CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix 1.645-mile, 10-turn Detroit street circuit Detroit, Michigan Friday Practice Report May 29, 2026  DETROIT (May 29, 2026) – Pato O’Ward, in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, was the quickest of five Chevrolet-powered drivers in the top nine on the combined timesheet during a mixed-up Friday practice session in preparation for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. The dozen fastest drivers were evenly split between drivers on Primary Firestone Firehawk racing tires (Black) and Alternate Firestone Firehawk racing tires (Red).  David Malukas, in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Rinus VeeKay in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet and Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 Clarience Technologies Team Penske Chevrolet, joining O’Ward in the top nine on the combined timesheet. O’Ward, Malukas and Lundgaard all went quickest on Blacks, while VeeKay and Lundgaard were best on Reds.  “I thought the first part of it was good on the blacks,” explained O’Ward. “Quite tricky on the reds. I don’t think we’re the only one that struggled with it. I think the cars that are strong on the blacks, you might see these guys transfer like from Q1 to Q2 on blacks. Maybe as it rubbers up, the reds are going to start to be a little bit better. O’Ward, a winner at The Raceway At Belle Isle in 2021, was the second quickest overall and quickest Chevrolet-powered pilot in the first 40 minutes of practice, where all 25 drivers utilized only Blacks. Malukas, who started on the outside of the front row on the 1.645-mile, 10-turn Detroit street circuit last year, and Lundgaard rounded out the top five.  “Detroit-it’s bumpy,” said Malukas. “It is very bumpy, but overall we are going to have to study and look at data. The track conditions were very tough. Very low grip. Overall I think the Verizon Chevy is good. We are on the upper end, but we want to be at the top, and it seems like a few guys have a little bit on us. So, we will study, look, and see what we can do to put it all together for qualifying to get it done.”  When drivers put on the Alternate Firestone Firehawk racing tires (Red) for the first of two 12-minute sessions, VeeKay, coming off an impressive sixth-place Indianapolis 500 finish, was the second quickest overall and fastest Team Chevy driver with McLaughlin and O’Ward also turning in top-five lap times.  Lundgaard was the quickest of the Chevrolet-powered drivers in the second 12-minute session on Reds, with Malukas and Alexander Rossi, in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet, also in the top five.  Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Practice #1 Combined Results:Pato O’WardPress Conference THE MODERATOR: Pato O’Ward, 2021 finisher in Detroit, joins us.What did you make of that practice session? Were you happy with it? PATO O’WARD: I thought the first part of it was good on the black. Quite tricky on the red. I don’t think we’re the only one that struggled with it. I think the cars that are strong on the black, you might see these guys transfer like from Q1 to Q2 on a black. Maybe as it rubbers up, the red is going to start to be a little bit better. Q. Fast Six, if you’re in it tomorrow, have you thought about the strategy on that?PATO O’WARD: Probably you’d want to go first here. I would say probably on the same set. Q. Long Beach?PATO O’WARD: I went sixth. I was fifth or sixth. If you’re fifth or sixth, I don’t think it really makes much of a difference.I do think going first to fifth is a big difference with just brake temperatures and being able to get everything going, especially if you just did yours. Yeah, going first in line is going to keep you. Cars are going to be sliding around a lot. Just imagine cold tires, cold brakes. You’re not getting it in. Q. Pato, the first year INDYCAR raced here you said, It’s going to be gnarly, bro. Do you think this track has gotten gnarlier or you’ve figured it out or…PATO O’WARD: I feel like in certain areas, they’ve cleaned up like out in the chicane, I feel like the wall looks much nicer. There’s different patches that I think turn nine, there was quite a big dip when we were first coming here, now it’s not as aggressive. They’ve definitely made it much better for us.I don’t think the backstretch is as bumpy and aggressive as it used to be. The first year we came here I thought it was really aggressive. It’s gotten better and better, yeah. Q. We saw a number of cars spin at this complex during the session. Is that a case of the concrete or the track surface rubbering up with the GTP cars? Is that going to make any difference overall how that track handles long-term?PATO O’WARD: I can’t remember if the GTP rubber is good for us. Q. Does that change over the weekend, the concrete?PATO O’WARD: It opens the window a bit on driver lines and stuff like that. It should open it a little bit more. You start sliding a lot. Q. How the excess rubber might make it worse, is the cement here different that much compared to Long Beach or St. Petersburg?PATO O’WARD: It just feels like we struggle to get a carcass temp in the car much more. It doesn’t help that 80% of the track layout, like we don’t actually gain too much speed from turn three to turn seven. I mean, one, two, three, four, five corners that you’re just in first and second gear.How you get temperature in these cars, you have to go fast, then hit the brakes. That’s what usually creates the most heat.I just think over the course of the lap, there’s not a lot of that, regardless if you’re pushing a lot, whatever. You might heat the surface temp of the tire a lot, but you’re not actually creating a lot of carcass temperatures, which is what makes the tire work. Q. Is it all the same cement from last year’s race?PATO O’WARD: I think maybe nine is better. Maybe last year they fixed that. THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Saturday, May 30NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9am (ET)/8am (CT)/7am (MT)/6am (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 1pm (ET)/noon (CT)/11am (MT)/10am (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Sunday, May 31NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix (100 laps) – 12:30pm(ET)/11:30am (CT)/10:30am (MT)/9:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESChevrolet Detroit Grand Prix1.645-mile, 10-turn Detroit street circuitDetroit, MichiganFriday Practice ReportMay 29, 2026  DETROIT (May 29, 2026) – Pato O’Ward, in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, was the quickest of five Chevrolet-powered drivers in the top nine on the combined timesheet during a mixed-up Friday practice session in preparation for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. The dozen fastest drivers were evenly split between drivers on Primary Firestone Firehawk racing tires (Black) and Alternate Firestone Firehawk racing tires (Red).  David Malukas, in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Rinus VeeKay in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet and Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 Clarience Technologies Team Penske Chevrolet, joining O’Ward in the top nine on the combined timesheet. O’Ward, Malukas and Lundgaard all went quickest on Blacks, while VeeKay and Lundgaard were best on Reds.  “I thought the first part of it was good on the blacks,” explained O’Ward. “Quite tricky on the reds. I don’t think we’re the only one that struggled with it. I think the cars that are strong on the blacks, you might see these guys transfer like from Q1 to Q2 on blacks. Maybe as it rubbers up, the reds are going to start to be a little bit better. O’Ward, a winner at The Raceway At Belle Isle in 2021, was the second quickest overall and quickest Chevrolet-powered pilot in the first 40 minutes of practice, where all 25 drivers utilized only Blacks. Malukas, who started on the outside of the front row on the 1.645-mile, 10-turn Detroit street circuit last year, and Lundgaard rounded out the top five.  “Detroit-it’s bumpy,” said Malukas. “It is very bumpy, but overall we are going to have to study and look at data. The track conditions were very tough. Very low grip. Overall I think the Verizon Chevy is good. We are on the upper end, but we want to be at the top, and it seems like a few guys have a little bit on us. So, we will study, look, and see what we can do to put it all together for qualifying to get it done.”  When drivers put on the Alternate Firestone Firehawk racing tires (Red) for the first of two 12-minute sessions, VeeKay, coming off an impressive sixth-place Indianapolis 500 finish, was the second quickest overall and fastest Team Chevy driver with McLaughlin and O’Ward also turning in top-five lap times.  Lundgaard was the quickest of the Chevrolet-powered drivers in the second 12-minute session on Reds, with Malukas and Alexander Rossi, in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet, also in the top five.  Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Practice #1 Combined Results:Pato O’WardPress Conference THE MODERATOR: Pato O’Ward, 2021 finisher in Detroit, joins us.What did you make of that practice session? Were you happy with it? PATO O’WARD: I thought the first part of it was good on the black. Quite tricky on the red. I don’t think we’re the only one that struggled with it. I think the cars that are strong on the black, you might see these guys transfer like from Q1 to Q2 on a black. Maybe as it rubbers up, the red is going to start to be a little bit better. Q. Fast Six, if you’re in it tomorrow, have you thought about the strategy on that?PATO O’WARD: Probably you’d want to go first here. I would say probably on the same set. Q. Long Beach?PATO O’WARD: I went sixth. I was fifth or sixth. If you’re fifth or sixth, I don’t think it really makes much of a difference.I do think going first to fifth is a big difference with just brake temperatures and being able to get everything going, especially if you just did yours. Yeah, going first in line is going to keep you. Cars are going to be sliding around a lot. Just imagine cold tires, cold brakes. You’re not getting it in. Q. Pato, the first year INDYCAR raced here you said, It’s going to be gnarly, bro. Do you think this track has gotten gnarlier or you’ve figured it out or…PATO O’WARD: I feel like in certain areas, they’ve cleaned up like out in the chicane, I feel like the wall looks much nicer. There’s different patches that I think turn nine, there was quite a big dip when we were first coming here, now it’s not as aggressive. They’ve definitely made it much better for us.I don’t think the backstretch is as bumpy and aggressive as it used to be. The first year we came here I thought it was really aggressive. It’s gotten better and better, yeah. Q. We saw a number of cars spin at this complex during the session. Is that a case of the concrete or the track surface rubbering up with the GTP cars? Is that going to make any difference overall how that track handles long-term?PATO O’WARD: I can’t remember if the GTP rubber is good for us. Q. Does that change over the weekend, the concrete?PATO O’WARD: It opens the window a bit on driver lines and stuff like that. It should open it a little bit more. You start sliding a lot. Q. How the excess rubber might make it worse, is the cement here different that much compared to Long Beach or St. Petersburg?PATO O’WARD: It just feels like we struggle to get a carcass temp in the car much more. It doesn’t help that 80% of the track layout, like we don’t actually gain too much speed from turn three to turn seven. I mean, one, two, three, four, five corners that you’re just in first and second gear.How you get temperature in these cars, you have to go fast, then hit the brakes. That’s what usually creates the most heat.I just think over the course of the lap, there’s not a lot of that, regardless if you’re pushing a lot, whatever. You might heat the surface temp of the tire a lot, but you’re not actually creating a lot of carcass temperatures, which is what makes the tire work. Q. Is it all the same cement from last year’s race?PATO O’WARD: I think maybe nine is better. Maybe last year they fixed that. THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Saturday, May 30NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9am (ET)/8am (CT)/7am (MT)/6am (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 1pm (ET)/noon (CT)/11am (MT)/10am (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Sunday, May 31NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix (100 laps) – 12:30pm(ET)/11:30am (CT)/10:30am (MT)/9:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Chevrolet history at the Detroit Grand Prix  Wins – 13 The Raceway On Belle Isle (1992-2002) 2022 – Will Power – Team Penske2021 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren (Race #2)2019 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske (Race #1)2016 – Will Power – Team Penske (Race #2)2016 – Sebastien Bourdais – KV Racing Technology (Race #1)2015 – Sebastien Bourdais – KV Racing Technology (Race #2)2014 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske (Race #2)2014 – Will Power – Team Penske (Race #1)1993 – Danny Sullivan – Galles Racing1992 – Bob Rahal – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing  2.5-mile downtown street circuit (1989-1991) 1991 – Emerson Fittipaldi – Team Penske1990 – Michael Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1989 – Emerson Fittipaldi – Patrick Racing Earned Poles – 11 The Raceway On Belle Isle (1992-2022) 2022 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2021 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske (Race #2)2021 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren (Race #1)2019 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske (Race #2)2016 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske (Race #2)2016 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske (Race #1)2015 – Will Power – Team Penske (Race #1)2014 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske (Race #1) 2.5-mile downtown street circuit (1989-1991) 1991 – Michael Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1990 – Michael Andretti – Newman Haas Racing1989 – Michael Andretti – Newman Haas Racing Podiums: 35 1.645-mile downtown street circuit – 3 Driver Podiums 1.645-mile downtown street circuit (2023-2025): Santino Ferrucci (1), Will Power (1) and Felix Rosenqvist (1) Team Podiums 1.645-mile downtown street circuit (2023-2025): A.J. Foyt Racing (1), Arrow McLaren (1) and Team Penske (1) The Raceway At Belle Isle – 26 Driver Podiums Raceway On Belle Isle (1992-2022): Will Power (7), Josef Newgarden (3), Sebastien Bourdais (2), Pato O’Ward (2), Simon Pagenaud (2), Raul Boesel (1), Helio Castroneves (1), Ryan Hunter-Reay (1), Stefan Johanson (1), Tony Kanaan (1), Charlie Kimball (1), Juan Montoya (1), Bob Rahal (1), Danny Sullivan (1), and Rinus VeeKay (1) Team Podiums Raceway On Belle Isle (1992-2022): Team Penske (14), Arrow McLaren (2), Chip Ganassi Racing (2), KV Racing Technology (2), Andretti Global (1), Bettenhausen Racing (1), Dick Simon Racing (1), Ed Carpenter Racing (1), Galles Racing (1), and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (1)  Original Downtown Street Circuit – 8 Driver Podiums 2.5-mile downtown street circuit (1989-1991): Emerson Fittipaldi (2), Bob Rahal (2), Mario Andretti (1), Michael Andretti (1), Eddiie Cheever (1) and Arie Luyendyk (1). Team Podiums 2.5-mile downtown street circuit (1989-1991): Galles Racing (2), Newman Haas Racing (2), Doug Shierson Racing (1), Chip Ganassi Racing (1), Patrick Racing (1), and Team Penske (1). Laps Led – 915 Laps Led on the 1.645-mile downtown street circuit (2023-2025) – 61 Driver laps led on the 1.645-mile downtown street circuit (2023-2025): Christian Rasmussen (21), Will Power (15), Santino Ferrucci (14), Pato O’Ward (4), Scott McLaughlin (3), Josef Newgarden (3), Alexander Rossi (1) Team laps led on the 1.645-mile downtown street circuit (2023-2025): ECR (21), Team Penske (21), A.J. Foyt Racing (14), Arrow McLaren (5) Laps led at The Raceway At Belle Isle (1992-2002) – 672 Driver laps led at The Raceway At Belle Isle (1992-2002): Will Power (142), Josef Newgarden (113), Helio Castroneves (93), Simon Pagenaud (75), Juan Montoya (48), Paul Tracy (46), Sebastien Bourdais (38), Danny Sullivan (30), Bob Rahal (29), Ryan Hunter-Reay (20), Emerson Fittipaldi (12), Tony Kanaan (10), Pato O’Ward (6), Ryan Briscoe (5), Mike Conway (4), Scott Dixon (1) Team laps led at The Raceway At Belle Isle (1992-2002): Team Penske (529), KV Racing Technology (48), Galles Racing (30), Rahal Hogan Racing (29), Andretti Global (20), Arrow McLaren (6), Chip Ganassi Racing (6), ECR (4) Laps led on the 2.5-mile downtown street circuit – 182 Driver laps led on the 2.5-mile downtown street circuit (1989-1991): Michael Andretti (128), Emerson Fittipaldi (26), Arie Luyendyk (20), Bob Rahal (6), Mario Andretti (2) Team laps led on the 2.5-mile downtown street circuit (1989-1991): Newman Haas Racing (130), Team Penske (22), Granatelli Racing (20), Galles Racing (6), Patrick Racing (4) Manufacturer History at the Detroit Grand Prix  Wins (with competition)  17 – Honda (2025, 2024, 2023, 2021 Race #1, 2019 Race #2, 2018 Race #2, 2018 Race #1, 2017 Race #2, 2017 Race #1, 2015 Race #1, 2013 Race #2, 2013 Race #1, 2012, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998)11 – Chevrolet (2022, 2021 Race #2, 2019 Race #1, 2016 Race #2, 2016 Race #1, 2015 Race #2, 2014 Race #2, 2014 Race #1, 1991, 1990, 1989)2 – Ford (1996, 1995)1 – Ilmor (1994)1 – Mercedes (1997) Poles (with competition) 15 – Honda (2025, 2024, 2023, 2019 Race #1, 2018 Race #2, 2018 Race #1, 2017 Race #2, 2017 Race #1, 2014 Race #2, 2013 Race #2, 2013 Race #1, 2012, 2001, 1999, 1997)11 – Chevrolet (2022, 2021 Race #2, 2021 Race #1, 2019 Race #2, 2016 Race #2, 2016 Race #1, 2015 Race #1, 2014 Race #1, 1991, 1990, 1989)5 – Ford (1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992)1 – Mercedes (1998)1 – Toyota (2000)

