| BATAVIA, Ohio (July 11, 2026) – Dillon McCowan captured his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing victory Saturday night at his home track, Lucas Oil Speedway, while also earning the Steering Buddy Darkhorse Bonus. The Steering Buddy Darkhorse Bonus awards an additional $1,000 to any driver who records their first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points-paying feature victory. McCowan becomes just the second driver to claim the bonus, joining Max Blair, who earned the inaugural Darkhorse Bonus with his victory at Muskingum County Speedway. Racing in front of his hometown fans, McCowan delivered a breakthrough performance, fending off a talented field to secure the biggest win of his career. The victory earned him the winner’s share of the purse along with the $1,000 Steering Buddy Darkhorse Bonus, courtesy of Steering Buddy and Mike Pearl. Steering Buddy was designed and developed by Mike Pearl and his son, Grant Pearl, an experienced dirt racing crew member. After years of maneuvering race cars through pit areas, tech inspection, and in and out of haulers, they recognized the need for a tool that allowed one person to easily steer a race car. Their solution became the Steering Buddy, a product now used by race teams across the country. Following years of development, testing, and refinement, Steering Buddy has become an essential piece of equipment throughout the racing industry. To learn more about Steering Buddy or to order yours, visit SteeringBuddy.com. For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit LucasDirt.com. About Steering BuddyLocated in Anniston, Alabama, Steering Buddy is a division of Hostile Industries. Company owner Mike Pearl has spent decades driving race cars, working on race teams, and attending dirt racing events across the United States. Alongside his family, Pearl developed Steering Buddy to simplify moving race cars around the pits, through tech inspection, and into haulers. After years of development and proven success in the field, Steering Buddy has become a trusted tool for racers nationwide |
