POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 9, 2026) – The right call on the weather brought Chris Dyson victory in the 2026 Trans Am by Pirelli season finale at Texas’s Circuit of the Americas, while his CD Racing teammate Matthew Brabham clinched the season championship with a podium finish. It was the three-time series champion’s 30th Trans Am victory and lifts Dyson out of a second-place tie with Mark Donohue on the all-time Trans Am winners’ list, just one behind Paul Gentilozzi. “It’s just such an honor to be competing in this series and carrying on my family’s legacy, it hasn’t quite set in,” Dyson said after climbing from his car in the winners circle. “You just look at the names who are at the top of the tree of the Trans Am winners list; those guys were my heroes. They’re guys I idolized when I was younger and to think that I’m in their company, it’s deeply humbling.” Completing an unprecedented season-long qualifying sweep, Brabham started Sunday’s 100-mile sprint from the pole in CD Racing’s #16 GYM Soda Ford Mustang, on a wet but drying track and in fewer than 10 laps stretched out a commanding half-minute lead over the rest of the field. Meanwhile Dyson, who had qualified third in #20 GYM SODA/RACER Ford Mustang got knocked back to eighth after being balked during a second-lap incident. Dyson had worked his way back up to third as the race passed the two-thirds mark when a full-course caution bunched up the field – and with racing surface continuing to dry, but weather radar showing more showers on the way opened the option for drivers to gamble on a change to dry tires. When the second-place driver pitted for dry tires, Brabham decided to do the same. Dyson made the opposite decision, inheriting the lead, but on wet-weather tires that might not make it to the finish if the track dried completely. “I was hoping if anything it was going to rain again,” Dyson said later. “The track was drying, but I just thought, we have to hedge the bets, because Matt was coming in for slicks. The guys (in the pits) kept saying it would rain in six minutes. I was hoping that rain might come.” The rain did not materialize but the track was not ready yet for slicks. And so from the restart on, Dyson’s #20 was the fastest car on the track, finishing the race unchallenged, with a nearly 17-second margin. Sunday’s Texas triumph also marked CD Racing’s fifth Trans Am triumph in six years at COTA, three by Dyson and two by Brabham. With increased business commitments on his plate, Dyson turned over the team’s lead-driver position and its most advanced chassis to Brabham for the season. Dyson now competes in selected events in the team’s 2018 car as his schedule permits. His COTA-winning #20 GYM SODA/RACER Ford Mustang has now completed its ninth racing season. “I knew after we wrapped up 2025 that the (#16) car was going to be phenomenal this year,” Dyson said, “and I also knew that I wasn’t going be able to make all the races. So we made the decision to put Matt in full time, and he delivered week in, week out. I mean, he swept every qualifying session and won the championship against pretty stiff opposition. It was a season for the ages and I’m proud of him and the whole team.” Brabham, now the Trans Am series champion and winner of nine of the season’s dozen races, reflected on 2026. “The championship years are the best years of your career,” he said. “I just can’t thank my team enough. Chris Dyson, he doesn’t get enough credit for the development work he’s done on this car himself. He’s made this car better and better for every race. Thank you so much, everyone on my team; everyone who looks after this car – the engineers and the mechanics. It wasn’t an easy season, but they just made the car so fast and so enjoyable.”

Event: NASCAR Cup Series Championship

Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Florida

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026

Start: 14th

Finish: 13th

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, featuring a special hood decal commemorating Motorcraft’s 25-year partnership with Wood Brothers Racing, finished 13th in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The 400-mile championship race also marked Berry’s final start behind the wheel of the iconic No. 21 Ford.

During his two seasons with Wood Brothers Racing, Berry earned the organization’s 101st Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025, along with seven top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. The Wood Brothers rebounded from a midseason slump in 2026 to finish 21st in the Owner Points standings.

On Sunday at Homestead, Berry started 14th and worked his way into the top 10 during the opening laps before finishing Stage 1 in 12th place.

During Stage 2, Berry slipped outside the top 20 before recovering to finish the segment in 20th.

The Motorcraft/Quick Lane team navigated a chaotic sequence on pit road during the ensuing Stage break, allowing Berry to gain five positions and restart 15th for the final segment. He steadily worked his way back into the top 10 and gained another position on pit road during the race’s final caution period.

Despite losing several positions during the final eight-lap run to the checkered flag, Berry brought the No. 21 Mustang home in 13th place to close out the 2026 season.

Eddie Wood expressed his appreciation for the continued support of the organization’s partners and reflected on Berry’s contributions during his two seasons with the team.

“We’d like to thank our friends at Ford Motor Company, Motorcraft, Ford Racing, Team Penske and all the sponsors that have made it possible for us to continue to field a competitive team in the Cup Series,” Wood said. “And we are proud of what we have accomplished with Josh. We will always consider him part of our Wood Brothers Racing family and wish him well as he moves to another team.”

With the 2026 season complete, Wood Brothers Racing now turns its attention to preparations for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, which begins with the DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR Cup Series Homestead-Miami Speedway Team Chevy Press Release Nov. 8, 2026

Chevrolet Claims 2026 NASCAR Cup Series ChampionshipChevrolet’s 35th Driver Championship, Larson’s Third Title in NASCAR’s Premier Series

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

·        Earning a fourth-place finish in Stage One of the season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Larson drove Chevrolet to its 35th all-time, and second consecutive, NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championship. The feat marks the manufacturer’s fourth Driver Championship in the past seven NASCAR Cup Series seasons, following Chase Elliott’s first-career title in 2020 and Larson’s 2021, 2025 and 2026 titles.  ·        The title marks Kyle Larson’s third career NASCAR Cup Series Championship, making him the second active driver – and 11th all-time in history – to win at least three championships in NASCAR’s premier series. ·        Kyle Larson delivered Hendrick Motorsports its 16th NASCAR Cup Series Championship, extending the organization’s all-time record. Larson is the third driver to earn at least three championships in NASCAR’s premier series under the Hendrick Motorsports banner.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2026) – For the second consecutive season, Chevrolet and Kyle Larson have earned the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, capturing the title following a fourth-place finish in Stage One of the season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The championship marks a title-winning debut season for the latest edition Camaro ZL1 racecar, which made its competition debut at the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Chevrolet’s championship tradition spans nearly seven decades, with Larson’s crown extending that legacy to 35 driver championship titles in NASCAR’s premier series.   Larson is the 11th driver in history to earn the honors as a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, while also becoming the first driver to win back-to-back titles since Jimmie Johnson’s run of five-straight from 2006 to 2010.   “Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the entire No. 5 Chevrolet team on their third NASCAR Cup Series championship,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors. “Championships are earned through preparation, trust and execution, and this team demonstrated all three throughout the 2026 season. They stayed focused through adversity, and performed the best when it mattered most.”  Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team built their championship charge with a standout postseason, combining race-winning speed with sustained execution throughout the 10-race Chase. After entering the postseason as the seventh seed, Larson finished sixth or better in each of the opening six races, including victories at World Wide Technology Raceway and Kansas Speedway. His 2.83 average finish across that stretch ranked as the best six-race run in the series’ postseason history since the format was introduced in 2004. Following a setback performance at Phoenix Raceway, the team rebounded with a dramatic victory at Talladega Superspeedway, where Larson rallied from 11th on the final lap to earn his first drafting-track win. With a hard-fought ninth place finish at Martinsville Speedway, the Chevrolet driver took a 67-point lead to South Florida, setting the stage to mathematically clinch the title at the end of Stage One of the championship-deciding race.   Hendrick Motorsports’ 2026 championship extends its NASCAR Cup Series record to 16 driver titles, all earned under the Chevrolet banner. The organization captured its first championship with Jeff Gordon in 1995, launching a legacy that includes titles with five different drivers: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (four), Kyle Larson (three), Terry Labonte (one) and Chase Elliott (one).  “We also congratulate Rick and Linda Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, Chad Knaus and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports on the organization’s 16th NASCAR Cup Series championship,” added Reuss. “This achievement reflects the leadership and teamwork that are hallmarks of Hendrick Motorsports. We’re proud of our partnership and honored to celebrate another championship together.”  The NASCAR Cup Series will return to the track at Daytona International Speedway with the Wheatley Vodka Clash on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027. 

Jonny Edgar claimed the Drivers title while the crew of the No. 33 Corvette won the Teams championship with a third-place finish for Edgar, Ben Keating and Nicky Catsburg, who finished second in Drivers points. It is the second WEC title for the Corvette Racing program, adding to the 2023 GTE Am championship for Catsburg, Keating and Nico Varrone. TF Sport also won its second WEC title, as well, and first since 2022.The No. 33 Corvette won in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the first there for the Z06 GT3.R – and was second at the Six Hours of Imola to open the season. Sunday’s title came four weeks after TF Sport claimed back-to-back championships in the European Le Mans Series’ LMGT3 class.  “Chevrolet and GM Motorsports congratulate Tom Ferrier, Jonny Edgar and everyone at TF Sport on winning the LMGT3 Driver and Team championships in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship,” said Eric Warren, Vice President, Global Motorsports Competition. “These results reflect the commitment and collaboration across TF Sport, GM engineering and Corvette Racing. Along with the WEC championships, Corvette Racing earned its 10th class victory at Le Mans and a class win in Brazil, while TF Sport secured consecutive European Le Mans Series championships. We’re proud of what this group has accomplished together and look forward to building on that success in 2027.” At the start of the day, the No. 33 needed to finish sixth or better to clinch the championship. It started second in class, dropped as far down as 15th, and then the trio worked its way back into the points and in podium position by the halfway mark. The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey placed 11th in the race and fourth in the final Drivers and Teams standings. They started 10th and advanced into the top-three early before falling back mid-race.  The No. 34 followed the sister Corvette’s victory at Le Mans with a class win of its own at Brazil. In addition to the FIA WEC and ELMS titles, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program also claimed the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship for Chevrolet in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – LMGT3 DRIVERS CHAMPION: “It’s a great feeling and really cool to be World Champion. It’s a shame that Ben and Nicky technically aren’t World Champions, and they should be because they have been here for nearly all the races. I’ve loved racing with them this year and obviously Ben the last two years. I feel lucky that Ben chose me to drive with him and I am happy that I could pay him back with some good results in the two years we have been together.”(On the up-and-down prospects during the race) “It wasn’t looking great, I would say. I think I was at P12 at one point and didn’t seem too quick to start the stint. But then we started moving back up a few places, avoided penalties that some of the other cars had, managed to save fuel to extend the stint. That’s when we had a little bit of luck when one of the VSCs came out as we were on pit lane. That obviously helped but the 92 also got a bit lucky there and it kind of equaled out. From there it was just trying to have the best race possible. We knew that top-six was what we needed, but it’s great to finish here on the podium and win the championship with a good result rather than just kind of doing the minimum that was necessary. The pressure was definitely on because it looked like the 92 probably had it and they were going to win the race. That meant we had quite a bit to do and it wasn’t simple.”(More on the championship) “I was quite relieved at the end. The last couple of stints were pretty stressful. We knew we needed to be top-six because from the last three hours it looked like the 92 was going to win. Everything had to go right, and it did. The team did a great job. Ben and Nicky did great and I’m happy to get it done. Since Le Mans we’ve been in a strong position so I knew the chance to win the championship looked good.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The only thing that could have made today better is if Petit Le Mans would have been better. Then my season would have been complete. It’s been fun to fight on both sides – the World Endurance Championship and in IMSA for the win. And Jonny won here with the team. A fantastic result. It was quite exciting in the end and not easy at all. I’m very, very happy also that we got a podium so we could celebrate on this awesome podium at Monza. A really nice feeling and result for the team and for Jonny to get what he deserves.”(On the race) “The last stint was very exciting. The guys behind me were all very fast and I knew we had to bring home a good result because the 92 unfortunately had enormous pace today with all their weight. We had to have a good result and it was tough. These were the first laps in the dry for me this weekend. On the first few laps I was way too slow and I could already see the stories… ‘Catsburg is messing up Edgar’s championship!’ Luckily that didn’t happen. The Corvette was great. I got some good coaching from the wall. We had good pace at the end. It feels really good to end the season with a podium as well. The podium here was really awesome. It’s great to finish a very good championship and a very good season like this. If I have to look back, of course it’s Jonny that wins but we’ve done it together. “It’s also deja vu because the last time I was here in a Corvette at Monza, we also won a championship in 2023. So Ben and I have a 100 percent win rate in the championship and at Le Mans! It’s been very cool working with these guys and my first year with TF. Tom (Ferrier) has an amazing team and it’s very cool to drive for them. And Jonny… it was my first year working with him and I’m sure you’re going to hear a lot from this guy. He’s been incredibly fast and did an unbelievable job this year, especially at Le Mans and even today. It’s unreal. If you listen to the radio, he’s helping the engineers play the right strategy. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing much more of him in a Corvette. I’m certain he is going to have a very nice future in this sport.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s pretty crazy! For the 92 (Porsche) starting in 11th, getting a drive-through penalty and me getting a penalty midway through the race, I thought neither of us had a chance. We both got really lucky on a virtual safety car, and I can’t believe that the 92 won the race. It put the points really close. I would have loved to have beaten them to get third-place in the Drivers Championship, but I will happily have fourth. But I still feel like this is my championship because I put the team together. I guess I would say, ‘I love it when a plan comes together!’(More on the championship) “It’s been an epic story. I asked myself the question early on that if I had the choice of winning Le Mans or the championship, I wanted to win Le Mans. But since we won Le Mans we’ve had a lot of success ballast which made the racing for the rest of the season challenging but also rewarding. Every single point mattered. It all came together at the end. It’s super-special after the reconstruction of my elbow. Thinking back on it, I won with TF Sport in 2022, I won with Corvette in 2023 so I was really excited to come back last year with both TF and Corvette. That was a challenging season and for me that made the fire burn even hotter. Even though I missed the first two races and am fourth in the championship, I very much feel like this is my team and my championship. It’s very special.”