Heather Lyne, Bob Pierce, Jason Palubicki speak on the grind of Hell Tour turning wrenches

CONCORD, NC (May 29, 2026) — In Victory Lane, drivers get most of the glory. But look beside some of the greatest in DIRTcar Summer Nationals history, and you’ll find one of the biggest keys to their success — their crew chiefs.

Forty years of racing on the Hell Tour have produced a champions list that reads like a Hall-of-Fame inductee class. Most in the modern era relied on an equally deserving brain in the pit area for feedback, setup calls, and a leading hand on the racecar.

Heather Lyne, a veteran crew chief of 25 years, wrenched Dennis Erb Jr. to three consecutive Summer Nationals championships from 2007 to 2009.

National Dirt Late Model Hall-of-Famer Bob Pierce, a two-time champion of the Hell Tour as a driver, led son Bobby Pierce’s operation to five total Summer Nationals points titles through the 2010s and 2020s.

Jason Palubicki is one name on a short list of crew chiefs to have wrenched multiple drivers to Hell Tour championships — first with Bobby Pierce in 2014 and most recently Jason Feger, who captured his second career points title one year ago.

The trophy count between these names is a reflection of their dedication, unmatched toughness and knowledge of their craft. But at one point, each had been only introduced to the gritty challenge that is the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.

“My first year helping on a Dirt Late Model, I didn’t realize how big it was,” said Palubicki, who made his first full pull on the Summer Nationals with driver Dan Schlieper in 2002. “I went to our local racetrack on a Saturday night, and people come out to watch their hero race. I did the same thing, and I thought that’s all it was. I didn’t know these guys raced for 10, 20, 30, or $100,000.”

“I knew it was going to be grueling, especially with the temperatures, and the way that it used to be done as opposed to how they do it now was you prayed for a rainout just to get a breather and to get a complete maintenance on the car as opposed to a quick maintenance going from track-to-track,” said Lyne, who’s been on Erb’s team every year since 2001. “I knew it was gonna be a lot of work just for the two of us. I knew we had to keep our bodies good and square and stay out of trouble, that way you could finish all the races, because that was key.”

Bob Pierce’s Summer Nationals expertise spawned in the early years of the grind, having raced throughout the 1980s before the tour was founded in 1986.

“Back then, I’d race every day if I could. I [was about] 30 years old,” he said with a laugh. “I thought it was kind of cool because you could make a little money throughout the week, versus waiting on the weekend like Friday or Saturday. I thought it would be kind of neat, and then I looked at the schedule and saw where we were gonna be, and I thought, ‘Wow, we’re all over the place.”

After amassing 14 Feature wins and garnering two championships in 1992 and 1995, Bob Pierce retired from the seat in the 2000s and quickly pivoted from driver to crew chief for his son, Bobby, who went on to three consecutive Summer Nationals championships from 2015 to 2017 before going back-to-back again in 2021 and 2022.

Now, having seen the circuit for nearly two decades as a mechanic, Bob’s perspective has shifted a bit, which remains even as Bobby continues his meteoric rise up the wins list with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

“The stressful part is he’s my son, and I want him to run well all the time. Even if we don’t, I feel like it’s my fault all the time, no matter what happens,” Bob said. “The gratifying part is when we do have good nights, it just makes it all worthwhile. I’m proud of him, and I’m glad I’m doing a good enough job for him to win these races.”

