After a pair of runner-ups, the Clovis, CA native tops a three-leader thriller in his home state

VENTURA, CA (September 26, 2026) – Corey Day was tired of running second in his home state.

An off weekend from the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship chase allowed Day to return to his roots this week. The Clovis, CA native hooked up with the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14 team for a trio of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races in the “Golden State.”

The first two led to Day being forced to settle for second. Carson Macedo slid by him late on Tuesday at Kings Speedway, and Donny Schatz held him off Friday at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.

Day simply refused to fall a spot shy again on Saturday when the scene shifted to Ventura Raceway for the Toyota Racing Battle at the Beach presented by ARP as the Series made its highly anticipated debut at the Southern California 1/5 mile.

The 20-year-old faced a fierce battle for third with Bill Balog in the early going as the two traded the position and nearly made contact multiple times. Up front, Steven Snyder Jr. and Emerson Axsom gave the fans a show with a war of their own for the top spot. They swapped sliders and crossovers until Snyder Jr. finally secured the lead. A pivotal restart allowed Day to surge from fourth to second, and then one mistake on the cushion from Snyder Jr. was all it took. Day slid by the Three Stooges Racing No. 51 and held off late challenges from Bill Balog and Sheldon Haudenschild to head to Victory Lane.

“That was sick,” Day said. “It was awesome. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, and I’m sure no one else did, but that was phenomenal. That was one of the better races I’ve had this year and one of the better tracks we’ve gotten to race on. Hats off to the whole Ventura track crew. It’s a privilege to be able to race at a facility like this and to have a badass track like that to go with it is awesome.”

Day’s second World of Outlaws win of 2026 is the fifth of his career. He also became the eighth multi-time winner with The Greatest Show on Dirt this season. Add in his two consecutive Turkey Night Grand Prix triumphs with the USAC National Midgets, and Day is now on a three-race win streak at Ventura.

Sheldon Haudenschild rolled the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18 up to second for his 25th podium of the season.

Bill Balog fought up front all race long and looked as if he may have a shot to win before ultimately rounding out the podium.

Emerson Axsom and Buddy Kofoid completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Emerson Axsom laid down the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Corey Day set Simpson Quick Time and established a new track record in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Corey Day (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Steve Snyder Jr. (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), and Garet Williamson (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Emerson Axsom.

Steven Snyder Jr. topped the Toyota Dash.

Carson Macedo wheeled from 14th to seventh for his second consecutive KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

That also made Macedo the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom’s fourth-place effort made him the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Steven Snyder Jr. clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Steven Snyder Jr.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make the long haul east to Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway for the $75,000-to-win 64th J & S Classics National Open on Oct. 2-3. 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. 14-Corey Day[3]; 2. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 4. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 8. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 9. 2-David Gravel[12]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[7]; 11. 21-Dominic Scelzi[17]; 12. 24-Max Mittry[9]; 13. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[1]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart[16]; 17. 5K-Gauge Garcia[20]; 18. 0-Tim Kaeding[18]; 19. 73-Braden Chiaramonte[21]; 20. 16C-Skylar Gee[25]; 21. 6-Bryce Lucius[24]; 22. (DNF) 3-Kaleb Montgomery[22]; 23. (DNF) 88N-DJ Netto[19]; 24. (DNF) 28M-Conner Morrell[23]; 25. (DNF) 10-Dominic Gorden[11]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

BEACHSIDE BARNBURNER: Day Claims Wild World of Outlaws Ventura Debut

After a pair of runner-ups, the Clovis, CA native tops a three-leader thriller in his home state

VENTURA, CA (September 26, 2026) – Corey Day was tired of running second in his home state.

An off weekend from the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship chase allowed Day to return to his roots this week. The Clovis, CA native hooked up with the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14 team for a trio of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races in the “Golden State.”

The first two led to Day being forced to settle for second. Carson Macedo slid by him late on Tuesday at Kings Speedway, and Donny Schatz held him off Friday at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.

Day simply refused to fall a spot shy again on Saturday when the scene shifted to Ventura Raceway for the Toyota Racing Battle at the Beach presented by ARP as the Series made its highly anticipated debut at the Southern California 1/5 mile.

The 20-year-old faced a fierce battle for third with Bill Balog in the early going as the two traded the position and nearly made contact multiple times. Up front, Steven Snyder Jr. and Emerson Axsom gave the fans a show with a war of their own for the top spot. They swapped sliders and crossovers until Snyder Jr. finally secured the lead. A pivotal restart allowed Day to surge from fourth to second, and then one mistake on the cushion from Snyder Jr. was all it took. Day slid by the Three Stooges Racing No. 51 and held off late challenges from Bill Balog and Sheldon Haudenschild to head to Victory Lane.

“That was sick,” Day said. “It was awesome. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, and I’m sure no one else did, but that was phenomenal. That was one of the better races I’ve had this year and one of the better tracks we’ve gotten to race on. Hats off to the whole Ventura track crew. It’s a privilege to be able to race at a facility like this and to have a badass track like that to go with it is awesome.”

Day’s second World of Outlaws win of 2026 is the fifth of his career. He also became the eighth multi-time winner with The Greatest Show on Dirt this season. Add in his two consecutive Turkey Night Grand Prix triumphs with the USAC National Midgets, and Day is now on a three-race win streak at Ventura.

Sheldon Haudenschild rolled the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18 up to second for his 25th podium of the season.

Bill Balog fought up front all race long and looked as if he may have a shot to win before ultimately rounding out the podium.

Emerson Axsom and Buddy Kofoid completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Emerson Axsom laid down the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Corey Day set Simpson Quick Time and established a new track record in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Corey Day (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Steve Snyder Jr. (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), and Garet Williamson (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Emerson Axsom.

Steven Snyder Jr. topped the Toyota Dash.

Carson Macedo wheeled from 14th to seventh for his second consecutive KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

That also made Macedo the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom’s fourth-place effort made him the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Steven Snyder Jr. clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Steven Snyder Jr.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make the long haul east to Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway for the $75,000-to-win 64th J & S Classics National Open on Oct. 2-3. 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. 14-Corey Day[3]; 2. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 3. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 4. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 5. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[5]; 7. 41-Carson Macedo[14]; 8. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 9. 2-David Gravel[12]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[7]; 11. 21-Dominic Scelzi[17]; 12. 24-Max Mittry[9]; 13. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[1]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart[16]; 17. 5K-Gauge Garcia[20]; 18. 0-Tim Kaeding[18]; 19. 73-Braden Chiaramonte[21]; 20. 16C-Skylar Gee[25]; 21. 6-Bryce Lucius[24]; 22. (DNF) 3-Kaleb Montgomery[22]; 23. (DNF) 88N-DJ Netto[19]; 24. (DNF) 28M-Conner Morrell[23]; 25. (DNF) 10-Dominic Gorden[11]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/beachside-barnburner-day-claims-wild-world-of-outlaws-ventura-debut/

PEVELY, MO (September 26, 2026) – The driver who grew up in the shadow of the arch is now the King of the Arch.

Nick Hoffman was on a rail on Friday night at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park, and he didn’t miss a beat in the second half of the weekend doubleheader on Saturday.

From fourth in the starting order, Hoffman needed a few more laps than he did on Friday to find his way to the front. Out front, it was a race between Dallon Murty up high and Jason Feger down low in the opening laps, with Murty pulling away for the early advantage.

While hugging the wall the same way he did on Friday, Hoffman picked off Feger for second with eight laps on the board. Six circuits later, Hoffman had caught Murty when the slower car of Kayden Clatt on the cushion forced Murty to get off the top and down to the same lane as Hoffman.

With Hoffman’s line suddenly impeded, he had to move up a lane to make the pass for the lead. A strong run through the middle of Turns 3 and 4 gave Hoffman enough momentum to clear Murty for the lead on Lap 18, moving into the spot that he never relinquished the rest of the way.

That didn’t mean Hoffman went unchallenged late in the race, however. Feger got back around Murty for second with 25 laps remaining, and inside of 10 to go, he was on Hoffman’s back bumper. A caution for Logan Zarin spun backwards in Turn 3 set up a three-lap sprint to the finish, which Hoffman came out on top of for his eighth win of the season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

“Jason’s one of my buddies and it’s fun racing with him,” Hoffman said. “That’s a hell of a run for them guys, too. I seen him peeking down there and I knew I had to get back in line just to defend. So, I had to turn left down the front straightaway and block. I was really happy that [Rickey] Frankel turned the No. 1Z around there, because I wanted to get reracked there. I felt like I was in trouble there if he could have got the middle rolling. It just worked out for me.”

Feger settled for second ahead of Drake Troutman, who knocked his deck out pounding the cushion on the last restart climbing up to third. Dallon Murty reset his World of Outlaws career best in fourth, while Bobby Pierce recovered from a spin earlier in the race to finish fifth.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision travels south to Boothill Speedway for the Bayou Classic on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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

RACE NOTES:

Nick Hoffman set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Trey Mills won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Trey Mills won Heat 1.

Jason Feger won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Dallon Murty won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Nick Hoffman won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Chase Junghans and Kayden Clatt won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Jason Feger won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Tristan Chamberlain won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Jason Feger was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ryan Gustin was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Gordy Gundaker was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Brent Larson was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (55 Laps): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[4]; 2. 25-Jason Feger[1]; 3. 5-Drake Troutman[10]; 4. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 5. 32-Bobby Pierce[13]; 6. 19-Dustin Sorensen[12]; 7. 14-Trey Mills[3]; 8. 19R-Ryan Gustin[5]; 9. 9M-Tim McCreadie[7]; 10. 1-Tyler Erb[14]; 11. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[16]; 12. 58V-Daulton Wilson[9]; 13. 11-Gordy Gundaker[11]; 14. B1-Brent Larson[15]; 15. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[24]; 16. 09-Michael Leach[6]; 17. 33-Rickey Frankel[19]; 18. 1Z-Logan Zarin[21]; 19. 18J-Chase Junghans[17]; 20. 74X-Ethan Dotson[23]; 21. 33H-Wil Herrington[8]; 22. 18-Shannon Babb[20]; 23. 55E-Eli Johnson[25]; 24. 10J-Jordan Bauer[22]; 25. 50-Kayden Clatt[18]

Hoffman Completes Weekend Sweep at I-55 With $20,000 Saturday Score

PEVELY, MO (September 26, 2026) – The driver who grew up in the shadow of the arch is now the King of the Arch.

Nick Hoffman was on a rail on Friday night at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park, and he didn’t miss a beat in the second half of the weekend doubleheader on Saturday.

From fourth in the starting order, Hoffman needed a few more laps than he did on Friday to find his way to the front. Out front, it was a race between Dallon Murty up high and Jason Feger down low in the opening laps, with Murty pulling away for the early advantage.

While hugging the wall the same way he did on Friday, Hoffman picked off Feger for second with eight laps on the board. Six circuits later, Hoffman had caught Murty when the slower car of Kayden Clatt on the cushion forced Murty to get off the top and down to the same lane as Hoffman.

With Hoffman’s line suddenly impeded, he had to move up a lane to make the pass for the lead. A strong run through the middle of Turns 3 and 4 gave Hoffman enough momentum to clear Murty for the lead on Lap 18, moving into the spot that he never relinquished the rest of the way.

That didn’t mean Hoffman went unchallenged late in the race, however. Feger got back around Murty for second with 25 laps remaining, and inside of 10 to go, he was on Hoffman’s back bumper. A caution for Logan Zarin spun backwards in Turn 3 set up a three-lap sprint to the finish, which Hoffman came out on top of for his eighth win of the season with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

“Jason’s one of my buddies and it’s fun racing with him,” Hoffman said. “That’s a hell of a run for them guys, too. I seen him peeking down there and I knew I had to get back in line just to defend. So, I had to turn left down the front straightaway and block. I was really happy that [Rickey] Frankel turned the No. 1Z around there, because I wanted to get reracked there. I felt like I was in trouble there if he could have got the middle rolling. It just worked out for me.”

Feger settled for second ahead of Drake Troutman, who knocked his deck out pounding the cushion on the last restart climbing up to third. Dallon Murty reset his World of Outlaws career best in fourth, while Bobby Pierce recovered from a spin earlier in the race to finish fifth.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision travels south to Boothill Speedway for the Bayou Classic on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3. Tickets will be available at the gate.

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

RACE NOTES:

Nick Hoffman set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Trey Mills won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Trey Mills won Heat 1.

Jason Feger won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Dallon Murty won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Nick Hoffman won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Chase Junghans and Kayden Clatt won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Jason Feger won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Tristan Chamberlain won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Jason Feger was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Dallon Murty was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ryan Gustin was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Gordy Gundaker was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Brent Larson was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (55 Laps): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[4]; 2. 25-Jason Feger[1]; 3. 5-Drake Troutman[10]; 4. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 5. 32-Bobby Pierce[13]; 6. 19-Dustin Sorensen[12]; 7. 14-Trey Mills[3]; 8. 19R-Ryan Gustin[5]; 9. 9M-Tim McCreadie[7]; 10. 1-Tyler Erb[14]; 11. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[16]; 12. 58V-Daulton Wilson[9]; 13. 11-Gordy Gundaker[11]; 14. B1-Brent Larson[15]; 15. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[24]; 16. 09-Michael Leach[6]; 17. 33-Rickey Frankel[19]; 18. 1Z-Logan Zarin[21]; 19. 18J-Chase Junghans[17]; 20. 74X-Ethan Dotson[23]; 21. 33H-Wil Herrington[8]; 22. 18-Shannon Babb[20]; 23. 55E-Eli Johnson[25]; 24. 10J-Jordan Bauer[22]; 25. 50-Kayden Clatt[18]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/hoffman-completes-weekend-sweep-at-i-55-with-20000-saturday-score/

SATURDAY RECAP – ROCKINGHAM Race 16 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

STRONG SATURDAY FOR JFR AT THE ROCKAll four teams move up the qualifying ladder for Sunday’s eliminations

SATURDAY RECAP – ROCKINGHAMRace 16 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

STRONG SATURDAY FOR JFR AT THE ROCKAll four teams move up the qualifying ladder for Sunday’s eliminations

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Sept. 26, 2026) – A clear and sunny day with temperatures barely reaching 80 degrees allowed John Force Racing’s four teams to improve on their performances in the final two qualifying sessions in preparation for the first round of the inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway.   Alexis DeJoria and the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team rebounded nicely from Friday’s first two qualifying attempts, setting low elapsed time in both of Saturday’s. The Bandero Café tripped the lights in the first session with a run of 3.892 seconds at 334.82 mph and followed it up with a final run of 3.924 seconds at 331.86 mph. The No. 2 qualifier will face No. 15 qualifier John Smith (4.205 seconds at 251.68 mph) in Round 1. Jack Beckman and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet SS Funny Car team ran identical 3.911-second passes in Friday’s qualifying sessions, which qualified the team in the No. 4 spot. They pushed a bit too hard in Saturday’s first qualifying session but rallied with a 3.926-second run at 327.51 mph in the final session. Beckman will face No. 13 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson (3.982 seconds at 325.85 mph) in Round 1. Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel team clicked off a rock solid 3.744-second run at 334.32 mph in the first qualifying session Saturday to move into the No. 5 position and overpowered the track in the fourth and final session. Hart will face No. 12 qualifier Will Smith (3.786 seconds at 330.40 mph) in Round 1. Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team struggled in the first three qualifying sessions so, in Sunday’s final session, the Funny Car rookie kept his foot on the accelerator pedal despite the car making significant moves left and right as it approached the finish line. The move paid off with a run of 3. 970 seconds at 276.07 mph, earning the No. 11 qualifying position. Vandergriff will face No. 6 qualifier Chad Green (3.920 seconds at 327.27 mph) in Round 1. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 27. Quote from Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “This Bandero Cafe Chevy SS nitro Funny Car team made Saturday ours. I knew we could do it. Neff, Jonnie, all our guys have what it takes. We watched our teammate, Jack Beckman, go down the track the pair in front of us and we backed him up with our run. We earned six bonus points today, we’re the No. 2 qualifier going in tomorrow and we don’t have to race Jordan first round, so that’s another plus. I’m gonna sleep a lot better tonight.” Quote from Jack Beckman, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “The HendrickCars.com Chevy ran two 3.91s and a 3.92 in pretty different conditions during our four qualifying runs. The 3.91 was low in Q1 and that 3.91 in Q2 was third low of the session and wasn’t anywhere close to what we were shooting for. But we learned on that run that this track was better than we gave it credit for. We pushed too hard in Q3 and smoked the tires but, in Q4, we were right there, just two thousandths of a second off low ET. I think that Q3 run, where we push too hard, might be the one that helps us tune to win the race tomorrow. Sometimes the ones that don’t look perfect are the ones that tell us what we need to do or how far we can go.” Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster: “I feel good about how our Speedmaster car is running and weather conditions will be similar tomorrow. Grubnic called his shot in Q3 like we did at the beginning of the season and it went right down Broadway like we expected. Before Q4, he told me we ‘We’re going to try something but I may not get away with it.’ I like that type of communication. It means a lot to me as a driver so I can plan my mindset when I go up there. It’s been a very, very good day so I’m confident about tomorrow. We’ll just focus on one pass at a time and turn on four win lights.” Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “It was an eventful qualifying session for the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy team. I think I held it a little long on that Q4 run because I knew we needed to make a full pass but it got to a point where I had to come out of it because it got too sideways. Maybe it was my fault, maybe it was the track. Whatever the case, it was still a 3.97 with an early shut off so we’re feeling really good about tomorrow.” TV Schedule Television coverage on Sun., Sept. 27, includes qualifying on FS1 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET before eliminations action at from 3 – 6 p.m. ET on FS1.

NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes September 26, 2026

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Kansas Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

NASCAR Cup SeriesKansas SpeedwayTeam Chevy Driver QuotesSeptember 26, 2026

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Kansas Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:  There was a lot of talk before The Chase started that there might be a different feeling when it comes to pressure with no eliminations. I’m curious, has it felt much different than a year ago?“Well, we’re only three races in, which was a round in the past, so we’ll see as it builds deeper into The Chase. I can definitely see how the pressure just lingers longer. I feel like in the previous format, you would have a lot of pressure, for sure, but then you would get a reset and a deep breath. There’s no reset or deep breath here, so you have to keep plugging away and really focus on executing good, solid races. I would say it’s been equal pressure to this point and it’s going to continue to build, especially if you’re in the hunt.”   Is it surprising and/or frustrating to see a guy like Carson Hocevar, who doesn’t seem to have the greatest respect from the other drivers, get so much love from fans?“No, because he’s different than all of us. He acts different, talks different, dresses different. He’s just different. I think that’s refreshing for fans. He drives more aggressive and willing to do crazier things than the rest of us probably are. No, I mean, it’s not frustrating at all on that aspect. I’m not jealous of any exposure he’s getting from it because he’s doing a good job with it. He’s just different and people like different. You have to keep your eye on him when you’re on the racetrack, but as a fan, I can see why he’s likable in that aspect.”   I’s been nearly three months since the last mile-and-a-half track. How fair is it to expect the Toyota’s to still be the ones to beat this weekend?“We’ll see, but I’m looking at it as — yeah, they’ll for sure be the ones to beat. I just felt like they were always a large step ahead of everybody on the mile-and-a-half stuff, so even if that gap has closed, I don’t expect us to have surpassed them on speed. But we’ll see . These three tracks are good for us, as well, and I felt like we were the next best to the Toyota’s at these three earlier in the year. Maybe not Vegas, but at least here and at Charlotte, from what I remember. Hopefully, we’ve closed the gap a lot. I definitely think we’ve probably closed it some, but they were really, really good, even dating back to last year.”   From your standpoint, does a one-point lead really mean anything different from, say, if it was a one-point deficit in the sense that, hey, we’re there now and now we just need to hold it? Do you feel a sense of adrenaline knowing that you’re there at least?“Well, I would always rather be one point ahead than one point behind. But even going back to after the win, I think we were nine points back, and I was like, okay, we’re there… we have a shot. If we can just keep having good finishes, we’ll get the points lead and all that. Now that you’re leading, nothing really changes, other than you’d like to not fall back. But even if you do, you still have time to make up for it. We’ll just keep plugging away. I’ve been really happy with the speed and, especially, the execution in these first three. I think they’ve gone pretty flawless for our team Now we have some tracks that we probably are even more confident at than the first three, outside of Bristol. But yeah, it’s just tough. It’s a lot of racing, a lot of tough competitors, and just a tough, tough series.”   So much was made during the offseason and during the process of landing on this postseason format. Do you think that three weeks in, the sample size is small, but this format is rewarding the things that it should to create an eventual champion come Homestead?“There’s not ever going to be a perfect format that I think that everybody in the world will agree on, but I think this has definitely been a much better format for crowning a –every champion is deserving, but crowning a deserving champion. I think now that we’ve been into it — I don’t know if it was you or somebody else a few weeks ago asked about stage points, I feel like stage points feel even more important than they’ve ever been, which you can argue is a good thing or a not so great thing. And, you know, we’ve scored the most stage points all year, I believe, now. But I feel like, if you really want to talk about I guess consistency, you can say, yeah, you need to be consistent all race. But I feel for the guys like Ryan Preece. He’s put together a really, really solid Chase to this point, yet he’s still maybe over 100 points out because he hasn’t been able to score hardly any stage points. If we didn’t have stage points, I bet he’d be three to five positions ahead of where he’s at in points right now. So, yeah, that’s the only thing I would look at being different, maybe.”  Before The Chase started, there was this invisible line that teams wanted to hit of being fifth or higher in points. Now, three races into The Chase, we have three drivers in the top-four who started outside the top-five in The Chase points. Do you feel that there will be a different viewpoint next season where you should stack up prior to The Chase? And did you think your climb through three races was going to happen this fast?“I would say I looked at our 55-point deficit as, not that we were out of winning the championship in any form, but I definitely did not think that was a deficit that we could overcome in two races. That’s what I’ve realized is that the points can swing a ton in this format, especially if you win. I look at (Ryan) Blaney for having two DNF’s and he’s in the 40s or something behind us, and in two races, he could be leading the points if he gets a win. Not even two wins, he could just take one win and good stage points and he could be leading. So, yeah, I think with seven races left, if you’re 80-something or more points back, you still have a shot, the way I look at it with this format and wins being so much more important. That part of it’s been nice.”   Kyle, how does this track challenge you? “Yeah, I don’t know. It’s not the most challenging mile-and-a-half, but it’s really kind of fast-paced, I feel like. It can change time to time here, depending on which way the wind is blowing. I feel like this place is really wind sensitive, depending on which direction it’s blowing. So that’s something that I always try to pay attention to when I’m here because it can affect your balance significantly. Restarts are crazy, as always, but here especially. It’s a pretty straightforward kind of mile-and-a-race, but one where if you don’t execute and you get yourself buried, it’s hard to overcome that track position.”   What’s crazier about the restarts than anywhere else?“I wouldn’t pinpoint this as the craziest, but just like every track, even if it doesn’t fit four wide, we’re going to try. Often you see people four wide, middle of the pack, or fanning out to everywhere because you need clean air. It’s fun because you feel like you have an opportunity every restart.”   It’s been a bit of a slower year for Hendrick Motorsports, compared to their normal traditional numbers. Despite that you still find yourself first in the point standing, does that mean something to you a little bit more than it traditionally would have been in the year that you might be a little bit down or a little bit, not as much in victory lane as you normally are, but yet you’re still ahead in the field?“Well, I just think it really, in a way, just shows the resilience of Hendrick Motorsports. I think it’d be easy, as an organization, to get down and, not give up, but lose hope a little bit. But I feel like at HMS, nobody ever lost hope. You know, it’s a long season and we all kind of felt like if we keep working hard, eventually it would turn around. We’re still not to where we want to be, but it is nice to say that a Hendrick Motorsports car has led the points at some point of the year, just for how challenging it’s been. So, yeah, now it’s just about keeping it up there and giving ourselves a chance as we approach the end of The Chase. I’ve been very, very proud of not only our 5 team, but every man and woman at Hendrick Motorsports. As you said, it’s been a tough year, but nobody’s slowed down.”  You mentioned the Toyota’s and the speed they had earlier. But Cliff (Daniels) and your team have been aggressive throughout The Chase and it’s panned out for the most part. Do you feel that if the Toyota’s are fast again, you guys are going to have to find a way to be aggressive to find another way to beat them in terms of strategy?“Yeah, that’s a good question. I don’t know. I guess, yeah, we have been aggressive when you look at it with strategy calls; staying out at Darlington, getting a little bit off sequence at Gateway, and then staying out at Bristol last week. I didn’t even really think about it like that, but we’ll see. You don’t really know what the race calls for on Saturday’s, so we’ll see. Once you get in the race, you kind of see where your speed’s at, what position you’re in and things. And then, you can get an idea on what you want your strategy plan to be if a caution comes out on a certain lap. Again, I feel like our team has just executed great in these first three race. Our pit crew has been solid. The strategy’s been solid. The car’s been solid. I feel like I’ve done a good job behind the wheel. Our spotter’s been great. We just have to stay focused, locked in and keep going.”  What are you able to take from a practice session this early? I know the temperature differences may not be as different as a typical weekend, but is there much you’re able to work on?“Yeah, you try not to pay attention to the lap time as much, but just more so feel your car and feel its balance. That can always be a little bit different, as well, once you get to Sunday with the race starting later and it being a little bit hotter. But you can still get some sense of your balance. And then, yeah, you just try to focus on qualifying; what that balance you feel in practice and what you need for qualifying. Also, what the lines feel like because I feel like it’s always changing, for sure, with the grip level on the track and what parts of the track feel grippier than others. So, yeah, you just try to learn that here in practice. And also, not over-read anything, I think, is good.”  Through the first three races, 13 Chase drivers have been involved in incidents. Last year, through the first three races of the Playoffs, only six drivers were involved in incidents. Do you feel like that’s the level of aggressiveness of The Chase that’s made drivers more aggressive?“Yeah, I’m not sure. I mean, at Gateway, there was just a lot of brake failures, so I think that can kind of sway those stats a little bit. I’m just trying to think of Darlington and Bristol, I don’t know. I don’t really remember who got involved in anything in those races. Obviously, you know, the Blaney thing was unique, as well.  But I’m not sure. I don’t really feel like the racing has been any different all year. I feel like we’re always aggressive, and you’re going for every position that you can, while being smart about it. So yeah, it’s probably just coincidence, I’m guessing, but I don’t know.”  Starting here at Kansas, we head into a stretch of three mile-and-a-half intermediate ovals. How important is it to find speed here tomorrow when setting up success for the next few weeks?“Yeah, I mean, with three mile-and-a-halves, we’d love to come here and be solid and have speed because I think that will give you more confidence as you go to Vegas and Charlotte. But, I mean, the cars haven’t changed, really, so if you were good there the previous time, you’re probably going to be pretty good when you go back again. We were good here. Just good, not great, at these next three, but I think we’ll be better. So, yeah, just show up and see what you got.”

The 10-time champion fends off one of the sport’s top young stars for his second win of the season

BAKERSFIELD, CA (September 25, 2026) – Donny Schatz looked 49 years young on Friday night.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series rolled into Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway amid a California swing that’s been controlled by California drivers and cars.

First it was James McFadden taking the Fresno, CA-based Tarlton Motorsports to Victory Lane at Stockton. Aromas, CA’s Justin Sanders pocketed $83,000 the next night in the Dennis Roth Classic finale. Then Lemoore, CA’s Carson Macedo was the hometown hero on Tuesday at Kings Speedway.

But Fargo, ND’s Donny Schatz crashed the California party.

Schatz turned back the clock in “Bako.” The 10-time Series champion got his elbows up on a tricky cushion to rip from fifth to second. Heartbreaking mechanical woes for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid while leading handed Schatz the top spot, but the job was far from done. Behind Schatz sat Clovis, CA’s Corey Day enjoying an off weekend from the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to return to his roots. Few are better at hammering the top than Day, but Schatz fended off several challenges from the 20-year-old gasser to take the CJB Motorsports No. 15 to Victory Lane.

“He (Day) threw everything at me,” Schatz said. “I had to do the same thing in return. He was going for it. He’s obviously one of the best racers in the country. First race I’ve finished all week, and it was a win. Awesome for these guys, man. I’ve caused so many bent parts. It’s been a hell of a week. We were hanging out at Brent Kaeding’s, kind of where I started when I first came out to California. Brent kind of took me under his wing and kind of did that again this week to help us get through. I appreciate their help.”

Schatz is up to 318 career World of Outlaws victories, and Friday marked his second since joining CJB Motorsports. It was his first in the state of California since a 2017 Calistoga triumph. Bakersfield became the seventh different “Golden State” facility where he’s won, joining Silver Dollar Speedway, Calistoga Speedway, Thunderbowl Speedway, Stockton Dirt Track, Kings Speedway, and Placerville Speedway. Bakersfield is also the 91st different overall track where Schatz has grabbed a checkered flag with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Corey Day collected his second straight runner-up finish in his home state aboard the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14.

Chris Windom was impressive all night in the Sides Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink No. 7S to finish third and bring home his third podium of the season.

Spencer Bayston and Emerson Axsom completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Bill Balog clocked the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Corey Day set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Corey Day (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Skylar Gee (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), and Buddy Kofoid (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Buddy Kofoid.

Kofoid also topped the Toyota Dash.

Carson Macedo wheeled from 22nd to 10th to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Buddy Kofoid laid down the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Buddy Kofoid.

TURNING BACK TIME: Schatz Rips Bakersfield Cushion to Victory Lane

The 10-time champion fends off one of the sport’s top young stars for his second win of the season

BAKERSFIELD, CA (September 25, 2026) – Donny Schatz looked 49 years young on Friday night.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series rolled into Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway amid a California swing that’s been controlled by California drivers and cars.

First it was James McFadden taking the Fresno, CA-based Tarlton Motorsports to Victory Lane at Stockton. Aromas, CA’s Justin Sanders pocketed $83,000 the next night in the Dennis Roth Classic finale. Then Lemoore, CA’s Carson Macedo was the hometown hero on Tuesday at Kings Speedway.

But Fargo, ND’s Donny Schatz crashed the California party.

Schatz turned back the clock in “Bako.” The 10-time Series champion got his elbows up on a tricky cushion to rip from fifth to second. Heartbreaking mechanical woes for Michael “Buddy” Kofoid while leading handed Schatz the top spot, but the job was far from done. Behind Schatz sat Clovis, CA’s Corey Day enjoying an off weekend from the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to return to his roots. Few are better at hammering the top than Day, but Schatz fended off several challenges from the 20-year-old gasser to take the CJB Motorsports No. 15 to Victory Lane.

“He (Day) threw everything at me,” Schatz said. “I had to do the same thing in return. He was going for it. He’s obviously one of the best racers in the country. First race I’ve finished all week, and it was a win. Awesome for these guys, man. I’ve caused so many bent parts. It’s been a hell of a week. We were hanging out at Brent Kaeding’s, kind of where I started when I first came out to California. Brent kind of took me under his wing and kind of did that again this week to help us get through. I appreciate their help.”

Schatz is up to 318 career World of Outlaws victories, and Friday marked his second since joining CJB Motorsports. It was his first in the state of California since a 2017 Calistoga triumph. Bakersfield became the seventh different “Golden State” facility where he’s won, joining Silver Dollar Speedway, Calistoga Speedway, Thunderbowl Speedway, Stockton Dirt Track, Kings Speedway, and Placerville Speedway. Bakersfield is also the 91st different overall track where Schatz has grabbed a checkered flag with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Corey Day collected his second straight runner-up finish in his home state aboard the Jason Meyers Racing No. 14.

Chris Windom was impressive all night in the Sides Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink No. 7S to finish third and bring home his third podium of the season.

Spencer Bayston and Emerson Axsom completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Bill Balog clocked the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Corey Day set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Corey Day (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Skylar Gee (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), and Buddy Kofoid (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Buddy Kofoid.

Kofoid also topped the Toyota Dash.

Carson Macedo wheeled from 22nd to 10th to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Sheldon Haudenschild was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Emerson Axsom was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Buddy Kofoid laid down the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Buddy Kofoid.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars close out the California swing with the Series debut at Ventura Raceway for the Toyota Racing Battle at the Beach presented by ARP on Saturday, Sept. 26. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

PERFECT NIGHT: Ryan Timms Dominates for First-Career Eldora Victory with High Limit Liebig Motorsports #10 Team Records Perfect Night in BeFour the Crowns Showdown

ROSSBURG, OHIO. (September 25, 2026) – To this day, Ryan Timms vividly remembers how intimidated he felt during the 2022 4-Crown Nationals – when he made his first laps around the daunting Eldora Speedway. Fast forward four years to the same event on Friday night, and the now 20-year-old scored his first win at the iconic facility – a win that he claimed as one of the most special of his career. Making his 21st attempt at the Rossburg, Ohio half-mile, Timms’ record at “The Big E” was less than ideal and he’d be the first to tell you. He did had have a few solid runs with the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets, but he had only recorded one single top-10 finish in his first 17 winged attempts at the track. That all changed during the Night BeFour the Crowns Showdown, though, as Timms and his Liebig Motorsports #10 team absolutely dominated from start-to-finish of the night. In fact, they were quite literally perfect by topping Capitol Renegade Qualifying, going fourth-to-first in TJ Forged Heat 1, winning the FK Rod Ends Dash from the pole, and then leading all 25 laps of the Interstate Batteries A-Main for a $12,000 score. For the 20-year-old Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native, it was his 17th overall score of the 2026 season with half-mile wins at iconic venues such as Knoxville, Port Royal, Sedalia, and now Eldora. The win marked his second Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing win this month and the third of his young career. Following Timms for all 25 laps on Friday was outside pole sitter Giovanni Scelzi, who settled for second-place honors in the Chili’s Grill & Bar #77 with his Spire Motorsports boss Jeff Dickerson in the house. With only six series events left in 2026, they’ve cut the gap down to 14pts behind Reutzel/RSR in the battle for a championship runner-up in their first High Limit season. In the third position with his second-career Eldora podium was Tanner Holmes in the Buch Motorsports #13. He and crew chief Sean Strausbaugh continue to click together – earning top-five finishes in California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Ohio within the last month. Brady Bacon, after finishing second on Thursday with the USAC Sprint Cars and then qualifying third on Friday with USAC Silver Crown, drove the Vermeer Motorsports #55 to his best effort yet with a P4 finish in High Limit action. He took the final lock-in to Saturday’s Heat Races at the 4-Crown Nationals. Closing out the top-10 at the Night BeFour the Crowns Showdown was Tyler Courtney in the NOS Energy Drink #7BC, Aaron Reutzel in the PowerPlus #87, Rico Abreu in the Carquest Auto Parts #24, Kasey Kahne in the LiUNA #4, Daison Pursley in the NAPA Auto Parts #9, and Chase Randall in the Bush’s Chicken #9R. THE ALL-IN NOTEBOOK (Friday, September 25, 2026)Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, Ohio)The Night BeFour the Crowns Showdown Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps – Tyler Courtney (13.099)Capitol Custom Trailers QuickTime (Flight A) – Ryan Timms (13.019)Capitol Custom Trailers QuickTime (Flight B) – Tyler Courtney (13.076)TJ Forged Heat One Winner – Ryan TimmsDMI Heat Two Winner – Giovanni ScelziBR Motorsports Heat Three Winner – Cameron SmithRod End Supply Heat Four Winner – Rico AbreuFK Rod Ends Dash Winner – Ryan TimmsWinters Performance B-Main Winner – Kalib HenryDURST Dice Roll Driver – Rico Abreu (7th-to-7th)Jake’s Golf Carts Fastest Lap – Ryan Timms (14.381 on Lap 5)Rod End Supply Hard Charger – Chase Randall +12 (22nd-to-10th)Whiskey Meyers Victory Lane Visitors – Liebig Motorsports #10 (2nd of year)CASM Win Sticker – Ryan Timms (3rd of career)Lap Leader(s) – Ryan Timms 1-25 Interstate Batteries A-Main Results (25 Laps): 1. 10-Ryan Timms[1]; 2. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 3. 13-Tanner Holmes[3]; 4. 55-Brady Bacon[4]; 5. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[6]; 6. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5]; 7. 24-Rico Abreu[7]; 8. 4-Kasey Kahne[11]; 9. 9-Daison Pursley[12]; 10. 9R-Chase Randall[22]; 11. 1A-Cameron Smith[8]; 12. 88W-Austin McCarl[9]; 13. 5-Kasey Jedrzejek[14]; 14. 66-Ryan Newton[15]; 15. 26-Justin Peck[13]; 16. 17GP-Kerry Madsen[18]; 17. 101-Kalib Henry[21]; 18. 6-Zach Hampton[23]; 19. 88-Tanner Thorson[24]; 20. 42-Sye Lynch[10]; 21. 28-Jace Park[19]; 22. 17A-Jack Anderson[16]; 23. 71-Parker Price Miller[20]; 24. 19-Brent Marks[25]; 25. 24D-Danny Sams III[17] NEW Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Championship Standings (After 48/54 Races):1. 2,849 pts – Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #24 (Rico Abreu)2. -99 pts – Ridge & Sons Racing #87 (Aaron Reutzel)3. -113 pts – Spire Motorsports #77 (Giovanni Scelzi)4. -238 pts – Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC (Tyler Courtney)5. -261 pts – Rudeen Racing #26 (Justin Peck)6. -313 pts – Chase Briscoe Racing #19 (Brent Marks)7. -351 pts – JST Motorsports #88 (Tanner Thorson)8. -465 pts – Buch Motorsports #13 (Tanner Holmes)9. -507 pts – Vermeer Motorsports #55 (Brady Bacon)10. -616 pts – Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9 (Daison Pursley)11. -937 pts – CJB Motorsports #5 (Brenham Crouch sub w/ Kasey Jedrzejek)12. -953 pts – Chase Randall Racing #9R (Chase Randall)13. -992 pts – Mosites Lynch Racing #42 (Sye Lynch)14. -1,081 pts – Randerson Racing #24D (Danny Sams III)15. -1,118 pts – Michael Dutcher Motorsports #17GP (Brock Zearfoss) WHAT’S NEXT: The famed 4-Crown Nationals will conclude on Saturday, September 26 with four spectacular open-wheel divisions all competing for $15,000-to-win features at Eldora Speedway. Joining Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing on the docket are the USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Midgets, and USAC Silver Crown. On Sunday, September 27, High Limit heads back to Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway for a rescheduled Driven2SaveLives Sunday Funday marking the finale of the Roto-Rooter Midweek Series. Tickets are available for purchase at HighLimitRacing.com, or you can watch every event live on FloRacing.