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Not to be. We put up a good fight and had too many non-points scoring rounds. A DNF to start the season, no points at COTA and no points here. In such a tight championship it’s just not enough. An amazing effort, though. The Corvette was the class of the field, no doubt. It would have been great to have a 1-2 in whatever direction it would have been in. Because the championship is so tight, we’ve ended up fourth. Not to be but we’ll be back next year better, stronger and go again.”

PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “An amazing year. A huge congrats to Corvette, TF, Jonny, Nicky, Ben and everyone involved on the 33. It was an incredible season that they put together. And honestly an incredible season for us, too, to be in a position to challenge them throughout the year. We had a small hope of clinching or finishing first or second. We came up short due to my error, unfortunately. But overall this has been a year where I’ve met so many incredible people from every aspect… TF Sport, Corvette Racing, Pratt Miller, everyone in the WEC paddock. I’ve made a year of memories that I’ll have forever. I’ve really enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll be back one day to do Le Mans or do something, but if not I’ve made sure to make the most of this year.”

What they’re saying:Kristian Aquilina, VP Global Cadillac: “Congratulations to the No.38 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R on a magnificent win at the 6 Hours of Monza. It’s a proud moment for everyone at Cadillac Racing, GM and JOTA, and testimony to everyone’s hard work. Today’s win gives the whole team inspiration to keep pushing for more success next season!” David Clark, Director and Co-Founder of Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA: “It’s an amazing win, but to win a World Championship race at Monza is something really special. To finish the season with a victory is fantastic, and it means so much to the whole team, not just everyone here at the circuit, but all those working hard back at base and everyone at GM and Cadillac.” No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, Sébastian Bourdais: “An amazing day for the No. 38, for Cadillac and for JOTA. It’s a great send-off for me – I couldn’t have dreamt of a better way to finish this chapter. A huge thank you to everyone for all the hard work, for giving me a car capable of winning and for all the years I’ve been able to do my job within such a professional organisation. Hopefully it’s not the end for me, but it is the end of a chapter with GM, and there really couldn’t have been a better way to go out. “We’re missing Jack right now, but this was a three-driver effort and something we can all be incredibly proud of. There’s going to be a big party tonight!” No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, Earl Bamber: “An amazing job by everybody today. We’ve been working hard and chipping away at it all year, so to keep JOTA’s winning streak going is something really special. Everyone at Cadillac has been working incredibly hard as well. We had a great car at Le Mans, and I think we’ve just continued to build momentum since then. Today showed that we’ve got the composure, the team and all the ingredients to be a force to be reckoned with in the World Championship next year.” No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, Jack Aitken (taken after his first stint as he left before the end of the race for the birth of his first child): “It’s been a really great start to the race. We managed to keep our nose clean at the start and then slowly picked people off. The car feels really quick and we’ve been able to stay towards the front so far. It’s going to be tricky with what looks like quite a few interventions and safety cars today, so the team will need to stay on top of the strategy. I’ll be watching closely and hopefully we can bring home a strong result.”

CONCORD, NC (Nov. 7, 2026) – Retracing their steps from the year prior, David Gravel and Bobby Pierce ascended the championship stage they’ve come to know so well. Following in their footsteps, a new phenom.

Twenty-two-year-old Alex Yankowski joined the veterans in the infield of The Dirt Track at Charlotte Saturday night as they were each officially crowned champion.

Gravel earned his third straight World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series title, Pierce earned his third World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision title, and Yankowski scored his first Super DIRTcar Series championship, becoming the youngest champion in Series history.

All three produced strong enough seasons to lock up their titles before the final race of the season at the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals.

Yankowski, of Covington Township, PA, earned five wins, 17 top-five finishes, and 21 top 10s in 21 starts with the Super DIRTcar Series this season. While he held a comfortable lead over his closest competitor Mat Williamson, for most of the season, he admitted his cool demeanor was at times a façade for the nerves he was trying to hide.

“Extremely nervous,” Yankowski admitted. “Everyone around me every day – you can ask my car owners, my sponsors, my crew chief Kevin Bates, my girlfriend Chesnee – we’d go to dinner, meet my parents to go out to eat, and I’d just be stressed out, so when it was over I was relieved. I haven’t slept that good in a while.”

The octave of his voice dropped with his final words as he clenched his lips to fight back tears. While still (very) young, Yankowski’s path to being a champion came with some tribulations. He stunned the world in 2021 by winning his first Super DIRTcar Series race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in only his second Series start. Then, he went on a slight slump. He didn’t pick up his next win until 2024.

He joined the Super DIRTcar Series full-time for the first time in 2025, and while he impressed again with a second-place finish in points, he only grabbed one win with the Series. But after driving for his mentor Stewart Friesen’s team – Halmar Friesen Racing – at Super DIRT Week last year, he found one key component that was missing. Confidence. Once found, it propelled him to the championship stage at Charlotte with two three-time champions.

“When I look at my name next to theirs, it doesn’t make any sense to me,” Yankowski said. “I remember coming here as a fan for the first time and just being in awe. I never thought I’d be able to race an event here, let alone be competitive. It has a special place in my heart. I hope it’s not the last time I’m on this stage with guys of this caliber.”

Gravel’s third straight title puts him on another exclusive stage with a small group of high-caliber drivers. The Watertown, CT native joins 20-time champion Steve Kinser, 10-time champion Donny Schatz, five-time champion Brad Sweet, and three-time champion Sammy Swindell as the only drivers to claim at least three titles with the World of Outlaws. And on an even shorter list, only he, Kinser, Schatz, and Sweet have won at least three races in a row.

“The most coveted lists in Sprint Car racing are Knoxville Nationals champions and World of Outlaws champions,” Gravel said. “To be on the list with those guys is very special. It’s a long, long year, and you have to average a fifth-place finish or better all year long, and getting your butt kicked by Donny Schatz, and Brad Sweet, and Jason Meyers, you just learn from them.

“It just takes time. You have to get your butt kicked by them and learn how to do this. Luckily, I’ve been doing it long enough and have great owners and great crew to give me everything I need.”

Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports team ended the year with 11 wins, 48 top-five finishes, and 66 top 10s in 75 starts. While he wasn’t in the tightest points battle of his three titles, Buddy Kofoid kept Gravel on his toes throughout the season, picking up the most Series wins of any driver this season with 17. After the fall of the final checkered flag, Gravel ended the season with an 86-point lead over Kofoid.

“They’re never easy,” Gravel said about competing for a title. “You have to keep working hard, and guys are always chasing you. You always have to get better. You’re going to have some bad nights, or you’re going to make the wrong moves as a driver. We race so much, you just go back the next night and try your best. Try to rebound as good as possible, I feel like as a champion. If you have a bad night, or we crashed a couple times battling for the lead, you have to come back that next night and get on the podium and get rolling.

“It’s been a trying year. These guys are so good. It’s humbling. Since it’s not easy, it makes it a lot of fun.”

Pierce faced a similar situation to Gravel, producing a dominant year but still having to face adversity. On the track, some bad luck and stat-matching performances from his championship rival, Nick Hoffman, didn’t allow Pierce to run too far away with the title. Off the track, he had to face the terror of his father suffering a stroke – which he was fortunately able to recover from.

Through it all, the Oakwood, IL driver still managed to have the best year of his career with the World of Outlaws, picking up 20 wins – breaking the single-season win record – 39 top-five finishes, and 49 top 10s in 52 starts.

“It’s super rewarding,” Pierce said about picking up his third championship. “As always, it’s a long season. To come out on top, man, that’s just everything. It’s one of our main goals heading into the season to win this Outlaw championship. Just to do it for the third time, man, that’s awesome.

“Especially with the year we had. We had some ups, we had some downs. And everything in between. From my family and crew, I just can’t thank them all enough for staying strong, and even tonight, coming [to Charlotte] and ending it with a second-place finish. It’s been an awesome year.”

With his added title, Pierce becomes the fifth driver in the 25-year history of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to win at least three championships, joining Billy Moyer, Darrell Lanigan, Josh Richards, and Brandon Sheppard.

While he’ll take some time off, prep for more titles is just around the corner.

“Before you know it, I’ll be prepping for Arizona; I’ll be prepping for the first World of Outlaws race, which is Volusia in January. Before you know it, pinch yourself, it’ll be 2027.

“We’ll definitely find the time to bask in this success and soak it all in, and maybe watch some replays and just relive those moments of success, and really just let it all sink in.”

Once the glow of fireworks faded from the black sky and the last piece of confetti landed on the ground, each driver descended the championship stage, one step at a time, with new hardware in their hands and the honor of forever being called champion.

UP NEXT: Volusia Speedway Park will open the 2027 season for all three series. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will commence its season with the World of Outlaws Sunshine Nationals, Jan. 28-30. The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” during the second week of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 10-13. And the Super DIRTcar Series opens its season during the third week of DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 16-20. How do you get tickets? By visiting VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com.

If you can’t make it to the track, how can you watch every lap of every World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series race? Live on DIRTVision.

CONCORD, NC (November 7, 2026) – When Jonathan Davenport gets out front at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, there’s usually no stopping him. That trend continued on Saturday night.

One year ago, “Superman” won twice at Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals to surpass Jimmy Owens and become the winningest Late Model driver in the history of the event. This year, the goal was to keep piling on the trophies.

Davenport came into Charlotte in fine form having won his last two starts, including the final night of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision debut at Modoc Speedway on Oct. 23 and the Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway on Oct. 24. That momentum didn’t initially carry over into Charlotte, as Davenport came out of a Last Chance Showdown to finish 14th on Thursday, but he rebounded with a runner-up to Nick Hoffman on Friday.

When Davenport earned a front-row starting spot for a 50-lap Feature on a slicked-off Charlotte, it became clear that he was going to be the man to beat on Saturday. He shared the front row with someone on the opposite end of the experience spectrum in Dallon Murty, the Super Late Model rookie in his first trip to World Finals.

Davenport nailed the start and got a strong run through the middle of Turns 1 and 2, gaining enough ground to clear Murty exiting Turn 2. Murty did a respectable job of staying with the veteran throughout the race and was in position to capitalize on a mistake, but Davenport never made one. 2026 Series champion Bobby Pierce used a Lap 29 restart to take second from Murty and try his hand at passing Davenport, but the Blairsville, GA native never opened the door.

The win was Davenport’s ninth at World Finals and 20th of his career in World of Outlaws competition, tying him with Hoffman and Brandon Overton for 13th on the all-time list. In addition to extending his lead in the World Finals Late Model win column, Davenport is also tied with Donny Schatz as the winningest driver at the event across all three participating divisions.

“We were all a little worried about tire wear, obviously,” Davenport said. “Just being abrasive down here in the south, you always worry about that a little bit. But we cut our tires a certain way so they would mileage a little more. I just didn’t want to push too hard too early and kind of spin them off before the grip came back up. Just did that and tried to move around a little bit. I felt like a little bit higher was going to be a better line early, but I was bottoming out really bad. We went just a little bit too soft for the speed, I didn’t think it was going to be quite that fast. Then once it did start gripping back up, we could move back to the bottom there and really just back my corner up so I wouldn’t start bouncing so bad. That was the only thing I was worried about, just trying to find a smooth line so I wouldn’t be bouncing off the corner and spinning my tires.”

Pierce wrapped up his championship season in second ahead of Murty, who recorded a new World of Outlaws career best in third. Overton concluded his weekend in the Billy Franklin-owned Rocket Chassis in fourth, while Trey Mills secured the final MD3 Rookie of the Race Award of the year in fifth.