“It’s really neat to see him grow and get to this point where he can run with these guys, and be competitive, and be somebody to be reckoned with every night of racing.”

If there’s one thing that all drivers and crew members know about Summer Nationals, it’s the day-after-day grind. Driving to a different track every day, working on the car in high temperatures and humidity, and tough, wheel-to-wheel competition every night before packing it up and doing it all over again the next day for five straight weeks.

It’s not impossible, but that grind, even on a day without breaking or crashing equipment, is relentless. But through the rigorous test comes sharpened skills and a feat to be proud of.

“That first year, it was hell,” Palubicki said. “It was hot, no breaks, you prayed for rainouts. The first week or two weeks, we didn’t have a rainout. It was different racetracks every night for two and a half weeks, and then you’d get a rainout and just die. You’d go do laundry or go get a good meal somewhere because you don’t eat well, and you don’t sleep. It’s just a grind every day.”

“I actually enjoyed it, every day, different track, learning so much about your racecar, learning what you can do to make it better night-after-night without having a break in between,” Lyne said. “It was definitely a good thing. I don’t think it ever… it didn’t kill me. But I was able to exhale when it was over and then take a little break and then get right back into it.”

“Of course you’ll have your bad nights where you tear a front end off after getting in a bad wreck, and you’re thrashing there that night before you leave to go to the next track, and as soon as you get up, you’ve gotta work ‘til Hot Laps,” Bob Pierce said. “That’s kinda tough, but that happens even on tour with the World of Outlaws, too. It’s got its good sides and bad sides.”

Over the years, many drivers and crew members have credited their runs through Summer Nationals for teaching them the skills they needed to be able to tackle the national Late Model scene later on in their careers. So, what have these championship-winning mechanics learned from 20-plus races in five weeks?

“Don’t give up. You can’t quit,” Palubicki said. “Every day is a new day. Even though it’s really hard — it’s extremely hard — especially if you’re struggling. I’ve been blessed to be with people that don’t struggle very often. I think, on average, we’ve made every race, I believe, the last two years. Should’ve won it probably the last three years, but we didn’t do the whole thing other years.”

“Attention to detail,” Lyne said. “And that I don’t like to be at the same place more than two days is what it really taught me, because I got so used to packing up, leaving, and going to a new track. It taught you to be self-reliant, trust your instincts, pay attention to details, and things of that nature.”

“I told Bobby this — the more you race, the better you get. It just comes more naturally,” Bob Pierce said. “It’s like driving your passenger car down the road — you don’t look where the radio is, you just reach over and hit the knob or your air conditioner button. Everything just comes so normal when you’re in that race car day-in and day-out. It sharpens your skills.”

To be fair, the Hell Tour is a lot to ask of one person. For 40 years, teams have come to race and work day-after-day in the sweltering sun, and for 40 years, they’ve kept coming back to race again. The drive is different for each, but there’s one common denominator — the love of the sport.

“Winning races. That’s what we’re there for,” Palubicki said. “We’re there to win races or to watch your buddies succeed. Or watch a young kid, like Trey Mills last year, win a race.

“It’s cool to watch. That’s what brings you back, and your friends. We’ve got a group of guys that we travel with most of the time. I have friends from Tennessee that are coming up to run a week of it with a Modified this year, just because they want to come and see what it’s all about and make their program good. You’re only as good as the people you race against.”

“I just like the competition,” Lyne said. “I enjoy it. I like the adrenaline; I like the challenge. When you’re running bad it makes you dig, when you’re running well, you ride that high and just hope it keeps going. It’s in my blood, I guess.”

The 40th anniversary season of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals begins Tuesday, June 9 at Brownstown Bullring in Brownstown, IL. Tickets for each of the 33 scheduled races on the 2026 calendar will be available for purchase at each track on race day.

If you can’t make it to your favorite track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

FROM THE PIT BOX: Championship-Winning Crew Chiefs Maintain Hell Tour’s Prestige Despite Grueling Schedule

Heather Lyne, Bob Pierce, Jason Palubicki speak on the grind of Hell Tour turning wrenches

CONCORD, NC (May 29, 2026) — In Victory Lane, drivers get most of the glory. But look beside some of the greatest in DIRTcar Summer Nationals history, and you’ll find one of the biggest keys to their success — their crew chiefs.

Forty years of racing on the Hell Tour have produced a champions list that reads like a Hall-of-Fame inductee class. Most in the modern era relied on an equally deserving brain in the pit area for feedback, setup calls, and a leading hand on the racecar.

Heather Lyne, a veteran crew chief of 25 years, wrenched Dennis Erb Jr. to three consecutive Summer Nationals championships from 2007 to 2009.

National Dirt Late Model Hall-of-Famer Bob Pierce, a two-time champion of the Hell Tour as a driver, led son Bobby Pierce’s operation to five total Summer Nationals points titles through the 2010s and 2020s.

Jason Palubicki is one name on a short list of crew chiefs to have wrenched multiple drivers to Hell Tour championships — first with Bobby Pierce in 2014 and most recently Jason Feger, who captured his second career points title one year ago.

The trophy count between these names is a reflection of their dedication, unmatched toughness and knowledge of their craft. But at one point, each had been only introduced to the gritty challenge that is the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.

“My first year helping on a Dirt Late Model, I didn’t realize how big it was,” said Palubicki, who made his first full pull on the Summer Nationals with driver Dan Schlieper in 2002. “I went to our local racetrack on a Saturday night, and people come out to watch their hero race. I did the same thing, and I thought that’s all it was. I didn’t know these guys raced for 10, 20, 30, or $100,000.”

“I knew it was going to be grueling, especially with the temperatures, and the way that it used to be done as opposed to how they do it now was you prayed for a rainout just to get a breather and to get a complete maintenance on the car as opposed to a quick maintenance going from track-to-track,” said Lyne, who’s been on Erb’s team every year since 2001. “I knew it was gonna be a lot of work just for the two of us. I knew we had to keep our bodies good and square and stay out of trouble, that way you could finish all the races, because that was key.”

Bob Pierce’s Summer Nationals expertise spawned in the early years of the grind, having raced throughout the 1980s before the tour was founded in 1986.

“Back then, I’d race every day if I could. I [was about] 30 years old,” he said with a laugh. “I thought it was kind of cool because you could make a little money throughout the week, versus waiting on the weekend like Friday or Saturday. I thought it would be kind of neat, and then I looked at the schedule and saw where we were gonna be, and I thought, ‘Wow, we’re all over the place.”

After amassing 14 Feature wins and garnering two championships in 1992 and 1995, Bob Pierce retired from the seat in the 2000s and quickly pivoted from driver to crew chief for his son, Bobby, who went on to three consecutive Summer Nationals championships from 2015 to 2017 before going back-to-back again in 2021 and 2022.

Now, having seen the circuit for nearly two decades as a mechanic, Bob’s perspective has shifted a bit, which remains even as Bobby continues his meteoric rise up the wins list with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

“The stressful part is he’s my son, and I want him to run well all the time. Even if we don’t, I feel like it’s my fault all the time, no matter what happens,” Bob said. “The gratifying part is when we do have good nights, it just makes it all worthwhile. I’m proud of him, and I’m glad I’m doing a good enough job for him to win these races.”

“It’s really neat to see him grow and get to this point where he can run with these guys, and be competitive, and be somebody to be reckoned with every night of racing.”

If there’s one thing that all drivers and crew members know about Summer Nationals, it’s the day-after-day grind. Driving to a different track every day, working on the car in high temperatures and humidity, and tough, wheel-to-wheel competition every night before packing it up and doing it all over again the next day for five straight weeks.

It’s not impossible, but that grind, even on a day without breaking or crashing equipment, is relentless. But through the rigorous test comes sharpened skills and a feat to be proud of.

“That first year, it was hell,” Palubicki said. “It was hot, no breaks, you prayed for rainouts. The first week or two weeks, we didn’t have a rainout. It was different racetracks every night for two and a half weeks, and then you’d get a rainout and just die. You’d go do laundry or go get a good meal somewhere because you don’t eat well, and you don’t sleep. It’s just a grind every day.”

“I actually enjoyed it, every day, different track, learning so much about your racecar, learning what you can do to make it better night-after-night without having a break in between,” Lyne said. “It was definitely a good thing. I don’t think it ever… it didn’t kill me. But I was able to exhale when it was over and then take a little break and then get right back into it.”

“Of course you’ll have your bad nights where you tear a front end off after getting in a bad wreck, and you’re thrashing there that night before you leave to go to the next track, and as soon as you get up, you’ve gotta work ‘til Hot Laps,” Bob Pierce said. “That’s kinda tough, but that happens even on tour with the World of Outlaws, too. It’s got its good sides and bad sides.”

Over the years, many drivers and crew members have credited their runs through Summer Nationals for teaching them the skills they needed to be able to tackle the national Late Model scene later on in their careers. So, what have these championship-winning mechanics learned from 20-plus races in five weeks?

“Don’t give up. You can’t quit,” Palubicki said. “Every day is a new day. Even though it’s really hard — it’s extremely hard — especially if you’re struggling. I’ve been blessed to be with people that don’t struggle very often. I think, on average, we’ve made every race, I believe, the last two years. Should’ve won it probably the last three years, but we didn’t do the whole thing other years.”

“Attention to detail,” Lyne said. “And that I don’t like to be at the same place more than two days is what it really taught me, because I got so used to packing up, leaving, and going to a new track. It taught you to be self-reliant, trust your instincts, pay attention to details, and things of that nature.”

“I told Bobby this — the more you race, the better you get. It just comes more naturally,” Bob Pierce said. “It’s like driving your passenger car down the road — you don’t look where the radio is, you just reach over and hit the knob or your air conditioner button. Everything just comes so normal when you’re in that race car day-in and day-out. It sharpens your skills.”

