ARP to Support Annual California Hot Rod Reunion

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

ARP, the fastener manufacturing firm, is sponsoring cash awards for racers and specialty awards during the California Hot Rod Reunion.

By Greg Jones Greg Jones is Content Director and Editor of Engine Builder Magazine. Published: Oct 19, 2026

The upcoming California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports, will benefit from special bonus cash awards from ARP worth $12,500. These include $1,000 for the winners of Top Fuel and Funny Car, $500 for AA/FA and additional $250 awards for Heritage Series Groups 1 & 2, Pro Mod, and other classes. Related Articles

The fastener manufacturing firm is also sponsoring specialty awards for fan favorite longest D/G wheelstand and back-up girl competition, which will be voted on by race fans via cell phone.

First held in 1992, the October 23-25 event at the historic Famoso Dragstrip now includes NHRA Heritage Series racing, the always-popular Cacklefest of vintage fuel cars and the Nitro Revival social gathering of racers, including many drag racing legends.

ARP to Support Annual California Hot Rod Reunion

ARP, the fastener manufacturing firm, is sponsoring cash awards for racers and specialty awards during the California Hot Rod Reunion.

By Greg Jones Greg Jones is Content Director and Editor of Engine Builder Magazine. Published: Oct 19, 2026

The fastener manufacturing firm is also sponsoring specialty awards for fan favorite longest D/G wheelstand and back-up girl competition, which will be voted on by race fans via cell phone.

Special “Bonus Participant” stickers have been created to qualify CHRR contestants for the cash awards and will be made available at the track.

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American Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet Wraps Final Bow on 35th Season

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

TULSA, OK (October 19, 2026) — As the dust settled on the American Sprint Car Series’ 35th season, a championship trophy and special awards awaited ASCS teams at Sunday night’s Awards Banquet in Tulsa.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino hosted the annual ceremony, bringing together champions and guests of honor from the National and regional levels to hand out checks and close out the 2026 season.

National Champion: Sam Hafertepe Jr.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. added to his place in Sprint Car history in 2026 with a record-setting seventh ASCS National Tour championship.

The Sunnyvale, TX veteran began the year with five podiums and the Sonoran Clash event title before starting his winning streak in June.

Hafertepe did not have an easy path to the crown, though. He battled Matt Covington and Seth Bergman throughout the year for the top spot in the overall standings. Entering the Fuzzy’s Fall Fling season finale, he held a slim 21-point lead over Covington that he needed to manage over the 40-lap Feature.

The Hill’s Racing Team No. 15H marched from an eighth-place start to take the lead on the final lap for his seventh win of the season and set the new all-time title record. Hafertepe and car owner Miles Hill left the evening with two Emmett Hahn trophies between driver and owner points.

“I owe it all to Miles and this team,” Hafertepe said. “For the last nine years, you’ve given us everything we need. This team never wavered this entire year, and as a driver, it’s the best kind of ownership you can have. It’s been a long road for us. I look back to Creek County, and I just didn’t want to win that championship by riding around there. Seven is such a special number, and it’s been a good ride.”

BRODIX Rookie of the Year: Cole Schroeder

What started as a dream became reality for Cole Schroeder in 2026.

The Bozeman, MT native took on the challenge of a national tour for the first time with the 360 Sprint Cars, with the majority of tracks being a first-time visit. Schroeder earned three top fives, 11 top-10s, and a career-high second-place finish in the Harvey Ostermiller Memorial at Big Sky Speedway.

Taking a seventh-place result in the standings and clinching the Rookie of the Year award, Schroeder received a fresh set of BRODIX cylinder heads that match ASCS specifications.

Lee Maier Crew Chief of the Year: Bobby Craft

Bobby Craft carries a personal honor with the Lee Maier Crew Chief of the Year award.

Having been involved in Sprint Car racing for over 50 years, he shares a close friendship with inaugural ASCS champion Garry Lee Maier and his late father, Lee.

Working between full-time drivers Austyn Gossel and Ryder Laplante in 2026, Craft has his eyes set on fostering the next generation of Sprint Car drivers with his knowledge and mechanical skills while using the lessons learned from the valuable bond shared with the Maier family.

“There’s only a few people in this room that knew Lee,” Craft said. “He was so smart. When I worked for Karl (Kinser), we were leading, and we would clean a shock. We’d bring a five-gallon bucket of shocks to the track because we didn’t have a clip. Lee was the man that designed the clip. He was the man behind all that. We owe so much to him. This is a great privilege. Anything I’ve ever won, championships and all, this probably tops it off. Thank you all.”

Sportsmanship Award: Terry Easum & Kacee Frazier

While the teams of ASCS appear at the track to beat the competition, respect and camaraderie between drivers and crew members rise beyond the season’s statistics.

Broken Arrow, OK’s Terry Easum and fiancé Kacee Frazier exemplified sportsmanship beyond the track, lending a helping hand to anybody who needed it and always bringing a positive attitude at every race they contested. Their kindness and friendship earned them the 2026 Sportsmanship Award.

Jason Johnson Hard Charger Award: Seth Bergman

Seth Bergman knew how to bust a move from the drop of the green flag.

Passing 77 cars in Feature competition throughout the course of the season, the 2024 Series champion earned the Jason Johnson Hard Charger Award. The accolade is a special honor for Bergman as he formed a close relationship with the “Ragin’ Cajun” throughout his tenure in ASCS and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

“Well, I knew we weren’t good at qualifying this year,” Bergman said jokingly. “It’s hard to not get emotional when you talk about a man like Jason. He and I were friends and helped me so much along the way. He was a great driver and human being, and I am honored to receive this award in Jason’s name.”

Gary Wright Determination Award: Kyler Johnson

Since joining the American Sprint Car Series as a rookie in 2022, Kyler Johnson has shown progression with his brother, Kahne, by his side as crew chief.

The 2026 season saw the heights for Johnson in both his personal and professional life as he earned his first career National Tour Feature at Viking Speedway, qualified for his first Saturday Feature start at Xtream powered by Mediacom 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank, and welcomed his first daughter, Vivian.

His never-quit attitude and willingness to learn and grow at every race helped the 23-year-old receive the Gary Wright Determination Award – named in honor of the all-time wins leader and four-time Series champion.

Regional Crowns – While Hafertepe received the accolades as a seven-time National Tour champion, seven kings of the ASCS regions were highlighted for their 2026 achievements.

Jack Thomas (Midwest Region)
Bryant Wiedeman (Gunsmoke Region)
Cody Gardner (Hurricane Area Super Sprints)
Bradley Fezard (Sooner Region)
Bryan Gossel (Western Plains Region)
Kelly Miller (Northern Plains Region)

Each of the nine drivers who completed the full run of events in the 2026 season received their points fund checks:

Sam Hafertepe Jr. ($40,000)
Matt Covington ($25,000)
Seth Bergman ($20,000)
Kyler Johnson ($15,000)
Ryder LaPlante ($12,000)
Austyn Gossel ($10,000)
Cole Schroeder ($9,000)
Brogan Carder ($8,000)
Terry Easum ($7,000)

The American Sprint Car Series returns in 2027 at Volusia Speedway Park for the 57th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 4-6.

Where can you find info about Volusia? Click Here

Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.

American Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet Wraps Final Bow on 35th Season TULSA, OK (October 19, 2026) — As the dust settled on the American Sprint Car Series’ 35th season, a championship trophy and special awards awaited ASCS teams at Sunday night’s Awards Banquet in Tulsa.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino hosted the annual ceremony, bringing together champions and guests of honor from the National and regional levels to hand out checks and close out the 2026 season.

National Champion: Sam Hafertepe Jr.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. added to his place in Sprint Car history in 2026 with a record-setting seventh ASCS National Tour championship.

The Sunnyvale, TX veteran began the year with five podiums and the Sonoran Clash event title before starting his winning streak in June.

BRODIX Rookie of the Year: Cole Schroeder

What started as a dream became reality for Cole Schroeder in 2026.

Taking a seventh-place result in the standings and clinching the Rookie of the Year award, Schroeder received a fresh set of BRODIX cylinder heads that match ASCS specifications.

Lee Maier Crew Chief of the Year: Bobby Craft

Bobby Craft carries a personal honor with the Lee Maier Crew Chief of the Year award.

Having been involved in Sprint Car racing for over 50 years, he shares a close friendship with inaugural ASCS champion Garry Lee Maier and his late father, Lee.

Sportsmanship Award: Terry Easum & Kacee Frazier

While the teams of ASCS appear at the track to beat the competition, respect and camaraderie between drivers and crew members rise beyond the season’s statistics.

Jason Johnson Hard Charger Award: Seth Bergman

Seth Bergman knew how to bust a move from the drop of the green flag.

Gary Wright Determination Award: Kyler Johnson

Since joining the American Sprint Car Series as a rookie in 2022, Kyler Johnson has shown progression with his brother, Kahne, by his side as crew chief.

Regional Crowns – While Hafertepe received the accolades as a seven-time National Tour champion, seven kings of the ASCS regions were highlighted for their 2026 achievements.

Jack Thomas (Midwest Region)
Bryant Wiedeman (Gunsmoke Region)
Cody Gardner (Hurricane Area Super Sprints)
Bradley Fezard (Sooner Region)
Bryan Gossel (Western Plains Region)
Kelly Miller (Northern Plains Region)

Each of the nine drivers who completed the full run of events in the 2026 season received their points fund checks:

Sam Hafertepe Jr. ($40,000)
Matt Covington ($25,000)
Seth Bergman ($20,000)
Kyler Johnson ($15,000)
Ryder LaPlante ($12,000)
Austyn Gossel ($10,000)
Cole Schroeder ($9,000)
Brogan Carder ($8,000)
Terry Easum ($7,000)

The American Sprint Car Series returns in 2027 at Volusia Speedway Park for the 57th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 4-6.

Where can you find info about Volusia? Click Here

Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://ascsracing.com/news/american-sprint-car-series-awards-banquet-wraps-final-bow-on-35th-season/

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Thornton Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Sheppard Clinches Lucas Oil Title

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

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Thornton Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Sheppard Clinches Lucas Oil Title

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Ricky Thornton Jr. won his second ARP Dirt Track World Championship on Sunday night at West Virginia Motor Speedway, earning $100,000 for Koehler Motorsports. His victory in the 46th annual event, which returned to West Virginia for the first time in 16 years, was his first in the crown jewel race since 2021. Brandon Sheppard’s runner-up finish secured his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national championship by 55 points over Devin Moran, who finished third. The championship was worth $250,000 to the West Virginia-based Rocket 1 team. West Virginia native Zack Dohm was the highest-finishing driver from the Mountaineer State, advancing from 14th to fourth. Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five. Thornton started from the pole, but Hudson O’Neal jumped to the early lead in the 100-lap race. O’Neal and Thornton ran first and second for the opening 32 laps before Thornton took the lead for the first time. Thornton led for just two laps before O’Neal regained the top spot. The pair continued to run one-two until O’Neal ran over a mud clod, damaging the right front of his car and causing him to push up the track. O’Neal pitted, dropping him to the tail of the lead lap. Thornton regained the lead and remained in front when a caution with 10 laps to go set up a single-file restart with Moran and Sheppard directly behind him.

Thornton Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Sheppard Clinches Lucas Oil Title
Ricky Thornton Jr. won his second ARP Dirt Track World Championship on Sunday night at West Virginia Motor Speedway, earning $100,000 for Koehler Motorsports. His victory in the 46th annual event, which returned to West Virginia for the first time in 16 years, was his first in the crown jewel race since 2021. Brandon Sheppard’s runner-up finish secured his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national championship by 55 points over Devin Moran, who finished third. The championship was worth $250,000 to the West Virginia-based Rocket 1 team. West Virginia native Zack Dohm was the highest-finishing driver from the Mountaineer State, advancing from 14th to fourth. Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five. Thornton started from the pole, but Hudson O’Neal jumped to the early lead in the 100-lap race. O’Neal and Thornton ran first and second for the opening 32 laps before Thornton took the lead for the first time. Thornton led for just two laps before O’Neal regained the top spot. The pair continued to run one-two until O’Neal ran over a mud clod, damaging the right front of his car and causing him to push up the track. O’Neal pitted, dropping him to the tail of the lead lap. Thornton regained the lead and remained in front when a caution with 10 laps to go set up a single-file restart with Moran and Sheppard directly behind him.

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Wood Brothers Racing–Phoenix Post race

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Event: Freeway Insurance 500

Location: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026

Start: 9th

Finish: 11th

For much of Sunday’s Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team appeared poised to contend for a top-five finish, showcasing competitive speed throughout the opening two stages of the 312-lap event.

