Larson Earns First Career Superspeedway Win at Talladega
| NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway YellaWood 500Team Chevy Post-Race Report October 25, 2026 |
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| MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
| Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team earned their first superspeedway victory in NASCAR’s premier series, surviving an overtime finish to take the checkered flag in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The victory – Larson’s third of the season and his 35th all-time in the division – came paired with a strong points-earning performance at the Alabama venue, with the reigning champions earning a pair of top-four stage finishes to end the eighth race of The Chase with a 71-point day. Larson will head into the penultimate race of his title-defending campaign at the top of the standings with a 73-point lead over Denny Hamlin. Chevrolet earned their season-best showing at the Alabama-based superspeedway, sweeping the top-six and eight of the overall top-10 finishing positions. It was effort accomplished by five different Chevrolet organizations with Larson leading Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron in second, Hyak Motorsports’ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in third, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain in fourth, Haas Factory Team’s Cole Custer in fifth and Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar in sixth, with Alex Bowman (ninth) and Michael McDowell rounding out the top-10. RACE RECAP: Stage One: A trio of ECR-powered Chevrolet’s earned top-five qualifying efforts in yesterday’s qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, who helped paced the field to the green flag of the YellaWood 500 from a spot on the front row. Lining up on the inside lane with fellow Chevrolet driver, Connor Zilisch, in his rearview mirror, a side-by-side battle with the polesitter, Chase Briscoe, saw the No. 33 take over the command position as the field exited Turn Four on the opening lap. It took just two laps around the 2.66-mile oval for his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Austin Dillon, to jump to the outside and form a third lane, ultimately muscling his Chevrolet from outside the top-10 to the bumper of the No. 33 Chevrolet to put the organization in the top-two positions to open the stage. With fuel mileage becoming a topic early in the run, a shakeup on the leaderboard took place when the three RFK Racing cars opted for an alternate strategy not to save. The pair of RCR teammates found themselves at the front of the second pack, hovering around the top-five as they led the first group of Chevrolet’s to pit road for a green flag pit cycle on Lap 51. Just one lap later saw the points leader, Kyle Larson, lead the second group of Chevrolet’s to their first trip to pit road of the afternoon. As the green flag pit cycle was deemed complete, a progressive climb through the field found Larson in the fourth position and leading the second pack as the stage hit 20 laps to go. While their strategy saw the RFK trio sit at an 18-second lead in the closing laps of the stage, Larson remained steady in the fourth position, and with a push from his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, towards the line, Larson went on to lead the Chevrolet camp to the stage end – collecting seven crucial stage points at the first green-white checkered flag. Stage Two: After a pair of trips to pit road under the stage break, including one to just top off on fuel, the No. 5 Chevrolet restarted Stage Two in the 20th position. With the longest stage of the race in the rearview mirror, crew chief, Cliff Daniels, radioed to his driver that they were good on fuel to make it to the end of the stage. Nearing the midway point of the 45-lap stage, Larson had already made his way up into the top-10 and quickly started making moves to put them in position for a shot at the stage win. A sense of urgency formed just a few laps later that resulted in the attempt at forming a fourth lane, with Larson among those making the move to the top lane. Dicey moves paid dividends for the reigning champion as he edged his Chevrolet to the top position just before the caution came out with 11 laps to go in the stage for a multi-car accident. Leading the field to the green flag for a five-lap dash to the second green-white checkered flag, Larson remained on the door of Joey Logano coming out of the final corner – ultimately settling for a second-place finish and nine points at the end of the stage. Final Stage: Under the final stage break, Daniels called his driver to pit road for four tires and fuel, with the No. 5 Chevrolet lining up in the 15th position for the restart and 40 laps to go in the race. Larson’s power moves quickly resumed with the driver surging back up into the lead within the early laps of the stage. Sitting in the top position, Larson was surrounded by a strong contingency of Chevrolet-powered machines through much of the first-half of the run. But the bottom lane began to lose momentum just as the race was on the horizon of hitting 10 laps to go, resulting in Larson falling back to the 15th position. In typical speedway-style racing, it took just three laps around the Alabama venue for Larson to work his way back up to the front – being scored in the second position when a massive multi-car accident in the lead pack with five laps to go ultimately brought the race to red flag conditions. With an overtime finish on deck, Larson lined up in the outside lane with a pair Chevrolet drivers, Hill and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., in his rearview mirror. With a push by Hill, Larson was able to clear the pack to lead the field to the white flag. When chaos ensued on the final lap, Larson found himself outside of the top-five, but a monstrous move saw Larson shoot to the bottom lane and edge his Chevrolet to the line first to claim his first superspeedway victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career. |
| Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos. Driver 1st – Kyle Larson2nd – William Byron3rd – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 4th – Ross Chastain5th – Cole Custer6th – Carson Hocevar9th – Alex Bowman10th – Michael McDowell  Chevrolet’s season statistics with 34 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:Wins: 8Poles: 6Top-Fives: 58Top 10s: 120Stage Wins: 22 |
| The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase will continue at Martinsville Speedway with the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. |
| Post-Race Driver Quotes: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 4thWhat more could you have done today? “Not sped on that first stop. We had a massive issue with our speed prediction and I just completely forgot to go to the new lights on that first stop. We were stuck a lap down for most of the day, and I thought we were going to sweep a bucket of Busch Light camo into the trailer, but glad we made it and got our lap back. I thought we were going to get it back the old fashion and that would have been really cool. On the last lap, Brandon McReynolds (spotter) just called to push the No. 5 (Kyle Larson, race winner). I’m thankful he did it because he could see a lot better than I can, and I’m glad that a Chevrolet won.” Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 1stI talked to you when Corey Day won here in the spring, you didn’t even know where victory lane was. Now you’re standing here a few months later, just your big picture emotions of conquering this racetrack. “Yeah, thanks to Corey (Day), we knew how to at least drive to Victory Lane. What a day. Just can’t really say enough about it. We had so much help from our Chevy teammates throughout the whole field, all day long, and it really allowed us to just feel like I was on offense. Our No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet was really good and handled well. That last lap got crazy. Austin Hill was doing an amazing job pushing me, and he was just on me really tight in (turns) one and two. I just didn’t feel confident to turn my hands, and it just kind of wandered me up the track. He was able to get underneath me, and I thought it was over for me right there, but I don’t know what happened. Just momentum and energy got broke up and here we came. Just wild how it ended up there.” 16 stage points as well, so this wasn’t just a run at the end. You had some pretty good help and some pretty good stages there early in the day, as well.“Yeah, really all day long, I had help from the Chevy cars out there. It helped because they were all fast, as well, and had good days going. That’s what it takes on speedways, I feel like, is to have some allies. So just was proud of everybody at Chevrolet for the effort that they put in. Huge thank you to my team, as well. This wouldn’t be possible without them. It’s been 22 years since that terrible plane crash that took so many loved ones from Hendrick Motorsports. I really felt like they were riding with us there on that last lap to get this win.” Absolutely, a 71-point day, a 73-point lead going into Martinsville. I don’t know if you had that on your bingo card coming out of Talladega. Just what’s your thoughts about the points and the chase as far as where we’re at right now? “Well, I mean, as we all probably did in the field, we felt like there was an opportunity to have a good day if things went right, and man, did everything go just how I needed it to. I did not expect to have the point lead that I had when I got out of the car. I thought I’d be in the 40s, maybe 50s, which is still amazing. But a 73-point lead is incredible. Hopefully, we can go to Martinsville and have a good day and then just close it out would be amazing.” William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 2nd“I feel like the energy got broken up off of (turn) two and I was like, man, I have a shot to get clear here and see what would happen. Once I got clear kind of into turn three, I had the No. 41 (Cole Custer) pushing me and Cole did a great job of just kind of keeping the momentum going. They all kind of split in front of me and I thought if I could get to the top that maybe I would have a shot. Second sucks, but it’s good that Kyle (Larson) won. We worked really well together all day. If I couldn’t win, I wanted him to win. At the end there, we weren’t really connected together. I was pushing the No. 34 and it looked like it got broken up in the front and have a shot at the win. Just proud of the fight by this No. 24 All-Pro Reconditioning Chevrolet team. Our Chevy was good today. It’s fun to come to these places and have chances to make decisions at the end. I thought I made the right one, and then out of nowhere, here came someone on the bottom and it was the No. 5, so I’m happy for those guys. It sucks to finish second, but it was a good day.” Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team ChevroletFinished: 5th“There were some really big runs there at the end. (Kyle) Larson, I think he went back to seventh and then back to first. He just came out of nowhere on that trioval, I’m guessing with the No. 1 car (Ross Chastain) pushing him. It was a great run for our No. 41 Sysco/Eggs Up Grill Chevrolet team. This team has worked so hard all year long with the manufacturer swap. For them to get a top-five this year is awesome. We just executed a solid race and put ourselves in a great position at the end.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 3rd“I did everything that I felt like I needed to do. I just never saw the No. 5 (Kyle Larson, race winner) coming. I was focused on the No. 24 (William Byron), and by the time realized the No. 5 was coming from five or six positions back, I just wasn’t able to get down and block him. It was an awesome day for our No. 47 NOS Energy Chevrolet team. They worked really hard. The strategy got us in a really good position to lead the race and control the race a lot during that final stage, so I was really happy about that. Just one wrong move there at the end, trying to block the No. 24, we gave the race to the No. 5.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 6th“I only really got flats and a hole on the right-side door. Other than that, we were fine. I have to really thank the tow truck guy for getting us back to pit road quickly. We’re not allowed to throw it in reverse and drive out of the garage, they have to push me out of the garage, so we had everyone back there helping. My team put four tires on, pushed me out of the garage and I got going. I thought we had to beat the pace car to the line, but I think we could have waited another lap, so we actually beat the field and got almost a lap ahead. That just shows how fast my team works, so all the credit to them.” |
SHORT TRACK SUPREMACY: Kofoid Capitalizes on Late Restart for Texarkana Victory
The season’s winningest driver adds another with a Short Track Nationals title and breaks a big Roth Motorsports record
TEXARKANA, AR (October 24, 2026) – You give one of the best drivers in the world enough chances and they’re bound to capitalize.
That was exactly the case Saturday night at Texarkana 67 Speedway. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series punctuated a big debut weekend at the Arkansas oval with the 39th running of the Short Track Nationals.
A 40-lap, $25,000-to-win main event set the stage to sendoff the weekend. A day after leading the most laps but falling short, Cole Macedo lined up on the pole in the continued hunt for his first win with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It looked as if it may be meant to be for the Lemoore, CA native. He made all the right moves in traffic early on, countered moves from Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, and survived multiple restarts.
But one last chance on a restart with six laps to go was all Kofoid needed to break Macedo’s heart. The pilot of the Roth Motorsports No. 83 switched up his strategy by ripping the cushion while Macedo turned down the hill heading for the green flag. That gave Kofoid the run he needed for a Turn 1 slide job that Macedo couldn’t quite crossover. That was the winning move as Kofoid drove away to a Short Track Nationals title.
“I feel like there were a couple of restarts where it was on my mind,” Kofoid said of the move he ultimately made. “Once you fire off, you’re allowed to go anywhere. He fired off, and I just stayed up. I wanted to do it, but I had to talk myself into it just because of how treacherous it was. I just feel like I got such a good launch and got loaded and got the car straighter earlier and just had a good run.”
The 17th victory of 2026 for Kofoid broke a 27-year-old record. He eclipsed Danny Lasoski’s mark of 16 in 1999 for the winningest World of Outlaws season in the long history of Roth Motorsports. The team has also locked up being the winningest team on tour this campaign, which is the first time Dennis and Teresa Roth’s organization will have that honor. Kofoid is the 21st different Short Track Nationals champion in event history.
Cole Macedo settled for a heartbreaking runner-up aboard the TwoC Racing ride, his personal best finish with the World of Outlaws.
Garet Williamson rounded out the podium in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23.
Tyler Courtney and David Gravel completed the top five.
NIGHTLY NOTES
David Gravel earned another Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.
Buddy Kofoid set his eighth Simpson Quick Time of the season in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.
Heat Races belonged to Buddy Kofoid (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Garet Williamson (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), David Gravel (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Ashton Torgerson (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).
The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Cole Macedo.
Macedo also topped the Toyota Dash.
Brent Marks won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.
Marks then wheeled from 21st to seventh to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.
That also made Marks the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.
Emerson Axsom was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.
Cole Macedo clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.
The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Cole Macedo.
UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series punctuates its 49th season of racing on. Nov. 4-7 at Concord, NC’s The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.
Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.
FEATURE RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[4]; 2. 2C-Cole Macedo[1]; 3. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[5]; 5. 2-David Gravel[2]; 6. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 7. 19-Brent Marks[21]; 8. 88-Tanner Thorson[12]; 9. 27-Emerson Axsom[10]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[7]; 11. 7S-Chris Windom[11]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 13. 41-Carson Macedo[25]; 14. 16C-Skylar Gee[23]; 15. 6-Bryce Lucius[24]; 16. 22M-Rees Moran[22]; 17. 17-Spencer Bayston[14]; 18. 28M-Conner Morrell[20]; 19. 71-Brady Baker[9]; 20. (DNF) 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 21. (DNF) 12X-Landon Crawley[17]; 22. (DNF) 52-Blake Hahn[19]; 23. (DNF) 40-Howard Moore[18]; 24. (DNF) 45X-Ashton Torgerson[8]; 25. (DNF) 6C-Cody Gardner[16]
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
Jonathan Davenport Scores First World of Outlaws Win of 2026 in Modoc 100 Finale
MODOC, SC (October 24, 2026) – It took a little longer than he would have liked, but Jonathan Davenport is officially a winner with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in 2026.
Less than 90 minutes south of his home on the “Dirty Dollar Ranch” in Belton, SC, “Superman” took the checkers on the final night of the Modoc 100 at Modoc Speedway to cap off the track’s first weekend on the national Late Model stage.
Despite never competing full-time on the World of Outlaws tour, Davenport is among the most successful drivers in Series history regardless. His Modoc win was the 19th of his career with the World of Outlaws, placing him in a tie with Mike Marlar and Nick Hoffman for 14th on the all-time list, and leaving him behind only Jimmy Owens as the second-winningest driver without a full-time season under their belt.
Davenport got to the lead at Modoc at the expense of Friday winner Cody Overton, who got over the cushion and pounded the Turn 1 wall on Lap 20, ending his night and handing the lead to Davenport. The No. 49 looked dominant in clean air, but traffic allowed his challengers to get back in range.
As the laps continued to wind down, his biggest threat became Bobby Pierce, who worked his way from 21st in the starting order all the way to second. But as Pierce was sizing up a move for the lead with five to go, the No. 32 slowed on the backstretch and entered the infield with a broken oil pump belt, leaving Pierce as a DNF in 18th.
His misfortune handed second to Ryan Gustin, who ripped the cushion for all it was worth to try and pass Davenport, ultimately ending up a few car-lengths short in second.
“Good thing I ain’t got a rearview mirror because I really don’t know where they was at,” Davenport said. “I didn’t know where I was best at or worse at. What a phenomenal racetrack. I wasn’t in love with it last night, but it was better than old Modoc. But tonight, I loved it, it was really good. You had to really hit your marks to where you were going to run at on the racetrack, you could really slip and not get back going the other way. It’s just so icy slick.”
Gustin’s second-place result was his best Series finish since Georgetown Speedway on May 13, while Hudson O’Neal put the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6 on a World of Outlaws podium for the seventh time this season in third. Trey Mills finished in a career-best fourth ahead of Nick Hoffman, whose fifth-place run combined with Pierce’s DNF has his points deficit at 76 markers with three race nights remaining at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision concludes the 2026 season as part of Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.
Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.
RACE NOTES:
Chris Ferguson set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.
Cody Overton won the Simpson Quick Time Award.
Cody Overton won Heat 1.
Hudson O’Neal won STAKT Products Heat 2.
Tyler Erb won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.
Ryan Gustin won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.
Ethan Dotson and Brandon Overton won the Last Chance Showdowns.
Cody Overton won the Bilstein Pole Award.
Luke Morey won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.
Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.
Ryan Gustin was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.
Hudson O’Neal was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.
Trey Mills was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.
Nick Hoffman was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.
Tim McCreadie was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.
Ross Bailes was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.
Tyler Erb was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.
Ethan Dotson was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.
Carson Ferguson was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.
Dennis Erb Jr. was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.
Chris Ferguson was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.
Garrett Smith was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.
Bobby Pierce was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.