To be fair, the Hell Tour is a lot to ask of one person. For 40 years, teams have come to race and work day-after-day in the sweltering sun, and for 40 years, they’ve kept coming back to race again. The drive is different for each, but there’s one common denominator — the love of the sport.

“Winning races. That’s what we’re there for,” Palubicki said. “We’re there to win races or to watch your buddies succeed. Or watch a young kid, like Trey Mills last year, win a race.

“It’s cool to watch. That’s what brings you back, and your friends. We’ve got a group of guys that we travel with most of the time. I have friends from Tennessee that are coming up to run a week of it with a Modified this year, just because they want to come and see what it’s all about and make their program good. You’re only as good as the people you race against.”

“I just like the competition,” Lyne said. “I enjoy it. I like the adrenaline; I like the challenge. When you’re running bad it makes you dig, when you’re running well, you ride that high and just hope it keeps going. It’s in my blood, I guess.”

The 40th anniversary season of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals begins Tuesday, June 9 at Brownstown Bullring in Brownstown, IL. Tickets for each of the 33 scheduled races on the 2026 calendar will be available for purchase at each track on race day.

If you can’t make it to your favorite track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://dirtcarsummernationals.com/news/from-the-pit-box-championship-winning-crew-chiefs-maintain-hell-tours-prestige-despite-grueling-schedule/

CONCORD, NC (May 29, 2026) — Kyler Johnson is currently sitting at the highest he’s ever been in the points standings with the American Sprint Car Series. But he knows he could still be higher. 

While Quinter, KS native has seen glimpses of race-winning pace in the first quarter of the season, placing him fourth in the standings (126 points back from the lead), issues beyond his control have kept him from being closer to the fight for the top. 

Before joining the national-touring 360 Sprint Cars in May at Benton Speedway, Johnson took part in the ASCS Gunsmoke Region opener at Dodge City Raceway Park. While leading the night’s Feature, he lost power in his car and left the night with a DNF. 

The gremlins persisted at Benton, with Johnson not completing a lap at speed in any of the night’s program. It took until after the Feature was contested for the team to discover the real issue. 

“The weekend before (Benton), we were running the regional race out at Dodge City,” Johnson said. “We were leading the Feature, then all of a sudden, we just lost power. So, we tore into it and changed what we originally thought was the problem. The car would idle just fine, but it just couldn’t get up to speed. 

“So, we go out to Benton, and obviously don’t run at all. It wasn’t until after the Feature ended that we decided to check our barrel valve. What ended up happening was that we had an O-ring come apart in the fuel pump, and that went through the barrel valve and just got it loosened off enough to where it wouldn’t run.” 

The night at Benton was not the first time in 2026 that Johnson had his back to the wall with the ASCS National Tour. On the second night of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, his primary Sprint Car was totaled after a crash during his Heat race. 

Throughout the year, Johnson has utilized new shocks on his No. 45X Maxim Chassis, courtesy of J1S7 Suspension, which is owned by 2024 NARC King of the West Sprint Car champion Justin Sanders. Though he’s taken time to gain comfort with the new suspension components, Johnson described the change as an overall positive. 

“We had a whole new shock package to start the season,” Johnson said. “We switched to Justin Sanders, and we were doing some of the stuff we had done before in our career to start getting an idea of what we were dealing with. I talked to Justin (at Volusia), and we took a big swing at something we never did before, and we had really good speed to battle with (Cole) Macedo and Hank (Davis). 

“With Justin, our whole notebook is basically thrown out the window, outside of our gearing. Any other notes as far as setup goes is out the window. This whole season is basically all about starting fresh. We really like the balance of what we’ve got. We were able to adjust it a little bit and tweak it for what we need at the track. We’ve been working together a lot in the last couple of months and really finding speed.” 

Johnson’s first race after the mishap at Benton was a Memorial Day visit to Phillips County Raceway with the ASCS Western Plains and Gunsmoke Regions. From start to finish, the 22-year-old had his car at the top of the leaderboard with Quick Time in Qualifying, a Heat win, and then led all 20 laps of the Feature for his first win of the year. 

“Any chance you get a win, it will always add confidence to the whole program,” Johnson said. “Really, it was just a big relief to get out there, get on the gas, and it actually ran. We thought we had fixed it two weeks ago, and that obviously wasn’t the case. We had the problem fixed, and it was just good to show speed in every stage of the night. 

“We feel like all year, our biggest weakness has been the Heat races. It feels like we can get out there and qualify really good, then we don’t make enough of an adjustment for the Heat race. So, it seems like we’re just good enough to make the Dash. Going Quick Time, you have to start fourth, and you have to finish there or better. We’ve lacked the Heat Race speed this year, but we took a bigger swing for the Heat race, so we were not having to make as big a swing for the Feature.” 

Securing a Feature win in regional competition, Johnson’s next battle with the American Sprint Car Series will come in a two-track weekend, starting with Oklahoma’s Creek County Speedway, then a home state visit to 81 Speedway. 

Though he’s only finished in the top-10 once at Creek County in 2023, Johnson has seen career heights at the 3/8-mile in Park City, KS. His first win at 81 came with POWRi in 2020, scored his first career ASCS podium in 2023, and finished eighth in the Series’ latest visit. In 2026, he’s seeking the dual state challenge to mark his first career National Tour win. 

“Anytime we go to a big 3/8-mile or a 1/2-mile, you know it’s going to be slick and sandy,” Johnson said. “I definitely feel like that’s where I thrive because I grew up racing on this Kansas sandy soil, and you don’t have a lot of grip. Justin got us special shocks, and that’s the main reason we went out to (Phillips County) was to test them, and we really liked them.  

“We’ve been so close (to winning). Twice now in the last 15 races, at (I-55) and Central Arizona, we’ve been really close. Just to get the monkey off our back, be able to race to get wins at this point, then as we go on, we’ll let the points figure themselves out.” 

Johnson will chase redemption with the Series at the Don Swope Classic at Creek County on Friday, June 5, then face a Saturday bout in the Salute to Service Sprint Car Showdown at 81 on Saturday, June 6. 

CREEK COUNTY INFO

81 SPEEDWAY INFO

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

ARTICLE:https://ascsracing.com/news/kyler-johnson-finds-strength-through-adversity-in-first-quarter-of-ascs-campaign/
PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Schwanke

Kyler Johnson Finds Strength Through Adversity in First Quarter of ASCS Campaign  CONCORD, NC (May 29, 2026) — Kyler Johnson is currently sitting at the highest he’s ever been in the points standings with the American Sprint Car Series. But he knows he could still be higher. 

While Quinter, KS native has seen glimpses of race-winning pace in the first quarter of the season, placing him fourth in the standings (126 points back from the lead), issues beyond his control have kept him from being closer to the fight for the top. 

Before joining the national-touring 360 Sprint Cars in May at Benton Speedway, Johnson took part in the ASCS Gunsmoke Region opener at Dodge City Raceway Park. While leading the night’s Feature, he lost power in his car and left the night with a DNF. 

The gremlins persisted at Benton, with Johnson not completing a lap at speed in any of the night’s program. It took until after the Feature was contested for the team to discover the real issue. 

“The weekend before (Benton), we were running the regional race out at Dodge City,” Johnson said. “We were leading the Feature, then all of a sudden, we just lost power. So, we tore into it and changed what we originally thought was the problem. The car would idle just fine, but it just couldn’t get up to speed. 

“So, we go out to Benton, and obviously don’t run at all. It wasn’t until after the Feature ended that we decided to check our barrel valve. What ended up happening was that we had an O-ring come apart in the fuel pump, and that went through the barrel valve and just got it loosened off enough to where it wouldn’t run.” 

The night at Benton was not the first time in 2026 that Johnson had his back to the wall with the ASCS National Tour. On the second night of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, his primary Sprint Car was totaled after a crash during his Heat race. 

Throughout the year, Johnson has utilized new shocks on his No. 45X Maxim Chassis, courtesy of J1S7 Suspension, which is owned by 2024 NARC King of the West Sprint Car champion Justin Sanders. Though he’s taken time to gain comfort with the new suspension components, Johnson described the change as an overall positive. 

“We had a whole new shock package to start the season,” Johnson said. “We switched to Justin Sanders, and we were doing some of the stuff we had done before in our career to start getting an idea of what we were dealing with. I talked to Justin (at Volusia), and we took a big swing at something we never did before, and we had really good speed to battle with (Cole) Macedo and Hank (Davis). 

“With Justin, our whole notebook is basically thrown out the window, outside of our gearing. Any other notes as far as setup goes is out the window. This whole season is basically all about starting fresh. We really like the balance of what we’ve got. We were able to adjust it a little bit and tweak it for what we need at the track. We’ve been working together a lot in the last couple of months and really finding speed.” 

Johnson’s first race after the mishap at Benton was a Memorial Day visit to Phillips County Raceway with the ASCS Western Plains and Gunsmoke Regions. From start to finish, the 22-year-old had his car at the top of the leaderboard with Quick Time in Qualifying, a Heat win, and then led all 20 laps of the Feature for his first win of the year. 

“Any chance you get a win, it will always add confidence to the whole program,” Johnson said. “Really, it was just a big relief to get out there, get on the gas, and it actually ran. We thought we had fixed it two weeks ago, and that obviously wasn’t the case. We had the problem fixed, and it was just good to show speed in every stage of the night. 

“We feel like all year, our biggest weakness has been the Heat races. It feels like we can get out there and qualify really good, then we don’t make enough of an adjustment for the Heat race. So, it seems like we’re just good enough to make the Dash. Going Quick Time, you have to start fourth, and you have to finish there or better. We’ve lacked the Heat Race speed this year, but we took a bigger swing for the Heat race, so we were not having to make as big a swing for the Feature.” 