UP NEXT: The 2027 World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season begins at Volusia Speedway Park during World of Outlaws Sunshine Nationals, Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 28-30. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Dallon Murty won Heat 1.

Jonathan Davenport won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Ryan Gustin won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Chris Madden won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Bobby Pierce won WIX Filters Heat 5.

Chris Ferguson won Heat 6.

Hudson O’Neal, Drake Troutman and Josh Rice won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Dallon Murty won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Ethan Dotson won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Bobby Pierce was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Brandon Overton was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Ryan Gustin was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Brandon Sheppard was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Max McLaughlin was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Chris Ferguson was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (50 Laps): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 3. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 4. 17-Brandon Overton[7]; 5. 14-Trey Mills[11]; 6. 19R-Ryan Gustin[6]; 7. 1S-Brandon Sheppard[12]; 8. 74X-Ethan Dotson[23]; 9. 9-Nick Hoffman[9]; 10. 8M-Max McLaughlin[13]; 11. 22-Chris Ferguson[3]; 12. 9M-Tim McCreadie[14]; 13. 5-Drake Troutman[20]; 14. 1-Tyler Erb[15]; 15. 40B-Kyle Bronson[22]; 16. 58V-Daulton Wilson[18]; 17. 44-Chris Madden[5]; 18. 19-Dustin Sorensen[26]; 19. 49M-Luke Morey[16]; 20. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[25]; 21. 55E-Eli Johnson[28]; 22. 8-Kyle Strickler[10]; 23. 09-Michael Leach[8]; 24. 81F-Jadon Frame[17]; 25. 11R-Josh Rice[21]; 26. T8-Steve Banal[24]; 27. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[27]; 28. 6-Hudson O’Neal[19]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/davenport-captures-record-extending-ninth-charlotte-victory-in-season-finale/

Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing punctuate the season on a high note with a $25,000 World Finals payday

CONCORD, NC (November 7, 2026) – Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing will admit 2026 didn’t play out how they would’ve liked.

This combination is one of the sport’s elite organizations. They partnered ahead of the 2021 season and immediately established themselves as title contenders with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Macedo narrowly finished second to David Gravel in the 2024 championship chase.

Fast forward to 2026, and the pairing entered Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals destined for a fourth-place run in the standings. Sure, they’d collected an impressive seven wins, but this group led by Philip Dietz has the highest of expectations. They wanted to close out the campaign on a high note, and that’s exactly what they did at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Macedo would not be denied on his charge from the fourth row. He lined up eighth for the 25-lap season finale and quickly got to work. The Lemoore, CA native climbed all the way to second by the ninth circuit in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. Then he tracked down polesitter Giovanni Scelzi and fired a slide job on Lap 17 to take command. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid rose to the runner-up spot late and tried one slide job in Turns 3 and 4 that Macedo narrowly drove around. That was the winning move as he took off to the checkered flag.

“Man, I’m a little out of breath,” Macedo said. “I was running really hard. When I got to second, it was everything I had every single lap as hard as I could go as thin as I could get it to make speed and not get over it. Buddy was coming there at the end. I was coming extremely hard at a couple of the lappers and made last minute decisions that broke my runs, and I knew he was coming. The one slider I drove around, I think it would’ve been inches from disaster, but luckily we made it around there.

“We’re working really hard,” Macedo continued. “Obviously, where we are in points isn’t where we want to be. We had our down nights. But to look at an eight-win season and be disappointed shows we have high expectations, and we want to do our best to be the best team on the road. It’s not from lack of effort. Philip (Dietz), Adam (Zimmerman), and Robby (McQuinn) are putting in the hours and putting in the effort.”

The eighth victory of the year for Macedo was the 66th of his career with The Greatest Show on Dirt. That equals him with Bobby Davis Jr. and Craig Dollansky for 14th all-time. It was also the 90th World of Outlaws score for Jason Johnson Racing. They’re just 10 away from becoming only the seventh organization ever to reach triple digits.

Buddy Kofoid finished second in the Roth Motorsports No. 83, finalizing his Series-best podium tally at 35 this year.

“It was hectic but honestly a lot of fun racing up there with him, Kofoid said. “I felt like we were extremely good. I was kind of disappointed we pulled the seven then got to sixth in the Dash. I was thinking it would take a lot to get there, thinking about yesterday. Then I felt like our car was just so much night and day better. I felt like I could run it extremely hard, and I think the track was the best I’ve probably seen it.”

Giovanni Scelzi led the opening 16 circuits but ultimately fell two spots shy of back-to-back Charlotte wins, bringing the Spire Motorsports No. 77 home third.

“I felt like I just wore my stuff out,” Scelzi said. “It’s hard to run hard and not kill your stuff. Good job to my guys. It was a great week. We worked on it and got it better throughout the week.”

Buddy Schweibinz and Steven Snyder Jr. rounded out the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

The final Heat Races of the year belonged to Giovanni Scelzi (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Tyler Courtney (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Carson Macedo (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Buddy Kofoid (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Giovanni Scelzi.

Scelzi also topped the Toyota Dash.

David Gravel won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Chase Randall drove from 23rd to 14th to pick up his second KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the week.

Brock Zearfoss was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom took home Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race honors.

Buddy Kofoid clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Tyler Courtney.

UP NEXT: The 2027 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season launches at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in Barberville, FL on Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 10-13. 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 2027? ClICK HERE to see the currently announced dates.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 3. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[1]; 4. 69K-Buddy Schweibinz[11]; 5. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[10]; 6. 13-Tanner Holmes[4]; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[12]; 8. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[14]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[9]; 11. 7S-Chris Windom[17]; 12. 17-Spencer Bayston[13]; 13. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 14. 9-Chase Randall[23]; 15. 1A-Cameron Smith[20]; 16. 71R-Logan Rumsey[18]; 17. 2-David Gravel[21]; 18. 27-Emerson Axsom[26]; 19. 16C-Skylar Gee[16]; 20. 5-Chase Dietz[24]; 21. 15-Donny Schatz[19]; 22. 71-Parker Price Miller[15]; 23. 6-Bryce Lucius[27]; 24. 19-Brent Marks[22]; 25. 28M-Conner Morrell[28]; 26. (DNF) 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 27. (DNF) 14-Rico Abreu[7]; 28. (DNF) 2C-Cole Macedo[25]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/going-out-on-top-macedo-wheels-from-row-four-to-2026-world-of-outlaws-finale-victory/

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Homestead-Miami SpeedwayTeam Chevy Press Release Nov. 7, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 7, 2026) – A decade of manufacturer championship dominance and a second career title for Justin Allgaier defined Chevrolet’s season-ending celebration at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Allgaier and the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team captured the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship, complementing Chevrolet’s 10th consecutive manufacturer crown and completing a sweep of the series’ driver and manufacturer titles.  Chevrolet’s 28th Bill France Performance Cup extends its manufacturer championship streak to 10 consecutive seasons. The latest crown follows a record-setting start to the season when Chevrolet won the opening seven races — the longest season-opening win streak by a single manufacturer in series history. The Bowtie brand’s championship effort featured points-earning contributions from 13 drivers representing five different Chevrolet organizations, 12 of which added to the manufacturer’s record-setting 29 wins this season.  “Winning the Bill France Performance Cup for the 10th consecutive season is an incredible achievement for Chevrolet,” said Eric Warren, vice president, Global Motorsports Competition for General Motors. “With 29 wins and 13 different drivers contributing points towards this title, it’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication by Team Chevy’s engineers, drivers and teams throughout the entire season. We are proud of the team effort put forth by everyone involved in this program to produce our winningest season in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history.”  The title caps a career-best season for the Team Chevy veteran driver. Allgaier established his championship credentials early in 2026, winning at Phoenix Raceway before adding victories at Darlington Raceway and Martinsville Speedway during the opening seven races. He continued that momentum through the summer stretch, earning his career-high sixth victory of the season at EchoPark Speedway in July – a performance that led to the regular season championship and the top seed of The Chase.  The road to the championship also tested Allgaier’s resilience. Finishes outside the top-10 in the first two Chase races at Darlington and World Wide Technology Raceway, followed by a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, put the No. 7 team on the comeback trail. Allgaier responded with four consecutive top-five finishes leading into Homestead, overcoming a 31-point deficit during October to reclaim control of the championship. Allgaier put a bow on his title-earning run with a seventh-place finish in the season finale race.  “Congratulations to Justin Allgaier, Andrew Overstreet and the No. 7 Chevrolet team on winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship,” said Warren. “The team leveraged their consistency throughout the season to set themselves up for the opportunity to race for the title. Justin exudes the qualities of a true champion both on and off the racetrack, and we’re proud that one of Chevrolet’s longest-tenured drivers has earned another deserving championship.” Allgaier has become a cornerstone of JR Motorsports’ success, earning 31 of his 34 career series victories under their banner to earn his spot as the organization’s winningest driver. The title is the fifth all-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship for JR Motorsports’ co-owners Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who are also celebrating a season that saw the organization make 17 trips to victory lane.   “We’re incredibly happy for Kelley Earnhardt Miller, LW Miller, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the entire JR Motorsports organization on achieving their fifth O’Reilly Series Championship,” added Warren. “Our partnership with JR Motorsports has been an important part of Chevrolet’s history in the O’Reilly Series, and this championship adds to the success we’re proud to celebrate together.”  Allgaier is among a group of 18 different drivers that have earned a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship under the Chevrolet banner: Justin Allgaier (2026, ‘24), Jesse Love (2025), Tyler Reddick (2018, ’19), William Byron (2017), Chase Elliott (2014), Austin Dillon (2013), Clint Bowyer (2008), Martin Truex, Jr. (2004, ‘05), Brian Vickers (2003), Kevin Harvick (2001, ‘06), Jeff Green (2000), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (1998, ‘99), Randy LaJoie (1996, ‘97), Johnny Benson (1995), David Green (1994), Steve Grissom (1993), Joe Nemechek (1992) and Larry Pearson (1987). Chevrolet’s title-defending campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will get underway in the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027.

NASCAR Cup Series Homestead-Miami SpeedwayTeam Chevy Driver Quotes November 7, 2026

Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:  You have had some really good finishes recently. Is there one area in the team where you feel like you guys have improved at the end of this season?  “Seems like the speed has been relevant. Shane (Van Gisbergen) made a comment after practice yesterday that, unfortunately, that his car felt like a midseason car, which was not good. Definitely early spring or spring and early summer, in my opinion, were definitely not good times for us as a group. And, we don’t want to have our car handling like that again. So, yeah, I think we all three struggled last night. More often than not the last couple of months, we’ve been definitely better than we were the first couple months of the season. So just speed in general, has been better.  Ross, coming into this season, there were lots of questions about the updated Chevy body, and it would be a major difference for everyone. Thirty-seven races into it, how did it kind of live up to expectations?  “Big difference than what we expected. I’d say at the start of the season, just flat out, did not live up to expectations. A lot of work has gone in since the first time we put this car on track.  At the beginning of the season, at these downforce tracks, and we have come a long way. It’s pretty cool to see from my literal, physical seat in the car, how, from the first time we pulled on track with it, the most glaring thing for me is if you look at the hood, it’s got a, call it the power bulge. The center of the hood is raised and ever since that hood has gone on it, from the beginning to now, it’s incredible how, for it to be the same car, how much better it’s driving now. Supposed to be very, very small percent different coming into the season and it was not. So, still wrapping our heads around what it needs and what we want to get, you know, what it takes to get what we want out of it, but, yeah, we’ve come a long way. A lot of different shapes to get there.”  And then obviously like with the kind of competition changes behind the scenes, do you guys still feel, I guess, more confident heading into next season that you’ll have a better overall grasp on this new body and what to expect at all these different tracks?  “Well, no matter what, I think it’s human nature, if you get to do something again, you’re going to learn from your mistakes, whether you make the right decisions or not, that’s up to us, but with Justin Marks, living and breathing Trackhouse NASCAR right now, that’s what we need. It’s great to have him. You know, he’s making the decisions now that you’ll see the results next year. And that’s what that’s what we need. We need our leader and we’ve got him. He’s all cylinders go right now.” Might we expect anything on the number 1 team? And if there’s nothing concretely in the works right now, what changes do you feel like you want to see to get the one back to where it was kind of a couple seasons ago?  “I worked a long time to get to where I’m at, and I’m really happy and have a lot of things right. Obviously, we want to go faster. Like, if we don’t go faster on Sundays, I won’t be doing this a whole lot longer because you have to perform and we all know that. That’s what we all fell in love with as kids, racing. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing flag football, soccer, or racing cars at a young age if you catch that bug of competition, then you’ll do whatever it takes. And that goes for every position in the Cup Series. Everybody that walks into that garage in the morning and walks out the end of whenever the garage closes, has that addiction. And I know that word, you mean a lot of bad things, but in this line of work, you better be addicted. You better be just wanting to outwork the car next to you in the garage. You want to outwork the guy or girl that you want to go take their job. Like it’s a competition-based sport. So whatever Justin Marks and Trackhouse decide to do, you know, as far as all the spots at Trackhouse, there’s a couple hundred job positions that the company employs. And yeah, whatever they decide to do, as long as they keep me driving, I’m here for it.  Ross, what insight can you share of… the progress and the effort that Connor (Zilisch) put in this year, going through a rookie season and just you being a teammate, like what you saw from him as he navigated the challenges of making this adjustment?  “Yeah, big, big changes. You saw him crashing on lap single digit at the beginning of the year. I mean, when you look at….I just saw the stat this week of laps completed and you look at what Denny’s (Hamlin) done versus Connor, I mean, I’m right towards the bottom as well. So, yeah, you look back at those early races and he didn’t even didn’t even get a shot to feel the tracks. I mean, did practice qualifying and wouldn’t have a great Saturday and then would get in the race, all that dirty air. The car takes a bad bounce, something happens, and he crashes. I mean, that was early, and then through the summer, I saw where he would have the same opportunity to crash, and he would make it through that corner and live to fight another corner. And then live to at least put a second set of tires on. And he didn’t give himself that opportunity early in the year. So, yeah, it was a lot of early race exits for him. So, yeah, that’s the biggest thing I’ve seen is like, he learned to catch these cars and they’re so different than anything else that we, any of us, most of us, have ever raced. I will say I think that they are more similar to the prototype cars that he’s driven as far as underwings and general size of the tire and sidewall, but yeah, just making it to that first pit stop, that changed early summer.” During the week, how much was he leaning on those around him like you, for instance? I mean, did you work closely with him, even if it was just to, like, tell him to keep his head up or what was that relationship like of helping him through those moments where he’s admitted it was very rough mentally for him to find motivation and deal with, you know, coming into a season where he’s not the guy to beat, which he’s had so much of that in his career.  “He’s got a great group around him, both inside our four walls at Trackhouse, but at Chevy, at the GM Tech Center, and then his family has raised him to be older than his actual age. So, um, you know, a lot of credit to his parents, I don’t know how they did it, because I can just tell you when I was 19, I was not nearly as mature. And if there’s a reason that Justin Marks and I knew each other back then, not that Justin was owning teams back then, we were competitors, but he would have never hired me at 19 and he went and hired Connor and put him over at JRM and then brought him into the Cup car – right away. So, I think that Connor’s maturity, for 19, it’s just not fair to be that way. I’ll be honest. And then the group at Chevy and at Trackhouse. He’s got enough good people around him. Upstairs at GM and downstairs that continued to prep with him week in, week out, but, he’s going to be okay.”  Ross, in what ways are you proud of yourself for continuing to show up in a difficult season?  “I’m not proud. More probably embarrassed for how the season has been. This is not….it’s not okay. Maybe by now it’s, it’s pretty equal on seasons of like, where we are 19th in anything: practice, qualifying, race points, whatever – would be a success. There were times where I’d come down here and on Friday, in the Truck Series, race for a championship, and on Sunday, be happy with, like, 30th. Like, a top 30. Just call it you know, 30th. And where on Friday we were racing the win or the championship. So, you know, I’m pretty calloused to losing. I’ve lost a lot in my life and learned how to find the victories in the losses. Not okay at this level, not, not proud. Not something I’ll sit on a rocking chair and tell anybody about in 40 years. No. I don’t I don’t think 2026 is going to be a Cup Series season other than it was another step to get to wherever we’re going to get to. But no, I don’t use the word proud at all.”  “I mean, no, I was raised to just get up and go to work. So, that’s what my dad and granddad did, and they told me about my people like my great granddad. Like, that’s just what we did farm-wise, and there’s no option. Like there’s just work and yeah, this was just a working year. Just keep putting the boots on, keep going to work, and something to be proud of. It’s really something I’d rather not talk about once the good times come again. And I believe we’ll work to get there. There’s no guarantees. There’s no way to know that it’s going to get great again. There’s no way to know we’ll win again, but if we do, I don’t think I’m talking about ‘26. I’ll answer questions about it, but I’m not bringing it up.”   In reference to the whole Carson Hocevar thing that’s going on right now. Wasn’t too many years ago, you were the young, aggressive, sometimes criticized for being over aggressive guy. Can you comment about what that was like at that time and also whether you feel like you’ve changed your driving style as a result?  “Yeah, I never got parked in the Cup Series, so I can’t speak to that, but we all want more out of Carson, and he’s got a group around him that clearly has made their decisions to do that. I bet on Jeff Dickerson every time. Jeff was a big part of getting me into the Ganassi 42 O’Reilly car. I mean, heck I think he was involved, but at least his, one of his guys, David Erickson, was the one that was paying me to drive. They would pay me five-hundred bucks and let me tow my own truck. So, I bet on what they see and what the decisions they make. They gave Carson his opportunity when Corey (Lajoie) got into the nine, they let Carson drive their car. So, they put Carson in the car and they can take him out. I’ll side the Jeff every time. As far as I go, you know, when I look back at all that, I built some, I’ll use the word, I don’t know why, calloused. I’ll use it twice in one sitting here, but, you know, some of my friendships and relationships that were just, I’d say just like surface level really, grew deeper and calloused over to be like, okay, if we made it through that, we’ll make it through a lot. You know, there’s a lot that’s always, ever since then, that’s been made about Hendrick, like Rick Hendrick, and the phone call we had and like, you know, I laughed because there was only two people on that phone call. And the way it went was so inspiring to me. Because he could have said anything. But the fact that he encouraged me to race, and, like, we had a meaningful conversation that, honestly, it was in the morning, and I remember walking outside, and I was right after Darlington, and I was like, ‘wow, I can run through a brick wall right now’. Like Rick Hendrick just gave me that kind of a motivating talk. To go drive and go race, and so it’s unfortunate that we slowed down. I mean, I cannot drive a slow car fast. I just, there’s no way else around it. Like all of my teammates, we’ve slowed down. In fact, then, Daniel (Suarez) and I were so fast, almost every week, and that was early on in Gen 7. And it’s just so unfortunate that the timing lined up that way because people, they truly believe. I have people come up to me all the time and believe that I purposely am driving in a way to drive slower and to drive cautiously. And I’m like, I don’t know how you think that’s possible in the Cup Series. I mean, I am driving into the corner, through the center of the corner, off the corner as fast as I can. And I’m not the best driver out here. I have to put in more work. It’s not fair how good Carson is, how good Larson is. These other guys that I race against because I have to put in…..I see when they do, I train with some of them, and I see the work they put in; physically, mentally, like, prep wise, and I’m just like, ‘man, if I could just be that good’, like, wow, I’m jealous, honestly. And so it’s just, I let it roll off my shoulder though. When the cars, when we get them, where we want to be and back to where we have been, where you’ve seen Trackhouse be, it will be fun times again. And like I said, I just, I’m not okay with 18th in points, Shane and I be in within 30 of each other or something. Like over the course of the year, the 97 and the 1 car are within 30 points of or something of each other. So, yeah, it’ll come back around I believe. I get up every day and work that way and same as Carson. He’ll be back next year and there’ll be incidents. There will be incidents with the 1 car along the way, and I can’t wait for my front bumper to be torn up again. And say that.”

It also was the second race in a row that both TF Sport Corvettes advanced to Hyperpole. The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette will start 10th. Peter Dempsey set the fastest time in Q1 at 1:48.440 (119.490 mph) and swapped over to Salih Yoluc for the second session. Qualifying was the first dry running of the week for the TF Corvettes and the full field of 35 cars. Persistent rain fell across the Monza area all day Friday, and the track remained damp for Saturday morning’s final practice. Both Corvettes are part of a three-car fight for the LMGT3 championship heading to Sunday’s green flag. The yellow No. 33 of Edgar, Keating and Nicky Catsburg leads the Teams standings by 18 points and can claim the title with a sixth-place finish, no matter what any of their competitors do in the race. Their closest challenger – the No. 92 Porsche – will start the race from 11th on the grid and needs to finish either first or second to have a chance. The red No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette of Dempsey, Yoluc and Charlie Eastwood is third in Drivers and Teams points heading to Monza. A victory Sunday would move Eastwood, Yoluc and Dempsey to at least second in the championship. They would take the title with the win plus a ninth-place finish for the No. 33. TF Sport already claimed a championship earlier this year with a second consecutive LMGT3 title in the European Le Mans Series with Eastwood as one of its drivers. Corvette Racing entries have only been to Monza twice in FIA WEC competition, but there were significant races in the program’s history. The first was a GTE Pro victory in 2022 for Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy – the team’s first WEC race win outside of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A year later back at Monza, Corvette Racing’s No. 33 Corvette C8.R of Catsburg, Keating and Nico Varrone wrapped up the GTE Am championship. The Six Hours of Monza for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 11 a.m. CET / 5 a.m. ET on Sunday. Live streaming coverage of the race plus timing and scoring is available through a subscription on FIA WEC Plus with additional live streaming on the HBO Max app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will provide live streaming audio coverage as well.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We’ve shown this season that qualifying isn’t the most important. It’s always nice to start at the front, though. The bigger positive for me with qualy being dry shows that we have good pace in the dry. Until now we had no idea where we would be on dry pace relative to everyone else. Personally I didn’t think we would be this strong relative to some other cars. That gives me a lot of confidence that we clearly have pretty similar pace to most of the cars and more so with the fact that we are starting second.“From any position, something can happen at Turn One. You can’t control it but being in the front is safer than being in the mid-pack. You don’t really have anyone ahead; it’s just behind where you need to watch. Hopefully it’s a bit safer. We seem to be quite far ahead of the other people that we are racing for the championship so that’s great for us. The car felt really nice. We did a good job of judging how it was in the wet and trying to translate it to what we need in the dry. So that really helped us.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Kudos to the team and Tyler (Neff, engineer). And I’ll say kudos to my experience of racing here in ’21, ’22 and ’23. This is the first dry lap we’ve had and I know that had to come in to at least having an idea of how to get around this track quickly. I was on the pole in ’22 so I know it can be done. I had one good lap and unfortunately I made a few mistakes in the others. I think I may have been able to improve but all it takes is the top-10 and I’m happy with that. I was thrilled to see the 92 is 11th and the 69 is not on pole. So that obviously helps us in the championship.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R (after FP3): “I feel like it’s not too bad. If I look at who is fast in the wet, where we are and where our main opponents are, I don’t think it’s too bad. It’s important now in qualy that the BMW doesn’t take pole. Compared to the Porsche, I think we are going to be OK and also when it’s dry. I don’t think we are in too much of a bad spot. The only thing I dislike, and everyone will say this, is that we’ve done no laps in the dry. The first lap in the race will be tough because of that. But everyone will say that. I have high hopes and feel like we will be in a good spot. For Ben, for sure doing the start is going to be tricky always at Monza for that reason. Whatever happens, we need to not be in an incident. That’s clear. We need to keep it safe, score points and not have anything go on.”

PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I think Q1 gave us very little information for the race. It was still damp and it was our first time on slicks, trying to get temperatures up and dealing with coolant on the track and traffic. So there’s not much to take from it other than getting some energy numbers to make us a bit more ready for dry conditions. Obviously delighted for both cars to get into Hyperpole and congrats on the 33 for getting P2. We had no dramas in Q2. Salih did a good job trying to get us a little higher. But he’s done an unreal job starting the races from P10. I have full confidence that he can drive us toward the front in the first double-stint.”

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R (after FP3): “We’re arguably a little more in the dark than we arrived! It seems in every practice session one time we are fast, one time the 33 is fast, one time somebody is strangely fast. When it’s in these conditions and if you’re on the right tire at the right time, you end up looking really good or really bad if you’re not. We did get a couple of laps in the dry yesterday but we ran just standard pressures just to see where we’re at for the race. It obviously was still damp so we still kind of don’t have much clue as to where we really are. The Corvette is going down the straights pretty good, which is an important thing around Monza so that’s fantastic. So as it heats up things should keep coming toward us. The good thing is that with the prep that TF, Corvette and GM do that we come into these events as prepared as most. Just rocking up for the race blind is not a bad thing for us at all.

