WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Gopher State Challenge Welcomes New Tracks to ASCS, Extra Money Up For Grabs

WORTHINGTON, MN (July 28, 2026) — The “Land of 1,000 Lakes” is back.

The American Sprint Car Series will visit Minnesota for the first time since 2017 with two debuting tracks comprising the inaugural Rock On Trucks Gopher State 360 Sprint Car Challenge.

Beginning on Thursday, July 30, the National Tour will visit Worthington Speedway for a $4,000-to-win chase around a 1/4-mile bullring. Then, on Saturday, Aug. 1, the Series will travel 180 miles north to Alexandria, MN, to battle around the 1/2-mile Viking Speedway.

There will also be a $5,000 points fund for the top three points finishers between the two events, with the champion earning $2,500, second-place receiving $1,500, and third picking up $1,000. Tickets for both days will be available at the track on race day.

WORTHINGTON INFO

VIKING INFO

WATCH ON DIRTVISION

Here’s a look at the top storylines:

Minnesota Might – The American Sprint Car Series returns to Minnesota with two brand-new facilities for the best 360 Sprint Car drivers to face.

Worthington Speedway will be the first of the two debuting tracks with the Series on Thursday night. The track has welcomed 360 Sprint Cars in the past, including the Sprint Car Bandits, though it will be the first time it has hosted a national campaign at the Minnesota 1/4-mile. The only full-time ASCS competitor to garner laps was sophomore Brogan Carder with three visits between 2025-26.

Viking Speedway will raise the stakes on Saturday with higher speeds and the reward of being the first Gopher State Challenge champion after 30 laps around the 1/2-mile. While the track has hosted 305 Sprint Cars beforehand, the ASCS visit will be the first time a 360 c.i. engine will hit the surface.

Texas Heat – Sam Hafertepe Jr. has put his veteran skills to work to help him command the ASCS National Tour standings entering the second half of the 2026 season.

In the Steve King Memorial at Dodge City Raceway Park, Hafertepe used lapped traffic to his advantage to pass Austyn Gossel with 10 laps remaining for his third win of the season and his fourth consecutive at the Kansas track.

The visits to Worthington and Viking will be the first time Hafertepe has laid eyes on both tracks. In Minnesota ASCS competition, the six-time Series champion was the last winner of a National Tour race in the state with a score at Jackson Motorplex in 2017.

Awakened – Austyn Gossel created a headwind of momentum with the Series at Dodge City after scoring a Heat win, an Honest Abe Roofing Dash win, and leading the first 20 laps before finishing runner-up to Hafertepe.

Though he was short of his first Series win, the Fort Collins, CO native jumped from 10th to seventh in the points standings with the career-defining performance.

Gossel is preparing for two new tracks between Worthington and Viking as he sits atop a two-point gap over Brogan Carder for seventh while tracking down sixth-place Ryder LaPlante, who sits 29 points ahead of the No. 16G pilot.

No Quit – While Hafertepe is atop the standings to chase the honor of being the only seven-time Series champion, Matt Covington and Seth Bergman have disallowed the No. 15H from creating a large lead.

Since the Sonoran Clash, Covington has not finished outside of the top-10. Inside the streak, the Glenpool, OK native has earned a podium finish in seven of the last eight races. The consistent visits to the podium have him 20 points away from the Series lead to start the second half.

Bergman is tied with Hafertepe in 2026 wins, but he’s had to pass more cars to achieve the results. The Snohomish, WA native is 74 points away from the Series lead as his quest for a second Series championship takes him to first-time challenges in Minnesota.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Thursday, July 30, at Worthington Speedway in Worthington, MN

Saturday, August 1, at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN

AROUND THE CORNER

Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 6-8, at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA

CURRENT TOP-10 STANDINGS

Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1845pts)
Matt Covington (-20)
Seth Bergman (-74)
Kyler Johnson (-266)
Whit Gastineau (-274)
Ryder LaPlante (-361)
Austyn Gossel (-424)
Brogan Carder (-426)
Cole Schroeder (-448)
Terry Easum (-458)

FEATURE WINNERS (9 Drivers)

3 wins – Sam Hafertepe Jr., Seth Bergman

2 wins – Justin Peck, Tyler Courtney, Matt Covington

1 win – Blake Hahn, Chris Martin, Brady Bacon, Levi Hillier

FEATURE LAPS LED (17 Drivers)

63 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.

