over the rest of the World of Outlaws field.

“I’m really excited for that one, mainly because I’ve got so many laps around that place,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be really exciting, I hope it’s a really good race. I think a lot of the guys will like the place. It’s going to be fun for sure, having all those guys down here.”

Once the calendar turns to spring, Johnson will begin venturing out to plenty of uncharted territory throughout his first season on tour. He knows he’s in for the tallest task of his career and nothing will be handed to him, but he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I’d like to get quite a few top 10s and some top fives,” Johnson said. “Obviously, if I was to get a win this year, that would be amazing. The biggest thing is to just be consistent.”

Johnson will begin his 2026 season at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/eli-johnson-plans-2026-rookie-of-the-year-run-with-world-of-outlaws/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

CONCORD, NC (January 5, 2025) – Only a month remains before the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is unleashed.

An 87-day off-season will conclude on Feb. 4-7 in Barberville, FL when Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals brings the campaign to life. The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 49th year of showcasing the best Sprint Car drivers in the world is set to begin with four consecutive nights of racing at the “Sunshine State” 1/2 mile, culminating in a $20,000-to-win finale and the crowning of a Big Gator champion.

Volusia has served as the season-opening site since 2005. The Florida oval annually welcomes a healthy field of entries as teams shake off the winter rust, and expect 2026 to be no different. More than 50 Sprint Cars rolled into the pit area for last year’s DIRTcar Nationals.

“The World’s Fastest Half Mile” is home to 67 previous World of Outlaws races, making Volusia the 11th most visited track in Series history. Assuming weather cooperates, it’ll crack the top 10 next month. Nobody comes close to Donny Schatz’s mark of 15 wins as he’s topped 22-percent of those 67 Features. David Gravel and Brad Sweet are tied behind Schatz with seven victories apiece.

Kyle Larson is the reigning Big Gator champion. “Yung Money” took the Silva Motorsports No. 57 to Victory Lane on each of the last two nights in 2025 en route to the title. Carson Macedo and Christopher Bell also won Features last year. David Gravel and Daryn Pittman are tied for the most Big Gators since the award was introduced in 2012. Both own three.

David Gravel’s quest for a three-peat will begin at Volusia. He and Big Game Motorsports have claimed the last two World of Outlaws titles. Only Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Brad Sweet have won three championships in a row through the Series’ first 48 seasons. While Gravel may enter as the favorite, he’ll have a hungry group ready to dethrone him.

One of the most prominent storylines to follow in Florida will be familiar faces in new places. The most noteworthy is Donny Schatz making his first appearance in the CJB Motorsports No. 15 as he opens his 30th consecutive tour. Spencer Bayston returns to the World of Outlaws teamed with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing. Sheldon Haudenschild’s departure opened the SJMR seat for Bayston. Haudenschild hasn’t announced his 2026 plans, but he’s expected to begin a new chapter this year at Volusia.

The trip south will also signal the start of the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year battle. Three competitors are already signed on with possibly more to come. Ashton Torgerson (Shark Racing), Scotty Thiel (Greg Wheeler Motorsports), and Scott Bogucki (Three Stooges Racing) are the current contestants.

BUY DIRTCAR NATIONALS TICKETS HERE
WATCH EVERY LAP LIVE ON DIRTVision

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Feb. 4
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

Thursday, Feb. 5
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

Friday, Feb. 6
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

Saturday, Feb. 7
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

World of Outlaws Sprint Car DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator Champions
2025 — Kyle Larson
2024 — David Gravel
2023 — Logan Schuchart
2022 — David Gravel
2021 — Logan Schuchart
2020 — Brad Sweet
2019 — Daryn Pittman
2018 — Donny Schatz
2017 — David Gravel
2016 — Brad Sweet
2015 — Daryn Pittman
2014 — Paul McMahan
2013 — Daryn Pittman
2012 — Sammy Swindell

1 MONTH ALERT: Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals Ignite 2026 World of Outlaws Campaign

CONCORD, NC (January 5, 2025) – Only a month remains before the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is unleashed.

An 87-day off-season will conclude on Feb. 4-7 in Barberville, FL when Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals brings the campaign to life. The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 49th year of showcasing the best Sprint Car drivers in the world is set to begin with four consecutive nights of racing at the “Sunshine State” 1/2 mile, culminating in a $20,000-to-win finale and the crowning of a Big Gator champion.