However, handling challenges in the final stage, coupled with a series of aggressive late-race moves in the field, ultimately left Berry with an 11th-place finish in the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Berry started Sunday’s race from the ninth position and wasted little time moving forward, breaking into the top five within the opening nine laps. He maintained a presence among the top 10 throughout the 80-lap opening stage before finishing 10th to collect one stage point.

The second stage saw Berry and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team continue to demonstrate their strength, as he quickly worked his way back into the top five and remained there for the duration of the segment. Berry crossed the line fourth at the conclusion of Stage 2, adding seven valuable stage points to his afternoon.

As the race progressed into its final stage, the handling of the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse became more challenging, making it difficult for Berry to maintain the pace he had demonstrated earlier in the afternoon. Despite the changing conditions, he continued to battle inside the top 10 as the race winded down.

A pair of restarts in the final segment brought intensified competition throughout the field, with Berry getting shuffled back in the running order amid the aggressive racing. After slipping as low as 16th with 13 laps remaining, Berry rallied in the closing laps to regain five positions and secure an 11th-place finish.

Event: Freeway Insurance 500

Location: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026

Start: 9th

Finish: 11th

Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team now shift their focus to next Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season enters its final three races.

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HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILE LOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILE
LOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — Spencer Hyde and the Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car team continued to demonstrate their consistency at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, recording a 3.9-second elapsed time on every pass throughout the weekend at Texas Motorplex. Although a first-round loss to J.R. Todd ended Hyde’s race day, the reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year leaves Texas encouraged by the performance as the Countdown to the Championship enters its final two races.

Hyde, the only full-time Canadian driver in the NHRA nitro ranks, opened qualifying with a competitive performance in the crowded Funny Car field. His best qualifying effort came Friday night during the Battle for the Saddle, when he powered the Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car to a 3.922 second pass at 323.93 mph. The run secured him the No. 12 qualifying position in a tightly contested field where every thousandth of a second mattered.

Spencer Hyde lit up the Texas sky on Friday at the Texas Fall Nationals,
photo cfredit Innovation Creative Experts

Hyde’s consistency continued into Sunday’s opening round of eliminations, where he faced Todd. Both drivers delivered competitive performances, but Hyde’s quicker elapsed time was not enough to overcome Todd’s advantage at the starting line. Hyde recorded a 3.940 second pass at 329.60 mph, his best run of the weekend in terms of speed and elapsed time, but Todd reached the finish line first for the win.

“Obviously, losing in the first round is tough,” said Hyde. “We ran a 3.940 at 329.60 mph, and it was a great run, but J.R. did what he needed to do on the starting line. That’s part of this sport. You can have the quicker car and still come up short. We’ll take the positives from this weekend, keep working on the little things and focus on finishing these last two races strong.”

While the result was not what Hyde and crew chief Jim Head had hoped for, the weekend offered a positive indication of the team’s ability to deliver consistent performance under pressure. Every one of Hyde’s runs fell within the 3.9-second range, a notable achievement in a competitive Funny Car category where track conditions and changing weather can make repeatable performance difficult.

“I feel really good about the consistency we showed this weekend,” said Hyde. “Every run we made was in the 3.9s, and that’s something we can take a lot of confidence from. To go out there and make that kind of run after run tells us the car is in a good place, and Jim and the guys are doing a great job giving me something I can race with every time we pull up to the starting line.”

The Texas NHRA Fall Nationals marked the fourth race of the six-event Countdown to the Championship and was part of the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day celebration of motorsports, entertainment and fan experiences at Texas Motorplex. The event brought together top NHRA competitors and fans for a week of activities leading into the on-track action.

Hyde embraced the opportunity to connect with fans throughout the event, participating in the Pre-Stage FanFest presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil on Thursday in Waxahachie, where he signed autographs, before taking part in a Q&A session with fans in the Champion’s Club on Saturday.

“The Stampede of Speed is such a cool event, and I think it’s one of the best examples of what makes NHRA drag racing special,” Hyde said. “It’s not just about what happens on the track. There’s so much going on all week, and the fans get a chance to be part of the experience in a meaningful way. Getting out to FanFest and then spending time with everyone in the Champion’s Club was a lot of fun.”

The 2026 season is a landmark year for NHRA, which is celebrating its 75^th anniversary. Hyde and the Head Contractors & Engineers team have continued to build on his Rookie of the Year campaign, working to establish themselves among the competitive Funny Car field while pursuing a strong finish to the season.

Hyde leaves Texas ranked 10^th in the championship standings, with two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship. With the field separated by narrow margins, every qualifying position, bonus point and round win will be critical as the championship battle approaches its conclusion.

Supported by Hyde Construction, OUTLAW Light Beer and The Caine Group, Hyde and the team will look to carry the consistency they demonstrated in Texas into the final two events of the Countdown.

“We know what’s in front of us, and we’re not giving up on anything,” said Hyde. “We have two races left, and our focus is on making the most of every opportunity. The consistency we showed here is encouraging because we know we can put good numbers on the board. Now we need to keep building on that, qualify well and turn those performances into round wins.”

Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car will be back in NHRA competition in two weeks at the MOPAR NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge on October 29-November 1 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, October 30 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, October 31. The fifth race day of the 2026 Countdown to the Championship will be contested on Sunday. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals visit nhra.com.

Qualifying Results – Funny Car
Q1: 3.956, 320.90 mph; Qual. 5
Q2: 3.922, 323.93 mph; Qual. 10
Q3: 3.954, 325.47 mph; Qual. 11
Q4: 3.935, 328.18 mph; Qual. 12
Bonus Points: 0

Race Results
First Round
J.R. Todd, Jupiter, Fla., DHL Toyota GR Supra, (0.057), 3.940 sec, 329.60 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (0.089), 3.917 sec, 324.00 mph

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car

HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILE
LOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — Spencer Hyde and the Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car team continued to demonstrate their consistency at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, recording a 3.9-second elapsed time on every pass throughout the weekend at Texas Motorplex. Although a first-round loss to J.R. Todd ended Hyde’s race day, the reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year leaves Texas encouraged by the performance as the Countdown to the Championship enters its final two races.

Hyde, the only full-time Canadian driver in the NHRA nitro ranks, opened qualifying with a competitive performance in the crowded Funny Car field. His best qualifying effort came Friday night during the Battle for the Saddle, when he powered the Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car to a 3.922 second pass at 323.93 mph. The run secured him the No. 12 qualifying position in a tightly contested field where every thousandth of a second mattered.

Spencer Hyde lit up the Texas sky on Friday at the Texas Fall Nationals,
photo cfredit Innovation Creative Experts

Hyde’s consistency continued into Sunday’s opening round of eliminations, where he faced Todd. Both drivers delivered competitive performances, but Hyde’s quicker elapsed time was not enough to overcome Todd’s advantage at the starting line. Hyde recorded a 3.940 second pass at 329.60 mph, his best run of the weekend in terms of speed and elapsed time, but Todd reached the finish line first for the win.

“Obviously, losing in the first round is tough,” said Hyde. “We ran a 3.940 at 329.60 mph, and it was a great run, but J.R. did what he needed to do on the starting line. That’s part of this sport. You can have the quicker car and still come up short. We’ll take the positives from this weekend, keep working on the little things and focus on finishing these last two races strong.”

While the result was not what Hyde and crew chief Jim Head had hoped for, the weekend offered a positive indication of the team’s ability to deliver consistent performance under pressure. Every one of Hyde’s runs fell within the 3.9-second range, a notable achievement in a competitive Funny Car category where track conditions and changing weather can make repeatable performance difficult.

“I feel really good about the consistency we showed this weekend,” said Hyde. “Every run we made was in the 3.9s, and that’s something we can take a lot of confidence from. To go out there and make that kind of run after run tells us the car is in a good place, and Jim and the guys are doing a great job giving me something I can race with every time we pull up to the starting line.”

The Texas NHRA Fall Nationals marked the fourth race of the six-event Countdown to the Championship and was part of the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day celebration of motorsports, entertainment and fan experiences at Texas Motorplex. The event brought together top NHRA competitors and fans for a week of activities leading into the on-track action.

Hyde embraced the opportunity to connect with fans throughout the event, participating in the Pre-Stage FanFest presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil on Thursday in Waxahachie, where he signed autographs, before taking part in a Q&A session with fans in the Champion’s Club on Saturday.

“The Stampede of Speed is such a cool event, and I think it’s one of the best examples of what makes NHRA drag racing special,” Hyde said. “It’s not just about what happens on the track. There’s so much going on all week, and the fans get a chance to be part of the experience in a meaningful way. Getting out to FanFest and then spending time with everyone in the Champion’s Club was a lot of fun.”

The 2026 season is a landmark year for NHRA, which is celebrating its 75^th anniversary. Hyde and the Head Contractors & Engineers team have continued to build on his Rookie of the Year campaign, working to establish themselves among the competitive Funny Car field while pursuing a strong finish to the season.

Hyde leaves Texas ranked 10^th in the championship standings, with two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship. With the field separated by narrow margins, every qualifying position, bonus point and round win will be critical as the championship battle approaches its conclusion.

Supported by Hyde Construction, OUTLAW Light Beer and The Caine Group, Hyde and the team will look to carry the consistency they demonstrated in Texas into the final two events of the Countdown.

“We know what’s in front of us, and we’re not giving up on anything,” said Hyde. “We have two races left, and our focus is on making the most of every opportunity. The consistency we showed here is encouraging because we know we can put good numbers on the board. Now we need to keep building on that, qualify well and turn those performances into round wins.”

Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car will be back in NHRA competition in two weeks at the MOPAR NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge on October 29-November 1 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, October 30 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, October 31. The fifth race day of the 2026 Countdown to the Championship will be contested on Sunday. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals visit nhra.com.

Qualifying Results – Funny Car
Q1: 3.956, 320.90 mph; Qual. 5
Q2: 3.922, 323.93 mph; Qual. 10
Q3: 3.954, 325.47 mph; Qual. 11
Q4: 3.935, 328.18 mph; Qual. 12
Bonus Points: 0

Race Results
First Round
J.R. Todd, Jupiter, Fla., DHL Toyota GR Supra, (0.057), 3.940 sec, 329.60 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (0.089), 3.917 sec, 324.00 mph

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car

Matt Hagan, 2503
Jordan Vandergriff, 2405
J.R. Todd, 2384
Austin Prock, 2348
Jack Beckman, 2343
Ron Capps, 2315
Alexis DeJoria, 2276
Daniel Wilkerson, 2207
Chad Green, 2155
Spencer Hyde, 2149

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PAWUK CLOSES FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SERIES SEASON WITH VICTORY IN DALLAS

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) – Reigning two-time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world champion Mark Pawuk closed out the 2026 season with a victory at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals today outrunning Lee Hartman in the final round. In a close race, Pawuk’s winning time of 7.522 seconds at 185.07 mph got to the finish line first over Hartman’s 7.542 second, 183.32 mph run.

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charge team celebrate their Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series victory in the Texas Fall Nationals winner’s circle, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

“This is unbelievable,” said Pawuk from the Texas Fall Nationals winner’s circle stage. “We really struggled this year with this new Charger. Dodge has been good to us. We worked our butts off with Ray Barton Racing Engines, Mike Valerio, Frank Madonia, my son Kyle, and my wife. This would have been my dad’s 101st birthday. He was looking over us all day. How cool is that?”

Pawuk had to work his way through a tough quartet of drivers to secure his sixth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series National event. As the No. 9 qualifier, Pawuk beat Rouven Dawson and then took out David Davies II in the quarterfinals. Racing into the semis against No. 1 qualifier Doug Duell both drivers took off at the same time and Pawuk took the win with a solid 7.546 seconds at 184.58 mph pass to reach the final.

In a match-up against the Great Lakes Nationals winner Hartman, Pawuk had a nearly perfect reaction time with a .017 second jump off the line and never trailed in the race. At the finish line, Pawuk’s Empaco Dodge Charger crossed in 7.522 seconds at 185.07 mph.

Prior to Pawuk’s Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win, his son Kyle Pawuk won in Super Gas. The Pawuks became the 17th family to double-up at an NHRA national event.

“When Kyle won today, I said the kid can’t outdo The Cowboy and I got the win,” said Pawuk, who has been known as The Cowboy throughout his career. “My dream all year has been to win one of these diamond Wallys. Dallas was one I never won, and I finally got it done.”

