TOP FIVE STORYLINES: World of Outlaws, PA Posse Rivalry Renewed with Three Battles

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 4, 2026) – The next chapter of Sprint Car racing’s fiercest rivalry is ready to be written.

On one side, you’ve got the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. The tour is home to the nation’s top traveling talent that ventures coast to coast hitting dirt tracks all over through the year. They’re the best of the best and have been since Ted Johnson cultivated the idea to bring them all together in 1978.

On the other side, you’ve got the Pennsylvania Posse. The “Keystone State” has long been home to the sport’s toughest weekly competition. As a result, the locals take great pride in defending the porch when the World of Outlaws come to town.

It all starts on Tuesday, May 5 at Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway when the Gettysburg Clash brings the opening battle. The track nestled in the scenic Pigeon Hills will welcome the tour for the 57th time.

Then it’s over to Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway on Friday-Saturday, May 8-9 for the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup. The two-night event puts $15,000 up for grabs in the finale and possession of the coveted Cup and the bragging rights that come with it.

In addition to the racing, fans can attend the Hershey Sprint Car Experience at Hersheypark Stadium on Thursday, May 7. The event is open to the public from 5-7pm ET and celebrates the region’s rich racing history while allowing fans to meet their favorite drivers from both the World of Outlaws and PA Posse.

The stage is set. It’s time to renew the rivalry.

BUY LINCOLN TICKETS HERE
BUY WILLIAMS GROVE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s check out the top stories to watch in Pennsylvania:

THE POSSE PREVAILED

The locals own bragging rights entering this week.

The two sides faced off six times in 2025, and the Posse claimed four. Anthony Macri was largely responsible for the PA supremacy. It began with him winning the Morgan Cup. He followed that with a Bricker’s Bash triumph at BAPS Motor Speedway. Lastly, the Dillsburg, PA native won at Lincoln in October. The fourth score came courtesy of York, PA’s Chase Dietz, who bagged his first career World of Outlaws win in the National Open prelim.

While the Posse had the higher quantity, the World of Outlaws did snatch the state’s most prestigious race. Sheldon Haudenschild walked out of Williams Grove a National Open champion and $75,000 richer last October. The one other victory for the travelers was Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports topping Lincoln’s Gettysburg Clash.

This week serves up the first three of eight scheduled faceoffs between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse in 2026.

GREATNESS AT THE GROVE

There are two current World of Outlaws competitors who’ve won more at Williams Grove than anywhere else, and it happens to be the pair of champions.

Donny Schatz has broken the heart of Pennsylvanians at “The Grove” for decades. He first conquered the 1/2 mile in 2000 and his since topped 20 more. Among those are a record six National Open titles. His 21 World of Outlaws victories at Williams Grove rank second behind only Steve Kinser’s eye-popping 38. Schatz heads to Pennsylvania amid a consistent stretch with his CJB Motorsports team, posting top 10s in 10 of the last 11 races.

David Gravel’s nine Williams Grove checkered flags puts it atop the list of the 58 different tracks he’s won at. The defending champion has always had speed in Mechanicsburg, PA no matter the car he’s in. Those nine trophies are split up among Roth Motorsports, CJB Motorsports, Jason Johnson Racing, and his current home – Big Game Motorsports. A 10th win this weekend would make him the sixth to reach double digits.

OUTLAWS ON THE HUNT

Schatz and Gravel won’t be the only World of Outlaws competitors the Posse have to deal with if they want to protect the porch.

Carson Macedo boasts multiple wins at both tracks on the agenda. The Lemoore, CA native beat the All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) at Lincoln in 2018 aboard Joe Gaerte’s No. 3G. Two years later, he won a local Lincoln show in Kyle Larson Racing’s No. 2. Williams Grove has welcomed Macedo to Victory Lane on four occasions. The last three have come since teaming with Jason Johnson Racing.

Sheldon Haudenschild is also a winner at both Lincoln and Willams Grove. His lone Lincoln score came in the 2020 Gettysburg Clash. The Wooster, OH native owns a pair of Williams Grove trophies including last year’s National Open title.

Buddy Kofoid is on the list of those who’ve come out on top at the pair of PA facilities ahead. He claimed Lincoln’s Weldon Sterner Memorial in 2022 before snagging last year’s Gettysburg Clash in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. The 2024 National Open prelim supplied his lone Williams Grove win.

A pair of current World of Outlaws drivers tamed Williams Grove without wings. Both Chris Windom and Emerson Axsom have USAC National Sprint Car victories at the 1/2 mile.

FOR SCRUFFY

Last fall, the sport was dealt a devastating blow when Bobby Allen passed away. But the Shark Racing team he constructed continues to embody “Scruffy’s” never give up approach that led him to becoming a legend of Sprint Car racing.

Logan Schuchart races on in his grandfather’s honor and would love to get a win in his home state for his “pappy.” The Hanover, PA native topped a pair of Lincoln races in 2013 during his days of racing locally. Over at Williams Grove, he’s won four times including the 2023 Morgan Cup.

Ashton Torgerson now pilots the blue No. 1A that Allen made famous. The Glendale, AZ driver has done nothing but impress since getting the opportunity last spring. His best Lincoln result is a runner-up last August. A pair of top 10s highlight his Williams Grove experience.

POSSE POWER

Pennsylvania is ready to send plenty of capable locals into battle with hopes of defending home turf.

It’s tough to begin any conversation about Posse favorites without first mentioning Lance Dewease. The Fayetteville, PA legend already topped Williams Grove’s opener in the Eichelberger No. 8, his 117th win at the paperclip-shaped track. Dewease owns 20 World of Outlaws victories in his career, and 17 have come at “The Grove.” He also beat The Greatest Show on Dirt at Lincoln in 2019.

The man who has cemented himself as one of the Posse’s current top forces is Chase Dietz. The York, PA driver has already won a nation-leading six times in 2026, four at Lincoln and two at BAPS. Dietz hasn’t finished outside the top two in his last seven starts aboard the Stehman Motorsports No. 23D.

Danny Dietrich is always one to watch in the “Keystone State.” He’s fifth on Lincoln’s all-time win list with 67 victories including a pair with the World of Outlaws (2012 & 2013). The Gettysburg, PA driver owns 34 Williams Grove wins, most notably the 2016 National Open.

Hanover, PA’s Troy Wagaman Jr. continues to assert himself among the best the Posse currently have to offer. Since late 2022, he’s won 15 times in Pennsylvania including six at Lincoln and five at Williams Grove.

Anthony Macri may be sidelined by an injury, but the Macri Motorsports No. 39M will still be in action with Kasey Kahne behind the wheel. He may hail from Enumclaw, WA, roughly 2,700 miles from central Pennsylvania, but there’s no doubt the Posse fans will claim him if he performs well aboard Macri’s machine.

Additional locals expected to compete this week include Freddie Rahmer (Salfordville, PA), Tyler Ross (Lincoln University, PA), T.J. Stutts (Liverpool, PA), Dylan Norris (Hanover, PA), Ryan Smith (Kunkletown, PA), Cameron Smith (Spring Grove, PA), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE
Tuesday, May 5 at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA
Friday-Saturday, May 8-9 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA

AROUND THE TURN
Friday-Saturday, May 15-16 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (16/84 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (2238 PTS)
2. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-70 PTS)
3. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-104 PTS)
4. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-128 PTS)
5. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-152 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-158 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-264 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-276 PTS)
9. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-280 PTS)
10. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-320 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (9 Drivers):
4 Wins – Michael Kofoid, David Gravel
2 Wins – Anthony Macri
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet

FEATURE LAPS LED (18 Drivers):
94 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
78 Laps Led – David Gravel
44 Laps Led – Bill Balog
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
32 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms
26 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet
18 Laps Led – Brady Bacon
10 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston, Cole Macedo
7 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek
6 Laps Led – Brian Brown, Brock Zearfoss
5 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
1 Lap Led – Christopher ThramPODIUM FINISHES (16 Drivers):
11 Podiums – David Gravel
8 Podiums – Carson Macedo
7 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri, Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild, Ryan Timms
2 Podiums – Spencer Bayston
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Bill Balog, Scott Bogucki, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom, Brad Sweet

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (10 Drivers):
6 Quick Times – David Gravel
2 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Quick Time – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Brady Bacon, Will Armitage, Michael Kofoid, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown

HEAT RACE WINNERS (23 Drivers):
13 Heat Wins – David Gravel
7 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
4 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
3 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, Ashton Torgerson, Bill Balog, Emerson Axsom
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Donny Schatz, Cole Macedo
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Will Armitage, Rees Moran, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Aaron Reutzel, Brian Brown, Rico Abreu

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (38 Drivers):
14 Dashes – David Gravel
12 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
11 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
7 Dashes – Carson Macedo
5 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Emerson Axsom
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Logan Schuchart, Bill Balog, Kasey Jedrzejek, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms
3 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Garet Williamson, Brent Marks, Kerry Madsen
2 Dashes – Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Spencer Bayston, Chris Windom, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel
1 Dash – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Brock Zearfoss, Bryce Lucius, Christopher Thram, Brady Bacon, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Will Armitage, Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Justin Henderson, J.J. Hickle, Rico Abreu

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (10 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Bryce Norris, Giovanni Scelzi

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (11 Drivers):
3 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo
1 Hard Charger – Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi, Spencer Bayston, Ryan Timms, Logan Schuchart, Brady Bacon, Sheldon Haudenschild

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (12 Drivers):
4 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
2 Fastest Laps – Bill Balog
1 Fastest Lap – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Kasey Jedrzejek, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (9 Drivers):
5 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
3 Hottest Laps – Michael Kofoid
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner
Wed, Feb 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Spencer Bayston (1)
Fri, Feb 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Michael Kofoid (1)
Sat, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (1)
Sun, March 1 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
Mon, March 2 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (2)
Fri, March 6 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Donny Schatz (1)
Fri, March 13 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / David Gravel (1)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / David Gravel (2)
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / David Gravel (3)
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Carson Macedo (1)
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Michael Kofoid (2)
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (3)
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (4)
Sun, April 19 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Tyler Courtney (1)
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brad Sweet (1)
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (4)
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sun, May 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sun, May 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Fri, June 5 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, June 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Tues, July 21 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sat, Aug 29 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, Sept 11 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Fri, Oct 16 / Lincoln Park Speedway / Putnamville, IN
Sat, Oct 17 / TBA
Fri, Oct 23 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Sat, Oct 24 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Wed, Nov 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thurs, Nov 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Fri, Nov 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Sat, Nov 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

*denotes unofficial split-field prelim race.

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: World of Outlaws, PA Posse Rivalry Renewed with Three Battles

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 4, 2026) – The next chapter of Sprint Car racing’s fiercest rivalry is ready to be written.

The stage is set. It’s time to renew the rivalry.

BUY LINCOLN TICKETS HERE
BUY WILLIAMS GROVE TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s check out the top stories to watch in Pennsylvania:

THE POSSE PREVAILED

The locals own bragging rights entering this week.

This week serves up the first three of eight scheduled faceoffs between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse in 2026.

GREATNESS AT THE GROVE

There are two current World of Outlaws competitors who’ve won more at Williams Grove than anywhere else, and it happens to be the pair of champions.

OUTLAWS ON THE HUNT

Schatz and Gravel won’t be the only World of Outlaws competitors the Posse have to deal with if they want to protect the porch.

A pair of current World of Outlaws drivers tamed Williams Grove without wings. Both Chris Windom and Emerson Axsom have USAC National Sprint Car victories at the 1/2 mile.

FOR SCRUFFY

POSSE POWER

Pennsylvania is ready to send plenty of capable locals into battle with hopes of defending home turf.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/top-five-storylines-world-of-outlaws-pa-posse-rivalry-renewed-with-three-battles/

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BUDDY HULL ENJOYS NASCAR CUP SERIES ACTION AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS GUEST OF FORD RACING

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

DALLAS (May 3, 2026) — NHRA Funny Car driver and Hull Racing team owner Buddy Hull traded nitro for NASCAR this Sunday, taking in the Wurth 400 Presented by LIQUI MOLY at Texas Motor Speedway as a special guest of Ford Racing.

Hull, joined by his wife Madi, experienced a behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning with an exclusive tour of the media center before heading to pit road. The highlight of the afternoon came as Hull watched the race from the pit box of Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Ford for Team Penske.

Buddy and Madi Hull enjoyed a day at Texas Motor Speedway supporting Ford Racing,
photo credit Werner Communications

“It was an incredible experience from start to finish,” said Hull. “I’m really thankful to Ford Racing for having Madi and me out here today. Getting to see how another form of motorsport operates at this level is something I’ll always appreciate.”