52 laps – Justin Peck

48 laps – Seth Bergman

33 laps – Matt Covington

30 laps – Levi Hillier, Blake Hahn

22 laps – Chris Martin

21 laps – Austin McCarl

20 laps – Austyn Gossel

18 laps – Brady Bacon

16 laps – Cameron Martin

13 laps – Brian Brown

10 laps – Kyler Johnson

9 laps – Whit Gastineau

7 laps – Cole Macedo

6 laps – Tyler Courtney

3 laps – Sean McClelland

2 laps – Brady Baker

QUICK TIME AWARDS (7 Drivers)

8 awards – Sam Hafertepe Jr

2 awards – Matt Covington

1 award – Seth Bergman, Howard Moore, Chris Martin, Levi Hillier, Kyler Johnson

HEAT RACE WINNERS (26 Drivers)

6 wins – Matt Covington, Seth Bergman

4 wins – Sam Hafertepe Jr.

3 wins – Whit Gastineau, Garrett Benson

2 wins – Ryder Laplante, Chris Martin, Justin Peck, Kyler Johnson

1 win – Jordan Mallett, Sean McClelland, Cam Martin, Brady Bacon, Tyler Clem, Emerson Axsom, Brian Brown, Cole Macedo, Garen Linder, Colby Copeland, Nick Parker, Hank Davis, JJ Hickle, Alex Hill, Jeremy Campbell, Blake Hahn, Kade Morton, Alex Sewell, Brady Baker, Howard Moore, Austyn Gossel

DASH STARTS (36 Drivers)

12 starts – Sam Hafertepe Jr

10 starts – Matt Covington

7 starts – Seth Bergman, Kyler Johnson, Whit Gastineau

4 starts – Levi Hillier

3 starts – Chris Martin, Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Justin Peck

2 starts – Camerson Martin, Emerson Axsom, Austin McCarl, Brady Bacon, Davie Franek, Garrett Benson, Ryder Laplante, Howard Moore

1 start – Jordan Mallett, Paul Solomon, Brock Zearfoss, Cole Macedo, Tyler Clem, Hank Davis, Nick Parker, Colby Copeland, Garen Linder, JJ Hickle, Alex Hill, Blake Hahn, Alex Sewell, Kade Morton, Jeremy Campbell, Bryant Wiedeman, Brady Baker, Austyn Gossel

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9 Drivers)

2 wins – Braxton Weger

1 win – DJ Christie, Matt Covington, Tyler Clem, Whit Gastineau, Sterling Cling, Gage Montgomery, Brogan Carder, Bradley Fezard

HARD CHARGER AWARDS (13 Drivers)

3 awards – Whit Gastineau

1 award – Seth Bergman, Ryder Laplante, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Sam Hafertepe Jr., DJ Netto, Brogan Carder, Joe B. Miller, Bradley Fezard, Hayden Mabe, Jack Thomas, Kyler Johnson, Casey Wills

PODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers)

9 podiums – Sam Hafertepe Jr., Matt Covington

4 podiums – Seth Bergman

3 podiums – Justin Peck, Whit Gastineau

2 podiums – Tyler Courtney, Brady Bacon, Austin McCarl, Levi Hillier

1 podium – Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Brock Zearfoss, Kyler Johnson, JJ Hickle, Jordan Mallett, Chris Martin, Blake Hahn, Alex Sewell, Garrett Benson, Christopher Townsend, Austyn Gossel

2026 AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE + WINNERS

Date / Track / City, State / Winner (Total Wins)

Thu, Jan. 29 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney
Fri, Jan. 30 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (2)
Mon, Feb. 2 / Volusia Speedway Park /Barberville, FL / Brady Bacon
Sat, Feb. 21 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Justin Peck
Sun, Feb. 21 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Matt Covington
Sat, Feb. 28 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Justin Peck (2)
Sun, Mar. 1 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Levi Hillier
Sat, Apr. 11 / Salina Highbanks Speedway / Salina, OK / Chris Martin
Fri, May 8 / Benton Speedway / Benton, MO / Seth Bergman
Fri, June 5 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / Blake Hahn
Sat, June 6 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Seth Bergman (2)
Fri, June 26 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr.
Sat, June 27 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (2)
Fri, July 10 / Batesville Motor Speedway / Locust Grove, AR / Matt Covington (2)
Sat, July 11 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR / Seth Bergman (3)
Sat, July 25 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Gopher State Challenge Welcomes New Tracks to ASCS, Extra Money Up For Grabs WORTHINGTON, MN (July 28, 2026) — The “Land of 1,000 Lakes” is back.