Feature (60 Laps): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[7]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin[4]; 3. 6-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 4. 14-Trey Mills[9]; 5. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 6. 9M-Tim McCreadie[8]; 7. 16B-Ross Bailes[14]; 8. 1-Tyler Erb[2]; 9. 49M-Luke Morey[20]; 10. 74X-Ethan Dotson[17]; 11. 93-Carson Ferguson[11]; 12. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[23]; 13. 22-Chris Ferguson[15]; 14. 10-Garrett Smith[25]; 15. 1Z-Logan Zarin[26]; 16. 19-Dustin Sorensen[10]; 17. 58V-Daulton Wilson[12]; 18. 32-Bobby Pierce[21]; 19. 157-Mike Marlar[6]; 20. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[24]; 21. 44-Chris Madden[13]; 22. 76-Brandon Overton[18]; 23. 55E-Eli Johnson[16]; 24. 15-Ethan Wilson[22]; 25. 8-Kyle Strickler[19]; 26. 97-Cody Overton[1]
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Kyle Larson
| NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes October 24, 2026 |
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in a panel with fellow Chase contenders, Chase Briscoe and Ryan Blaney, in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway. | MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
Kye Larson Media Availability Quotes: The next nearest Chevrolet in the point standings is 10th. Have you guys talked about just how many resources you expect to be funneled into your efforts in the draft among fellow Chevrolet’s and what kind of a boost you feel like it’ll give you?“Yeah, I don’t know. For me, I think just having the awareness of where we’re at in our situation. I’m not asking for people to go out of their way, move over, anything like that. I think just the awareness is always good, which I feel like there’s been that throughout the Chase already. It’s been going on for a handful of weeks where I feel like I’ve been cut a lot of breaks from other Chevy cars, which has been much appreciated. But then, yeah, on the Talladega side of things, it’s always easy to have a plan, but it’s always difficult to replicate your plan on the racetrack. So, again, just the awareness is all for me.” You’ve never competed in a Chase format and that was something you mentioned coming into this year. You were excited to do it, so maybe just speak from that perspective of what the experience has been like just in a different format from your last two championships? “Well, I mean, it’s still a lot of the same answers they just gave, I think. You know, for me, I think I’ve recognized how much winning is extra important, it seems, with the points. It seems like you gain more points than what it actually says you gain, so that’s been a lot of fun. It’s been interesting to see all you guys, like, ‘oh, this person’s out, that person’s out, the No. 5 has it locked up’, and it’s four races in. I’m like, ‘guys, come on’. The points swing so much. I didn’t really recognize that as much in the regular season, but I think when it’s been in the Chase, just the little bit smaller sample size, it’s like the swings just seem way bigger. There was always pressure with the other format, I thought. But this is just consistent pressure throughout, and these 10 weeks feel longer than the other 10 weeks.” When you guys show up at Talladega, do you see this venue and this style of racing as an opportunity, or is there more pressure? Has that changed how you look at it because of where you are in the points standings? Is this a place where you feel like, I can really do it, I can make a difference right now, or there’s so much pressure I just don’t want to screw up?“Yeah, I mean, as bad as my results are here, I still look at it as opportunity, for sure, to get out here and have a shot to win. I feel like we all, every single car in the field, maybe aside from a couple, have a shot to win if things go a certain way. So, yeah, I mean, I look at it as opportunity. I feel like, just speaking for us on the No. 5 team, we’ve scored stage points in a lot of the stages here. We’ve been up front at the ends of the races. I’ve been in the top-five here a few times in the last few years. So, yeah, I look at it as an opportunity, but also opportunity the other way, if you do get caught up in things and get caught up in a crash. You can really lose a lot of ground here. But yeah, I’m more confident here than I am at Phoenix.” |
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Chase Elliott
| NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes October 24, 2026 |
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway. | MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
Media Availability Quotes: Chase, most popular driver voting opened yesterday and your name was removed from the ballot. Could you talk to us just a little bit about your decision to have that done?“Yeah, I think a couple things went into it for me. You know, when Dale (Earnhardt, Sr.) passed in the early 2000s, dad removed his name. Ultimately, I was a young child, but looking back on that, I just always thought that was a really cool and admirable nod to, frankly, one of his biggest rivals, right? And just something that I just always had a lot of respect for. Now, I was too little to know how he went about that and kind of what the things were that he did to go about doing that. But as the time got closer, I had been asked about it a few times throughout the course of the year since we lost Kyle (Busch). I certainly thought about that some, and then also kind of thought about what Kyle meant to my career and just the relationship that we had. And also, just how much noise I think our fans have made for him over the course of his career. I know that he, certainly, kind of embraced that villain role. And maybe people totally didn’t like him, but they sure did make a lot of noise for him, and I think we can all agree to that. I just felt like because of that, and because of a lot of the things that I’ve got the chance to see behind the scenes of things that he did for his fans and how much he cared about the sport and for his supporters; I felt like he deserved to win that vote. Now, that being said, just because I was in there, that’s not me saying that he wasn’t going to win by any stretch. But I do think it’s an opportunity for me to encourage the great supporters that I have and the people that have supported my family over the years to show that love and show that energy to Kyle and his family. Ultimately, I believe that he is a deserving winner of it, and he has my vote. I encourage those out there that want to get involved and want to take part in that to show him that same love. I think he deserves it. I think it would be a really cool honor for he and his family.” Were you a fan of Kyle Busch?“Yeah, I was a fan. You know, I think I’ve said this some too, but really, anybody my age and probably a little younger that were coming along at that point in time and got to see his dominance; I mean, if somebody sits there and tells you that they didn’t want to be like that in some way, shape or form, they are lying to your face, right? Like the guy was killing it. He was out there and he was just unbeatable at some places. And I feel like he kind of embraced that role and he loved that character that he took on of kind of be in that villain role. But as a racer and a guy coming along, it was really hard not to admire just his craft and how good he was behind the wheel and just some of the things that he changed the game with from a racecar driver’s perspective. And, you know, coming from somebody who loves the discipline of what we do and the craft behind the wheel that ultimately makes somebody better than the next; that’s my favorite thing about what we do. You know, I think he was definitely a game changer in that regard and deserved a lot of credit. So yeah, absolutely.” With (Kyle) Larson being the points leader and kind of the opportunity for Chevrolet to win this championship and for Hendrick Motorsports, what’s the balance tomorrow between typical teammates and Chevy helping each other? And then, is there going to be any extra to help or protect Larson tomorrow to help him with that point lead?“Yeah, I mean, certainly, we’re all thinking about that from a manufacturer’s perspective, and I’m sure it’s the same in every other camp with everything that’s going on. But I think the answer to that is the best way we can help him is no different than last week or next week and that’s to be competitive, to be good and to be in the mix, right? Because as soon as you are not and as soon as you have a bad day, the strength in numbers slowly dissipates. And then ultimately, you could potentially leave them on an island of not having any help and not having any friendlies around at the end of the race. So, to me, I think it’s business as usual from the standpoint of how we execute our day and control the things that are in our hands the best that we can, no different than any other speedway race. I feel like for us, especially us four teammates, we do a pretty good job of just trying to take care of each other the best we can. Just trying not to hurt one another, I think, is the big thing with this stuff. And ultimately, executing all those details, right? Getting on and off pit road, being good through the cycles, setting ourself up for the right moments in the race. So, it’s really not any different from that standpoint. We have to continue to do all of those things and put ourselves in a position to even be able to help, right? And certainly, I know that if the roles were reversed, I would want that too. So, yeah, I think that for us, we just have to kind of zoom in on all the details. There are a lot of things in plate racing that are out of your hands, and I think we all recognize that. But being competitive, running our race and putting us all in a position to have a shot, is ultimately the best way to help him.” Just this era for you of these eight years, winning the most popular driver award. What has this meant to you looking back on it? Not to say you won’t win it again next year, but just this first chunk of those for you? “Yeah, I mean, to me, the first thing that comes to mind is just extremely grateful. You know, I’ll speak for myself and how thankful I’ve been for the overwhelming support that I’ve had throughout the course of my career. And when I say that, too, it’s not just it’s not just the vote, frankly. You know, I see it and get to live it every week. I see the support throughout the entire country that we travel. I get to see people and have even gotten to know people over the course of my career that are supporters and just genuinely want to see us do good. I think that’s one of the coolest things that you can experience being a part of sports, right, is just having somebody’s support; they’ve got your back, they just want you to be you and want to see you succeed. So, I think seeing that firsthand has always been very humbling, and I’m extremely grateful for that. I can speak for my whole family and tell you how grateful I think we all are for the support that we’ve received throughout the course of well beyond my lifetime. Just very thankful and appreciative for all of that. And ultimately, at the end of the day, I just want to give all those folks something to cheer for. You know, we all watch because we love the sport and we watch because we love seeing cars go around the racetrack really fast. We appreciate the folks out there that want to see us do good. And like I said, I want to give them something to cheer for on a regular basis, and that’s what I work hard every week to try and accomplish.” After Daytona, you said that the updated aero package was edgier. It was easier to build runs, kind of use that momentum. Talladega is a different tracks, slightly smaller spoiler. Do you kind of know what to expect tomorrow when you guys are out there racing?“Yeah, I think it’ll be really similar to Daytona in a lot of ways. You know, I will say that throughout the course of my career, I feel like I have always complained about balance the least at the Daytona night race. And I just think in general, the level of aggression that you can have in that race with the temperature, typically the sun being off the racetrack and the surface being somewhat new — I shouldn’t say new, but has a fair amount of grip to it, it has always kind of surprised me how different the Daytona 500 feels to that race. There’s been many years where we’ve gone to that night race, had a really good balanced car and the car drives great, and we come back there in the spring and we’re terrible, and I’m always just kind of baffled by that a little bit. But with all that being said, it just kind of makes me realize with how edgy those cars were at that race in particular; I feel like you combine the track surface and the age here that it has – and I know it’s not necessarily super-hot, but certainly the sun being out on this racetrack, I think the cars will have an element of poor handling. To what degree, I don’t know. But I’m excited to find out. I kind of enjoyed the unknown at Daytona. I thought it was kind of fun, just having absolutely no idea what to expect. I think there’ll be another element of that here this weekend. I do think that just the conditions and the track surface can play a big role in that too.” Regarding the dogleg shortcut at Phoenix, do you have any input for NASCAR for maybe doing something different for that, given some of the conversation this week?“I mean, I think it’s fine. You know, that racetrack was always awkward as it was. And then, when we turned it around, swapped the corners around and put the start-finish line where they put it; it just kind of made it more awkward, I guess. But I don’t know what you do about that. I’m not sure what the complaints are or not, but I think it’s fine. It makes it unique. It makes it something different. The restarts, I feel like if I had anything to complain about, I think the restarts are fine; you know, cutting the dogleg and all that, I think is okay. It becomes a little difficult to police when you turn left on that situation. I’ve found myself in that situation and that spot before of guys getting runs and knowing exactly when you can pull out of line at that start-finish line. Just the advantage that you can have in that, I think, can get a little gray. But that’s been part of it. That’s nothing new and everybody kind of plays those games the best they can to put themselves in an advantageous situation, which is what they’re supposed to do racing, right? So, yeah, the long-winded way of saying it, I’m good with whatever they decide to do.” How valuable is Kevin Harvick buying ASA and being part of that super late model ownership world?Well, I think anything you can do to inject some health into those series right now, I think are crucial for just the long-term lifespan of that stuff surviving, right? In a couple of conversations I’ve had with him, it’s kind of opened my eyes to how healthy some of that style of racing is in the Northwest. You know, I spent most of my time doing that stuff around the Southeast. We ventured up North some, but we never went to the Northwest. You talk to him and he’s like — man, those folks just absolutely are so hungry for short-track racing and they just don’t have it and they don’t have it presented in the right way. So, I think to have a guy that is willing to take those things to places that are wanted and will be supported, I think are extremely important. I hope it grows. I hope it builds. I hope it offers opportunities for future racers to be able to come up in parts of the country that historically might not have offered them a good path to get here or wherever it is they want to go. So, I hope it does all those things. I’ve benefited from something very similar, right? You know, I came up that way and, and I would love to see that style of racing and those types of cars be around for a long time and be really healthy.” |
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Carson Hocevar
| NASCAR Cup Series Talladega SuperspeedwayTeam Chevy Driver Quotes October 24, 2026 |
Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway. Hocevar returns as the track’s most recent NASCAR Cup Series winner, a feat that also marked his first career victory in the sport’s top division. | MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
Media Availability Quotes: When you come back here, what is the feeling that you have, and how much did that victory change your life, and certainly going forward with the opportunities or just kind of you in general since then?“My life hasn’t been the same, but it’s just more fun because a lot of it is very visual memories. I remember what everything looks like and what we experienced and all. A lot of my friends… I’m glad I won here of all places. My agent was like, ‘Man, with Carson winning everybody wants to come here, all his friends want VIP passes. I was like, “Dude, it’s Talladega. They were gonna come anyways. … It’s by far the most fun track you could play your first one at.” Is there anything specific that feels life changing for you since you are a NASCAR Cup Series winner now?“I think more so that you just say Cup Series winner. They don’t say Rookie of the Year like six years ago. I don’t remember whatever it was. They’re rather than saying Cup Series driver or Cup Series Rookie of the Year, they say Cup Series winner. Whether you have one or a hundred, they’re just gonna say Cup Series winner unless you win a championship. That’s a really cool title I’ll have for the rest of my life. NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 for running into you after the race last week. How hard of a hit was it? Did it jerk things in your hands? Did you think it put you in danger in any way?“For me, it was just unexpected. I was looking around and I think I was looking down and I hit. My mindset was like, ‘Who did I just run into?’ Because I thought somebody stopped in front of me. Then I looked around in front of me and there was nobody in front of me. I was like, okay. I looked behind me and I was like, ‘I got hit’. I was like, okay, well. Because I remember I think it was Austin Dillon at Martinsville when we were going five miles an hour coming to pit road, and my cool box was broken and it was blowing hot air and we ran terrible. I was just trying to get my helmet off as fast as possible. Everybody checked up or somebody stopped or somebody walked in front of him and he stopped at the last second and I ran into him so I was like, ‘Crap.’ I figured I did that again somehow. But no, I mean it was a hard hit for sure. But more so the fact it was unexpected for me. Yeah, that’s all I got.” You posted telling your fans to vote for Kyle Busch for Most Popular Driver. Just what made you want to do that in a year where maybe you had a chance to win?“I’m gonna have way more years and everything. I think keeping up with tradition… obviously, (Dale Earnhardt Sr.) won it the year he passed, and I think Kyle was the most popular driver here at one point, right? The whole garage and everybody, every article… It’s crazy. A driver that was probably super hated or not appreciated enough. He’s super appreciated now after his passing, and I think it just feels right. I texted somebody and I was like, ‘Hey, just go ahead and take my name off.’ They used to be PR and really close to Kyle, and they’re like, ‘He wouldn’t want to win it by default.’ And so I was like, okay, I’ll just keep my name off then if that’s what you feel like. I’ll just urge my fans to go vote for him. I’d be very disappointed if they voted for me. We can try and win another year.” The video last week of you and Blaney at Driver Intros… How has your relationship changed with him in any way since the thing in Bristol?“We were cool before. At New Hampshire he didn’t have a ride back after he won. And so he got on the Spire plane because we were the only plane that had an extra seat. He likes the WhistlinDiesel guys a lot and he enjoys them. He always asked me for the last few months about what it’s like to go over there and what they got going on. He’d always had interest in the tank. At Phoenix, I was talking to him about, ‘Hey man, the tank comes next week. It’s pretty cool and stuff.’ But yeah, we were cool already before.” It seems as though realistically you’re not in contention for the championship. Over the last maybe two or three races, it seems you have given those drivers who are still in contention a little more grace or space when you’ve been racing them — is that true? Was that a conscious decision that you made?“We haven’t been very fast the last two weeks. We were okay, but we haven’t been super fast. When we were fast, I don’t think I gave them a lot of grace, obviously at Bristol and whatnot. Just trying to finish as good as we can in these things. When you’re going into it, we weren’t probably gonna race for a championship, but it’s just building the notebook of everybody gets faster and everybody gets better. You’re racing against the best guys that it’s tough to build points on them. So really it’s just going through the motions of the year and enjoying it. When there’s no expectations, there’s no pressure. … Ultimately, we’re just trying to have fun with it, enjoy it, and know that as it becomes the norm of being in the Chase, the expectations get higher, the fun gets probably a little less.” Your win here in the spring greatly elevated your profile, not just within NASCAR, but also with all the national media attention you got and all the things that you got to do and everything that went with that. What would you say that in your experience here the last five months or so, what has that taught you about handling fame, success, things of that nature?“I don’t think anything’s really changed other than I signed a few more autographs. But I’ve always enjoyed it. Obviously the crowds are a lot bigger, and I get recognized in a lot weirder spots and a lot more spots. There’s a lot more female fans for sure, which has been cool. All of it’s been awesome for me. I remember walking through places when I was a kid wishing that somebody would recognize me because I raced quarter-midgets. None of it is like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this’ or ‘Man, this sucks’ or ‘Man, I wish I could walk somewhere and hide.’ I greatly appreciate it and look forward to it and know that I’m doing good. That’s what a driver should be and that’s what the sport should be. You should be able to really walk anywhere, especially within these walls you shouldn’t be able to walk anywhere without getting recognized.” Have you thought yet of what driver intros are going to be like on Sunday and how Talladega might receive you now and moving forward as a winner here?“I haven’t thought about driver intros. I was more thinking about how do I one-up that. And I have some ideas that I think would be good, and I think they’d only really work at places like a Daytona or Talladega where I could really ask for forgiveness on that. … But I feel like these tracks kind of fit the ideas I have.” You have been in at least contention for the win at every single drafting race this year, including the one where you did win here in the spring. As you gain more experience in the Cup Series and these sorts of drafting tracks do you feel like you have gained a better sense over time of knowing which moves are going to work and which ones aren’t worth the trouble?“Definitely trial by error. What I’m most proud of our superspeedway (races) is obviously Talladega, as the fans would say, is gridlocked and very difficult to pass. Atlanta is the exact opposite. Daytona is somewhere in between, and I think we’ve been up front or in contention at all of them. The one we won was the only time I’ve ever had a Chevy on my back bumper. Otherwise we finished second, third, fourth. Obviously you just kind of drag race to the line and whoever has the most help probably wins there. A lot of it is manufacturer-based, obviously. But I’ve just enjoyed that aspect of it – that at all the different styles of racing that the superspeedways present, we’re up front at all of them, and that’s what I enjoy and feel good about it. I think we’re one of the best at it right now. Everybody else studies and gets better. For me, I don’t think I ever watched a single lap of data from a superspeedway race ever. It’s just all adaptive for me, and everybody else has different ideas and ways of going with it. Right now our ways are going good. If the field somehow figures it out and a lot of them get really good or really comfortable at it, maybe I’ll have to adjust. But right now I think we’re in a really good spot.” |
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Austin Hill
| NASCAR Cup SeriesTalladega Superspeedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes October 24, 2026 |
Austin Hill, driver of the No. 33 Camaro ZL1 and No. 21 Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing, met with the media in advance of running double duty in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway. | MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
Media Availability Quotes: Austin, a lot has changed at Talladega. Can you talk to us about your season so far and your hopes for the races this weekend?“Yeah, so this season, in general, has just been a lot of rollercoasters. You know, being tasked with doing the Cup side has thrown kind of a little bit of a curveball in some things. Going back and forth between the two is not the easiest thing to do, especially the way that both series of cars drive. Trying to still put all the effort into the O’Reilly side and the Cup side together, you know, it just kind of creates a little bit of a task. But I feel like we’ve been doing an okay job with it. You know, ever since the Chase started, we’ve just had things happen. Whether it’s been my doing, like last week speeding on pit road, or having right front tires go down, having loose wheels at Gateway; there’s just been things that have happened that’s kind of, I wouldn’t say fully knocked us out of the Chase on the O’Reilly side, but, man, we would have to really put it on them these last three races and we’d have to have some guys that have some misfortune starting this weekend. So, you know, I’m not going to sit here and say that we’re out of it by any stretch of the matter. I’m planning on going and winning both stages and winning the race today, hopefully. But you just never know, with it being Talladega, we might wreck on lap one. But yeah, I mean, our season’s been okay. I’ve learned a lot about the Cup side. I think that the Cup cars are getting a lot easier for me to drive and the understanding about them has been a little bit better. But it’s still a work in progress and something that during the offseason I’m going to have to really dive deep into to get a little bit better on these Cup cars.” Yesterday in the Truck Series, there seemed to be some tire issues. You guys have the same change to your right sides. Do you guys have any concerns? I don’t know if you’ve had time to kind of debrief and talk about any changes in plans for today.“I’m worried about it, for sure. My crew chief, Chad, he said he’s talked to Goodyear. They don’t think that it should be an issue for us today. They think that it was kind of self-induced with some of the Truck teams. But it’s been a long time since we’ve seen tire issues on a superspeedway, even if the Truck guys were doing something funky. So that part of it kind of worries me a little bit. I think it could change a little bit of our strategy going into at least the race starting stage one, you know, for the first pit stop to see kind of where we’re at on tires, how much tire wear we’re getting and that sort of thing. But at the end of the day, I mean, we can’t race scared, and we just got to hope that the air stays in the tires. Goodyear does a great job each and every week, and we don’t normally have issues like this. So, hopefully, maybe there’s a little bit different recommendation that they can have on air pressure for today or something like that that could kind of help us if there is any issue at all.” How would you kind of sum up this experience, overall, in the Cup car having to enter it after Kyle’s passing?“Yeah, it’s been very eye-opening on just the transition from the O’Reilly car to the Cup car and how much different it is. And, you know, as I’ve kind of ran more and more each week, learning how the air works, the dirty air is a lot different in these cars than the O’Reilly car. I almost feel like it’s easier the times that I go run the O’Reilly car now on working the dirty air. The Cup car, it’s really tough with how the dirty air works. If you have your car set out to the left or set out to the right, or if you’re directly behind somebody on how bad the dirty air is on the Cup side; I think that that’s something that I’ve gotten a little bit better at, but it’s still something that I’m going to have to work on in the offseason and really look at a lot of data. I think restarts are a premium in the Cup car. If you can get four or five spots on a restart, even if your car falls off a little bit, it seems like you can kind of work the air a certain way and still kind of have a net gain if you have some good restarts. So that’s something that I’ve been really working on and trying to perfect over these last several weeks and still have a lot of work to do. But it’s been an experience, that’s for sure, going back and forth between the two. I didn’t want to have this opportunity in the Cup car this way, but this is kind of here we are. You know, this is what life is now and I’m trying to make the most of it.” Your O’Reilly Series drafting record speaks for itself. Does that door close after today or could we see you make select starts next year and in the future?“I want to run next year. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to run or not for sure with sponsorship and such, but I do want to run next year. I’d love to run the Daytona race to start the year to try to go for whatever number it is, number five, or whatever it is. Obviously, Atlanta being my home track, I’d love to run Atlanta. And then, honestly, I’d like to throw some road course races even in there and run some road courses. Those are kind of my two types of tracks that I’d love to run next year. Don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I hope that this isn’t the last time that I run an O’Reilly Series race on a drafting track. I have a lot of fun with it. I’ve talked about it before, I used to hate superspeedway racing, and now, I have a lot of fun with it because I have a different mindset coming into these weekends. It’s not that with all the success that we’ve had that I just expect to go win today. It’s just that I just have a little bit more relaxed demeanor and I’m not as stressed out when I come to these events because I know that we could either win the race or we could end up on the hook or run anywhere in between. You just don’t know. There’s just so much uncertainty, and I’ve kind of gotten better at not thinking that way. I just think about going and doing my job and hope it’s enough at the end of the race and it’s worked out for us. So, hopefully, this isn’t the end for us.” Back at Daytona, you guys had kind of the updated aero package, and now, you have a slightly different version of that same package. What is the level of unknowns kind of heading into this race, especially the differences between Daytona and Talladega?“I don’t think there’s as many unknowns as there was when we ran Daytona a little while ago. I thought that we made a pretty good improvement from the times that I have ran the Cup car to when we just ran that Daytona race. There’s still a ways to go, and I think that doing what we’re doing with the spoiler and all is the next step for that. I don’t think that that’s going to be the full fix, but I could be proven wrong. I still think that there’s an area that we’ve got to work on, too. I think, for us, to have better Cup racing, my opinion for the superspeedway stuff, is we’ve got to have some type of bubble effect out of the back of the car. That’s what makes the O’Reilly Series so good on the superspeedways is you have that bubble effect. You have to create your runs. You can’t just throttle up and drive into the back of somebody to create a run. You actually have to work at it and back up to the guy behind you; get connected with them, create that run, that sort of thing. You have to break through that bubble. On the Cup side, you don’t really have that. I know that that was something that we were working on for Daytona. I felt like we got closer in the sense of being able to run more single file stuff. We were able to have the top rolling and you could pull out a line and make moves if you needed to, if you had some guys lined up around you. There’s still an area that we’ve got to get that bubble effect. If we get that, and maybe this will be the fix, if we get that going into this weekend; I think the Cup racing will be just as good, if not better, than the O’Reilly Series.” |
STORYBOOK SHOOTOUT: Macedo Wins Wild Jason Johnson Classic with Jason Johnson Racing
A chaotic 41-lapper goes to the No. 41 team as Macedo claims the tour’s Texarkana debut
TEXARKANA, AR (October 23, 2026) – You couldn’t have written a more storybook script for Friday night at Texarkana 67 Speedway.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series visited the Arkansas oval for the first time. A huge debut packed two events into one weekend for the best Sprint Car talent in the world, and it opened with the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends.
It’s always a special night for Carson Macedo Jason Johnson Racing no matter what happens on track. It’s a celebration of their founder and one of the most admired men to ever grace the pit area. Family and friends of the “Ragin’ Cajun” flocked to Texarkana to celebrate the life of Johnson with a night of racing. And they got the perfect ending to the event they look forward to every year.
A chaotic and unforgettable 41-lap main event punctuated the evening. Early on it was Cole Macedo in control searching for his first Series win. Then Logan Schuchart took command before a heartbreaking run in with a car spun in Turn 1. That gifted David Gravel the lead with only six circuits remaining and Carson Macedo in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 on his tail. The green flag flew, and Macedo went on the attack right away with a slide job. Gravel countered with a crossover to take it back, but only a lap later Macedo ripped the cushion and squeezed by Gravel to snatch the lead and send the packed stands into a frenzy. Macedo held on during the final two circuits for a victory that made sure there wasn’t a dry eye at the track.
“Hats off to Philip Dietz,” Macedo said. “Man, what a cool deal. To win this race is really special to me. Jason Johnson built this team from the ground up. All of his family is here, his mom and dad, his son Jaxx. To be able to get on the wing with him was really special. Man, I couldn’t believe it. When I crossed the finish line, I was super pumped.”
It’s the seventh triumph of the 2026 campaign for Macedo and the JJR crew. Friday marked the second time that the team has topped the Jason Johnson Classic. The first came in the inaugural running in 2019 with David Gravel behind the wheel. The 65th World of Outlaws win of Macedo’s career moves him one away from tying both Bobby Davis Jr. and Craig Dollansky for 14th all-time.
David Gravel held on to the runner-up position for his 32nd podium of the season in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2.
Sheldon Haudenschild brought the KCP Racing No. 18 home third for his 28th top three of 2026.
Cole Macedo and Buddy Kofoid completed the top five.
NIGHTLY NOTES
David Gravel grabbed his 21st Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night this season.