In addition to the race-day action, Hull spent time in the NASCAR Fuel for Hospitality area and had an in-depth conversation with Ford Racing engineer Thomas Ciccone. The discussion centered around the extensive data and technology that drive performance in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“As a driver and team owner, I’m always interested in the technical side of racing,” said Hull. “Talking with Thomas about the data, the strategy and everything that goes into making these cars competitive was fascinating. There are definitely parallels to what we do in the NHRA, but also a lot of differences that make it unique.”

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,
photo credit Werner Communications

BUDDY HULL ENJOYS NASCAR CUP SERIES ACTION AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS GUEST OF FORD RACING

DALLAS (May 3, 2026) — NHRA Funny Car driver and Hull Racing team owner Buddy Hull traded nitro for NASCAR this Sunday, taking in the Wurth 400 Presented by LIQUI MOLY at Texas Motor Speedway as a special guest of Ford Racing.

Hull, joined by his wife Madi, experienced a behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning with an exclusive tour of the media center before heading to pit road. The highlight of the afternoon came as Hull watched the race from the pit box of Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Ford for Team Penske.

Buddy and Madi Hull enjoyed a day at Texas Motor Speedway supporting Ford Racing,
photo credit Werner Communications

“It was an incredible experience from start to finish,” said Hull. “I’m really thankful to Ford Racing for having Madi and me out here today. Getting to see how another form of motorsport operates at this level is something I’ll always appreciate.”

In addition to the race-day action, Hull spent time in the NASCAR Fuel for Hospitality area and had an in-depth conversation with Ford Racing engineer Thomas Ciccone. The discussion centered around the extensive data and technology that drive performance in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“As a driver and team owner, I’m always interested in the technical side of racing,” said Hull. “Talking with Thomas about the data, the strategy and everything that goes into making these cars competitive was fascinating. There are definitely parallels to what we do in the NHRA, but also a lot of differences that make it unique.”

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,
photo credit Werner Communications

The Hulls were joined by Brian Huth, general manager of Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford, one of Hull Racing’s most supportive partners.

“Brian and the rest of the team at Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford have been instrumental in helping me to get my program off of the ground,” said Hull. “Any time I get to spend with him and his lovely wife, enjoying racing, is time well spent.”

While Hull is most at home behind the wheel of his 12,000-horsepower Nitro Funny Car, he embraced the opportunity to enjoy a different kind of racing environment.

“Of course, I’d rather be strapped into my Funny Car making a run down the track,” said Hull. “But if I’m going to spend a Sunday away from the driver’s seat, this is about as good as it gets. Being here, feeling the energy, and seeing it all up close, it’s the next best thing.”

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CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: P2 Finish and Championship Lead

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Milner, Catsburg take runner-up in GTD PRO; Chevrolet and No. 4 team take title leads MONTEREY, Calif. (May 3, 2026) – Nicky Catsburg and Tommy Milner raced from eighth at the start to second in GTD PRO at the end of Sunday’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – a result that proved important for the early-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship standings. With the second straight podium finish for the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, the pairing moved into the lead of the Drivers Championship after three races, as did Chevrolet in the Manufacturers standings. The No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team made a strategic call early in the race stand up to move into first in Teams points, as well.

Milner and Garcia bettered their third-place result from the most recent GTD PRO race at Sebring and finished on the Monterey podium for the second time in three years. The No. 3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims placed fourth in class and just off the podium after a late-race push for what they were hoping would be their first victory in defense of the 2025 GTD PRO championship.

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

The two GTD PRO Corvettes went on a split strategy early in the race. Milner, who started eighth, hit the pitlane first just after the 30-minute mark following a couple rounds of contact on the opening laps. Contact came from both GTD PRO and GTD competitors, and the No. 4 Corvette lost pace for a short bit coming down the hill but without lasting impact.

Catsburg went the rest of the way and moved into the race lead just past the one-hour mark as the class leaders went deep into their first fuel stint. The race’s full-course yellow flew 10 minutes later when 13 Autosport’s No. 13 Corvette of Matt Bell and Orey Fidani pulled off-track with a mechanical issue that resulted in the team’s retirement from the race.
The entire GTD PRO field stopped during the safety car period, which shuffled back the No. 4 but elevated the No. 3 and others who needed a shorter fuel stop. Catsburg made his final stop with an hour to go with the team making sure the Corvette could make it to the end of the race. Sims, who took over Garcia during the No. 3’s first stop, stayed out along with four other GTD PRO cars that tried to save fuel and with hopes for another yellow to allow them to make the end. Sims did gain a position late in the race to move into second before the four lead cars all stopped inside the final five minutes. Elsewhere in the GTD class, the No. 81 DragonSpeed Corvette of Henrik Hedman and Giacomo Altoé had their best run and result of the season with a 11th-place finish. After suffering contact and incidents in the first three races, the DragonSpeed team finally enjoyed a clean race heading into a long break for the GTD class until June. The next race in IMSA for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program is the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic on the streets of Detroit on Saturday, May 30.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “You plan for lots of different options and opportunities and things like that. And obviously today, starting where we started and with the start of the race that I had, it was pretty clear that we were gonna go pretty far off-strategy, as most cars in this class do. If you’re not up front, you try something different to see if it’s going to work out for you. Today it worked out very well for us. At times it didn’t look very good. Then it looked okay, and then maybe not so good, and then it went back in our favor at the end there. I’m really, really proud of the Corvette Racing and Pratt Miller team. Nicky drove an absolutely amazing race. Really no mistakes. He drove it as hard as he could, which is what he had to do. The margins here are so slim. To have the race that we had at the start and then to claw it all back at the end certainly feels good. It’s a good example of you never, never give up and always try to maximize whatever you have. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. Today it kind of went in our favor.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We found the strategy that worked. Well not us as drivers but it was the guys on the pit stand that found the one that worked. We just had to drive around, make no mistakes and we came back with a P2 finish. In some ways it was unexpected, but inside you never know. We always have a good strategy from the team so it’s really great. I was hoping I could pass the 65 and I felt like I was a little inconsistent there. Sometimes as soon as you get close, you start making mistakes. So I feel like I need to up my game a little bit there. We could have won, I think, but still P2 is super nice and very good to put us in first for the championship.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was good execution by both our teams. It’s a shame we didn’t have track position from the start, but it’s nice that we have two cars and could cover both strategy scenarios. On our side, we had to fight all the way through because it wasn’t easy to pass. I’m glad that as a team we came up with the most points we could. No matter the strategy it would have been P2 regardless of which car. Next time I need a better qualifying effort to be in control of the race. Overall we can be happy as a team.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “That was really good fun. I think a lot of us were in no-man’s land of trying to work out what to do. It was too much of a save to make the end without a yellow but we needed to save because we committed to the strategy. No one wanted to break away from that strategy first and risk a yellow coming up. We were saving quite a lot while still racing really close with each other. We had decent pace and I was really happy with our Corvette. It was working really well, and I think we did a great job with the strategy that we were on. Full credit to the 4 car for making theirs work pretty darn well. Starting the race fifth and eighth, we would have been very happy to settle with second and fourth. I think both of us might feel a little frustrated that we weren’t first in our respective battles – me with the 77 and Nicky with the 65 – but nevertheless a decent result and the Manufacturers championship lead.”

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: P2 Finish and Championship LeadMilner, Catsburg take runner-up in GTD PRO; Chevrolet and No. 4 team take title leads MONTEREY, Calif. (May 3, 2026) – Nicky Catsburg and Tommy Milner raced from eighth at the start to second in GTD PRO at the end of Sunday’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – a result that proved important for the early-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship standings. With the second straight podium finish for the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, the pairing moved into the lead of the Drivers Championship after three races, as did Chevrolet in the Manufacturers standings. The No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team made a strategic call early in the race stand up to move into first in Teams points, as well.

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

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

GIACOMO ALTOE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “For sure the results we are having don’t show the effort and quality of the work the team is doing. We have changed a lot and have improved massively since the beginning of the season. This is still only our fourth race with the Corvette and I feel already we are at a high level of performance. We’ll keep working to improve even more as a group and a package. The only thing we are missing is some competitiveness to bring home some good results. We’ll regroup, hopefully do one or two tests and then be back stronger at Watkins Glen.”

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John Force Racing–Georgia Post race

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF BAGS FIRST WALLY IN ADOPTED HOME STATEDeJoria earns semifinals finish, Hart and Beckman exit in Rd. 1

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF BAGS FIRST WALLY IN ADOPTED HOME STATEDeJoria earns semifinals finish, Hart and Beckman exit in Rd. 1

ADEL, Ga. (May 3, 2026) – It took just five events behind the wheel of John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car for Jordan Vandergriff to make the final round of eliminations and he made the best of it in capturing his first NHRA event win at the NHRA Southern Nationals in his adopted state of Georgia. Vandergriff streaked across the finish line in 4.007 seconds at 314.17 mph as J.R. Todd, the 2018 NHRA Funny Car World Champion and winner of last week’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, lost traction early and clicked it off. The win made the third generation drag racer the 13^th different driver to win a Top Fuel or Funny Car event in NHRA competition for John Force Racing. Immediately after winning, Vandergriff popped out of his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car and sprinted back up the race track, much like his uncle, Bob Vandergriff Jr., did after his victories in Top Fuel. “I’m still kind of taking in just how special this is. This moment is something I thought of for a very long time, since my last final in 2019, when I lost to Billy Torrence in Dallas,” Vandergriff said. “You know, running up the track was something I always thought about doing because my uncle did it out of pure joy when he won his first, and I just had to do it. I was contemplating it in the car before the run, and I was like, I’m doing it, no matter what. Hopefully, this is just the first of many, and it’s a good one to start.” Vandergriff dedicated the victory to Adria Force Hight, team owner John Force’s eldest daughter, who passed away April 28. “Adria got this one for me, and I truly believe that,” said Vandergriff. “I had a feeling since this morning when I thought about that her and Autumn (Adria’s daughter Autumn Hight), and the Force family and everything they’ve been through this week. I was just thinking about everything Adria did for John Force Racing. She was a pivotal part of this organization and I thank her for all the hard work she put in in helping John build this amazing race team that is giving me the chance to live my dreams and represent them.” Vandergriff defeated Hunter Green in his semifinal round, making a solid 3.964-second run at 331.36 mph to Green’s 4.151-second effort. He defeated Spencer Hyde in Rd. 2, running 3.956 seconds at 332.34 mph to a tire-smoking Hyde. In Rd. 1, Vandergriff ran 3.950 seconds at 330.63 mph to Jeff Arend’s 4.154 seconds at 309.77 mph. The Atlanta resident’s only other final-round appearance was Oct. 20, 2019, in the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals while competing in the Top Fuel category for his family-owned team. He was ahead of Billy Torrence at halftrack before hazing the tires and allowing Torrence to take the win. DeJoria lined up the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car in the left lane against last week’s race winner J.R. Todd for her semifinal matchup, with Todd having lane choice. Both cars smoked the tires almost immediately and it became a pedal-fest from there. The Bandero Café Chevy swapped back and forth, eventually making contact with timing cones at halftrack, while Todd was able to cross the center line first, posting a 6.188-second run to DeJoria’s 7.878-second effort. The six-time NHRA Funny Car winner defeated Matt Hagan in Rd. 2, running 4.016 seconds at 314.68 mph while Hagan smoked the tires right at the start. In Rd. 1, she ran 3.946 seconds at 325.61 mph to defeat Cruz Pedregon’s run of 4.135 seconds at 237.80 mph. “Man, it’s been a crazy weekend, just a crap shoot,” said DeJoria. “The semifinals wasn’t a pretty run at all. We both smoked the tires right at the hit. It’s a blessing and a curse that I’ve been in so many unsettling runs to know what to do and what not to do, to keep myself on the good side of getting in a wreck. So, that being said, we came out unscathed, the Bandero Café Chevy SS body is fine. “But again, we had another long Sunday. It’s just our fifth race out, we’re building, and I have so much confidence in these guys. Our hearts are with our boss, John Force, and, uh, gaining those points, man. And, you know, and keeping our position in the 6th spot means a lot going into that Chicago race in a couple weeks.” Hart beat Leah Pruett off the starting line by nearly two hundredths of a second (.077 to .094) but the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster smoked the tires shortly thereafter, coasting to a run of 7.296 seconds at 77.48 mph to Pruett’s 3.996 seconds at 287.78 mph. “I fought hard for this ride with John Force Racing and Speedmaster and prayed for it even harder,” said Hart. “Now, I have the seat and our confidence is strong despite today’s unfortunate results. I love this JFR team and we will make up ground and improve together.” Beckman’s PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car also spun the tires shortly off the starting line to run 4.598 seconds at 183.24 mph to Matt Hagan’s 3.988-second run at 328.06 mph. “I hate to use the expression ‘throwaway weekend,’ because you try to find a silver lining,” said Beckman. “We’re going to keep digging until we find that silver lining. You want to be retrospective and say, ‘Okay, if we had to do all over again, what would we have done differently?’ I’m not sure I have a good answer for that, and those are the frustrating weekends for this PEAK Chevy team. This is a forgettable weekend and we’ll be over it soon.” The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after five of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 481; 2. Doug Kalitta, 477; 3. Leah Pruett, 352; 4. Tony Stewart, 332; 5. Josh Hart, 298; 6. Maddi Gordon, 296; 7. Justin Ashley, 280; 8. Billy Torrence, 244; 9. Clay Millican, 220; 10. Antron Brown, 218. The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after five of 20 races are: 1. J.R. Todd, 411; 2. Ron Capps, 408; 3. Matt Hagan, 386; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 383; 5. Chad Green, 340; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 297; 7. Spencer Hyde, 275; 8. Jack Beckman, 245; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 201; 10. Dave Richards, 171. NEXT RACEThe sixth of 20 races of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the May 15-17 Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA National presented by PEAK at Route 66 Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