For the fourth time this season Jonathan Allegrucci drove his Mustang Cobra Jet into the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winner’s circle. Today in front of a near sell-out crowd at World Wide Technology Raceway, Allegrucci clinched his first Flexjet Factory Stock Shodown Series world championship reaching the final round. Then he defeated Scott Libersher in a classic Ford versus Chevrolet final round. It was Allegrucci’s sixth final round appearance in 2026 and put an exclamation point on a dominant season.

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charger (foreground) launch off the starting line against Lee Hartman on his way to his first Texas Fall Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series win, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

PAWUK CLOSES FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN
SERIES SEASON WITH VICTORY IN DALLAS

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) – Reigning two-time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world champion Mark Pawuk closed out the 2026 season with a victory at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals today outrunning Lee Hartman in the final round. In a close race, Pawuk’s winning time of 7.522 seconds at 185.07 mph got to the finish line first over Hartman’s 7.542 second, 183.32 mph run.

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charge team celebrate their Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series victory in the Texas Fall Nationals winner’s circle, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

“This is unbelievable,” said Pawuk from the Texas Fall Nationals winner’s circle stage. “We really struggled this year with this new Charger. Dodge has been good to us. We worked our butts off with Ray Barton Racing Engines, Mike Valerio, Frank Madonia, my son Kyle, and my wife. This would have been my dad’s 101st birthday. He was looking over us all day. How cool is that?”

Pawuk had to work his way through a tough quartet of drivers to secure his sixth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series National event. As the No. 9 qualifier, Pawuk beat Rouven Dawson and then took out David Davies II in the quarterfinals. Racing into the semis against No. 1 qualifier Doug Duell both drivers took off at the same time and Pawuk took the win with a solid 7.546 seconds at 184.58 mph pass to reach the final.

In a match-up against the Great Lakes Nationals winner Hartman, Pawuk had a nearly perfect reaction time with a .017 second jump off the line and never trailed in the race. At the finish line, Pawuk’s Empaco Dodge Charger crossed in 7.522 seconds at 185.07 mph.

Prior to Pawuk’s Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win, his son Kyle Pawuk won in Super Gas. The Pawuks became the 17th family to double-up at an NHRA national event.

“When Kyle won today, I said the kid can’t outdo The Cowboy and I got the win,” said Pawuk, who has been known as The Cowboy throughout his career. “My dream all year has been to win one of these diamond Wallys. Dallas was one I never won, and I finally got it done.”

For the fourth time this season Jonathan Allegrucci drove his Mustang Cobra Jet into the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winner’s circle. Today in front of a near sell-out crowd at World Wide Technology Raceway, Allegrucci clinched his first Flexjet Factory Stock Shodown Series world championship reaching the final round. Then he defeated Scott Libersher in a classic Ford versus Chevrolet final round. It was Allegrucci’s sixth final round appearance in 2026 and put an exclamation point on a dominant season.

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charger (foreground) launch off the starting line against Lee Hartman on his way to his first Texas Fall Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series win, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

For the second race in a row Duell claimed the $1,000 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown bonus. Today he outran Scott Libersher in the second round with a winning elapsed time of 7.544 seconds at 184.69 mph against Libersher’s 7.612 second at 183.01 mph pass.

The 2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series featured five different national event winners including four-time national event winner and 2026 world champion Jonathan Allegrucci. The series will return in 2027 with the schedule release slated for later this year.

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KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS AT TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS AT
TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Chris King left the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex with a pair of career-best performances, highlighting the progress his Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car team has made throughout the 2026 season.

Making his 19^th career appearance and third start at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, King recorded his quickest and fastest runs to date during Saturday’s third qualifying session. The Chicago-based driver powered down the quarter mile in 4.038 seconds at 311.22 mph, establishing career bests in both elapsed time and speed.

Chris King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car wowed the crowd on Friday night at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS AT
TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Chris King left the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex with a pair of career-best performances, highlighting the progress his Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car team has made throughout the 2026 season.

Making his 19^th career appearance and third start at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, King recorded his quickest and fastest runs to date during Saturday’s third qualifying session. The Chicago-based driver powered down the quarter mile in 4.038 seconds at 311.22 mph, establishing career bests in both elapsed time and speed.

Chris King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car wowed the crowd on Friday night at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

The performance put King in the No. 16 qualifying position, on the bump in a deep and competitive Nitro Funny Car field. With the potential to become part of NHRA history in the first-ever Funny Car field in which every qualified entry ran in the three-second range, King and his team entered the final qualifying session with an opportunity to secure a place in the show.

“I’m really proud of what this team accomplished this weekend,” said King. “To run a 4.038 at 311.22 mph and set career bests in both elapsed time and speed is a big deal for us. Those are numbers we’ve been working toward, and to see them happen together tells us we’re making progress. We’ve made a lot of improvements to this car this year, and this is the kind of result that gives everybody confidence that we’re moving in the right direction.”

Unfortunately, King was bumped out during the fourth and final qualifying session, pushing the Howards Cams/Competition Products entry to No. 17 and leaving the team just short of qualifying for Sunday’s eliminations.

Despite missing the field, King departed Texas with plenty of reasons for optimism. The career-best performance represented a significant milestone for the team, which has continued to develop its Funny Car program while navigating the challenges of a competitive Nitro category. The team also relocated its race shop to Brownsburg, Indiana this season, an important step in its continued efforts to improve its operation.

“It’s frustrating to be that close to making the show and get bumped out in the final session, especially with the opportunity to be part of that historic nearly all three-second Funny Car field,” said King. “We wanted to be in that show, and we gave it everything we had. But I’m not going to let missing the field take away from what we did. Those career-best numbers are something we can build on, and they show what this team is capable of.”

The Texas NHRA Fall Nationals was the signature element of the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day celebration of drag racing and entertainment at the Texas Motorplex. Beyond the on-track competition, King made the most of the event’s fan-focused activities, attending the Champion’s Dinner on Wednesday evening before signing autographs during Thursday’s Pre-Stage FanFest presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil. On Saturday, he also participated in a Q&A session with fans in the Champion’s Club.

“The Stampede of Speed does a great job of making this more than just a race weekend,” said King. “There is so much going on throughout the week, and you can feel how much the Texas Motorplex puts into making it a great experience for the fans. Getting to attend the Champion’s Dinner with my wife, sign autographs at FanFest and spend time answering questions in the Champion’s Club was a lot of fun. That’s one of the things I really enjoy about this sport. We get to share what we do with people who are passionate about racing.”

As a full-time lieutenant with the Chicago Fire Department, King has developed a strong connection with first responders and military veterans. He regularly invites fellow first responders and veterans to sign his Funny Car, creating a personal connection between his racing program and the people who serve their communities and country.

“I especially enjoy meeting other first responders and veterans,” said King. “I know what that commitment looks like, and it means a lot when they come out to support us. If someone wants to sign the car, I want them to have that opportunity. We’re all part of the same community, even if we’re doing different jobs.”

The Texas event marked King’s fourth race of the 2026 season, and the team will carry its career-best performance into its continued development efforts. With crew chief Bob Peck leading the tuning program, King and his team remain focused on translating their progress into consistent qualifying performances and opportunities to compete on race day.

The move to Brownsburg, combined with the team’s ongoing work to improve the car’s performance, has helped establish a foundation for future growth. While the Texas weekend did not end with a qualifying position, the results reinforced the team’s belief that its best performances are still ahead.

“We’re building something, and weekends like this are important,” said King. “Moving the shop to Brownsburg and continuing to work through the car has taken a lot of effort from everybody involved. To come out here and run a career-best makes that work feel worthwhile. We know we still have things to improve, but we’re seeing the results, and that’s what keeps us motivated. We’re going to keep working, keep learning and keep pushing to get this Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car where we want it to be.”

This was the final race of the year for King and his Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car team. He will release news about his plans for 2027 in the coming months.

Qualifying Results – Funny Car
Q1: 4.077, 268.02 mph; Qual. 8
Q2: 4.577, 188.50 mph; Qual. 16
Q3: 4.038, 311.22 mph; Qual. 16
Q4: 8.781, 81.41 mph; Qual. 17
Bonus Points: 0

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HADDOCK MAKES MOST OF TEXAS FALL NATIONALS

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — Texan Terry Haddock showed the kind of grit and resilience that ranchers and cowboys exhibit across the state. The owner and driver of the Concho Supply Inc. Funny Car qualified No. 16 at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals in one of the stoutest fields in recent memory before losing in the opening round at Texas Motorplex. For Haddock and his team, the early exit did not take away from the positive momentum the team will carry into the final two races of the NHRA Countdown.

“I’m super proud of my guys for this weekend,” said Haddock. “We’ve had a lot of adversity, and all the guys just keep stepping up to the challenge. It just shows that there’s a lot of good stuff happening here with this team. These guys work hard, and we never give up. Very fortunate to have the sponsors that helped us this weekend: Concho Supply, T&D Express, P&C Cable, and Priority Systems. Without all my friends and family feeding money to this car, we couldn’t keep racing.”

On Saturday Haddock had one shot to get into the field and his team stepped up with a solid final effort. The Concho Supply Inc. Funny Car blasted to the finish line with a 4.033 second at 310.97 mph pass that moved him into the final spot in the field.

Terry Haddock, driver of the Concho Supply Inc. Funny car talks with FOX’s Amanda Busick following his final qualifying session run, photo credit Werner Communications

“We broke something on Friday and when I finally found it, it was too late for us to make the second session on Friday night,” said Haddock. “That was on me, not on my guys. We fixed it but it was hard to know where to start again. I started conservatively yesterday. It put some cylinders out and didn’t go as fast as it should have on the first run. We came back and we thought that we could run 3.98 or 3.99 in that last session to make it an all three-second field. We’re blessed we got through it all.”

For his efforts Haddock faced No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman in the first round. Haddock made his best run of the weekend, a solid 4.000 second at 315.21 mph beside Beckman’s 3.884 second pass at 335.12 mph, the third quickest run of the session.

“That was an adventurous run,” said Haddock. “I always like to do the big, long burnouts. I know that this is entertainment as much as it is racing, and the burnouts are so much fun to do. I always do big burnouts when I can. It got exciting at the finish line because the throttle hung wide open. I wasn’t expecting that.”

Haddock was a part of every level of the Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals. On Wednesday night he was the guest of sponsor Concho Supply Inc. at the annual Champions Dinner. Thursday night he was a featured driver at the Pre-Stage FanFest presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil in downtown Waxahachie. Saturday morning he participated in a Q&A in the Champions Club in front of a packed house.

Terry Haddock (left) talks to the fans in the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club, photo credit AJ Bohlander photography

HADDOCK MAKES MOST OF
TEXAS FALL NATIONALS

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — Texan Terry Haddock showed the kind of grit and resilience that ranchers and cowboys exhibit across the state. The owner and driver of the Concho Supply Inc. Funny Car qualified No. 16 at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals in one of the stoutest fields in recent memory before losing in the opening round at Texas Motorplex. For Haddock and his team, the early exit did not take away from the positive momentum the team will carry into the final two races of the NHRA Countdown.

“I’m super proud of my guys for this weekend,” said Haddock. “We’ve had a lot of adversity, and all the guys just keep stepping up to the challenge. It just shows that there’s a lot of good stuff happening here with this team. These guys work hard, and we never give up. Very fortunate to have the sponsors that helped us this weekend: Concho Supply, T&D Express, P&C Cable, and Priority Systems. Without all my friends and family feeding money to this car, we couldn’t keep racing.”

On Saturday Haddock had one shot to get into the field and his team stepped up with a solid final effort. The Concho Supply Inc. Funny Car blasted to the finish line with a 4.033 second at 310.97 mph pass that moved him into the final spot in the field.

Terry Haddock, driver of the Concho Supply Inc. Funny car talks with FOX’s Amanda Busick following his final qualifying session run, photo credit Werner Communications

“We broke something on Friday and when I finally found it, it was too late for us to make the second session on Friday night,” said Haddock. “That was on me, not on my guys. We fixed it but it was hard to know where to start again. I started conservatively yesterday. It put some cylinders out and didn’t go as fast as it should have on the first run. We came back and we thought that we could run 3.98 or 3.99 in that last session to make it an all three-second field. We’re blessed we got through it all.”

For his efforts Haddock faced No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman in the first round. Haddock made his best run of the weekend, a solid 4.000 second at 315.21 mph beside Beckman’s 3.884 second pass at 335.12 mph, the third quickest run of the session.

“That was an adventurous run,” said Haddock. “I always like to do the big, long burnouts. I know that this is entertainment as much as it is racing, and the burnouts are so much fun to do. I always do big burnouts when I can. It got exciting at the finish line because the throttle hung wide open. I wasn’t expecting that.”