2026 FIA World Endurance Championship PointsLMGT3 Drivers Standings1. Jonny Edgar – 92                   2. Nicky Catsburg – 883. Richard Lietz/Riccardo Pera/Yasser Shahin – 744. Charlie Eastwood/Peter Dempsey/Salih Yoluc – 705. Ben Keating – 70 LMGT3 Teams Standings1. No. 33 TF Sport – 922. No. 92 The Bend Manthey – 743. No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF – 704. No. 69 Team WRT – 665. No. 21 Vista AF Corse – 64 Corvette Racing at Monza (wins in bold)2022: No. 64 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1st in GTE Pro 2023: No. 33 Corvette C8.R: Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nico Varrone – 4th in GTE Am

What they’re saying:No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, Earl Bamber: “Really, really great work from everyone to get another top-three qualifying result. Starting from the second row in third position is exactly where we want to be for this race, and full credit to the whole team. The car was really good from the get-go, and I’m excited to go racing tomorrow because I think we’ve got a great race car and can really push forward.” No.12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, Norman Nato: “Honestly a pretty decent qualifying session considering the challenging the conditions we had yesterday. It was the first proper dry session and the first opportunity to run on slicks. The race pace is there and with Earl in P3 and us in P7, it’s still a decent result for the team. It’s Monza, a lot can happen, and there’s still everything to play for tomorrow.”

CONCORD, NC (November 6, 2026) – Nick Hoffman is finally a winner of his home state’s biggest dirt track race.

The Dirt Track at Charlotte has been the premiere showplace for the sport in the Carolinas from the day it opened in 2000, and Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals has been its signature event since 2007. Hoffman has fond memories of attending the event as a fan for several years, and it’s been one of his most wanted trophies in his past four years as a full-timer with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

Hoffman has always had a knack for racing at Charlotte, as evidenced by his three World Short Track Championship titles in his DIRTcar UMP Modified days. That open-wheel success had started to translate to the Late Model as of late, as Hoffman entered Friday’s program on a streak of five-straight finishes of seventh or better at World Finals. But when he won his Heat Race and drew the Bilstein Pole for the Feature, Hoffman knew he had his best chance yet to finally break through.

Hoffman didn’t let the opportunity pass him by. The NOS Energy Drink No. 9 was the class of the field throughout the 35-lapper, leading every circuit on the way to the checkered flag. Ryan Gustin stayed within a second of Hoffman to keep him honest, particularly in traffic, but he never got close enough to go for a race-winning move. Jonathan Davenport got around Gustin for second with four laps remaining, but by then, it was too late to get to run down Hoffman.

In his final World of Outlaws weekend as the driver at Tye Twarog Racing, Hoffman climbed out of the car in Victory Lane surrounded by Twarog and plenty of other friends and family members.

“I have a couple great memories of sitting in those grandstands watching Scott Bloomquist win the Colossal 100 here,” Hoffman recalled. “And then Jimmy Owens was so good. Hell, there was one year that Jason Feger came down here and put on a show running above the cushion. That’s one thing tonight, they did a hell of a job to turn this racetrack around. If you would have told me four or five hours ago that it would turn out like this, I would have called you a liar. Pretty wild that it got slick and didn’t get rough.”

Behind Hoffman, Davenport and Gustin, Ricky Thornton Jr.’s bid for an eighth-straight Late Model win ended in fourth, while Chris Madden rounded out the top five.

RACE NOTES:

Chris Madden won Heat 1.

Dallon Murty won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Ryan Gustin won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Chris Ferguson won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Nick Hoffman won WIX Filters Heat 5.

Trey Mills won Heat 6.

Tim McCreadie, Drake Troutman and Ethan Wilson won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Nick Hoffman won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Ricky Thornton Jr. won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Jonathan Davenport was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.

Ryan Gustin was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Ricky Thornton Jr. was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Chris Madden was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Max McLaughlin was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Brandon Sheppard was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Jordan Koehler was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Jadon Frame was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Kyle Bronson was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (35 Laps): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[1]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[10]; 3. 19R-Ryan Gustin[3]; 4. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[18]; 5. 44-Chris Madden[6]; 6. 13-Dallon Murty[4]; 7. 8M-Max McLaughlin[11]; 8. 1S-Brandon Sheppard[13]; 9. 1-Tyler Erb[8]; 10. 32-Bobby Pierce[12]; 11. 74X-Ethan Dotson[25]; 12. 9M-Tim McCreadie[19]; 13. 114-Jordan Koehler[15]; 14. 81F-Jadon Frame[16]; 15. 5-Drake Troutman[20]; 16. 58V-Daulton Wilson[26]; 17. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[27]; 18. 40B-Kyle Bronson[9]; 19. 6-Hudson O’Neal[7]; 20. 8-Kyle Strickler[17]; 21. 14-Trey Mills[2]; 22. 5J-Braden Jones[14]; 23. 19-Dustin Sorensen[28]; 24. 1Z-Logan Zarin[30]; 25. 11-Austin Smith[23]; 26. 16-Ben Watkins[24]; 27. 5W-Ethan Wilson[21]; 28. 11R-Josh Rice[22]; 29. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[29]; 30. 22-Chris Ferguson[5] 

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/hoffman-wins-first-world-finals-feature-for-20th-world-of-outlaws-victory/

The Fresno, CA native continues his recent hot streak by leading every lap at Charlotte

CONCORD, NC (November 6, 2026) – “Hot Sauce” is back in World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Victory Lane.

Giovanni Scelzi opened a brand new chapter in 2026. He teamed with Spire Motorsports as the NASCAR operation opted to add Sprint Cars to their stable. That paired him with one of the best crew chiefs in the business, Eric Prutzman.

The combination got hot with three straight wins last month, one at Lakeside Speedway and two at Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. They had no intentions of slowing down on Spire’s home turf with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Scelzi started the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals with a top 10 on Thursday, and he upped his game to another level on Friday. The Californian lined up on the front row and ripped by polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild on the opening circuit and set sail. Tanner Holmes charged into the runner-up spot late and closed in on the No. 77’s tail tank but ran out of time as Scelzi took the checkered flag.

“The cushion got lipped up there pretty quick after they tilled it,” Scelzi said. “Man, I know we were all angry at first, but kudos to the track crew. Thank you to the fans for staying here. We’ve been here for nearly 12 hours. To get a win in Spire’s home state is awesome with the Chili’s 77 car. It’s very, very cool to win here. It’s been seven years since I won here last.”

Scelzi becomes the 24th different winner with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2026, meaning the record for the most in one season could be tied on the final night of the campaign. The 24-year-old is now at 11 career World of Outlaws triumphs, equaling him with Fred Rahmer for 48th most. Spire Motorsports etched their name in the history books by becoming a World of Outlaws winning organization.

Tanner Holmes recorded his best career World of Outlaws finish with a runner-up in the Buch Motorsports No. 13.

Sheldon Haudenschild and the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18 crew rounded out the podium.

Cameron Smith and Buddy Schweibinz completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Heat Races belonged to Bill Balog (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Buddy Schweibinz (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Sheldon Haudenschild (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Cameron Smith (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Giovanni Scelzi.

Sheldon Haudenschild topped the Toyota Dash.

Steven Snyder Jr. won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Donny Schatz drove from 25th to 17th to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Emerson Axsom finished 12th to pick up Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race honors.

Giovanni Scelzi clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series conclude the 2026 season with the $25,000-to-win finale of the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday, Nov. 7. 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 (25 Laps): 1. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 2. 13-Tanner Holmes[3]; 3. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 4. 1A-Cameron Smith[4]; 5. 69K-Buddy Schweibinz[7]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[10]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[13]; 8. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[9]; 9. 2-David Gravel[11]; 10. 71-Parker Price Miller[6]; 11. 14-Rico Abreu[17]; 12. 27-Emerson Axsom[12]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[15]; 14. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 15. 39M-Anthony Macri[14]; 16. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[21]; 17. 15-Donny Schatz[25]; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart[24]; 19. 19-Brent Marks[20]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[18]; 21. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 22. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 23. 24D-Danny Sams III[16]; 24. 7NY-Matt Farnham[8]; 25. 71R-Logan Rumsey[23]; 26. 2C-Cole Macedo[26]; 27. 28M-Conner Morrell[28]; 28. 16C-Skylar Gee[27]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/staying-spicy-scelzi-scores-friday-of-world-finals-puts-spire-motorsports-in-world-of-outlaws-victory-lane/

NASCAR Cup Series Homestead-Miami Speedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes November 6, 2026