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Cadillac finishes second at Laguna Seca; Action Express scores sixth straight podium finish

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Cadillac Newsroom

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA (May 3, 2026) – Cadillac Racing came so close to a victory in the Monterey Sportscar Championship at Laguna Seca Raceway, but Earl Bamber and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R were passed on the final lap by Laurin Heinrich and the No. 5 JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963 and finished .758 of second behind them. The pass was made in Turn 5 of the 11-turn, 2.238-mile historic road course as both cars were on the best strategy after the final pit stop. Bamber’s teammate, Jack Aitken, started second and took the lead on lap 20 from the pole-winning car driven by Louis Delétraz, driver of the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R. He held the top spot for the next 25 laps when pit strategy took place. Tom Bloomquist, driver of the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing car held the lead from lap 90-107, but was forced to pit for fuel and that gave the lead to Bamber who held the lead until the final lap. Despite the tough loss on the last lap, it was the sixth straight podium for the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R. They had two wins coming last fall at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta then the team finished second in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, third in March at Sebring, second two weeks ago at Long Beach and then second today.

Cadillac Racing has recorded 11 podium finishes at Laguna Seca, including victory in 2023, since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017. They also have 108 podiums (24 GTP, 84 DPi) since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017. Deletraz and Jordan Taylor, drivers of the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, finished 10^th, while Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor, driver of the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, finished 33^rdoverall after an incident with the No. 66 GTD car early in the race. The team repaired the rear of the car and Albuquerque went back out for a few minutes and then the team determined the car could not continue. The next IMSA GTP event is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on May 30. The 100-minute race starts at 4 pm EDT and will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock. IMSA Radio will stream live audio coverage on XM 206, Channel 996 on the SiriusXM app and IMSA.com.

What they’re saying:
No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R Jack Aitken: “Day overall was another really good day. I mean, we’ve got yet another podium to add to the streak, so that’s six in a row now is really something that’s quite amazing in IMSA racing, where it’s so competitive. I mean, again, you know, about that we’re all gutted to finish second just shows the level that we’re on right now. And it is a shame that we couldn’t get that first one of the year, but it just, you know, the momentum we’re building is really, really cool. I mean, it’s coming real soon.” Earl Bamber: “No, I mean, it was a really good dog fight. You know, we had a great car all day. Our guys did an amazing strategy. But we just didn’t have enough rear tires at the end of the race. And, you know, the Porsche, Laurin (Heinrich) came at a huge rate of knots through the field. So yeah, that was, you know, none of us could really pass and he could just manage to cut through and once he finally got me, I saw how much grip he had.  So, yeah, I think if you’re not going to finish first, you finish second, but it’s obviously better to, you know, not get passed on the last lap, but it was a great fight and, you know, it was nearly done, but, you know, that’s what it is.”

Cadillac finishes second at Laguna Seca; Action Express scores sixth straight podium finish

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Cadillac Newsroom

No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R Louis Deletraz: “Thank you to Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing. We were at a very strong pace this weekend, throughout both practices and then taking the pole. The race was extremely disappointing finishing 10th. It’s definitely not what we came for. I think we have a lot to look at and work for the next time to be better. We want to be better.” Jordan Taylor: “Quite a frustrating day. We just were on the back foot all day after that first pit stop. The one positive we can take away from this weekend is that we had a fast car. We will focus on Detroit.”No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R Filipe Albuquerque: “Well, I think when one thing goes wrong, the rest is easy to go wrong as well. We started on a back foot, not good feeling with the car balance. We tried to fight back. We still did well in practice, but already bending and then qualifying was hard. The race starts, was not that bad, but that the two cars in front of me crashed, took me to the gravel. We kept going, and then just passing a GT, he crashed into me when I was completely side by side. The contact, wheel to wheel, was just enough to bend my rear triangle, bent the car and caused a rear puncture. So, nothing goes right this weekend. We just need to forget to eliminate this weekend and move on to Detroit” Ricky Taylor: “A really hard weekend from the start. It’s been a hard year. I feel like we’ve shown pace at times, but this weekend was just hard from the very beginning.  So I think, you know, we’ll forget it quickly. This one will be one we’ll forget. And Detroit, we have a little unfinished business from last year.  We were fast, and we’ve had good results there. We had two podiums in a row. It’s the home race for Cadillac, and, I think that’ll be a great way to rebound for the season.”

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SPENCER HYDE RACES TO QUARTERFINALS AT SOUTHERN NATIONALS

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

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Elliott Completes Chevrolet’s Tripleheader Weekend Sweep at Texas Motor Speedway

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR Cup SeriesTexas Motor Speedway Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTeam Chevy Post-Race Report May 3, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

· Chase Elliott capped off Chevrolet’s tripleheader weekend sweep at Texas Motor Speedway – driving his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to the win in Sunday’s Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY. The victory – Elliott’s second at Texas and his 23rd all-time at NASCAR’s highest level – is his second trip to victory lane this season, making the Dawsonville, Georgia, native the series’ second two-time winner with 11 races complete. Elliott was accompanied by a trip to victory lane by Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar in Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race and Kyle Larson and JR Motorsports in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race to make the Bowtie brand the first manufacturer to complete a tripleheader weekend sweep this season. · For the second consecutive weekend, Chevrolet earned five of the top-10 finishing positions with Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman earning back-to-back third-place finishes to round out the Team Chevy top-five. The Spire Motorsports teammates of Daniel Suarez and Carson Hocevar brought home sixth- and seventh-place results, respectively, with William Byron rebounding from an early-race spin to capture an eighth-place finish.

RACE RECAP:
Stage One: Chevrolet kicked off the NASCAR Cup Series annual trip to Texas Motor Speedway with its first front-row sweep of the season with Spire Motorsports teammates, Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez, leading the field to the green flag for Sunday’s race. Picking up right where he left off, the series most recent winner drove his No. 77 Chevrolet to the top position to lead the first lap of Stage One. Hocevar held the lead for the first 19 circuits around the 1.5-mile track but started losing forward grip early in the run and ultimately slipped to the third position during the green flag run. But at the conclusion of the first green flag pit cycle just past the halfway point of Stage One, it was Kyle Busch that led the Bowtie brigade in the fourth position. Quickly approaching lap traffic, Busch was able to close the gap to the leaders to just 1.7-seconds as the opening stage hit 20 laps to go. Despite losing grip in his right front, Busch managed only a two position loss before a timely natural caution came with 12 laps to go in the stage. With a call for a four-tire stop by crew chief Andy Street, Busch lined up on the fifth row for a six-lap dash to the first green-white checkered flag. Choosing better track position for the restart, Hocevar’s crew chief, Luke Lambert, gambled with a two-tire stop, with the Team Chevy driver going on to lead the manufacturer to the end of the stage from the second position.

Stage Two: A late caution saw the majority of the lead pack stay out under the stage break, putting the No. 77 back on the front row to take the green flag for Stage Two. Electing the inside lane, it was a drag race for the lead between the No. 77 and the No. 54 on the opening lap of Stage One with Hocevar making his way back to the command position. With a short stint before the second caution of the day flew, Hocevar was among the lead pack cars that opted to make their second scheduled trip to pit road of the day. With mixed strategies throughout pit road, it was a fuel only call by crew chief Ryan Sparks that put Suarez back into the top-five for the restart. But a two-tire stop by crew chief Alan Gustafson gave Elliott just what he needed to make a climb towards the lead with the No. 9 gaining four positions on the restart to make his way into the runner-up spot. A long green flag run saw Elliott inherit the lead on Lap 150 as then race leader, Corey Heim, made a scheduled trip to pit road. Settled into position in what looked to be a run to the green-white checkered flag, a spin by his teammate, Kyle Larson, brought out the caution. Making the call for a fresh set of Goodyear tires, Elliott went from third to a powerhouse pass for the lead on the final lap to take the Stage Two win.

Final Stage: Elliott lined up on the outside lane of the front row to lead the field to the green flag for the final 95 laps of the race. The speed of the No. 9 Chevrolet prevailed on the restart with Elliott retaining the lead on the opening lap of the final stage. Just inside 80 laps to go, Elliott had already inched his way towards a near one-second lead over second. Approaching the potential for a green flag pit cycle, a quiet driver behind the wheel reported that he was overall happy with the handling of his No. 9 Chevrolet. The green flag pit cycle started shortly thereafter with Elliott giving up the lead with 52 laps to go to make his way to pit road. As the final two cars left to pit attempted to stretch their fuel mileage, the green flag run saw the pair forced to hit pit road to move Elliott back to the lead as the race hit 28 laps to go in the race. The Team Chevy driver continued to masterfully work his way through lap traffic and managed to maintain at least an one-second lead until a caution flew with just 10 laps remaining. With the majority of the lead pack opting for track position, Elliott led the field to the restart and a four-lap race to the finish. Choosing the bottom lane, Elliot was able to clear Denny Hamlin coming out of turn two on the restart and hold onto the top position to capture his second checkered flag of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver
1st – Chase Elliott3rd – Alex Bowman6th – Daniel Suarez7th – Carson Hocevar8th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 11 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 3Poles: 2Top-Fives: 20Top 10s: 39Stage Wins: 8

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Watkins Glen International with the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday, May 10, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

NASCAR Cup SeriesTexas Motor SpeedwayWürth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTeam Chevy Post-Race ReportMay 3, 2026

Elliott Completes Chevrolet’s Tripleheader Weekend Sweep
at Texas Motor Speedway

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver
1st – Chase Elliott3rd – Alex Bowman6th – Daniel Suarez7th – Carson Hocevar8th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 11 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 3Poles: 2Top-Fives: 20Top 10s: 39Stage Wins: 8

Post-Race Driver Quotes: Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 18th“We had to battle through that one. Starting at the back of the field without practice made it a long one for our Bass Pro Shops/Winchester AA White Flyer team but we kept chipping away it. Our Chevrolet was tight from the start, and dirty air definitely didn’t help. We ran some of our fastest laps of the day towards the end of the race though, so we made it better from the start. Proud of this No. 3 team and everyone at RCR and ECR.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 6th“Very proud of the No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet team. We had another fast Chevy this weekend. This weekend was a perfect example of having a fast racecar and we just had a lot of things go against us, like the tire yesterday in practice. Today, the first run of the race, we just really struggled. The car had potential, we just struggled quite a bit. I’m just very proud of this team for never giving up.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 20th “Disappointing end to the day for the No. 8 zone Watermelon Chevrolet team, but we are making steps in the right direction. We ran in the top-10 for most of the race today at Texas Motor Speedway, and started the weekend with a solid sixth-place qualifying effort. Unfortunately, we ended up with right-front damage after contact battling for position on the final lap. It turned our top-10 day into a 20th-place result.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 1stFor the second time this season, Chase Elliott is going to victory Lane, and for the second time in your career, you get a win here at Texas. We talk about how tricky this particular mile-and-a-half is, what allowed you guys to have the success you did today?“Man, first off, thanks everybody for coming out. Great crowd, as always. I have not been a huge fan of this place, and I’ve made that very obvious, but we continue to work hard. I really think this is a testament to the whole No. 9 Prime Video Chevrolet team. But not just the No. 9 team, but everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. We’ve not been where we wanted to be throughout portions of the season, but everybody’s just been digging in really hard – from the engine shop at Hendrick Motorsports to all the setup shops and everybody at Team Chevy.” It’s just crazy. As much as we’ve struggled at Texas, to have won two races here now in the last few years, is pretty wild. Just super grateful for all the people that helped make this possible and looking forward to celebrating with them.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletFinished: 24th“It was a grind. We battled through it all day, worked hard. Got a solid day out of it. I’m proud of our effort; branching forward and taking a big step forward from where we were at Kansas. It’s something that we can grow from. It’s not everything that we want, but it’s in the right direction.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 25th “We were on top of the racetrack today,” said Allmendinger. “The balance was decent at times, but you have to be perfect to have any speed. We kept bouncing back and forth (between aero-tight and very loose), just trying to get the most out of the day. We took two tires on the restart, got caught in dirty air, and hit the wall, which cost us a couple of spots. In the end, we finished about where we ran all day.”