Volusia has served as the season-opening site since 2005. The Florida oval annually welcomes a healthy field of entries as teams shake off the winter rust, and expect 2026 to be no different. More than 50 Sprint Cars rolled into the pit area for last year’s DIRTcar Nationals.

“The World’s Fastest Half Mile” is home to 67 previous World of Outlaws races, making Volusia the 11th most visited track in Series history. Assuming weather cooperates, it’ll crack the top 10 next month. Nobody comes close to Donny Schatz’s mark of 15 wins as he’s topped 22-percent of those 67 Features. David Gravel and Brad Sweet are tied behind Schatz with seven victories apiece.

Kyle Larson is the reigning Big Gator champion. “Yung Money” took the Silva Motorsports No. 57 to Victory Lane on each of the last two nights in 2025 en route to the title. Carson Macedo and Christopher Bell also won Features last year. David Gravel and Daryn Pittman are tied for the most Big Gators since the award was introduced in 2012. Both own three.

David Gravel’s quest for a three-peat will begin at Volusia. He and Big Game Motorsports have claimed the last two World of Outlaws titles. Only Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Brad Sweet have won three championships in a row through the Series’ first 48 seasons. While Gravel may enter as the favorite, he’ll have a hungry group ready to dethrone him.

One of the most prominent storylines to follow in Florida will be familiar faces in new places. The most noteworthy is Donny Schatz making his first appearance in the CJB Motorsports No. 15 as he opens his 30th consecutive tour. Spencer Bayston returns to the World of Outlaws teamed with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing. Sheldon Haudenschild’s departure opened the SJMR seat for Bayston. Haudenschild hasn’t announced his 2026 plans, but he’s expected to begin a new chapter this year at Volusia.

The trip south will also signal the start of the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year battle. Three competitors are already signed on with possibly more to come. Ashton Torgerson (Shark Racing), Scotty Thiel (Greg Wheeler Motorsports), and Scott Bogucki (Three Stooges Racing) are the current contestants.

BUY DIRTCAR NATIONALS TICKETS HERE
WATCH EVERY LAP LIVE ON DIRTVision

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Feb. 4
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

Thursday, Feb. 5
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

Friday, Feb. 6
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

Saturday, Feb. 7
3:00pm – Pit Gates open
4:00pm – Front Gates open
5:30pm – Hot Laps

World of Outlaws Sprint Car DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator Champions
2025 — Kyle Larson
2024 — David Gravel
2023 — Logan Schuchart
2022 — David Gravel
2021 — Logan Schuchart
2020 — Brad Sweet
2019 — Daryn Pittman
2018 — Donny Schatz
2017 — David Gravel
2016 — Brad Sweet
2015 — Daryn Pittman
2014 — Paul McMahan
2013 — Daryn Pittman
2012 — Sammy Swindell

World of Outlaws Sprint Car DIRTcar Nationals Feature Winners
February 8th, 2025 — Kyle Larson
February 7th, 2025 — Kyle Larson
February 6th, 2025 — Christopher Bell
February 5th, 2025 — Carson Macedo
February 10th, 2024 — Sheldon Haudenschild
February 9th, 2024 — Tyler Courtney
February 8th, 2024 — David Gravel
February 7th, 2024 — Brad Sweet
March 5th, 2023 — James McFadden*
February 10th, 2023 — David Gravel
February 9th, 2023 — David Gravel
February 12th, 2022 — David Gravel
February 11th, 2022 — Sheldon Haudenschild
February 10th, 2022 — Donny Schatz
February 6th, 2021 — Logan Schuchart
February 5th, 2021 — Brad Sweet
February 9th, 2020 — Logan Schuchart
February 8th, 2020 — Brad Sweet
February 7th, 2020 — Donny Schatz
February 9th, 2019 — Daryn Pittman
February 8th, 2019 — Daryn Pittman
February 11th, 2018 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2018 — Donny Schatz
February 9th, 2018 — Sheldon Haudenschild
February 19th, 2017 — Donny Schatz
February 19th, 2017 — Donny Schatz
February 17th, 2017 — Jason Johnson
February 14th, 2016 — Brad Sweet
February 13th, 2016 — Donny Schatz
February 12th, 2016 — Brad Sweet
February 15th, 2015 — Brad Sweet
February 14th, 2015 — Donny Schatz
February 13th, 2015 — Daryn Pittman
February 16th, 2014 — Steve Kinser
February 15th, 2014 — Donny Schatz
February 14th, 2014 — Brad Sweet
February 17th, 2013 — Danny Lasoski
February 16th, 2013 — Terry McCarl
February 15th, 2013 — Daryn Pittman
February 19th, 2012 — Donny Schatz
February 19th, 2012 — Craig Dollansky
February 18th, 2012 — Danny Lasoski
February 13th, 2011 — Jason Sides
February 12th, 2011 — Steve Kinser
February 11th, 2011 — Steve Kinser
February 7th, 2010 — Steve Kinser
February 6th, 2010 — Donny Schatz
February 8th, 2009 — Donny Schatz
February 7th, 2009 — Joey Saldana
February 6th, 2009 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2008 — Danny Lasoski
February 9th, 2008 — Jason Meyers
February 8th, 2008 — Craig Dollansky
February 11, 2007 — Daryn Pittman
February 10th, 2007 — Kerry Madsen
February 9th, 2007 — Donny Schatz
February 10th, 2006 — Joey Saldana
February 9th, 2006 — Chad Kemenah
February 13th, 2005 — Steve Kinser
February 11th, 2005 — Jeff Shepard 