Rain, fog cancels qualifying for TF Sport Corvettes and rest of FIA WEC field OYAMA, Shizuoka, Japan (September 26, 2026) – TF Sport’s two Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will provisionally start the Six Hours of Fuji in the eighth and 10th positions in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship after Saturday’s qualifying session was cancelled.

Heavy rain pelted Fuji Speedway throughout the day Saturday, and that plus dense fog spelled the fate for the qualifying and Hyperpole session for both Hypercar and LMGT3. It was a turn of bad luck for TF Sport and its Corvettes as the team showed strong pace in Saturday morning’s rainy final practice session. Instead the field will start in order of fastest combined practice times. The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey will be the first of the TF entries on the grid. Eastwood was the quickest driver in final practice, and Dempsey was the fastest of the driving trio across the three practice sessions. The LMGT3 Team Championship-leading No. 33 Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating will start directly behind its sister entry. Both Edgar – who leads the Drivers Championship on his own – and Keating also were quick in Saturday’s session but still will start in points-paying position, just like the No. 34. The TF squad and its Corvettes are looking to make it two in a row at Fuji Speedway and win their third LMGT3 race of the season. Solid results for the No. 33 and No. 34 Corvette GT3s will go a long way toward determining this year’s final championship standings. The Six Hours of Fuji for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 11 a.m. Japan Standard Time on Sunday / 10 p.m. ET on Saturday. Live streaming coverage of the race plus timing and scoring is available through a subscription on FIA WEC Plus with additional live streaming on the HBO Max app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will provide live streaming audio coverage as well.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-(NO) QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I think it’s a big shame. Both cars seemed really strong in the rain. Ben was really quick. The car felt quick. Nicky and I didn’t get a whole lot of laps. We were trying some things and scrubbing some tires, but it felt like even with minimal laps we were really fast and the car felt easy to drive. It’s a big shame because I think we would have had a strong result. We should start P10 which isn’t too bad. But based on this morning I think we would have had a very good chance fighting for pole or if not that then I expect we would have been in the top-five at least. It’s a shame but nothing we can do about it.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I really wanted to qualify. I’ve yet to put in Hyperpole this season, and I feel like today was my opportunity to do that in the wet because I looked quick in the morning practice in the wet. From a competition perspective, it’s not a terrible result. It looks like we’ll start P10 but second-place in the championship will start on the back row. Third-place will be between the 34 and 33. So as it sits right now, I feel like we’re going to have a decent shot at having a good race. I wanted to qualify but it is what it is.”

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R (after FP3): “We obviously ended up P1 there. I only had four laps at the end and got in with 10 or 11 minutes to go. With the wet, you’re always chipping away lap by lap especially in practice; you don’t want to overcook it. We had a race in the wet at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago, and the Corvette performed super well so I was confident in what the car can do. It bodes well for this afternoon but to be honest we look good in the dry as well. So I really have no massive preference if it’s wet or dry tomorrow.”

CORVETTE RACING AT FUJI: High Hopes for Double-Points FinishRain, fog cancels qualifying for TF Sport Corvettes and rest of FIA WEC field OYAMA, Shizuoka, Japan (September 26, 2026) – TF Sport’s two Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will provisionally start the Six Hours of Fuji in the eighth and 10th positions in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship after Saturday’s qualifying session was cancelled.

Heavy rain pelted Fuji Speedway throughout the day Saturday, and that plus dense fog spelled the fate for the qualifying and Hyperpole session for both Hypercar and LMGT3. It was a turn of bad luck for TF Sport and its Corvettes as the team showed strong pace in Saturday morning’s rainy final practice session. Instead the field will start in order of fastest combined practice times. The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette of Charlie Eastwood, Salih Yoluc and Peter Dempsey will be the first of the TF entries on the grid. Eastwood was the quickest driver in final practice, and Dempsey was the fastest of the driving trio across the three practice sessions. The LMGT3 Team Championship-leading No. 33 Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating will start directly behind its sister entry. Both Edgar – who leads the Drivers Championship on his own – and Keating also were quick in Saturday’s session but still will start in points-paying position, just like the No. 34. The TF squad and its Corvettes are looking to make it two in a row at Fuji Speedway and win their third LMGT3 race of the season. Solid results for the No. 33 and No. 34 Corvette GT3s will go a long way toward determining this year’s final championship standings. The Six Hours of Fuji for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 11 a.m. Japan Standard Time on Sunday / 10 p.m. ET on Saturday. Live streaming coverage of the race plus timing and scoring is available through a subscription on FIA WEC Plus with additional live streaming on the HBO Max app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will provide live streaming audio coverage as well.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-(NO) QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I think it’s a big shame. Both cars seemed really strong in the rain. Ben was really quick. The car felt quick. Nicky and I didn’t get a whole lot of laps. We were trying some things and scrubbing some tires, but it felt like even with minimal laps we were really fast and the car felt easy to drive. It’s a big shame because I think we would have had a strong result. We should start P10 which isn’t too bad. But based on this morning I think we would have had a very good chance fighting for pole or if not that then I expect we would have been in the top-five at least. It’s a shame but nothing we can do about it.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I really wanted to qualify. I’ve yet to put in Hyperpole this season, and I feel like today was my opportunity to do that in the wet because I looked quick in the morning practice in the wet. From a competition perspective, it’s not a terrible result. It looks like we’ll start P10 but second-place in the championship will start on the back row. Third-place will be between the 34 and 33. So as it sits right now, I feel like we’re going to have a decent shot at having a good race. I wanted to qualify but it is what it is.”

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R (after FP3): “We obviously ended up P1 there. I only had four laps at the end and got in with 10 or 11 minutes to go. With the wet, you’re always chipping away lap by lap especially in practice; you don’t want to overcook it. We had a race in the wet at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago, and the Corvette performed super well so I was confident in what the car can do. It bodes well for this afternoon but to be honest we look good in the dry as well. So I really have no massive preference if it’s wet or dry tomorrow.”

PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We’ve had the car in a good window since we got here – both in dry and wet conditions. So I think we’re ready for whatever this place is willing to throw at us. As a team we’ve been strong. We’ll start P8, which is typically around where we’ve started. Hopefully Salih can do a good couple of stints, get the car to the front and try to do something similar to what we did at Interlagos.“You want to perform in the last few races of the year. We wanted to rebound from a pretty tough event at COTA. It’s my first time here. Obviously I’m having to learn another new track. But I’m really enjoying Japan in general and Fuji is phenomenal. The car feels good. Charlie is doing a good job as always and showing us up! We’re just trying to keep up with him.”

PEVELY, MO (September 25, 2026) – The month of September continues to be unforgettable for Nick Hoffman.

He won his first World 100. He announced his his role as the new full-time dirt Late Model driver at Spire Motorsports for 2027. And now, Hoffman is a World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision winner at the track that means more to him than any.

A native of nearby Belleville, IL, Hoffman spent countless nights as a child in the grandstands at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park watching his dad, Darrell, along with all of his other racing heroes.

A move to Mooresville, NC took him away for a few years, but he returned as a teenager to hit the track himself in a DIRTcar UMP Modified. Hoffman won several races on the open-wheel side at Pevely, but ever since he started Late Model racing, a Pevely win has always been high on his to-do list.

Prior to Friday night, his best result in the full-fendered division was a seventh last year with the World of Outlaws. But after winning his Heat Race to start third in the Feature, he knew he had a chance to improve on that. The first two laps were spent racing side-by-side with Tim McCreadie for second, with Hoffman eventually clearing McCreadie off Turn 4 to win that battle.

Two laps later, Hoffman reached the back bumper of race leader Dallon Murty, and he slid up in front of the No. 13 in Turns 3 and 4 to take the lead. From there, Hoffman remained glued to the inside wall in the corners for the rest of the race, driving away from the rest of the field in the process.

Behind Hoffman, things were a whole lot more dicey. World of Outlaws points leader Bobby Pierce struggled for most of the night, resorting to a Last Chance Showdown to earn the 17th spot in the starting order. The “Smooth Operator” didn’t stay there for long, though, as Pierce pounded the Pevely cushion to climb all the way to second with 10 laps remaining. But with a gap of nearly five seconds between himself and Hoffman at that point, it looked like second was as high as he could get – until the caution came out with nine to go.

The final run to the checkered flag was a duel between the top two cars on tour, but Hoffman’s low line won out over Pierce up high. The win was Hoffman’s seventh of the season in World of Outlaws competition, but it snapped an 18-race drought dating back to his $100,000 score at Mansfield Speedway on May 30. Hoffman also moved into a tie with his good friend Jonathan Davenport for 15th on the all-time Series wins list with 18 wins in his career.

“I was going to probably get yelled at by my old man [Darrell] if I let [Pierce] pass me on the top,” Hoffman said. “Earlier, he said, ‘If you’re doing it right, you’re going to knock that spoiler off to win this race tonight.’ I just wanted to prove to him that I can get it done around the bottom. I just gambled on tires, I don’t know what [Pierce] was on, but almost the whole field was on softer stuff than I was. It was kind of a gamble there and it just played out. I had to get to the lead to control the race a little bit. It was throwing dry crumbs across the racetrack where you couldn’t run that middle very well, and I was just gauging myself off them lap cars. A couple guys could get the top rolling, but I remember Trevor Gundaker squirting off the bottom really nice, so I knew I just had to stay committed to that.”

Behind Hoffman and Pierce, McCreadie held on for third to complete the podium ahead of Dennis Erb Jr. in fourth and Jason Feger in fifth.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision will be back at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, for the second half of the King of the Arch. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Aaron Marrant set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Tyler Erb won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Dallon Murty won Heat 1.

Tristan Chamberlain won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Nick Hoffman won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Tim McCreadie won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Bobby Pierce and Ethan Dotson won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Dallon Murty won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Bobby Pierce won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Bobby Pierce was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Jason Feger was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Shannon Babb was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

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

Tristan Chamberlain was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

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

Brent Larson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Ryan Gustin was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[3]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[17]; 3. 9M-Tim McCreadie[2]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 5. 25-Jason Feger[14]; 6. 18-Shannon Babb[6]; 7. 58V-Daulton Wilson[12]; 8. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[4]; 9. 11-Gordy Gundaker[9]; 10. 1-Tyler Erb[10]; 11. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 12. B1-Brent Larson[24]; 13. 74X-Ethan Dotson[18]; 14. 19R-Ryan Gustin[8]; 15. 1Z-Logan Zarin[11]; 16. 18J-Chase Junghans[13]; 17. 14-Trey Mills[22]; 18. 19-Dustin Sorensen[23]; 19. 11G-Trevor Gundaker[20]; 20. 1X-Aaron Marrant[5]; 21. 09-Michael Leach[21]; 22. 55E-Eli Johnson[15]; 23. 11H-Jeff Herzog[19]; 24. 33H-Wil Herrington[16]

Hoffman Gets First I-55 Late Model Win in King of the Arch Opener

PEVELY, MO (September 25, 2026) – The month of September continues to be unforgettable for Nick Hoffman.

He won his first World 100. He announced his his role as the new full-time dirt Late Model driver at Spire Motorsports for 2027. And now, Hoffman is a World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision winner at the track that means more to him than any.

A native of nearby Belleville, IL, Hoffman spent countless nights as a child in the grandstands at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park watching his dad, Darrell, along with all of his other racing heroes.

A move to Mooresville, NC took him away for a few years, but he returned as a teenager to hit the track himself in a DIRTcar UMP Modified. Hoffman won several races on the open-wheel side at Pevely, but ever since he started Late Model racing, a Pevely win has always been high on his to-do list.

Prior to Friday night, his best result in the full-fendered division was a seventh last year with the World of Outlaws. But after winning his Heat Race to start third in the Feature, he knew he had a chance to improve on that. The first two laps were spent racing side-by-side with Tim McCreadie for second, with Hoffman eventually clearing McCreadie off Turn 4 to win that battle.

Two laps later, Hoffman reached the back bumper of race leader Dallon Murty, and he slid up in front of the No. 13 in Turns 3 and 4 to take the lead. From there, Hoffman remained glued to the inside wall in the corners for the rest of the race, driving away from the rest of the field in the process.

Behind Hoffman, things were a whole lot more dicey. World of Outlaws points leader Bobby Pierce struggled for most of the night, resorting to a Last Chance Showdown to earn the 17th spot in the starting order. The “Smooth Operator” didn’t stay there for long, though, as Pierce pounded the Pevely cushion to climb all the way to second with 10 laps remaining. But with a gap of nearly five seconds between himself and Hoffman at that point, it looked like second was as high as he could get – until the caution came out with nine to go.

The final run to the checkered flag was a duel between the top two cars on tour, but Hoffman’s low line won out over Pierce up high. The win was Hoffman’s seventh of the season in World of Outlaws competition, but it snapped an 18-race drought dating back to his $100,000 score at Mansfield Speedway on May 30. Hoffman also moved into a tie with his good friend Jonathan Davenport for 15th on the all-time Series wins list with 18 wins in his career.

“I was going to probably get yelled at by my old man [Darrell] if I let [Pierce] pass me on the top,” Hoffman said. “Earlier, he said, ‘If you’re doing it right, you’re going to knock that spoiler off to win this race tonight.’ I just wanted to prove to him that I can get it done around the bottom. I just gambled on tires, I don’t know what [Pierce] was on, but almost the whole field was on softer stuff than I was. It was kind of a gamble there and it just played out. I had to get to the lead to control the race a little bit. It was throwing dry crumbs across the racetrack where you couldn’t run that middle very well, and I was just gauging myself off them lap cars. A couple guys could get the top rolling, but I remember Trevor Gundaker squirting off the bottom really nice, so I knew I just had to stay committed to that.”

Behind Hoffman and Pierce, McCreadie held on for third to complete the podium ahead of Dennis Erb Jr. in fourth and Jason Feger in fifth.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision will be back at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, for the second half of the King of the Arch. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Aaron Marrant set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Tyler Erb won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Dallon Murty won Heat 1.