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 3rd“I think we made some big gains on our No. 48 Ally Chevrolet from where we unloaded. We struggled in practice, but we qualified well. This team chipped away at it all day. There are some things we can definitely clean up. We still need to be better, for sure, we had a really good Chevy today. Proud of the pit crew. They did an awesome job. It’s nice to get this team some good finishes. It’s been tough on them this year and glad to bring home back-to-back third-place finishes.”
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 16th“It was a better day here at Texas Motor Speedway for the No. 88 Choice Privileges Chevrolet team. We’ve struggled on these intermediate tracks all year long. Although 16th isn’t where we want to be, it’s a step in the right direction. Thank you to everyone at Trackhouse Racing for continuing to work hard through the tough days that we’ve had the past few months. It feels good to finally get a good result, run on the lead lap all day and get a decent finish for this team.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 17th“We struggled in qualifying, so we had to makeup for that. That was my fault yesterday. The No. 97 SuperFile Chevrolet was much better today, but I just kept hitting the bumps and having big moments. It kind of limited us to the bottom lane. It was a good points day. We struggled the last four or five weeks in a row, so it’s good to get a decent result.”

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Elliott Completes Chevrolet’s Tripleheader Weekend Sweep at Texas Motor Speedway

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTeam Chevy Post-Race Report May 3, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver
1st – Chase Elliott3rd – Alex Bowman6th – Daniel Suarez7th – Carson Hocevar8th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 11 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 3Poles: 2Top-Fives: 20Top 10s: 39Stage Wins: 8

NASCAR Cup SeriesTexas Motor SpeedwayWürth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTeam Chevy Post-Race ReportMay 3, 2026

Elliott Completes Chevrolet’s Tripleheader Weekend Sweep
at Texas Motor Speedway

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver
1st – Chase Elliott3rd – Alex Bowman6th – Daniel Suarez7th – Carson Hocevar8th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 11 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 3Poles: 2Top-Fives: 20Top 10s: 39Stage Wins: 8

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Gustin Earns First World of Outlaws Win of 2026 in Dairyland Showdown Finale

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (May 2, 2026) – Ryan Gustin is at his best when the big money is on the line.

Two of his biggest wins last season came in the $100,000-to-win USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway and the $50,000-to-win Bayou Classic at Boothill Speedway.

Through the first 19 races of the 2026 World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season, Gustin was uncharacteristically winless on the year. But with $40,000 up for grabs in the finale of the Dairyland Showdown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway, the “Reaper” found a way to strike.

After scoring three-straight regional wins in the past two weeks, it appeared as if the Cooney Motorsports No. 19R team had shaken off their slow start to the season. They opened the weekend at Mississippi Thunder with a third-place finish on Thursday, then improved to second on Friday. When Saturday’s 50-lapper rolled around, Gustin and team put all the pieces together for a wire-to-wire victory.

The race was on between the likes of Nick Hoffman, Jonathan Davenport and Michael Leach early on, but none of them had anything for Gustin out front. It wasn’t long before Bobby Pierce joined the party after starting 15th, and he quickly disposed of all of them and started to run down Gustin.

In the span of six laps, Pierce cut the gap to Gustin from two seconds to half a second when the caution flag flew with four to go. Two more solid restarts later, Gustin ensured Pierce never got close enough to try any last-lap heroics and made his way to World of Outlaws Victory Lane for the 16th time in his career.

“I looked up there on the board and seen 32,” Pierce said. “I figured he was probably going to try fire on the cushion, but I didn’t want to leave a lane down there at the same time. Just tried to hit that grip the best I could, and then the first one, I turned left off of it. I just felt like I wasn’t going down the backstretch. Getting ready for the slider, trying to do something, but he was never there. Then that second one, I just kind of attacked it a little bit harder just to not leave the door open, I don’t know how close he was or anything like that.”

Pierce crossed the line second to cut Hoffman’s points lead down to three, while Davenport had his best finish of the week in third. Nick Hoffman and Daulton Wilson completed the rest of the top five.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision heads east for a five-day northeast swing at Georgetown Speedway (Wednesday, May 13), Selinsgrove Speedway (Thursday, May 14), Marion Center Raceway (Friday-Saturday, May 15-16) and Bedford Speedway (Sunday, May 17). More information on each race can be found by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Nick Hoffman set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Michael Leach won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Michael Leach won Heat 1.

Nick Hoffman won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Brent Larson won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Ryan Gustin won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Drake Troutman and Chris Simpson won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Nick Hoffman won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Ethan Dotson won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Bobby Pierce was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Jonathan Davenport was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Nick Hoffman was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Michael Leach was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Cade Dillard was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Gustin Earns First World of Outlaws Win of 2026 in Dairyland Showdown Finale

FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (May 2, 2026) – Ryan Gustin is at his best when the big money is on the line.

Two of his biggest wins last season came in the $100,000-to-win USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway and the $50,000-to-win Bayou Classic at Boothill Speedway.

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

RACE NOTES:

Nick Hoffman set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Michael Leach won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Michael Leach won Heat 1.

Nick Hoffman won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Brent Larson won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Ryan Gustin won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Drake Troutman and Chris Simpson won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Nick Hoffman won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Ethan Dotson won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Bobby Pierce was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Jonathan Davenport was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Nick Hoffman was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Michael Leach was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Cade Dillard was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (50 Laps): 1. 19R-Ryan Gustin[2]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[15]; 3. 49D-Jonathan Davenport[7]; 4. 9-Nick Hoffman[1]; 5. 58V-Daulton Wilson[8]; 6. 9M-Tim McCreadie[9]; 7. 09-Michael Leach[4]; 8. 74X-Ethan Dotson[23]; 9. 1-Tyler Erb[5]; 10. 22*-Drake Troutman[17]; 11. 97-Cade Dillard[14]; 12. 19-Dustin Sorensen[16]; 13. 13-Dallon Murty[11]; 14. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[20]; 15. 76-Blair Nothdurft[13]; 16. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[22]; 17. 28M-Sam Mars[19]; 18. 14-Trey Mills[12]; 19. 15A-Nick Anvelink[21]; 20. B1-Brent Larson[3]; 21. 1Z-Logan Zarin[24]; 22. 14S-Collen Winebarger[6]; 23. 55E-Eli Johnson[25]; 24. 32S-Chris Simpson[18]; 25. 49-Jake Timm[10]

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Hudson O’Neal Captures Ralph Latham Memorial Victory at Florence

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Hudson O’Neal Captures Ralph Latham Memorial Victory at Florence

UNION, KY (May 2, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana took the lead on lap three from Jason Jameson and held off Devin Moran to win the 40th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial on Saturday night at Florence Speedway. O’Neal and Moran entered the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event tied atop the championship standings. With the victory, O’Neal now holds a 30-point advantage over Moran heading into next weekend’s events at Farmer City Raceway and Fairbury Speedway. The win marked O’Neal’s fourth LOLMDS victory of the season and his 12th overall triumph of 2026, earning him $25,000. Moran finished second, 1.060 seconds behind at the finish, while Ricky Thornton Jr., fresh off his win at Circle City on Friday, rounded out the Big River Steel podium in third.Brandon Sheppard and Garrett Alberson completed the top five. In his 38th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory, the 2023 Series Champion is now tied for seventh on the all-time wins list with Tim McCreadie and Brandon Sheppard. O’Neal survived a tense finish, brushing the turn four wall multiple times in the closing laps, to secure his first Ralph Latham Memorial victory since 2018. The event had not been contested since 2023 due to weather interruptions in recent years. “I’ve got to tip my hat to Riley (Sheedy), my body guy,” O’Neal said. “With a couple laps to go, I was just trying to get everything I could. I got a little loose and backed it into the fence – I knew it wasn’t too bad, but I hate that for him, especially with a short turnaround. We’ll get it fixed.”“I felt like the track was widening out in turns three and four, and I was just waiting for someone to show me their nose.” Moran, still seeking his first win in the event that began in 1987, finished second. “I was really good until that one restart,” Moran said. “I thought the top would be better, but Thornton got the bottom. Then on another restart, I got a good run and slid him, but I ended up messing both of us up. I apologized – I should have committed to the fence and given him a chance to cross over. I didn’t want to race him like that.” Thornton, who won the event the last time it was held in 2023, finished third and commented on the late-race contact. “It was just racing – I told him we’re not going golfing together anymore,” Thornton joked. “Nothing to be mad about. The track was pretty good. When we come back in August, I think they’ll widen turns one and two a bit so the top can keep up. Three and four were really good all night. Honestly, these conditions are where I struggle, so to be close to those guys up front, I’m happy.” O’Neal’s winning SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and backed by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Beeman Lumber, Sunoco Race Fuels, Dicky’s Doghouse, Seven Spurs Ranch, Penske Racing Shocks, Lucas Oil, and Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball. Completing the top ten were Max Blair, Jason Jameson, Brian Shirley, Kyle Bronson, and Dan Ebert. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 40th Annual Ralph Latham MemorialSaturday, May 2, 2026Florence Speedway | Union, KY Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Hudson O’Neal | 16.126 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 16.288 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[3]; 4. 44-Dave Hess Jr[4]; 5. 16-Justin Rattliff[7]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[6]; 7. 4-Cody Mahoney[9]; 8. 33AJ-Austin Lay[8]; 9. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 10. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 12J-Jason Jameson[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 111-Max Blair[2]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 44M-Chris Madden[6]; 6. 18-Trevor Landrum[4]; 7. 4GK-Kody Evans[7]; 8. 49G-Billy Green[8]; 9. 8A-Curt Addison[9]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 12J-Jason Jameson[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 111-Max Blair[2]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 44M-Chris Madden[6]; 6. 18-Trevor Landrum[4]; 7. 4GK-Kody Evans[7]; 8. 49G-Billy Green[8]; 9. 8A-Curt Addison[9]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 3. 22F-Chris Ferguson[2]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[6]; 5. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[4]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 7. C7-Adam Stricker[5]; 8. 8K-Kyle Strickler[9]; 9. 93J-Donovan Jackson[8] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 2. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 3. 60-Dan Ebert[9]; 4. 4-Cody Mahoney[5]; 5. 16-Justin Rattliff[1]; 6. 18-Trevor Landrum[4]; 7. 4GK-Kody Evans[6]; 8. 33AJ-Austin Lay[7]; 9. 8A-Curt Addison[10]; 10. (DNS) 49G-Billy Green; 11. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 2. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[1]; 3. C7-Adam Stricker[6]; 4. 11M-Michael Chilton[3]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 6. 5N-Dustin Nobbe[5]; 7. 8K-Kyle Strickler[8]; 8. 59-Dillard Hatchett[9]; 9. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[2]; 10. 93J-Donovan Jackson[10]
40th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $26,4002 – 7 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $11,4003 – 2 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $7,3004 – 4 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $4,9005 – 5 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $4,4006 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $3,6007 – 3 – 12J – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $2,5008 – 15 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,2009 – 17 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,10010 – 21 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $3,00011 – 19 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – $2,00012 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,80013 – 18 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,70014 – 20 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,70015 – 16 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,60016 – 23 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,40017 – 10 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,50018 – 22 – C7 – Adam Stricker – Batavia, OH – $1,50019 – 9 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $2,40020 – 24 – 18 – Trevor Landrum – Florence, KY – $1,50021 – 14 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $2,40022 – 8 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $1,50023 – 13 – 44 – Dave Hess Jr – Waterford, PA – $1,50024 – 12 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $1,500 Race Statistics Entrants: 37Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Hudson O’NealMD3 Lap Leaders: Jason Jameson (Laps 1-2); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 3-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’NealWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 1.060 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Josh Rice (Lap 15); Mike Marlar (Lap 24); Dan Ebert (Lap 35); Trevor Landrum (Lap 36); Dillon McCowan (Lap 37)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Clay HarrisFast Time Provisional: Trevor LandrumEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr.Penske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Garrett AlbersonBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr.PEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Jason JamesonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Chris MaddenVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Carson FergusonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Cory LawlerHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Dan Ebert (Advanced 10 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (48 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin Moran; Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O’Neal | Lap 3 | 17.619 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Josh RiceVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Hudson O’NealOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason DurhamARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Kyle Bronson | 16.0162 secondsTime of Race: 29 minutes 51 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 2560 – $133,1002 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2530 – $149,8493 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 2340 – $79,9504 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2310 – $72,7005 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 2295 – $53,6006 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2280 – $55,3507 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2040 – $41,6258 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 2010 – $31,8759 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1980 – $33,70010 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 1965 – $44,20011 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 1965 – $34,50012 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 1940 – $32,87513 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 1905 – $32,87514 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 1660 – $20,90015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 1645 – $20,72516 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 1630 – $23,15017 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 1450 – $13,52518 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 1340 – $6,300