Haddock was a part of every level of the Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals. On Wednesday night he was the guest of sponsor Concho Supply Inc. at the annual Champions Dinner. Thursday night he was a featured driver at the Pre-Stage FanFest presented by Red Line Synthetic Oil in downtown Waxahachie. Saturday morning he participated in a Q&A in the Champions Club in front of a packed house.

Terry Haddock (left) talks to the fans in the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club, photo credit AJ Bohlander photography

“The Meyer family goes all out with this race and tries to make it a special event for everybody who attends,” said Haddock. “The Texas hospitality is shown around the world. It’s awesome. We’ve got a group of people here from Europe and England, and we got to show them what it was like, to be a Texan and an American. The Stampede of Speed is just incredible.”

Haddock and the Concho Supply Funny Car team will be back in action at the Las Vegas Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 29 – November 1.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.954 sec, 157.63 mph; Qual. 11
Q2: No Run; Qual. 20
Q3: 4.140 sec, 284.99 mph: Qual. 19
Q4: 4.033 sec, 310.97 mph; Qual. 16

Race Results

First Round
Jack Beckman, Corona, Calif., PEAK Funny Car, (.082), 3.884 sec, 335.12 mph def. Terry Haddock, New Braunfels, Tex., Concho Supply Inc. Funny Car, (.148), 4.000 sec, 315.21 mph

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John Force Racing–Dallas Post Race

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF NABS SEMIFINAL FALLNATIONALS FINISHBeckman and DeJoria depart in Round 2, Hart out in Round 1

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF NABS SEMIFINAL FALLNATIONALS FINISHBeckman and DeJoria depart in Round 2, Hart out in Round 1

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 18, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff went into the semifinal round of the Texas NHRA FallNationals against Matt Hagan knowing a win would move John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team one round closer to the 2026 NHRA Funny Car point leader but a loss would extend Hagan’s lead over the second-place Vandergriff with just two races remaining. The late afternoon race was over as soon as it began, however, as the Cornwell Tools Chevy smoked the tires at the step while Hagan crossed the Texas Motorplex finish line in 3.931 seconds at 335.10 mph. Jack Beckman’s PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team and Alexis DeJoria’s Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team both bowed out in Round 2 while Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel team were eliminated in Round 1. Vandergriff defeated No. 11 qualifier Blake Alexander in Round 1 with a run of 3.877 seconds at 338.37 mph, his career best speed, to Alexander’s 3.913 seconds at 332.47 mph. In Round 2, the Cornwell Tools Chevy ran 3.9232 at 332.01 mph, giving Vandergriff lane choice to in the semifinal against Hagan, while Austin Prock was disqualified for a red light. “It was a tough semifinal race against the points leader that didn’t go our way,” said Vandergriff. “We had a huge chance to make up some ground but, when you shoot for it, sometimes you miss and we missed it this time. But we’re not out of it yet. We’re still in second in the points and we still have a shot at it. We have two races left and, if we go win both of those, then let the chips fall where they may. I have full confidence in Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker, this entire Cornwell Quality Tools team and in myself that we can get the job done.” Beckman defeated No. 16 qualifier Terry Haddock in the first round of eliminations, running 3.884 seconds at 335.12 mph to Haddock’s 4.000 seconds at 315.21 mph. In Round 2 against Ron Capps, the PEAK Chevy overpowered the track and smoked the tires almost immediately after the hit, allowing Capps to take the win. “That’s about it for our championship hopes,” said Beckman. “Is there a kernel of hope left there? Yes, but we can’t control it. So, we will go to the next two races with the intent of winning every single round, leaving with the trophies and having a fantastic offseason. It’s super frustrating to be the No. 1 qualifier, run consistently quick like that, and then have our PEAK Chevy not go five feet in the second round before it blew the tires off. Daniel (Hood) and Tim (Fabrisi) will have that remedied by the time we roll into Las Vegas. We have such a great race car. I’m not going to let one run get us down.” DeJoria defeated No. 13 qualifier Dave Richards in Round 1 with a pass of 3.902 seconds at 331.56 mph to Richards’ 3.953 seconds at 332.84 mph. The Bandero Café Chevy lined up against J.R. Todd in the second round and ran 3.890 seconds at 314.66 mph but lost on a holeshot to Todd’s run of 3.930 seconds at 333.75 mph. “We have a very strong Bandero Café Chevy right now and I’m so blessed to be able to race under the JFR banner with a great group of guys I get to call my teammates,” said DeJoria. “We continued our excellent runs through qualifying like we did last race and earned some valuable bonus points. To run three consecutive 3.87-second runs during qualifying is just unheard of. We ran a 3.90 in the first round today and a 3.89 in Round 2 but I just got beat on a holeshot. It’s unfortunate because the fans here are great and I’ve lived in Austin for quite a while so I call the Texas Motorplex one of my home tracks. We haven’t been able to win here yet but I’ll be back.” No. 8 qualifier Hart had lane choice in Round 1 against No. 9 qualifier Will Smith in their first round matchup. The Speedmaster Top Fuel dragster ran 3.778 seconds at 338.04 mph but wasn’t able to get around Smith who ran 3.746 seconds at 334.65 mph. “That was just a good old fashioned drag race,” said Hart. “I cut a 60 light to his 40 light. He went 3.74 and we went 3.77. So, for the fans, I’m sure it was a good race and if you’re going to lose, that’s definitely the way you want to lose. It was just a nice, clean drag race. The JFR Speedmaster team does a fabulous job and those guys deserve the praise. They live the life, work countless hours and give us an honest shot every time we pull up to the starting line.”
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 18 of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 2,546; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,407; 3. Antron Brown, 2,322; 4. Tony Stewart, 2,294; 5. Leah Pruett, 2,281; 6. Will Smith, 2,261; 7. Maddi Gordon, 2,260; 8. Justin Ashley, 2,227; 9. Billy Torrence, 2,198; 10. Josh Hart, 2,197.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 18 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,503; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,405; 3. J.R. Todd, 2,384; 4. Austin Prock, 2, 348; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,443; 6. Ron Capps, 2,315; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,276; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,207; 9. Chad Green, 2,155; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,149.
The 19^th of 20 races on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix Post Race

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway Freeway Insurance 500 Team Chevy Post-Race Report October 18, 2026

Elliott Leads Chevrolet with Third-Place Finish; Larson Maintains Points Lead at Phoenix Raceway

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

A late-race gamble by crew chief, Alan Gustafson, gave Chase Elliott prime track position for the final restart that ultimately led to a strong third-place finish in the Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway. The result marked the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team’s seventh top-five finish of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and his sixth top-five finish at the desert oval. It was a turbulent day for the reigning champions Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, but leaning on the points cushion he carried to the west coast, Larson managed to maintain his points lead with the team heading to Talladega Superspeedway with a five-point lead.

RACE RECAP:

Stage One: William Byron led Chevrolet’s Chase contenders in yesterday’s qualifying session at Phoenix Raceway, earning a top-10 starting position to kick off the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series’ title run. Taking the green flag for the opening stage, Byron hovered around ninth for what built into a 43-lap stretch en route to the first caution of the day. With a mix of pit strategy already seen down pit road, the Rudy Fugle-led team were among the group that called for a two-tire stop, ultimately gifting his driver a spot on the front row for the restart and a 10-lap run to the stage end. Byron put up a valiant fight during a three-wide battle for the lead within the first couple of laps after the restart, a stint that saw him lead his first lap of the day. Despite losing the battle to those on four fresh Goodyear tires, Byron was able to muscle his way into a solid sixth-place points-earning effort to conclude Stage One.

Stage Two: A mix bag of strategies once again saw Byron lineup 11th, the third car on a four-tire strategy, for the start of Stage Two. On an alternate two-tire strategy, the Randall Burnett-led No. 88 team made the jump up into the top-five to lead the Bowtie brigade to the restart and the next 125-lap run. Zilisch’s teammate, Ross Chastain, had a set of four fresh Goodyear tires on his Chevrolet for the start of the stage, ultimately enabling him to drive up into the seventh position during the beginning laps of the stage. While on a tire deficit from his teammate, the rookie held his ground through much of the green flag run, staying within the top-nine to give Trackhouse Racing a solid showing en route to the first green flag pit cycle of the afternoon. The cycle kicked off on Lap 122, right at the halfway mark of the stage, with crew chief Brandon McSwain calling his driver to pit road six laps into the cycle from the sixth running position. A quick green flag pit cycle saw Chastain, along with his Team Chevy teammate, Chase Elliott, reenter and settle into the top-10 as the green flag laps continued to count down in the stage. Taking his turn in the top position for the Chevrolet camp, Elliott sat in the ninth position when a caution flew with 29 laps to go in the stage for Austin Dillon, who’s early top-15 campaign came to an early end when a flat tire led his No. 3 Chevrolet into the wall. With a four-tire and fuel call by crew chief Alan Gustafson under the caution, an one-position gain in the race off pit road put Elliott in the fourth row for a 22-lap run to the end of the stage. Overall happy with the gains in the balance of his No. 9 Chevrolet, Elliott remained as the manufacturer’s leading driver when he took the second green-white checkered flag in the 10th position.

Final Stage: With a stellar three-position gain in the race off pit road during the stage break, Elliott found the fourth row once again to lead Chevrolet to the green flag for the final stage of the race. While a long green flag run took over much of the final stage, Elliott remained a steady fixture within the top-10. Sitting in the ninth position, a caution flew for his teammate, Kyle Larson, whose already turbulent day came to an end when he suffered a flat tire with 29 laps to go in the race. Gustafson was one of just three crew chiefs that made the gamble to stay out during the caution. The call moved Elliott back up into a spot on the front row to lead the field to the restart for the final 19 laps around the desert oval. While on a tire deficit, Elliott showed the strength of his Chevrolet as he managed to hold onto the third position to go on and lead the manufacturer to the checkered flag and claim his seventh top-five finish of the season.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver
3rd – Chase Elliott7th – Daniel Suarez9th – Ross Chastain

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 33 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 8Poles: 6Top-Fives: 53Top 10s: 112Stage Wins: 22

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase will continue at Talladega Superspeedway with the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

NASCAR Cup SeriesPhoenix RacewayFreeway Insurance 500Team Chevy Post-Race ReportOctober 18, 2026

Elliott Leads Chevrolet with Third-Place Finish; Larson Maintains Points Lead at Phoenix Raceway

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver
3rd – Chase Elliott7th – Daniel Suarez9th – Ross Chastain

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 33 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 8Poles: 6Top-Fives: 53Top 10s: 112Stage Wins: 22

Post-Race Driver Quotes: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 9th“We put together a solid weekend at Phoenix in the Busch Light Chevrolet. We stayed towards the front in track position all day and made small adjustments. We went through the range of weather from starting overcast and cooler to the sun coming out and it really heating up. It feels good to leave Phoenix with a ninth-place finish and have a good day overall.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained from a tire issue during Stage Two. Finished: 37th “Unfortunate ending for the No. 3 Dow Arm & Hammer Chevrolet at Phoenix Raceway. We had a strong Chevrolet and I’m really proud of the work the No. 3 team put into giving us a good car this weekend. We were going forward, passing cars and having fun. We cut a right-rear tire in Stage Two and ended up in the wall. I wish I would have recognized that a tire was going down sooner, but I just thought it was rubber build up or something, and at that point, there was nothing we could do. We had too much damage to come back from. We’ll make notes and regroup before going to Talladega next weekend.” Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained from a tire issue in the final stage. Finished: 34th“This No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet wasn’t going to quit today. We never found the improvements we needed, so that was a bummer. I didn’t expect to be good, but I didn’t expect to be that bad either. It wasn’t a lot of fun today, but we were just trying to salvage what we could of the day. We’ll go to Talladega (Superspeedway) and try to forget about today and get back after it. We’ve done well at the superspeedway’s, so hopefully we can execute, get some points and keep ourselves in the hunt.” Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 7th“We had a little bit of everything today, good and bad pit stops, and some challenges we had to overcome. We fought all day, and this No. 7 Freeway Insurance team never gave up. The guys kept working, and we were able to fight our way back and get another top 10 this season. I’m proud of this team and the effort everyone put in.” Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 3rdHow did you hang on there at the end? “Honestly, I was really surprised. I thought more people would stay out. I’m curious to see if those guys had scuffs, or if they had already burnt their scuffs earlier and had stickers on. In our situation, the call was going to be two tires and they were going to be two scuffs. That didn’t really do a whole lot for me in my head at that point in time. I thought that maybe if we could get a couple rows of a buffer, we’d be okay. But I’m really proud of this No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet team for putting together a solid day. It’s been a while since we’ve had one, so that was nice. We made some legitimate improvements, I thought, which was encouraging. The No. 45 (Tyler Reddick) got me there through (turns) one and two on the restart, but to settle in and be able to hold the rest of those guys off, I thought it was solid. I’m looking forward to finishing these next three races off strong and be more prepared and ready for next year.” Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 24th“Our FICO Chevrolet was decent in the first two stages and we were consistently a top-20, 21st-place car. Our car fired off free on entry and exit, tight rolling in the center. We were burning the right rear tire off it but once we made an adjustment, the car reacted positively. Right after our green flag stop, I found something with a line that definitely worked better. I just needed to be tightened up in Turns 1 and 2. Unfortunately the next adjustment didn’t fix the problem and netted out negative for our balance. We flipped back and forth from loose to tight in the final stage. Glad we finished inside the top-25 when it’s all said and done, and we can learn a few things from today to help in the future.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 20th“It was a decent day at Phoenix Raceway for this No. 88 Jockey 150th Anniversary Chevrolet team. I thought we fired off the race really well. We did a good job in qualifying to get the car where we needed it to be, but it just didn’t quite keep up with the track as the race went on. It started to slip a little bit there near the end. We still recovered for a top-20 and a decent finish to look forward to Talladega (Superspeedway).”