Connor Zilisch, driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the season finale race weekend of his NASCAR Cup Series rookie campaign at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:  Connor, just how do you assess what this rookie year has been and what you’ve learned from where you were in February to where you are now in November?‘Yeah, I’d be lying if I said it was what I hoped for. It certainly hasn’t been a picture-perfect year by any means, but I’m just glad the last few months we’ve started to show some growth and I feel like I’ve gotten better as the year has gone on. It’s certainly taken time. There’s been some rough patches for me, for sure, and that’s been mentally and inside the racecar. It’s definitely taken a toll on me, but these last few months, I feel like we’ve been qualifying better, running better, and at least in the game; staying on the lead lap and just doing the basics. Hopefully we can continue that going into next year. But yeah, certainly not the year I hoped for or wanted, but I’m proud of myself for sticking through it and getting some results on the back end.”  What specifically, if anything, do you feel like has changed the last couple months? You’ve had more top-20s, a top-10 at Gateway, so what do you feel has changed the last couple months?“I would say the biggest thing is starting our weekends off right on Saturday. We’re unloading better. We’re not swinging through the fences Saturday afternoon trying to figure out what we’re going to do to the racecar for Sunday to make it better. We’re qualifying better, which is a huge thing in the Cup Series. You qualify outside the top-25 at a lot of racetracks and your chances of staying on the lead lap in Stage 1 are slim to none. It’s so hard when the leaders get to the back of the field so quick and you’re kind of stuck back there. You’re in dirty air. You can’t do a ton. You see a lot of the fast cars that are able to do it and make a decent day out of it, but it’s just very difficult to dig yourself out of a hole if you don’t have a good day on Saturday. We’ve done a better job of that. We’ve had some really good qualifying runs lately, at least in my perspective. We’ve been starting better on Sunday’s, which just completely changes your outlook on your day. You get a better pit stall. You have a track position to start the race. It’s kind of crazy how much it does, and I didn’t realize that coming into the year and probably didn’t put enough emphasis on it. I feel like I’ve done a better job of that.”   Ever since your announcement that you’re going to Hendrick Motorsports in 2028, it seems that people are trying to find a way for you to get there in 2027. Has that just been noise, or has there been any discussions or anything about you trying to get over to Hendrick Motorsports or a Hendrick Motorsports affiliate team?“Yeah, it’s been a lot of noise. Alex (Bowman) has a commitment to run one more year. I have sponsors to fulfill obligations for another season. I’m excited about that. I think it’d be great to go race for Hendrick Motorsports next year and get that opportunity quicker, but at the same time, I’m happy in the spot I’m in. I get to learn in a lower-pressure situation with less eyeballs on me. I feel like I can just go out and focus on myself. I’m focused on results right now, but I feel like in that position, it would be a lot more stressful each weekend. I feel like it’s good for me to be able to learn in this situation and get to race with Trackhouse Racing for one more year and finish what we started. I would not want to leave Trackhouse after a season like this. I want to end on a good note. I want to be able to leave saying that we achieved all we could and gave it our best effort, which we have. Hopefully next year can go better; we can take something away from it and have a good last season together.”   Is there any one thing that you really learned this year? Something that really sticks out that you maybe weren’t anticipating or something that you felt like, okay, this is what I have to do.“Yeah, I would say mostly mental. I think for me, I didn’t realize how hard it is. My entire life racing, I’ve raced for wins. I’ve been the guy to beat. I’ve showed up to the track and expected to win. This year, I haven’t had that. I think trying to find motivation when you’re not racing for the win every weekend is something that I’ve never experienced in my life. I’ve never dealt with that kind of adversity. I had to find a way to keep myself motivated and my team motivated through races where you’re not contending for wins every week. I’d say that’s been the biggest thing that I’ve learned is just trying to find goals that are achievable and just focus on those and block out the outside noise because it’s really easy to focus on the results sheet Sunday night and see where you finish. At the end of the day, that is important, but for me, my first year and being a rookie and just trying to learn, it’s not important. I just want to be a better racecar driver, and I think that’s been the biggest thing that I’ve had to learn is to not focus so much on where I’m finishing and just try and allow myself to learn without listening to the noise around me.”  Knowing that you’re going to be going into Hendrick Motorsports, does it give you some sort of comfort in that you can learn and you can learn these things… inaudible? “It helps, but I still put pressure on myself every weekend to perform, and I expect a lot out of myself. Although I know that I have at least a couple more years of getting to do this, it’s still important to me to run well every weekend. I’m not taking it easy because I know that I have a couple of years of racing in the Cup Series ahead of me.  Yeah, I would say I still put as much pressure on myself, but it is nice knowing that I can have bad weeks and not have to worry about losing my job.”   What do you want to do and accomplish next season? “Yeah, I just want to do better than I did this year, honestly. I put it as simple as that, and that doesn’t mean I want to finish 32nd in points instead of 33rd. I want to see a larger jump than that. I want to race for wins. I want to get to be on the lead lap each weekend and feel like I’m in the fight. I just want to feel more at home and be able to have confidence in myself to go out and do my job every week and succeed. I’m not setting any goals of amounts of top-10s or where in the points I want to finish. Certainly, I just want to have more confidence in myself to run up front and do better than I did this year.”   Last week on the pit road at Martinsville, Shane (van Gisbergen) mentioned that there were some big team changes coming to Trackhouse Racing next year. Without getting into details,  what do you expect to see from Trackhouse from a performance standpoint next year? “Yeah, it’s not my position to talk about it, but I wouldn’t expect anything major.”   On crew chief Randall Burnett:  “Yeah, I think the plan right now is to stick with Randall (Burnett). Randall’s been great for me. Obviously, the results haven’t been good, but he’s been very helpful for me. It takes time. When you put two new people together, it’s never easy right away. He doesn’t know what I like and what I want to feel out of the racecar every weekend. As we start to build that relationship, it’s only going to get better. I don’t want to have to restart that from square one. I think Randall’s done a good job of progressing as the year has gone on. We’ve made some changes internally in our team, outside of the crew chief position, just to try and help our team and make things better. We’ve seen gains. We just have to try and continue that.”   How has that personal relationship with Randall Burnett grown over this year?“It has a lot. Randall and I are good friends away from the racetrack, which is super important. We get along well. I’ve gotten close with his kids and watch his son’s racing. He’s just been a great person for me to lean on. He stays pretty even through all the good days and bad days. We try and make fun of it, even when the weeks aren’t going great.”  First off, how many times did you have to pay for losers dinner this year?“I paid for 12 of the 36. Not bad, but hopefully we can get that number down next year.”   So it’s going to continue?“Yeah, I hope so. We all love it. After every single race, I always look at the scoring pylon and make sure that I at least beat one of them. It’s a battle within a battle.”   Secondly, talking about this year and going through the journey of a rookie season, is there anything that you can look at and say you’re grateful for having gone through this year?“Yeah, there’s a lot I’m grateful for. First of all, the opportunity. I don’t think many drivers have raced in the Cup Series at 20 years old, so the fact that I was able to do this at this age and get a jump start on it is great. It hasn’t been great, but I’d rather learn it at a young age than wait until later. I’m grateful for Justin Marks and believing in me; Red Bull and everybody who was a part of it for giving me the opportunity. I’ve tried to take in every experience, whether it was walking out and seeing how many fans were in the stands. I still remember the Daytona 500 walking out with Jimmie Johnson. It was like my childhood dream. It was kind of crazy.  At the end of the day, I’m still living out my dream. I’m grateful for everything that I’ve been able to do, but it’s tough to remember that sometimes.”  The whole Rookie of the Year thing, it’s just kind of funny to me because I feel like every time you’re here or at a media scrum or whatever, it’s always just man, it’s a struggle, I hope I do better next year. But for all that, you’re going to have this title for the rest of your career, the rest of your life. What do you hope the prevailing emotions is when you either look at the trophy that was collecting dust or see your name as Rookie of the Year. What do you expect that emotion to be?“Yeah, I just hope the stat sheets never show how many were racing for it in parentheses next to it because if that happens, then it’ll be a little embarrassing (laughs). But yeah, I guess I have to accept my award and take it. If I was a betting man, I would have put a lot of money on the fact that I would have won Rookie of the Year in February. But unfortunately, I can’t bet on our sport. If I could, then I probably wouldn’t have made much money because there would have been great odds.  But yeah, it’s kind of just comical after the year I’ve had to have to go to the banquet and collect an award. I feel like I shouldn’t be going, but here we are. I’ll take it.”  I think it was New Hampshire in August that we started having longer practice sessions. As a rookie driver, how does that help you guys as you’ve rolled through this final dozen or so races as you get these longer practice sessions?“Yeah, I mean, it helps having two sets of tires and everybody goes out together. You can kind of gauge yourself off the fast guys. It’s a little bit easier to know where you are on Saturday afternoon when everybody’s in one group and you all go out there together. And also, getting two sets of tires, you’re able to make changes and put another set of tires on and see if it makes your car better or not. It certainly hasn’t hurt us as a team and just getting myself ready for qualifying. So yeah, I’ve enjoyed it.”   Can you just talk a little bit about your relationship with Jeff Gordon? I know he’s talked about not wanting to interfere with the rest of your time at Trackhouse, but what kind of role has he played with your transition? Yeah, I mean, Jeff (Gordon) is somebody I look up to. I’ve known him for a little bit, but I really haven’t gotten to spend much time with him until the last few months. Getting to spend time with him and hear from him and his experiences is super valuable for me. Not only was he a great racecar driver, but he’s a very smart businessman, as well, and that’s something that I want to be myself. So yeah, I look forward to spending more time with him and as time goes, I’m sure I will, but I certainly look up to him and the person he is.”  You’re talking about some of the moments throughout your rookie season. Are there any that stand out to you that you’ll kind of look back on going forward or anything like that? “You know, I wouldn’t point to one situation in particular, but I kind of just look back on the entire season of the experiences I’ve gotten to live through. There’s nothing very glamorous that I’m going to point back to and remember, but just the hard times and trying to get through it all and figuring things out week by week is something that I’ll cherish and remember.”

Event: NASCAR Cup Series Championship RaceDate/Time: Sunday, November 8, 2026, 3 p.m. ETLocation: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FloridaLayout: 1.5-Mile OvalTV/Radio: NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioWood Brothers Racing and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team head to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship race celebrating a milestone 25-year partnership with Motorcraft while preparing to close out their two-year run with driver Josh Berry, who delivered the organization’s historic 101st victory.To commemorate the silver anniversary of the partnership, the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will carry a special 25th anniversary Motorcraft decal on its hood this weekend.Jon Wood, a third-generation member of the Wood Brothers family who serves as team president and co-owner, reflected on the significance of the longstanding relationship with Motorcraft, which ranks among the longest-running partnerships in NASCAR history.“Our relationship with Motorcraft is something our family takes a tremendous amount of pride in,” Wood said. “When you look at how much this sport has changed over the last 25 years, it really puts into perspective how special it is to have a partner that has been with us through so much of our history.“We’ve celebrated some great moments together, and the relationships we’ve built with the people at Ford and Motorcraft mean just as much to us as the success we’ve shared on the racetrack. We’re grateful for their continued commitment to our race team and look forward to building on that in the years ahead.”Sunday’s season finale also marks Berry’s final race behind the wheel of the iconic No. 21 Ford before Jesse Love takes over driving duties in 2027.“We’re certainly appreciative of everything Josh has contributed to Wood Brothers Racing over the last two seasons,” Wood said. “Bringing home our 101st victory at Las Vegas last year was a special moment for our team in our 75th season, and Josh will always be a part of that history.“Our focus now is on finishing the season strong at Homestead and closing out the year on a positive note.”Berry and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team enter the season finale with momentum following a strong stretch of performances that includes a pair of fourth-place finishes at Charlotte and Martinsville, an 11th-place result at Phoenix and a 12th-place finish at Talladega.Practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Both sessions will air on truTV.Sunday’s 400.5-mile, 267-lap race is scheduled to take the green flag shortly after 3 p.m., with live television coverage on NBC.Stage breaks are scheduled for Laps 80 and 165.

CONCORD, NC (November 4, 2026) – Qualifying night is complete at Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals, setting the lineups for Heat Races on Thursday and Friday.

A stout 74-car field of World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision competitors took to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Wednesday, and a pair of Carolina favorites came out on top. Mooresville, NC’s Nick Hoffman led the way in Mark Martin Automotive Qualifying for Thursday’s program, while Gray Court, SC native Chris Madden set the pace in the Friday session.

Hoffman’s lap of 14.621 seconds was enough to claim his Series-leading 11th Simpson Quick Time Award of the season and earn the pole position for Heat 4 on Thursday. The No. 9 team is in position to potentially take a chunk out of Bobby Pierce‘s 76-point lead in the standings, as the points leader qualified 15th in Group A and will start fifth in Heat 3.

Joining Hoffman as Heat Race polesitters on Thursday will be Kale Green, Ryan Gustin, Brandon Overton, Trey Mills and Chris Ferguson.

Madden is a four-time World of Outlaws winner at Charlotte, and will go for a fifth triumph on Friday from the pole of Heat 1 thanks to his fast lap of 14.689 seconds. Dallon Murty, Ryan Gustin, Ferguson, Jadon Frame and Green will also lead their respective Heat Races to green on Friday. As for the championship contenders, Hoffman will start second in Heat 5, while Pierce will roll off sixth in Heat 6.

UP NEXT: Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals continues on Thursday, Nov. 5, with a 35-lap, $15,000-to-win, Feature, alongside racing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

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

Thursday Heat Race Lineups

Heat 11. Kale Green
2. Brandon Sheppard
3. Dallon Murty
4. Benji Hicks
5. Tim McCreadie
6. Hudson O’Neal
7. Ethan Dotson
8. Brenden Smith
9. Dan Ebert
10. Rick Eckert
11. Demetrios Drellos
12. Alex Vance
13. Gray Parton

STAKT Products Heat 2
1. Ryan Gustin
2. Chris Madden
3. Josh Rice
4. Luke Morey
5. Trent Ivey
6. Logan Zarin
7. Brian Shirley
8. Braden Jones
9. Troy Morris III
10. Brent Larson
11. Callan Hill
12. Kevin Godwin

Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3
1. Brandon Overton
2. Jordan Koehler
3. Kyle Strickler
4. Garrett Alberson
5. Bobby Pierce
6. Todd Morrow
7. Jason Riggs
8. Evan Koehler
9. Barrett Lowe
10. Austin Holcombe
11. Mathew Porter
12. Eli Johnson

Jarrett Rifles Heat 4
1. Nick Hoffman
2. Michael Leach
3. Ben Watkins
4. Jonathan Davenport
5. Tyler Erb
6. Steve Banal
7. Max McLaughlin
8. Donovan Jackson
9. Jamison McBride
10. Dennis Erb Jr.
11. Trevor Collins
12. Dalton Jacobs
13. Gabe Miles

WIX Filters Heat 5
1. Trey Mills
2. Jadon Frame
3. Beckham Malone
4. Austin Smith
5. Carson Ferguson
6. Devin Moran
7. Ethan Wilson
8. Kyle Bronson
9. Ross Robinson
10. Tyler Wyant
11. Kerry King
12. Brody Smith

Heat 6
1. Chris Ferguson
2. Dale McDowell
3. Ricky Thornton Jr.
4. Daulton Wilson
5. Anthony Sanders
6. Dustin Sorensen
7. Drake Troutman
8. Brent Robinson
9. Willie Milliken
10. Tristan Chamberlain
11. Seth Zacharias
12. Brian Ledbetter

Friday Heat Race Lineups

Heat 1
1. Chris Madden
2. Brandon Sheppard
3. Anthony Sanders
4. Tim McCreadie
5. Hudson O’Neal
6. Evan Koehler
7. Carson Ferguson
8. Brian Shirley
9. Austin Holcombe
10. Troy Morris III
11. Callan Hill
12. Kevin Godwin
13. Tyler Wyant

STAKT Products Heat 2
1. Dallon Murty
2. Jordan Koehler
3. Josh Rice
4. Daulton Wilson
5. Luke Morey
6. Kyle Bronson
7. Ethan Dotson
8. Rick Eckert
9. Brody Smith
10. Kerry King
11. Tristan Chamberlain
12. Alex Vance

Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3
1. Ryan Gustin
2. Kyle Strickler
3. Beckham Malone
4. Max McLaughlin
5. Steve Banal
6. Drake Troutman
7. Barrett Lowe
8. Jason Riggs
9. Brent Larson
10. Demetrios Drellos
11. Eli Johnson
12. Brandon Overton

Jarrett Rifles Heat 4
1. Chris Ferguson
2. Braden Jones
3. Tyler Erb
4. Trent Ivey
5. Austin Smith
6. Todd Morrow
7. Jamison McBride
8. Benji Hicks
9. Dennis Erb Jr.
10. Donovan Jackson
11. Seth Zacharias
12. Brian Ledbetter
13. Garrett Alberson

WIX Filters Heat 5
1. Jadon Frame
2. Nick Hoffman
3. Gray Parton
4. Jonathan Davenport
5. Ethan Wilson
6. Devin Moran
7. Ross Robinson
8. Dan Ebert
9. Willie Milliken
10. Brenden Smith
11. Mathew Porter
12. Gabe Miles

Heat 6
1. Kale Green
2. Trey Mills
3. Ricky Thornton Jr.
4. Dale McDowell
5. Ben Watkins
6. Bobby Pierce
7. Logan Zarin
8. Michael Leach
9. Brent Robinson
10. Trevor Collins
11. Dustin Sorensen
12. Dalton Jacobs

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/hoffman-madden-top-charts-in-world-finals-qualifying-at-charlotte/

EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com/
TRACK INFO: https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

CONCORD, NC (November 4, 2026) – Two sessions of Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying fired off on-track action Wednesday evening for the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

North of 40 competitors signed in for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season sendoff event. Wednesday’s times set Heat Race lineups for Thursday and Friday’s programs. Feature points accumulated over those two nights will set Heats for Saturday’s $25,000-to-win season finale.