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John Force Racing–Valdosta Saturday

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

JFR TEAMS SET FOR SOUTHERN NATIONALSQualifying limited to just one late-afternoon session after persistent Saturday rain

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

JFR TEAMS SET FOR SOUTHERN NATIONALSQualifying limited to just one late-afternoon session after persistent Saturday rain

ADEL, Ga. (May 2, 2026) – Persistent rain and cool temperatures throughout Saturday morning and into the early afternoon at South Georgia Motorsports Park limited NHRA Southern Nationals Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors to just a single late afternoon qualifying session to set the field for Sunday’s eliminations. John Force Racing’s four teams struggled to get down the track in that final session and were unable to improve on their best performances from Friday’s two qualifying runs. Jordan Vandergriff’s Q1 run of 3.924 seconds at 325.74 seconds was good enough for the No. 3 qualifying spot. Vandergriff will line up the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car against No. 12 qualifier Jeff Arend (4.035 seconds at 311.41 mph) in the first round of eliminations. Josh Hart’s Q2 pass of 3.855 seconds at 275.22 mph put the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster in the No. 9 qualifying position. Hart will face No. 8 qualifier Leah Pruett (3.804 seconds at 331.64 mph) in the first round of eliminations. Alexis DeJoria ran 3.968 seconds at 326.63 mph in Q2 to earn the No. 10 qualifying position. DeJoria and the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team will face No. 5 qualifier Cruz Pedregon (3.948 seconds at 3017.16 mph) in the first round of eliminations. Jack Beckman and the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team qualified 11^th with their Q2 run of 3.973 seconds at 326.24 mph. The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion will face No. 4 qualifier Matt Hagan (3.933 seconds at 328.78 mph) in the first round of eliminations. Sunday’s eliminations are slated to begin at 12 p.m. ET. Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “I feel great about going into eliminations tomorrow. I think we’re coming off two really strong races, in Pomona and Charlotte, and we ran really good on Friday here in South Georgia. We earned the No. 2 spot then and ended up No. 3 today so we’ll take that going into race day. We have a really, really good Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet. Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker (crew chiefs) are going to figure this new racetrack out and go for the win tomorrow.” Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster: “I’m very grateful for and applaud everybody that stayed through all the rain and all the hard work that went into trying to get the track ready today. We want the best show possible for the teams, the drivers and all the fans that stayed through the rain. Today’s run was clearly not what we were planning on. Tomorrow will be a much better day for the Speedmaster team.” Quote from Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “We definitely have a strong race day setup for the Bandero Café Chevy so we’ll just see what happens. We don’t have lane choice tomorrow, which could be tricky, but tomorrow’s a new day with new conditions so things can turn in our favor. I have the utmost faith in my team.” Quote from Jack Beckman, PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “I don’t like to complain unless I have a solution and I don’t have a solution. If we had lane choice, I probably wouldn’t care that much but, at some point during the day tomorrow, you’re probably not going to have lane choice. I know there was earnest preparation in both lanes but the left lane, for whatever reason, is just not the lane to be in. I have a lot of trust in what the track crew is able to do, and I know they’re gonna work their butts off on it to have it ready for tomorrow when we line up the PEAK Chevy for Round 1.” TELEVISION SCHEDULETelevision coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying wrap-up show on Sun., May 3, from 1 – 2 p.m. ET and an eliminations show from 7 – 10 p.m. ET.

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Cadillac sweeps front row at Laguna Seca; Delétraz wins pole

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Cadillac Newsroom

Monterey, California – (May 2, 2026) – Louis Delétraz and the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R won the pole for Sunday’s Monterey Sportscar Championship at Laguna Seca Raceway.
His lap of 1 minute, 19.654 seconds (110.033 mph) Saturday bested the second-place effort of Jack Atiken, driver of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, who clocked in at 1:14.125.
Cadillac Racing has now earned four poles in IMSA prototype competition at the track, with the others happening in 2017, 2018 and 2024.
Filipe Albuquerque, driver of the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, was seventh with a lap of 1:14.130.
Cadillac Racing has recorded 10 podium finishes at Laguna Seca, including victory in 2023, since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017. In May 2024, Cadillac Racing also swept the front row in qualifying with Sebastien Bourdais setting the GTP track record of 1:12.445 in earning the pole.The Monterey SportsCar Championship is set for 4:10 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 3 from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. It will air live on NBCSN starting at 4 p.m. EDT with simultaneous streaming coverage on Peacock. IMSA Radio will stream live audio coverage on XM 206, Channel 996 on the SiriusXM app and IMSA.com.

Louis Delétraz, No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R: “I’m so happy. We’ve been working so hard. All the boys and girls at Wayne Taylor Racing and Cadillac have been pushing the performance, and it’s great to reward them with the pole position. Jack (Aitken) was in second and we were both fast and honestly a big thank you to everyone and looking forward to the race.”

Jack Aitken, No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing: “Yeah it was solid. The Cadillacs have been up there all through practice and it felt like the weather changed a little bit today, so we had to adapt to those conditions and change a couple of things around. P2 is a great place to start and an all-Cadillac front row is fantastic. We’ll try and control things from the front and maybe bring home that first win of the year.”

Filipe Albuquerque, No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R: “A hard qualifying for us. We’ve been struggling this weekend with pace. I don’t know what’s going on with the 10 this weekend, but I’m really happy for the 40 and for the team at WTR that we found the pace. I’m happy for them. The delta doesn’t justify historically our result or pace. We need to understand what is going wrong and work from there.”

Cadillac sweeps front row at Laguna Seca; Delétraz wins pole

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Cadillac Newsroom

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CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: Ready to Make Moves

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

GTD PRO, GTD Corvettes eager to build on strong long-run practice showings MONTEREY, Calif. (May 2, 2026) – Corvette Racing’s four Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will look to race their way toward the front Sunday following qualifying for the Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ Antonio Garcia was the quickest Z06 GT3.R driver in Saturday’s 15-minute GTD PRO session with the fifth-fastest time in the No. 3 Corvette that he will drive with Alexander Sims. Garcia will start from the third row after a lap of 1:21.661 (98.661 mph), just 0.44 seconds off Jack Hawksworth’s pole time.
The No. 3 duo were third in class in last year’s race on their way to the GTD PRO Drivers Championship at the end of the season.

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

Tommy Milner was eighth in class behind the wheel of the No. 4 Corvette that he shares with Nicky Catsburg. Through the first two GTD PRO races, the duo sits second in the Drivers Championship among the full-season teams; Sunday’s race will be the first two-hour, 40-minute sprint round of the season.
Both Pratt Miller-run Corvettes showed well in the two 90-minute practice sessions, particularly on long runs. Sims was the quickest driver in class after Friday’s opening practice, and the two Z06 GT3.Rs were third and fourth after Saturday morning’s final session.
In GTD, only two Corvettes took part in qualifying following the withdrawal of the DXDT Racing entry following a transporter fire earlier in the week. For 13 Autosport, Orey Fidani qualified 12th in class behind the wheel of the No. 13 Corvette, just ahead of DragonSpeed’s Henrik Hedman in the No. 81 Corvette.
There is reason for both squads to be optimistic. Altoé, last year’s GTD PRO pole-winner, was the fifth-fastest GTD driver through both practice sessions in the DragonSpeed Corvette. Bell, Fidani’s teammate, also was firmly in the top half of drivers in class, as well.
The Monterey SportsCar Championship is set for 1:10 p.m. PT on Sunday from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. It will air live on NBCSN starting at 4 p.m. ET with simultaneous streaming coverage on Peacock. IMSA Radio will stream live audio coverage on XM 206, Channel 996 on the SiriusXM app and IMSA.com.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I can’t complain too much about my laps. I was pushing and getting the most out of the car, for sure. If I was picky, maybe I could find a tenth or so… not enough for pole for sure. We seem to be strong on the long run so we need to work our way into situations where we can move up. Starting farther up would have been a little easier. But again I can’t complain. The Corvette was pretty decent. We need to execute a proper race tomorrow and let it come to us.”

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: Ready to Make MovesGTD PRO, GTD Corvettes eager to build on strong long-run practice showings MONTEREY, Calif. (May 2, 2026) – Corvette Racing’s four Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will look to race their way toward the front Sunday following qualifying for the Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

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

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We were fast in Practice One and Two. Our long-run pace looked competitive, and our outright pace was competitive. But in qualifying we weren’t as fast as we had been in practice. I don’t know if the other guys were off the mark a bit and figured it out for qualifying or what’s going on there. Our Corvette felt generally good and was in the window that you’d want for qualifying, so no complaints there. I made a mistake on what was going to mostly be my best lap, which didn’t ultimately help our position. The laptimes are fairly close overall. It’ll be a tricky race, no question. It’s hard to pass here at Laguna Seca generally so starting eighth isn’t ideal. With how the car has been in practice, I think we have a good racecar. We’ll look for ways to pass people on the track and in the pits.”

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Hocevar, Suarez Drive Chevrolet to Front-Row Sweepat Texas Motor Speedway

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR Cup SeriesTexas Motor Speedway Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTeam Chevy Post-Qualifying Report May 2, 2026

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 STARTING LINEUP: 1st – Carson Hocevar2nd – Daniel Suarez6th – Kyle Busch9th – Alex Bowman

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

· For the second consecutive season, Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar will sit on the pole position to lead the NASCAR Cup Series to the green flag in Sunday’s Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY at Texas Motor Speedway. The pole – Chevrolet’s second of the 2026 season and 768th all-time in the division – came after the Portage, Michigan, native laid down a lap of 28.222 seconds, at 191.34 mph, around the 1.5-mile oval during Saturday’s qualifying session.
· Fresh off the organization’s second all-time victory in NASCAR’s top division, Spire Motorsports went on to place two of their Camaro ZL1’s at the top of the qualifying speed chart to set up the starting lineup for tomorrow’s 400-mile race. With his best qualifying effort of the season, Daniel Suarez drove his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet to second in the session to deliver the manufacturer its first front-row qualifying sweep of the season.

NASCAR Cup SeriesTexas Motor SpeedwayWürth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLYTeam Chevy Post-Qualifying ReportMay 2, 2026

Hocevar, Suarez Drive Chevrolet to Front-Row Sweepat Texas Motor Speedway

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 STARTING LINEUP: 1st – Carson Hocevar2nd – Daniel Suarez6th – Kyle Busch9th – Alex Bowman

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – Pole Win Quotes
Now that you have won a Cup race, does it immediately change anything in you, in terms of, does it command additional respect? Do you feel like it establishes you as a legitimate, for real Cup Series driver now that you know you’re a Cup winner?“I think internally, for sure. I think it establishes all of us that we’re all winners. I was 22nd in practice, and I kind of just took it easy because I felt like my car was going to be pretty good. You have a little bit of a risk here, obviously. I thought that we’d be just fine. I just kind of went with a feel where, probably before Talladega, I was trying to win practice, win qualifying, and try to talk myself into the thought that we’re going to win the race. Everybody’s just jollier, I guess. Everybody’s just kind of slower and more relaxed. I could just tell by the way they were pulling the hood pins and little things. They just have a lot of confidence. It’s not that often that I sit there and just go – we’re 22nd in practice and think we’re going to win the pole, as long as I don’t mess this up. Especially when I saw Daniel (Suarez) roll out, our cars are very similar. I thought we’d be really close. I didn’t expect it to be that close, but I’m just glad I was on the front end of it.”
When Daniel (Suarez) put his lap up, a lot of cars followed. In looking at the ghost cars, it looked like where he made his speed was off of turn two and carrying the momentum into turn three. Was your lap similar to that, or where do you think you made the difference there, of the three thousandths of a second?“I hadn’t seen the ghost car. Maybe going to Chili’s last night, it weighed the car down just a little bit more. I had a little left-side weight (laughs). I don’t know where those three thousandths are. I’m just glad I had them in the bank. My lap felt pretty good. It wasn’t quite keying up on the radio.I don’t remember who said it, but I remember watching TV of it and they’re like, if they beat that, they can have it. Then they don’t get beat. I wasn’t quite doing that, but I was coming off turn four and I was like, man, if this isn’t fast, I’m going to be so disappointed. But it felt good. That’s the worst, when it feels good and it’s slow. I’m just glad there was a lot of pace in it.” I know you’re not a big data guy, but do you have any sense of whether you’re closer to Daniel (Suarez) or Michael (McDowell), in terms of what you want out of the car? You said you’re and Daniel’s car are pretty close. Does that mean you drive similarly?“Sometimes I ask them, are we similar? They normally go, yeah. I’m like, okay. That’s my data. I think all three of us are very similar. I’m assuming the No. 7 is similar. It would be hilarious if they’re so different and it’s three thousandths different. When I asked about Michael (McDowell), he was similar. Normally they’re pretty different. I was like, if Michael’s similar, then Daniel’s got to be. I think they all try to stay pretty close, with exceptions, but balance-wise, it’s all pretty close.”