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JUSTIN SANDERS TIES NARC KING OF THE WEST SINGLE-SEASON WIN RECORD WITH COTTON CLASSIC TRIUMPH

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

HANFORD, CA (10/17/26) Justin Sanders made history Saturday night at Kings Speedway, capturing his ninth NARC King of the West Sprint Car Series victory of the 2026 season and tying Tyler Walker’s single-season series record set in 2009. In the series’ first visit to Kings Speedway in two years, Sanders delivered a clutch performance to win the annual Cotton Classic. It was the first time NARC has sanctioned the Cotton Classic since 2019/Colby Copeland opened the night by topping the 18-car field in ARP Time Trials, posting a lap of 13.211 seconds for his second Quick Time award of the season. Dominic Gorden, Sanders, and Landon Brooks claimed the three heat races, while Sanders secured his 3rd HD Titanium Dash win of the year in his series leading 17th Dash appearance of the year to earn the pole position for the 30-lap Hoosier Tire A-Main.Tim Kaeding grabbed the early lead and looked poised to score his 80th career NARC King of the West victory. Kaeding built a lead of more than two seconds before a pair of cautions slowed the pace and brought Sanders within striking distance.Sanders made his move on a restart with 10 laps remaining, diving underneath Kaeding in Turn 2 to take command of the race. From there, the Aromas, California, native had to withstand a determined challenge from the veteran Kaeding, who closed the gap with four laps remaining before a costly trip over the Turn 4 cushion set him back.Kaeding got another opportunity with two laps to go when a caution for Dominic Gorden and Steven Kent brought the field back together. He challenged Sanders again on the restart but jumped the cushion in Turns 3 and 4, opening the door for DJ Netto to move into second and Copeland to claim third.With his record setting season, Justin Sanders added his 2nd career NARC King of the West championship.DJ Netto drove from 13th to 2nd earning FK Rod Ends Hard Charger award honors.For more information, visit NARC410.com. Follow us on X @NARC410, on Facebook.com/NARCKingoftheWest, and on Instagram NARC410.You can catch every NARC King of the West race live on FloRacing.com and the FloSports app.NARC King of the West points1st – Justin Sanders 1761pts2nd – Tim Kaeding -2403rd – Landon Brooks -2684th – Dominic Gorden -2905th – Chance Grasty -3026th – Bud Kaeding -3687th – DJ Netto -5278th – Dominic Scelzi -5879th – Sean Becker -70610th – Shane Golobic -719Hoosier Tire A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2X-Justin Sanders[1]; 2. 88N-DJ Netto[13]; 3. 21-Colby Copeland[6]; 4. 21L-Landon Brooks[4]; 5. 7C-Dylan Bloomfield[8]; 6. 0-Tim Kaeding[2]; 7. 14-Jett Barnes[7]; 8. 22-Shane Golobic[9]; 9. 29-Bud Kaeding[12]; 10. X1-Chance Grasty[5]; 11. 2A-Austin Wood[10]; 12. 73B-Braden Chiaramonte[15]; 13. 121-Caeden Steele[14]; 14. 67-Grant Duinkerken[16]; 15. 10-Dominic Gorden[3]; 16. 7-Steven Kent[11]; 17. 5D-Cole Danell[17]; 18. 11-JJ Ringo[18]HD Titanium Dash (6 Laps): 1. 2X-Justin Sanders[1]; 2. 0-Tim Kaeding[2]; 3. 10-Dominic Gorden[3]; 4. 21L-Landon Brooks[4]; 5. X1-Chance Grasty[5]; 6. 21-Colby Copeland[6]Kaeding Performance Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 10-Dominic Gorden[2]; 2. 14-Jett Barnes[1]; 3. 22-Shane Golobic[3]; 4. 21-Colby Copeland[4]; 5. 88N-DJ Netto[5]; 6. 67-Grant Duinkerken[6]Hill’s Meat Company Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 2X-Justin Sanders[4]; 2. X1-Chance Grasty[1]; 3. 2A-Austin Wood[2]; 4. 7-Steven Kent[5]; 5. 121-Caeden Steele[6]; 6. 5D-Cole Danell[3]BMRS Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21L-Landon Brooks[2]; 2. 7C-Dylan Bloomfield[3]; 3. 0-Tim Kaeding[4]; 4. 29-Bud Kaeding[1]; 5. 73B-Braden Chiaramonte[5]; 6. (DNS) 11-JJ RingoARP Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 21-Colby Copeland, 13.211[7]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders, 13.221[1]; 3. 0-Tim Kaeding, 13.251[3]; 4. 14-Jett Barnes, 13.254[10]; 5. X1-Chance Grasty, 13.313[13]; 6. 29-Bud Kaeding, 13.315[14]; 7. 10-Dominic Gorden, 13.380[6]; 8. 2A-Austin Wood, 13.399[2]; 9. 21L-Landon Brooks, 13.452[11]; 10. 22-Shane Golobic, 13.517[5]; 11. 5D-Cole Danell, 13.591[8]; 12. 7C-Dylan Bloomfield, 13.625[9]; 13. 88N-DJ Netto, 13.626[17]; 14. 7-Steven Kent, 13.690[4]; 15. 73B-Braden Chiaramonte, 13.723[15]; 16. 67-Grant Duinkerken, 13.879[16]; 17. 121-Caeden Steele, 13.916[12]; 18. 11-JJ Ringo[18]

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CORVETTE RACING AT BARCELONA: Another Double-Points Finish

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Both Corvettes will take LMGT3 championship fight to season finale BARCELONA, Catalunya, Spain (October 18, 2026) – Both Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs from TF Sport will go into the FIA World Endurance Championship’s finale in the running for the LMGT3 championship following Sunday’s Six Hours of Barcelona presented by Visit Qatar.
The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey placed fourth in class and just missed its second straight podium finish. It finished ahead of the seventh-placed No. 33 Corvette of Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating and Drivers Championship leader Jonny Edgar as both Corvettes finished in the points in back-to-back races and for the fifth time this season.Heading into the finale at Monza in November, the yellow No. 33 Corvette leads the Teams Championship standings by 18 points over the No. 92 Porsche, which won Sunday’s race. The red No. 34 Corvette stands third after Sunday and 22 points behind its sister car. The margins are the same for Edgar in Drivers points outside his two teammates, who will earn the same amount of points as him at Monza. Both Corvettes worked their way through the field in damp conditions from the start. Yoluc worked his way from 10th to second by the time his double-stint finished with Keating also in podium position near the end of his run. The No. 33 lost some time due after having to run two laps longer than originally planned due to pitlane traffic and cycles, and Edgar rejoined seventh for his run while Dempsey was second. The No. 33 picked up a 10-second time penalty for contact with one of the Mercedes in Edgar’s first stint, which he served at the halfway mark. Meanwhile, Dempsey ran two strong stints to keep the No. 34 in range of the class leader. Pitlane traffic and a virtual safety car period impacted the No. 34 team’s timing to bring in Dempsey for the change to Eastwood with a little more than two hours remaining. This time he went two laps longer than desired which dropped the red Corvette back to fourth, where it eventually finished by only 0.256 seconds off the podium. Edgar drove nearly three hours due to drivetime strategy, which meant Catsburg jumped in with an hour to go. He rejoined in seventh, advanced one spot early in the stint before falling back on the last lap. TF Sport and its Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will close the FIA WEC season with a championship race – the Six Hours of Monza on Sunday, November 8.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Two-tenths off my fourth podium in a row with Corvette which would have been pretty nice for four races in a row. It was a fuel-save race. We got a bit unlucky when one of the Peugeots stopped so we couldn’t box on one of the VSC laps. We ended up stopping under a bit of green and that cycled us from P2 backward. The Hypercar field sort of played into the hands of a few others so they didn’t need the extra lap of fuel. We pushed as hard as we could but fell a couple tenths short.”

PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “That was fun. I didn’t push. We knew the (tire) deg was high from testing. I tried to listen to Charlie (Eastwood) as much as I could to not push because he was giving me grief on the test day! So I tried to manage the pace and with the fuel coming out I could keep going a little bit toward the last five or six laps to match the Porsche although they had the gap already, although I was able to match them and extended the gap to P3. We got a little unlucky with the stop during the last VSC. We had an issue with the door that popped off but thankfully the boys fixed that.”

SALIH YOLUC, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We had a good car underneath. It was difficult, obviously. I don’t personally prefer to drive in the wet. I would always like it when it’s dry. But thankfully the Corvette is a good car in the wet. We were hoping for a bit of wet weather today. So I was able to capitalize as much as I could.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Good dollar per lap value again this race. It’s the story of the season… every time I get caught out with Jonny’s drive time. But it doesn’t matter. It’s a shame that I couldn’t keep the Mercedes behind me on the last lap. I feel like I should have been able to. It was a struggle this weekend. We had a lot more deg than expected. The race wasn’t very clean… a couple of issues at the beginning, a 10-second penalty so it wasn’t super-clean. But I also think we didn’t have the pace of the winners today. A good points haul. I think we have an OK-ish lead – 18 points or so. So we do need to have a strong weekend at Monza but I have no doubt that we will.”

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I ended up doing three stints just because when the yellow fell I was going to be short of drive time. The car was pretty good. I had a difficult first stint and got a penalty so that made it hard. Gaining places is very tough but restarted ninth and managed to work my way up to P5 at the end. The balance wasn’t too bad. It’s just very hard in traffic but I think that’s the case anyway. The Ferrari behind me was pretty quick but as long as I didn’t make a mistake he didn’t have a chance to pass me. So I’m pretty happy with how the stint went.”

CORVETTE RACING AT BARCELONA: Another Double-Points FinishBoth Corvettes will take LMGT3 championship fight to season finale BARCELONA, Catalunya, Spain (October 18, 2026) – Both Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs from TF Sport will go into the FIA World Endurance Championship’s finale in the running for the LMGT3 championship following Sunday’s Six Hours of Barcelona presented by Visit Qatar.
The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey placed fourth in class and just missed its second straight podium finish. It finished ahead of the seventh-placed No. 33 Corvette of Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating and Drivers Championship leader Jonny Edgar as both Corvettes finished in the points in back-to-back races and for the fifth time this season.Heading into the finale at Monza in November, the yellow No. 33 Corvette leads the Teams Championship standings by 18 points over the No. 92 Porsche, which won Sunday’s race. The red No. 34 Corvette stands third after Sunday and 22 points behind its sister car. The margins are the same for Edgar in Drivers points outside his two teammates, who will earn the same amount of points as him at Monza. Both Corvettes worked their way through the field in damp conditions from the start. Yoluc worked his way from 10th to second by the time his double-stint finished with Keating also in podium position near the end of his run. The No. 33 lost some time due after having to run two laps longer than originally planned due to pitlane traffic and cycles, and Edgar rejoined seventh for his run while Dempsey was second. The No. 33 picked up a 10-second time penalty for contact with one of the Mercedes in Edgar’s first stint, which he served at the halfway mark. Meanwhile, Dempsey ran two strong stints to keep the No. 34 in range of the class leader. Pitlane traffic and a virtual safety car period impacted the No. 34 team’s timing to bring in Dempsey for the change to Eastwood with a little more than two hours remaining. This time he went two laps longer than desired which dropped the red Corvette back to fourth, where it eventually finished by only 0.256 seconds off the podium. Edgar drove nearly three hours due to drivetime strategy, which meant Catsburg jumped in with an hour to go. He rejoined in seventh, advanced one spot early in the stint before falling back on the last lap. TF Sport and its Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will close the FIA WEC season with a championship race – the Six Hours of Monza on Sunday, November 8.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Those conditions are about as tricky as it gets, I think. I was pretty happy. There were a couple of drivers that were quicker than I was. It was a matter of how quickly can you learn what the conditions are at the moment. I think some of the other cars learned to go to the dry line quicker than I did and that cost me a few seconds and a bigger gap to some of the competition. But we are still in one piece and on the track. Unfortunately we wanted to box three laps earlier but one of the Peugeots came in and then the 34 came in, so I stayed out much longer. I had no defense against the other cars that were on slicks. It would have been very nice to come in and put slicks on because the track conditions were definitely better for slicks. There was nothing I could do.”