Securing a Feature win in regional competition, Johnson’s next battle with the American Sprint Car Series will come in a two-track weekend, starting with Oklahoma’s Creek County Speedway, then a home state visit to 81 Speedway. 

Though he’s only finished in the top-10 once at Creek County in 2023, Johnson has seen career heights at the 3/8-mile in Park City, KS. His first win at 81 came with POWRi in 2020, scored his first career ASCS podium in 2023, and finished eighth in the Series’ latest visit. In 2026, he’s seeking the dual state challenge to mark his first career National Tour win. 

“Anytime we go to a big 3/8-mile or a 1/2-mile, you know it’s going to be slick and sandy,” Johnson said. “I definitely feel like that’s where I thrive because I grew up racing on this Kansas sandy soil, and you don’t have a lot of grip. Justin got us special shocks, and that’s the main reason we went out to (Phillips County) was to test them, and we really liked them.  

“We’ve been so close (to winning). Twice now in the last 15 races, at (I-55) and Central Arizona, we’ve been really close. Just to get the monkey off our back, be able to race to get wins at this point, then as we go on, we’ll let the points figure themselves out.” 

Johnson will chase redemption with the Series at the Don Swope Classic at Creek County on Friday, June 5, then face a Saturday bout in the Salute to Service Sprint Car Showdown at 81 on Saturday, June 6. 

CREEK COUNTY INFO

81 SPEEDWAY INFO

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

ARTICLE:https://ascsracing.com/news/kyler-johnson-finds-strength-through-adversity-in-first-quarter-of-ascs-campaign/
PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Schwanke

EVENT INFO:https://ascsracing.com/schedule/event-info/?event=4549690, https://ascsracing.com/schedule/event-info/?event=4549691
TRACK INFO:https://www.creekcountyspeedway.co/, https://www.81speedway.com/

ORRVILLE, OH (May 28, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. went to Wayne County Speedway in need of a breakout night, and that’s exactly what he got.

The Chandler, AZ native had amassed three wins in his first 40 Late Model starts of 2026 prior to Thursday’s Lonewolf 40 with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision. Most racers would gladly take that number, but not the man who has been among the winningest drivers in the sport over the past three years.

The month of May in particular had been a roller coaster for Thornton and his Koehler Motorsports team. After opening the month with a win at Circle City Raceway, Thornton went on to finish in the top five only twice in his next seven starts, including four runs of 18th or worse. With some of the biggest races of the season fast approaching, Thornton was running out of time to regain his footing.

That was until Thornton rolled into Wayne County for the first time. The No. 20RT was fast off the trailer in Hot Laps, and the speed carried over into Qualifying and his Heat Race. Thornton led the field to green in the Feature after drawing the Bilstein Pole, but the start was anything but calm, as Hudson O’Neal and Daulton Wilson briefly made it three-wide for the lead on the opening lap.

The 40-lap contest soon turned into a battle of attrition. O’Neal had to surrender second place due to a flat tire six laps in, then Brandon Sheppard suffered the same fate while running in the same spot later in the race. Ahead of the final restart with two laps remaining, Thornton remained out front, but by that point, he was being trailed by Nick Hoffman and Bobby Pierce, who worked his way forward from 16th in the starting lineup.

Neither of the two title contenders could find away around Thornton though, as “RTJ” blasted around the cushion to take the checkers for the sixth time in his career with the World of Outlaws and the first since the 2024 World of Outlaws World Finals.

“We’ve been working hard getting better,” Thornton said. “Not that we’ve been slow, we just haven’t had the luck and the speed that we’ve had before. Feel like we got a lot better there at Wheatland last week and the driver kind of tossed away the first two nights. The final night we were good, and we unloaded here really good. I think I’ve watched Sheldon [Haudenschild] rip the top around here nine million times, but I’ve never watched a Late Model race here.”

Hoffman finished second ahead of Pierce in third. Behind them, Tyler Erb crossed the line fourth, while Dustin Sorensen collected his second-straight top five in fifth.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision continues its stay in Ohio at Mansfield Speedway for the Blaster 57 Special on Friday and Saturday, May 29-30. Tickets are available in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Ricky Thornton Jr. set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Nick Hoffman won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Nick Hoffman won Heat 1.

Daulton Wilson won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Ricky Thornton Jr. won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Hudson O’Neal won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Trey Mills and Lincoln Smith won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Ricky Thornton Jr. won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Bobby Pierce won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Logan Zarin won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Nick Hoffman was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Devin Moran was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Hudson O’Neal was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

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

Tim McCreadie was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Lincoln Smith was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 9-Nick Hoffman[4]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[16]; 4. 1-Tyler Erb[5]; 5. 19-Dustin Sorensen[11]; 6. 99-Devin Moran[8]; 7. 6-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 8. 1Z-Logan Zarin[9]; 9. 14-Trey Mills[17]; 10. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[20]; 11. 22*-Drake Troutman[14]; 12. B1-Brent Larson[25]; 13. 9M-Tim McCreadie[10]; 14. 31-Lincoln Smith[18]; 15. 555-Brock Pinkerous[7]; 16. 19R-Ryan Gustin[23]; 17. 1S-Brandon Sheppard[6]; 18. 74X-Ethan Dotson[12]; 19. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[24]; 20. 58V-Daulton Wilson[2]; 21. 157-Mike Marlar[21]; 22. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[19]; 23. 5L-Jon Lee[13]; 24. 55E-Eli Johnson[26]; 25. 217-Eric Wilson[15]; 26. 44-Dave Hess Jr[22]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/thornton-jr-wins-lonewolf-40-in-wayne-county-debut/

Thornton Jr. Wins Lonewolf 40 in Wayne County Debut

ORRVILLE, OH (May 28, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. went to Wayne County Speedway in need of a breakout night, and that’s exactly what he got.

The Chandler, AZ native had amassed three wins in his first 40 Late Model starts of 2026 prior to Thursday’s Lonewolf 40 with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision. Most racers would gladly take that number, but not the man who has been among the winningest drivers in the sport over the past three years.

The month of May in particular had been a roller coaster for Thornton and his Koehler Motorsports team. After opening the month with a win at Circle City Raceway, Thornton went on to finish in the top five only twice in his next seven starts, including four runs of 18th or worse. With some of the biggest races of the season fast approaching, Thornton was running out of time to regain his footing.

That was until Thornton rolled into Wayne County for the first time. The No. 20RT was fast off the trailer in Hot Laps, and the speed carried over into Qualifying and his Heat Race. Thornton led the field to green in the Feature after drawing the Bilstein Pole, but the start was anything but calm, as Hudson O’Neal and Daulton Wilson briefly made it three-wide for the lead on the opening lap.

The 40-lap contest soon turned into a battle of attrition. O’Neal had to surrender second place due to a flat tire six laps in, then Brandon Sheppard suffered the same fate while running in the same spot later in the race. Ahead of the final restart with two laps remaining, Thornton remained out front, but by that point, he was being trailed by Nick Hoffman and Bobby Pierce, who worked his way forward from 16th in the starting lineup.

Neither of the two title contenders could find away around Thornton though, as “RTJ” blasted around the cushion to take the checkers for the sixth time in his career with the World of Outlaws and the first since the 2024 World of Outlaws World Finals.

“We’ve been working hard getting better,” Thornton said. “Not that we’ve been slow, we just haven’t had the luck and the speed that we’ve had before. Feel like we got a lot better there at Wheatland last week and the driver kind of tossed away the first two nights. The final night we were good, and we unloaded here really good. I think I’ve watched Sheldon [Haudenschild] rip the top around here nine million times, but I’ve never watched a Late Model race here.”

Hoffman finished second ahead of Pierce in third. Behind them, Tyler Erb crossed the line fourth, while Dustin Sorensen collected his second-straight top five in fifth.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision continues its stay in Ohio at Mansfield Speedway for the Blaster 57 Special on Friday and Saturday, May 29-30. Tickets are available in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Ricky Thornton Jr. set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Nick Hoffman won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Nick Hoffman won Heat 1.

Daulton Wilson won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Ricky Thornton Jr. won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Hudson O’Neal won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Trey Mills and Lincoln Smith won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Ricky Thornton Jr. won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Bobby Pierce won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Logan Zarin won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Nick Hoffman was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Bobby Pierce was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Devin Moran was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Hudson O’Neal was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

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

Tim McCreadie was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Lincoln Smith was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 9-Nick Hoffman[4]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[16]; 4. 1-Tyler Erb[5]; 5. 19-Dustin Sorensen[11]; 6. 99-Devin Moran[8]; 7. 6-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 8. 1Z-Logan Zarin[9]; 9. 14-Trey Mills[17]; 10. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[20]; 11. 22*-Drake Troutman[14]; 12. B1-Brent Larson[25]; 13. 9M-Tim McCreadie[10]; 14. 31-Lincoln Smith[18]; 15. 555-Brock Pinkerous[7]; 16. 19R-Ryan Gustin[23]; 17. 1S-Brandon Sheppard[6]; 18. 74X-Ethan Dotson[12]; 19. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[24]; 20. 58V-Daulton Wilson[2]; 21. 157-Mike Marlar[21]; 22. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[19]; 23. 5L-Jon Lee[13]; 24. 55E-Eli Johnson[26]; 25. 217-Eric Wilson[15]; 26. 44-Dave Hess Jr[22]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/thornton-jr-wins-lonewolf-40-in-wayne-county-debut/

TRACK INFO: https://www.waynecountyspeedway.com/

CONCORD, NC (May 28, 2026) – June signals the start of summertime and a major month of racing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to embark on an 11-race stretch that’ll take the tour to six dirt tracks in four different states. Teams will make a popular return to a state after a hiatus, get one last chance to add notes for “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All,” battle for the biggest payday in Series history, and more along the way.