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Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Texas–Carson Hocevar

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR CUP SERIES TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES MAY 2, 2026

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

NASCAR CUP SERIESTEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAYTEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTESMAY 2, 2026

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:

What do you think the balance of power is on intermediate tracks right now? I mean, obviously, the Toyota’s have looked good, and the Hendrick drivers, they seem okay enough because all three of the main guys have finished top-10 for both the 1.5-mile tracks, so far. So it’s not like they’re off, but it seems like our perception is the Chevy’s, you guys are still trying to figure out your body a little bit. So where do you think things stand or stack up right now with the series as a whole like that?“Yeah, I mean, the cream always is going to rise to the top, especially when everybody just kind of has figured these cars out a lot more, obviously. But I feel like of the two mile-and-a-halves, the Toyota’s have been the best. Their two tracks have been Las Vegas and Kansas. Kansas is super strong for 23XI. I remember, consistently, that they’re always one of the fastest cars at Vegas, too. As we get to these other 1.5-mile tracks that have low grip, I’d be curious if they’re still just as strong. Obviously, I’m sure they will be.  When you change something, it’s easy to point fingers and forget the history of the fact that those are, in my opinion, the two where I’d be like, okay, Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI are probably going to be super, super strong. Yeah, I don’t think we’re far off. I feel like we’re right there with the Hendrick cars, like Kansas. Vegas, we just kind of missed it just a little bit. We were still running okay, but I had a bunch of loose wheels. And then Kansas, I think we were ranked fifth in speed, but that still includes having to pass everybody every restart and stuff. I think we could have been up there or at least closer if we restarted up there with them a few times.  I think here and in a couple weeks when you go to Charlotte and Michigan, I think you’ll see really what the story is going to be with who’s really, really strong and going to carry that through the rest of the year.”
Last year, we were talking about you being the youngest polesitter here. Now, you’re coming back here coming off your first Cup Series victory. You won last night in the Truck Series. How good does everything feel right now? I mean, I know that obviously this for you, you just want this to kind of be a beginning, I would assume, of everything that’s coming…“Yeah, I mean, everything’s so fresh for us on this stuff. We’re laughing about the little things, like we’re excited that we roll out last to qualify and highest on the metric. So, yeah, little victories here and there that you just get to enjoy. Obviously, the people that have won before and win consistently, that’s just part of the job. They’ve been there, done that. For us, it’s all new and we get to finally enjoy it. Hopefully we can roll out last and take advantage of it. Start up front, which is super important here. Pit stops are going to be important. Get a good pit selection and really keep the momentum rolling.”   You mentioned that you want to do the Indy 500. Is that just a wish or do you think you could actually do it?“Well, number one, it’s a wish. You know, I think I could actually do it, like as in confidence of running wide open and managing air. I don’t know if I’ll get to do it, literally. But I just hope if I do get a shot that I can go fit the seat and they don’t tell me I’m too tall for the ride. I, for sure, hope that’s not the case. But I’m just enjoying Sunday’s right now for sure, though.”
Do you want to do it because it’s just a big racing event? Do you want to do it because you want to go 220-230 miles per hour? What is it that attracts you?“It was my favorite race. Growing up in Michigan, I thought I was going to go race wingless sprint cars for a living. Bryan Clauson was my idol. My double is not the Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500… my double I thought I’d get to do is the Indy 500 and the Kokomo 30 down the street. You know, that was the double that if I ever did it, that’s what I would consider it. So if I ever do get that shot, it would be a lifelong dream.  But it’s just my favorite track, favorite race. NASCAR was always so special, but Indy just was its own thing. It look so different. It’s a month long. They go 230-240 mph and there’s so much prestige to it. It’s no different than I think how F1 drivers look at Le Mans. It’s a totally different sight and sound to them. It’s just so different from everything I’m used to with stockcars, dirt cars or anything growing up. That was the only time I ever sat down and watched the Indy 500 with my family.”
You’ve got a couple of Truck Series wins here now. You won the Cup Series pole last year. What is it about this place that just clicks with you?“Yeah, it’s just a lot of throttle. You get to move around a little bit. It just feeds into my kind of style, especially with wanting to be brave down into turn one with how kind of flatted and odd shaped it is. But also, too, kind of over the bumps and getting up there on the limit of the grip that tends to bite people if you get too high. So, yeah, just balancing it all, I think, just kind of fits everything for me.”
Sponsorship is such a big deal in this sport. You won last week with Chili’s. You go to Chili’s. You’re always promoting it. So I’m just curious, as a driver who’s always talking about a sponsor, it’s like you have a really genuine, positive relationship with Chili’s. Talk about the relationship and what it means to you.“Yeah, there’s just a lot of friendships and relationships, more than anything. You know, when I say Chili’s, I’m saying all the people I’ve met there more than anything, rather than just the brand. When I say Chili’s, they feel as if I’m just calling out their name one by one because of how close we all are. I met a few of the Chili’s folks at Talladega my rookie year. We were looking out in the parking lot when we were at their cookout area. They still had the selfie when I was a rookie in Trucks at Talladega that we happened to land at each other’s motorhome lot. They still remember it and now here they are, having won Talladega and then won here (at Texas Motor Speedway).  They were just race fans showing up; no connections to anything or sponsors. They were just race fans that I happened to find my way into their campsite. We took a photo and just talked racing for 20 minutes and moved on, not thinking we’d ever pass each other again. It’s just the true definition of the story everybody says all the time of you never know who you’re going to meet.”
You spoke of wanting to run a wingless sprint car, but would you ever run a 410 sprint car with a wing?“I mean, it would be fun. I’d like to test it, maybe, but I don’t get a lot of FOMO. I get a lot of FOMO like when I watch dirt late model races, and then I try to calculate if we could have flown there in time or if I could have got there. The only track that I ever get FOMO in a sprint car is watching the Knoxville Nationals, when they’re on the very bottom and very top. Just how technical the bottom looks there, it just looks really fun if you hit it right. But I think I’d be pretty nervous of getting hurt and wrecking. I’m not confident in it, just because racing sprint cars was not what I grew up doing. I’d be nervous to ruin what I got here right now because I had have to go sit out because I wanted to go run a sprint car race. It’s a lot easier for me to just go run a dirt late model and be plenty content because the worst thing that happens there is I’d knock the spoiler off the thing and not flip, hopefully.”
Jeff Dickerson said you can run a midget at Chili Bowl. Have you made arrangements for what team you’re going to compete with at this point?“The deal was I had to win two races to get to Chili Bowl, so we’re halfway there. I don’t know who we’d do it with. I’m hoping I can give it to Tim Clauson to build some midgets.”
Maybe this is an unfair question because you like this track or you’re good here, but this track has gotten a reputation for not putting on the best racing. But then, you see IndyCar puts on a really good show here and last night was an amazing show. What is it about this place that is not necessarily clicking for Cup right now? Does something need to change? Can it naturally be a better Cup race at some point as things evolve? How do you see it?“I thought about it last night because I was kind of wondering, I was like, this is really fun. It was a good race. I thought the biggest thing was you could move up. I could even get out of the black stuff where nobody had ran by accident and it wasn’t an all four-death slide to the fence. You could just have more lanes. Like on iRacing, this is one of the best tracks to race. But we’re running against the fence in (turns) one and two.  That was my thought going into this weekend… I was like, man, it’s really fun on iRacing. So I was like, if it some way or another cleans up and we can run higher, I think this track would be super cool for how unique it is and everything. I think it would do well. But when it gets so one lane, you can’t pass. You see with a Next Gen car, it’s the best at a mile-and-a-half, just because there’s more lanes. It’s the best when there’s a lot of lanes. It’s the best when it’s at night and has a lot of grip. Well, this track naturally has a lot of grip, so this should be one of the best Next Gen tracks. IndyCar’s good here. Trucks are really good here. Those are still, I’d say, closer to the Cup car, in terms of like the draft and everything and moving around in clean air with all of them. I don’t know if there’s anything worse in dirty air than an IndyCar, obviously, for how low those things are and how downforce dependent they are.  If we can just get more lanes similar to how it was last night, it’s not just a full-blown, completely death sliding scenario. When you get just an inch too high, it’ll be pretty good.”
Following up with Chili’s, you left last night out on the frontstretch saying, I got to find a local Chili’s. To me, that is the most pressing question that I need to follow up on because I didn’t see anything on the social media. Did you find a local Chili’s? Were they open? “No… we were heading out there, but all the Chili’s folks, they had the whole campsite and hospitality area. They all just wanted to have a good old-fashioned tailgate, basically, so we just did that. They were like, we have this hospitality thing, we don’t have to leave and coordinate anything… we have it here. They had grills. They had everything, so we just did that and everybody had a good time.” It’s a long season, so you don’t have the benefit of a long off-season to get ready for a season. So what do you do in-season that helps you mentally and physically be able to compete every week at the top? You’re young, so it’s probably a little easier for you than some, but if you could just talk about the strategies that you have to be able to withstand the rigors of a long season… “Yeah, we just try to not get burned out, basically, and feel like every week’s the same week. We run pavement late models, dirt late models. We go racing more. There’s not really a good workout for a driver other than just racing more. That’s probably just the best medicine for all of us is we do that. And then obviously, we stay in the simulator. But the more we race, the more we just get to enjoy it, and every week has something a little different.”

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Hoffman Reclaims Points Lead With Friday Mississippi Thunder Victory

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (May 1, 2026) – Nick Hoffman couldn’t have asked for a better 34th birthday present than the one he gave himself.

Entering Friday’s portion of the Dairyland Showdown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Bobby Pierce had won the last three races on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision trail, and Hoffman was at risk of letting Pierce pull away in the points battle. He needed a momentum shift, and that’s exactly what he got.

Pierce had already made headlines before the Feature began, as a tight battle with Ethan Dotson in his Heat Race ended in contact that knocked Pierce out of a Redraw spot. Meanwhile, Hoffman went wire-to-wire in his Heat Race to lock in a top-four starting spot.

With Pierce mired back in the pack, Hoffman was putting on a show at the front of the field. The opening laps saw him in the middle of a three-wide battle for second alongside Tyler Erb and Ryan Gustin, which Hoffman came out on top of before setting his sights on Dotson out front.

A caution for debris six laps in allowed Gustin to get back to second on the restart, but Hoffman quickly moved back ahead two laps later. As Hoffman began putting the pressure on Dotson, the No. 74X jumped the cushion and smacked the wall in Turn 1, giving Hoffman all the space he needed to take the lead.

That turned out to be the last battle Hoffman had to fight, as he went unchallenged the rest of the way to score his fifth World of Outlaws win of the season and his third at Mississippi Thunder. Most importantly, with Pierce unable to climb any higher than ninth, Hoffman climbed back to the top of the points table by six markers ahead of Saturday’s program.

“Woke up this morning, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m tired of screwing around,” Hoffman said. “This car’s been up in the trailer, I think it’s win percentage has been around 75% now. It hasn’t raced since Volusia [Speedway Park], just wanted to bring it back out, see how good it was again since I planned on racing it in a couple weeks in Delaware. This thing was just really good.”

Gustin was on the podium for the second time in as many nights in second, while Erb got around Tim McCreadie for third in points with his third-place run. Fourth went to Dotson, while Brent Larson was fifth for his best result of the season.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision wraps up the Dairyland Showdown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway with the 50-lap finale on Saturday, May 2. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Jonathan Davenport set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Tim McCreadie won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Tyler Erb won Heat 1.

Nick Hoffman won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Ethan Dotson won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Ryan Gustin won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Tristan Chamberlain and Dylan Thornton won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Ethan Dotson won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Cade Dillard won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Ryan Gustin was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Brent Larson was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Clay Stuckey was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Jonathan Davenport was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Hoffman Reclaims Points Lead With Friday Mississippi Thunder Victory

FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (May 1, 2026) – Nick Hoffman couldn’t have asked for a better 34th birthday present than the one he gave himself.