Tristan Chamberlain won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Nick Hoffman won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Tim McCreadie won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Bobby Pierce and Ethan Dotson won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Dallon Murty won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Bobby Pierce won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Bobby Pierce was the Air National Guard Second-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Jason Feger was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Shannon Babb was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

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

Tristan Chamberlain was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

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

Brent Larson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Ryan Gustin was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[3]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[17]; 3. 9M-Tim McCreadie[2]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 5. 25-Jason Feger[14]; 6. 18-Shannon Babb[6]; 7. 58V-Daulton Wilson[12]; 8. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[4]; 9. 11-Gordy Gundaker[9]; 10. 1-Tyler Erb[10]; 11. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 12. B1-Brent Larson[24]; 13. 74X-Ethan Dotson[18]; 14. 19R-Ryan Gustin[8]; 15. 1Z-Logan Zarin[11]; 16. 18J-Chase Junghans[13]; 17. 14-Trey Mills[22]; 18. 19-Dustin Sorensen[23]; 19. 11G-Trevor Gundaker[20]; 20. 1X-Aaron Marrant[5]; 21. 09-Michael Leach[21]; 22. 55E-Eli Johnson[15]; 23. 11H-Jeff Herzog[19]; 24. 33H-Wil Herrington[16]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/hoffman-gets-first-i-55-late-model-win-in-king-of-the-arch-opener/

O’Neal Sweeps Brownstown Speedway’s C.J. Rayburn Memorial

BROWNSTOWN, IN (September 25, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal returned Friday night to the track where he began his racing career and led wire-to-wire to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown Speedway. In addition to the $10,000 winner’s purse, O’Neal earned a $5,000 bonus from Big River Steel, bringing his total winnings to $15,000 for SSI Motorsports. O’Neal completed a clean sweep of the night and cut Brandon Sheppard’s championship points lead to 25 heading into Saturday night’s $50,000-to-win Jackson 100. Sheppard passed Ricky Thornton Jr. with 10 laps remaining to finish second. Thornton rounded out the Big River Steel podium in third. Josh Rice and Brandon Overton completed the top five. O’Neal visited Wieland Victory Lane for the 40th time in his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series career. The 26-year-old Martinsville, Indiana, native recorded his ninth career win at Brownstown, where he began racing 10 years ago. “It means a lot to win this race. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big race or a local race; it just seems to mean a little more. I grew up racing here, and it’s been a few years since I have won here. So it’s pretty cool to be standing back up here on this stage. It’s a good time to start doing it, too. We have a tight points battle. It’s coming down to the wire, so finding some speed at the right time of the year is really important for us,” said the 2019 Jackson 100 winner. “C.J. Rayburn meant so much to my dad (Don O’Neal) throughout his career, even at the end. My dad credited C.J. for a lot of his career. So it’s pretty cool to win this and put my name on this trophy. Knowing my dad, it probably means a little bit more to him as well. Hopefully we can get our second Jackson win tomorrow.” Sheppard entered the weekend with a 55-point lead over O’Neal, but O’Neal trimmed 30 points from that advantage Friday night. “I felt like we had a pretty good car there. I felt pretty balanced. The later the race went, the better I was getting. Hudson kind of found a line that I was running late in lapped traffic, and he was diamonding off between a few of those guys. So, I don’t know if there was anything I could do to pass him. Congrats to him. He did a good job. It was a fun race. The track was pretty tricky there. We are 50/50 in that type of track condition here.” Thornton, who has won two of the last three Jackson 100s, ran second until 10 laps remained and finished third. “I felt like I had about 12 laps to do something. Congrats to Hud. His stuff was good, and he could get through traffic a little bit better than we could. We have a lot to work on for tomorrow.” O’Neal’s winning Todd and Vickie Burns/SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Merrill Bonding, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Sunoco Race Fuels, Beeman Lumber, Indiana USSSA Fastpitch Softball, Seven Spurs Ranch, Penske Racing Shocks, Dicky’s Doghouse, and Lucas Oil Products. Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Clay Harris, Max Blair, and Mike Marlar completed the top 10. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 5th Annual CJ Rayburn MemorialFriday, September 25, 2026Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, IN Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Hudson O’Neal | 13.635 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport | 13.782 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 11-Josh Rice[3]; 3. 12J-Jason Jameson[2]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 5. 157-Mike Marlar[5]; 6. 76S-Shelby Miles[7]; 7. D48-Derek Groomer[9]; 8. 18L-Trevor Landrum[8]; 9. 17SR-Brody Smith[6]; 10. 42-Terry Casey[10] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 2. 111-Max Blair[3]; 3. C7-Adam Stricker[1]; 4. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]; 5. 60-Dan Ebert[4]; 6. 93F-Carson Ferguson[5]; 7. 11C-Tyler Collins[7]; 8. 4-Cody Mahoney[8]; 9. 22X-Matt Boknecht[9]; 10. 1CJ-Justin Shaw[10] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 3. 22F-Chris Ferguson[7]; 4. 20-Tyler Neal[4]; 5. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[8]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith[6]; 7. S21-Seth Daniels[5]; 8. P3-Steve Peeden[9]; 9. JD3-Jack Dossey III[10]; 10. 71D-Don O’Neal[3] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[8]; 5. 32-Chad Stapleton[6]; 6. 15R-James Rice[5]; 7. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 8. 21R-Colby Reed[9]; 9. (DNS) 1G-Devin Gilpin Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 93F-Carson Ferguson[4]; 3. D48-Derek Groomer[5]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 5. 11C-Tyler Collins[6]; 6. 17SR-Brody Smith[9]; 7. 76S-Shelby Miles[3]; 8. 18L-Trevor Landrum[7]; 9. 42-Terry Casey[11]; 10. 1CJ-Justin Shaw[12]; 11. 4-Cody Mahoney[8]; 12. (DNS) 22X-Matt Boknecht UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[1]; 2. 17SS-Brenden Smith[3]; 3. S21-Seth Daniels[5]; 4. 32-Chad Stapleton[2]; 5. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 6. 15R-James Rice[4]; 7. JD3-Jack Dossey III[9]; 8. P3-Steve Peeden[7]; 9. 21R-Colby Reed[8]; 10. (DNS) 71D-Don O’Neal; 11. (DNS) 1G-Devin Gilpin 5th Annual CJ Rayburn Memorial | Feature Finish (40 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $15,0002 – 3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $5,6003 – 4 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $3,5004 – 5 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,8005 – 8 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,5006 – 2 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $2,3007 – 12 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $2,2008 – 6 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,1009 – 7 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $2,05010 – 17 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $2,00011 – 15 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,60012 – 19 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $1,40013 – 9 – 12J – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $1,20014 – 21 – D48 – Derek Groomer – Bloomington, IN – $1,00015 – 11 – C7 – Adam Stricker – Batavia, OH – $95016 – 10 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $92517 – 13 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $90018 – 24 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $87519 – 23 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $85020 – 20 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $82521 – 14 – 20 – Tyler Neal – Paragon, IN – $80022 – 16 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $80023 – 25 – 11C – Tyler Collins – North Vernon, IN – $80024 – 22 – S21 – Seth Daniels – Jackson, OH – $80025 – 18 – 99JR – Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – $800 Race Statistics  Entrants: 39Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Hudson O’NealMD3 Lap Leaders: Hudson O’NealHellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’NealWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 1.057 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: n/aMyRacePass Series Provisional: Garrett Alberson; Dan EbertFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: Tyler CollinsBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton, Jr.Penske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Josh Rice, Brandon OvertonBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton, Jr.PEM 4th Place Feature: Josh RiceDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Devin MoranWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dillon McCowanVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Jason JamesonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Adam StrickerHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Mike Marlar (Advanced 7 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (40 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon SheppardO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | Lap 3 | 15.328 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Frank Heckenast JrVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Brandon SheppardOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason DurhamARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Mike Marlar | 13.2684 secondsTime of Race: 10 minutes 52 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 6535 – $273,5002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 6510 – $259,7003 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 6395 – $313,0744 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 6060 – $158,6005 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 6020 – $243,1256 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 5905 – $153,1257 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 5640 – $193,2758 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 5550 – $109,8009 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 5505 – $119,92510 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 5250 – $102,475

NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes September 25, 2026

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Kansas Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

NASCAR Cup SeriesKansas SpeedwayTeam Chevy Driver QuotesSeptember 25, 2026

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Kansas Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:  How aware are you of what (Ryan) Blaney’s been saying this week? Did you watch the clips from the podcast? I heard you reference what he said on the podcast. Did you consume the whole thing? What did you think of what he’s been saying?“Yeah, I saw it, and I was shocked that he went on there, obviously. But, you know, he’s very scrappy. I’ve been cool with him. You know, before, I thought we’d been racing really well together. There are a lot of times, like at Atlanta, where he’s coming out on top, but it’s me and him. He’s the only Ford up there. I’m the only Chevy up there. And then, it’s us versus the Toyota’s, so we kind of had to help each other at times. So, that’s been a good working relationship-ish.  And then, yeah, we’ve been cool. I think Ryan’s one of the coolest guys in the garage. I mean, he’s got a cool mustache, drinks whiskey and all that, right? I think he looks the part really well. I thought he made me more of a fan, honestly. When he went on there, I had respect for that, for sure. He could have held some ice on his eye and whatnot, but he went right out there and did it, and I have the utmost respect for that.  I didn’t want to hit him, and looking back, I one-hundred percent see where he wanted to maybe just throw a shove in there and then yell. I think we both saw each other, but in the moment, you’re not going to see that. You’re going to predict the worst.”   Is there any part of Saturday night that you regret, as far as any of the post-race stuff? “No, I don’t think so. You know, I was a little worried. My dad’s probably the least controversial or confrontational person I’ve ever met in my life. He’s got a local business, so he freaks out if he gets a bad Google review. So, yeah, I texted him and I was like, man, sorry about that. He was proud that I defended myself. I feel like that’s what you’d want to see out of a son, per se.  I feel like if we’re racing anywhere lower than second, I would maybe look at it differently. But I think Blaney would too, right? I think neither one of us would have put ourselves near that spot. But at Bristol, you’ve kind of got to be second or at least where the choose is. You line up behind Ty (Gibbs) there and that’s probably the best possible spot to win the race. You’re going to be the most aggressive just trying to hold on to that spot, so I think that’s just the Bristol experience.”    The handful of incidents that you’ve been involved in that’s triggered the most, I guess, animus, it seems to be situations where there’s a perceived code that you should maybe lift in that situation. It’s a question of the give or take. What is your personal philosophy, when and where, to give someone that break that they seem to expect you to give that you’re seemingly not?“Yeah, I mean, I get pointed by periodically throughout races, and I point people by, as well, right? But certain situations, obviously, I think you want to be as aggressive as possible because this car is obviously really tough to pass with in dirty air. But at the same time, I think I bear a lot of the responsibility for probably 95 percent of those incidents. Bristol, maybe, is in the minority there.  But at the same time, I think similar to Bristol, if you kind of play the defense, I think this car loads the defense, right? You can aero block and sometimes you’ve got to blitz and just see if you can make some aggressive moves to catch the quarterback off guard, per se, right? For me, I gladly point people by, especially the ones I probably have dumped or maybe owe one towards me. A lot of it’s just trying to get every spot you can and knowing when that spot is available, similar to a second at Bristol towards the end of the race. You know, you might not get that spot back. Especially for me in that spot, I got loose and Blaney got under me, right? I was like, dang, I want to try and still fight for this. I just think a lot of it’s racing. A lot of it’s circumstantial. I think the Chase probably raises that intensity for everybody. Sometimes the defense raises their bar, and then things just get elevated and you’re playing a game of chicken with racecars.”    Ordinarily, like a week after a fight or an on-track thing, there’s still a lot of tension. We saw that with Brad (Keselowski) and the RFK guys after Darlington. There seems to be this weird sort of like kinsmanship or at least some mutual respect. You’ve talked about how much you admire him, and he’s not really beat you up, really, publicly. Is there an opportunity or a willingness on your end to go seek him out this weekend and say, hey, let’s try to figure this out so it doesn’t linger on the rest of the chase or next year?“Yeah, I mean, for me, I’ve watched this sport all my life. This tends to be the stuff that brings people closer together and you laugh about it. I’ve never had a problem, really, with him on a racetrack. We’ve been running good together. I think he’s as stand-up of a guy as he could be. He could look at it and know that that was just racing and whatnot. In the heat of the moment, ever driver is going to be biased towards themselves. And then you look at it and maybe look at things differently. You know, I looked at some things differently, obviously, from the situation. But at the same time, when you’re in the heat of the moment, it’s just the heat of the moment.”   I don’t know if you saw Joey’s (Logano) clip earlier in the week, but he said, essentially, if you didn’t have the reputation you did, you probably would have won the race last week. How do you balance that going forward because the ultimate goal is winning?“Yeah, I mean, I think that’s possible. But at the same time, I had a lot of fun racing with Ty (Gibbs). Him and I have been letting each other go and been racing a lot, super respectfully, right? But towards the end of the race, and obviously with a special tribute car, obviously he’s going to be wanting to win with that with how fast they were. But also, for the 20 extra points with how close he is to a shot for the points championship. I thought we’d been racing each other fine, and I enjoyed it. It seemed like a really good race. It was fun to go back and watch, honestly, even though we didn’t win. I’d much rather be in it than get lucky, per se, and not be fast enough. I was proud of everything we did, and I don’t know that I could have done anything differently looking back. Hopefully, the next time we got to Bristol, we’re just as fast and in position again.”   A few minutes ago, you referenced looking at some things differently, looking back on it. What do you look back on differently, or what led you to say that? “Yeah, I looked at the fight and whatnot. You know, hearing Blaney’s comments, I just saw his point of view and I was like, oh okay… that makes sense why he wasn’t expecting me to defend myself and vice versa, right? So yeah, you just look at that, and then you try to look at the race and what you could have done differently. Just look at different points of views. I’m not saying I could have or would have done anything differently, you just look at it from other perspectives. You look at it from every possible angle because that’s how you learn from it.”   He said he felt like it was a 50-50 type of thing, so do you see it that way now?“Yeah, I thought so. I thought the same. I thought it was that he was wanting to put me in a spot where I would lift, and I was trying to stay in there long enough that he would give me a lane, right? And you’re kind of just playing that game of, you cut me a break or not, and a lot of times when you’re not talking to one another, obviously, during the race, you’re going to be biased and hope the other guy does what you’re trying to push him to do.”   Here at Kansas Speedway in the spring, you had a very fast car, and if it wasn’t for pit road issues, you could have been a lot closer to the front. Talking to Luke (Lambert), he says that you guys have really put in a lot of work with this place, and he’s worked with you a lot about versatility, some lanes and things like that. Can you talk about how you feel like you’ve gotten better with the work that you’ve put into this place to potentially have had, if everything had worked out, maybe a race-winning car last time and maybe have it this weekend?“Yeah, I mean, we’ve just been working pretty hard on this place. You know, we felt like mile-and-a-halves, we’ve been pretty good at, but this one, we were always just kind of okay. I thought in the spring, they made a lot of progress on our car. Ultimately, you’re trying to replicate that or improve upon that. So luckily for the Chase teams, you get a little extra sim time, and the team wants to take advantage of all that.”    I know you mentioned your dad earlier, but I know after the race Jeff (Dickerson) was surprised just how you were able to defend yourself. Were you a little surprised with yourself and what you were able to do?“Yeah, I was surprised, and so was everybody else. But luckily, I have a height advantage on Ryan, I guess, so that helps my athleticism. If we were in a running competition, I’m screwed, though. No matter who it is, I can’t run. So luckily, standing still, I can do okay and defend myself.”   Just looking overall, at least in terms of the Chase, I know that your expectation going in was more of we’ll see what happens. So far, has this perhaps surpassed at least your expectations of what your mindset was from the start of the Chase?“Yeah, I feel like when you start focusing on the Chase, you start running hypotheticals, or you just start focusing on the points. You start running hypotheticals through your head of – oh, if we could have run better than this guy or that guy. Maybe you’re running sixth, but the guy you’re running with in the points is running fifth, and all of a sudden, you’re going to start overextending and driving too hard when you could have just ran sixth. So, for us, we’re just ultimately focusing on the race finishes and just kind of letting the points play out. If anything, we’ll look at where we’re at, but I want to be blind of who I’m racing with, just because I want to race the whole field.  But I think it’s been solid for us. We’re in the single digits right now and less than triple digits away from the points lead, so I don’t think that’s too bad.”   You spoke in the past about having a kind of ‘bring-it-on mentality’ for other drivers. If someone wants to do something about it, to do something about it. Now that someone kind of has, do you think anything will change in the future, or is it the same mindset going forward?“No, I mean for me, I race really, really aggressively. The biggest thing that I don’t want to be is a hypocrite. Obviously, if I’m going to get raced really hard, I’m going to be understanding of that. For me, I just love racing. There’s a lot of times where there’s a reason the best car is not always going to win the race. You’re trying to do every possible scenario and every possible race technique to outrun a guy that’s got a faster car than you. Otherwise, we would just do chassis dynos and see who can run the fastest lap, reward it and send everybody home.”    Have you given any thought to what your celebratory post-race might look like at Talladega if you were able to go back-to-back?“I don’t know. I’ll probably not run into the wall again for multiple reasons… I don’t want the win taken away this time (laughs). But I don’t know. I hope to do it again. I hope the crowd gets as loud. It would be a lot of fun. I don’t know if anybody has done it since Dale Earnhardt Jr. did it in 2004, I think. But, yeah, so that would be really cool for me, obviously. We tend to run really well at the superspeedways, and I enjoy those probably the most. Being an Earnhardt fan, both Jr. and Sr., obviously, they were really good at those, so it’s fun to at least just have one in the column right now.”

 CRANDALL, TX (September 25, 2026) — In a season packed with adversity, Ryder Laplante has risen above setbacks to enjoy his best statistical year in Sprint Car racing. 

The American Sprint Car Series sophomore began the first eight races of the year with two top-10 finishes between Volusia Speedway Park and Central Arizona Speedway. Then, an injury at Texas Motor Speedway forced him to miss the Series event at Benton Speedway in May. 

Since the Calera, OK native returned to racing in June, he’s enjoyed a career-high stretch as an ASCS National Tour driver, including a current fifth-place points standing, top-10s in nine of the last 10 races, and a podium appearance in the Frontier Speedweek opener at Big Sky Speedway. 

The 19-year-old pilot credits his second-half success to the team’s welcoming of veteran crew chief Bobby Craft when Laplante returned to the seat in June. 

“Well, he’s a legend,” Laplante said. “It’s no good way to explain it, but just his knowledge. Like, he knows more than I’ll ever know probably in this industry. His work ethic for his age as well, I think most people at his age would want to step back and have other people doing it for him. But he’s always hands-on with it, always trying to teach me and my dad something new. 

“Most crew guys and crew chiefs can’t tell a driver what to do and can’t explain it well. But he’s always been able to explain it to me; he can tell me how to position my car and where to put it on the track to find the most speed, and he’s helped out a lot more than he’ll probably ever know.” 

Laplante took his first Series top-five of the season in July at Batesville Motor Speedway, then followed up with his first Sprint Car win of 2026 in IMCA competition at Abilene Speedway one week later.  

While Laplante kept building the Series top-10 streak with a fourth-place finish at Viking Speedway, he also showed out in the first 360 Sprint Car race at Marshalltown Speedway in August, finishing runner-up to Garrett Benson. 

“That all was a pretty big deal for us,” Laplante said. “First off, of course, it keeps the seat warm when you’re not racing with the Series. Every time we’ve tried to learn something on the off-races, it works out. At Marshalltown, Abilene, and all the others, it helps us find speed going into the ASCS races and having complete nights in general.” 

Through the last 12 Series races, Laplante recorded personal-best marks that top both his 2024 and 2025 statistics. Before Batesville, he possessed one podium and seven career top-10 finishes.  

So far this year, he’s scored three top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, and tied his career-best Feature result of third at Big Sky. His current fifth-place standing in points is the highest he’s ever been in the champion standings with three events remaining. 

“It’s been amazing,” Laplante said. “It has really boosted our confidence, knowing that you’re meant to be where you’re at and showing that you can put in the results. The team as a whole, we’re really clicking well.  

“If you’re consistent, which is really hard to do going up and down the road with the guys we race, it does get aggravating to a point because you’re too consistent. Like, you want to be better in the heat of it, but once you look at the big picture, you realize you’re not doing too bad.” 

RPM Speedway awaits the Series on Saturday, Oct. 10, as the penultimate weekend of the campaign. Laplante has logged many laps at the Crandall, TX track, with two Micro Sprint wins in 2017 and 2018, then competed in 360 and 410 Sprint Cars from 2024-25.  