Let’s look at what awaits in June:

Hartford Speedway | Pure Michigan Showdown (June 5): June opens with the World of Outlaws making its first stop in the state of Michigan since 2019. Hartford Speedway is the destination. The 3/8 mile located not far from the southeast beaches of Lake Michigan has hosted the tour 11 previous times, with the first in 1979.

Ron Shuman topped the Series debut 47 years ago. The Series didn’t return until 1996 when Dave Blaney took Casey Luna’s No. 10 to Victory Lane. Two-time and defending champion, David Gravel, topped the two most recent visits – 2017 in the CJB Motorsports No. 5 and 2019 in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. Gravel and Steve Kinser (1996 and 2005) are the only pair with multiple Hartford checkered flags.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Plymouth Dirt Track | Cheese Town Showdown (June 6): It’s from one side of Lake Michigan to the other after Hartford as the tour wraps around it, heads through Chicago overnight, and winds up in Wisconsin, where Plymouth Dirt Track awaits. The World of Outlaws returned to “Cheese Town” last year after 20 years away and will be back again in 2026.

Last year’s return came down to a thrilling last lap when Rico Abreu held on for the win after contact with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. Abreu became the third different winner through three races, following Joey Saldana (2004) and Tim Kaeding (2005).

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Angell Park Speedway | Ted Johnson Memorial Race (June 7): Three races at three tracks in three nights wraps up on Sunday at the historic Angell Park Speedway. The legendary Wisconsin dirt track nestled right in the heart of Sun Prairie will welcome the World of Outlaws for the third time ever and honor the man whose vision birthed the Series, Ted Johnson, at the track where he fell in love with the sport.

Donny Schatz claimed the first Angell Park invasion in 2016. Fast forward nine years, and it was Sheldon Haudenschild heading to Victory Lane at the 1/3 mile.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Knoxville Raceway | Premier Chevy Dealers Clash (June 12-13): The pens and notebooks will be busy when the World of Outlaws make one final visit to Knoxville Raceway ahead of the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s (Aug. 12-15). A full weekend of action will attract a huge field as teams prepare to chase Sprint Car immortality two months later.

The tour has already made three stops at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” this season. Brad Sweet and David Gravel snagged checkered flags during April’s leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash. Aaron Reutzel dominated May’s Stars and Stripes Salute at the iconic 1/2 mile.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Huset’s Speedway | BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals (June 17-20): The summer of money starts in a huge way when the World of Outlaws head to Huset’s Speedway for the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals. The Brandon, SD track continues to push the sport to new heights as the four-day visit is set to dish out a pair of six-figure paydays.

The two events packed into one begins with the Hefty Seed Huset’s Hustle on June 17-18. The Wednesday prelim will set the stage for a $150,000-to-win main event on Thursday. Then the focus shifts to the weekend and the record paying $300,000-to-win Huset’s High Bank Nationals finale. Buddy Kofoid swept the six-figure scores last year and topped the 2024 running. David Gravel was victorious in 2023, and Sheldon Haudenschild won the first running in 2022.

THE MONTH AHEAD: June Brings Major Northern Stretch, Final Nationals Tune-Up, Biggest Payday in Series History

CONCORD, NC (May 28, 2026) – June signals the start of summertime and a major month of racing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to embark on an 11-race stretch that’ll take the tour to six dirt tracks in four different states. Teams will make a popular return to a state after a hiatus, get one last chance to add notes for “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All,” battle for the biggest payday in Series history, and more along the way.

Let’s look at what awaits in June:

Hartford Speedway | Pure Michigan Showdown (June 5): June opens with the World of Outlaws making its first stop in the state of Michigan since 2019. Hartford Speedway is the destination. The 3/8 mile located not far from the southeast beaches of Lake Michigan has hosted the tour 11 previous times, with the first in 1979.

Ron Shuman topped the Series debut 47 years ago. The Series didn’t return until 1996 when Dave Blaney took Casey Luna’s No. 10 to Victory Lane. Two-time and defending champion, David Gravel, topped the two most recent visits – 2017 in the CJB Motorsports No. 5 and 2019 in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. Gravel and Steve Kinser (1996 and 2005) are the only pair with multiple Hartford checkered flags.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Plymouth Dirt Track | Cheese Town Showdown (June 6): It’s from one side of Lake Michigan to the other after Hartford as the tour wraps around it, heads through Chicago overnight, and winds up in Wisconsin, where Plymouth Dirt Track awaits. The World of Outlaws returned to “Cheese Town” last year after 20 years away and will be back again in 2026.

Last year’s return came down to a thrilling last lap when Rico Abreu held on for the win after contact with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. Abreu became the third different winner through three races, following Joey Saldana (2004) and Tim Kaeding (2005).

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Angell Park Speedway | Ted Johnson Memorial Race (June 7): Three races at three tracks in three nights wraps up on Sunday at the historic Angell Park Speedway. The legendary Wisconsin dirt track nestled right in the heart of Sun Prairie will welcome the World of Outlaws for the third time ever and honor the man whose vision birthed the Series, Ted Johnson, at the track where he fell in love with the sport.

Donny Schatz claimed the first Angell Park invasion in 2016. Fast forward nine years, and it was Sheldon Haudenschild heading to Victory Lane at the 1/3 mile.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Knoxville Raceway | Premier Chevy Dealers Clash (June 12-13): The pens and notebooks will be busy when the World of Outlaws make one final visit to Knoxville Raceway ahead of the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s (Aug. 12-15). A full weekend of action will attract a huge field as teams prepare to chase Sprint Car immortality two months later.

The tour has already made three stops at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” this season. Brad Sweet and David Gravel snagged checkered flags during April’s leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash. Aaron Reutzel dominated May’s Stars and Stripes Salute at the iconic 1/2 mile.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Huset’s Speedway | BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals (June 17-20): The summer of money starts in a huge way when the World of Outlaws head to Huset’s Speedway for the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals. The Brandon, SD track continues to push the sport to new heights as the four-day visit is set to dish out a pair of six-figure paydays.

The two events packed into one begins with the Hefty Seed Huset’s Hustle on June 17-18. The Wednesday prelim will set the stage for a $150,000-to-win main event on Thursday. Then the focus shifts to the weekend and the record paying $300,000-to-win Huset’s High Bank Nationals finale. Buddy Kofoid swept the six-figure scores last year and topped the 2024 running. David Gravel was victorious in 2023, and Sheldon Haudenschild won the first running in 2022.

It was recently announced that the stakes are even higher for any driver that’s not full-time with the World of Outlaws. With Series regulars winning every running so far, Tod Quiring put up an extra $100,000 if a competitor can upset the country’s top Sprint Car talent in the finale, making for a potential $400,000 paycheck.

Event: Cracker Barrel 400Date/Time: Sunday, May 31, 2026, 7 p.m. ETLocation: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, TennesseeLayout: 1.33-Mile OvalTV/Radio: Prime Video, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioJosh Berry and the No. 21 team head to Nashville Superspeedway this weekend for Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 looking to build on the pace they showed in last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway before getting collected in an accident. The trip to Nashville carries added significance for Berry, whose hometown of Hendersonville, Tenn., sits about 30 minutes from the 1.33-mile concrete oval. This weekend also marks the second consecutive race that the Wood Brothers Racing team will carry the familiar eero colors aboard the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.Berry has shown speed at Nashville in the past. In the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series event at Nashville, he qualified on the outside pole. He also owns two top-five finishes in three starts at the track in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.Berry believes the No. 21 team is capable of putting together a strong performance this weekend.“It’s always great getting back to Nashville,” Berry said of racing at his home track. “Racing there is something I always look forward to, and it’s a weekend that definitely means a little extra to me.“I felt like we were putting together one of our stronger intermediate-track races of the season at Charlotte before getting collected late, so hopefully we can carry over what we learned there and put together a strong weekend for the No. 21 team.”Practice for the Cracker Barrel 400 is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 5:40 p.m. ET.Sunday’s 399-mile, 300-lap race is scheduled to take the green flag just after 7 p.m. ET, with Stage 1 ending on Lap 90 and Stage 2 concluding on Lap 185.Prime Video will provide television coverage throughout the weekend.Saturday, May 30Berry will participate in a Q&A session at the Ford Racing activation at 1 p.m. local time in the Nashville Superspeedway fan zone.Berry will sign autographs at the Team Penske/Wood Brothers merchandise hauler beginning at 1:15 p.m. local time in the Nashville Superspeedway fan zone. 100 wristbands will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis.Sunday, May 31Berry will participate in a Q&A session at the Pre-Race Stage on race day at 3:45 p.m. local time.Josh BerryAge: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)Hometown: Hendersonville, TennesseeCrew Chief: Miles StanleyIG: @joshberry88X: @joshberry

MARION CENTER, PA (May 27, 2026) – When the eyes of the dirt racing world were on Marion Center Raceway, it didn’t disappoint.

The Connor Bobik Memorial’s postponement to Wednesday night meant it instantly became one of the highest-profile midweek shows in all of Late Model racing. The move resulted in the already big event gaining even more star power in the pit area and attention from fans across the country. For everyone who laid eyes on Marion Center for the first time, they got to see one of the best races in the track’s history courtesy of some of the sport’s brightest stars.

When the green flag flew in the main event, two of the frontrunners were reigning World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision champion Bobby Pierce along with Hudson O’Neal, who was unable to attend the original date but added the rescheduled event to his schedule aboard the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6. But they both initially trailed Dustin Sorensen, who drew the Bilstein Pole Award to give himself the best chance at his long-awaited first World of Outlaws victory.

Sorensen’s time out front didn’t last long, as Pierce powered around the outside exiting Turn 2 on the opening lap and cleared the Minnesotan by the time they got to Turn 3. Sorensen stayed with Pierce in the early stages, but so did O’Neal, and the “New Deal” worked his way around the No. 19 and into second with 14 laps in the books.