CONCORD, NC (January 2, 2026) – Donny Schatz stepped on stage feeling bad for Johnny Gibson.

The suited men sat in front of hundreds at the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet. Thousands more watched at home on DIRTVision. So many eyes fixed on them. Gibson’s job? To find the good in every competitor’s campaign as an avenue of introduction.

“How could he possibly spin this positively,” Schatz wondered. The 48-year-old had been in this position several times before when Gibson needed no creative optimism. Schatz’s résumé boasts so many successful seasons with The Greatest Show on Dirt that have occurred right alongside Gibson’s tenure.

Schatz knew 2025 was not among them. He went winless for the first time since his rookie year in 1997. Headlines showed his name, but not in the fashion he’s accustomed to. The Sprint Car world was rocked when Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing parted ways in August, ending a run that began in 2008. The Fargo, ND native then split time driving four different cars to finish the season. No way Gibson could find a sliver of sunlight in an entirely overcast sky, right?

But the longtime Series announcer proved Schatz wrong. All it took was a little math.

“Like five minutes before I went up to go on stage, I actually said to myself, ‘I’m not sure what Johnny Gibson, and he’s the best at his job, could possibly talk about with me in front of the crowd here that has a silver lining,’ and I said that to him when I got up there,” Schatz said. “And he said, ‘It’s 30 years next year.’ And I said, ‘No, Johnny, it’s not 30 years. It’s 29.’ And he said, ‘No, it’s 30.’ I guess you just lose track of anything past the first couple. It’s crazy to think about.”

Since that realization washed over Schatz, more reasons to be hopeful have entered his life. Along with reaching a major milestone by contesting his 30th season in 2026, he’ll open a new chapter.

The 10-time Series champion recently inked a deal with Chad Clemens’ CJB Motorsports for the upcoming season. The move pairs Schatz with one of the sport’s most legendary mechanics, Barry Jackson. After enduring one of the most trying years of his career, the move rejuvenated the 48-year-old as he prepares for his World of Outlaws career to span three full decades.

“I wasn’t to my full potential to finish out the season probably mentally,” Schatz admitted. “When things happen, it’s like a snowball effect. When bad things happen, they just keep going. I had a lot of people stick their neck out for me, and I felt like I did the best I could to get to the end and we got there. But the off-season has been a big reset. It’s been a mental reset. It’s been a physical reset. For me to start over and recharge the batteries and refresh the attitude and all the things it takes. I’m super pumped. I’m ready to get back racing.”

It’s also a dream come true for Clemens as the team owner. He’s had plenty of the sport’s best drive for him in the past. Sammy Swindell, David Gravel, and Paul McMahan are just a few who’ve piloted CJB machines. Now, he gets to add one of Sprint Car racing’s most accomplished wheelmen ever to the list.

“This is a dream of a lifetime,” Clemens said of having Schatz drive for him. “Not only is he a hell of a driver and has a lot left in him yet, but he’s also a good friend too. It’s not like I just know him as a race car driver. I know him as a friend. It’s more than just a race car driver. He’s just a really down-to-earth, good person. His family is awesome. I always talked to his father at the races. I’ve always talked to his mom. I’ve talked to his sister. It’s going to be a dream come true.”

Hiring Schatz meant expanding to a two-car team as CJB continues to field the No. 5 for Brenham Crouch. Assembling a crew and the many resources for a second top-tier Sprint Car operation is no small task. But when the opportunity with Schatz arose, Clemens and Jackson didn’t wonder if it was possible. It was merely a question of how they could make it work.