Gravel then collected his 24th Simpson Quick Time of the year in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.
Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Tyler Courtney (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Buddy Kofoid (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Logan Schuchart (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).
The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Sheldon Haudenschild.
Haudenschild also topped the Toyota Dash.
Bryce Lucius won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.
Ashton Torgerson wheeled from 24th to eighth to take KSE Racing Products Hard Charger honors.
Emerson Axsom finished seventh and collected the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.
That also made Axsom the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.
Cole Macedo clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.
The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Logan Schuchart.
UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle for $25,000 at Texarkana 67 Speedway’s 39th Short Track Nationals on Saturday, Oct. 24. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.
Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.
FEATURE RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (41 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 4. 2C-Cole Macedo[2]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[3]; 6. 19-Brent Marks[12]; 7. 27-Emerson Axsom[8]; 8. 45X-Ashton Torgerson[24]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[19]; 10. 55-Brady Bacon[16]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[7]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 13. 23-Garet Williamson[14]; 14. 17-Spencer Bayston[13]; 15. 17B-Bill Balog[10]; 16. 52-Blake Hahn[22]; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 18. 16C-Skylar Gee[18]; 19. 12X-Landon Crawley[20]; 20. 6-Bryce Lucius[21]; 21. (DNF) 40-Howard Moore[23]; 22. (DNF) 51B-Joe B Miller[17]; 23. (DNF) 22M-Rees Moran[11]; 24. (DNF) 5-Brenham Crouch[15]
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
Cody Overton Denies Pierce, Collects First World of Outlaws Win at Home Track
Cody Overton Denies Pierce, Collects First World of Outlaws Win at Home Track
MODOC, SC (October 23, 2026) – Portions of Cody Overton‘s 2026 season have had him wondering if his career as a professional dirt Late Model driver was over. Now, his future has never been brighter.
In front of his home fans at Modoc Speedway, Overton fulfilled a dream he’s been chasing relentlessly for three years – becoming a winner with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.
Overton’s 2026 season began with an attempt to field his own car on the road with the World of Outlaws following the departure of his car owner for the previous two seasons, Dave Steine. But a plethora of engine problems in Florida ended that plan almost as soon as it began, leaving Overton without a stable ride for the season.
As the year progressed, Overton strung together multiple short-term deals to stay active in the sport while he evaluated his options. That was until June, when Minnesota businessman James Trantina offered to start a second touring Late Model team alongside Dan Ebert, and bring Overton on board to drive it. Ever since, Overton has been back and better than ever.
Entering the Modoc 100, Overton had won seven times in regional Late Model action in Trantina’s car. But Overton’s desire to become a World of Outlaws winner never faded, and he knew a weekend at his home track could be his chance to pounce. When he won his Heat Race and pulled the Bilstein Pole Award, Overton started to believe it could be his night.
Overton remained flawless throughout the main event, keeping southern legends like Chris Madden and Jonathan Davenport in his tire tracks. But behind them, a charge was mounting in the form of Bobby Pierce, as the points leader had worked his way from 20th to fourth when the final caution flew with seven laps remaining.
The “Smooth Operator” quickly got to second and gave Overton all he could handle in the late stages, but Overton held him off to successfully defend his home turf against the winningest Late Model driver in the country in 2026.
“I kept telling myself he’s gonna have to kill me to come through here,” a tearful Overton said in Victory Lane. “No one understands how hard it is to win one of these. This is a dream come true, it is. I can’t thank James [enough]. I know it’s not a lot of money, but these are the hardest races to win and no one gets it. I got one.”
Pierce earned the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award for his drive up to second ahead of Davenport in third. Madden and Nick Hoffman rounded out the top five.
UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision returns to Modoc Speedway to wrap up the Modoc 100 on Saturday, Oct. 24. Tickets will be available at the gate.
Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.
RACE NOTES:
Carson Ferguson set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.
Mike Marlar won the Simpson Quick Time Award.
Chris Madden won Heat 1.
Garrett Smith won STAKT Products Heat 2.
Cody Overton won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.
Jonathan Davenport won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.
Ross Bailes and Ryan Gustin won the Last Chance Showdowns.
Cody Overton won the Bilstein Pole Award.
Bobby Pierce won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.
Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.
Bobby Pierce was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.
Jonathan Davenport was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.
Chris Madden was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.
Nick Hoffman was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.
Hudson O’Neal was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.
Brandon Overton was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.
Dennis Erb Jr. was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.
Garrett Smith was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.
Ethan Dotson was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.
Daulton Wilson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.
Tim McCreadie was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.
Dustin Sorensen was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.
Ross Bailes was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 97-Cody Overton[1]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[20]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[4]; 4. 44-Chris Madden[3]; 5. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 6. 6-Hudson O’Neal[10]; 7. 76-Brandon Overton[7]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[21]; 9. 14-Trey Mills[16]; 10. 10-Garrett Smith[2]; 11. 74X-Ethan Dotson[13]; 12. 58V-Daulton Wilson[6]; 13. 9M-Tim McCreadie[23]; 14. 19-Dustin Sorensen[24]; 15. 15-Ethan Wilson[19]; 16. 19R-Ryan Gustin[18]; 17. 24-Michael Brown[11]; 18. 16B-Ross Bailes[17]; 19. 8-Kyle Strickler[15]; 20. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[9]; 21. 1-Tyler Erb[12]; 22. 22-Chris Ferguson[14]; 23. 93-Carson Ferguson[8]; 24. 1Z-Logan Zarin[22]; 25. 55E-Eli Johnson[26]; 26. B1-Brent Larson[25]
Josh Rice Earns 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year Honors
A season highlighted by a breakthrough crown jewel victory and a seventh-place finish in the national championship standings has earned Josh Rice the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year title with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
The Crittenden, Kentucky driver recorded three victories, 14 top five finishes, and 24 top 10 finishes during his first full season on the tour. Rice finished ahead of fellow rookie Dillon McCowan to secure the award.
“It’s cool obviously. There’re a lot of people that’s won this Rookie of the Year deal,” Rice said during the season-ending award presentation. Reflecting on the year, Rice credited car owner James Rattliff’s commitment and acknowledged the challenges and rewards of completing his first national touring season.
The defining moment of Rice’s campaign came August 8 at Florence Speedway, where he captured the 44th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil. Racing in front of his home crowd, Rice prevailed in a dramatic battle with Jonathan Davenport, leading the final two laps to claim the $75,000 victory – the richest of his career.
That triumph capped a memorable weekend at Florence, following a preliminary feature victory the previous night. Earlier in the season, Rice reached Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Victory Lane in the Cowboy Classic at Lucas Oil Speedway, leading the final six laps to earn the $10,000 payday.
Behind the wheel of the James Rattliff-owned JRR Motorsports No. 11, Rice paired a Rocket Chassis with Vic Hill Racing Engines power. His program received support from Glenwood Electric, The KAG, Rice Excavating and Plumbing, Sunoco Race Fuels, and a dedicated group of team partners.
Rice’s rookie title adds a season-long accomplishment to a year already marked by the biggest victory of his career, establishing the Kentucky driver among the leading competitors on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
Rice will receive an industry-leading $20,000 for his O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year title, along with over $10,000 in valuable products from various industry manufacturers.
2026 Rookie of the Year Product Awards:
Fire Suppression Engineering (FSE) – Complete Fire System
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse – $500 Product Gift Card
Brodix – $100 Product Certificate
Diversified Machine Inc (DMI) – $500 Product Certificate
Fast Shafts – One (1) Free Drive Shaft
FOX Shocks – One (1) Set of Shocks (Valued at $6,000)
Keyser Manufacturing – $500 Product Certificate
Longacre – $250 Product Certificate
MD3 – $500 Product Certificate
MSD – $250 Product Certificate
OHLINS- $500 Product Certificate
ProFabrication Headers – One (1) Set of Headers (Valued at $2,500)
Schoenfeld Headers – $500 Product Certificate
Slicker Graphics – One (1) Free Wrap
Simpson Race Products – $250 Product Certificate
Strange Oval – $250 Product Certificate
Summit Racing Equipment – $250 Product Certificate
Swift Springs – One (1) Set of Springs (Valued at $500)
Thermo-Tech – $500 Product Certificate
Wehrs Machine – $250 Product Certificate
Wieland – Ten (10) Sheets of Aluminum (Valued at $1,000)
Wilwood Brakes – $500 Product Certificate
Josh Rice Earns 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year Honors
A season highlighted by a breakthrough crown jewel victory and a seventh-place finish in the national championship standings has earned Josh Rice the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year title with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
The Crittenden, Kentucky driver recorded three victories, 14 top five finishes, and 24 top 10 finishes during his first full season on the tour. Rice finished ahead of fellow rookie Dillon McCowan to secure the award.
“It’s cool obviously. There’re a lot of people that’s won this Rookie of the Year deal,” Rice said during the season-ending award presentation. Reflecting on the year, Rice credited car owner James Rattliff’s commitment and acknowledged the challenges and rewards of completing his first national touring season.
The defining moment of Rice’s campaign came August 8 at Florence Speedway, where he captured the 44th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil. Racing in front of his home crowd, Rice prevailed in a dramatic battle with Jonathan Davenport, leading the final two laps to claim the $75,000 victory – the richest of his career.
That triumph capped a memorable weekend at Florence, following a preliminary feature victory the previous night. Earlier in the season, Rice reached Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Victory Lane in the Cowboy Classic at Lucas Oil Speedway, leading the final six laps to earn the $10,000 payday.
Behind the wheel of the James Rattliff-owned JRR Motorsports No. 11, Rice paired a Rocket Chassis with Vic Hill Racing Engines power. His program received support from Glenwood Electric, The KAG, Rice Excavating and Plumbing, Sunoco Race Fuels, and a dedicated group of team partners.
Rice’s rookie title adds a season-long accomplishment to a year already marked by the biggest victory of his career, establishing the Kentucky driver among the leading competitors on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
Rice will receive an industry-leading $20,000 for his O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year title, along with over $10,000 in valuable products from various industry manufacturers.
2026 Rookie of the Year Product Awards:
Fire Suppression Engineering (FSE) – Complete Fire System
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse – $500 Product Gift Card
Brodix – $100 Product Certificate
Diversified Machine Inc (DMI) – $500 Product Certificate
Fast Shafts – One (1) Free Drive Shaft
FOX Shocks – One (1) Set of Shocks (Valued at $6,000)
Keyser Manufacturing – $500 Product Certificate
Longacre – $250 Product Certificate
MD3 – $500 Product Certificate
MSD – $250 Product Certificate
OHLINS- $500 Product Certificate
ProFabrication Headers – One (1) Set of Headers (Valued at $2,500)
Schoenfeld Headers – $500 Product Certificate
Slicker Graphics – One (1) Free Wrap
Simpson Race Products – $250 Product Certificate
Strange Oval – $250 Product Certificate
Summit Racing Equipment – $250 Product Certificate
Swift Springs – One (1) Set of Springs (Valued at $500)
Thermo-Tech – $500 Product Certificate
Wehrs Machine – $250 Product Certificate
Wieland – Ten (10) Sheets of Aluminum (Valued at $1,000)
Wilwood Brakes – $500 Product Certificate
Xceldyne – $500 Product Certificate
Sam Hafertepe Jr. Reflects on Career-Defining Seventh ASCS National Tour Championship
SAPULPA, OK (October 23, 2026) — Sam Hafertepe Jr. has come a long way from his early days as a hotshot 16-year-old, racing against the heroes who inspired him in the American Sprint Car Series.
On Saturday night at Creek County Speedway, the Sunnyvale, TX native gave the next group of rising stars a reason to aspire to be like him. Hafertepe scored his 95th career Feature victory en route to his seventh ASCS National Tour championship – becoming the all-time championship record holder with the Series.
While the night began with managing the points margin to title rival Matt Covington in the first half of the 40-lap Feature after an eighth-place start, his motivation to finish as champion changed when leaders Garrett Benson and Alex Sewell came into view.
“I was just riding around there for a while, then the 95 got by me,” Hafertepe said. “I thought, ‘Alright, we’re gonna have to do something different.’ I didn’t want to win this (championship) just riding. That ain’t me. We were probably a tick off all night, and not the type of track I should be winning on. But that was desire, will, and determination. When the 95 got me and saw the leaders, I was like, ‘Man, f*** this. I came here to win this race, and that’s what we were gonna do.’”
The points battle leading up to Saturday night had rising tensions from the start. Hafertepe, Covington, and 2024 champ Seth Bergman each visited Victory Lane in 2026, and their close-quarters battle produced a share of stressful moments for all three.
While a close fight to the finish is thrilling for fans in the grandstands, inside the cockpit, each of the three faced pressure to finish the year hoisting the coveted Emmett Hahn Championship Trophy.
“It is stressful because you just don’t know a lot of times,” Hafertepe said. “Sometimes, nothing bad happens, and you’re just straight up racing. Sometimes, you can blow a motor, you could cut a tire, you could wreck another car; I mean, there’s so many variables. All of those come into your mind because all year we’ve had blown motors, been taken out several times and wrecked on our own. But it’s racing, and anything can happen.
“Do we think we have the best car and best team? Yeah, we think that. But at the end of the day, you still have to race the race and finish up on what you’re supposed to do. I think that’s the stressful side of it; you just never know what’s going to happen.”
Hafertepe received the most tests of perseverance en route to the championship. At the first trip to Creek County in June, he suffered the first DNF of 2026 with an expired motor. He responded by finishing runner-up to Seth Bergman at 81 Speedway, then swept The Big One at Belleville High Banks.
His second trial came after colliding with Covington at Batesville Motor Speedway. While Covington took the win, Hafertepe came back the next night at Texarkana 67 Speedway with a second-place result, then secured his 91st Series win at Dodge City Raceway Park.
Hafertepe’s last DNF of the year proved to be the biggest as a jump over the Big Sky Speedway cushion sent the No. 15H Triple X Chassis tumbling to start Frontier Speedweek. Hafertepe came back swinging by winning the following night for a $10,000 payday in the Harvey Ostermiller Memorial finale.
The 40-year-old squandered the field’s hopes of taking the championship away as he drove to four Feature wins in the last seven races, further cementing the team’s legacy of showing resiliency under pressure.
“Our team has a lot of confidence,” Hafertepe said. “I think when you’ve won something like 95 races, you know what your ability is. You know what your ability is, what you can do, and what you can achieve. There’s not another guy out here that’s won as much as me, and while that’s an advantage, it can also be the hardest thing.
“We’re never down, and we’re never out. We’re always able to rebound and write our own story. In racing, that’s what you do. You work hard, persevere through the bad times, and take advantage of the opportunities you’re given. We want to win, and there’s some sacrifices that come with that.”
Despite owning the most championships in Series history, his thoughts still linger about the trophies that have slipped away from his grasp. In the painful moments came lessons of how he could better perform in high-pressure situations.
As he continues to soak in the record-making accolade before 2027 appears on the horizon, Hafertepe recalls the figures and foundational moments that shaped one of the greatest careers in ASCS National Tour history.
“I felt like in 2024, when we lost to Seth, we won almost twice as many races as he did,” Hafertepe said. “It didn’t light a fire under me, but I felt like we were in a spot where we should not have lost the championship. I put pressure on myself that we should never lose. This year, I felt the same way. You could ask any guy in the pit area; everybody thinks we’re the car to beat. But you still have to live up to that.
“When I first started racing, Gary Wright was the man. Everybody would watch him, and they would want to be like him, drive a race car like him, and be as professional as he is. Man, I know I’ve tried, but I’m never gonna be a Gary Wright, and his stats speak for themselves. The late great Rick Ferkel once told me, ‘Sam, when you race, you race against the best people there at the time, and that’s all you can go against.’ Seven championships for anybody is something to be proud of, and we proved that we were well deserving of this championship.”
The newest chapter of the American Sprint Car Series will be written in 2027 when the new points season commences at Volusia Speedway Park for the opening weekend of the 57th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 4-6.
Where can you find info about Volusia? Click Here
Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. Reflects on Career-Defining Seventh ASCS National Tour Championship SAPULPA, OK (October 23, 2026) — Sam Hafertepe Jr. has come a long way from his early days as a hotshot 16-year-old, racing against the heroes who inspired him in the American Sprint Car Series.
On Saturday night at Creek County Speedway, the Sunnyvale, TX native gave the next group of rising stars a reason to aspire to be like him. Hafertepe scored his 95th career Feature victory en route to his seventh ASCS National Tour championship – becoming the all-time championship record holder with the Series.
While the night began with managing the points margin to title rival Matt Covington in the first half of the 40-lap Feature after an eighth-place start, his motivation to finish as champion changed when leaders Garrett Benson and Alex Sewell came into view.
“I was just riding around there for a while, then the 95 got by me,” Hafertepe said. “I thought, ‘Alright, we’re gonna have to do something different.’ I didn’t want to win this (championship) just riding. That ain’t me. We were probably a tick off all night, and not the type of track I should be winning on. But that was desire, will, and determination. When the 95 got me and saw the leaders, I was like, ‘Man, f*** this. I came here to win this race, and that’s what we were gonna do.’”
The points battle leading up to Saturday night had rising tensions from the start. Hafertepe, Covington, and 2024 champ Seth Bergman each visited Victory Lane in 2026, and their close-quarters battle produced a share of stressful moments for all three.
While a close fight to the finish is thrilling for fans in the grandstands, inside the cockpit, each of the three faced pressure to finish the year hoisting the coveted Emmett Hahn Championship Trophy.
“It is stressful because you just don’t know a lot of times,” Hafertepe said. “Sometimes, nothing bad happens, and you’re just straight up racing. Sometimes, you can blow a motor, you could cut a tire, you could wreck another car; I mean, there’s so many variables. All of those come into your mind because all year we’ve had blown motors, been taken out several times and wrecked on our own. But it’s racing, and anything can happen.
“Do we think we have the best car and best team? Yeah, we think that. But at the end of the day, you still have to race the race and finish up on what you’re supposed to do. I think that’s the stressful side of it; you just never know what’s going to happen.”
Hafertepe received the most tests of perseverance en route to the championship. At the first trip to Creek County in June, he suffered the first DNF of 2026 with an expired motor. He responded by finishing runner-up to Seth Bergman at 81 Speedway, then swept The Big One at Belleville High Banks.
His second trial came after colliding with Covington at Batesville Motor Speedway. While Covington took the win, Hafertepe came back the next night at Texarkana 67 Speedway with a second-place result, then secured his 91st Series win at Dodge City Raceway Park.
Hafertepe’s last DNF of the year proved to be the biggest as a jump over the Big Sky Speedway cushion sent the No. 15H Triple X Chassis tumbling to start Frontier Speedweek. Hafertepe came back swinging by winning the following night for a $10,000 payday in the Harvey Ostermiller Memorial finale.
The 40-year-old squandered the field’s hopes of taking the championship away as he drove to four Feature wins in the last seven races, further cementing the team’s legacy of showing resiliency under pressure.
“Our team has a lot of confidence,” Hafertepe said. “I think when you’ve won something like 95 races, you know what your ability is. You know what your ability is, what you can do, and what you can achieve. There’s not another guy out here that’s won as much as me, and while that’s an advantage, it can also be the hardest thing.
“We’re never down, and we’re never out. We’re always able to rebound and write our own story. In racing, that’s what you do. You work hard, persevere through the bad times, and take advantage of the opportunities you’re given. We want to win, and there’s some sacrifices that come with that.”
Despite owning the most championships in Series history, his thoughts still linger about the trophies that have slipped away from his grasp. In the painful moments came lessons of how he could better perform in high-pressure situations.
As he continues to soak in the record-making accolade before 2027 appears on the horizon, Hafertepe recalls the figures and foundational moments that shaped one of the greatest careers in ASCS National Tour history.
“I felt like in 2024, when we lost to Seth, we won almost twice as many races as he did,” Hafertepe said. “It didn’t light a fire under me, but I felt like we were in a spot where we should not have lost the championship. I put pressure on myself that we should never lose. This year, I felt the same way. You could ask any guy in the pit area; everybody thinks we’re the car to beat. But you still have to live up to that.
“When I first started racing, Gary Wright was the man. Everybody would watch him, and they would want to be like him, drive a race car like him, and be as professional as he is. Man, I know I’ve tried, but I’m never gonna be a Gary Wright, and his stats speak for themselves. The late great Rick Ferkel once told me, ‘Sam, when you race, you race against the best people there at the time, and that’s all you can go against.’ Seven championships for anybody is something to be proud of, and we proved that we were well deserving of this championship.”
The newest chapter of the American Sprint Car Series will be written in 2027 when the new points season commences at Volusia Speedway Park for the opening weekend of the 57th Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 4-6.
Where can you find info about Volusia? Click Here
Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision.
Richard Gadson’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission Makes an Impact at Texas Motorplex
DALLAS (October 22, 2026) — Richard Gadson left the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals with a runner-up finish, a career-best performance and another memorable chapter in a mission that has become one of the most meaningful parts of his championship-winning career.
The reigning NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion and current points leader rode his RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki to the final round at Texas Motorplex, where he posted a career-best pass of 6.654 seconds at 203.79 mph against Matt Smith. Although Gadson came up short of the event victory, the weekend delivered a different kind of win through his continued partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).
For the third consecutive year, Gadson has welcomed groups of Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters to NHRA events, giving kids the opportunity to experience professional drag racing while building connections and creating memories that extend beyond the racetrack. The initiative is especially personal for Gadson, who was himself a Big Brothers Big Sisters Little growing up.
Throughout the 2026 season, Gadson has welcomed BBBS groups to races in Charlotte, Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Dallas. His final opportunity to host the groups this season will come at the upcoming NHRA event in Las Vegas.
While Gadson typically hosts the children on Saturday, his Texas Motorplex visit was particularly special. Thanks to the generosity of Texas Motorplex co-owner Christie Meyer Johnson, the Bigs and Littles were able to attend both Friday and Saturday of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. Meyer Johnson also donated tickets for the Stars of Texas Music Festival during the preceding weekend, expanding the experience for the mentorship organization and demonstrating her support for Gadson’s mission.