Before the Series visits, he’ll gain more laps at the 1/4-mile track on Saturday night in a 305 Sprint Car for the Smiley Sitton Memorial. 

“I mean, we’ve always had bad luck there every time we go,” Laplante said. “We shouldn’t, though, because I have more laps there than anyone. It’s a fun bullring; it’s my type of track, so we’ll put our cards on the table, and hopefully it works out. We’re going there this weekend for the 305 show to get laps ahead of the ASCS weekend.” 

Closing his 2026 season at Creek County Speedway the following week for the Fuzzy’s Fall Fling, Laplante looks to finish with a smooth run between the two nights for his first top-five Series points finish as prep for the 2027 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals awaits. 

“If we can get through Creek County with the same parts we show up with, I’ll be more than happy,” Laplante said. “It was a good year for us, especially with how it started for me. We bounced back, and we’re finally getting consistent again.  

“We’ll try to carry that into next year and going into Volusia (Speedway Park), where we had a good showing to start. If we can find a couple tenths in the shop through the off-season, I think we’ll be in for an even better year.” 

Laplante will close out his second season of ASCS National Tour racing at RPM Speedway on Oct. 10, then Creek County on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17. 

How can you find info for RPM? Click here 

How can you find info for Creek County? Click here 

Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision. 

Laplante Riding Wave of Career-Best Results in Closing Stages of Sophomore Year   CRANDALL, TX (September 25, 2026) — In a season packed with adversity, Ryder Laplante has risen above setbacks to enjoy his best statistical year in Sprint Car racing. 

The American Sprint Car Series sophomore began the first eight races of the year with two top-10 finishes between Volusia Speedway Park and Central Arizona Speedway. Then, an injury at Texas Motor Speedway forced him to miss the Series event at Benton Speedway in May. 

Since the Calera, OK native returned to racing in June, he’s enjoyed a career-high stretch as an ASCS National Tour driver, including a current fifth-place points standing, top-10s in nine of the last 10 races, and a podium appearance in the Frontier Speedweek opener at Big Sky Speedway. 

The 19-year-old pilot credits his second-half success to the team’s welcoming of veteran crew chief Bobby Craft when Laplante returned to the seat in June. 

“Well, he’s a legend,” Laplante said. “It’s no good way to explain it, but just his knowledge. Like, he knows more than I’ll ever know probably in this industry. His work ethic for his age as well, I think most people at his age would want to step back and have other people doing it for him. But he’s always hands-on with it, always trying to teach me and my dad something new. 

“Most crew guys and crew chiefs can’t tell a driver what to do and can’t explain it well. But he’s always been able to explain it to me; he can tell me how to position my car and where to put it on the track to find the most speed, and he’s helped out a lot more than he’ll probably ever know.” 

Laplante took his first Series top-five of the season in July at Batesville Motor Speedway, then followed up with his first Sprint Car win of 2026 in IMCA competition at Abilene Speedway one week later.  

While Laplante kept building the Series top-10 streak with a fourth-place finish at Viking Speedway, he also showed out in the first 360 Sprint Car race at Marshalltown Speedway in August, finishing runner-up to Garrett Benson. 

“That all was a pretty big deal for us,” Laplante said. “First off, of course, it keeps the seat warm when you’re not racing with the Series. Every time we’ve tried to learn something on the off-races, it works out. At Marshalltown, Abilene, and all the others, it helps us find speed going into the ASCS races and having complete nights in general.” 

Through the last 12 Series races, Laplante recorded personal-best marks that top both his 2024 and 2025 statistics. Before Batesville, he possessed one podium and seven career top-10 finishes.  

So far this year, he’s scored three top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, and tied his career-best Feature result of third at Big Sky. His current fifth-place standing in points is the highest he’s ever been in the champion standings with three events remaining. 

“It’s been amazing,” Laplante said. “It has really boosted our confidence, knowing that you’re meant to be where you’re at and showing that you can put in the results. The team as a whole, we’re really clicking well.  

“If you’re consistent, which is really hard to do going up and down the road with the guys we race, it does get aggravating to a point because you’re too consistent. Like, you want to be better in the heat of it, but once you look at the big picture, you realize you’re not doing too bad.” 

RPM Speedway awaits the Series on Saturday, Oct. 10, as the penultimate weekend of the campaign. Laplante has logged many laps at the Crandall, TX track, with two Micro Sprint wins in 2017 and 2018, then competed in 360 and 410 Sprint Cars from 2024-25.  

Before the Series visits, he’ll gain more laps at the 1/4-mile track on Saturday night in a 305 Sprint Car for the Smiley Sitton Memorial. 

“I mean, we’ve always had bad luck there every time we go,” Laplante said. “We shouldn’t, though, because I have more laps there than anyone. It’s a fun bullring; it’s my type of track, so we’ll put our cards on the table, and hopefully it works out. We’re going there this weekend for the 305 show to get laps ahead of the ASCS weekend.” 

Closing his 2026 season at Creek County Speedway the following week for the Fuzzy’s Fall Fling, Laplante looks to finish with a smooth run between the two nights for his first top-five Series points finish as prep for the 2027 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals awaits. 

“If we can get through Creek County with the same parts we show up with, I’ll be more than happy,” Laplante said. “It was a good year for us, especially with how it started for me. We bounced back, and we’re finally getting consistent again.  

“We’ll try to carry that into next year and going into Volusia (Speedway Park), where we had a good showing to start. If we can find a couple tenths in the shop through the off-season, I think we’ll be in for an even better year.” 

Laplante will close out his second season of ASCS National Tour racing at RPM Speedway on Oct. 10, then Creek County on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17. 

How can you find info for RPM? Click here 

How can you find info for Creek County? Click here 

Where can you watch every lap of the American Sprint Car Series? Live on DIRTVision. 

ARTICLE:https://ascsracing.com/news/ryder-laplante-riding-wave-of-career-best-results-in-closing-stages-of-sophomore-year/

CONCORD, NC (September 24, 2026) – The 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is motoring toward the finish line.

One full month of racing remains before the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals brings the year to a close on Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 4-7, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. While the end is within sight, it doesn’t mean the path to get there is slowing.

The Greatest Show on Dirt will soon embark on a nine-race October that takes the best Sprint Car talent in the world to seven tracks in five states. The stretch includes a crown jewel, new tracks to the tour, and more.

WATCH EVERY LAP LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at where to find the World of Outlaws in October:

Williams Grove Speedway | J&S Classics National Open (Oct. 2-3): The month begins with the most intense matchup of the World of Outlaws and Pennsylvania Posse rivalry. The two sides will clash at Williams Grove Speedway’s 64th running of the J&S Classics National Open. The crown jewel brings a heated atmosphere to the 1/2 mile as the battle is for major bragging rights and a $75,000 payday.

The Pennsylvania fans have been left disappointed the last two years with the World of Outlaws prevailing. It was Carson Macedo claiming his second National Open in 2024 before Sheldon Haudenschild nabbed his first a year ago. The Posse’s most recent winner is Brent Marks in 2023. Nobody owns more “Natty O” titles than Donny Schatz with six, a record Fayetteville, PA’s Lance Dewease could match this year.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Millstream Speedway | Sheldon Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend: Round One (Oct. 8): Sheldon Haudenschild and NOS Energy Drink are upping the ante in 2026 as their collaborative World of Outlaws promotion grows to three $18,000-to-win rounds. It begins at Findlay, OH’s Millstream Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Series returned to the track in 2025 after 31 years away and is back again this season for its 11th overall visit.

David Gravel came out on top when the tour came back last year. Steve Kinser is the only multi-time Millstream winner, claiming half of the 10 stops at the northern Ohio oval.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Mansfield Speedway | Sheldon Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend: Round Two (Oct. 9): Sheldon Haudenschild and NOS Energy Drink’s Ohio showcase moves east to Mansfield Speedway for the middle leg. Matt Tift revived the track and pieced together a stout schedule that already welcomed the World of Outlaws Late Models in May and will host their Sprint Car counterpart next month. It’s set to be The Greatest Show on Dirt’s first visit to Mansfield in 45 years. Only two current Series full-timers, Donny Schatz and Bill Balog, were even alive during the last Mansfield stop.

A legendary trio topped the three previous three trips to Mansfield. It was Doug Wolfgang winning the debut in 1980, the “Ohio Traveler” himself, Rick Ferkel, next, and Sammy Swindell most recently.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Sharon Speedway | Sheldon Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend: Round Three (Oct. 10): The Ohio weekend closes out in the northeast corner of the state when the tour heads to Hartford, OH’s Sharon Speedway. The World of Outlaws first traveled to Sharon in 2002, and the 3/8 mile has become a staple of the schedule over the past half-decade.

Dale Blaney brought his hometown fans to their feet by driving from the third row to Victory Lane to become the oldest winner in Series history at 61 years old. Steve Kinser boasts the most Sharon scores with four.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Park Speedway | Cushion Capital Clash (Oct. 16): After the Ohio tripleheader, the tour heads from the “Buckeye State” to its neighbor, the “Hoosier State.” Putnamville, IN’s Lincoln Park Speedway will host the second and final Indiana appearance of 2026 as the Series makes its fifth ever stop at the bullring.

The return to Lincoln Park last year didn’t disappoint. A thrilling duel between David Gravel and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid led to final-lap contact and Gravel in Victory Lane to become the fourth different winner through four trips. The other three are Steve Kinser (1979), Dave Blaney (1988), and Donny Schatz (2016).

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Belle Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway | Battle at Belle Clair (Oct. 17): Illinois race fans rejoiced when racing was brought back to the Belle Clair Fairgrounds earlier this year with the opening of a brand new 1/4-mile dirt track. Their joy grew even more when a World of Outlaws date was added to their 2026 slate.

The event will mark the World of Outlaws debut at the brand-new bullring as Belle Clair becomes the 12th different track in the “Land of Lincoln” to ever host the country’s best Sprint Car drivers.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Texarkana 67 Speedway | Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends/Short Track Nationals (Oct. 23-24): It’s from one new track for the World of Outlaws to another as Texarkana 67 Speedway will welcome the Series for the first time for two major events packed into one weekend.

First up is the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends on Friday, Oct. 23. The World of Outlaws pays tribute to the “Ragin’ Cajun” with a $20,000-to-win main event. Then, when Saturday takes center stage, the World of Outlaws will sanction the historic Short Track Nationals for the first time. The 39th running of the event will hand out $25,000 to the winner.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

THE MONTH AHEAD: Nine-Race October Sends 2026 World of Outlaws Season Toward Conclusion

CONCORD, NC (September 24, 2026) – The 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is motoring toward the finish line.

One full month of racing remains before the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals brings the year to a close on Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 4-7, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. While the end is within sight, it doesn’t mean the path to get there is slowing.

The Greatest Show on Dirt will soon embark on a nine-race October that takes the best Sprint Car talent in the world to seven tracks in five states. The stretch includes a crown jewel, new tracks to the tour, and more.

WATCH EVERY LAP LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at where to find the World of Outlaws in October:

Williams Grove Speedway | J&S Classics National Open (Oct. 2-3): The month begins with the most intense matchup of the World of Outlaws and Pennsylvania Posse rivalry. The two sides will clash at Williams Grove Speedway’s 64th running of the J&S Classics National Open. The crown jewel brings a heated atmosphere to the 1/2 mile as the battle is for major bragging rights and a $75,000 payday.

The Pennsylvania fans have been left disappointed the last two years with the World of Outlaws prevailing. It was Carson Macedo claiming his second National Open in 2024 before Sheldon Haudenschild nabbed his first a year ago. The Posse’s most recent winner is Brent Marks in 2023. Nobody owns more “Natty O” titles than Donny Schatz with six, a record Fayetteville, PA’s Lance Dewease could match this year.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Millstream Speedway | Sheldon Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend: Round One (Oct. 8): Sheldon Haudenschild and NOS Energy Drink are upping the ante in 2026 as their collaborative World of Outlaws promotion grows to three $18,000-to-win rounds. It begins at Findlay, OH’s Millstream Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Series returned to the track in 2025 after 31 years away and is back again this season for its 11th overall visit.

David Gravel came out on top when the tour came back last year. Steve Kinser is the only multi-time Millstream winner, claiming half of the 10 stops at the northern Ohio oval.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Mansfield Speedway | Sheldon Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend: Round Two (Oct. 9): Sheldon Haudenschild and NOS Energy Drink’s Ohio showcase moves east to Mansfield Speedway for the middle leg. Matt Tift revived the track and pieced together a stout schedule that already welcomed the World of Outlaws Late Models in May and will host their Sprint Car counterpart next month. It’s set to be The Greatest Show on Dirt’s first visit to Mansfield in 45 years. Only two current Series full-timers, Donny Schatz and Bill Balog, were even alive during the last Mansfield stop.

A legendary trio topped the three previous three trips to Mansfield. It was Doug Wolfgang winning the debut in 1980, the “Ohio Traveler” himself, Rick Ferkel, next, and Sammy Swindell most recently.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Sharon Speedway | Sheldon Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend: Round Three (Oct. 10): The Ohio weekend closes out in the northeast corner of the state when the tour heads to Hartford, OH’s Sharon Speedway. The World of Outlaws first traveled to Sharon in 2002, and the 3/8 mile has become a staple of the schedule over the past half-decade.

Dale Blaney brought his hometown fans to their feet by driving from the third row to Victory Lane to become the oldest winner in Series history at 61 years old. Steve Kinser boasts the most Sharon scores with four.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Park Speedway | Cushion Capital Clash (Oct. 16): After the Ohio tripleheader, the tour heads from the “Buckeye State” to its neighbor, the “Hoosier State.” Putnamville, IN’s Lincoln Park Speedway will host the second and final Indiana appearance of 2026 as the Series makes its fifth ever stop at the bullring.

The return to Lincoln Park last year didn’t disappoint. A thrilling duel between David Gravel and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid led to final-lap contact and Gravel in Victory Lane to become the fourth different winner through four trips. The other three are Steve Kinser (1979), Dave Blaney (1988), and Donny Schatz (2016).

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Belle Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway | Battle at Belle Clair (Oct. 17): Illinois race fans rejoiced when racing was brought back to the Belle Clair Fairgrounds earlier this year with the opening of a brand new 1/4-mile dirt track. Their joy grew even more when a World of Outlaws date was added to their 2026 slate.

The event will mark the World of Outlaws debut at the brand-new bullring as Belle Clair becomes the 12th different track in the “Land of Lincoln” to ever host the country’s best Sprint Car drivers.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Texarkana 67 Speedway | Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends/Short Track Nationals (Oct. 23-24): It’s from one new track for the World of Outlaws to another as Texarkana 67 Speedway will welcome the Series for the first time for two major events packed into one weekend.

First up is the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends on Friday, Oct. 23. The World of Outlaws pays tribute to the “Ragin’ Cajun” with a $20,000-to-win main event. Then, when Saturday takes center stage, the World of Outlaws will sanction the historic Short Track Nationals for the first time. The 39th running of the event will hand out $25,000 to the winner.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/the-month-ahead-nine-race-october-sends-2026-world-of-outlaws-season-toward-conclusion/

Baggsy returned to Ireland to party with his good friend James Deane, celebrating 20 years of James’ drifting career. Great craic, as they say.

Mondello Park, Ireland’s home of motorsport added another event to its list, but this one is different to the others; celebrating 20 years of an illustrious career of a certain James Deane. That’s right, Mr 130 himself threw a huge drift party and invited Baggsy to be one of the special guests to drive and compete in a super fun Top 24 showdown. With an invite like that, it’s hard for the team to say no, right?! So let’s run it back and show you how it all went down.

On Friday the SB Motorsport team unloaded the DY-2JZ GT86 into the allocated pit garage.The weather was slowly improving after Mondello Park received rain from all directions, the team crossed their fingers for better weather over the weekend.

And the weather did improve; Saturday was dry which allowed Baggsy to run several practice laps around Mondello to dial in the GT86.  “The car felt great. It’s always good to be back driving at Mondello Park – it’s a track I know well and really enjoy. Having won the LZ World Tour round here in 2023, I’ve got some fond memories of the place, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there. It’ll be so much fun to drive with James (Deane) and the boys again.“– Steve “Baggsy” Biagioni A solid 89.1 point Superlap in Qualifying earned P9 after a fiercely competitive session.

With a great day of practice sessions and a strong performance in Qualifying, the team rejoiced in the only way they know how – FEAST 🍽️🥳.

Sunday featured plenty of sunshine, seat time and epic battles. Baggsy’s first round was up against Harry Kerr, an extremely strong Irish driver and it was a very close contest. Mad speed, wild angles, insane transitions and close proximity – everything you dreamed of in a drift battle.

Baggsy gets the win and advances to the next round 💪🏼. Throughout the weekend, the SB13 shop was in full swing selling the latest and greatest Baggsy and Initiate merchandise. Signing sessions, photos and great chats were had! The team had such a blast in the beautiful Irish sunshine.

Waiting in the Top 16 was a legend in Japanese drifting – one of the OGs – Masato Kawabata. It was jaw-dropping seeing 2 driving styles throwing it down on track, it was a real sight to behold. The sheer pace, the outrageous angles, the plumes of tyre smoke, it was pure cinema at Mondello Park. That was, until Baggsy has a small impromptu meeting with a wall 😅. The GT86 was fixed up, looked sharp and went back out for Run 2, though it wasn’t enough to take down the D1GP legend on this occassion.

He changed swapped out his race helmet for his cap and had a mega time watching the rest of the drifting, cheering on his friends, chatted with fans and visitors in the paddock and at the SB13 shop.

So that’s the SB Motorsport team done at the 130 Showdown. It wasn’t the finish the team wanted, but the weekend was all about having fun with the lads and celebrating James Deane’s pretty amazing career. It was a mega weekend at Mondello Park, the 130 Showdown was so much fun, Baggsy and team had an absolute blast. Great craic.

CONCORD, NC (September 24, 2026) – The road to Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals is nearing its conclusion.

October brings four race nights that will play a crucial role in determining the 2026 World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision champion, as well as the allocation of more than $1.1 million in end-of-season points fund payouts.

The Series will visit two tracks in October on opposite ends of the southeast, with one of them welcoming the World of Outlaws for the first time ever next month.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead:

Boothill Speedway | Bayou Classic | Oct. 2-3: The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet are heading back to Louisiana for another edition of the fastest-growing dirt track event in the Mid-South.