Once the duo caught traffic, it was game on. O’Neal threw a big slider into Turn 3 that barely cleared Pierce, who crossed underneath O’Neal off Turn 4 before returning the favor at the other end of the track. It was rinse and repeat on the next lap as both men proved why they’re both among the most successful Late Model drivers of their generation. After plenty of lead swapping, Pierce eventually got enough of a run off Turn 4 to keep O’Neal at bay for good.

A flurry of cautions late in the race kept the field bunched together and set up a thrilling conclusion at the front. O’Neal was still on Pierce’s tail with two to go and tried to slide him into Turn 3 once again, but Pierce saw it coming and blocked his lane. It was the same story on the final lap, as O’Neal had nowhere to go with his strong run down the backstretch and had to watch Pierce collect his second Connor Bobik Memorial trophy in as many years.

The win was Pierce’s ninth of 2026 in World of Outlaws action and the 51st of his career. It also moved him into the points lead by 17 over Nick Hoffman, who struggled in the Feature before finishing 13th.

“It’s tough when you’re in the lead,” Pierce said. “Especially when you’ve got Hudson behind you, he’s a heck of a wheelman. I guess the last restart there, he was hitting the top of [Turns] 1 and 2 and getting a lot of gains on me off the corner. I was blocking him every time into [Turn] 3. I think coming to the white flag, I saw him under me getting into 3, thanks to him for racing me clean. He possibly could have sent it in there, but it would have been close.”

Behind O’Neal in second, Drake Troutman finished third to establish a new career best at one of his home-state tracks. Sorensen earned his first top five of the season in fourth, while Max Blair rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season continues with the Lonewolf 40 at Wayne County Speedway on Thursday, May 28. Tickets are available in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Mike Marlar set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Nick Hoffman won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Bobby Pierce won Heat 1.

Dustin Sorensen won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Hudson O’Neal won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Jared Miley won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Daulton Wilson and Logan Zarin won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Dustin Sorensen won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Tyler Erb won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Hudson O’Neal was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Max Blair was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Gregg Satterlee was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Tristan Chamberlain was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Mason Zeigler was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Mike Marlar was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Nick Hoffman was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Jared Miley was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (60 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[2]; 2. 6-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 3. 22*-Drake Troutman[8]; 4. 19-Dustin Sorensen[1]; 5. 111-Max Blair[12]; 6. 22-Gregg Satterlee[9]; 7. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[11]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[16]; 9. 1-Tyler Erb[21]; 10. 58V-Daulton Wilson[17]; 11. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[6]; 12. 157-Mike Marlar[7]; 13. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 14. 14-Trey Mills[23]; 15. 19R-Ryan Gustin[19]; 16. 74X-Ethan Dotson[22]; 17. 9M-Tim McCreadie[14]; 18. 10M-Jared Miley[4]; 19. 55E-Eli Johnson[15]; 20. B1-Brent Larson[24]; 21. 12-Ryan Montgomery[13]; 22. 1Z-Logan Zarin[18]; 23. 72-Michael Norris[10]; 24. 1C-Alex Ferree[20]; 25. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[25]

Pierce Holds Off O’Neal for Second-Straight Connor Bobik Memorial Victory

MARION CENTER, PA (May 27, 2026) – When the eyes of the dirt racing world were on Marion Center Raceway, it didn’t disappoint.

The Connor Bobik Memorial’s postponement to Wednesday night meant it instantly became one of the highest-profile midweek shows in all of Late Model racing. The move resulted in the already big event gaining even more star power in the pit area and attention from fans across the country. For everyone who laid eyes on Marion Center for the first time, they got to see one of the best races in the track’s history courtesy of some of the sport’s brightest stars.

When the green flag flew in the main event, two of the frontrunners were reigning World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision champion Bobby Pierce along with Hudson O’Neal, who was unable to attend the original date but added the rescheduled event to his schedule aboard the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6. But they both initially trailed Dustin Sorensen, who drew the Bilstein Pole Award to give himself the best chance at his long-awaited first World of Outlaws victory.

Sorensen’s time out front didn’t last long, as Pierce powered around the outside exiting Turn 2 on the opening lap and cleared the Minnesotan by the time they got to Turn 3. Sorensen stayed with Pierce in the early stages, but so did O’Neal, and the “New Deal” worked his way around the No. 19 and into second with 14 laps in the books.

Once the duo caught traffic, it was game on. O’Neal threw a big slider into Turn 3 that barely cleared Pierce, who crossed underneath O’Neal off Turn 4 before returning the favor at the other end of the track. It was rinse and repeat on the next lap as both men proved why they’re both among the most successful Late Model drivers of their generation. After plenty of lead swapping, Pierce eventually got enough of a run off Turn 4 to keep O’Neal at bay for good.

A flurry of cautions late in the race kept the field bunched together and set up a thrilling conclusion at the front. O’Neal was still on Pierce’s tail with two to go and tried to slide him into Turn 3 once again, but Pierce saw it coming and blocked his lane. It was the same story on the final lap, as O’Neal had nowhere to go with his strong run down the backstretch and had to watch Pierce collect his second Connor Bobik Memorial trophy in as many years.

The win was Pierce’s ninth of 2026 in World of Outlaws action and the 51st of his career. It also moved him into the points lead by 17 over Nick Hoffman, who struggled in the Feature before finishing 13th.

“It’s tough when you’re in the lead,” Pierce said. “Especially when you’ve got Hudson behind you, he’s a heck of a wheelman. I guess the last restart there, he was hitting the top of [Turns] 1 and 2 and getting a lot of gains on me off the corner. I was blocking him every time into [Turn] 3. I think coming to the white flag, I saw him under me getting into 3, thanks to him for racing me clean. He possibly could have sent it in there, but it would have been close.”

Behind O’Neal in second, Drake Troutman finished third to establish a new career best at one of his home-state tracks. Sorensen earned his first top five of the season in fourth, while Max Blair rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season continues with the Lonewolf 40 at Wayne County Speedway on Thursday, May 28. Tickets are available in advance by clicking here.

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

RACE NOTES:

Mike Marlar set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Nick Hoffman won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Bobby Pierce won Heat 1.

Dustin Sorensen won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Hudson O’Neal won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Jared Miley won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Daulton Wilson and Logan Zarin won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Dustin Sorensen won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Tyler Erb won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Daulton Wilson won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Hudson O’Neal was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Max Blair was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Gregg Satterlee was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Tristan Chamberlain was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Mason Zeigler was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Mike Marlar was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Nick Hoffman was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Jared Miley was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (60 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[2]; 2. 6-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 3. 22*-Drake Troutman[8]; 4. 19-Dustin Sorensen[1]; 5. 111-Max Blair[12]; 6. 22-Gregg Satterlee[9]; 7. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[11]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[16]; 9. 1-Tyler Erb[21]; 10. 58V-Daulton Wilson[17]; 11. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[6]; 12. 157-Mike Marlar[7]; 13. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 14. 14-Trey Mills[23]; 15. 19R-Ryan Gustin[19]; 16. 74X-Ethan Dotson[22]; 17. 9M-Tim McCreadie[14]; 18. 10M-Jared Miley[4]; 19. 55E-Eli Johnson[15]; 20. B1-Brent Larson[24]; 21. 12-Ryan Montgomery[13]; 22. 1Z-Logan Zarin[18]; 23. 72-Michael Norris[10]; 24. 1C-Alex Ferree[20]; 25. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[25]

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/pierce-holds-off-oneal-for-second-straight-connor-bobik-memorial-victory-at-marion-center/

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Nashville Superspeedway May 29-31, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

This weekend, NASCAR will headline in “Music City” as all three national touring series are set to compete under the lights at Nashville Superspeedway. Hitting the stage first will be the Craftsman Truck Series in Friday’s Allegiance 200. Chevrolet is on a string of three-straight trips to victory lane in the division at the track, including current title contender Christian Eckes’ win in the 2024 event. For the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Saturday’s Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 will conclude its grueling season-opening stretch of 16-straight races. The 2024 champion and current points leader, Justin Allgaier, will return to the track as the series’ defending winner. One of the newer venues on the circuit for NASCAR’s premier series, Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 will not only cap off the Tennessee tripleheader weekend, but also mark the start of the second-half of the series’ regular season.

Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville: Nashville Superspeedway’s history with NASCAR may date back to 2001, but it wasn’t until the 2021 season when the sport’s top division made its inaugural appearance at the track. Since then, Chevrolet has been the only manufacturer that’s paid a visit to victory lane in all three divisions – heading into the weekend with three Cup Series wins, 11 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins and six Craftsman Truck Series wins. In his first championship-earning season (2021), it was Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team that led Chevrolet to a dominating victory and a podium sweep. The manufacturer’s success in the series’ inaugural outing was followed by Chase Elliott’s 2022 victory and Ross Chastain’s 2023 victory – a three-peat that stands as the longest win streak by a single manufacturer at the track.

Hitting HalfwayLast weekend’s crown jewel event in “America’s Home for Racing” officially marked the halfway point of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. The 2026 season welcomed the competition debut of the updated Camaro ZL1 racecar as Chevrolet’s flagship vehicle in the sport’s premier series. Former Cup Series champion, Chase Elliott, took the Bowtie brand on its first trip to victory lane of the season at Martinsville Speedway in March, marking the manufacturer’s first of five wins in the first-half of the regular season. Chevrolet will head into part two of the regular season with four-straight triumphs, a feat that sets the season record for the longest points-paying win streak by a single manufacturer.  The top-10 of the Cup Series points standings sees four Team Chevy drivers, led by Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team in the fifth position. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native is one of just two drivers that have multiple wins to his name this season with Elliott also adding to his triumph tally at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month. Coming off his fourth top-five finish of the season, Kyle Larson currently holds the sixth position in the standings. While still looking for his much-anticipated return to victory lane, the Cliff Daniels-led team has been a points-earning machine throughout the 13-race stretch. The reigning champions are one of just four teams that have reached a triple-digit bank of stage points (113). Joining the Hendrick Motorsports pair is the duo from Spire Motorsports, season winners Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez, to round out the top-10 of the standings.