“When this whole thing came to possibly happening, my first comment to Barry was, ‘I know we can’t let this not happen. We have to make this happen somehow,’” Clemens said. “I asked him, ‘Are we able with our current situation and equipment, and are you willing to go back to the Outlaws?’ And the answers were, ‘Yes and yes.’”

Teaming up is far from the first connection between Schatz and Jackson. Their relationship dates back several years as Jackson’s path crossed with Schatz’s longtime crew chief, Ricky Warner.  

“Barry is a Carlisle, Pennsylvania native, and he grew up with Rick Warner,” Schatz said. “Obviously, me and Rick have a good history together. Rick was someone that always confided in Barry for a lot of things. There was a time when Barry was building his own race cars, and I think we tried one a time or two at Oskaloosa and I think on the west coast. So, Barry is someone that’s been close back when I raced with Rick Warner. Ultimately, we respected each other. Barry is a very passionate, fiery person. You know what’s on his mind. I’m kind of the same way. I respect that.”

Roughly a month remains before the 2026 campaign begins. Luckily for the CJB crew, it ignites at a track that’s been kind to Schatz over the years. Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park is the destination in early February, and Schatz has won 24 times in 99 Sprint Car races at the 1/2 mile. With Schatz’s laps and Jackson’s extensive notebook, Schatz is optimistic they can come out of the gate swinging.

“It’s not going to take us six months to get going or get a win,” Schatz said. “I feel like we can get going right away because of Barry’s experience and my experience and obviously a fresh start. Those guys have been open to anything. They’ve asked me a lot, what it is I want to do here and there.”

Clemens shares his driver’s confidence.

“I think they’re going to start meshing right off the bat,” Clemens said. “Barry has a mindset that he wants to win and he’s driven and he’s dedicated, and Donny has the same mindset. When you have two guys that have the same mindset, I’m not going to put a projection on what I think we’re going to do, but I think it’s going to be a very positive year. I think it’s going to be a good year, and I have trust in both of them.”

Schatz’s plans are set. The season is nearing. Season number 30. A milestone that means so much to the kid from North Dakota that committed his life to Sprint Car racing. A number that’s put things in perspective and brightened his outlook as he readies for what’s ahead. He knows there’s plenty left in the tank. Schatz intends to contend in 2026.

“When it all comes together and we get to the first race, I think that’s when everybody is going to swallow hard and say, ‘Man, it took a lot to get to this point, but this is very rewarding and let’s go out and get some gators in Florida and get ourselves in a good position to race for a championship,” Schatz said.

Schatz and the CJB Motorsports No. 15 team will begin the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 4-7. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

SEASON 30: Schatz Feeling Revitalized, Grateful for Opportunity with CJB Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (January 2, 2026) – Donny Schatz stepped on stage feeling bad for Johnny Gibson.

The suited men sat in front of hundreds at the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet. Thousands more watched at home on DIRTVision. So many eyes fixed on them. Gibson’s job? To find the good in every competitor’s campaign as an avenue of introduction.

“How could he possibly spin this positively,” Schatz wondered. The 48-year-old had been in this position several times before when Gibson needed no creative optimism. Schatz’s résumé boasts so many successful seasons with The Greatest Show on Dirt that have occurred right alongside Gibson’s tenure.

Schatz knew 2025 was not among them. He went winless for the first time since his rookie year in 1997. Headlines showed his name, but not in the fashion he’s accustomed to. The Sprint Car world was rocked when Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing parted ways in August, ending a run that began in 2008. The Fargo, ND native then split time driving four different cars to finish the season. No way Gibson could find a sliver of sunlight in an entirely overcast sky, right?

But the longtime Series announcer proved Schatz wrong. All it took was a little math.

“Like five minutes before I went up to go on stage, I actually said to myself, ‘I’m not sure what Johnny Gibson, and he’s the best at his job, could possibly talk about with me in front of the crowd here that has a silver lining,’ and I said that to him when I got up there,” Schatz said. “And he said, ‘It’s 30 years next year.’ And I said, ‘No, Johnny, it’s not 30 years. It’s 29.’ And he said, ‘No, it’s 30.’ I guess you just lose track of anything past the first couple. It’s crazy to think about.”

Since that realization washed over Schatz, more reasons to be hopeful have entered his life. Along with reaching a major milestone by contesting his 30th season in 2026, he’ll open a new chapter.