David Gravel showed no nerves in his quest to secure a third straight championship as he topped the charts in Flight A for Thursday’s program in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. But it was Rico Abreu in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 14 setting overall Simpson Quick Time with a 12.584 in Flight B.

Bill Balog, Buddy Schweibinz, Tyler Courtney, and Anthony Macri completed Flight A’s top five for Thursday while it was Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, Garet Williamson, Tanner Holmes, and Sheldon Haudenschild in Flight B.

Abreu didn’t slow when the time came for Friday’s Qualifying session as his 12.542 in Flight A made it a clean sweep of the Simpson Quick Time Awards. Sheldon Haudenschild led the way in Flight B with a 12.678 behind the wheel of the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink Grand Prix Guava No. 18.

Buddy Schweibinz, Bill Balog, Giovanni Scelzi, and Parker Price-Miller rounded out the top five in Flight A for Friday. Cameron Smith, Tanner Holmes, Matt Farnham, and Carson Macedo completed the top five of Flight B.

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WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

QUALIFYING RESULTS FOR THURSDAY:

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A – Thursday Night (2 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel, 12.688[14]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.706[20]; 3. 69K-Buddy Schweibinz, 12.706[11]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 12.718[21]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri, 12.773[13]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo, 12.799[5]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.841[3]; 8. 17-Spencer Bayston, 12.841[19]; 9. 71-Parker Price Miller, 12.902[4]; 10. 9-Chase Randall, 12.903[17]; 11. 51-Steven Snyder Jr, 12.922[9]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.940[1]; 13. 7NY-Matt Farnham, 12.953[7]; 14. 24D-Danny Sams III, 12.997[12]; 15. 5-Chase Dietz, 13.019[22]; 16. 2MD-Darin Naida, 13.054[16]; 17. 14D-Zane DeVault, 13.111[15]; 18. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 13.170[2]; 19. 28M-Conner Morrell, 13.187[18]; 20. 94-Hayden Wise, 13.224[8]; 21. 88C-Brogan Carder, 13.308[6]; 22. 41R-Dalton Rombough, 13.371[10]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B – Thursday Night (2 Laps): 1. 14-Rico Abreu, 12.584[18]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid, 12.671[20]; 3. 23-Garet Williamson, 12.718[2]; 4. 13-Tanner Holmes, 12.720[3]; 5. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.725[13]; 6. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 12.742[19]; 7. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 12.743[4]; 8. 77-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.787[12]; 9. 19-Brent Marks, 12.788[15]; 10. 2C-Cole Macedo, 12.789[9]; 11. 1A-Cameron Smith, 12.801[8]; 12. 71R-Logan Rumsey, 12.836[5]; 13. 27-Emerson Axsom, 12.842[21]; 14. 16C-Skylar Gee, 12.901[10]; 15. 5C-DJ Christie, 12.960[17]; 16. 6-Bryce Lucius, 12.980[6]; 17. 7S-Chris Windom, 12.985[1]; 18. 44-Chris Martin, 13.042[7]; 19. 49X-Zeth Sabo, 13.180[16]; 20. 21-Alex Therrien, 13.313[11]; 21. 3J-Jacob Begenwald, 13.456[14]

QUALIFYING RESULTS FOR FRIDAY:

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying A – Friday Night (2 Laps): 1. 14-Rico Abreu, 12.542[4]; 2. 69K-Buddy Schweibinz, 12.743[13]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.746[3]; 4. 77-Giovanni Scelzi, 12.769[8]; 5. 71-Parker Price Miller, 12.773[10]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson, 12.778[19]; 7. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 12.843[16]; 8. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 12.844[11]; 9. 51-Steven Snyder Jr, 12.868[7]; 10. 2-David Gravel, 12.870[5]; 11. 83-Michael Kofoid, 12.883[6]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.911[12]; 13. 15K-Creed Kemenah, 12.917[2]; 14. 9-Chase Randall, 12.919[17]; 15. 2C-Cole Macedo, 12.928[20]; 16. 2MD-Darin Naida, 12.938[14]; 17. 71R-Logan Rumsey, 12.958[15]; 18. 5C-DJ Christie, 13.054[18]; 19. 16C-Skylar Gee, 13.099[22]; 20. 21-Alex Therrien, 13.331[21]; 21. 49X-Zeth Sabo, 13.362[9]; 22. 94-Hayden Wise, 13.391[1]

Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying B – Friday Night (2 Laps): 1. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.678[2]; 2. 1A-Cameron Smith, 12.745[21]; 3. 13-Tanner Holmes, 12.766[10]; 4. 7NY-Matt Farnham, 12.880[18]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo, 12.882[5]; 6. 24D-Danny Sams III, 12.927[11]; 7. 28M-Conner Morrell, 12.941[9]; 8. 27-Emerson Axsom, 12.948[17]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom, 12.970[7]; 10. 6-Bryce Lucius, 12.973[3]; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri, 12.977[8]; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 13.006[4]; 13. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.010[6]; 14. 17-Spencer Bayston, 13.023[1]; 15. 5-Chase Dietz, 13.057[19]; 16. 14D-Zane DeVault, 13.080[20]; 17. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 13.171[13]; 18. 44-Chris Martin, 13.193[15]; 19. 3J-Jacob Begenwald, 13.519[16]; 20. 41R-Dalton Rombough, 13.647[12]; 21. 88C-Brogan Carder, 13.675[14]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/abreu-sweeps-quick-times-for-world-finals-qualifying-night/

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCEHomestead-Miami SpeedwayNovember 6-8, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Chevrolet heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway with two NASCAR driver championships within reach and a milestone victory in its sights as the 2026 season comes to a close. In the NASCAR Cup Series, defending champion Kyle Larson carries a commanding 67-point advantage into Sunday’s finale, positioning the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team to deliver back-to-back titles. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the championship is guaranteed to go to a Chevrolet driver, with Justin Allgaier leading an all-Chevrolet group of five remaining title contenders representing four organizations. Adding to the championship weekend stakes, the Bowtie brand will look to close out the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season by earning its milestone 300th victory.

A Championship-Rich History in South Florida: Homestead-Miami Speedway has provided the backdrop for some of Chevrolet’s most memorable championship moments. The manufacturer enters the weekend with eight NASCAR Cup Series victories at the 1.5-mile oval, with Larson’s March 2025 triumph adding to a record previously built by seven different Chevrolet winners. Three of those victories came with a championship celebration: Tony Stewart’s dramatic title-clinching performance in 2011, Kevin Harvick’s first championship in 2014 and Jimmie Johnson’s record-tying seventh crown in 2016. After hosting the championship-deciding races for all three national series from 2002 through 2019, Homestead returns to that role this weekend, giving Chevrolet another opportunity to add to its title-winning history in South Florida.

LARSON LOOKS TO FINISH A CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSEKyle Larson and Chevrolet arrive at the finale poised to complete their championship defense, with the Hendrick Motorsports driver needing just nine points Sunday to secure his third career NASCAR Cup Series title. Following a ninth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway, Larson leads Christopher Bell by 67 points and Denny Hamlin by 70, leaving the two Toyota drivers as his only remaining challengers. A championship would make Larson the first driver to win consecutive Cup Series titles since Jimmie Johnson’s run of five straight from 2006–2010. Larson also returns as Homestead’s most recent Cup Series winner, having taken the lead from teammate Alex Bowman with seven laps remaining in the March 2025 event. That victory was his second Cup triumph at the track, joining his Oct. 2022 win, giving the No. 5 Chevrolet team a proven foundation to pursue both the race trophy and the season championship.

FIVE CONTENDERS, ONE BOWTIE CHAMPIONSHIPThe NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship battle comes down to five Chevrolet drivers separated by 42 points. Justin Allgaier reclaimed the points lead with a runner-up finish at Martinsville, while Carson Kvapil’s victory kept the JR Motorsports driver firmly in the fight. Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love, Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day and Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed complete the title-eligible field. Allgaier and defending champion Love are each pursuing a second series championship, while Day, Kvapil and Creed are all seeking to add their names to the history book as a first-time champion in the division.

Justin Allgaier — Points leader, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet: Allgaier heads to the championship finale with a 22-point advantage and a season-long statistical résumé to match. Through 32 races, the veteran leads the series in victories with a career-high six, top-five finishes with 19 and top-10 finishes with 23, underscoring the speed and consistency that powered his regular season championship. He also returns as Homestead’s defending series winner following his overtime triumph in March 2025—a breakthrough that marked his first top-five finish in 17 starts at the South Florida oval. With a proven winning performance at the track and the championship lead in hand, Allgaier will look to cap his standout season with a second career series title.

Jesse Love — Second, 22 points behind, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet: The defending series champion heads to Homestead with a key strength beyond the cockpit: his No. 2 pit crew, who are ranked first in the series and played a pivotal role in his championship-winning performance a year ago. Love’s 2026 Chase, which included two trips to victory lane and four-straight podium appearances, has put him firmly in contention for back-to-back titles. At Martinsville, a brake failure and late-race crash relegated him to a 30th-place finish, leaving him 22 points behind Justin Allgaier entering the finale. Love returns to Homestead after a points-earning effort in both stages and a sixth-place result in the March 2025 race. He’ll look to combine that track experience with his team’s pit road execution to become the series’ first repeat champion since Tyler Reddick in 2018–2019.

Corey Day — Third, 23 points behind, No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: Day may be preparing for his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Homestead, but the rookie has already demonstrated championship-caliber speed on 1.5-mile tracks this season. At Las Vegas in October, he converted the pole into a victory, leading 136 of 201 laps and prevailing in a late-race battle with fellow title contender Carson Kvapil. Day followed that performance with another victory at Charlotte, where he led 55 of 200 laps to give the No. 17 Chevrolet team consecutive wins on 1.5-mile ovals during The Chase. While neither track is an exact match for Homestead, those performances provide a strong foundation as Day looks to erase a 23-point deficit and cap his rookie campaign with his first series championship.

Carson Kvapil — Fourth, 31 points behind, No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet: Kvapil heads to Homestead with renewed championship momentum after delivering a clutch victory at Martinsville. The 23-year-old won the pole, led a race-high 121 of 250 laps and held off teammate Justin Allgaier by 0.434 seconds to collect his third victory of the season. That performance moved him from fifth to fourth in the standings and trimmed his deficit from 59 points to 31 entering the finale. While his Homestead experience is limited, Kvapil has demonstrated front-running speed on another 1.5-mile oval during The Chase, finishing second at Las Vegas after a thrilling late-race battle with fellow championship contender Corey Day. That combination of intermediate-track competitiveness and a pressure-packed Martinsville victory gives the No. 1 Chevrolet team an extra boost as they pursue their first championship.

Sheldon Creed — Fifth, 42 points behind, No. 00 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet: Back in the Chevrolet camp following Haas Factory Team’s manufacturer switch this season, Creed remains mathematically eligible for a shot at the crown after finishing sixth at Martinsville. Creed brings a strong collection of 1.5-mile track performances into the championship finale, including a runner-up finish at Kansas, a third-place finish at Las Vegas in the spring and Charlotte in October, and a sixth-place result at Texas. His Charlotte performance highlighted both his speed and resilience, as the No. 00 Chevrolet team overcame early contact with the outside wall that required damage repair before Creed rallied to a podium finish. The 2020 Truck Series champion will look to draw on that intermediate track experience as he pursues his first O’Reilly Series championship.

