CONCORD, NC (January 6, 2026) – For Eli Johnson, there’s no better time than now to turn a dream into reality.
The driver of the Clyde Johnson Contracting & Roofing No. 55 has signed up for his first full season of national Late Model racing, joining Trey Mills and Logan Zarin as this year’s third MD3 Rookie of the Year contender with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.
The 31-year-old Clewiston, FL native spent a half-decade racing locally at a variety of “Sunshine State” tracks leading into 2025, when Johnson dove headfirst into the Super Late Model world. The team put more miles on the hauler than ever, traveling to major events including the Dirt Late Model Dream, World 100, and World of Outlaws World Finals. In between, Johnson teamed up with his fellow Floridians Brenden and Brody Smith to take on the majority of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals schedule.
All that effort was put in with one goal in mind – learn as much as possible in advance of his debut World of Outlaws season in 2026.
“Some sponsors wanted to step in and basically see if we could hang and get involved,” Johnson said. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for Summer Nationals, the Smith guys, if I didn’t have the opportunity to do that, I wouldn’t be doing it at all right now. I mean, I’m super thankful for those guys.”
Johnson proved on multiple occasions last year that he could run up front, collecting a pair of Hell Tour top fives at Shadyhill Speedway and Oakshade Raceway, plus one more with the Southern All Stars at Wartburg Speedway. Matching those numbers at the pinnacle of the sport will be no easy feat, which is why he’s enlisted the help of those who know national Late Model racing inside and out.
“I mean, I feel pretty prepared,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot that we don’t know. I’ve got Boom Briggs, he’s helping me a lot. Kind of letting me know what’s going to happen and how I need to move forward in the program. I feel like we’ll be OK, mainly because we’ve got a lot of help from him also.”
One circumstance that could play into Johnson’s favor is the fact that the first three weeks of the season will take place in his home state. Following two trips to Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), the tour will head south to Johnson’s home track, Hendry County Motorsports Park.
The Swamp Cabbage 100 (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21) will be the first national Late Model race in the track’s history, giving Johnson his lone opportunity in 2026 to have the upper hand in experience over the rest of the World of Outlaws field.
“I’m really excited for that one, mainly because I’ve got so many laps around that place,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be really exciting, I hope it’s a really good race. I think a lot of the guys will like the place. It’s going to be fun for sure, having all those guys down here.”
Once the calendar turns to spring, Johnson will begin venturing out to plenty of uncharted territory throughout his first season on tour. He knows he’s in for the tallest task of his career and nothing will be handed to him, but he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I’d like to get quite a few top 10s and some top fives,” Johnson said. “Obviously, if I was to get a win this year, that would be amazing. The biggest thing is to just be consistent.”
Johnson will begin his 2026 season at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.
If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.
Eli Johnson Plans 2026 Rookie of the Year Run with World of Outlaws
CONCORD, NC (January 6, 2026) – For Eli Johnson, there’s no better time than now to turn a dream into reality.
The driver of the Clyde Johnson Contracting & Roofing No. 55 has signed up for his first full season of national Late Model racing, joining Trey Mills and Logan Zarin as this year’s third MD3 Rookie of the Year contender with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.
The 31-year-old Clewiston, FL native spent a half-decade racing locally at a variety of “Sunshine State” tracks leading into 2025, when Johnson dove headfirst into the Super Late Model world. The team put more miles on the hauler than ever, traveling to major events including the Dirt Late Model Dream, World 100, and World of Outlaws World Finals. In between, Johnson teamed up with his fellow Floridians Brenden and Brody Smith to take on the majority of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals schedule.
All that effort was put in with one goal in mind – learn as much as possible in advance of his debut World of Outlaws season in 2026.
“Some sponsors wanted to step in and basically see if we could hang and get involved,” Johnson said. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for Summer Nationals, the Smith guys, if I didn’t have the opportunity to do that, I wouldn’t be doing it at all right now. I mean, I’m super thankful for those guys.”
Johnson proved on multiple occasions last year that he could run up front, collecting a pair of Hell Tour top fives at Shadyhill Speedway and Oakshade Raceway, plus one more with the Southern All Stars at Wartburg Speedway. Matching those numbers at the pinnacle of the sport will be no easy feat, which is why he’s enlisted the help of those who know national Late Model racing inside and out.
“I mean, I feel pretty prepared,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot that we don’t know. I’ve got Boom Briggs, he’s helping me a lot. Kind of letting me know what’s going to happen and how I need to move forward in the program. I feel like we’ll be OK, mainly because we’ve got a lot of help from him also.”
One circumstance that could play into Johnson’s favor is the fact that the first three weeks of the season will take place in his home state. Following two trips to Volusia Speedway Park for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), the tour will head south to Johnson’s home track, Hendry County Motorsports Park.
The Swamp Cabbage 100 (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21) will be the first national Late Model race in the track’s history, giving Johnson his lone opportunity in 2026 to have the upper hand in experience over the rest of the World of Outlaws field.
“I’m really excited for that one, mainly because I’ve got so many laps around that place,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be really exciting, I hope it’s a really good race. I think a lot of the guys will like the place. It’s going to be fun for sure, having all those guys down here.”
Once the calendar turns to spring, Johnson will begin venturing out to plenty of uncharted territory throughout his first season on tour. He knows he’s in for the tallest task of his career and nothing will be handed to him, but he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I’d like to get quite a few top 10s and some top fives,” Johnson said. “Obviously, if I was to get a win this year, that would be amazing. The biggest thing is to just be consistent.”
Johnson will begin his 2026 season at Volusia Speedway Park during DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 22-24) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14), followed by the Swamp Cabbage 100 at Hendry County Motorsports Park (Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21). Get tickets and more information for all three events by clicking here.
If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.
FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/