The 10-time Series champion recently inked a deal with Chad Clemens’ CJB Motorsports for the upcoming season. The move pairs Schatz with one of the sport’s most legendary mechanics, Barry Jackson. After enduring one of the most trying years of his career, the move rejuvenated the 48-year-old as he prepares for his World of Outlaws career to span three full decades.

“I wasn’t to my full potential to finish out the season probably mentally,” Schatz admitted. “When things happen, it’s like a snowball effect. When bad things happen, they just keep going. I had a lot of people stick their neck out for me, and I felt like I did the best I could to get to the end and we got there. But the off-season has been a big reset. It’s been a mental reset. It’s been a physical reset. For me to start over and recharge the batteries and refresh the attitude and all the things it takes. I’m super pumped. I’m ready to get back racing.”

It’s also a dream come true for Clemens as the team owner. He’s had plenty of the sport’s best drive for him in the past. Sammy Swindell, David Gravel, and Paul McMahan are just a few who’ve piloted CJB machines. Now, he gets to add one of Sprint Car racing’s most accomplished wheelmen ever to the list.

“This is a dream of a lifetime,” Clemens said of having Schatz drive for him. “Not only is he a hell of a driver and has a lot left in him yet, but he’s also a good friend too. It’s not like I just know him as a race car driver. I know him as a friend. It’s more than just a race car driver. He’s just a really down-to-earth, good person. His family is awesome. I always talked to his father at the races. I’ve always talked to his mom. I’ve talked to his sister. It’s going to be a dream come true.”

Hiring Schatz meant expanding to a two-car team as CJB continues to field the No. 5 for Brenham Crouch. Assembling a crew and the many resources for a second top-tier Sprint Car operation is no small task. But when the opportunity with Schatz arose, Clemens and Jackson didn’t wonder if it was possible. It was merely a question of how they could make it work.

“When this whole thing came to possibly happening, my first comment to Barry was, ‘I know we can’t let this not happen. We have to make this happen somehow,’” Clemens said. “I asked him, ‘Are we able with our current situation and equipment, and are you willing to go back to the Outlaws?’ And the answers were, ‘Yes and yes.’”

Teaming up is far from the first connection between Schatz and Jackson. Their relationship dates back several years as Jackson’s path crossed with Schatz’s longtime crew chief, Ricky Warner.  

“Barry is a Carlisle, Pennsylvania native, and he grew up with Rick Warner,” Schatz said. “Obviously, me and Rick have a good history together. Rick was someone that always confided in Barry for a lot of things. There was a time when Barry was building his own race cars, and I think we tried one a time or two at Oskaloosa and I think on the west coast. So, Barry is someone that’s been close back when I raced with Rick Warner. Ultimately, we respected each other. Barry is a very passionate, fiery person. You know what’s on his mind. I’m kind of the same way. I respect that.”

Roughly a month remains before the 2026 campaign begins. Luckily for the CJB crew, it ignites at a track that’s been kind to Schatz over the years. Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park is the destination in early February, and Schatz has won 24 times in 99 Sprint Car races at the 1/2 mile. With Schatz’s laps and Jackson’s extensive notebook, Schatz is optimistic they can come out of the gate swinging.

“It’s not going to take us six months to get going or get a win,” Schatz said. “I feel like we can get going right away because of Barry’s experience and my experience and obviously a fresh start. Those guys have been open to anything. They’ve asked me a lot, what it is I want to do here and there.”

Clemens shares his driver’s confidence.

“I think they’re going to start meshing right off the bat,” Clemens said. “Barry has a mindset that he wants to win and he’s driven and he’s dedicated, and Donny has the same mindset. When you have two guys that have the same mindset, I’m not going to put a projection on what I think we’re going to do, but I think it’s going to be a very positive year. I think it’s going to be a good year, and I have trust in both of them.”

Schatz’s plans are set. The season is nearing. Season number 30. A milestone that means so much to the kid from North Dakota that committed his life to Sprint Car racing. A number that’s put things in perspective and brightened his outlook as he readies for what’s ahead. He knows there’s plenty left in the tank. Schatz intends to contend in 2026.

“When it all comes together and we get to the first race, I think that’s when everybody is going to swallow hard and say, ‘Man, it took a lot to get to this point, but this is very rewarding and let’s go out and get some gators in Florida and get ourselves in a good position to race for a championship,” Schatz said.

Schatz and the CJB Motorsports No. 15 team will begin the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 4-7. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.