Boothill first appeared on the schedule in 2024 for a single-night, $15,000-to-win program won by Ryan Gustin. The support for the inaugural event was rewarded in 2025, when the Bayou Classic expanded to a two-night affair with $50,000 on offer in the Saturday finale.

Gustin was again victorious in the swamp last year, beating Bobby Pierce in an exhilarating battle in the final laps.

Modoc Speedway | Modoc 100 | Oct. 23-24: It’s been over four years, but the World of Outlaws is coming back to South Carolina.

Modoc Speedway, located 30 miles north of Augusta, GA on the banks of the Savannah River, reopened this season following a $2 million renovation led by the track’s new owner, Ronnie Powell. The goal was to transform Modoc into a facility capable of hosting national-level events, and that milestone will be reached when the World of Outlaws come to town for the Modoc 100.

Modoc’s first national Late Model race will be the latest chapter in a long history of Super Late Model racing at the track. The Xtreme DIRTcar Series held its finale at Modoc in its first two years of competition, in 2020 and 2021, and the Southern All Stars, Southern Nationals Series, Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series, Ultimate Super Late Model Series and several other regional tours have all made stops at Modoc in the past.

The event creates a new three-week stretch of Late Model racing in the Carolinas to wrap up the 2026 season. The World of Outlaws season concludes at The Dirt Track at Charlotte during World Finals two weeks later (Nov. 4-7), with the World Short Track Championship (Oct. 29-31) situated in between, featuring the top Crate Late Model racers in the southeast competing at Charlotte.

Find tickets and more information for every World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision event remaining in 2026, as well as select events in 2027, by clicking here.

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

THE MONTH AHEAD: Final Two Stops Before World Finals Take World of Outlaws to Boothill, Modoc

CONCORD, NC (September 24, 2026) – The road to Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals is nearing its conclusion.

October brings four race nights that will play a crucial role in determining the 2026 World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision champion, as well as the allocation of more than $1.1 million in end-of-season points fund payouts.

The Series will visit two tracks in October on opposite ends of the southeast, with one of them welcoming the World of Outlaws for the first time ever next month.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead:

Boothill Speedway | Bayou Classic | Oct. 2-3: The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet are heading back to Louisiana for another edition of the fastest-growing dirt track event in the Mid-South.

Boothill first appeared on the schedule in 2024 for a single-night, $15,000-to-win program won by Ryan Gustin. The support for the inaugural event was rewarded in 2025, when the Bayou Classic expanded to a two-night affair with $50,000 on offer in the Saturday finale.

Gustin was again victorious in the swamp last year, beating Bobby Pierce in an exhilarating battle in the final laps.

Modoc Speedway | Modoc 100 | Oct. 23-24: It’s been over four years, but the World of Outlaws is coming back to South Carolina.

Modoc Speedway, located 30 miles north of Augusta, GA on the banks of the Savannah River, reopened this season following a $2 million renovation led by the track’s new owner, Ronnie Powell. The goal was to transform Modoc into a facility capable of hosting national-level events, and that milestone will be reached when the World of Outlaws come to town for the Modoc 100.

Modoc’s first national Late Model race will be the latest chapter in a long history of Super Late Model racing at the track. The Xtreme DIRTcar Series held its finale at Modoc in its first two years of competition, in 2020 and 2021, and the Southern All Stars, Southern Nationals Series, Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series, Ultimate Super Late Model Series and several other regional tours have all made stops at Modoc in the past.

The event creates a new three-week stretch of Late Model racing in the Carolinas to wrap up the 2026 season. The World of Outlaws season concludes at The Dirt Track at Charlotte during World Finals two weeks later (Nov. 4-7), with the World Short Track Championship (Oct. 29-31) situated in between, featuring the top Crate Late Model racers in the southeast competing at Charlotte.

Find tickets and more information for every World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision event remaining in 2026, as well as select events in 2027, by clicking here.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/the-month-ahead-final-two-stops-before-world-finals-take-world-of-outlaws-to-boothill-modoc/

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart returns to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Oct. 23 at Talladega Superspeedway driving Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 as part of Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program. The fall appearance marks Stewart’s second Truck Series start of the 2026 season. He launched Ram’s return to NASCAR in February at Daytona International Speedway as the inaugural driver in the manufacturer’s Free Agent initiative.

Talladega – Tony Stewart Stewart Returns to Ram Free Agent ProgramWill Drive No. 25 Ram 1500 at Talladega on Oct. 23

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart returns to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Oct. 23 at Talladega Superspeedway driving Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 as part of Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program. The fall appearance marks Stewart’s second Truck Series start of the 2026 season. He launched Ram’s return to NASCAR in February at Daytona International Speedway as the inaugural driver in the manufacturer’s Free Agent initiative.

“Anytime you can get into a Ram truck and go racing at a place like Talladega, you jump at it,” Stewart said. “Daytona in February was a blast, but this trip focuses on having fun while helping Kaulig Racing learn and build their notebook on superspeedways. Ram put a tremendous amount of heart into this NASCAR return. If my experience helps this team sharpen its drafting package and speed up the learning curve, everyone wins.” Ram’s Free Agent ProgramThe Free Agent program is designed to bring legendary drivers and rising stars into the spotlight, giving fans a unique mix of experience and fresh talent behind the wheel of a Ram 1500. Ram has five trucks with Kaulig Racing with the No. 25 reserved for a different “Free Agent” driver every race. Stewart’s involvement and the Free Agent Program underscore Ram’s innovative approach on and off the track.“Bringing Tony back behind the wheel of the Ram 1500 at Talladega brings incredible energy to our entire team and NASCAR fans everywhere,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, North American Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis. “That’s exactly what our Free Agent program is all about. We built it to put proven competitors in Ram trucks, let them push the limits, create real-world feedback, and give fans what they came for. Tony is a Hall of Famer anda racer through and through, Seeing ‘Smoke’ back on the high banks at NASCAR’s biggest track is going to be a show.”The high-profile partnership between Ram Trucks and Stewart generated immediate momentum during February’s season opener at Daytona. Stewart’s return to NASCAR after a decade-long absence drove total television viewership on FS1 to 1.387 million average viewers. That figure marked a 37% increase over the 2025 opening race, with peak viewership surpassing 1.6 million viewers to deliver the most-watched Craftsman Truck Series broadcast since 2016. Ram Free Agent Driver RosterThe Free Agent Driver Program highlights Ram’s return to NASCAR competition. The manufacturer rotates a star-studded group of championship veterans, rising prospects, and motorsports icons into the No. 25 entry throughout the 2026 schedule. Across the season, the No. 25 Ram 1500 roster has featured Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Ty Dillon, Ryan Newman, Connor Daly, Corey LaJoie, Travis Pastrana, Parker Kligerman, Clint Bowyer, A.J. Allmendinger, Carson Ferguson, Elliott Sadler, and sports car veteran Colin Braun. The No. 25 Free Agent machine runs alongside Kaulig Racing’s four full-time Craftsman Truck Series entries: Corey LaJoie (No. 10), Brenden Queen (No. 12), “Mini” Tyrrell (No. 14), and Justin Haley (No. 16). Entrepreneur Matt Kaulig founded Kaulig Racing in 2016 as a part-time Xfinity Series program. The organization rapidly expanded, earning its first of 27 Xfinity victories in 2018 before making the leap to the Cup Series in 2020 and collecting two premier-series road course wins with Allmendinger.Superspeedway Pedigree & Track ExperienceTalladega Superspeedway stands as NASCAR’s largest oval at 2.66 miles with 33-degree banking, generating high-speed drafting and unpredictable pack racing. Across 35 premier-series starts at the Alabama facility, Stewart earned a Cup Series victory in October 2008 alongside nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. In the Truck Series, Stewart holds two victories—winning back-to-back Daytona openers in 2002 and 2003—along with five top-five finishes across seven career starts. His February run at Daytona in the No. 25 Ram 1500 marked his first Truck Series appearance since 2005 and his first NASCAR national series start since 2016. Broadcast DetailsFS1 will broadcast the action live from Talladega Superspeedway at 4 p.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 23

Event: Hollywood Casino 400Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, 3 p.m. ETLocation: Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KansasLayout: 1.5-Mile OvalTV/Radio: USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioJosh Berry and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang Dark Horse team head to Kansas Speedway looking to continue one of their strongest stretches of the season in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.Berry enters the weekend seeking his 10th top-10 finish of the season and his eighth in the past nine races. The recent run of consistency has helped Berry and the Wood Brothers climb from 33rd to 24th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.Kansas Speedway has also been a solid track for both Berry and Wood Brothers Racing. Berry scored a sixth-place finish at the 1.5-mile oval last season, while the Wood Brothers have recorded 10 top-10 finishes in 33 starts at Kansas, including five top-five results.Menards/Dutch Boy will serve as the team’s primary partner for Sunday’s 400-mile race. The No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse will also carry a special decal honoring the late Reese Loggins, son of Wood Brothers hauler driver Rusty Loggins and his wife, Michelle, as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.Reese passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia on June 10, 2020, just six weeks after celebrating his 10th birthday. His parents remember him as “a bright, funny and wonderfully dapper little boy” who was artistic and imaginative and dreamed of one day becoming an engineer.Diagnosed with cancer at age eight, Reese underwent a bone marrow transplant during his treatment. The effects of chemotherapy and other medications ultimately led to a decline in his health.Reese also shared his family’s connection to racing. Rusty was able to bring his son along on trips to several race tracks, including Daytona International Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, creating memories that remain especially meaningful to the Loggins family.For Rusty, having Reese’s name represented on the iconic No. 21 provides an opportunity not only to honor his son’s memory, but also to help bring greater attention to childhood cancer during a month dedicated to raising awareness of the disease. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents worldwide develop cancer each year.“What an awesome way to help spread the word about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” Loggins said. “It’s a true honor and privilege for our son, Reese, to be recognized on the iconic Wood Brothers No. 21.“I’m sure Reese is spreading his wings wide right now and looking down with a big smile. Thank you to Len and Eddie, and everyone on the No. 21 team, for making this possible. What a blessing.”On-track activity at Kansas Speedway begins Saturday with NASCAR Cup Series practice at 10 a.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 11:10 a.m. ET. Coverage of both sessions will be available on truTV.Sunday’s 267-lap, 400.5-mile Hollywood Casino 400 is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, with stage breaks set for Laps 80 and 165. USA Sports will provide live television coverage.Josh BerryAge: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)Hometown: Hendersonville, TennesseeCrew Chief: Miles StanleyIG: @joshberry88X: @joshberry

September 24, 2026 — TORRANCE, Calif.

• Four-episode, short-form docuseries celebrates the life and achievements of two-time CART Series champion and Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran
• “241.428” represents the all-time closed-course lap record (in mph) set by de Ferran in 2000, powered by a Honda turbocharged V8 engine
• Speed record still stands across all forms of circuit racing, including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR
• Video series features de Ferran’s championship-winning 2001 Team Penske Reynard-Honda CART Indy car, now owned by American motorsports executive Zak Brown, and recently restored with the help of the HRC Heritage Racing Program
• Docuseries drops on HRC US YouTube channel today featuring motorsports legends Roger Penske, Zak Brown, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and others

A new documentary series by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) celebrates the life and achievement of the late champion driver Gil de Ferran who set the all-time closed-course lap record at an astonishing 241.428 mph. Launching today on the HRC US YouTube channel, the new four-episode docuseries presented by the HRC Heritage Racing Program, “241.428,” takes viewers inside the record run with motorsports legends including Roger Penske, Zak Brown, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kannan sharing personal memories and honoring the life of their friend, teammate and fellow champion: https://www.youtube.com/embed/t8xwr7Hldpk?si=L0e9xpf4HKNZZifC

Driving Team Penske’s Reynard 2KI powered by a 2.65-liter Honda HR-0 turbocharged V8, de Ferran recorded an astonishing average speed of 241.428 mph during qualifying for the 2000 CART IndyCar Series race at California Speedway in Fontana. More than a quarter-century later, de Ferran’s closed-course lap record still stands across all forms of circuit racing, including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR — a remarkable testament to the driver, machine and engine that achieved it.

“Gil de Ferran was a big part of the Honda racing family, and he holds a special place in our hearts beyond his major championships and race victories, but 241.428 was an extraordinary achievement,” said Kelvin Fu, president of HRC US. “Hearing Gil recount his record-setting run raises the hair on the back of my neck, a powerful reminder of who Gil was and what makes ‘241.428’ such a special documentary.”

Developed and directed by noted motorsports journalist Marshall Pruett, with creative direction by motorsports agency, CoForce, “241.428” celebrates de Ferran’s remarkable legacy, the monumental Honda engine that powered his record-setting run, and the Penske-modified Reynard chassis that carried him into the history books.

The series also follows the recent restoration and return to the track of de Ferran’s 2001 Reynard 01I-Honda, now owned by Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and restored with the help of the HRC Heritage Racing Program. The championship-winning race car was driven by Brown at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca in an emotional tribute to de Ferran chronicled in episode four of “241.428”.

The HRC Heritage Racing Program, launched in August during California’s famed Monterey Car Week, offers enthusiasts sales, comprehensive restoration, service and trackside support of historic Honda and Acura race cars. The program grew out of the recent restoration and sale of a number of significant Honda and Acura race machines featured throughout Monterey Car Week, including the 2010 Honda ARX-01c “Strakka Racing” Le Mans LMP2 class winner.

The iconic race car took home two trophies for its owner, Robert Neapole of West Palm Beach, Florida: winning the Scott Pruett Legends event at Laguna Seca and earning second in class at the 75th running of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance — the first Honda to receive an award at the world’s most prestigious car show.

Following is a brief summary of each episode of the new “241.428” docuseries:

Episode 1: 241.428, The Man
A look back at Gil de Ferran’s 241.428-mph record-setting run, motor racing’s all-time closed-course lap record, at California Auto Club Speedway in Fontana during qualifying for the 2000 CART IndyCar Series race: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bA-J0djLn90?si=Umg0Z_D49-195Lgp

Episode 2: 241.428, The Car
A look inside the highly modified ‘Renske’ chassis (a mashup of ‘Penske’ and ‘Reynard’) with insights from Team Penske, HRC, Zak Brown and superstar drivers on its unbridled excellence: https://www.youtube.com/embed/zHpBzKquGyQ?si=HPi5xlLvCLFHk3z7

Episode 3: 241.428, The Heart
A deep dive inside the stunning Honda CART turbo V8 with encyclopedic distillation of its record-setting and championship-winning attributes along with tales of awe from those who raced with and against Honda engines in this era: https://www.youtube.com/embed/UzA_IMW8R00?si=afXiTZLTMQki8WWQ

Episode 4: 241.428, The Reunion
In a touching tribute to Gil, Zak Brown drives the sister car to de Ferran’s record-setting ride at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Mission Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca. HRC played a crucial role in returning the race car to track action after 25 years, rebuilding the engine and preparing the electronics as part of the HRC Heritage Racing Program

Brown recently purchased de Ferran’s championship-winning 2001 Team Penske Reynard-Honda CART Indy car from team owner Roger Penske. The record-setting 2000 car is on display at the Honda Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan: : https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBjB7EIAyCU?si=urS9Ih7pHKvucnk4

Gil de Ferran (1967-2023)
Gil de Ferran was one of motor racing’s most respected figures. As a driver, he was a two-time CART Series champion with Team Penske and Honda power, winning the titles in 2000 and 2001. In 2003, he also won racing’s biggest event, the Indianapolis 500, driving for Penske.

After retiring from driving in the IndyCar series following the 2003 season, de Ferran joined the Honda Formula 1 program as sporting director of the BAR-Honda team. He later returned to competition as both driver and team owner with a factory-backed Acura sports car program in the American Le Mans Series, where he won numerous races before retiring again after the 2009 season.

At the conclusion of the team ownership chapter of his career, de Ferran joined McLaren Racing as sporting director, recruited by CEO Zak Brown.

His exceptional wisdom, deep engineering knowledge, and vast experience as a driver, engineer, and team owner made de Ferran an invaluable asset to people throughout the racing world, including former HRC US President David Salters and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. Their relationships with de Ferran, their respect for his remarkable career, and their personal experiences with him helped inspire and shape “241.428”, a documentary celebrating the life, career and enduring legacy of one of motorsport’s truly exceptional figures.

About Honda Racing Corporation USA 
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) leads all Honda and Acura racing programs in North America and has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to grassroots racing programs, HRC US has amassed over 500 race wins and 60 series championships.

HRC US specializes in the in-house design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, racing products and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company offers HRC parts and race support services to Honda and Acura racers in North America. In 2024, HRC US expanded its operations to pursue consumer performance parts, merchandise and historic memorabilia sales. In August 2026 HRC US announced a newly-formed heritage racing business.

https://hondaracing-us.honda.com

Honda Racing Celebrates Racing Legend Gil de Ferran with Release of “241.428” Docuseries About His Iconic Speed Record

• Release
• Photos

September 24, 2026 — TORRANCE, Calif.

• Four-episode, short-form docuseries celebrates the life and achievements of two-time CART Series champion and Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran
• “241.428” represents the all-time closed-course lap record (in mph) set by de Ferran in 2000, powered by a Honda turbocharged V8 engine
• Speed record still stands across all forms of circuit racing, including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR
• Video series features de Ferran’s championship-winning 2001 Team Penske Reynard-Honda CART Indy car, now owned by American motorsports executive Zak Brown, and recently restored with the help of the HRC Heritage Racing Program
• Docuseries drops on HRC US YouTube channel today featuring motorsports legends Roger Penske, Zak Brown, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and others

A new documentary series by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) celebrates the life and achievement of the late champion driver Gil de Ferran who set the all-time closed-course lap record at an astonishing 241.428 mph. Launching today on the HRC US YouTube channel, the new four-episode docuseries presented by the HRC Heritage Racing Program, “241.428,” takes viewers inside the record run with motorsports legends including Roger Penske, Zak Brown, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kannan sharing personal memories and honoring the life of their friend, teammate and fellow champion: https://www.youtube.com/embed/t8xwr7Hldpk?si=L0e9xpf4HKNZZifC

Driving Team Penske’s Reynard 2KI powered by a 2.65-liter Honda HR-0 turbocharged V8, de Ferran recorded an astonishing average speed of 241.428 mph during qualifying for the 2000 CART IndyCar Series race at California Speedway in Fontana. More than a quarter-century later, de Ferran’s closed-course lap record still stands across all forms of circuit racing, including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR — a remarkable testament to the driver, machine and engine that achieved it.