A group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County on Friday night got to meet Gadson before he made his Q1 pass, photo credit Werner Communications
Meyer Johnson said Gadson’s commitment to giving back exemplifies the kind of impact motorsports can have beyond the racetrack.
“Richard’s story and the way he has turned his own experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters into something meaningful for other kids is incredibly inspiring,” said Meyer Johnson. “At Texas Motorplex, we believe our events should be about more than what happens on the track. They’re an opportunity to bring people together, create lasting memories and making a difference in our community. When I learned more about what Richard was doing, I knew we wanted to help him make that experience even bigger for these kids. Being able to welcome them for both days of racing and share the Stars of Texas Music Festival with them was a small way to support a mission that is having a real impact.”
For Gadson, the initiative has grown well beyond what he originally imagined when he first reached out to the Philadelphia chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I thought it was just something cool to do,” said Gadson. “I never really imagined that it mattered as much as it does or that I would get the response I’ve gotten, not only from the kids, but from NHRA and everybody in general. It’s been really cool to see the impact it’s had on these kids. I don’t do it for the recognition, but it’s been a really cool experience.”
What began as a personal effort has continued to inspire others throughout the motorsports community. Gadson has heard from people interested in developing similar initiatives, including a sponsorship coordinator in Alberta, Canada who was motivated to create a comparable experience in his own community. Other organizations have also looked to Gadson’s approach as a model for connecting their causes with the racing community.
A group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County and Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star on Saturday got to meet Gadson in between Q3 and Q4, photo credit Katy Gunter
Gadson credited the support of those who have helped grow the program, including Werner Communications, which has assisted in expanding the initiative’s reach, and Meyer Johnson for her generosity during the Stampede of Speed.
“The Stampede of Speed has become one of the premier events of our season, and for Christie to be willing to contribute to this cause is really cool,” said Gadson. “It’s an initiative that we’ve created that makes it hard to say no to, and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
On the racetrack, Gadson continues to deliver the results expected of a world champion. He has claimed victories at Gainesville, Norwalk and Rockingham this season and has maintained the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead throughout the year. His runner-up finish at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals adds another strong result as he continues his pursuit of a second consecutive championship.
Gadson often refers to the Bigs and Littles as his lucky charm, and their presence has become a meaningful part of his race weekends. But the initiative represents far more than a superstition or a source of motivation. Having experienced the program himself as a teenager, Gadson understands the difference a mentor can make and is committed to helping the next generation experience that same encouragement and support.
A Little from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County on Friday night was able to sit on Gadson’s motorcycle, photo credit Werner Communications
His message to the kids reflects the mindset that has carried him to the top of his sport: live without limits.
Richard Gadson’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission Makes an Impact at Texas Motorplex
DALLAS (October 22, 2026) — Richard Gadson left the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals with a runner-up finish, a career-best performance and another memorable chapter in a mission that has become one of the most meaningful parts of his championship-winning career.
The reigning NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion and current points leader rode his RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki to the final round at Texas Motorplex, where he posted a career-best pass of 6.654 seconds at 203.79 mph against Matt Smith. Although Gadson came up short of the event victory, the weekend delivered a different kind of win through his continued partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).
For the third consecutive year, Gadson has welcomed groups of Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters to NHRA events, giving kids the opportunity to experience professional drag racing while building connections and creating memories that extend beyond the racetrack. The initiative is especially personal for Gadson, who was himself a Big Brothers Big Sisters Little growing up.
Throughout the 2026 season, Gadson has welcomed BBBS groups to races in Charlotte, Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Dallas. His final opportunity to host the groups this season will come at the upcoming NHRA event in Las Vegas.
While Gadson typically hosts the children on Saturday, his Texas Motorplex visit was particularly special. Thanks to the generosity of Texas Motorplex co-owner Christie Meyer Johnson, the Bigs and Littles were able to attend both Friday and Saturday of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. Meyer Johnson also donated tickets for the Stars of Texas Music Festival during the preceding weekend, expanding the experience for the mentorship organization and demonstrating her support for Gadson’s mission.A group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County on Friday night got to meet Gadson before he made his Q1 pass, photo credit Werner Communications
Meyer Johnson said Gadson’s commitment to giving back exemplifies the kind of impact motorsports can have beyond the racetrack.
“Richard’s story and the way he has turned his own experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters into something meaningful for other kids is incredibly inspiring,” said Meyer Johnson. “At Texas Motorplex, we believe our events should be about more than what happens on the track. They’re an opportunity to bring people together, create lasting memories and making a difference in our community. When I learned more about what Richard was doing, I knew we wanted to help him make that experience even bigger for these kids. Being able to welcome them for both days of racing and share the Stars of Texas Music Festival with them was a small way to support a mission that is having a real impact.”
For Gadson, the initiative has grown well beyond what he originally imagined when he first reached out to the Philadelphia chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I thought it was just something cool to do,” said Gadson. “I never really imagined that it mattered as much as it does or that I would get the response I’ve gotten, not only from the kids, but from NHRA and everybody in general. It’s been really cool to see the impact it’s had on these kids. I don’t do it for the recognition, but it’s been a really cool experience.”
What began as a personal effort has continued to inspire others throughout the motorsports community. Gadson has heard from people interested in developing similar initiatives, including a sponsorship coordinator in Alberta, Canada who was motivated to create a comparable experience in his own community. Other organizations have also looked to Gadson’s approach as a model for connecting their causes with the racing community.
A group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County and Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star on Saturday got to meet Gadson in between Q3 and Q4, photo credit Katy Gunter
Gadson credited the support of those who have helped grow the program, including Werner Communications, which has assisted in expanding the initiative’s reach, and Meyer Johnson for her generosity during the Stampede of Speed.
“The Stampede of Speed has become one of the premier events of our season, and for Christie to be willing to contribute to this cause is really cool,” said Gadson. “It’s an initiative that we’ve created that makes it hard to say no to, and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
On the racetrack, Gadson continues to deliver the results expected of a world champion. He has claimed victories at Gainesville, Norwalk and Rockingham this season and has maintained the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead throughout the year. His runner-up finish at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals adds another strong result as he continues his pursuit of a second consecutive championship.
Gadson often refers to the Bigs and Littles as his lucky charm, and their presence has become a meaningful part of his race weekends. But the initiative represents far more than a superstition or a source of motivation. Having experienced the program himself as a teenager, Gadson understands the difference a mentor can make and is committed to helping the next generation experience that same encouragement and support.
A Little from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County on Friday night was able to sit on Gadson’s motorcycle, photo credit Werner Communications
His message to the kids reflects the mindset that has carried him to the top of his sport: live without limits.
“Against all odds, I’m still here,” said Gadson. “I still think about that. I’ve gotten my butt kicked, and I’ve still come back. I’m still going to be the points leader. It’s been a pretty crazy ride. Just live without limits. I certainly do, and I think that’s what’s gotten me here.”
As Gadson prepares for his final Big Brothers Big Sisters visit of the 2026 season in Las Vegas, his Texas Motorplex weekend serves as a reminder that success is measured in more ways than trophies, elapsed times and championship points. For the reigning world champion, helping young people discover new possibilities is a victory worth celebrating every weekend.
“I would like to encourage everyone who is able to look into becoming a Big, or if there isn’t a BBBS chapter in your area, to see how you can give back to the next generation in your own way,” said Gadson. “There are a lot of good mentorship organizations out there who are trying to help put kids on a good path. It takes all of us.”
For additional information on Richard Gadson follow him on Instagram (@rg5racing) and Facebook (Richard Gadson Racing) and for more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters click here.
World Racing Group Acquires SLS Promotions, Expanding Its Race Promotion Footprint
CONCORD, NC (Oct. 22, 2026) – World Racing Group (WRG), the premier sanctioning body and advancement engine for dirt track racing in North America, announced today the strategic acquisition of SLS Promotions, one of the sport’s most respected independent race promotion companies.
The acquisition unites WRG’s extensive sanctioning power and digital media infrastructure with SLS Promotions’ decades of event management expertise, locking in a more seamless experience for drivers, tracks, and race fans across the United States.
For over 30 years, SLS Promotions has been a vital partner to dirt racing, specializing in promoting high-profile events for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. By bringing SLS fully under the World Racing Group umbrella, WRG secures long-term stability for crucial dates on the annual racing calendar while continuing to optimize event operations.
“SLS Promotions has built an incredible legacy of professionalism and dedication to dirt track racing,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “For decades, their team has been instrumental in bringing the World of Outlaws to premier venues and passionate fan bases across the country. Integrating SLS into the World Racing Group family allows us to streamline operations, enhance event marketing, and continue the growth of these marquee race nights.”
The acquisition focuses on SLS Promotions’ extensive portfolio of event promotional agreements, track relationships, and intellectual property. The transition will focus on the seamless transition of the 2027 scheduled events, and race fans can expect the same high-caliber, adrenaline-fueled race programs they have come to enjoy.
“We have worked hand-in-hand with World Racing Group for a generation to build the profile of Sprint Car racing,” said Scott Boyd with SLS. “Joining forces with WRG permanently is the natural next step for our company. Their resources, sponsorship network, and industry-leading DIRTVision streaming platform will provide the events with the tools needed to thrive for decades to come.”
Where can you find more information about current and upcoming World of Outlaws events? Visit the World of Outlaws schedule page.
World Racing Group Acquires SLS Promotions, Expanding Its Race Promotion Footprint
CONCORD, NC (Oct. 22, 2026) – World Racing Group (WRG), the premier sanctioning body and advancement engine for dirt track racing in North America, announced today the strategic acquisition of SLS Promotions, one of the sport’s most respected independent race promotion companies.
The acquisition unites WRG’s extensive sanctioning power and digital media infrastructure with SLS Promotions’ decades of event management expertise, locking in a more seamless experience for drivers, tracks, and race fans across the United States.
For over 30 years, SLS Promotions has been a vital partner to dirt racing, specializing in promoting high-profile events for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. By bringing SLS fully under the World Racing Group umbrella, WRG secures long-term stability for crucial dates on the annual racing calendar while continuing to optimize event operations.
“SLS Promotions has built an incredible legacy of professionalism and dedication to dirt track racing,” said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO. “For decades, their team has been instrumental in bringing the World of Outlaws to premier venues and passionate fan bases across the country. Integrating SLS into the World Racing Group family allows us to streamline operations, enhance event marketing, and continue the growth of these marquee race nights.”
The acquisition focuses on SLS Promotions’ extensive portfolio of event promotional agreements, track relationships, and intellectual property. The transition will focus on the seamless transition of the 2027 scheduled events, and race fans can expect the same high-caliber, adrenaline-fueled race programs they have come to enjoy.
“We have worked hand-in-hand with World Racing Group for a generation to build the profile of Sprint Car racing,” said Scott Boyd with SLS. “Joining forces with WRG permanently is the natural next step for our company. Their resources, sponsorship network, and industry-leading DIRTVision streaming platform will provide the events with the tools needed to thrive for decades to come.”
Where can you find more information about current and upcoming World of Outlaws events? Visit the World of Outlaws schedule page.
Wood Brothers Racing–Talladega Advance
| Event: YellaWood 500Date/Time: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 2 p.m. ETLocation: Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, AlabamaLayout: 2.66-Mile SuperspeedwayTV/Radio: NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio |
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| With three races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, including this weekend’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Würth team are looking to carry their recent momentum into the final stretch of the season.Since breaking out of a difficult stretch with a seventh-place finish at Indianapolis on July 26, Berry and the Wood Brothers have recorded eight top-10 finishes in the past 12 races, including three top-five results.During that span, Berry has posted an average finish of 12.08, a significant improvement over his 27.38 average finish through the first 21 races of the season. His overall average finish has improved to 21.9, while the Wood Brothers have climbed from 34th to 22nd in the NASCAR Cup Series owner points standings since Indianapolis.“We’re getting down to the final few races of the season, and everybody on this No. 21 team wants to finish the year on a strong note,” Berry said. “Talladega is always unpredictable, but it’s also a place where you can make something happen if you’re in the right position at the end.”The unpredictable nature of Talladega has been evident in Berry’s two most recent starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Last fall, he led 27 laps before a mechanical issue ended his race prematurely. Earlier this season, his day was cut short after being collected in a crash.“We’ve just got to stay focused, make smart decisions and hopefully come away with a result we can be proud of,” Berry said.Per NASCAR rules for drafting-style tracks, there will be no practice session this weekend. Qualifying for the YellaWood 500 is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, with television coverage on truTV.Sunday’s 188-lap, 500.08-mile race is scheduled to take the green flag shortly after 2 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NBC.Stage breaks are scheduled for Laps 98 and 143. |
Thornton Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Sheppard Clinches Lucas Oil Title
Ricky Thornton Jr. won his second ARP Dirt Track World Championship on Sunday night at West Virginia Motor Speedway, earning $100,000 for Koehler Motorsports. His victory in the 46th annual event, which returned to West Virginia for the first time in 16 years, was his first in the crown jewel race since 2021.
Brandon Sheppard’s runner-up finish secured his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national championship by 55 points over Devin Moran, who finished third. The championship was worth $250,000 to the West Virginia-based Rocket 1 team.
West Virginia native Zack Dohm was the highest-finishing driver from the Mountaineer State, advancing from 14th to fourth. Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.
Thornton started from the pole, but Hudson O’Neal jumped to the early lead in the 100-lap race. O’Neal and Thornton ran first and second for the opening 32 laps before Thornton took the lead for the first time.
Thornton led for just two laps before O’Neal regained the top spot. The pair continued to run one-two until O’Neal ran over a mud clod, damaging the right front of his car and causing him to push up the track.
O’Neal pitted, dropping him to the tail of the lead lap. Thornton regained the lead and remained in front when a caution with 10 laps to go set up a single-file restart with Moran and Sheppard directly behind him.
Sheppard passed Moran for second on lap 91, putting himself in position to claim the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship. He stayed ahead of Moran to the checkered flag to secure the title.
Thornton celebrated his 66th career series victory in Wieland Victory Lane after winning his fourth straight LOLMDS race to close the season. He earned a total of $220,000 in winnings and bonuses for the night.
“He (O’Neal) was definitely better tonight. Really, early on, I was a little better than he was, and I could dictate his speed. The only way I could do that was to stay close enough and run the top whenever he went to the bottom, and the bottom whenever he went to the top. You can start getting them to run harder. He figured out the top, and I thought I wasn’t going to get a shot at him again. I just cooled myself back down during that caution. I showed my nose and kept running harder and harder. I don’t know if he just got tight or what. I saw him kind of turn backward at the wall, and I got by him. I was hoping to come out as the leader.”
Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis, owned by Bobby and Jessica Koehler, is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. Sponsors include Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste, Elite Ready Mix, Certified Inspection Services, Strange Oval, SI Towing and Recovery, Sunoco Race Fuels, and D&E Outside Services.
Completing the top 10 were Dan Ebert, Max Blair, Hudson O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., and Josh Rice.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
46th Annual ARP Dirt Track World Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment | Night 2
Sunday, October 18, 2026
West Virginia Motor Speedway | Mineral Wells, WV
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 2. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[2]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[1]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[7]; 5. 39-Henry Hornsby III[4]; 6. 18C-Chris Carpenter[6]; 7. 7*-Logan Hitt[11]; 8. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 9. 49M-Luke Morey[10]; 10. 12L-Dave Loudin[12]; 11. 3-Chase Hunley[8]; 12. R3X-Matthew Bosley[14]; 13. (DNS) 10-Garrett Smith; 14. (DNS) K2-Kristopher Southern; 15. (DNS) U2-Kristin Uhler; 16. (DNS) 72X-James Nicely Uhler; 17. (DNS) 00-Justin Cooper
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 5T-Drake Troutman[1]; 3. 17SS-Brenden Smith[4]; 4. 17SR-Brody Smith[6]; 5. 27L-Michael Lake[3]; 6. 28-Tyler Carpenter[8]; 7. W1-Cory Workman[11]; 8. 32X-Chad Roush[14]; 9. 50-Kevin Davis[10]; 10. 32-Bobby Pierce[5]; 11. 17KN-Brock Morris[7]; 12. 74X-Ethan Dotson[9]; 13. 12R-Ryan Payne[13]; 14. S8-Jordan Stotts[15]; 15. (DNS) 47W-Brandon Weigle; 16. (DNS) J0Y-James Joy; 17. (DNS) 8W-Wyatt Ervin
MyRacePass B-Main Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 99H-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 44-Dave Hess Jr[4]; 3. 55-Benji Hicks[3]; 4. 22M-Corey Miller[8]; 5. 31-Lincoln Smith[2]; 6. 14-Corey Conley[11]; 7. 0-Braeden Dillinger[9]; 8. 2-Brandon Francis[5]; 9. 21G-Corey Galbreath[16]; 10. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[7]; 11. 9 11-Corey DeLancey[6]; 12. 69-Jon Hodgkiss[14]; 13. 11M-Michael Chilton[10]; 14. (DNS) 44M-Lucas McDonald; 15. (DNS) C9-Brandon Morrow; 16. (DNS) 17K-Kenny Newhouse
Jim Dunn Non-Qualifier Finish (25 Laps): 1. 55-Benji Hicks[1]; 2. 17SR-Brody Smith[3]; 3. 7*-Logan Hitt[11]; 4. 27L-Michael Lake[6]; 5. 31-Lincoln Smith[7]; 6. 28-Tyler Carpenter[9]; 7. 49M-Luke Morey[16]; 8. 22M-Corey Miller[4]; 9. 18C-Chris Carpenter[8]; 10. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[20]; 11. 9 11-Corey DeLancey[22]; 12. 0-Braeden Dillinger[13]; 13. 12L-Dave Loudin[19]; 14. 32X-Chad Roush[14]; 15. 3-Chase Hunley[21]; 16. 39-Henry Hornsby III[5]; 17. 50-Kevin Davis[17]; 18. W1-Cory Workman[12]; 19. R3X-Matthew Bosley[23]; 20. 21G-Corey Galbreath[18]; 21. 2-Brandon Francis[15]; 22. 69-Jon Hodgkiss[24]; 23. 14-Corey Conley[10]; 24. 09-Michael Leach[2]
46th Annual ARP Dirt Track World Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment | Feature Finish (100 Laps):
Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings
1 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $106,300
2 – 6 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $26,000
3 – 4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $11,300
4 – 14 – 17 – Zack Dohm – Cross Lanes, WV – $8,000
5 – 3 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $7,500
6 – 7 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $7,900
7 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $7,400
8 – 2 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $7,400
9 – 8 – 28E – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $5,500
10 – 9 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $6,000
11 – 19 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $5,100
12 – 10 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $3,600
13 – 17 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,900
14 – 20 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $3,800
15 – 26 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $3,700
16 – 12 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $3,600
17 – 25 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,500
18 – 16 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $2,575
19 – 5 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $3,450
20 – 13 – 75 – Eddie Carrier Jr – Fairmont, WV – $2,535
21 – 23 – 5T – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $2,525
22 – 28 – 55 – Benji Hicks – Mount Airy, NC – $2,515
23 – 18 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,400
24 – 24 – 44 – Dave Hess Jr – Waterford, PA – $2,500
25 – 22 – 25Z – Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – $2,500
26 – 15 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $2,500
27 – 27 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $100
28 – 21 – 99H – Kyle Hardy – Winchester, VA – $2,500
Race Statistics
Entrants: 68
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
MD3 Lap Leaders: Hudson O’Neal (Lap 1-32); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 33-34); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 35-75); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 76-100)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’Neal
Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Margin of Victory: 0.650 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 37); Ryan Gustin (Lap 54); Debris (Lap 57); Brandon Overton (Lap 74); Hudson O’Neal (Lap 76); Debris (Lap 89); Benji Hicks (Lap 90)
MyRacePass Series Provisional: Brian Shirley; Daniel Hilsabeck
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: Brenden Smith
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran
Penske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Zack Dohm, Jonathan Davenport
Behrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran
PEM 4th Place Feature: Zack Dohm
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Max Blair
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brandon Overton
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Kyle Bronson
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Deniel Hilsabeck
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck (Advanced 11 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (73 Laps)
Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon Sheppard
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh Rice
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O’Neal | Lap 3 | 14.731 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Hudson O’Neal
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Justin Tharp
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Jonathan Davenport | 16.4384 seconds
Time of Race: 58 minutes 22 seconds
Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings
1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 7585 – $356,100
2 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 7530 – $455,774
3 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 7405 – $298,700
4 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 7195 – $538,325
5 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 6915 – $198,975
6 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 6865 – $201,875
7 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 6655 – $264,575
8 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 6405 – $187,650
9 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 6245 – $135,325
10 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 6070 – $110,625
11 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 5970 – $115,175
12 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 5950 – $111,625
13 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 5890 – $164,325
14 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 5740 – $127,900
15 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 5140 – $73,350
16 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 4770 – $54,825
17 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 4470 – $34,475
Big River Steel Top 5 Bonus Standings Presented by ARP ($100,000):
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Gap
1 – 20RT – Thornton, Ricky Jr – Chandler, AZ – 925 – 0
2 – 99 – Moran, Devin – Dresden, OH – 915 – -10
3 – 1 – Sheppard, Brandon – New Berlin, IL – 820 – -105
4 – 76 – Overton, Brandon – Evans, GA – 715 – -210
5 – 71 – O’Neal, Hudson – Martinsville, IN – 690 – -235
Thornton Wins Dirt Track World Championship; Sheppard Clinches Lucas Oil Title
Ricky Thornton Jr. won his second ARP Dirt Track World Championship on Sunday night at West Virginia Motor Speedway, earning $100,000 for Koehler Motorsports. His victory in the 46th annual event, which returned to West Virginia for the first time in 16 years, was his first in the crown jewel race since 2021.
Brandon Sheppard’s runner-up finish secured his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series national championship by 55 points over Devin Moran, who finished third. The championship was worth $250,000 to the West Virginia-based Rocket 1 team.
West Virginia native Zack Dohm was the highest-finishing driver from the Mountaineer State, advancing from 14th to fourth. Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.