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

RACE NOTES:

Jonathan Davenport set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Tim McCreadie won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Tyler Erb won Heat 1.

Nick Hoffman won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Ethan Dotson won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Ryan Gustin won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Tristan Chamberlain and Dylan Thornton won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Ethan Dotson won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Cade Dillard won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Ryan Gustin was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Brent Larson was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Clay Stuckey was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Jonathan Davenport was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[4]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin[3]; 3. 1-Tyler Erb[2]; 4. 74X-Ethan Dotson[1]; 5. B1-Brent Larson[5]; 6. 22*-Drake Troutman[7]; 7. 58V-Daulton Wilson[6]; 8. 14-Trey Mills[11]; 9. 32-Bobby Pierce[10]; 10. 9M-Tim McCreadie[8]; 11. 13-Dallon Murty[9]; 12. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[14]; 13. 15-Clay Stuckey[13]; 14. 19-Dustin Sorensen[16]; 15. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[17]; 16. 1Z-Logan Zarin[19]; 17. 15D-Justin Duty[20]; 18. 49D-Jonathan Davenport[12]; 19. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[22]; 20. 97-Cade Dillard[24]; 21. 49-Jake Timm[21]; 22. 55E-Eli Johnson[23]; 23. 09-Michael Leach[15]; 24. 38T-Dylan Thornton[18]

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Thornton Denies O’Neal for Circle City Victory on Friday Night

May 4, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

Thornton Denies O’Neal for Circle City Victory on Friday Night

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 1, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. tracked down race-long leader Hudson O’Neal and made the winning pass on lap 41, then held on to capture his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing victory of the season Friday night at Circle City Raceway. Thornton’s 58th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win earned him $15,000 in the Series’ second-ever visit to the Indianapolis facility. O’Neal finished second, with Max Blair rounding out the Big River Steel podium in third. Mike Marlar finished fourth, followed by Devin Moran in fifth. Starting sixth, Thornton now moves into a tie with Brandon Sheppard for fourth in the championship standings heading into Saturday’s event at Florence Speedway. “I felt like we had a really good car all night, but I just couldn’t quite get it going early. In the feature, everything came together,” said the Chandler, Arizona native. “Watching midget and sprint car races here, you know how technical the top can be and that the bottom will eventually come in. Max (Blair) was strong down there, and after that caution, when Marlar chose the bottom, I knew I had to make my move.” “I got by Max on the restart, and once I cleared Mikey (Marlar), I felt like I had a shot at Hudson. I knew it might take lapped traffic to slow him down, and it worked out for us.” With his runner-up finish, O’Neal is now tied with Moran for the championship points lead heading into the Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway. “It was probably better not to be the leader at the end,” O’Neal said. “Ricky was really good late in the race. He probably saved his tires better than I did and was able to move around more. When you’re leading, you’re kind of stuck picking a lane and hoping it holds. No excuses—we’re happy to finish second, even though it’s tough to lead that long and get passed late.” Blair continued his strong run, recording his ninth consecutive top five finish. “The restart where Ricky got by me actually helped me a bit,” Blair said. “I knew once Marlar picked the bottom on that last restart, it was going to be tough to hold those guys off. It was a lot of fun racing with Ricky for as long as we did.” Thornton’s winning Koehler Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and backed by Hoker Trucking, Knight’s Companies, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste, Strange Oval, Certified Inspection Services, Sunoco Race Fuels, and SI Towing and Recovery. Completing the top ten were Dan Ebert, Josh Rice, Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton, and Carson Ferguson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Friday, May 1, 2026Circle City Raceway | Indianapolis, IN Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time: Mike Marlar | 12.073 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[4]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 5. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 6. 4G-Kody Evans[6]; 7. 44-Dave Hess Jr[7]; 8. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 9. 317-Blake Creech[9] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 5. 12J-Jason Jameson[5]; 6. P3-Steve Peeden[6]; 7. 59-Dillard Hatchett[7]; 8. 4-Cody Mahoney[9]; 9. C4-Freddie Carpenter[8]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 5. 58-Garrett Alberson[5]; 6. 3S-Brian Shirley[6]; 7. 6-Clay Harris[8]; 8. 19M-Brenden Smith[7]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer):1. 44-Dave Hess Jr[1]; 2. 59-Dillard Hatchett[2]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[4]; 4. 19M-Brenden Smith[6]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[3]; 6. 4-Cody Mahoney[5]; 7. C4-Freddie Carpenter[8]; 8. (DNS) 317-Blake Creech Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 6 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $16,3002 – 2 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $8,3003 – 4 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $5,9004 – 1 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $4,0005 – 3 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $4,4006 – 5 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $3,4007 – 10 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $3,3008 – 7 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $3,2009 – 13 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $3,10010 – 11 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,00011 – 18 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $2,90012 – 8 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $2,70013 – 15 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $2,50014 – 9 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,50015 – 12 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,40016 – 21 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $2,20017 – 24 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – $1,20018 – 20 – 59 – Dillard Hatchett – Cornersville, TN – $1,10019 – 22 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $1,90020 – 23 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,90021 – 16 – 4G – Kody Evans – Camden, OH – $1,00022 – 19 – 44 – Dave Hess Jr – Waterford, PA – $1,00023 – 17 – P3 – Steve Peeden – Martinsville, IN – $1,00024 – 14 – 12J – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $1,000 Race Statistics Entrants: 26Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Mike MarlarMD3 Lap Leaders: Hudson O’Neal (Laps 1-40); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 41-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’NealWieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Margin of Victory: 2.015 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Jason Jameson (Lap 4); Dave Hess, Jr. (Lap 23); Brian Shirley, Dillon McCowan (Lap 29)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Clay Harris; Freddie CarpenterFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Max BlairPenske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Max Blair, Mike Marlar, Devin MoranBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Mike MarlarPEM 4th Place Feature: Mike MarlarDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Devin MoranWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Josh RiceWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Cory LawlerHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Brian Shirley (Advanced 7 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (40 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin MoranO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Devin Moran | Lap 11 | 12.576 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Jason JamesonVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Anthony BurroughsARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Dan Ebert | 12.0761 secondsTime of Race: 23 minutes 25 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2300 – $138,4492 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 2300 – $106,7003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2110 – $52,5504 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2100 – $67,8005 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 2100 – $72,6506 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 2095 – $50,0007 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 1835 – $37,2258 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1825 – $28,7759 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 1815 – $41,80010 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 1800 – $31,80011 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 1795 – $30,27512 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1790 – $30,50013 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 1725 – $29,87514 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 1525 – $18,50015 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 1505 – $20,75016 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 1485 – $19,02517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 1295 – $11,92518 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 1290 – $6,300

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John Force Racing–Valdosta–Friday

May 1, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

FRIDAY RECAP – Valdosta Race 5 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF 2ND AFTER DAY 1 AT SGMPHart, DeJoria, and Beckman improve on their first-run performances in Q2

FRIDAY RECAP – ValdostaRace 5 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF 2ND AFTER DAY 1 AT SGMPHart, DeJoria, and Beckman improve on their first-run performances in Q2

ADEL, Ga. (May 1, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team set the pace for John Force Racing with their No. 2 qualifying spot after Day 1 of the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park. The Atlanta-area resident ran 3.924 seconds at 325.14 mph in the day’s first qualifying session, capturing the second overall spot in nitro Funny Car behind only J.R. Todd’s 3.887-second run. Josh Hart put the Speedmaster Top Fueler in the No. 7 spot with his Q2 run of 3.855 seconds at 275.22 mph. Alexis DeJoria sits 10^th with her Q2 run of 3.968 seconds at 326.63 mph in the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car. Jack Beckman and the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team are 11^th with their Q2 run of 3.973 seconds at 326.24 mph. Saturday’s qualifying sessions, which will include Beckman’s participation in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge earned from his runner-up finish in last week’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, are scheduled for 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. The first round of eliminations is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at 11 a.m. ET. Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “Our Q1 run was fantastic and it keeps us number two. In Q2, we knew the left lane was a little tricky so we went up there going for it and it definitely went up in smoke very quickly. Every run in the Cornwell Tools Chevy is a learning experience at this point and that’s good. I might have caught it a little quicker, because it’s all about feeling the race car, so the more runs I get, the better I’ll get.” Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster: “I don’t think anybody on this Speedmaster team wants to start in the No. 7 spot. We were smoking the tires from about 800 feet on that second run. I stayed in it, and typically you wouldn’t do that, but we had to improve. I know we’ll get a good game plan together for tomorrow and get a couple good runs in if the weather holds. On Sunday, you have to race them all anyway so this JFR team will get it figured out and we’ll park it in the winner’s circle at the end of the day.” Quote from Crew Chief Mike Neff, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “We were trying to run a little better than that, wanting to run a low 90. We ended up putting in a little more clutch than we wanted and it didn’t quite turn out the way we were hoping. But we needed to get the Bandero Chevy down the track, too. Everybody’s really bunched up right now. So, it was good to get one on the board and the weather looks like it might clear out after lunch tomorrow so definitely hoping to get another one or two more runs in.” Quote from Jack Beckman, PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “The right lane is significantly better than the left lane from 10 feet to 150 feet. We put a right lane tune up in the PEAK Chevy for Q1 but we were in the left lane. We were then forced to soften it up for Q2 and had a left lane tune up in it. The right lane would have taken way more but we slid it down the track. We’re 11th right now and hoping the weather allows us to get some more runs in tomorrow. We need data here and we need to move up the qualifying order.” Television ScheduleTelevision FS1 coverage includes a qualifying show Sat., May 2, from 9:30 – 11 p.m. ET, a second qualifying Sun., May 3, from 1 – 2 p.m. ET and a finals show Sun., May 3, from 7 – 10 p.m. ET.

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Chevy racing–nascar–texas–austin dillon

May 1, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

NASCAR CUP SERIES TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES MAY 1, 2026

Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of running double duty in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Texas Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:

Austin, you won at this track back in 2020. How does it feel to be back here in Texas?“It feels really good. Texas (Motor Speedway) is a place that we’ve had some success at as a company. RCR has had some speed. We’ve been able to click off some good finishes. Also, getting to run the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this weekend will be a lot of fun. I haven’t done that in a long time. I think the last time I ran a race here in that series was in 2017, so looking forward to that challenge. And then, just trying to progress on the Cup side and get some good finishes.” Would you consider this perhaps the most difficult of the 1.5-miles track because of the way the two different ends work?“Yeah, this place is definitely pretty difficult to find a balance between both ends. (Turns) one and two have become a pretty tricky corner for all series, but I think in the Cup series, when you cross the path of another car off of two, it seems to be pretty treacherous. Three and four is about a lane and a half wide because of the big bump there off of four, which is a pain. So, yeah, I mean, this place is difficult, for sure.” This is your first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race of the year. Do you know how many you’re going to do? Are you going to hit the seven or how many ever you can do?“I don’t think so. I think I’ll probably do this one and maybe one other one. I’m not really sure… I don’t have a plan right now to run much more than one, I think. I think we have one more. I don’t know where it’s at, though.” I assume you know Andy Street pretty well, so I’m curious how you think that change on the No. 8 team will be and if it will have any impact on your program, as well? “I’m glad that Andy (Street) is staying on the Cup side. He has been in our meetings all year long with the No. 3 and the No. 8, and he’s brought the No. 33 to the track, so I’ve gotten to work with him more than I probably ever have. I ran one O’Reilly’s race last year with him as a crew chief, so he’s kind of been bouncing around doing a lot of different jobs. He was originally kind of the guy that we were going to look to for just working on the cars on the Cup side to make them better each and every week. I think he’s shown that his ability to work with Kyle (Busch) at the end of the year last year and have some solid runs, I think that’s what the obvious move was to make. I think it should be a positive tone for that team. What I like to see is when that team’s in there with us after practice and we’re all in there trying to move the needle forward.” With 10 races into the season, why was this the right time to make that swap?“Well, I think there’s no reason not to. They weren’t very performing, and I think everybody was looking at that. But I think Jim (Pohlman) also wanted to make a change. I think that there’s multiple reasons, but the obvious reason was that we had someone in-house that had some success with Kyle (Busch) at the end of last year and was willing to step up and do the job. I think it was something that Jim also wanted to do… whatever we needed to do as a company to run better, and if that’s moving Andy (Street) into that role, I hope that Jim stays and can be an asset to our company and help us make our cars better in another role than just being on the box on Sunday. What really moves the needle, truthfully, for all these teams is what gets done at the shop during the week. Jim has proven, over his long tenure in NASCAR, that he can build fast race cars.” Does he have a set role on the competition side right now?“I believe so. I don’t know what that title is, but I know that, yes, they want him in pretty much the role that Andy (Street) was previously in, so it’s almost like a swap.” From the outside, it doesn’t look like you guys have a ton of performance right now. You have obviously on your team maximized what you can, but what’s the mood inside the building? I mean, is there still optimism you guys can turn around this year? Is there panic? What does it feel like there?“There’s an urgency, for sure. You know, like one of the guys in the shop came to me this week and said — hey, dude, we’ll do whatever. We’ll stay late. We want to prove who we are as a company and who we’ve always been, which is that we battle and that we never give up. When you think we’re down, we’re going to pop off a win. We’re going to figure it out and that’s what great race teams do. I have all the confidence in the world that we can get to where we need to be. I’m proud of, like you said, we’re maximizing the capability of our cars from the No. 3 team side. We’ve got to get the No. 8 to do that, and then when we can both be doing that, hopefully the small things that we figure out will drop those finishes from 15th on a good day to eighth to 10th. And then, once you start running from eighth to fifth, I think it’s everybody’s game in these races, especially as long as they are; come down to a late race restart, and we can make it happen from there. Also, Kyle (Busch) had a good meeting with the entire shop floor at the beginning of the week. That was positive.” Kind of on a similar note, every organization has a different way that they feel like the driver’s role should be or every driver feels different about what their role should be in debriefs on Monday or Tuesday or whatever. But at RCR, what is the driver’s role in terms of, you guys aren’t the engineers, but you’re driving the car, so like in terms of feedback or directions, what are the things that you feel like are the most prudent for a driver to tell the engineer, crew chief, leadership about what the cars are doing, what you want them to do? “I think clear, concise information that sets us up for good finishes. As a driver, I have a feel that I’m looking for. If I can tell them what my car did or didn’t do and they can go back and try and build around that and build off of that, I think that’s what we’re trying to do with Chevrolet and with our engineers. We’re trying to get the cars to drive better where we can drive them hard and not feel like we’re on the edge. I mean, that’s the thing that we hear most often is that we’re on a razor-thin margin of adjustment. When my car is tight during a race and I go to free it up on the next run, I can’t drive it because I’m spinning out loose. That’s a hard place to be, so you’ve got to have margin of error, is what I like to call it. We have to have some comfort in there where I can go tight or loose and still drive it. That’s what we’re trying to find because then that makes it more comfortable to get out there, drive hard, make moves, and not be afraid to be like, okay, I’m a 14th place car… if I loosen up right here, I can move to the top-10. That’s what you’re looking for. You want to be able to make an adjustment and see it improve. It seems like with our cars, when we make an adjustment, we don’t make them improve from a handling standpoint.” We pretty much see you just race on Sunday’s. You’ve got a handful of O’Reilly races. You’ve done SRX. I don’t know when your last dirt late model start was. How much extracurricular racing would you like to do? Are there things that are on your bucket list forms of racing? Are there things that you want to pursue?“Right now, I mean, with the Cup Series and the O’Reilly races I get, I’m really happy that I get to run two this weekend. I think something cool would be those trophy trucks out there… they look pretty fun and exciting to drive. I’ve always loved dirt. You know, I miss Bristol on dirt. That was my one dirt race a year, but now I’m starting to miss it. I could definitely go out and run a dirt late model somewhere and probably have some fun. But, yeah, I’m pretty comfortable where I’m at right now; raising two kids, tee-ball, racing, PBR. A lot of stuff going on in my life. It’s good stuff, though.” How much is RCR using the GM Charlotte Technical Center, as well as the simulator at that facility? “We use it every week for our allotted time, Kyle (Busch) and I both. Kyle and I have both put in as much effort as ever, I feel like. I’ve been in there in years where I use my entire allotment of time. We’ve kind of approached it a little bit differently, where we split the session and then have another driver come in and correlate. We put a lot of effort into it, and we’re very thankful for the tools that Chevy has provided us. We’re trying to make them better each week. I think at times, we probably should listen to it more, and times we’re like, man, that wasn’t close. But, I mean, that’s sim in general, I feel like.” Last week, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. said he was in there after a race to try to set the parameters of where they need to be when they return to Kansas. I’m wondering, how much of that information gets shared among the Chevrolet partners? Also, if the fans are asking, why isn’t RCR and Trackhouse performing at the same level as the Hendricks-Spire coalition, what would you see as the biggest disparity?“From the key partner side of it, I think the feel of the room is that we’re all trying to work together to get everybody performing better. HMS has done a very good job, I feel like, of kind of leading the group of the three of us. I think the No. 3 team has been right there in the mix with some of the HMS cars. But all of us aren’t happy with where we’re at. We’ve got to be better, so I think working together is key. I can’t speak for Spire, they’re not a key partner team, but they’ve been successful this year, as well.” You mentioned Kyle addressed the shop. Can you share anything else as to what the nature of that message was, or what he said, or anything like that?“I think just that he’s all in. He wants to get back. I talked to Kyle (Busch), and his next win is going to be the biggest of his career, if you think of it the right way. All the stuff that has been said and brought up over this year, I feel like if he puts his head down and takes that team back to victory lane, that’s going to be the biggest win of his career. So, that’s what we’re all fighting for. We want to see that. As a competitor, that’s what I’d like to see.” You’re running a double this weekend in O’Reilly and Cup. What advantages do you think the extra track time will have for you?“I think just getting your eyes on the track; getting a feel of every bump and understanding how much you can arc. It’s just a fast start to the weekend, getting an extra couple laps on the track in practice.” On the O’Reilly side, it’s Ryan’s (Chism) first gig as a crew chief. What should I know about him? What do you know about him? What do you want us to know about him?“Ryan Chism has been a guy that’s been on our team for a long time now, as the car chief. He’s just head down; going to work, out work, competes in everything. He likes to compete in sports, in general. He’s of the most athletic guys at our shop. He’s also just a great competitor. He builds good racecars. Every time I strap in the car, I know that my car is going to stay together and he makes sure of that. It was his opportunity, and I’m glad they’re giving him that opportunity to show that we can build within our organization. This is a one-off, but I’d like to see him have more opportunities like this. He’s excited, I’m excited, and we want to go out there and run well with Boot Barn.”

NASCAR CUP SERIESTEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAYTEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTESMAY 1, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

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SMILE A LITTLE BIT: Meet One of the Pit Area’s Most Positive Personalities, Jimmy Fitzwater

May 1, 2026 ARP Trish Leave a comment

CONCORD, NC (May 1, 2026) – Life as a crew member with a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series team is far from glamorous.

Sure, it’s a job many would love to have, but that doesn’t make the late nights and early mornings easy. Parking lot maintenance all through the summer, and often far from home. Quarter car wash trips beyond midnight. Long trips from track to track. It may be an occupation many aspire to have, but it doesn’t mean they’re all cut out for it. It’s easy to get worn down by the grind.

But Bill Rose Racing’s Jimmy Fitzwater refuses to have a bad day on the road. You won’t ever find him upset at the track. You’ll find a man who is always happy to be doing what he loves as he helps Kasey Jedrzejek navigate his first season on tour.

A military family meant Fitzwater moved often in his youth. He wound up in Georgia, and southern dirt tracks initially attracted him to Late Models. Eventually, Ohio became home and introduced him to Sprint Cars. The look. The sound. The racing. Fitzwater fell in love.

“I’d always wanted to work on them, always had a fascination with them. They’re the meanest machines on dirt,” Fitzwater said. “Seeing the big wing on top as a kid, I was like, ‘Wow.’”

Fitzwater got his shot to work on one when one of the “Buckeye State’s” most famed families needed a hand.

“In 2014, Lee Jacobs reached out to me over Facebook and said, ‘Hey, who wants to work on Sprint Cars?’” Fitzwater recalled. “And then ever since then it’s been full send.”

That stint even allowed Fitzwater to work with Cody Jacobs, who now turns the wrenches on the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 that David Gravel has driven to two consecutive championships.

Fitzwater moved around to various local teams over the next several seasons, soaking up as much knowledge as he could. One of those stops was Bryan Grove’s No. 28 with Tim Shaffer behind the wheel. Shaffer’s friendship with Jason Sides got Fitzwater acquainted with the 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies and opened the door for him to hit the road.

“Tim Shaffer and Jason Sides are pretty good friends,” Fitzwater said. “They asked me if I wanted to go to Florida, and I said yes. I got to work with Jason for the first time in 2021.”

That audition led to Fitzwater joining the Sides Motorsports crew full-time in 2022 and spending a few seasons with them as Sides stepped back from driving to operate as the crew chief on the No. 7S. Fitzwater worked with Robbie Price, Landon Crawley, and Chris Windom in his time with the team. Different drivers and different personalities, but Fitzwater enjoyed his time with each equally.

“Each driver has their unique characteristics and little quirks they do,” Fitzwater said. “I’ve never had a bad time with any driver I’ve worked with. Chris always said I was like Mr. Positive and never had a bad day.”

During the stretch with Sides, Fitzwater’s attitude was recognized with the Jason Johnson Sportsmanship Award in 2024.

Fitzwater’s career path brought him to Bill Rose’s operation for 2026 as they hired Kasey Jedrzejek to make a rookie run with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It hasn’t taken long for Fitzwater’s positivity to make an impact on the entire group.

“That means a lot because you’ve got to have fun doing this crap,” Rose said of Fitzwater’s personality. “I’ve told everybody, even Kasey getting into this deal, we got to have fun. If you’re not having fun, you got to do something different. He (Fitzwater) brings that to it. He likes to have a good time, and everybody knows that’s part of it… He does what he does, and he’s been doing really well.”

“It’s been a lot of fun working with Jimmy,” Jedrzejek echoed. “He’s never down or anything. He’s always there to have a good time, and I think he does a really good job at keeping everybody going if we’re having a bad day or something is just not going right. It just doesn’t affect Jimmy. He’s still having a good time and moving forward with the rest of the day.”

Fitzwater himself is enjoying this year just like all the others. Jedrzejek is showing promise with a pair of top 10s already this season, competing against the world’s best Sprint Car drivers every night. But whether they run up front, struggle, or the race rains out, Fitzwater’s disposition remains the same. You can catch him enjoying every moment of the ride in the pit area each week. And if Mother Nature permits a little playtime, you might even find him wowing patrons of a local beverage establishment with his unparalleled dance moves.

“If you’re having a bad time, I’m always down to crack a joke or make you smile a little bit and make the day a little better,” Fitzwater said. “I mean, we’re all out here for a long period of time. It gets hot and sticky and smelly and greasy. If I can make you smile a little bit, I feel like I did my job for the day.”

Jedrzejek, Fitzwater, and the Bill Rose Racing team continue the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season next week in Pennsylvania at Lincoln Speedway on Tuesday, May 5 and Williams Grove Speedway on Friday-Saturday, May 8-9. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

SMILE A LITTLE BIT: Meet One of the Pit Area’s Most Positive Personalities, Jimmy Fitzwater

CONCORD, NC (May 1, 2026) – Life as a crew member with a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series team is far from glamorous.

Fitzwater got his shot to work on one when one of the “Buckeye State’s” most famed families needed a hand.

“In 2014, Lee Jacobs reached out to me over Facebook and said, ‘Hey, who wants to work on Sprint Cars?’” Fitzwater recalled. “And then ever since then it’s been full send.”

That stint even allowed Fitzwater to work with Cody Jacobs, who now turns the wrenches on the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 that David Gravel has driven to two consecutive championships.

“Tim Shaffer and Jason Sides are pretty good friends,” Fitzwater said. “They asked me if I wanted to go to Florida, and I said yes. I got to work with Jason for the first time in 2021.”

During the stretch with Sides, Fitzwater’s attitude was recognized with the Jason Johnson Sportsmanship Award in 2024.

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.

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photo credit Werner Communications

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,
photo credit Werner Communications

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Buddy and Madi Hull enjoyed a day at Texas Motor Speedway supporting Ford Racing,photo credit Werner Communications

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,photo credit Werner Communications

BUDDY HULL ENJOYS NASCAR CUP SERIES ACTION AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS GUEST OF FORD RACING

Buddy and Madi Hull enjoyed a day at Texas Motor Speedway supporting Ford Racing,photo credit Werner Communications

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,photo credit Werner Communications

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Buddy and Madi Hull enjoyed a day at Texas Motor Speedway supporting Ford Racing,
photo credit Werner Communications

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,
photo credit Werner Communications

Buddy and Madi Hull enjoyed a day at Texas Motor Speedway supporting Ford Racing,
photo credit Werner Communications

Buddy Hull enjoyed the perspective of watching NASCAR from the pit box at Texas Motor Speedway,
photo credit Werner Communications