“Gil de Ferran was a big part of the Honda racing family, and he holds a special place in our hearts beyond his major championships and race victories, but 241.428 was an extraordinary achievement,” said Kelvin Fu, president of HRC US. “Hearing Gil recount his record-setting run raises the hair on the back of my neck, a powerful reminder of who Gil was and what makes ‘241.428’ such a special documentary.”

Developed and directed by noted motorsports journalist Marshall Pruett, with creative direction by motorsports agency, CoForce, “241.428” celebrates de Ferran’s remarkable legacy, the monumental Honda engine that powered his record-setting run, and the Penske-modified Reynard chassis that carried him into the history books.

The series also follows the recent restoration and return to the track of de Ferran’s 2001 Reynard 01I-Honda, now owned by Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and restored with the help of the HRC Heritage Racing Program. The championship-winning race car was driven by Brown at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca in an emotional tribute to de Ferran chronicled in episode four of “241.428”.

The HRC Heritage Racing Program, launched in August during California’s famed Monterey Car Week, offers enthusiasts sales, comprehensive restoration, service and trackside support of historic Honda and Acura race cars. The program grew out of the recent restoration and sale of a number of significant Honda and Acura race machines featured throughout Monterey Car Week, including the 2010 Honda ARX-01c “Strakka Racing” Le Mans LMP2 class winner.

The iconic race car took home two trophies for its owner, Robert Neapole of West Palm Beach, Florida: winning the Scott Pruett Legends event at Laguna Seca and earning second in class at the 75th running of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance — the first Honda to receive an award at the world’s most prestigious car show.

Following is a brief summary of each episode of the new “241.428” docuseries:

Episode 1: 241.428, The Man
A look back at Gil de Ferran’s 241.428-mph record-setting run, motor racing’s all-time closed-course lap record, at California Auto Club Speedway in Fontana during qualifying for the 2000 CART IndyCar Series race: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bA-J0djLn90?si=Umg0Z_D49-195Lgp

Episode 2: 241.428, The Car
A look inside the highly modified ‘Renske’ chassis (a mashup of ‘Penske’ and ‘Reynard’) with insights from Team Penske, HRC, Zak Brown and superstar drivers on its unbridled excellence: https://www.youtube.com/embed/zHpBzKquGyQ?si=HPi5xlLvCLFHk3z7

Episode 3: 241.428, The Heart
A deep dive inside the stunning Honda CART turbo V8 with encyclopedic distillation of its record-setting and championship-winning attributes along with tales of awe from those who raced with and against Honda engines in this era: https://www.youtube.com/embed/UzA_IMW8R00?si=afXiTZLTMQki8WWQ

Episode 4: 241.428, The Reunion
In a touching tribute to Gil, Zak Brown drives the sister car to de Ferran’s record-setting ride at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Mission Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca. HRC played a crucial role in returning the race car to track action after 25 years, rebuilding the engine and preparing the electronics as part of the HRC Heritage Racing Program

Brown recently purchased de Ferran’s championship-winning 2001 Team Penske Reynard-Honda CART Indy car from team owner Roger Penske. The record-setting 2000 car is on display at the Honda Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan: : https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBjB7EIAyCU?si=urS9Ih7pHKvucnk4

Gil de Ferran (1967-2023)
Gil de Ferran was one of motor racing’s most respected figures. As a driver, he was a two-time CART Series champion with Team Penske and Honda power, winning the titles in 2000 and 2001. In 2003, he also won racing’s biggest event, the Indianapolis 500, driving for Penske.

After retiring from driving in the IndyCar series following the 2003 season, de Ferran joined the Honda Formula 1 program as sporting director of the BAR-Honda team. He later returned to competition as both driver and team owner with a factory-backed Acura sports car program in the American Le Mans Series, where he won numerous races before retiring again after the 2009 season.

At the conclusion of the team ownership chapter of his career, de Ferran joined McLaren Racing as sporting director, recruited by CEO Zak Brown.

His exceptional wisdom, deep engineering knowledge, and vast experience as a driver, engineer, and team owner made de Ferran an invaluable asset to people throughout the racing world, including former HRC US President David Salters and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. Their relationships with de Ferran, their respect for his remarkable career, and their personal experiences with him helped inspire and shape “241.428”, a documentary celebrating the life, career and enduring legacy of one of motorsport’s truly exceptional figures.

About Honda Racing Corporation USA 
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) leads all Honda and Acura racing programs in North America and has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to grassroots racing programs, HRC US has amassed over 500 race wins and 60 series championships.

HRC US specializes in the in-house design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, racing products and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company offers HRC parts and race support services to Honda and Acura racers in North America. In 2024, HRC US expanded its operations to pursue consumer performance parts, merchandise and historic memorabilia sales. In August 2026 HRC US announced a newly-formed heritage racing business.

https://hondaracing-us.honda.com

Important Notice
Although the information included in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication, this information is subject to change at any time without notice. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. assumes no responsibility for updating this information.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Kansas Speedway September 26-27, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

The NASCAR Chase heads to the heartland this weekend with a return visit to Kansas Speedway opening a run of three-straight intermediate tracks for the sport’s top division. The Craftsman Truck Series kicks off the weekend Saturday with the Race to Stop Suicide 200, the second race of its seven-race Chase. Poised at the top of the points standings for the first time this season, Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson will lead the Cup Series Chase into Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 for the fourth stop of its postseason tour. After a runner-up finish at Bristol, the reigning champion will look to not only build upon his points lead but continue his top-five streak in his title-defending campaign. Team Chevy’s four Truck Series title contenders will look to regroup after a tough opener at Bristol, with two of its drivers – Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger – heading into the weekend as the only past Kansas winners.

Chevrolet’s Heartland History: Chevrolet has 17 victories in 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, the most of any manufacturer, ahead of Toyota (13), Ford (nine) and Dodge (two). The Bowtie brand won the track’s inaugural race (Jeff Gordon, Sept. 2001) and has won 13 of the 25 fall races, including the last two Hollywood Casino 400’s with Ross Chastain (2024) and Chase Elliott (2025). Hendrick Motorsports has 11 of those wins and is the only organization in double digits at the track, with those triumphs coming from Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Larson (three) and Elliott (two). From May 2024 through Sept. 2025, Chevrolet won four-straight Cup races at Kansas, tying the track record for the longest streak by a manufacturer. Team Chevy Chase contender, Elliott, is the fall race’s defending winner, having driven from eighth to first on the final lap of a double-overtime restart.

LARSON TAKES THE POINTS LEAD TO A TRACK WHERE HE’S BEEN THE BENCHMARKKyle Larson arrives at Kansas Speedway this weekend as the new NASCAR Cup Series points leader, having edged Denny Hamlin by a single point after a runner-up finish at Bristol — the first time the lead has changed hands through three postseason races. That Bristol result capped a strong start to the Chase for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. He led a race-high 99 laps in a fifth-place run during the postseason opener at Darlington Raceway, going on to snap a 51-race winless streak with a victory at Gateway to vault him from seventh to second in the standings before his move into the points lead at Bristol.  Kansas has been a personal showcase for Larson in the Next Gen era. He ranks first among active drivers with 576 laps led and sports a series-best 5.8 average finish, while also tallying wins in three of the last 10 Cup races at the track. That track mastery extends across much of the remaining Chase slate. Larson has three career wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including his first as a Hendrick Motorsports driver in 2021; one Coca-Cola 600 victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2021); one victory (2023) and eight-straight top-nine finishes at Martinsville Speedway; and two wins (2022 & 2025) at the track set to host this year’s title-deciding race, Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s a fall stretch that is shaping up to make Larson an arguable favorite to defend his championship title.

BOWTIE BRIGADE CONTINUING IN THE POINTS BATTLECarson Hocevar is among those who left “The Last Great Colosseum” with a gain in position in the Chase standings. The Michigan native is the second-highest ranked Team Chevy driver in eighth and 85 points back after a third-place finish at Bristol. While Kansas has been one of the more difficult tracks in his Cup Series career, he does own one Truck Series win at the track, coming in the seat of a Spire Motorsports-prepared Silverado RST last season. Chase Elliott is 12th (-117 points), with William Byron going plus-two spots into 13th (-121 points) after a ninth-place result at Bristol. Joining the likes of their Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Elliott and Byron both have strong Kansas resumes. Elliott has two wins, including last year’s fall race, and the third-best average finish in the Next Gen era at 9.9. Byron finished second to Chastain in the 2024 fall race and has finished seventh or better in two of his last three Kansas starts. Daniel Suarez rounds out the Chase field in 16th, 134 points back.

ENFINGER, ECKES BOAST STRONG KANSAS RESUMESWhile it was a tough opening race for Team Chevy’s four Chase contenders in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, six races still lie ahead for the contingent to put themselves right back into the title fight. CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger led the manufacturer’s Chase field with a 10th-place finish at Bristol – an effort that pushed him up into sixth in the standings and 53 points back from the lead. Enfinger’s history at Kansas is strong, headlined by his 2023 victory and top-nine results in 10 of his 14 starts at the track.

Enfinger is one of just two past Kansas winners entered in Saturday’s race, with his Team Chevy teammate, Christian Eckes, joining that elite list with his 2023 victory. Eckes is eighth in the standings, 58 points back, but brings arguably the deepest Kansas resume of any driver in the field. His accolades at the track includes top-six finishes in seven of his 10 starts, with his win in the 2023 event starting an active streak of three-straight podium results.

A quiet night under the Bristol lights for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Daniel Hemric saw the No. 19 team still make a one-position gain in the standings to sit seventh (-56 points) heading into the second race of the Chase. While Hemric’s Kansas history is short, it’s consistent – earning top-10 results in all three of his starts, including a best-finish of third. Rounding out the group is his teammate, Tyler Ankrum, in 10th at a 71-point deficit to the lead.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway: Kyle Larson – three wins (2025, 2024, 2021)Chase Elliott – two wins (2025, 2018)Ross Chastain – one win (2024) ·        In 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 17 victories – including the series’ inaugural race with Jeff Gordon (Sept. 2021) and four-straight in the Next Gen era (2024 sweep & 2025 sweep).  ·        Kyle Larson has opened his championship title-defending run with three-straight top-five finishes (Darlington – 5th; WWTR – 1st; Bristol – 2nd). If Larson earns a top-five finish this weekend at Kansas Speedway, he would become just the fourth driver in history to earn top-five finishes in the first-four races of the postseason in NASCAR’s premier series.  ·        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.  ·        With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division’s history.  ·        In 172 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 74 victories – a winning percentage of 43%.  ·        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 888 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesHollywood Casino 400Sunday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m. ETUSA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesRace to Stop Suicide 200Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat makes Kansas Speedway a unique track and how does it differ from similar tracks of the same shape?“I should just start with I don’t understand hot mixes of asphalt when they pave these racetracks. I don’t know enough to truly speak on this, but although Kansas is a mile-and-a-half and there are several other of those size and style tracks on our schedule, it is one of one. Really every one of them is unique because when they are paving these tracks, they’re pulling rock and dirt and all of the aggregates to put into the asphalt from that area and it’s thousands of miles away from each other. So a Charlotte mix for the asphalt is different than Kansas, which is different than Las Vegas. They all have their own trends and tendencies of how the tires react. Kansas has stayed very smooth. I’m amazed at how smooth it has stayed with the harsh winters. You would think that the ground would freeze and thaw and really move, but it doesn’t, and it has stayed incredibly smooth. Very rewarding when you win there.” Do you enjoy going to a state like Kansas considering there is a lot of farm land?“Kansas is big ag land to me. For a lot of people it’s a fly over state, but for me that is big ag. As a son of a farmer from Florida, seeing row crops of that vast size out there when we fly in and out and travel around, it’s really cool to see. It really feels like home, even though it’s a long way from Florida.”   Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet“My first NASCAR Cup Series start was at Kansas Speedway, so it’s a special place to me and I’ll always remember that. We get to go to Kansas twice a year, and it’s a really fun mile-and-a-half. Kansas Speedway did a good job with their banking compared to some of the other tracks we go to. There’s a line right up by the fence that has a little extra grip. You can run from top to bottom at the track. Our goal as a team with the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Magnum Pheasant Chevrolet is to go out and learn as much as we can for 2027, and I think Kansas Speedway is a place where we can build some momentum.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’re a first-time father—what has this experience been like for you, and what was it like watching Julia go through the birth of your son, Otto? “Julia is a warrior! Watching her go through this experience gave me an even greater respect and admiration for mothers. I’m so proud of her, and we’re incredibly grateful to welcome Otto into our family. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words, and we’re simply enjoying every moment together.”  What are your thoughts heading into Kansas?“I’m really proud to have WIMNA Nation on our No. 7 Chevrolet at Kansas. Women play such an important role in motorsports, and it’s important to recognize those contributions. Kansas has been a decent track for me. Hopefully, we can have a strong weekend and give the WIMNA Nation members something to celebrate.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Kansas Speedway?“Kansas is a cool track. It’s a mile-and-a-half racetrack that lends itself to two, three and even four-wide racing with progressive banking. You can race anywhere, high or low and set up moves where you slide up in front of a guy and mess up his air. Aerodynamics play a big role with how fast we’re entering the corners, so there’s a lot of reliance on aerodynamic grip. You’ve got to get out front in clean air to get to victory lane.Kansas has turned into one of the best 1.5-mile tracks on our schedule. With the track aging and the progressive banking, you aren’t stuck in one line. Restarts are intense because everyone fans out, but once it settles in, you have to manage your tires and work the lines to find grip.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletAre you looking forward to getting back to a mile-and-a-half track?“I think it’s nice to go back to a mile-and-a-half racetrack. Hopefully, we’ve made some upgrades throughout the season to improve our speed and can show that this weekend. I felt like at the first race this season at Kansas, we had generally decent speed going into the race, but then we had a pit road accident (hit by another car) that kept us from really showing the speed of the car.” What’s tricky about Kansas?“You find yourself running the top there—the track kind of migrates to the top, and you’ve got to be good up around the fence. That’s always tricky, and qualifying can be as well.I think it’s a racetrack where we’ve been at least fairly competitive in the past. With the things we’ve learned over the last few months at mile-and-a-half racetracks, hopefully we can go there, have a good effort, and keep trying to finish the season strong and end it on a good note. That gives us something to focus on going into next year. Kansas is always a fun racetrack, and it’ll be nice to get there and see what we’ve got.”   Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletDescribe what makes the racing action unique at Kansas Speedway.“I personally like racing at Kansas, so hopefully we have a solid day in our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet. I won there in the Truck Series, so I always have confidence going back. Then on the O’Reilly (Auto Parts Series) side, we have run well and had speed there even on off days. It’s a multi-groove racetrack that you can move around on – bottom, middle, top. You don’t have to run the fence to make speed, but it is something that you’ll probably need to do every now and again. It has a lot of unique characteristics with tire fall off while still being extremely fast, especially on fire off. The track is fast for a mile-and-a-half, and you have a lot of throttle time on fire off. You can also use the seams to your advantage to make the car drive a certain way. I like having that ability because that plays into my driving style.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“Kansas is a mile-and-a-half track that’s in great condition. No bumps, no wear, you can pretty much run that track from top to bottom. If you want to run the apron, you can run the apron. If you want to run the wall, you can run the wall, and you can run any combination of lanes in between. It’s really just a very good, solid, smooth, clean racetrack.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat makes Kansas such a dynamic track?“Kansas is such a well-balanced racetrack. It seems like it is really easy to get multiple lanes going early in the race. We see it in practice as well. The track gives you different lanes to run, where at the other 1.5-mile tracks, it can take a bit for those lanes to develop. Kansas is a track that has high intensity, but it always ramps up in the fall, especially this year with the Chase. The track has a lot of speed early in the weekend, but when the race comes around, you start to slide a lot which makes you search for grip throughout the day. We had a tough weekend in the spring, but our No. 71 group has stepped up our game at these intermediates (tracks), so we are looking to capitalize on it, especially over the next three races.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts heading to Kansas?“I’m looking forward to it. We led some laps last year, and we are improving at Kansas. We’ve been fast at the 1.5-mile tracks, but it seems like that is the one place we don’t have the results to really show it. I enjoy Kansas. You get to move around and run the top for a while, which I enjoy. The fall race tends to have more variation as it is either super-hot or it cools down, which changes the track quite a bit. I feel like it has put on quite a few good races, which is fun to be a part of.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow do you manage your frustration when you’ve been wronged on the racetrack? “It’s tough at times. I think the best way to manage it is to just let yourself have time to cool off. The frustration immediately after certain events can really build up and I think you just have to kind of let yourself have 20 or 30 minutes to yourself to think about it and cool off. As long as you do that, I feel like it’s usually relatively easy to manage your anger. But I guess there’s times where it’s not. You can be so frustrated at a guy that you feel like you have to go say something to him and that’s when stuff happens.” What do you remember about your trip to Kansas Speedway earlier this season?“We’re definitely doing things differently going back. Hopefully we can turn it around because we really struggled there earlier in the spring, and we need to have a better run than we did there last time. I’ve got a lot of faith in the changes we’re making and the things we’re doing differently and I hope that that translates to a better result on the track.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOne of your best oval finishes came last year at Kansas Speedway. Any particular reason you’ve done better there than other places?“Yeah, last year we got a really good result. I guess because it was later in the year, we were coming back to that track for the second time, and we were just getting better and better. But earlier this year we really struggled there, so hopefully this weekend we are able to try some different things and with a 50-minute practice, I should be able to get a good feel for the car. We have the potential to run really well there, just need to execute.” Heading into this final stretch of the season, what are some things you want to accomplish to continue to grow as a team and driver?“We just need to get it turned around a bit. We’ve been pretty average the last month. We have been trying different stuff, which I guess is the reason, but obviously it hasn’t been working. So hopefully we can get everything pointed in the right direction and get started on next season and try to find some speed in our cars.”