SILVERADO TEAMS TARGET A MILESTONE FINISHChevrolet will open championship weekend with the opportunity to secure its milestone 300th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory, returning to a track where the manufacturer has won the series’ last three races. Carson Hocevar started that streak in 2023, Grant Enfinger followed in 2024 and Kyle Larson extended it in March 2025. Among Chevrolet’s current Truck Series drivers, Enfinger brings race-winning experience from his 2024 Homestead triumph, when the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports team paired fuel strategy with a late-race charge to the victory. The manufacturer also has recent top-five performances to draw upon from Tyler Ankrum and Daniel Hemric, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the series’ most recent appearance at the track. With a proven Homestead winner and additional front-running experience in its Silverado ranks, Chevrolet will look to turn Friday night’s season finale into a milestone celebration.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the tripleheader weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway: NASCAR Cup Series: Corvette Grand Sport NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Silverado RSTNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Silverado RST ·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Homestead-Miami Speedway:Kyle Larson – two wins (2022 & 2025)William Byron – one win (2021) ·        In 27 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded eight victories, including Kyle Larson’s two career wins at the track that came in the Next Gen era (2022 & 2025).  ·        Chevrolet has earned wins in 29 of the 32 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, setting the series’ record for the most wins by a single manufacturer during a season in the division. ·        With Sammy Smith and the No. 7 Spire Motorsports team’s victory at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet sits just one win away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win.  ·        In 178 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 77 victories – a winning percentage of 43.3%.  ·        With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 891 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.  FOR THE FANS: Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which will feature a variety of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2027 Silverado ZR2, Silverado Trail Boss, Silverado HD, Blazer EV SS, Traverse Z71, Tahoe Z71, Equinox RS, Colorado ZR2, Corvette Grand Sport, and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 show car.   Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, Nov. 6: 2:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7: 12:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Sunday, Nov. 8: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:Friday, Nov. 6Corey Day: 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Daniel Suarez: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Tyler Ankrum: 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Grant Enfinger: 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.Justin Allgaier & Carson Kvapil: 5:40 p.m. – 5:55 p.m.  Saturday, Nov. 7Jeremy Clements: 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Rajah Caruth & Sammy Smith: 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sam Mayer: 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 Shane van Gisbergen: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Austin Dillon: 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Connor Zilisch: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Ross Chastain: 11:20 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Kyle Larson: 11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.Chase Elliott: 11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Alex Bowman: 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. William Byron: 12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Championship RaceSunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. ETNBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship RaceSaturday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship RaceFriday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow do you feel the No. 1 team is progressing?“We’ve had a solid last few weeks on the track which is very promising. I feel like we’re making gains, some smaller, some bigger, but we’re moving in the right direction and I think everyone can feel and see the progress. Last weekend at Martinsville was a very positive sign. We went forward after the start of the race and were able to stay up there. That means we hit the setup pretty close so we were making small adjustments and maintaining track position, instead of making big swings and trying to get the car to respond. Obviously, I’d love to get a win this weekend but it’s also nice to know we’re going into the off season seeing progress.” Final race of the season, thoughts on going to Homestead-Miami?“It feels good to be going back down to South Florida with the sun and humidity and get to Homestead-Miami Speedway. I’m going to drive over from Fort Myers, take the alley across and enjoy a couple of hours on the road. It’s been a few years since we’ve been at Homestead for the Championship race so it will have a little bit different feeling driving into the track. Of course, I wish we were in the Championship hunt, but the good news is we’ve experienced improvement over the last few weeks in our cars at Trackhouse. It feels good going into the off season with a positive direction. I’m certainly going to enjoy a few cold Busch Lights after the race, I know that.”   Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletIt’s been a number of year since NASCAR ran the season finale at Homestead. How are you feeling about closing out the season in South Florida?“Homestead is probably my favorite track of the year, and I love that it’s the last race of the year down in Florida. I can’t wait to get there with the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet and just slide around, try to run the fence from the bottom, try to run everywhere. It’s a place that you can move all over and find grip. It’s slick, just a great place to go race.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“We’re looking forward to wrapping up the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend with Commas and 7th Level on board the No. 47 Chevrolet. Homestead is a fun track where you can move around and try different lines to find speed, so having a good balance throughout the race will be important. We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but everyone at Hyak Motorsports has continued to work hard and push forward. Hopefully we can put together a strong weekend and finish the year on a high note for our team and partners.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“I’m cautiously optimistic going into Homestead. Our intermediate-track package has definitely improved here in this last stretch of races between Kansas, Vegas and Charlotte, so I’m hopeful that will continue at Homestead. The track is a pretty unique mile-and-a-half oval. It’s its own animal. It’s not a traditional tri-oval, so we’ll see how much it translates. But for us to be able to hang our hat on some of the positives we’ve learned this season by just having a good run at Homestead – a no-frills, no-chaos weekend where we execute and earn a good result – that’ll give us all something to build off of for next year.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts heading back to Homestead for the season finale?“Homestead it’s still one of those racetracks we go to with a good bit of fall off. You slip and slide around and work really hard as a driver all day. The racing presents a lot of options. You can run the bottom, run the top or run the top to the bottom. So, you can find where your car works best. You can find clean air. It’s just one of those tracks that you just drive all day long and it’s a lot of fun. It is special to be back at Homestead for the Championship. Being able to go down there to celebrate the end of the season has always been fun and rewarding. The track is special and I can’t wait to see what they have done since we were there last. I’m excited to feel the energy back in Miami with The Annika Driven by Gainbridge coming onboard and then head to Pelican Bay next week for their big week of LPGA golf!”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletThe long and winding road that is the NASCAR Cup Series season concludes Sunday at Homestead Miami Speedway. What are your thoughts going into the last race of the year?“I’ve learned a lot about myself and continue to stay motivated through the bad weeks. It’s gotten better here toward the end of the season and I’m certainly proud of that. My entire team has stuck with me and not given up on me, and we’ve started to turn a corner. I never wanted the year to go like this, but I’m proud of the resilience and just the way that my team has handled it. I look forward to hopefully making gains as we head into 2027 and hopefully have a good year in 2027.” What about Homestead-Miami Speedway itself? This weekend we’re back after not being there for a year and seven months. What’s the fun level of Homestead like for you as a race car driver?“I love it. It’s just such a unique racetrack. You’re up on the fence and you have no grip. Tires are falling off a crazy amount and you’re just trying to find grip wherever you can. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve always enjoyed racing at Miami. I had a decent run going in the O’Reilly race last year, but I ended up getting a pit road penalty under green in the last stage. It’s a ton of fun racing there and certainly a place that I always enjoy going to.”  Homestead is another weekend where you have a 50-minute practice session before qualifying. How much has that helped you?“It’s been super beneficial to me to dial my car in, feel changes and get laps on the racetrack. We almost did 100 laps of practice at Martinsville, which is super helpful for me going into a race. I don’t really have a notebook, a huge notebook, at least on setups and what I want out of the race car so when I get the opportunity to practice, and make changes to my race car and make it better on Saturday, it helps us a lot as a team.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat do you expect this weekend at Homestead-Miami, given the progress the No. 97 Team has made this year?“Hopefully, I will do better there this time. I struggled there last year, but I guess it was like my fourth race of the year in this car. So, hopefully I’ve made some progress since then. It’s a tough track, riding the fence and getting used to that speed. Hopefully I’m a bit better this time around.” A couple of weeks ago, you mentioned using this period of the Chase to figure some things out on the ovals. Do you feel like that is happening?“Yeah, we are still missing a bit. Like at Phoenix (Raceway) we struggled. But our speed has been good at the mile and a half tracks. Overall, I think the team has done a really good job. It’s good to still be experimenting and all three cars trying stuff. We have to work forward as a team and I think as a team, we are working well together at the moment.” Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletYou were winless in the regular season, but have since won two races in the Chase. What has clicked with the team?“This year, no doubt, the beginning was a struggle to find victory lane with the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet. Racing can be hard because you don’t always get instant gratification or satisfaction from your work and effort that you put in. For whatever reason, throughout each race it was always something different. But I knew if we continued to see it through and stick with our plan, and put our best foot forward, that it was just a matter of time before things started to get back on the right track. Obviously once the Chase starts you start to see what teams and what group of people are capable of operating at the highest level and I believe that the No. 2 team has shown throughout the last couple of years, that when it comes to that, there’s nobody that can operate on as high of a level.”  What role is the track in Homestead going to play in determining the Champion this weekend?“Crowning a Champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it’s a dynamic racetrack, and it’s going to be a lot different than the year’s past in Pheonix. The track, like I said, is very dynamic. You move around a lot. You do somewhat at Pheonix too, but when you go to Homestead there’s a lot of risk versus reward, probably more so than there is at Pheonix. So balancing that risk and dancing more on that razor’s edge is something that you have to manage throughout the whole weekend, not just in the race and at the end of it, but through each stage, through qualifying and through practice as well. It’s also a track that we usually don’t go to twice a year, so all of these things add an impact to it, and make it probably more of a challenge, however it’s the same challenge for everybody. So you have to be prepared for that and get ready to execute a flawless weekend.” What is it going to take as a driver to be a Champion this weekend?“People ask that a lot, what it’s going to take from the driver standpoint to be a Champion this weekend, and that’s going to change throughout the whole weekend. It’s going to change during practice, it’s going to change during qualifying, it’s going to change through each stage of the race and down to the wire of it. You don’t know 100% before you get there, but you can be present in the moment and live in the moment and be prepared to adapt. There are so many different things that can happen, point and situation scenarios can change, and reality will set in whether that is good, bad or somewhere in between. But I think where the real value and where the real champion will come from a driver standpoint and a team standpoint is those that are prepared to be champions, but are also living in the moment and ready to adapt to whatever Homestead throws at us.“

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturer Championships:Total (1949-2025): 44First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2025 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Driver Championships:Total (1949-2025): 34First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11) Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29 Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2026 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 10Poles: 6Laps Led: 2,896Top-Fives: 61Top-10s: 125Stage Wins: 24 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 891 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 772Laps led to date: 259,630Top-fives to date: 4,497Top-10s to date: 9,276                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,225           Chevrolet: 891           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 855                                                                                          Ford: 755           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 221

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 4, 2026) – Matthew Brabham brings a commanding point lead in the Trans Am by Pirelli championship to the season finale at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, where CD Racing has won four of the last five TA races. While all Brabham needs is a fifth-place or better finish in his #16 GYM SODA Ford Mustang to claim his first Trans Am title (and CD Racing’s fourth in six years), he doesn’t plan to change the aggressive approach that has seen him win the pole at all 11 of the races run to date this season while taking him to victory in nine of them. Team owner Chris Dyson, who has contested selected events this season, will be back in the team’s #20 GYM SODA/RACER Ford Mustang alongside Brabham. “The team couldn’t be more ready than it is for this weekend,” said Dyson, a three-time Trans Am titlist. “Matty has driven a tremendous season, but the last couple seasons reminded us that you just can’t take anything for granted in this championship. The competition has been tough and consistent all year; and we never let our guard down. We’ve been doing this long enough to know that you don’t change your approach as a team no matter how well you’re doing. This game is about continuous improvement and our competitors aren’t rolling over. And because of how points are distributed, even with Matt’s incredible winning percentage coming into this final race, we’ve still got to hit all our marks as a team. this weekend.” When reminded that CD Racing has an unparalleled Trans Am record at COTA, Dyson added “And there’s no better place to finish the job.” A win in Texas this weekend would be Brabham’s 18th of his still relatively brief but brilliant Trans Am career, promoting him out of a four-way tie for 10th in the all-time win list with series legends Willy T. Ribbs, Dorsey Schroeder, and Greg Pickett. (Dyson currently has 29 Trans Am victories and a win this weekend would lift him from a tie with Mark Donohue for second in the most-wins ranking.) Brabham’s qualifying record in 2026 has been superlative; he has not once been headed in time trials in all eleven events.   “I know what the points look like, but that’s not gonna change anything about how I drive,” a typically modest Brabham said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity Chris and Rob have given me this year and I owe it to the team and myself to go all out every time I get in the car. I know how to win at COTA and so does the team. They always give me a potential race winner, so I’m aiming for the top step of the podium.” A Challenging Venue “From the technical perspective COTA is one of the most challenging circuits on our calendar,” Dyson said. “High speed, heavy braking, super-low-speed corners, and you have to preserve the tires. We’ve always made it a point to show up with a set-up that’s in the ‘ballpark’ because the lap is so long and there isn’t much practice time. My job is to help the team any way I can – and to try to win the pole and the race, same as always.” CD Racing’s Storied COTA History No TA team has a better recent record at Austin. Brabham won on his Trans Am debut at COTA in 2021, qualifying on the front row and passing Ernie Francis Jr. on the last lap. Dyson won in 2022, leading a CD Racing 1-2 with Brabham second as the duo dominated the field, and won again in 2024. Last year Brabham, starting last in class after qualifying was canceled because of lightning, drove through the field to victory. Both of Brabham’s COTA wins came as a substitute for Dyson. Click here for more on Chris Dyson Racing.Circuit of the Americas ScheduleQualifying takes place Saturday, November 7, 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.ET) The 30-lap race takes the green flag Sunday, November 8, at 12:55 p.m. CT (1:55 p.m. ET) Broadcast ScheduleAll Trans Am races are live-streamed on the Trans Am YouTube channel.