Thornton started from the pole, but Hudson O’Neal jumped to the early lead in the 100-lap race. O’Neal and Thornton ran first and second for the opening 32 laps before Thornton took the lead for the first time.
Thornton led for just two laps before O’Neal regained the top spot. The pair continued to run one-two until O’Neal ran over a mud clod, damaging the right front of his car and causing him to push up the track.
O’Neal pitted, dropping him to the tail of the lead lap. Thornton regained the lead and remained in front when a caution with 10 laps to go set up a single-file restart with Moran and Sheppard directly behind him.
Sheppard passed Moran for second on lap 91, putting himself in position to claim the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship. He stayed ahead of Moran to the checkered flag to secure the title.
Thornton celebrated his 66th career series victory in Wieland Victory Lane after winning his fourth straight LOLMDS race to close the season. He earned a total of $220,000 in winnings and bonuses for the night.
“He (O’Neal) was definitely better tonight. Really, early on, I was a little better than he was, and I could dictate his speed. The only way I could do that was to stay close enough and run the top whenever he went to the bottom, and the bottom whenever he went to the top. You can start getting them to run harder. He figured out the top, and I thought I wasn’t going to get a shot at him again. I just cooled myself back down during that caution. I showed my nose and kept running harder and harder. I don’t know if he just got tight or what. I saw him kind of turn backward at the wall, and I got by him. I was hoping to come out as the leader.”
Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis, owned by Bobby and Jessica Koehler, is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine. Sponsors include Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste, Elite Ready Mix, Certified Inspection Services, Strange Oval, SI Towing and Recovery, Sunoco Race Fuels, and D&E Outside Services.
Completing the top 10 were Dan Ebert, Max Blair, Hudson O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr., and Josh Rice.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
46th Annual ARP Dirt Track World Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment | Night 2
Sunday, October 18, 2026
West Virginia Motor Speedway | Mineral Wells, WV
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 2. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[2]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[1]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[7]; 5. 39-Henry Hornsby III[4]; 6. 18C-Chris Carpenter[6]; 7. 7*-Logan Hitt[11]; 8. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 9. 49M-Luke Morey[10]; 10. 12L-Dave Loudin[12]; 11. 3-Chase Hunley[8]; 12. R3X-Matthew Bosley[14]; 13. (DNS) 10-Garrett Smith; 14. (DNS) K2-Kristopher Southern; 15. (DNS) U2-Kristin Uhler; 16. (DNS) 72X-James Nicely Uhler; 17. (DNS) 00-Justin Cooper
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 5T-Drake Troutman[1]; 3. 17SS-Brenden Smith[4]; 4. 17SR-Brody Smith[6]; 5. 27L-Michael Lake[3]; 6. 28-Tyler Carpenter[8]; 7. W1-Cory Workman[11]; 8. 32X-Chad Roush[14]; 9. 50-Kevin Davis[10]; 10. 32-Bobby Pierce[5]; 11. 17KN-Brock Morris[7]; 12. 74X-Ethan Dotson[9]; 13. 12R-Ryan Payne[13]; 14. S8-Jordan Stotts[15]; 15. (DNS) 47W-Brandon Weigle; 16. (DNS) J0Y-James Joy; 17. (DNS) 8W-Wyatt Ervin
MyRacePass B-Main Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 99H-Kyle Hardy[1]; 2. 44-Dave Hess Jr[4]; 3. 55-Benji Hicks[3]; 4. 22M-Corey Miller[8]; 5. 31-Lincoln Smith[2]; 6. 14-Corey Conley[11]; 7. 0-Braeden Dillinger[9]; 8. 2-Brandon Francis[5]; 9. 21G-Corey Galbreath[16]; 10. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[7]; 11. 9 11-Corey DeLancey[6]; 12. 69-Jon Hodgkiss[14]; 13. 11M-Michael Chilton[10]; 14. (DNS) 44M-Lucas McDonald; 15. (DNS) C9-Brandon Morrow; 16. (DNS) 17K-Kenny Newhouse
Jim Dunn Non-Qualifier Finish (25 Laps): 1. 55-Benji Hicks[1]; 2. 17SR-Brody Smith[3]; 3. 7*-Logan Hitt[11]; 4. 27L-Michael Lake[6]; 5. 31-Lincoln Smith[7]; 6. 28-Tyler Carpenter[9]; 7. 49M-Luke Morey[16]; 8. 22M-Corey Miller[4]; 9. 18C-Chris Carpenter[8]; 10. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[20]; 11. 9 11-Corey DeLancey[22]; 12. 0-Braeden Dillinger[13]; 13. 12L-Dave Loudin[19]; 14. 32X-Chad Roush[14]; 15. 3-Chase Hunley[21]; 16. 39-Henry Hornsby III[5]; 17. 50-Kevin Davis[17]; 18. W1-Cory Workman[12]; 19. R3X-Matthew Bosley[23]; 20. 21G-Corey Galbreath[18]; 21. 2-Brandon Francis[15]; 22. 69-Jon Hodgkiss[24]; 23. 14-Corey Conley[10]; 24. 09-Michael Leach[2]
46th Annual ARP Dirt Track World Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment | Feature Finish (100 Laps):
Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings
1 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $106,300
2 – 6 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $26,000
3 – 4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $11,300
4 – 14 – 17 – Zack Dohm – Cross Lanes, WV – $8,000
5 – 3 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $7,500
6 – 7 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $7,900
7 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $7,400
8 – 2 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $7,400
9 – 8 – 28E – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $5,500
10 – 9 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $6,000
11 – 19 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $5,100
12 – 10 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $3,600
13 – 17 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,900
14 – 20 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $3,800
15 – 26 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $3,700
16 – 12 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $3,600
17 – 25 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,500
18 – 16 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $2,575
19 – 5 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $3,450
20 – 13 – 75 – Eddie Carrier Jr – Fairmont, WV – $2,535
21 – 23 – 5T – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $2,525
22 – 28 – 55 – Benji Hicks – Mount Airy, NC – $2,515
23 – 18 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,400
24 – 24 – 44 – Dave Hess Jr – Waterford, PA – $2,500
25 – 22 – 25Z – Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – $2,500
26 – 15 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $2,500
27 – 27 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $100
28 – 21 – 99H – Kyle Hardy – Winchester, VA – $2,500
Race Statistics
Entrants: 68
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
MD3 Lap Leaders: Hudson O’Neal (Lap 1-32); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 33-34); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 35-75); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 76-100)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’Neal
Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Margin of Victory: 0.650 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 37); Ryan Gustin (Lap 54); Debris (Lap 57); Brandon Overton (Lap 74); Hudson O’Neal (Lap 76); Debris (Lap 89); Benji Hicks (Lap 90)
MyRacePass Series Provisional: Brian Shirley; Daniel Hilsabeck
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: Brenden Smith
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran
Penske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Zack Dohm, Jonathan Davenport
Behrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran
PEM 4th Place Feature: Zack Dohm
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Max Blair
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brandon Overton
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Kyle Bronson
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Deniel Hilsabeck
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck (Advanced 11 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (73 Laps)
Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon Sheppard
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh Rice
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O’Neal | Lap 3 | 14.731 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Hudson O’Neal
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Justin Tharp
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Jonathan Davenport | 16.4384 seconds
Time of Race: 58 minutes 22 seconds
Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings
1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 7585 – $356,100
2 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 7530 – $455,774
3 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 7405 – $298,700
4 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 7195 – $538,325
5 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 6915 – $198,975
6 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 6865 – $201,875
7 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 6655 – $264,575
8 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 6405 – $187,650
9 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 6245 – $135,325
10 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 6070 – $110,625
11 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 5970 – $115,175
12 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 5950 – $111,625
13 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 5890 – $164,325
14 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 5740 – $127,900
15 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 5140 – $73,350
16 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 4770 – $54,825
17 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 4470 – $34,475
Big River Steel Top 5 Bonus Standings Presented by ARP ($100,000):
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Gap
1 – 20RT – Thornton, Ricky Jr – Chandler, AZ – 925 – 0
2 – 99 – Moran, Devin – Dresden, OH – 915 – -10
3 – 1 – Sheppard, Brandon – New Berlin, IL – 820 – -105
4 – 76 – Overton, Brandon – Evans, GA – 715 – -210
5 – 71 – O’Neal, Hudson – Martinsville, IN – 690 – -235
Big River Steel 6th-15th Bonus Standings Presented by ARP ($25,000):
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Gap
1 – 11 – Rice, Josh (R) – Crittenden, KY – 815 – 0
2 – 111 – Blair, Max – Centerville, PA – 795 – -20
3 – 3S – Shirley, Brian – Chatham, IL – 700 – -115
4 – 40B – Bronson, Kyle – Brandon, FL – 665 – -150
5 – 60 – Ebert, Dan – Lake Shore, MN – 650 – -165
6 – 93 – Ferguson, Carson – Lincolnton, NC – 635 – -180
7 – 6 – Harris, Clay – Jupiter, FL – 575 – -240
8 – 8 – McCowan, Dillon (R) – Urbana, MO – 570 – -245
9 – 58 – Alberson, Garrett – Las Cruces, NM – 540 – -275
10 – 22 – Hilsabeck, Daniel – Earlham, IA – 490 – -325
BRINGING BACK THE MAGIC: Johnson, Sides on Short Track Nationals Titles, Event’s Evolution
TEXARKANA, AR (October 21, 2026) – The Short Track Nationals has long been a coveted crown of the southern Sprint Car scene.
The race launched in 1988 at Little Rock, AR’s I-30 Speedway. The first podium featured a legendary trio, with Steve Kinser taking the win over Sammy Swindell and Bobby Davis Jr.
The event grew over the many years that followed as dozens of teams flocked to “The Natural State” every fall to battle for the right to be known as a Short Track Nationals champion, and fans packed the stands to watch as car counts soared to nearly triple digits.
Hearts hurt in 2022 when I-30 shut its doors for good after 66 years in operation. The sendoff was fitting as the 35th Short Track Nationals punctuated the track’s more than six decades of action.
The event’s original home may have closed, but that didn’t mean the story of the Short Track Nationals was over. Winner of the 1998 running, Tim Crawley, brought the race to Texarkana 67 Speedway in 2023. Fast forward to 2026, and he’s elevating the southern staple to a new level. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will sanction it for the first time this weekend. The Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends is on Friday, Oct. 23 at the tracka, before the 39th running of the Short Track Nationals on Saturday, Oct. 24.
This new chapter allows a pair of former winners to return in a new role. The driving days may be complete for Jason Sides and Wayne Johnson, but their time in the sport is far from done. Both have shifted to operating as the crew chief for the cars they once wheeled. Sides turns the wrenches on his own Sides Motorsports No. 7S with Chris Windom in the seat while Johnson calls the shots on Todd Carlile’s TwoC Racing ride as Cole Macedo carves out his driving career.
Rewind three decades to 1997 to when Johnson had a dominant showing at I-30 in the Bobby Sparks No. 91 that nearly didn’t happen. Travel trouble almost prevented the Oklahoma City, OK native from even arriving at the track, but it also gave him a story he’ll never forget and a rental car agent one of his strangest days on the job.
“It was a crazy weekend,” Johnson recalled. “Me and Bobby had won a lot of races at Little Rock that year. I used to fly to Little Rock every time we’d race there. I’d fly to Dallas and then fly over. Well, I got bumped in Dallas. So, on Friday, when I landed it’s a funny story. I was waiting on my rental car at like five or six o’clock. It was crazy, already missed Hot Laps and everything. Anyway, I’m on the sidewalk waiting on the rental car guy to bring me the car, and I’m sitting there on a bench changing into my uniform and everything. So, when the guy pulls up here, I am in a race suit, and he’s looking at me like, ‘What are you doing?’
“Anyway, I hauled butt straight to the racetrack, pulled right into the pit area, never even got a pit pass or anything. I just pulled straight up to the trailer, got into the car, and thank God we were in the last Heat because it was a draw race, not a time trial race. Never hot lapped, never did anything, and I owe all the credit to Bob because he was such a good mechanic, but I get in the car and start dead last in the Heat Race and win. You could look back, but I’m pretty sure that we won every race that we were in that weekend.”
Sides’ Short Track Nationals score came in 2001. The Bartlett, TN native bested a field featuring more than 60 entries at the track roughly 150 miles from home. It was a major moment in the early portion of his career as “Double Down” went full-time with the World of Outlaws two years later and picked up Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies honors.
“You see some of the names on that list of who’s won it, and it’s kind of a who’s who of racing,” Sides said. “Just to get on that list and to win it was pretty special.”
Both Sides and Johnson are eager to return to the event this weekend. The venue may have changed, but the spirit of Short Track Nationals is strong and tracking toward its former glory courtesy of Crawley’s dedication. The best drivers in the country are heading to the event like they once did when prestige continued to build. They’re ready to battle for $25,000 and the right to be called a Short Track Nationals champion.
“It’s moved down the road a couple hours, but it’s still the same type of dirt, same type of racetrack,” Sides said. “Tim’s done a great job with the place, building it up. We raced there several times back in the late 90s and early 2000s. From then to now, he’s taken the racetrack and kind of made it better. I think it’s pretty much the same size and all, but he’s just done so many improvements. Now, getting it to be an Outlaw show, I think that’ll be great for all of us.”
“The atmosphere that Tim brings to the Texarkana racetrack is the same as it was at Little Rock,” Johnson said. “I just feel like Tim’s doing a great job promoting this race, and I’m so excited to get to come back with it being a World of Outlaws race… Bringing in the Outlaws, I think will bring organization, and hopefully this will turn into a marquee event for years to come and bring back the Short Track Nationals that we grew up having a ball at.”
Sides and Johnson hope to return to Short Track Nationals Victory Lane as a crew chief this weekend (Oct. 23-24) at Texarkana 67 Speedway. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.
Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.
BRINGING BACK THE MAGIC: Johnson, Sides on Short Track Nationals Titles, Event’s Evolution
TEXARKANA, AR (October 21, 2026) – The Short Track Nationals has long been a coveted crown of the southern Sprint Car scene.
The race launched in 1988 at Little Rock, AR’s I-30 Speedway. The first podium featured a legendary trio, with Steve Kinser taking the win over Sammy Swindell and Bobby Davis Jr.
The event grew over the many years that followed as dozens of teams flocked to “The Natural State” every fall to battle for the right to be known as a Short Track Nationals champion, and fans packed the stands to watch as car counts soared to nearly triple digits.
Hearts hurt in 2022 when I-30 shut its doors for good after 66 years in operation. The sendoff was fitting as the 35th Short Track Nationals punctuated the track’s more than six decades of action.
The event’s original home may have closed, but that didn’t mean the story of the Short Track Nationals was over. Winner of the 1998 running, Tim Crawley, brought the race to Texarkana 67 Speedway in 2023. Fast forward to 2026, and he’s elevating the southern staple to a new level. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will sanction it for the first time this weekend. The Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends is on Friday, Oct. 23 at the tracka, before the 39th running of the Short Track Nationals on Saturday, Oct. 24.
This new chapter allows a pair of former winners to return in a new role. The driving days may be complete for Jason Sides and Wayne Johnson, but their time in the sport is far from done. Both have shifted to operating as the crew chief for the cars they once wheeled. Sides turns the wrenches on his own Sides Motorsports No. 7S with Chris Windom in the seat while Johnson calls the shots on Todd Carlile’s TwoC Racing ride as Cole Macedo carves out his driving career.
Rewind three decades to 1997 to when Johnson had a dominant showing at I-30 in the Bobby Sparks No. 91 that nearly didn’t happen. Travel trouble almost prevented the Oklahoma City, OK native from even arriving at the track, but it also gave him a story he’ll never forget and a rental car agent one of his strangest days on the job.
“It was a crazy weekend,” Johnson recalled. “Me and Bobby had won a lot of races at Little Rock that year. I used to fly to Little Rock every time we’d race there. I’d fly to Dallas and then fly over. Well, I got bumped in Dallas. So, on Friday, when I landed it’s a funny story. I was waiting on my rental car at like five or six o’clock. It was crazy, already missed Hot Laps and everything. Anyway, I’m on the sidewalk waiting on the rental car guy to bring me the car, and I’m sitting there on a bench changing into my uniform and everything. So, when the guy pulls up here, I am in a race suit, and he’s looking at me like, ‘What are you doing?’
“Anyway, I hauled butt straight to the racetrack, pulled right into the pit area, never even got a pit pass or anything. I just pulled straight up to the trailer, got into the car, and thank God we were in the last Heat because it was a draw race, not a time trial race. Never hot lapped, never did anything, and I owe all the credit to Bob because he was such a good mechanic, but I get in the car and start dead last in the Heat Race and win. You could look back, but I’m pretty sure that we won every race that we were in that weekend.”
Sides’ Short Track Nationals score came in 2001. The Bartlett, TN native bested a field featuring more than 60 entries at the track roughly 150 miles from home. It was a major moment in the early portion of his career as “Double Down” went full-time with the World of Outlaws two years later and picked up Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year presented by Five Star Bodies honors.
“You see some of the names on that list of who’s won it, and it’s kind of a who’s who of racing,” Sides said. “Just to get on that list and to win it was pretty special.”
Both Sides and Johnson are eager to return to the event this weekend. The venue may have changed, but the spirit of Short Track Nationals is strong and tracking toward its former glory courtesy of Crawley’s dedication. The best drivers in the country are heading to the event like they once did when prestige continued to build. They’re ready to battle for $25,000 and the right to be called a Short Track Nationals champion.
“It’s moved down the road a couple hours, but it’s still the same type of dirt, same type of racetrack,” Sides said. “Tim’s done a great job with the place, building it up. We raced there several times back in the late 90s and early 2000s. From then to now, he’s taken the racetrack and kind of made it better. I think it’s pretty much the same size and all, but he’s just done so many improvements. Now, getting it to be an Outlaw show, I think that’ll be great for all of us.”
“The atmosphere that Tim brings to the Texarkana racetrack is the same as it was at Little Rock,” Johnson said. “I just feel like Tim’s doing a great job promoting this race, and I’m so excited to get to come back with it being a World of Outlaws race… Bringing in the Outlaws, I think will bring organization, and hopefully this will turn into a marquee event for years to come and bring back the Short Track Nationals that we grew up having a ball at.”
Sides and Johnson hope to return to Short Track Nationals Victory Lane as a crew chief this weekend (Oct. 23-24) at Texarkana 67 Speedway. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.
Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.
EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4549654, https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4549999
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?track=Texarkana%2B67%2BSpeedway
John Henderson, ASD Motorsports Embracing Chance to Go World of Outlaws Racing at Home
MODOC, SC (October 21, 2026) – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision is debuting at Modoc Speedway this weekend, and no one has been looking forward to the occasion for longer than John Henderson.
The 3/8-mile dirt track, located about 30 minutes north of Henderson’s hometown of North Augusta, SC, is where his love of dirt Late Model racing blossomed. That passion led him to get behind the wheel himself before eventually launching a nationally touring race team, ASD Motorsports, and hiring Ethan Dotson to take it on the road with the World of Outlaws.
Either from the grandstands or the driver’s seat, Henderson has seen every iteration of Modoc firsthand since it opened in 1984. The future of dirt racing in the Augusta area came into question when the track closed at the end of the 2021 season, but when local businessman Ronnie Powell purchased the property and commenced a large-scale renovation, Henderson knew something special was in the works.
The process took time, but his visits to Modoc earlier this season for some of their regional Late Model events confirmed to Henderson that the result was worth the wait. Nearly every inch of the facility has been updated in some form, and the track will get its first chance to shine under the national spotlight this weekend.
“It’s a world of difference,” Henderson said. “Ronnie’s worked his butt off and done a bunch of stuff to it. I really think it’ll be really, really good. Just facility-wise, he’s done a lot, racetrack-wise, he’s done a lot. He’s only raced a handful of times [in 2026], so he’s still trying to figure out the track some. Ethan ran a race there earlier this year, I think he started like 16th and almost passed for the lead there with a few laps to go and ended up finishing third.
“It was just super racey, and the old Modoc was just really filthy red dirt, typical south racetrack that usually wasn’t really wide when it started slowing down. Now, with that gray dirt he’s got in there, it’s definitely got some opportunity to race on it. It ought to be a good show, and it’s definitely better facility-wise and racetrack-wise than what it’s ever been.”
This weekend’s Modoc 100 may seem like a new event to those unfamiliar with racing at Modoc, but it has a legacy stretching back decades. The Modoc 100was known as one of the biggest Crate Late Model races in the region for many years, often attracting Super Late Model regulars to come battle Modoc’s rising stars. The event’s revival as part of the World of Outlaws schedule brings back countless memories for those who are part of that history, including Henderson.
“When I raced there early on in my career, it was mostly FASTRAK races, Crate races,” Henderson said. “That was when me and Jonathan [Davenport], Brandon [Overton], we were all starting. I remember racing there with Jonathan and Brandon in what used to be the Modoc 100, the Jack Starrette Memorial. It was a Crate race, but [Chris] Madden, any big name from the south was there and raced there. To see it get a national-touring race, it kind of comes full circle with all that used to happen there and the people that started their racing career around here.”
A lot has changed for Henderson since those early days of the event. His primary role in racing has transitioned from a regional driver to a World of Outlaws team owner, while still making sporadic starts in his No. 2X when his schedule allows. Since Dotson came on board in May 2024, the Bakersfield, CA native has become the face of Henderson’s ASD operation and taken the team to Victory Lane in each of their first two seasons as World of Outlaws regulars. Henderson has had plenty to take pride in over the past two and a half years, but he recognizes that there’s still room to grow.
“We’ve learned a lot together,” Henderson said. “When we first started, we won quite a few races right out the gate and were doing pretty good. When you get on that touring series, people always say they’re ready to run a tour until they go do it, and then reality sets in. We made it and we did OK, I’m not disappointed with what we did, we won a race each year. But there’s a huge learning curve, and we had to learn that together. I tried to be more assertive the first year, and this year, I’ve tried to back off and let him make some of his own decisions. Some of it’s been good, some of it’s been bad, but I’m not saying I would have made a different decision.