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DOUG DUELL NABS FIRST CAREER FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN NO. 1 QUALIFIER IN DALLAS

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — Qualifying for the 41st annual NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed concluded today after several delays stemming from high winds and massive car counts at the 10-day event. Doug Duell of Newburgh, Ind., captured his first career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier with his final qualifying pass of 7.559 seconds at 182.82 mph. Duell will earn a competition bye in the first round behind the wheel of his Black Dodge Challenger.

“I feel good because I get a bye, so that’s awesome,” said Duell, a Factory Stock Showdown rookie. We’ve been sawing the log on this car all year. Everything that could happen to me has happened. Every race we make improvements. The last few races, I feel like we got an opportunity to win and go into the late rounds. We really feel good about tomorrow. I’m just super, super excited.”

Doug Duell scored his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier on Saturday in Dallas at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

DOUG DUELL NABS FIRST CAREER FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN NO. 1 QUALIFIER IN DALLAS

DALLAS (October 18, 2026) — Qualifying for the 41st annual NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed concluded today after several delays stemming from high winds and massive car counts at the 10-day event. Doug Duell of Newburgh, Ind., captured his first career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier with his final qualifying pass of 7.559 seconds at 182.82 mph. Duell will earn a competition bye in the first round behind the wheel of his Black Dodge Challenger.

“I feel good because I get a bye, so that’s awesome,” said Duell, a Factory Stock Showdown rookie. We’ve been sawing the log on this car all year. Everything that could happen to me has happened. Every race we make improvements. The last few races, I feel like we got an opportunity to win and go into the late rounds. We really feel good about tomorrow. I’m just super, super excited.”

Doug Duell scored his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier on Saturday in Dallas at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

A first round win will propel him into a possible first round match-up with either Scott Libersher or David Janac, the No. 6 and No. 7 qualifiers respectively. Duell has to wait overnight for the first round to commence at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at Texas Motorplex. The teams have worked their way through two days of qualifying and on race day Duell will be looking for four win lights in eliminations.

“I think as a racer, you’re just ready to go race right now,” said Duell. “The reality of things is these races are kind of a journey. It’s days and days of it. I’ll sleep good tonight. I’ll be ready tomorrow. I feel good about getting that bye because I can work on my tree a little bit, which has been a learning process because it’s my first year on a pro tree. I’m ready. I feel like I have an opportunity here.”

A tough field of competitors will stand in his way including Libersher and Raymond Nash, the No. 8 qualifier and No. 2 driver in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown points. Nash and Libersher are in a tight race for second place overall for the season. Two weeks ago, Jonathan Allegrucci clinched the 2026 world championship in St. Louis. The Texas Fall Nationals race day will be the culmination of 10-days of racing and Duell is eager to perform in front of a huge crowd.

“When we got here, I said to somebody, I feel like I’m at Indy (home of the historic U.S. Nationals),” said Duell. “There’s so much activity and so many awesome racers here. It’s quite an event.”
Reigning world champion Mark Pawuk qualified No. 10 and will face No. 3 qualifier Rouven Dawson.

The first round of eliminations at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals will begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Fans can follow the racing action at www.nhra.com.

First Round Match-ups

No. 1 Doug Duell vs. Bye
No. 2 Lee Hartman vs. No. 11 K Urban
No. 3 Rouven Dawson vs. No. 10 Mark Pawuk
No. 4 Tony Scott vs. No. 9 David Davies II
No. 5 Matt Hartman vs. No.8 Raymond Nash
No. 6 Scott Libersher vs. No. 7 David Janac

Flexjet Bounty Program
Gatornationals (Gainesville, Fla.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Jonathan Allegrucci, defeated Mark Pawuk (2025 Flexjet world champion)

NHRA 4-Wide Nationals (Charlotte, N. C.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Raymond Nash, defeated Ricky Hord (2026 Gatornationals winner)

Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals (Chicago, Illinois)
$1,000 bounty was not claimed with Allegrucci’s victory

Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol, Tenn,)
$2,000 bounty was not claimed with Allegrucci’s victory

Norwalk Nationals (Norwalk, Ohio)
$3,000 bounty claimed by Taylor Dietsch, defeated Jonathan Allegrucci (2026 Chicago and Bristol winner)

Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis)
$1,000 bounty collected by Scott Libersher, defeated Taylor Dietsch (Norwalk winner)

Great Lakes Nationals (Martin, Mich.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Raymond Nash, defeated Scott Libersher (Indianapolis winner)

NAPA NHRA Midwest Nationals (St. Louis, Mo.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Doug Duell, defeated Lee Hartman (Martin winner)

2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results
Gainesville – Ricky Hord, winner; David Janac, runner-up
Charlotte – Jonathan Allegrucci, winner; Jason Dietsch, runner-up
Chicago – Jonathan Allegrucci, winner; Jason Dietsch, runner-up
Bristol – Jonathan Allegrucci, winner; Raymond Nash, runner-up
Norwalk – Taylor Dietsch, winner; Jonathan Allergrucci, runner-up
Martin – Lee Hartman, winner; David Janac, runner-up
St. Louis – Jonathan Allegrucci, winner; Scott Libersher, runner-up

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SEVEN: Sam Hafertepe Jr. Wins Fuzzy’s Fall Fling at Creek County, Clinches Seventh ASCS National Title

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

SAPULPA, OK (October 17, 2026) — Sam Hafertepe Jr. left Creek County Speedway proving to everyone why he is a seven-time American Sprint Car Series champion.

The Sunnyvale, TX veteran performed when the lights shone brightest Saturday night for the season-ending Fuzzy’s Fall Fling with a daring last-lap pass for his seventh win of the 2026 season.

At the start, Garrett Benson jumped to the lead from the outside as Alex Sewell followed in tow. Behind them, Hafertepe and his title rival Matt Covington began their ascent up the leaderboard, with Covington setting the pace while Benson kept Sewell on the bottom lane.

As lapped traffic held Benson and Sewell from extending the gap from the top five, Covington used the slower cars to help him move up to fifth on Lap 7 while Hafertepe stayed behind the No. 95 Triple X Chassis.

When the halfway flags were shown, Sewell made his move for the lead by running the middle lane to get to the outside of Benson across the backstretch, then held it through Turns 3-4 as Hafertepe and Covington continued to chip away at the two-second lead the leaders held.

With the leaders in sight, Hafertepe took his chance at Covington by moving his No. 15H to the cushion and outran Covington to join the podium step with 14 laps left.

As Hafertepe stalked the leaders within the final 10 laps, Benson returned to the top spot by moving Sewell up from the bottom lane, then squeezed his car underneath the No. 9 machine to retake the top spot with six laps to go.

Hafertepe did not waste his opportunity for the win as he continued to build momentum around the cushion of the 1/4-mile track. With two laps left, Hafertepe passed Sewell for second place. On the white flag, Hafertepe reached the outside of Benson exiting Turn 2, then secured the lead in Turns 3-4 to earn his 95th Series win.

With the victory, Hafertepe clinched the title by 41 points over Covington, padding the all-time ASCS National Tour championship record with his seventh triumph.

“Early in the race, I was like, ‘Okay, we don’t have to do a whole lot.’” Hafertepe said. “So I was like, ‘I’ll just ride around and not force anything,’ because at a track like this, it’s easy to make a mistake and bike it. So if I did that, I’d ruin all my chances. When Matt got by me, I just needed to pace him.

“We got by a couple more guys, and then when we got to the leaders, I was like ‘Man, I can’t keep following these guys,’ and I found something on the top because the bottom of (Turns) 3-4 was slowly starting to go away. I finally got in my head and thought, ‘I didn’t come here to ride. I don’t want to win the championship just by pacing.’ We wanted to do it like a champion.”

Benson and Sewell ended the 40-lap battle with a podium appearance. Covington finished fourth, and Steven Shebester completed the final group of top five finishers from the 2026 season.

Recap Notes:

Quick Time Award: Kyle Clark (11.783 sec.)

Heat Race Winners: Garrett Benson, Christopher Townsend, Alex Sewell, Blake Hahn, Ryder Laplante

Honest Abe Roofing Dash Winner: Kyle Clark

Smith Titanium Last Chance Showdown Winner: Chance Morton

Hard Charger Award: Steven Shebester (+14)

UP NEXT: The American Sprint Car Series will return in 2027 to start the season at Volusia Speedway Park for the 57th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 4-6.

Where can you find info about Volusia? Click Here

Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS: Feature (40 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[8]; 2. 2B-Garrett Benson[2]; 3. 8-Alex Sewell[5]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[15]; 5. 16S-Steven Shebester[19]; 6. 52-Blake Hahn[4]; 7. 71T-Christopher Townsend[9]; 8. 23-Seth Bergman[18]; 9. 2P-Chase Porter[7]; 10. 2-Gage Laney[12]; 11. 45X-Kyler Johnson[23]; 12. 7M-Chance Morton[21]; 13. 3-Cole Schroeder[11]; 14. 16G-Austyn Gossel[16]; 15. 88C-Brogan Carder[13]; 16. 8M-Kade Morton[22]; 17. 7F-Joshua Tyre[24]; 18. 9$-Kyle Clark[1]; 19. 31-Casey Wills[25]; 20. 23H-Sam Henderson[6]; 21. 88-Terry Easum[14]; 22. 1-Sean McClelland[20]; 23. 88R-Ryder Laplante[3]; 24. 50Z-Zach Chappell[10]; 25. 938-Bradley Fezard[17]

SEVEN: Sam Hafertepe Jr. Wins Fuzzy’s Fall Fling at Creek County, Clinches Seventh ASCS National Title SAPULPA, OK (October 17, 2026) — Sam Hafertepe Jr. left Creek County Speedway proving to everyone why he is a seven-time American Sprint Car Series champion.

The Sunnyvale, TX veteran performed when the lights shone brightest Saturday night for the season-ending Fuzzy’s Fall Fling with a daring last-lap pass for his seventh win of the 2026 season.

With the leaders in sight, Hafertepe took his chance at Covington by moving his No. 15H to the cushion and outran Covington to join the podium step with 14 laps left.

With the victory, Hafertepe clinched the title by 41 points over Covington, padding the all-time ASCS National Tour championship record with his seventh triumph.

Benson and Sewell ended the 40-lap battle with a podium appearance. Covington finished fourth, and Steven Shebester completed the final group of top five finishers from the 2026 season.

Recap Notes:

Quick Time Award: Kyle Clark (11.783 sec.)

Heat Race Winners: Garrett Benson, Christopher Townsend, Alex Sewell, Blake Hahn, Ryder Laplante

Honest Abe Roofing Dash Winner: Kyle Clark

Smith Titanium Last Chance Showdown Winner: Chance Morton

Hard Charger Award: Steven Shebester (+14)

UP NEXT: The American Sprint Car Series will return in 2027 to start the season at Volusia Speedway Park for the 57th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 4-6.

Where can you find info about Volusia? Click Here

Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE:https://ascsracing.com/recap/seven-sam-hafertepe-jr-wins-fuzzys-fall-fling-at-creek-county-clinches-seventh-ascs-national-title/

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WHAT AN ENDING: Scelzi Wins Battle, Abreu Wins War as High Limit Season Concludes at Texas

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

WHAT AN ENDING: Scelzi Wins Battle, Abreu Wins War as High Limit Season Concludes at Texas
Giovanni Scelzi Scores Third-Straight Win, Rico Abreu Clinches Back-to-Back Championships

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HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE: Kofoid Bests Williamson in Wild World of Outlaws Belle-Clair Debut

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

The first ever World of Outlaws visit to Belle-Clair doesn’t disappoint as Kofoid grabs his 16th victory of 2026

BELLEVILLE, IL (October 17, 2026) – The gloves came off Saturday night at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series invaded the brand new Illinois bullring for the first time. Anticipation was sky high for the best Sprint Car drivers in the world to put on a show at the 1/4 mile, and the fans were not let down.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Garet Williamson delivered an unforgettable duel. The two good friends went to war through the opening half of the 40-lap Feature. One would fire a slide job, and the other would counter with a crossover. One would find a groove of grip and slip by, then the other would use a lapped car as a pick to retake the position.