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: 7Poles: 6Laps Led: 2,143Top-Fives: 50Top-10s: 100Stage Wins: 19 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 888 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 772Laps led to date: 258,877Top-fives to date: 4,486Top-10s to date: 9,251                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,222           Chevrolet: 888           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: 218

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCEKansas SpeedwaySeptember 26-27, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

The NASCAR Chase heads to the heartland this weekend with a return visit to Kansas Speedway opening a run of three-straight intermediate tracks for the sport’s top division. The Craftsman Truck Series kicks off the weekend Saturday with the Race to Stop Suicide 200, the second race of its seven-race Chase. Poised at the top of the points standings for the first time this season, Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson will lead the Cup Series Chase into Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 for the fourth stop of its postseason tour. After a runner-up finish at Bristol, the reigning champion will look to not only build upon his points lead but continue his top-five streak in his title-defending campaign. Team Chevy’s four Truck Series title contenders will look to regroup after a tough opener at Bristol, with two of its drivers – Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger – heading into the weekend as the only past Kansas winners.

Chevrolet’s Heartland History: Chevrolet has 17 victories in 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, the most of any manufacturer, ahead of Toyota (13), Ford (nine) and Dodge (two). The Bowtie brand won the track’s inaugural race (Jeff Gordon, Sept. 2001) and has won 13 of the 25 fall races, including the last two Hollywood Casino 400’s with Ross Chastain (2024) and Chase Elliott (2025). Hendrick Motorsports has 11 of those wins and is the only organization in double digits at the track, with those triumphs coming from Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Larson (three) and Elliott (two). From May 2024 through Sept. 2025, Chevrolet won four-straight Cup races at Kansas, tying the track record for the longest streak by a manufacturer. Team Chevy Chase contender, Elliott, is the fall race’s defending winner, having driven from eighth to first on the final lap of a double-overtime restart.

LARSON TAKES THE POINTS LEAD TO A TRACK WHERE HE’S BEEN THE BENCHMARKKyle Larson arrives at Kansas Speedway this weekend as the new NASCAR Cup Series points leader, having edged Denny Hamlin by a single point after a runner-up finish at Bristol — the first time the lead has changed hands through three postseason races. That Bristol result capped a strong start to the Chase for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. He led a race-high 99 laps in a fifth-place run during the postseason opener at Darlington Raceway, going on to snap a 51-race winless streak with a victory at Gateway to vault him from seventh to second in the standings before his move into the points lead at Bristol.  Kansas has been a personal showcase for Larson in the Next Gen era. He ranks first among active drivers with 576 laps led and sports a series-best 5.8 average finish, while also tallying wins in three of the last 10 Cup races at the track. That track mastery extends across much of the remaining Chase slate. Larson has three career wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including his first as a Hendrick Motorsports driver in 2021; one Coca-Cola 600 victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2021); one victory (2023) and eight-straight top-nine finishes at Martinsville Speedway; and two wins (2022 & 2025) at the track set to host this year’s title-deciding race, Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s a fall stretch that is shaping up to make Larson an arguable favorite to defend his championship title.

BOWTIE BRIGADE CONTINUING IN THE POINTS BATTLECarson Hocevar is among those who left “The Last Great Colosseum” with a gain in position in the Chase standings. The Michigan native is the second-highest ranked Team Chevy driver in eighth and 85 points back after a third-place finish at Bristol. While Kansas has been one of the more difficult tracks in his Cup Series career, he does own one Truck Series win at the track, coming in the seat of a Spire Motorsports-prepared Silverado RST last season. Chase Elliott is 12th (-117 points), with William Byron going plus-two spots into 13th (-121 points) after a ninth-place result at Bristol. Joining the likes of their Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Elliott and Byron both have strong Kansas resumes. Elliott has two wins, including last year’s fall race, and the third-best average finish in the Next Gen era at 9.9. Byron finished second to Chastain in the 2024 fall race and has finished seventh or better in two of his last three Kansas starts. Daniel Suarez rounds out the Chase field in 16th, 134 points back.

ENFINGER, ECKES BOAST STRONG KANSAS RESUMESWhile it was a tough opening race for Team Chevy’s four Chase contenders in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, six races still lie ahead for the contingent to put themselves right back into the title fight. CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger led the manufacturer’s Chase field with a 10th-place finish at Bristol – an effort that pushed him up into sixth in the standings and 53 points back from the lead. Enfinger’s history at Kansas is strong, headlined by his 2023 victory and top-nine results in 10 of his 14 starts at the track.

Enfinger is one of just two past Kansas winners entered in Saturday’s race, with his Team Chevy teammate, Christian Eckes, joining that elite list with his 2023 victory. Eckes is eighth in the standings, 58 points back, but brings arguably the deepest Kansas resume of any driver in the field. His accolades at the track includes top-six finishes in seven of his 10 starts, with his win in the 2023 event starting an active streak of three-straight podium results.

A quiet night under the Bristol lights for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Daniel Hemric saw the No. 19 team still make a one-position gain in the standings to sit seventh (-56 points) heading into the second race of the Chase. While Hemric’s Kansas history is short, it’s consistent – earning top-10 results in all three of his starts, including a best-finish of third. Rounding out the group is his teammate, Tyler Ankrum, in 10th at a 71-point deficit to the lead.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway: Kyle Larson – three wins (2025, 2024, 2021)Chase Elliott – two wins (2025, 2018)Ross Chastain – one win (2024) ·        In 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 17 victories – including the series’ inaugural race with Jeff Gordon (Sept. 2021) and four-straight in the Next Gen era (2024 sweep & 2025 sweep).  ·        Kyle Larson has opened his championship title-defending run with three-straight top-five finishes (Darlington – 5th; WWTR – 1st; Bristol – 2nd). If Larson earns a top-five finish this weekend at Kansas Speedway, he would become just the fourth driver in history to earn top-five finishes in the first-four races of the postseason in NASCAR’s premier series.  ·        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.  ·        With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division’s history.  ·        In 172 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 74 victories – a winning percentage of 43%.  ·        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 888 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesHollywood Casino 400Sunday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m. ETUSA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesRace to Stop Suicide 200Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat makes Kansas Speedway a unique track and how does it differ from similar tracks of the same shape?“I should just start with I don’t understand hot mixes of asphalt when they pave these racetracks. I don’t know enough to truly speak on this, but although Kansas is a mile-and-a-half and there are several other of those size and style tracks on our schedule, it is one of one. Really every one of them is unique because when they are paving these tracks, they’re pulling rock and dirt and all of the aggregates to put into the asphalt from that area and it’s thousands of miles away from each other. So a Charlotte mix for the asphalt is different than Kansas, which is different than Las Vegas. They all have their own trends and tendencies of how the tires react. Kansas has stayed very smooth. I’m amazed at how smooth it has stayed with the harsh winters. You would think that the ground would freeze and thaw and really move, but it doesn’t, and it has stayed incredibly smooth. Very rewarding when you win there.” Do you enjoy going to a state like Kansas considering there is a lot of farm land?“Kansas is big ag land to me. For a lot of people it’s a fly over state, but for me that is big ag. As a son of a farmer from Florida, seeing row crops of that vast size out there when we fly in and out and travel around, it’s really cool to see. It really feels like home, even though it’s a long way from Florida.”   Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet“My first NASCAR Cup Series start was at Kansas Speedway, so it’s a special place to me and I’ll always remember that. We get to go to Kansas twice a year, and it’s a really fun mile-and-a-half. Kansas Speedway did a good job with their banking compared to some of the other tracks we go to. There’s a line right up by the fence that has a little extra grip. You can run from top to bottom at the track. Our goal as a team with the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Magnum Pheasant Chevrolet is to go out and learn as much as we can for 2027, and I think Kansas Speedway is a place where we can build some momentum.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’re a first-time father—what has this experience been like for you, and what was it like watching Julia go through the birth of your son, Otto? “Julia is a warrior! Watching her go through this experience gave me an even greater respect and admiration for mothers. I’m so proud of her, and we’re incredibly grateful to welcome Otto into our family. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words, and we’re simply enjoying every moment together.”  What are your thoughts heading into Kansas?“I’m really proud to have WIMNA Nation on our No. 7 Chevrolet at Kansas. Women play such an important role in motorsports, and it’s important to recognize those contributions. Kansas has been a decent track for me. Hopefully, we can have a strong weekend and give the WIMNA Nation members something to celebrate.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Kansas Speedway?“Kansas is a cool track. It’s a mile-and-a-half racetrack that lends itself to two, three and even four-wide racing with progressive banking. You can race anywhere, high or low and set up moves where you slide up in front of a guy and mess up his air. Aerodynamics play a big role with how fast we’re entering the corners, so there’s a lot of reliance on aerodynamic grip. You’ve got to get out front in clean air to get to victory lane.Kansas has turned into one of the best 1.5-mile tracks on our schedule. With the track aging and the progressive banking, you aren’t stuck in one line. Restarts are intense because everyone fans out, but once it settles in, you have to manage your tires and work the lines to find grip.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletAre you looking forward to getting back to a mile-and-a-half track?“I think it’s nice to go back to a mile-and-a-half racetrack. Hopefully, we’ve made some upgrades throughout the season to improve our speed and can show that this weekend. I felt like at the first race this season at Kansas, we had generally decent speed going into the race, but then we had a pit road accident (hit by another car) that kept us from really showing the speed of the car.” What’s tricky about Kansas?“You find yourself running the top there—the track kind of migrates to the top, and you’ve got to be good up around the fence. That’s always tricky, and qualifying can be as well.I think it’s a racetrack where we’ve been at least fairly competitive in the past. With the things we’ve learned over the last few months at mile-and-a-half racetracks, hopefully we can go there, have a good effort, and keep trying to finish the season strong and end it on a good note. That gives us something to focus on going into next year. Kansas is always a fun racetrack, and it’ll be nice to get there and see what we’ve got.”   Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletDescribe what makes the racing action unique at Kansas Speedway.“I personally like racing at Kansas, so hopefully we have a solid day in our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet. I won there in the Truck Series, so I always have confidence going back. Then on the O’Reilly (Auto Parts Series) side, we have run well and had speed there even on off days. It’s a multi-groove racetrack that you can move around on – bottom, middle, top. You don’t have to run the fence to make speed, but it is something that you’ll probably need to do every now and again. It has a lot of unique characteristics with tire fall off while still being extremely fast, especially on fire off. The track is fast for a mile-and-a-half, and you have a lot of throttle time on fire off. You can also use the seams to your advantage to make the car drive a certain way. I like having that ability because that plays into my driving style.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“Kansas is a mile-and-a-half track that’s in great condition. No bumps, no wear, you can pretty much run that track from top to bottom. If you want to run the apron, you can run the apron. If you want to run the wall, you can run the wall, and you can run any combination of lanes in between. It’s really just a very good, solid, smooth, clean racetrack.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat makes Kansas such a dynamic track?“Kansas is such a well-balanced racetrack. It seems like it is really easy to get multiple lanes going early in the race. We see it in practice as well. The track gives you different lanes to run, where at the other 1.5-mile tracks, it can take a bit for those lanes to develop. Kansas is a track that has high intensity, but it always ramps up in the fall, especially this year with the Chase. The track has a lot of speed early in the weekend, but when the race comes around, you start to slide a lot which makes you search for grip throughout the day. We had a tough weekend in the spring, but our No. 71 group has stepped up our game at these intermediates (tracks), so we are looking to capitalize on it, especially over the next three races.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts heading to Kansas?“I’m looking forward to it. We led some laps last year, and we are improving at Kansas. We’ve been fast at the 1.5-mile tracks, but it seems like that is the one place we don’t have the results to really show it. I enjoy Kansas. You get to move around and run the top for a while, which I enjoy. The fall race tends to have more variation as it is either super-hot or it cools down, which changes the track quite a bit. I feel like it has put on quite a few good races, which is fun to be a part of.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow do you manage your frustration when you’ve been wronged on the racetrack? “It’s tough at times. I think the best way to manage it is to just let yourself have time to cool off. The frustration immediately after certain events can really build up and I think you just have to kind of let yourself have 20 or 30 minutes to yourself to think about it and cool off. As long as you do that, I feel like it’s usually relatively easy to manage your anger. But I guess there’s times where it’s not. You can be so frustrated at a guy that you feel like you have to go say something to him and that’s when stuff happens.” What do you remember about your trip to Kansas Speedway earlier this season?“We’re definitely doing things differently going back. Hopefully we can turn it around because we really struggled there earlier in the spring, and we need to have a better run than we did there last time. I’ve got a lot of faith in the changes we’re making and the things we’re doing differently and I hope that that translates to a better result on the track.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOne of your best oval finishes came last year at Kansas Speedway. Any particular reason you’ve done better there than other places?“Yeah, last year we got a really good result. I guess because it was later in the year, we were coming back to that track for the second time, and we were just getting better and better. But earlier this year we really struggled there, so hopefully this weekend we are able to try some different things and with a 50-minute practice, I should be able to get a good feel for the car. We have the potential to run really well there, just need to execute.” Heading into this final stretch of the season, what are some things you want to accomplish to continue to grow as a team and driver?“We just need to get it turned around a bit. We’ve been pretty average the last month. We have been trying different stuff, which I guess is the reason, but obviously it hasn’t been working. So hopefully we can get everything pointed in the right direction and get started on next season and try to find some speed in our cars.”

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: 7Poles: 6Laps Led: 2,143Top-Fives: 50Top-10s: 100Stage Wins: 19 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 888 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 772Laps led to date: 258,877Top-fives to date: 4,486Top-10s to date: 9,251                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,222           Chevrolet: 888           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: 218

Alton, VIRGINIA – September 23, 2026 – TopLiner™ driver Martin Ragginger delivered another front-running performance for Burtin Racing at Virginia International Raceway, qualifying a tenth of a second from pole and finishing second in Sunday’s Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA Class race aboard the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro.The result is Ragginger’s third podium of the 2026 season and his second runner-up finish behind Matthew Brabham, matching the hard-fought second place he scored at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in June. Combined with his third-place start to the year at Sebring International Raceway, the Austrian continues to show the second-generation Burtin Racing chassis at the sharp end of America’s premier muscle-car championship.Round 11 of the National Championship was contested over 31 laps of VIR’s 3.27-mile, 17-turn Full Course. Official qualifying on Sunday morning put Ragginger on the front row with a best lap of 1:42.811 — just 0.097 seconds shy of Brabham’s pole time of 1:42.714 in the No. 16 Ford Mustang. Paul Menard qualified third at 1:43.405.From the outside of the front row, Ragginger completed every lap of the 1-hour, 4-minute, 32.504-second feature and brought the TopLiner™ Camaro home second, 2.176 seconds behind Brabham, who led all 31 laps from the pole. Menard finished third, 0.310 seconds behind Ragginger. Ragginger’s best race lap was 1:45.593; Brabham’s was 1:45.420. Two cautions slowed the field for four laps. The official result awarded Ragginger 102 championship points for the afternoon.Chris Dyson finished fourth in TA, with David Pintaric fifth, Jon DeGaynor sixth, Tomy Drissi seventh and Amy Ruman eighth in class after completing 27 laps. The result also completed a familiar VIR story for Burtin Racing and Ragginger: he finished second here in 2023 on his Trans Am debut at the track, and he left Alton in 2026 with the same result — this time after starting from the front row of a 21-car TA/GT field.That fight arrived again. The No. 7 was fast enough on Sunday morning to split the championship protagonists on the grid and stay with Brabham through a full-distance race on one of the most physically demanding circuits in North America — a venue defined by elevation change, the Climbing Esses and Oak Tree, and little margin for error.TopLiner™ is the Georgia-born spray-on bedliner brand founded by chemist Claudio Burtin. Each coat is designed as a permanent shield against dents, scratches, rust and weather, with a textured finish that holds cargo and a custom look that works on truck beds, ATVs, trailers, boats and anything else that lives a hard life. The same values — strength, grip and durability — are what Burtin Racing puts on the racetrack.Follow @BurtinRacing on Facebook and Instagram and visit www.burtinracing.com for team news.

CONCORD, NC (September 23, 2027) – The wait is over – The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet will be back in upstate New York in 2027.

Next year’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision schedule will include a full weekend of racing in the “Empire State.” The trip north begins at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday, May 14, for the World of Outlaws Battle of the Eastern Door, followed by Can-Am Speedway on Saturday, May 15, hosting the Outlaws in the Islands 50, before the weekend concludes at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, May 16, with the World of Outlaws Finger Lakes 50.

Plenty of cash will be up for grabs in the biggest weekend of Late Model racing ever held in New York. All three races will pay $20,000 to win and $1,500 to start, with more than $240,000 in total purse money on the line over the course of the weekend.

While it’s been a decade since the World of Outlaws traveled to any of the three 2027 additions, they have all hosted the Series in the past. Mohawk’s lone previous World of Outlaws event in 2010 was won by Josh Richards, while the tour has visited Can-Am twice for races won by Rick Eckert (2009) and Tim Fuller (2010). Weedsport leads them all with four prior World of Outlaws races, with Chub Frank (2006, 2007), Shane Clanton (2015) and Richards (2016) each finding Victory Lane.

Tickets for all three races are now available by clicking here. Stay tuned to WorldofOutlaws.com for more event information, as well as the release of the full 2027 schedule for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in the coming months.

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

World of Outlaws Returning to Upstate New York in 2027 at Mohawk, Can-Am, Weedsport

CONCORD, NC (September 23, 2027) – The wait is over – The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet will be back in upstate New York in 2027.

Next year’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision schedule will include a full weekend of racing in the “Empire State.” The trip north begins at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday, May 14, for the World of Outlaws Battle of the Eastern Door, followed by Can-Am Speedway on Saturday, May 15, hosting the Outlaws in the Islands 50, before the weekend concludes at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, May 16, with the World of Outlaws Finger Lakes 50.

Plenty of cash will be up for grabs in the biggest weekend of Late Model racing ever held in New York. All three races will pay $20,000 to win and $1,500 to start, with more than $240,000 in total purse money on the line over the course of the weekend.

While it’s been a decade since the World of Outlaws traveled to any of the three 2027 additions, they have all hosted the Series in the past. Mohawk’s lone previous World of Outlaws event in 2010 was won by Josh Richards, while the tour has visited Can-Am twice for races won by Rick Eckert (2009) and Tim Fuller (2010). Weedsport leads them all with four prior World of Outlaws races, with Chub Frank (2006, 2007), Shane Clanton (2015) and Richards (2016) each finding Victory Lane.

Tickets for all three races are now available by clicking here. Stay tuned to WorldofOutlaws.com for more event information, as well as the release of the full 2027 schedule for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in the coming months.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/world-of-outlaws-returning-to-upstate-new-york-in-2027-at-mohawk-can-am-weedsport/