“It’s been good for us to learn together, just because we’re a lot alike and we don’t get upset with each other. We can have a hard conversation and still know that our hearts are in the right place, which is hard to do. Being able to have that relationship and seeing him grow as a driver, now I feel like if our car’s decent, then he’s as good as anybody in the field. We’ve just got to work on our stuff and work on our program to get it to be competitive with the 32, the 9 and a couple others. We’ve been through spurts where we showed speed and were consistent and then we fell off. Right here, we fell off in the past few weeks, but we’ve also been trying some new stuff with a new motor package and a new car, just trying to do stuff to get better. When you try new stuff, it can either go good or it can go bad.”
Ahead of the final five race nights of the season, the ASD team finds themselves sixth in the World of Outlaws standings, up four spots from their 10th-place finish a year ago. With two of those nights taking place 28 miles from the race shop, Henderson sees it as a perfect opportunity to wrap up 2026 on a high note in front of their home crowd while looking ahead to further improvement in 2027.
“You may not see it all on the racetrack, but it’s been leaps and bounds,” Henderson said of his team’s progression in their sophomore World of Outlaws campaign. “We’ve finally got an established crew that’s been with us for several months, and I think everybody’s coming back next year. Having an established crew, everybody knows how everybody works. It’s not just Ethan, I mean, Ethan’s gotten better on the racetrack; his racecraft’s gotten better, but our crew being consistent, learning each other and then learning Ethan.
“This week, we’re going back to our standard package that we’ve been running, like when we won the race [at Shelby County Speedway on Aug. 29]. I hope that we can go right back where we were when we had some speed then, getting away from some of that experimental stuff. Just having the same crew so we can go back to that, go back to where we were and get back in our box makes it so much easier. Just being prepared for next year, we’re already working on stuff for next year like parts, pieces and everything so that we’re not starting from scratch. The past two years, we’ve kind of started from scratch at the beginning. It’s been good to have an established crew and Ethan and his racecraft getting better. I hope it really starts to show next year, and we can figure out how to get in that top three and just keep improving like we have this year.”
Dotson and the rest of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision will be in action at Modoc Speedway in the Modoc 100 on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24. Tickets will be available at the gate.
Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.
John Henderson, ASD Motorsports Embracing Chance to Go World of Outlaws Racing at Home
MODOC, SC (October 21, 2026) – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision is debuting at Modoc Speedway this weekend, and no one has been looking forward to the occasion for longer than John Henderson.
The 3/8-mile dirt track, located about 30 minutes north of Henderson’s hometown of North Augusta, SC, is where his love of dirt Late Model racing blossomed. That passion led him to get behind the wheel himself before eventually launching a nationally touring race team, ASD Motorsports, and hiring Ethan Dotson to take it on the road with the World of Outlaws.
Either from the grandstands or the driver’s seat, Henderson has seen every iteration of Modoc firsthand since it opened in 1984. The future of dirt racing in the Augusta area came into question when the track closed at the end of the 2021 season, but when local businessman Ronnie Powell purchased the property and commenced a large-scale renovation, Henderson knew something special was in the works.
The process took time, but his visits to Modoc earlier this season for some of their regional Late Model events confirmed to Henderson that the result was worth the wait. Nearly every inch of the facility has been updated in some form, and the track will get its first chance to shine under the national spotlight this weekend.
“It’s a world of difference,” Henderson said. “Ronnie’s worked his butt off and done a bunch of stuff to it. I really think it’ll be really, really good. Just facility-wise, he’s done a lot, racetrack-wise, he’s done a lot. He’s only raced a handful of times [in 2026], so he’s still trying to figure out the track some. Ethan ran a race there earlier this year, I think he started like 16th and almost passed for the lead there with a few laps to go and ended up finishing third.
“It was just super racey, and the old Modoc was just really filthy red dirt, typical south racetrack that usually wasn’t really wide when it started slowing down. Now, with that gray dirt he’s got in there, it’s definitely got some opportunity to race on it. It ought to be a good show, and it’s definitely better facility-wise and racetrack-wise than what it’s ever been.”
This weekend’s Modoc 100 may seem like a new event to those unfamiliar with racing at Modoc, but it has a legacy stretching back decades. The Modoc 100was known as one of the biggest Crate Late Model races in the region for many years, often attracting Super Late Model regulars to come battle Modoc’s rising stars. The event’s revival as part of the World of Outlaws schedule brings back countless memories for those who are part of that history, including Henderson.
“When I raced there early on in my career, it was mostly FASTRAK races, Crate races,” Henderson said. “That was when me and Jonathan [Davenport], Brandon [Overton], we were all starting. I remember racing there with Jonathan and Brandon in what used to be the Modoc 100, the Jack Starrette Memorial. It was a Crate race, but [Chris] Madden, any big name from the south was there and raced there. To see it get a national-touring race, it kind of comes full circle with all that used to happen there and the people that started their racing career around here.”
A lot has changed for Henderson since those early days of the event. His primary role in racing has transitioned from a regional driver to a World of Outlaws team owner, while still making sporadic starts in his No. 2X when his schedule allows. Since Dotson came on board in May 2024, the Bakersfield, CA native has become the face of Henderson’s ASD operation and taken the team to Victory Lane in each of their first two seasons as World of Outlaws regulars. Henderson has had plenty to take pride in over the past two and a half years, but he recognizes that there’s still room to grow.
“We’ve learned a lot together,” Henderson said. “When we first started, we won quite a few races right out the gate and were doing pretty good. When you get on that touring series, people always say they’re ready to run a tour until they go do it, and then reality sets in. We made it and we did OK, I’m not disappointed with what we did, we won a race each year. But there’s a huge learning curve, and we had to learn that together. I tried to be more assertive the first year, and this year, I’ve tried to back off and let him make some of his own decisions. Some of it’s been good, some of it’s been bad, but I’m not saying I would have made a different decision.
“It’s been good for us to learn together, just because we’re a lot alike and we don’t get upset with each other. We can have a hard conversation and still know that our hearts are in the right place, which is hard to do. Being able to have that relationship and seeing him grow as a driver, now I feel like if our car’s decent, then he’s as good as anybody in the field. We’ve just got to work on our stuff and work on our program to get it to be competitive with the 32, the 9 and a couple others. We’ve been through spurts where we showed speed and were consistent and then we fell off. Right here, we fell off in the past few weeks, but we’ve also been trying some new stuff with a new motor package and a new car, just trying to do stuff to get better. When you try new stuff, it can either go good or it can go bad.”
Ahead of the final five race nights of the season, the ASD team finds themselves sixth in the World of Outlaws standings, up four spots from their 10th-place finish a year ago. With two of those nights taking place 28 miles from the race shop, Henderson sees it as a perfect opportunity to wrap up 2026 on a high note in front of their home crowd while looking ahead to further improvement in 2027.
“You may not see it all on the racetrack, but it’s been leaps and bounds,” Henderson said of his team’s progression in their sophomore World of Outlaws campaign. “We’ve finally got an established crew that’s been with us for several months, and I think everybody’s coming back next year. Having an established crew, everybody knows how everybody works. It’s not just Ethan, I mean, Ethan’s gotten better on the racetrack; his racecraft’s gotten better, but our crew being consistent, learning each other and then learning Ethan.
“This week, we’re going back to our standard package that we’ve been running, like when we won the race [at Shelby County Speedway on Aug. 29]. I hope that we can go right back where we were when we had some speed then, getting away from some of that experimental stuff. Just having the same crew so we can go back to that, go back to where we were and get back in our box makes it so much easier. Just being prepared for next year, we’re already working on stuff for next year like parts, pieces and everything so that we’re not starting from scratch. The past two years, we’ve kind of started from scratch at the beginning. It’s been good to have an established crew and Ethan and his racecraft getting better. I hope it really starts to show next year, and we can figure out how to get in that top three and just keep improving like we have this year.”
Dotson and the rest of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision will be in action at Modoc Speedway in the Modoc 100 on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24. Tickets will be available at the gate.
Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.
EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/schedule/event-info/?event=4549509
TRACK INFO: https://www.modocspeedwaysc.com/
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega Advance
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Talladega Superspeedway October 23-25, 2026 |
| MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
| With just three races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Chase, Chevrolet heads to arguably the biggest wildcard stop of the postseason, Talladega Superspeedway, leading two championship battles and looking to gain ground in the third. While it was a rough day in the desert for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, they were able to lean on their points cushion from a strong first-half of The Chase to maintain a five-point advantage over second. For Jesse Love and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team, it was a near-perfect outing that vaulted them to a 36-point advantage over the Chase field, leading Chevrolet’s sweep of the top-seven positions of the standings. Christian Eckes and the No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team are on the heels of their third-straight runner-up finish and another position gained in the Craftsman Truck Series standings, leading the Bowtie brand to Alabama with a third-place ranking. |
| Chevrolet’s Cup Series History at Talladega: Chevrolet has recorded 46 victories in the 114 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, a count that includes Carson Hocevar’s breakthrough victory in the track’s spring event that made the young Team Chevy driver a first-time winner in the sport’s top division. Highlights of the manufacturer’s history at the iconic superspeedway includes a record-setting streak of 13-straight wins (Apr. 1999 – May 2005), as well as Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s 10th win at the track (Oct. 2000), a record that still stands, that also marked his 76th and final victory of his career. The Bowtie brand has carried that success into the Next Gen era, winning five of the nine races at Talladega with five drivers from five different organizations: Ross Chastain (Trackhouse, Apr. 2022), Chase Elliott (Hendrick, Oct. 2022), Kyle Busch (RCR, Apr. 2023), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak, Oct. 2024) and Hocevar (Spire, Apr. 2026). |
 LARSON LOOKS FOR A TALLADEGA TURNAROUNDWhile it was a challenging afternoon that ended early with a tire failure and a 34th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team were able to tap into their points cushion to hold onto a five-point lead as their title-defending pursuit heads into the eighth stop of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase. The California native has shown encouraging gains at Talladega, finishing fourth in the fall of 2024 before recording a career-best runner-up finish in the spring of 2025. While he continues to pursue his first Cup Series victory at the Alabama superspeedway, Larson has averaged 29.4 points per race there in the Next Gen era – the fourth-highest mark in the series behind only Chevrolet teammates Chase Elliott, William Byron and Carson Hocevar – giving him a strong points-scoring foundation as he looks to protect his championship lead. |
 HOCEVAR IN PURSUIT OF TALLADEGA SWEEPCarson Hocevar returns to Talladega Superspeedway as the NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent winner at the track, looking to sweep its 2026 events after earning his first career Cup victory there in April. His breakthrough continued a steady climb for the No. 77 Spire Motorsports team at the Alabama superspeedway, with a pair of sixth-place finishes in both 2025 races preceding his trip to victory lane earlier this spring. Across his six starts in the Next Gen era at the track, he’s averaged 29.8 points per race to rank him third among the series’ active drivers. Hocevar has also delivered three top-five finishes in this season’s five drafting-track races, pairing his Talladega victory with fourth- and third-place finishes at EchoPark Speedway. |
 LOVE BACK ON TOPJesse Love arrives at Talladega Superspeedway with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points lead for the first time this season after a near-perfect performance at Phoenix Raceway propelled the defending champion to a 36-point advantage over Team Chevy veteran driver, Justin Allgaier. Starting from the pole, the driver of the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet swept both stages and led 156 of 200 laps before holding off Sam Mayer by 0.128 seconds for his second victory of the season, collecting 75 points – just one shy of the maximum. Love now returns to the site of his first career O’Reilly series win where he won the opening stage, led 28 laps and survived a double-overtime finish en route to the victory (Apr. 2024.) The California native’s Talladega resume is nothing short of impressive. Through his five career O’Reilly Series starts at the track, he’s earned front-row starting positions, top-10 finishes and double-digit laps led in every race. |
 ECKES’ RUNNER-UP STREAK CONTINUESChristian Eckes is riding into the weekend with a streak of three consecutive runner-up finishes after another strong showing at Phoenix Raceway moved him up one position to third in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings. The No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team started 13th, but quickly became a familiar face in the top-10 throughout the race – finishing sixth and third in the opening two stages before taking the checkered flag just 1.556-seconds behind Kaden Honeycutt. Eckes now looks to turn that momentum into his first Talladega victory, having demonstrated his drafting-track strength with a career-best fifth-place finish and a race-high 25 laps led there in 2022. His two top-10 Talladega finishes have each come in the track’s fall events, also finishing sixth in his most recent Truck Series appearance at the superspeedway in 2024. |
 PINK CORVETTE STINGRAY PACE CAR SET FOR 2026 ON-TRACK DEBUTThis season, Chevrolet celebrates 16 years of supporting the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative with the return of a specially themed pink Corvette Stingray that will serve as the official pace vehicle for two NASCAR Cup Series races this month, including the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Once again helping drive donations for the initiative, every caution lap the pink Corvette Stingray pace car completes in the next two Cup Series races will generate a donation of $500 (up to $25,000). The 2026 campaign expanded Chevrolet’s donation program to five Cup Series races. Chevrolet will also donate $1,500 for each Team Chevy driver who finishes in the top-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway, up to a total of $25,000 across the five-race program. Heading to Talladega, the fourth race of the campaign, the current contribution total is $13,500. |
| BOWTIE BULLETS:· Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the tripleheader weekend at Talladega Superspeedway: o NASCAR Cup Series: Specially themed pink Corvette Stingray in support of the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative o NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Silverado RSTo NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Silverado RST · Sunday’s YellaWood 500 will mark the fourth of five races in Chevrolet’s ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ campaign for the 2026 season.o Chevrolet will donate $1,500 (up to $25,000) for each Team Chevy driver that earns a top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas, Charlotte, Phoenix, Talladega and Martinsville.o In addition, every caution lap the pink Corvette Stingray pace car makes in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega and Martinsville will generate a donation of $500 (up to $25,000). o The current contribution total is $13,500 heading into the Talladega race weekend. · Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway: o Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – two wins (2017 & 2024) o Chase Elliott – two wins (2022 & 2019)o Carson Hocevar – one win (2026)o Ross Chastain – one win (2022) · In 114 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet has recorded 46 victories, five of which have come during the Next Gen era to lead its manufacturer competitors. · Chevrolet holds a winning percentage of 70 percent in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway with 28 wins in 40 races. The manufacturer enters the weekend with 14-straight wins in the division at the Alabama venue, a streak that dates back to the Apr. 2018 event. · Chevrolet has earned wins in 27 of the 30 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, setting the series’ record for the most wins by a single manufacturer during a season in the division. · With Grant Enfinger’s win at Lime Rock Park, Chevrolet sits just two wins away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win. · In 176 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 75 victories – a winning percentage of 42.6%. · Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025. · With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 889 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history. FOR THE FANS: Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Talladega Superspeedway, which will feature a variety of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2027 Traverse Z71, 2027 Equinox RS, 2027 Tahoe Z71, 2027 Grand Sport, 2026 Silverado 1500 Trail Boss, 2026 Silverado 2500 High Country, 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss, 2026 Colorado ZR2 and No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet show car. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, October 23: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, October 24: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:Friday, October 23: Tyler Ankrum: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Christian Eckes & Daniel Hemric: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Andres Perez de Lara: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Grant Enfinger: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Saturday, October 24: Daniel Suarez: 10:20 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. Michael McDowell: 10:35 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Corey Day: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Justin Allgaier: 12:35 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. Carson Kvapil & Rajah Caruth: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Sunday, October 25: Ross Chastain: 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Carson Hocevar: 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Kyle Larson: 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Alex Bowman: 9:40 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. William Byron: 10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.Austin Dillon: 10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. |
| TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesYellaWood 500Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. ETNBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesThe Progress Group 250Saturday, Oct. 24, at 3:30 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesLove’s RV Stop 225Friday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 |
| QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletNASCAR announced they’re cutting 1/2 inch off the spoiler heading for Talladega. Is that going to change the racing much, or is it just kind of wait to see when you get there?“I think that we took a big step at the August Daytona race. It was the first step towards it and now we’ll see what happens this weekend. I don’t know really what to expect and how much more a half inch will do, but I definitely think it’s the right direction. I’m not on the committees, I’m not voting on rules packages, but I’m up for whatever the league, whatever NASCAR wants to do. This package was a good step for us at Daytona and a place we went and qualified on the pole. That was a really cool moment for me and our team. So we’ll see what happens this weekend in Talladega with the change.” With the stage lengths changing, fuel saving is still going to come into play. How much are you focused on that?“I’ll be honest, I leave all of that to my crew. They lay out our plan and I go execute it. We’ve got live telemetry coming off the cars that they can see how much fuel I’m using and coach me throughout each run. I’ll drive to what they say to do to make that run as fast as possible. You’re going to have to save at some point and they’ll tell me when we get a little closer to that time and when it seems to be the best to do that.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat makes Talladega so special? “The history behind it. It’s a big, huge place. There’s no track like it. So, if you love speed and the adrenaline rush of being packed up, then this is the place.” In the closing laps of the race, how do you keep yourself patient as a driver when it comes to making moves for the win? “Patience is key in every form of racing. The guys that are comfortable do a really good job of staying patient and putting themselves in a good position. Everyone at RCR, ECR and CT Spring does such a good job of setting our cars up for superspeedways, so I know our No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet will have what I need to get it done.” Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletIn the spring you finished 12th, and your past three races at Talladega all resulted in top 15s. What are your thoughts going to Talladega?“I feel good heading back to Talladega. We finished 12th in the spring race and that gives us a lot of confidence going into this weekend. Superspeedway racing can be unpredictable, so we just need to stay patient. Hopefully, we can put ourselves in a good position and bring home an even better finish this time.” Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Talladega Superspeedway?“Talladega has been a track that I have been quite successful at in my career. I’ve had a really good average finish at Talladega over the years and come close a few times but just haven’t been able to cross the finish line first yet. You’re kind of holding on at times, waiting to see what happens. Everybody is pushing, and you’re hoping you can get through the mess.It’s an odd feeling knowing you’re putting yourself out there and something is about to happen. It’s an issue of timing. You’re hoping you just get through it. I’ve been fortunate to sneak through some of them, or be in front of some of them. You usually know when the intensity is rising and the pack is starting to get a little bit out of control. You try to do your best to give yourself an out or be in front of it.” AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletYou’ll have Morris-Shea Bridge Company on your car at Talladega. How important would it be to deliver a strong finish for them at their home track?“It’s very important to us to deliver a strong finish for Morris-Shea Bridge Company at their home track. We always want to perform well for all of our partners and the men and women at Kaulig Racing. Between Ty (Dillon) and I, we’ve had some fast superspeedway cars, and at a place like Talladega, it’s all about making the right decisions and putting yourself in the best position possible to bring home a strong finish. We’ve got a win there in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. It would be cool to snatch a Cup win at Talladega.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Talladega is always an exciting race because you never know what can happen, and we’re looking forward to getting back there this weekend. It’s great to have NOS Energy Drink back on the No. 47 Chevrolet, along with First Bank of Alabama joining us as an associate sponsor. We’ve had some strong runs at superspeedways, and Talladega is a place where we know we can be competitive. The biggest thing is staying out of trouble, making smart decisions throughout the race and putting ourselves in a position to fight for the win at the end. Hopefully we can put together a strong day for everyone at Hyak Motorsports and our partners.” Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“I liked the updated rules package we had at Daytona, and I’m good with NASCAR taking it a step further at Talladega. It definitely made it more of a driver’s car. You can’t just take any racecar and run it to the front. You’ve got to have good handling and good balance, so you’re going to be working on your car. Talladega’s a little bit different than Daytona. The corners aren’t as narrow. You have a lot more track width, so you can trim your car out and run a more aggressive baseline setup to have more raw pace in a straight line.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow does fuel conservation continue to shape superspeedway racing?“You’re still going to save fuel at some point. Fuel saving is just part of superspeedway racing. The changes in stage length will make the end of the race more exciting and we’ll still want to bring home as many stage points as possible. Making the last stage shorter has made things more ‘hammer-down’ in the end. Heading into Stage 3, you’re still going to want the shortest stop you can get. The last few superspeedway races we have really hit the strategy with fuel saving in the last stage. That’s just going to be a part of what we do. Regardless, I feel really good about our chances going into this weekend. We have had a ton of speed at Talladega in the past, sat on the pole a few times, led a lot of laps, and had some shots to win the race, but ended up wrecked or just short of the checkers. I am eager to get back to Talladega. I feel like we didn’t get the shot we deserved in the spring so hopefully, we can have a Spire Motorsports sweep at Talladega this time.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts as you return to Talladega for the first time since your victory?“Obviously, I’m looking forward to it. I already enjoyed going to Talladega, but coming back after winning will be a really fun experience. That was a big moment for Spire Motorsports, so I know there are a lot of people excited for us to head back there. Dale, Jr., was my favorite driver as a kid, and he swept the races in 2002. It would be really cool if I could join him on that list.” What is your opinion on superspeedway racing, in general?“I love superspeedway racing. From my seat, it’s the most fun we have in the sport. I enjoy the fact you don’t have to worry about car speed. You either get awarded for making a good decision, or you make a bad decision and you go backwards. You aren’t dictated off handling or downforce numbers. It is really methodical racing.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletThis is your first season running the full Cup Series schedule. Where are you now at this time of the year physically? What kind of a physical toll does that schedule take on you? “Thankfully I’m pretty young so the physical toll hasn’t been as much of a burden as the mental toll. At some point you do start to feel it physically when you are racing every single weekend for pretty much 38 weeks straight. Sometimes you just want to sleep and stay at home all day but it’s pretty rare you get the opportunity to do that. I’ve grown up a lot as a person this year and learned a lot about myself mentally and physically.” How long does it take you to recover from a race? How long does it take your body to rebound from that and get ready for the next race?“I think by Tuesday things are pretty much back to normal. Mondays are a little tough because I’m trying to catch up on hydration and all the things that you lose throughout the race. Once I get caught up on sleep Monday night that pretty much brings me back to normal.” |
| Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturer Championships:Total (1949-2025): 44First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2025 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Driver Championships:Total (1949-2025): 34First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29 Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007) 2026 STATISTICS: Wins: 8Poles: 6Laps Led: 2,479Top-Fives: 53Top-10s: 112Stage Wins: 22 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 889 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 772Laps led to date: 259,213Top-fives to date: 4,489Top-10s to date: 9,263 Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date: General Motors: 1,223 Chevrolet: 889 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 855 Ford: 755 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 221 |
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCETalladega SuperspeedwayOctober 23-25, 2026 |
| MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
| With just three races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Chase, Chevrolet heads to arguably the biggest wildcard stop of the postseason, Talladega Superspeedway, leading two championship battles and looking to gain ground in the third. While it was a rough day in the desert for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, they were able to lean on their points cushion from a strong first-half of The Chase to maintain a five-point advantage over second. For Jesse Love and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team, it was a near-perfect outing that vaulted them to a 36-point advantage over the Chase field, leading Chevrolet’s sweep of the top-seven positions of the standings. Christian Eckes and the No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team are on the heels of their third-straight runner-up finish and another position gained in the Craftsman Truck Series standings, leading the Bowtie brand to Alabama with a third-place ranking. |
| Chevrolet’s Cup Series History at Talladega: Chevrolet has recorded 46 victories in the 114 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, a count that includes Carson Hocevar’s breakthrough victory in the track’s spring event that made the young Team Chevy driver a first-time winner in the sport’s top division. Highlights of the manufacturer’s history at the iconic superspeedway includes a record-setting streak of 13-straight wins (Apr. 1999 – May 2005), as well as Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s 10th win at the track (Oct. 2000), a record that still stands, that also marked his 76th and final victory of his career. The Bowtie brand has carried that success into the Next Gen era, winning five of the nine races at Talladega with five drivers from five different organizations: Ross Chastain (Trackhouse, Apr. 2022), Chase Elliott (Hendrick, Oct. 2022), Kyle Busch (RCR, Apr. 2023), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak, Oct. 2024) and Hocevar (Spire, Apr. 2026). |
| LARSON LOOKS FOR A TALLADEGA TURNAROUNDWhile it was a challenging afternoon that ended early with a tire failure and a 34th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team were able to tap into their points cushion to hold onto a five-point lead as their title-defending pursuit heads into the eighth stop of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase. The California native has shown encouraging gains at Talladega, finishing fourth in the fall of 2024 before recording a career-best runner-up finish in the spring of 2025. While he continues to pursue his first Cup Series victory at the Alabama superspeedway, Larson has averaged 29.4 points per race there in the Next Gen era – the fourth-highest mark in the series behind only Chevrolet teammates Chase Elliott, William Byron and Carson Hocevar – giving him a strong points-scoring foundation as he looks to protect his championship lead. |
| HOCEVAR IN PURSUIT OF TALLADEGA SWEEPCarson Hocevar returns to Talladega Superspeedway as the NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent winner at the track, looking to sweep its 2026 events after earning his first career Cup victory there in April. His breakthrough continued a steady climb for the No. 77 Spire Motorsports team at the Alabama superspeedway, with a pair of sixth-place finishes in both 2025 races preceding his trip to victory lane earlier this spring. Across his six starts in the Next Gen era at the track, he’s averaged 29.8 points per race to rank him third among the series’ active drivers. Hocevar has also delivered three top-five finishes in this season’s five drafting-track races, pairing his Talladega victory with fourth- and third-place finishes at EchoPark Speedway. |
| LOVE BACK ON TOPJesse Love arrives at Talladega Superspeedway with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points lead for the first time this season after a near-perfect performance at Phoenix Raceway propelled the defending champion to a 36-point advantage over Team Chevy veteran driver, Justin Allgaier. Starting from the pole, the driver of the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet swept both stages and led 156 of 200 laps before holding off Sam Mayer by 0.128 seconds for his second victory of the season, collecting 75 points – just one shy of the maximum. Love now returns to the site of his first career O’Reilly series win where he won the opening stage, led 28 laps and survived a double-overtime finish en route to the victory (Apr. 2024.) The California native’s Talladega resume is nothing short of impressive. Through his five career O’Reilly Series starts at the track, he’s earned front-row starting positions, top-10 finishes and double-digit laps led in every race. |
| ECKES’ RUNNER-UP STREAK CONTINUESChristian Eckes is riding into the weekend with a streak of three consecutive runner-up finishes after another strong showing at Phoenix Raceway moved him up one position to third in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings. The No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team started 13th, but quickly became a familiar face in the top-10 throughout the race – finishing sixth and third in the opening two stages before taking the checkered flag just 1.556-seconds behind Kaden Honeycutt. Eckes now looks to turn that momentum into his first Talladega victory, having demonstrated his drafting-track strength with a career-best fifth-place finish and a race-high 25 laps led there in 2022. His two top-10 Talladega finishes have each come in the track’s fall events, also finishing sixth in his most recent Truck Series appearance at the superspeedway in 2024. |
| PINK CORVETTE STINGRAY PACE CAR SET FOR 2026 ON-TRACK DEBUTThis season, Chevrolet celebrates 16 years of supporting the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative with the return of a specially themed pink Corvette Stingray that will serve as the official pace vehicle for two NASCAR Cup Series races this month, including the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Once again helping drive donations for the initiative, every caution lap the pink Corvette Stingray pace car completes in the next two Cup Series races will generate a donation of $500 (up to $25,000). The 2026 campaign expanded Chevrolet’s donation program to five Cup Series races. Chevrolet will also donate $1,500 for each Team Chevy driver who finishes in the top-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway, up to a total of $25,000 across the five-race program. Heading to Talladega, the fourth race of the campaign, the current contribution total is $13,500. |
| BOWTIE BULLETS:· Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the tripleheader weekend at Talladega Superspeedway: o NASCAR Cup Series: Specially themed pink Corvette Stingray in support of the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative o NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Silverado RSTo NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Silverado RST · Sunday’s YellaWood 500 will mark the fourth of five races in Chevrolet’s ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ campaign for the 2026 season.o Chevrolet will donate $1,500 (up to $25,000) for each Team Chevy driver that earns a top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas, Charlotte, Phoenix, Talladega and Martinsville.o In addition, every caution lap the pink Corvette Stingray pace car makes in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega and Martinsville will generate a donation of $500 (up to $25,000). o The current contribution total is $13,500 heading into the Talladega race weekend. · Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway: o Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – two wins (2017 & 2024) o Chase Elliott – two wins (2022 & 2019)o Carson Hocevar – one win (2026)o Ross Chastain – one win (2022) · In 114 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet has recorded 46 victories, five of which have come during the Next Gen era to lead its manufacturer competitors. · Chevrolet holds a winning percentage of 70 percent in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway with 28 wins in 40 races. The manufacturer enters the weekend with 14-straight wins in the division at the Alabama venue, a streak that dates back to the Apr. 2018 event. · Chevrolet has earned wins in 27 of the 30 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, setting the series’ record for the most wins by a single manufacturer during a season in the division. · With Grant Enfinger’s win at Lime Rock Park, Chevrolet sits just two wins away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win. · In 176 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 75 victories – a winning percentage of 42.6%. · Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025. · With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 889 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history. FOR THE FANS: Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Talladega Superspeedway, which will feature a variety of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2027 Traverse Z71, 2027 Equinox RS, 2027 Tahoe Z71, 2027 Grand Sport, 2026 Silverado 1500 Trail Boss, 2026 Silverado 2500 High Country, 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss, 2026 Colorado ZR2 and No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet show car. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, October 23: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, October 24: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:Friday, October 23: Tyler Ankrum: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Christian Eckes & Daniel Hemric: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Andres Perez de Lara: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Grant Enfinger: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Saturday, October 24: Daniel Suarez: 10:20 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. Michael McDowell: 10:35 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Corey Day: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Justin Allgaier: 12:35 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. Carson Kvapil & Rajah Caruth: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Sunday, October 25: Ross Chastain: 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Carson Hocevar: 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Kyle Larson: 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Alex Bowman: 9:40 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. William Byron: 10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.Austin Dillon: 10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. |
| TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesYellaWood 500Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. ETNBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesThe Progress Group 250Saturday, Oct. 24, at 3:30 p.m. ETCW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesLove’s RV Stop 225Friday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 |
| QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletNASCAR announced they’re cutting 1/2 inch off the spoiler heading for Talladega. Is that going to change the racing much, or is it just kind of wait to see when you get there?“I think that we took a big step at the August Daytona race. It was the first step towards it and now we’ll see what happens this weekend. I don’t know really what to expect and how much more a half inch will do, but I definitely think it’s the right direction. I’m not on the committees, I’m not voting on rules packages, but I’m up for whatever the league, whatever NASCAR wants to do. This package was a good step for us at Daytona and a place we went and qualified on the pole. That was a really cool moment for me and our team. So we’ll see what happens this weekend in Talladega with the change.” With the stage lengths changing, fuel saving is still going to come into play. How much are you focused on that?“I’ll be honest, I leave all of that to my crew. They lay out our plan and I go execute it. We’ve got live telemetry coming off the cars that they can see how much fuel I’m using and coach me throughout each run. I’ll drive to what they say to do to make that run as fast as possible. You’re going to have to save at some point and they’ll tell me when we get a little closer to that time and when it seems to be the best to do that.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat makes Talladega so special? “The history behind it. It’s a big, huge place. There’s no track like it. So, if you love speed and the adrenaline rush of being packed up, then this is the place.” In the closing laps of the race, how do you keep yourself patient as a driver when it comes to making moves for the win? “Patience is key in every form of racing. The guys that are comfortable do a really good job of staying patient and putting themselves in a good position. Everyone at RCR, ECR and CT Spring does such a good job of setting our cars up for superspeedways, so I know our No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet will have what I need to get it done.” Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletIn the spring you finished 12th, and your past three races at Talladega all resulted in top 15s. What are your thoughts going to Talladega?“I feel good heading back to Talladega. We finished 12th in the spring race and that gives us a lot of confidence going into this weekend. Superspeedway racing can be unpredictable, so we just need to stay patient. Hopefully, we can put ourselves in a good position and bring home an even better finish this time.” Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Talladega Superspeedway?“Talladega has been a track that I have been quite successful at in my career. I’ve had a really good average finish at Talladega over the years and come close a few times but just haven’t been able to cross the finish line first yet. You’re kind of holding on at times, waiting to see what happens. Everybody is pushing, and you’re hoping you can get through the mess.It’s an odd feeling knowing you’re putting yourself out there and something is about to happen. It’s an issue of timing. You’re hoping you just get through it. I’ve been fortunate to sneak through some of them, or be in front of some of them. You usually know when the intensity is rising and the pack is starting to get a little bit out of control. You try to do your best to give yourself an out or be in front of it.” AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletYou’ll have Morris-Shea Bridge Company on your car at Talladega. How important would it be to deliver a strong finish for them at their home track?“It’s very important to us to deliver a strong finish for Morris-Shea Bridge Company at their home track. We always want to perform well for all of our partners and the men and women at Kaulig Racing. Between Ty (Dillon) and I, we’ve had some fast superspeedway cars, and at a place like Talladega, it’s all about making the right decisions and putting yourself in the best position possible to bring home a strong finish. We’ve got a win there in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. It would be cool to snatch a Cup win at Talladega.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Talladega is always an exciting race because you never know what can happen, and we’re looking forward to getting back there this weekend. It’s great to have NOS Energy Drink back on the No. 47 Chevrolet, along with First Bank of Alabama joining us as an associate sponsor. We’ve had some strong runs at superspeedways, and Talladega is a place where we know we can be competitive. The biggest thing is staying out of trouble, making smart decisions throughout the race and putting ourselves in a position to fight for the win at the end. Hopefully we can put together a strong day for everyone at Hyak Motorsports and our partners.” Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“I liked the updated rules package we had at Daytona, and I’m good with NASCAR taking it a step further at Talladega. It definitely made it more of a driver’s car. You can’t just take any racecar and run it to the front. You’ve got to have good handling and good balance, so you’re going to be working on your car. Talladega’s a little bit different than Daytona. The corners aren’t as narrow. You have a lot more track width, so you can trim your car out and run a more aggressive baseline setup to have more raw pace in a straight line.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow does fuel conservation continue to shape superspeedway racing?“You’re still going to save fuel at some point. Fuel saving is just part of superspeedway racing. The changes in stage length will make the end of the race more exciting and we’ll still want to bring home as many stage points as possible. Making the last stage shorter has made things more ‘hammer-down’ in the end. Heading into Stage 3, you’re still going to want the shortest stop you can get. The last few superspeedway races we have really hit the strategy with fuel saving in the last stage. That’s just going to be a part of what we do. Regardless, I feel really good about our chances going into this weekend. We have had a ton of speed at Talladega in the past, sat on the pole a few times, led a lot of laps, and had some shots to win the race, but ended up wrecked or just short of the checkers. I am eager to get back to Talladega. I feel like we didn’t get the shot we deserved in the spring so hopefully, we can have a Spire Motorsports sweep at Talladega this time.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts as you return to Talladega for the first time since your victory?“Obviously, I’m looking forward to it. I already enjoyed going to Talladega, but coming back after winning will be a really fun experience. That was a big moment for Spire Motorsports, so I know there are a lot of people excited for us to head back there. Dale, Jr., was my favorite driver as a kid, and he swept the races in 2002. It would be really cool if I could join him on that list.” What is your opinion on superspeedway racing, in general?“I love superspeedway racing. From my seat, it’s the most fun we have in the sport. I enjoy the fact you don’t have to worry about car speed. You either get awarded for making a good decision, or you make a bad decision and you go backwards. You aren’t dictated off handling or downforce numbers. It is really methodical racing.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletThis is your first season running the full Cup Series schedule. Where are you now at this time of the year physically? What kind of a physical toll does that schedule take on you? “Thankfully I’m pretty young so the physical toll hasn’t been as much of a burden as the mental toll. At some point you do start to feel it physically when you are racing every single weekend for pretty much 38 weeks straight. Sometimes you just want to sleep and stay at home all day but it’s pretty rare you get the opportunity to do that. I’ve grown up a lot as a person this year and learned a lot about myself mentally and physically.” How long does it take you to recover from a race? How long does it take your body to rebound from that and get ready for the next race?“I think by Tuesday things are pretty much back to normal. Mondays are a little tough because I’m trying to catch up on hydration and all the things that you lose throughout the race. Once I get caught up on sleep Monday night that pretty much brings me back to normal.” |
| Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturer Championships:Total (1949-2025): 44First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2025 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Driver Championships:Total (1949-2025): 34First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29 Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007) 2026 STATISTICS: Wins: 8Poles: 6Laps Led: 2,479Top-Fives: 53Top-10s: 112Stage Wins: 22 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 889 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 772Laps led to date: 259,213Top-fives to date: 4,489Top-10s to date: 9,263 Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date: General Motors: 1,223 Chevrolet: 889 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 855 Ford: 755 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 221 |
TOP FIVE STORYLINES: Two Big Events Set the Stage for World of Outlaws Texarkana Debut
TEXARKANA, AR (October 20, 2026) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is set to debut in a big way at Texarkana 67 Speedway.
Two huge events are packed into one weekend (Oct. 23-24) as The Greatest Show on Dirt is ready to debut at the dirt track built on the Arkansas side of the city that bridges Texas and Arkansas.
The weekend launches the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends. The World of Outlaws continue to honor one of the best men to ever grace the sport by hosting the $20,000-to-win race, and this year will be Texarkana’s first time hosting it.
Then a new chapter begins for a historic event as the weekend closes out with the Short Track Nationals becoming a World of Outlaws event for the first time. The race was a staple of Little Rock, AR’s I-30 Speedway for several years before the track shuttered at the end of 2022. Now, The Greatest Show on Dirt and Texarkana are rebuilding momentum with the 39th running, showcasing the top Sprint Car talent and dishing out $25,000 to the winner.
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Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:
MIKE’S MAKING HISTORY
The Roth Motorsports organization has been around for more than three decades, but Michael “Buddy” Kofoid may be about to secure the best season the team has ever had.
It’s already been an unforgettable 2026 for the pairing as they tackle their third full campaign on tour together. They’ve collected 16 victories and are fresh off their latest thanks to Kofoid topping the Series debut at Belle-Clair. That number is tied for the most Dennis and Teresa Roth’s team has reached in a single season, matching Danny Lasoski’s mark set back in 1999. Five more opportunities are ahead for Kofoid to break the record. The team has also guaranteed at least a tie for the most World of Outlaws wins in 2026. If David Gravel or Sheldon Haudenschild don’t win the final five races, Kofoid and the Roth crew will own sole possession of that honor. Roth Motorsports has never led the “W” category, and Kofoid looks poised to give them that honor for the first time.
Kofoid will make his Texarkana debut this weekend, but new tracks haven’t slowed him this season. Four of his 16 scores this year have been at facilities where he was making his first appearance.
RACIN’ FOR THE RAGIN’ CAJUN
The Jason Johnson Classic is always circled on Jason Johnson Racing’s calendar.
It’s the race that honors their founder and a man beloved across the pit area during his time in the sport. Hard work, integrity, and kindness helped the “Ragin’ Cajun” construct a top-tier Sprint Car organization. Today, Johnson’s cousin Philip Dietz carries on that legacy by leading the No. 41 team as they remain one of the best operations in the sport.
Carson Macedo badly wants to bag a Jason Johnson Classic for his crew as his sixth season with JJR nears its conclusion. He came so close in 2023 when he started on the pole and finished runner-up at 81 Speedway. His last effort in the event was a 2024 top-five finish at Arrowhead Speedway. Jason Johnson Racing has claimed the event once before, coming out on top of the inaugural running in 2019 with David Gravel behind the wheel during a storybook night.
WAYNE’S WORLD
Cole Macedo will have a larger notebook than most teams, helping him this weekend thanks to TwoC Racing Crew Chief Wayne Johnson.
The American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) days for Johnson sent him to Texarkana sporadically throughout his long career behind the wheel. He competed there as far back as 1998 and as recently as 2022. The Oklahoma City, OK native tallied a trio of ASCS National Tour podiums there before shifting his role to wrenching on the TwoC Racing No. 2C and jumping back on the World of Outlaws tour in 2025 with Macedo.
The combination of Macedo and TwoC is winding down a sophomore season together that the numbers say has been an improvement. The Lemoore, CA driver’s top 10 total (26) is already six more than last year, and his 2026 average finish is roughly one position better than 2025. He’ll head to Texarkana not entirely unfamiliar with the oval. He and TwoC competed in last year’s Short Track Nationals during a World of Outlaws off-weekend, picking up a pair of 11th-place finishes.
A NEW CHAPTER
The World of Outlaws is ready to help breathe some life into one of the southern Sprint Car scene’s most coveted events.
Some of the sport’s top talent flocked to I-30 Speedway for decades with the goal of winning the Short Track Nationals. The event took a hit when I-30 closed, but Texarkana is putting forth a mighty effort to restore the glory by bringing the best of the best to town.
The list of winners includes names like Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Brad Sweet, Christopher Bell, Jason Meyers, and more. Some of the greatest to ever get behind the wheel made the trip to Arkansas to take on the famed race. Now modern-day superstars like David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Buddy Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart, and more are ready for their shot to put their name on the legendary list of champions.
#ALLDIRTROADS
The end of the journey is within sight for the world’s best Sprint Car drivers.
Texarkana serves as the final stop before All Dirt Roads lead the tour to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Nov. 4-7 for the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals. Time is running out to make a move in the points or end the season on a high note and create momentum to build on heading into 2027.
David Gravel is marching toward a third consecutive championship and will join Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Brad Sweet as only the fourth driver to ever reach the feat should he hold on. He holds a 128-point advantage over Buddy Kofoid.
Looking at some battles a little further down the field, Garet Williamson’s sophomore surge has him sitting sixth in the standings, but Donny Schatz is within striking distance, just 22 points back. It’s a four-car brawl for ninth with only 106 points separating spots nine through 12. Emerson Axsom leads that bunch with Spencer Bayston 12 markers behind him and Bill Balog and Chris Windom in pursuit.
For the full standings, CLICK HERE.
THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
WHEN AND WHERE
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 23-24 at Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, AR
AROUND THE TURN
Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 4-7 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC (TICKETS)
CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (73/79 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (9446 PTS)
2. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-128 PTS)
3. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-218 PTS)
4. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-308 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-476 PTS)
6. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-688 PTS)
7. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-710 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-1052 PTS)
9. Emerson Axsom – Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27 (-1114 PTS)
10. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-1126 PTS)
NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (23 Drivers):
16 Wins – Michael Kofoid
11 Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Wins – Carson Macedo
3 Wins – Anthony Macri, Logan Schuchart,
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Corey Day, Chase Dietz
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Chris Windom, Kyle Larson, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom, James McFadden, Justin Sanders
FEATURE LAPS LED (35 Drivers):
481 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
366 Laps Led – David Gravel
177 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
151 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
147 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
136 Laps Led – Garet Williamson
77 Laps Led – Bill Balog
69 Laps Led – Corey Day
66 Laps Led – Emerson Axsom
64 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
62 Laps Led – Chase Dietz
59 Laps Led – Kyle Larson
56 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
40 Laps Led – Aaron Reutzel, Chris Windom
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney
33 Laps Led – Brady Bacon, Rico Abreu
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms, Justin Sanders
26 Laps Led – Steven Snyder Jr.
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne
21 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek
17 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston, Nate Dussel
16 Laps Led – Bryce Lucius
15 Laps Led – Christopher Thram
12 Laps Led – Cole Macedo
11 Laps Led – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Laps Led – Justin Whittall
7 Laps Led – Brian Brown
6 Laps Led – Brock Zearfoss, James McFadden
3 Laps Led – Brent MarksPODIUM FINISHES (40 Drivers):
33 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
31 Podiums – David Gravel
27 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Podiums – Carson Macedo
11 Podiums – Logan Schuchart, Garet Williamson
8 Podiums – Donny Schatz
5 Podiums – Anthony Macri
4 Podiums – Ryan Timms, Rico Abreu, Bill Balog, Emerson Axsom, Corey Day
3 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, Aaron Reutzel, Chris Windom, Chase Dietz
2 Podiums – Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Giovanni Scelzi, Kasey Kahne, James McFadden, Justin Peck
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Scott Bogucki, Brad Sweet, Justin Whittall, Troy Wagaman Jr., Kasey Jedrzejek, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Kelby Watt, Kyle Larson, Steven Snyder Jr., Justin Sanders, Parker Price-Miller, Karter Sarff
SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (25 Drivers):
23 Quick Times – David Gravel
7 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
6 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Quick Times – Bill Balog
3 Quick Times – Logan Schuchart, Brady Bacon
2 Quick Times – Kasey Jedrzejek, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Carson Macedo
1 Quick Time – Ashton Torgerson, Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Justin Henderson, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Kasey Kahne, Tanner Thorson, Emerson Axsom, Cole Macedo, Colton Robinson
HEAT RACE WINNERS (67 Drivers):
38 Heat Wins – David Gravel
26 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, Bill Balog
17 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
14 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
13 Heat Wins – Garet Williamson
12 Heat Wins – Emerson Axsom
7 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston, Donny Schatz
6 Heat Wins – Cole Macedo
5 Heat Wins – Christopher Thram
4 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Brent Marks, Ryan Timms
3 Heat Wins – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi, Anthony Macri, Kerry Madsen, Chris Windom, Steven Snyder Jr., Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Daryn Pittman
2 Heat Wins – Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl, Jacob Hughes, Tyler Courtney, Justin Whittall, Kelby Watt, Brock Zearfoss, Rees Moran, Bryce Lucius, James McFadden, Max Mittry, Justin Sanders
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Will Armitage, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Chad Trout, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Sam Henderson, Dayne Kingshott, Daison Pursley, Terry McCarl, Kyle Larson, Brady Bacon, Brent Shearer, Logan Rumsey, Danny Sams III, Riley Goodno, Chris Martin, Ayrton Gennetten, Carson McCarl, Kaleb Johnson, Skylar Gee, Cameron Smith, Lance Dewease, Parker Price-Miller, Karter Sarff, Zach Daum
TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (80 Drivers):
51 Dashes – David Gravel
44 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
40 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
31 Dashes – Carson Macedo
28 Dashes – Bill Balog
27 Dashes – Garet Williamson
20 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
19 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
15 Dashes – Donny Schatz
13 Dashes – Cole Macedo, Spencer Bayston
9 Dashes – Chris Windom
8 Dashes – Ryan Timms
7 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Chase Dietz
6 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel
5 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Brent Marks, Anthony Macri
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Logan Rumsey, Kelby Watt, Christopher Thram, Skylar Gee, Steven Snyder Jr., Corey Day, Daryn Pittman
3 Dashes – Kerry Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Justin Henderson, Bryce Lucius, Justin Whittall, Justin Peck
2 Dashes – Scotty Thiel, Kasey Kahne, Troy Wagaman Jr., Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Austin McCarl, Joe B. Miller, Brenham Crouch, Conner Morrell, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson, Cory Eliason, Gage Pulkrabek, Max Mittry, James McFadden, Justin Sanders, Lance Dewease, Cameron Smith, Parker Price-Miller
1 Dash – Brock Zearfoss, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich, Logan Rumsey, Kody Hartlaub, Freddie Rahmer, Chad Trout, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Tanner Thorson, D.J. Christie, Ricky Peterson, Brent Shearer, Dylan Norris, Sam Henderson, Sean Rayhall, Jett Yantis, Kaleb Montgomery, Dominic Gorden, Greg Wilson, Nate Dussel, Karter Sarff, Zach Daum
MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (39 Drivers):
5 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
4 LCS Wins – Garet Williamson, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Chris Windom
3 LCS Wins – Spencer Bayston, Logan Schuchart
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi, Skylar Gee, Tyler Courtney, Bryce Norris
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Doug Hammaker, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Justin Henderson, Joel Myers Jr., Daison Pursley, Zane DeVault, Logan Julien, Jordan Poirier, Matt Farnham, Jordan Thomas, Dylan Norris, Justin Whittall, Brent Shearer, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Lynton Jeffrey, Kelby Watt, Jacob Peterson, Sam Henderson, Bryce Lucius, Tim Kaeding, Brady Bacon, Nate Dussel
KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (27 Drivers):
9 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
8 Hard Chargers – Michael Kofoid
7 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
4 Hard Chargers – Spencer Bayston, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Hard Chargers – Chris Windom, Cole Macedo
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Ryan Timms, Shane Golobic, Danny Dietrich
1 Hard Charger – Giovanni Scelzi, Brady Bacon, Tyler Ross, Cameron Smith, David Gravel, Emerson Axsom, Logan Julien, Tyler Courtney, Kasey Jedrzejek, James McFadden, Corey Day, J.J. Hickle, Tanner Holmes, Ricky Peterson
ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (31 Drivers):
12 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
7 Fastest Laps – David Gravel
6 Fastest Laps – Logan Schuchart
5 Fastest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
4 Fastest Laps – Carson Macedo
3 Fastest Laps – Garet Williamson
2 Fastest Laps – Brady Bacon, Aaron Reutzel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Anthony Macri, Kyle Larson, Steven Snyder Jr., Donny Schatz
1 Fastest Lap – Brock Zearfoss, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Kasey Kahne, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Christopher Thram, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Jace Park, Emerson Axsom, Justin Sanders, Justin Whittall, Nate Dussel
RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (24 Drivers):
20 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
9 Hottest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
5 Hottest Laps – Carson Macedo, Garet Williamson
3 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
2 Hottest Laps – Ashton Torgerson, Daryn Pittman, Bill Balog, Emerson Axsom
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms, Giovanni Scelzi, Bryce Lucius, Nate Dussel, Logan Rumsey, Chris Windom, Spencer Bayston, Steven Snyder Jr., Camerson Smith, Skylar Gee
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 / Michael Kofoid (5)
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kasey Kahne (1)
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (5)
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (1)
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Carson Macedo (2)
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Mon, May 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (6)
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (3)
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI / Carson Macedo (4)
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (1)
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (7)
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (8)
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / David Gravel (7)
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
Thurs, July 9 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Michael Kofoid (9)
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Bryce Lucius (1)
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Corey Day (1)
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Anthony Macri (3)
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada / David Gravel (8)
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (9)
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / Chase Dietz (1)
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (10)
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (10)
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Chris Windom (1)
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Logan Schuchart (2)
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Sheldon Haudenschild
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Kyle Larson
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Donny Schatz
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (1)
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Garet Williamson (1)
Sat, Aug 29 / Fix It Forward Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
Mon, Aug 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND / Michael Kofoid (11)
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (9)
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (12)
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Emerson Axsom (1)
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Michael Kofoid (13)
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO / Michael Kofoid (14)
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / James McFadden (1)
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / Justin Sanders (1)
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (6)
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA / Donny Schatz (2)
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA / Corey Day (2)
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (11)
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Chase Dietz (2)
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH / Michael Kofoid (15)
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (10)
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (11)
Sat, Oct 17 / Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway / Belleville, IL / Michael Kofoid (16)
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: Two Big Events Set the Stage for World of Outlaws Texarkana Debut
TEXARKANA, AR (October 20, 2026) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is set to debut in a big way at Texarkana 67 Speedway.
Two huge events are packed into one weekend (Oct. 23-24) as The Greatest Show on Dirt is ready to debut at the dirt track built on the Arkansas side of the city that bridges Texas and Arkansas.
The weekend launches the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends. The World of Outlaws continue to honor one of the best men to ever grace the sport by hosting the $20,000-to-win race, and this year will be Texarkana’s first time hosting it.
Then a new chapter begins for a historic event as the weekend closes out with the Short Track Nationals becoming a World of Outlaws event for the first time. The race was a staple of Little Rock, AR’s I-30 Speedway for several years before the track shuttered at the end of 2022. Now, The Greatest Show on Dirt and Texarkana are rebuilding momentum with the 39th running, showcasing the top Sprint Car talent and dishing out $25,000 to the winner.
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WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision
Let’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:
MIKE’S MAKING HISTORY
The Roth Motorsports organization has been around for more than three decades, but Michael “Buddy” Kofoid may be about to secure the best season the team has ever had.
It’s already been an unforgettable 2026 for the pairing as they tackle their third full campaign on tour together. They’ve collected 16 victories and are fresh off their latest thanks to Kofoid topping the Series debut at Belle-Clair. That number is tied for the most Dennis and Teresa Roth’s team has reached in a single season, matching Danny Lasoski’s mark set back in 1999. Five more opportunities are ahead for Kofoid to break the record. The team has also guaranteed at least a tie for the most World of Outlaws wins in 2026. If David Gravel or Sheldon Haudenschild don’t win the final five races, Kofoid and the Roth crew will own sole possession of that honor. Roth Motorsports has never led the “W” category, and Kofoid looks poised to give them that honor for the first time.
Kofoid will make his Texarkana debut this weekend, but new tracks haven’t slowed him this season. Four of his 16 scores this year have been at facilities where he was making his first appearance.
RACIN’ FOR THE RAGIN’ CAJUN
The Jason Johnson Classic is always circled on Jason Johnson Racing’s calendar.
It’s the race that honors their founder and a man beloved across the pit area during his time in the sport. Hard work, integrity, and kindness helped the “Ragin’ Cajun” construct a top-tier Sprint Car organization. Today, Johnson’s cousin Philip Dietz carries on that legacy by leading the No. 41 team as they remain one of the best operations in the sport.
Carson Macedo badly wants to bag a Jason Johnson Classic for his crew as his sixth season with JJR nears its conclusion. He came so close in 2023 when he started on the pole and finished runner-up at 81 Speedway. His last effort in the event was a 2024 top-five finish at Arrowhead Speedway. Jason Johnson Racing has claimed the event once before, coming out on top of the inaugural running in 2019 with David Gravel behind the wheel during a storybook night.
WAYNE’S WORLD
Cole Macedo will have a larger notebook than most teams, helping him this weekend thanks to TwoC Racing Crew Chief Wayne Johnson.
The American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) days for Johnson sent him to Texarkana sporadically throughout his long career behind the wheel. He competed there as far back as 1998 and as recently as 2022. The Oklahoma City, OK native tallied a trio of ASCS National Tour podiums there before shifting his role to wrenching on the TwoC Racing No. 2C and jumping back on the World of Outlaws tour in 2025 with Macedo.
The combination of Macedo and TwoC is winding down a sophomore season together that the numbers say has been an improvement. The Lemoore, CA driver’s top 10 total (26) is already six more than last year, and his 2026 average finish is roughly one position better than 2025. He’ll head to Texarkana not entirely unfamiliar with the oval. He and TwoC competed in last year’s Short Track Nationals during a World of Outlaws off-weekend, picking up a pair of 11th-place finishes.
A NEW CHAPTER
The World of Outlaws is ready to help breathe some life into one of the southern Sprint Car scene’s most coveted events.
Some of the sport’s top talent flocked to I-30 Speedway for decades with the goal of winning the Short Track Nationals. The event took a hit when I-30 closed, but Texarkana is putting forth a mighty effort to restore the glory by bringing the best of the best to town.
The list of winners includes names like Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Brad Sweet, Christopher Bell, Jason Meyers, and more. Some of the greatest to ever get behind the wheel made the trip to Arkansas to take on the famed race. Now modern-day superstars like David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Buddy Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart, and more are ready for their shot to put their name on the legendary list of champions.
#ALLDIRTROADS
The end of the journey is within sight for the world’s best Sprint Car drivers.
Texarkana serves as the final stop before All Dirt Roads lead the tour to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Nov. 4-7 for the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals. Time is running out to make a move in the points or end the season on a high note and create momentum to build on heading into 2027.
David Gravel is marching toward a third consecutive championship and will join Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Brad Sweet as only the fourth driver to ever reach the feat should he hold on. He holds a 128-point advantage over Buddy Kofoid.
Looking at some battles a little further down the field, Garet Williamson’s sophomore surge has him sitting sixth in the standings, but Donny Schatz is within striking distance, just 22 points back. It’s a four-car brawl for ninth with only 106 points separating spots nine through 12. Emerson Axsom leads that bunch with Spencer Bayston 12 markers behind him and Bill Balog and Chris Windom in pursuit.
For the full standings, CLICK HERE.
THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
WHEN AND WHERE
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 23-24 at Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, AR
AROUND THE TURN
Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 4-7 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC (TICKETS)
CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (73/79 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (9446 PTS)
2. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-128 PTS)
3. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-218 PTS)
4. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-308 PTS)
5. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-476 PTS)
6. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-688 PTS)
7. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-710 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-1052 PTS)
9. Emerson Axsom – Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27 (-1114 PTS)
10. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-1126 PTS)
NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (23 Drivers):
16 Wins – Michael Kofoid
11 Wins – David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild
6 Wins – Carson Macedo
3 Wins – Anthony Macri, Logan Schuchart,
2 Wins – Donny Schatz, Corey Day, Chase Dietz
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Chris Windom, Kyle Larson, Garet Williamson, Emerson Axsom, James McFadden, Justin Sanders
FEATURE LAPS LED (35 Drivers):
481 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
366 Laps Led – David Gravel
177 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
151 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
147 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
136 Laps Led – Garet Williamson
77 Laps Led – Bill Balog
69 Laps Led – Corey Day
66 Laps Led – Emerson Axsom
64 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
62 Laps Led – Chase Dietz
59 Laps Led – Kyle Larson
56 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
40 Laps Led – Aaron Reutzel, Chris Windom
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney
33 Laps Led – Brady Bacon, Rico Abreu
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms, Justin Sanders
26 Laps Led – Steven Snyder Jr.
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne
21 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek
17 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston, Nate Dussel
16 Laps Led – Bryce Lucius
15 Laps Led – Christopher Thram
12 Laps Led – Cole Macedo
11 Laps Led – Giovanni Scelzi
8 Laps Led – Justin Whittall
7 Laps Led – Brian Brown
6 Laps Led – Brock Zearfoss, James McFadden
3 Laps Led – Brent MarksPODIUM FINISHES (40 Drivers):
33 Podiums – Michael Kofoid
31 Podiums – David Gravel
27 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Podiums – Carson Macedo
11 Podiums – Logan Schuchart, Garet Williamson
8 Podiums – Donny Schatz
5 Podiums – Anthony Macri
4 Podiums – Ryan Timms, Rico Abreu, Bill Balog, Emerson Axsom, Corey Day
3 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, Aaron Reutzel, Chris Windom, Chase Dietz
2 Podiums – Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Giovanni Scelzi, Kasey Kahne, James McFadden, Justin Peck
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Scott Bogucki, Brad Sweet, Justin Whittall, Troy Wagaman Jr., Kasey Jedrzejek, Brent Marks, Bryce Lucius, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Kelby Watt, Kyle Larson, Steven Snyder Jr., Justin Sanders, Parker Price-Miller, Karter Sarff
SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (25 Drivers):
23 Quick Times – David Gravel
7 Quick Times – Michael Kofoid
6 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
5 Quick Times – Bill Balog
3 Quick Times – Logan Schuchart, Brady Bacon
2 Quick Times – Kasey Jedrzejek, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Carson Macedo
1 Quick Time – Ashton Torgerson, Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel, Justin Henderson, Daryn Pittman, Logan Rumsey, Kasey Kahne, Tanner Thorson, Emerson Axsom, Cole Macedo, Colton Robinson
HEAT RACE WINNERS (67 Drivers):
38 Heat Wins – David Gravel
26 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, Bill Balog
17 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid
14 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart
13 Heat Wins – Garet Williamson
12 Heat Wins – Emerson Axsom
7 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston, Donny Schatz
6 Heat Wins – Cole Macedo
5 Heat Wins – Christopher Thram
4 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Brent Marks, Ryan Timms
3 Heat Wins – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi, Anthony Macri, Kerry Madsen, Chris Windom, Steven Snyder Jr., Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Daryn Pittman
2 Heat Wins – Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl, Jacob Hughes, Tyler Courtney, Justin Whittall, Kelby Watt, Brock Zearfoss, Rees Moran, Bryce Lucius, James McFadden, Max Mittry, Justin Sanders
1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Will Armitage, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Chad Trout, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Sam Henderson, Dayne Kingshott, Daison Pursley, Terry McCarl, Kyle Larson, Brady Bacon, Brent Shearer, Logan Rumsey, Danny Sams III, Riley Goodno, Chris Martin, Ayrton Gennetten, Carson McCarl, Kaleb Johnson, Skylar Gee, Cameron Smith, Lance Dewease, Parker Price-Miller, Karter Sarff, Zach Daum
TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (80 Drivers):
51 Dashes – David Gravel
44 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
40 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
31 Dashes – Carson Macedo
28 Dashes – Bill Balog
27 Dashes – Garet Williamson
20 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
19 Dashes – Emerson Axsom
15 Dashes – Donny Schatz
13 Dashes – Cole Macedo, Spencer Bayston
9 Dashes – Chris Windom
8 Dashes – Ryan Timms
7 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Chase Dietz
6 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel
5 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Brent Marks, Anthony Macri
4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Logan Rumsey, Kelby Watt, Christopher Thram, Skylar Gee, Steven Snyder Jr., Corey Day, Daryn Pittman
3 Dashes – Kerry Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Justin Henderson, Bryce Lucius, Justin Whittall, Justin Peck
2 Dashes – Scotty Thiel, Kasey Kahne, Troy Wagaman Jr., Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Austin McCarl, Joe B. Miller, Brenham Crouch, Conner Morrell, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson, Cory Eliason, Gage Pulkrabek, Max Mittry, James McFadden, Justin Sanders, Lance Dewease, Cameron Smith, Parker Price-Miller
1 Dash – Brock Zearfoss, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich, Logan Rumsey, Kody Hartlaub, Freddie Rahmer, Chad Trout, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Andy Pake, Tanner Thorson, D.J. Christie, Ricky Peterson, Brent Shearer, Dylan Norris, Sam Henderson, Sean Rayhall, Jett Yantis, Kaleb Montgomery, Dominic Gorden, Greg Wilson, Nate Dussel, Karter Sarff, Zach Daum
MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (39 Drivers):
5 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
4 LCS Wins – Garet Williamson, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Chris Windom
3 LCS Wins – Spencer Bayston, Logan Schuchart
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Giovanni Scelzi, Skylar Gee, Tyler Courtney, Bryce Norris
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Doug Hammaker, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Justin Henderson, Joel Myers Jr., Daison Pursley, Zane DeVault, Logan Julien, Jordan Poirier, Matt Farnham, Jordan Thomas, Dylan Norris, Justin Whittall, Brent Shearer, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Lynton Jeffrey, Kelby Watt, Jacob Peterson, Sam Henderson, Bryce Lucius, Tim Kaeding, Brady Bacon, Nate Dussel
KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (27 Drivers):
9 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart
8 Hard Chargers – Michael Kofoid
7 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
4 Hard Chargers – Spencer Bayston, Ashton Torgerson, Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Hard Chargers – Chris Windom, Cole Macedo
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Ryan Timms, Shane Golobic, Danny Dietrich
1 Hard Charger – Giovanni Scelzi, Brady Bacon, Tyler Ross, Cameron Smith, David Gravel, Emerson Axsom, Logan Julien, Tyler Courtney, Kasey Jedrzejek, James McFadden, Corey Day, J.J. Hickle, Tanner Holmes, Ricky Peterson
ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (31 Drivers):
12 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
7 Fastest Laps – David Gravel
6 Fastest Laps – Logan Schuchart
5 Fastest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog
4 Fastest Laps – Carson Macedo
3 Fastest Laps – Garet Williamson
2 Fastest Laps – Brady Bacon, Aaron Reutzel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Anthony Macri, Kyle Larson, Steven Snyder Jr., Donny Schatz
1 Fastest Lap – Brock Zearfoss, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Kasey Kahne, Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Christopher Thram, Bryce Lucius, Corey Day, Chase Dietz, Jace Park, Emerson Axsom, Justin Sanders, Justin Whittall, Nate Dussel
RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (24 Drivers):
20 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
9 Hottest Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid
5 Hottest Laps – Carson Macedo, Garet Williamson
3 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart
2 Hottest Laps – Ashton Torgerson, Daryn Pittman, Bill Balog, Emerson Axsom
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms, Giovanni Scelzi, Bryce Lucius, Nate Dussel, Logan Rumsey, Chris Windom, Spencer Bayston, Steven Snyder Jr., Camerson Smith, Skylar Gee
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 / Michael Kofoid (5)
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kasey Kahne (1)
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (5)
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (1)
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Carson Macedo (2)
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Mon, May 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (6)
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (3)
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI / Carson Macedo (4)
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (1)
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (7)
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (8)
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (6)
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / David Gravel (7)
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
Thurs, July 9 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Michael Kofoid (9)
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Bryce Lucius (1)
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Corey Day (1)
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Anthony Macri (3)
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada / David Gravel (8)
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (9)
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / Chase Dietz (1)
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Michael Kofoid (10)
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (10)
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Chris Windom (1)
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Logan Schuchart (2)
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Sheldon Haudenschild
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Kyle Larson
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA* / Donny Schatz
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (1)
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (8)
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (3)
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Garet Williamson (1)
Sat, Aug 29 / Fix It Forward Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
Mon, Aug 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND / Michael Kofoid (11)
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (9)
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (12)
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Emerson Axsom (1)
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Michael Kofoid (13)
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO / Michael Kofoid (14)
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / James McFadden (1)
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA / Justin Sanders (1)
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Carson Macedo (6)
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA / Donny Schatz (2)
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA / Corey Day (2)
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (11)
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Chase Dietz (2)
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH / Michael Kofoid (15)
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (10)
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (11)
Sat, Oct 17 / Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway / Belleville, IL / Michael Kofoid (16)
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.
EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4549654, https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=4549999
TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?