Ultimately, Kofoid finally gained the upper hand for good on the 18th circuit after several lead changes. The Penngrove, CA native wrestled the top spot away and built a commanding lead in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. A late red flag for Williamson flipping gave the resurging Parker Price-Miller a shot with 11 laps to go, but he was no match as Kofoid powered away and sliced through traffic on his way to Victory Lane and hoisting the Battle at Belle-Clair championship belt.

“That was some of the best racing I’ve been a part of this whole year, maybe even some of the best in the last three years I’ve been with the Outlaws,” Kofoid said. “Definitely special to do it alongside him (Williamson). They were very, very good. I told myself if we stay in traffic, I think I’ll be okay even though I lost it those couple times. Bummer to see what happened to him. It would’ve been nice to be up here with him.”

Kofoid extended his Series-best win tally in 2026 to 16. That ensures he’ll at least tie for the most victories this season, and he’ll own sole possession of that title as long as David Gravel or Sheldon Haudenschild don’t win the final five races of the season. The mark of 16 matches the most triumphs in one season for Roth Motorsports, equaling Danny Lasoski’s total he reached with Dennis and Teresa Roth’s team in 1999.

Parker Price-Miller started on the pole, slipped back as far as sixth, and then rallied to the runner-up position in the Indy Race Parts No. 71.

Mason City, IL’s Karter Sarff made the home state proud by rounding out the Belle-Clar podium for his first World of Outlaws top three in only his third Feature appearance.

Sheldon Haudenschild and Spencer Bayston completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Buddy Kofoid earned another Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Colton Robinson set Simpson Quick Time in his official World of Outlaws debut.

Heat Races belonged to Parker Price-Miller (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Karter Sarff (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Zach Daum (WIX Filters Heat Three), and David Gravel (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Garet Williamson.

Parker Price-Miller topped the Toyota Dash.

Bryce Norris won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Sheldon Haudenschild got the final transfer from the Last Chance Showdown then drove from 24th to fourth to take the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Logan Schuchart was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Garet Williamson ripped the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race also went to Garet Williamson.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars debut at Texarkana 67 Speedway on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 23-24, for the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends and Short Track Nationals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 2. 71-Parker Price Miller[1]; 3. 21K-Karter Sarff[4]; 4. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[24]; 5. 17-Spencer Bayston[8]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[11]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[16]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom[13]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 10. 2-David Gravel[5]; 11. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[23]; 12. 16C-Skylar Gee[12]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 14. 6-Bryce Lucius[19]; 15. 79-Gage Montgomery[20]; 16. 2C-Cole Macedo[10]; 17. 7S-Chris Windom[14]; 18. 51B-Joe B Miller[18]; 19. 2MD-Darin Naida[22]; 20. 37-Bryce Norris[21]; 21. (DNF) 23-Garet Williamson[2]; 22. (DNF) 7A-Will Armitage[9]; 23. (DNF) 87-Austin Hartmann[17]; 24. (DNF) 92-Zach Daum[6]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE: Kofoid Bests Williamson in Wild World of Outlaws Belle-Clair Debut

The first ever World of Outlaws visit to Belle-Clair doesn’t disappoint as Kofoid grabs his 16th victory of 2026

BELLEVILLE, IL (October 17, 2026) – The gloves came off Saturday night at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway.

Parker Price-Miller started on the pole, slipped back as far as sixth, and then rallied to the runner-up position in the Indy Race Parts No. 71.

Mason City, IL’s Karter Sarff made the home state proud by rounding out the Belle-Clar podium for his first World of Outlaws top three in only his third Feature appearance.

Sheldon Haudenschild and Spencer Bayston completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Buddy Kofoid earned another Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Colton Robinson set Simpson Quick Time in his official World of Outlaws debut.

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Garet Williamson.

Parker Price-Miller topped the Toyota Dash.

Bryce Norris won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Sheldon Haudenschild got the final transfer from the Last Chance Showdown then drove from 24th to fourth to take the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Logan Schuchart was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Garet Williamson ripped the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race also went to Garet Williamson.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/heavyweight-battle-kofoid-bests-williamson-in-wild-world-of-outlaws-belle-clair-debut/

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Thornton and O’Neal Win Dirt Track World Championship Preliminary Features

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Ricky Thornton Jr. and Hudson O’Neal each won a 25-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series preliminary feature Saturday night at West Virginia Motor Speedway, opening the 46th Annual ARP Dirt Track World Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment weekend. Thornton passed early leader Tyler Carpenter for the lead on lap 10 of the first $5,000-to-win feature. Carpenter led the opening nine laps. Thornton went on to win his third straight LOLMDS feature after sweeping both races at Eldora Speedway last weekend. Thornton earned his 65th career series victory by 1.358 seconds over Dillon McCowan, who started 10th and climbed to second. Championship contender Devin Moran completed the Big River Steel Podium in third. Chris Ferguson finished fourth, and Max Blair rounded out the top five. “Early on, we just let Tyler and Devin go, and we were looking for the right opportunity. Those guys took off on the top, and I thought a yellow might give me the perfect opportunity. I knew Tyler wasn’t going to stay down there for very long. I thought if I could make a couple of good laps down there, we were going to be in good shape. When I got to third, I was watching Tyler and Devin. Their cars were a little better through the center than mine. I hit the yuke tire and knocked the nose down, and I thought, ‘I’ve really got to go now.’ I got a really good run off turn two and thought I could slide them going into turn three. Our car was good enough to do that.” McCowan, in his rookie season with the series and making his first career start at WVMS, advanced from 10th to finish second. “We’ve had a tough couple of weeks. Hats off to my guys. The track around the bottom was soupy, and then we ran around the top like a bullring. The car was good. Congrats to Ricky and Devin; they did a good job. Hopefully, we can tune on it some more tomorrow.” Moran, seeking a second straight LOLMDS championship, trails Brandon Sheppard by 45 points heading into Sunday’s season finale. “The track was a bit different from when we were here for the Hillbilly. It didn’t have as much grip on the bottom then as it did tonight. We weren’t expecting that. We know we have a decent car, so we know what to work on for tomorrow.” Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis, owned by Bobby and Jessica Koehler, is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. Sponsors include Hoker Trucking, Knight’s Companies, Capital Waste, Coltman Farms Racing, Strange Oval, Certified Inspection Services, SI Towing and Recovery, Sunoco Race Fuels, and D&E Outside Services. Completing the top 10 in the first feature were Dennis Erb Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyler Erb, Kyle Bronson, and Drake Troutman.

Thornton and O’Neal Win Dirt Track World Championship Preliminary Features Ricky Thornton Jr. and Hudson O’Neal each won a 25-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series preliminary feature Saturday night at West Virginia Motor Speedway, opening the 46th Annual ARP Dirt Track World Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment weekend. Thornton passed early leader Tyler Carpenter for the lead on lap 10 of the first $5,000-to-win feature. Carpenter led the opening nine laps. Thornton went on to win his third straight LOLMDS feature after sweeping both races at Eldora Speedway last weekend. Thornton earned his 65th career series victory by 1.358 seconds over Dillon McCowan, who started 10th and climbed to second. Championship contender Devin Moran completed the Big River Steel Podium in third. Chris Ferguson finished fourth, and Max Blair rounded out the top five. “Early on, we just let Tyler and Devin go, and we were looking for the right opportunity. Those guys took off on the top, and I thought a yellow might give me the perfect opportunity. I knew Tyler wasn’t going to stay down there for very long. I thought if I could make a couple of good laps down there, we were going to be in good shape. When I got to third, I was watching Tyler and Devin. Their cars were a little better through the center than mine. I hit the yuke tire and knocked the nose down, and I thought, ‘I’ve really got to go now.’ I got a really good run off turn two and thought I could slide them going into turn three. Our car was good enough to do that.” McCowan, in his rookie season with the series and making his first career start at WVMS, advanced from 10th to finish second. “We’ve had a tough couple of weeks. Hats off to my guys. The track around the bottom was soupy, and then we ran around the top like a bullring. The car was good. Congrats to Ricky and Devin; they did a good job. Hopefully, we can tune on it some more tomorrow.” Moran, seeking a second straight LOLMDS championship, trails Brandon Sheppard by 45 points heading into Sunday’s season finale. “The track was a bit different from when we were here for the Hillbilly. It didn’t have as much grip on the bottom then as it did tonight. We weren’t expecting that. We know we have a decent car, so we know what to work on for tomorrow.” Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis, owned by Bobby and Jessica Koehler, is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. Sponsors include Hoker Trucking, Knight’s Companies, Capital Waste, Coltman Farms Racing, Strange Oval, Certified Inspection Services, SI Towing and Recovery, Sunoco Race Fuels, and D&E Outside Services. Completing the top 10 in the first feature were Dennis Erb Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyler Erb, Kyle Bronson, and Drake Troutman.

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John Force Racing–Dallas Saturday

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

PEAK SQUAD TAKES TOP SPOT AT THE METROPLEXDeJoria fourth, Vandergriff sixth and Hart eighth heading into eliminations

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

PEAK SQUAD TAKES TOP SPOT AT THE METROPLEXDeJoria fourth, Vandergriff sixth and Hart eighth heading into eliminations

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 17, 2026) – Jack Beckman and the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team earned their fourth No. 1 Qualifier of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the 37^thof Beckman’s Funny Car career while the three other John Force Racing entries all qualified in the top half of the ladder for Sunday’s first round of eliminations for the Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex. The PEAK SQUAD secured the top spot with their Friday night run of 3.852 seconds at 330.13 mph. The team also ran 3.885 seconds in Saturday’s second and final qualifying session. Beckman will face No. 16 qualifier Terry Haddock (4.033 seconds at 310.97 mph) in Sunday’s first round of eliminations. Alexis DeJoria had John Force Racing’s most consistent two days of qualifying with three consecutive runs in the 3.80-second range. It was the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team’s Q2 run of 3.873 seconds at 333.09 mph that secured the No. 4 qualifying spot, but they also ran 3.875 seconds in Q3 and 3.878 seconds in Q4. DeJoria will line up against No. 13 qualifier Dave Richards (3.925 seconds at 333.68 mph) in Round 1. Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team qualified sixth with their Q2 run of 3.881 seconds at 333.83 mph. They also ran 3.889 seconds in Q4. Vandergriff will go head-to-head against No. 11 qualifier Blake Alexander (3.914 seconds at 327.92 mph) in the first round of eliminations. Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel team used their Q1 run Friday afternoon of 3.714 seconds at 337.64 mph to take the No. 8 qualifying position and also ran 3.749 seconds in Q4 Sunday afternoon. Hart will match up against No. 9 qualifier Will Smith (3.714 seconds at 335.80 mph) in Round 1. Both drivers made 3.714-second runs but Hart got the higher qualifying position based on going nearly two miles per hour faster. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sun., Oct. 18, beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Quote from Jack Beckman, PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “Today’s run on a 105-degree racetrack, pound for pound, was the run of the weekend. Today’s run is outstanding, and it probably gives the PEAK SQUAD data for two of the four runs tomorrow. I thought somebody could run an .86 on that last qualifying session. I thought a perfect run would be that, and Dan [Hood] and Tim [Fabrisi, crew chiefs] exceeded that. I just think that was an amazing run relative to conditions. We’ve put ourselves in a position where we have to depend on [points leader Matt Hagan] going out early and that’s always a difficult situation. Now Austin [Prock] had a first-round loss in the Countdown. We’ve had a first-round loss in the Countdown. I’m going to talk to Matt and try to convince him he needs one or two first-round losses in the Countdown because if they don’t do that, we’re going to have a tough time getting around them.” Quote from Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “We definitely have a bracket car right now. The Bandero Café Chevy ran three straight 3.87-second runs so I’m happy and we are so stoked to race on Sunday. We earned five bonus points today so what can I say? Our car kicks ass in qualifying, and it gives us that much more confidence going into race day.” Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “I think both qualifying days for this Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Funny Car were great. In Q1 and Q3, we were testing the waters and found out what we needed. Then, in Q2 and Q4, we executed on what we found out. Running that 3.889 in Q4 felt really good. An elapsed time at that time of day in these conditions was important and to also run a 3.88 last night shows we’re up to the task. We’re ready for race day.” Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster: “I’m very proud of the John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel dragster team this weekend. The work that these guys have put into the race program will pay off.” TV Schedule Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 18, leading into eliminations at 3 p.m. ET.

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Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Daniel Suarez

October 19, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway Team Chevy Driver Quotes October 17, 2026

Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Phoenix Raceway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

NASCAR Cup SeriesPhoenix RacewayTeam Chevy Driver QuotesOctober 17, 2026

Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Phoenix Raceway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:

First off, Daniel, congratulations on signing with Spire Motorsports for next year. Do you mind just talking about that?“Yeah, I mean I think it was expected, right, for everyone. Obviously, the team has been doing a good job, and you just don’t see every day that you put a team and a driver that were struggling the year before and you put them together and you start just getting results right away. So that was very, very positive. Obviously, we’ve been working a lot throughout the year to make our group better and better, and we have made some progress. We still have obviously a long ways to go from where we want to be, not just as a team on the 7 team, but also as an organization with Spire Motorsports, but I believe that we have the pieces to be able to make great things with this organization. So yeah, happy where we’re at and excited where we’re heading.”   Last year when you signed the deal, I guess the vibe was sort of like, okay, this was a late deal and we’re not really sure how Daniel’s career is going to go. Now having pen to paper, signing the deal, just kind of talk about the difference between this year and last year and how you feel? “Yeah, you know, I had dinner with Jeff Dickerson a while back. It’s been like four months ago when we started having the contract discussions. This deal has been done for a little while. It’s so funny because he made a comment that made me laugh. He said to me — man, last year, you and Spire were like the last two kids in the dance floor that didn’t have a mate, you know, they didn’t have a partner. And we were like, oh, might as well just dance together. I thought it was very funny. And now, obviously, it’s a completely different game, right? Like I can’t remember, I think last year, I was in the high 20s in the points standings and the 7 team were like 30th or something like that. It wasn’t very good, but there was a lot of work that went into it during the off-season.  I have always known what I’m capable of, and I also knew what Spire Motorsports was doing, especially with the 77 and Carson (Hocevar.) So in my mind, I’m like, okay, this group has potential, we just need to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Obviously right now, we’re happy, but not satisfied. We always want more. But if in the beginning of the year, you were telling us, ‘Hey Daniel, this is how the year is going to go — you guys are going to have several top-10s, top-15s, be qualifying up front, win a race, be in The Chase’, we’re going to be pretty happy. But obviously as an organization, we’re greedy people and we always want more. Right now, even though we are competitive, we want more. We want to be able to have a real shot for a championship in the near future. And for that, obviously we have to continue to grow and that’s where we are. But overall, obviously I’m excited. The team is doing a good job, and hopefully we can continue to grow together.”   You talked already right there about Jeff Dickerson and how the relationship started. I’m just curious, how has that relationship evolved now here after signing this new deal?“Yeah, I mean, like I said, a year ago from right now, there were not many options either for me or for him. So in a way we, we took what we had, even though that I saw potential and they also saw previous potential in myself. So right now, it’s a completely different story, right? We are a solid team. The last month, we’ve been finishing in the top-15. We’re a strong team, and that’s not a surprise. If we qualify in the top-five today, I don’t think anyone is going to be surprised. That’s good, but we want more, obviously. We want to continue to put the bar higher and higher. Right now, we’re already having conversations about what we need to do better in the off-season for next year. What are our strengths and weaknesses of this year heading into next year. I believe, like I said, that we have had a strong year, but we want more. Those are the conversations, right? Like, okay, we’re happy where we’re at, but how can we make it even better? To be able to beat the Gibbs, the Penske, the Hendrick cars, we’re going to need one more step or two, so how can we make that next step? Those are the conversations that we’re having now.”
This week, you got to visit three Phoenix schools, which is something that’s very near and dear to your heart. Just tell me a little bit more about that experience and why it’s so important for you to keep doing this.“Yeah, I mean, I’ve been doing this for a while. I’ve been visiting schools for at least five years. And especially I know that I can make a bigger impact in Hispanic schools, right? Because that’s who I am. And listen, winning races, winning championships, being competitive on the racetrack; that’s amazing and that’s my priority. But if I don’t take advantage of my platform and the journey that I have had to get to this point, coming from Mexico, without speaking the language and all these different barriers I’ve had to go through; I feel like it would be a little bit of a waste. So a handful of years ago, I decided to use what I have built to inspire the next generations and to share a little bit of my journey, and that’s what I’ve been doing. You know, like you mentioned, on Thursday, I went to a few schools. Yesterday, I was in the Mexican consulate and there were actually another 40 or 50 students in there from high school. So for me, that’s special. That’s one of those things that I couldn’t do 10 years ago, but I can now, and I have to take advantage of the journey and the story that I have built with time.”   Right now, are you working toward next year, or do you still care about where you finish in points?“Oh, of course I care, Bob (Pockrass). Of course, I care. I would be lying to you if I told you that we’re going to win the championship, right? But I believe that we still have a lot to fight for. I mean, like I said, the last four races, we have finished in the top-15. Is that what we want? No, we want a little bit more than that. But we’re working hard. We’re pushing hard. We’re trying to maximize our potential. I believe that if we do everything right in the next month, I believe that top-10 in points is achievable for us. Very achievable. So we just have to continue to maximize. With that being said, also, I would say 10% of the time that we spend during the week is about what do we need to do as a company to be able to go to the next level? It’s only 10%. It’s not 80%. So this year is still very, very important, and it’s very important for me. I believe that as a driver, you are just as good as your last race, so I want to close this season as strong as possible. And then, we can put full focus into the next.”  Next week is Talladega. What went through your mind when you saw Carson (Hocevar) win his first Cup race and is doing that celebration? Are you surprised? Are you like, this guy is nuts? What was your feeling? What was your reaction to all that and all that’s kind of happened around that guy since?“You know, I was extremely happy for Carson (Hocevar). Extremely happy for the 77 team. Very, very happy for Spire Motorsports. Carson deserved that win. He did a great job. About his celebration, you know, it’s so funny that you asked me that question. I can actually pull some pictures and videos of this, but my very first victory in NASCAR Mexico back around 2010 or 2009. I won in Mexico City at the Hermano Rodriguez, where we raced, and I didn’t know what to do. I knew I was such a small kid that I could drive outside the car, and I did exactly the same thing. I can’t remember if I was going backwards like he was, but on the front straightaway, I was driving and hanging like halfway out (laughs). I thought it was very funny. I only mentioned that to Julia because I wasn’t going to make a big deal, that was his moment. But it was very funny that I did something similar 15 years ago.”   What have you learned from Michael (McDowell) and Carson (Hocevar) as teammates in year one at Spire Motorsports?“I learned that they are extremely different from each other, and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. They’re just extremely different. And I believe that, honestly, I came to Spire Motorsports at a perfect time because if you think about, Carson (Hocevar) is in his low 20s, I’m in my mid-30s, and Michael is in his low 40s. So we are three different generations, completely different. Sometimes, I felt that the gap was too big between Michael and Carson in the way that they think and the way that they were operating, and I feel like I came into the picture in a perfect moment to kind of like connect the dots and it has worked very well. I believe that I have in me a lot of Michael and I have in me a lot of Carson, as well, so that’s why I feel like I’ve been able to help the entire team to connect the dots. And like I said, I’m not saying that in a bad way. I believe that Michael has a lot of assets and a lot of strengths. The same thing with Carson. But they are different. They’re very, very different. There are a lot of things that Michael does way better than Carson, and there are a lot of things that Carson does way better than Michael. So, for me to be able to learn those things and to be able to communicate with both of them, has been fun.”   With increased horsepower at this track, does it change the way you drive the car and can you feel it? “It doesn’t really change much with the way that you drive the car. You can definitely feel it, but we raced this package earlier this year, so we already have, in a way, experienced what we are going to have. With the way that you shift on the back straightaway, it’s a little bit different now with more horsepower. You’re having to shift to fifth a little bit more, where before, we stayed in fourth a little bit longer. But yeah, I think it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a little bit warmer tomorrow, it’s supposed to be at least, than the last time we were here, so it should be a fun race.”

In the spring, IndyCar was here, as well. They put some stuff on the track, kind of added some more grip maybe with them running. Do you think there’s anything different here with just O’Reilly’s, Trucks and ARCA?“Yeah, I think so. The rubber that the IndyCar guys put down already with those different tires is a little different, but I don’t remember. I don’t think we were affected by that, but the O’Reilly cars may have. I can’t remember how it worked last time here, but I don’t remember us being too affected by that, but the O’Reilly cars definitely did.  I miss those guys, to be honest. I think it’s a lot of fun to have the double with the IndyCar guys. I think it’s a lot of fun to watch those guys and to see them around. Hopefully next year, we can do it again. I think it’s a great thing for them, for us, and for the fans.”  Daniel, you mentioned visiting the three schools here in Phoenix, and then you also went down to the Fan Fest downtown Phoenix. What can we do to bridge the gap to be able to bring more kids to be able to have that experience?“Yeah, first of all, I really want to give a lot of credit to Latasha, the president of Phoenix Raceway, because she does an amazing job. She takes it personal, right? She’s not just the president of Phoenix Raceway, but also she’s from this area, and she’s always willing to go the extra mile to help and support the community. Actually, we gave away hundreds of tickets to the schools that we were at on Thursday for some of those kids to come for the weekend. Things like this, trying to build different platforms and different ways to have these young kids to interact with all the different positions that we have in the sport. That’s something I was telling the kids. I’m very blessed, I’m very fortunate, that I’m one of the faces of the sport as a driver, but there is so many different positions in the sport: from PR, mechanics, engineers, designing, you name it. I can almost guarantee you that there is a position for everything that you can maybe think of. So that’s, I think, something that’s very important, and I feel like we just have to continue to work in building these different mechanisms, different platforms, to give awareness to these young adults, especially from high school and middle school, that are starting to make different decisions on what they want to do in their lives. Like I said, I have a huge amount of respect for Latasha because I truly believe that she does an amazing job with this racetrack and this community to always go the extra mile.”

ARP to Support Annual California Hot Rod Reunion

HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILELOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

Spencer Hyde lit up the Texas sky on Friday at the Texas Fall Nationals,photo cfredit Innovation Creative Experts

HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILELOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

Spencer Hyde lit up the Texas sky on Friday at the Texas Fall Nationals,photo cfredit Innovation Creative Experts

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charge team celebrate their Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series victory in the Texas Fall Nationals winner’s circle, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charger (foreground) launch off the starting line against Lee Hartman on his way to his first Texas Fall Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series win, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

PAWUK CLOSES FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SERIES SEASON WITH VICTORY IN DALLAS

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charge team celebrate their Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series victory in the Texas Fall Nationals winner’s circle, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Charger (foreground) launch off the starting line against Lee Hartman on his way to his first Texas Fall Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series win, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS ATTEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

Chris King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car wowed the crowd on Friday night at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS ATTEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

Chris King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car wowed the crowd on Friday night at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Terry Haddock, driver of the Concho Supply Inc. Funny car talks with FOX’s Amanda Busick following his final qualifying session run, photo credit Werner Communications

Terry Haddock (left) talks to the fans in the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club, photo credit AJ Bohlander photography

HADDOCK MAKES MOST OFTEXAS FALL NATIONALS

Terry Haddock, driver of the Concho Supply Inc. Funny car talks with FOX’s Amanda Busick following his final qualifying session run, photo credit Werner Communications

Terry Haddock (left) talks to the fans in the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club, photo credit AJ Bohlander photography

Doug Duell scored his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier on Saturday in Dallas at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

DOUG DUELL NABS FIRST CAREER FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN NO. 1 QUALIFIER IN DALLAS

Doug Duell scored his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier on Saturday in Dallas at NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

Racer News and Results

HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILE
LOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

Spencer Hyde lit up the Texas sky on Friday at the Texas Fall Nationals,
photo cfredit Innovation Creative Experts

HYDE SHOWS CONSISTENCY IN DALLAS WHILE
LOOKING AHEAD TO FINISH THE COUNTDOWN

Spencer Hyde lit up the Texas sky on Friday at the Texas Fall Nationals,
photo cfredit Innovation Creative Experts

PAWUK CLOSES FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN
SERIES SEASON WITH VICTORY IN DALLAS

KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS AT
TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

KING SETS CAREER-BEST NUMBERS AT
TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS

HADDOCK MAKES MOST OF
TEXAS FALL NATIONALS