RECORD SEASON FOR SPIRE MOTORSPORTSWith just 13 races complete, 2026 is already shaping up to be a record season for Spire Motorsports. The Chevrolet organization has reached victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series three times in its history, two of which have come just this season. At Talladega Superspeedway, it was Carson Hocevar that broke through as a first-time winner in NASCAR’s top division.

Fast forward one month, the organization’s newest driver, Daniel Suarez, captured his first career crown jewel win in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The victory came in Suarez’s 13th points-paying start with the Ryan Sparks-led team. Spire Motorsports is now one of just two organizations that have recorded wins with multiple drivers this season. The Chevrolet organization will also head into the second-half of the regular season with two of its drivers sitting comfortably above the cutline with Suarez’s Charlotte victory boosting him up four positions to join his teammate, Hocevar, in the top-10 of the points standings.

LARSON’S NASHVILLE NUMBERS After a turbulent string of races, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team quickly put themselves back on the map as race winning contenders. Last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Elk Grove, California, native turned an 18th-place starting position into a Stage One win, going on to earn top-five points in each stage en route to the team’s fourth top-five finish of the season. Putting together a 54-point race, the third-highest of the field, Larson was able to make a two-position gain in the points standings en route to what is one of his statistically best tracks – Nashville Superspeedway. Larson is the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series winner at Nashville Superspeedway, and in the series’ five appearances at the track, he is the only driver that has tallied a top-10 result in each event to earn a series-leading average finish of 5.2.

SVG CONTINUES TO IMPRESS ON THE OVALS Despite falling just one spot short of a top-10 finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend, Shane van Gisbergen put together one of his best races, statistically, on an oval in NASCAR’s premier series. Taking the green flag from the third position, the Auckland, New Zealand, native remained a steady fixture in the top-10 throughout much of the race – earning points in all three stages, 11 laps led and an average running position of 7.81. With an 11th-place finish, tying his second-highest oval finish of the season, and a 33-point race, Van Gisbergen will enter the second-half of the regular season ranked 14th in the standings and 28 points above the cutline.

LOVE RACKING UP RUNNER-UPSCharlotte Motor Speedway looked like it was going to be the opportunity for the reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, Jesse Love, to make his return to victory lane, but a rain-shortened race saw the young Team Chevy driver ultimately bring home his third runner-up finish of the season. Love was one of just five drivers to earn points in both stages, accumulating a race-high 49 points to move him back up to the second position of the standings heading into the Nashville race weekend. The Menlo Park, California, native has just two starts at the 1.33-mile Tennessee venue, both of which ended in top-eight results. Love will get extra seat time this weekend as the driver will make his long-awaited return to the Craftsman Truck Series to pilot the No. 77 Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports. Love only has three career Truck Series starts under his belt with his best finish of fourth coming at Phoenix Raceway.

ECKES ON THE MOVEChristian Eckes put together his strongest points race of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway to jump back up to the third position and continue to lead Team Chevy in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings. While a late-race restart ended with a sixth-place finish, Eckes was a race winning contender throughout much of the day. The Middletown, New York, native finished no worse than second in both stages, including capturing his third stage win of the season, and paced the field for 33 laps. Heading to Nashville Superspeedway, this weekend serves as a momentum-building opportunity for Eckes and the No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet team. The Team Chevy driver has three career Truck Series starts at the Tennessee track with his most recent in 2024 ending in a trip to victory lane.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Victories by active Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville Superspeedway: Kyle Larson – one win (2021)Chase Elliott – one win (2022)Ross Chastain – one win (2023) ·        Daniel Suarez’s Coca-Cola 600 win marked Chevrolet’s fourth consecutive trip to victory lane in NASCAR’s premier series, setting the season record for the longest points-paying win streak by a single manufacturer.  ·        At Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet tallied six top-10 finishes, marking the second time this season a manufacturer has placed six cars in the top-10 of a Cup Series event. The Bowtie brand took it one step further by achieving the highest representation of different organizations within those results with five Chevrolet organizations placing drivers in the top-10.  ·        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 157 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 72 victories – a winning percentage of 45.9%.  ·        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 886 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 Series Cracker Barrel 400Sunday, May 31, at 7 p.m. ETAmazon Prime, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesSports Illustrated Resorts 250Saturday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. ETCW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90  NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesAllegiance 200Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m. ETFS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletComing off the Coca-Cola 600 victory, you’ll roll off last in Saturday’s qualifying session for Sunday’s race. What’s your mindset heading into Nashville?“I really enjoyed one of my favorite races of the year with my family, friends, partners and team, but now it’s time to turn the page and focus on Nashville. Qualifying is so important there, and we want to put together the best lap possible on Saturday. We’re working hard to bring another fast race car this weekend and hopefully put ourselves in position to fight for another win. The momentum and confidence we gained from Charlotte means a lot to our whole group, and we want to keep building on that. It would also be really cool to win the Gibson guitar trophy. I’d love to have that sitting in my garage right next to the Coca-Cola fridge.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletYou are running better of late?“Yes, we are getting better each week. We still have a ways to go to get where we want to be but its been incremental progress and in this business you will take it as long as we are making progress. We were really good in Dover and we had some really good runs at Charlotte. I think we can build on that in Nashville this weekend.” Looking back at Charlotte, what are your thoughts?“Charlotte was an emotional weekend for everyone. Obviously, Memorial Day weekend means so many things and we were able to honor the men and women who gave their lives for this country. We were joined by Gold Star Families as well as our friends at The Fallen Outdoors. We also honored one of the greatest (Kyle Busch) drivers who ever raced in NASCAR. Sunday was moving to say the least and I think everyone will always remember last weekend for the rest of their lives.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“Nashville Superspeedway has been a pretty good racetrack for us. We’ve had top-10 runs and always had decent amount of speed there. I feel like we’ve done a good job grinding it out every weekend and maximizing our finishes. Hopefully we can unload with a little bit more speed in practice and keep getting better.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Heading to Nashville is always exciting, and having NOS back on our No. 47 Chevrolet makes it even more special. This weekend means a little more because we’ll be running a throwback scheme honoring Kyle Busch. Kyle had a huge impact on the sport, so it’s an honor to carry that look and celebrate what he meant to NASCAR. Hopefully, we can put together a strong run and make it a weekend worth remembering.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet “Nashville is a little bit of a hybrid racetrack. It’s not quite an intermediate-style track like Charlotte, but it’s also not like the two other concrete tracks – Bristol and Dover. Nashville is a lot more forgiving. It’s a very wide race track, not quite as fast as a full-blown mile-and-a-half, and it’s a little bit shorter, so the speeds aren’t quite as high. But because it’s a little bit bigger, you kind of get sucked into the feeling of it being a mile-and-a-half, so overdriving the corners is very easy. You think you can drive a lot deeper into the corners than you really can, so it’s almost about reeling yourself in as a driver and being patient, and remembering that it’s about getting speed off the corner versus getting speed going into the corners. So, you have to have the entry patience of a short track with the discipline of an intermediate track, where you have to be consistent with your inputs, both with steering and your right foot. It’s a game of patience with smoothness in your steering, your throttle inputs and your braking inputs. The driver who looks the least out of control is typically the fastest there. It’s all about smoothness and consistency at Nashville.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThe 71 is building momentum, how do you feel heading to Nashville?“Nashville is a track I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve had the chance to race there quite a bit over the years in the ARCA and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and when I first got to the Cup Series, it was also a place where we did a lot of testing. It’s a unique track because it kind of blends characteristics of a short track and an intermediate, which makes it a lot of fun from the driver’s seat. In these cars, you’re shifting a lot and managing different opportunities throughout the race, so it keeps you engaged. It’s a place where I feel like we’ve had strong speed, even if the results don’t necessarily reflect that. We’ve had some tough breaks there with incidents and mechanical issues, including last year, but overall, it’s a track where I feel like we’ve shown good pace and had solid potential. With the speed our Spire Motorsports organization has been bringing to the track and the momentum we have been building over the last few weeks, I’m ready to get to Nashville.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletNashville has been good to you in the past. It is also very unique compared to anything else on the schedule. Why is that?“What makes it unique is it looks like a mile and a half but doesn’t race like one, per se. You have to slow down for the corner way more than you’d think and downshift, all while knowing there isn’t much banking there to support you. The size is very deceiving for how tight the corners are.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat is your approach to Nashville Superspeedway this weekend with the short track package?“It’s kind of another unknown, similar to what we’ve had at Dover, Bristol, and Darlington, all those tracks where we’ve had the low downforce package with the high horsepower. I feel like we’ve been really good at those racetracks. Darlington was a solid day for us and I felt like we made a lot of gains on this package at Dover. Nashville is a unique racetrack, with it being concrete and oddly shaped, plus there’s going to be a bunch of resin put down. It’s just a unique racetrack that I enjoy going to.” The resin at Dover made an impact. What does that allow you to do on the racetrack?“It certainly makes the track wider. We saw at Dover when they laid resin down across the racetrack, it widened out the track and we were up by the fence at Dover which you don’t really see. I hope that’s the case at Nashville where we’re able to move around and it makes for good racing. Hopefully we have comers and goers that are able to go through the field. At Dover we had all five leaders under a blanket and it creates good racing.” Does it change things for you when the races start in the evening versus in the afternoon?“When we practice during the day and then race at night it’s a challenge but as a team, we’re prepared for it. We expect what’s going to change on the racetrack when we race at night. I raced at Nashville at night last year and I always love racing under the lights. I love the city of Nashville and there’s always some cool country artists that come to the race.” You are going to be the spotter for Stefan Parsons at the Truck race on Friday night at Nashville.“It’s going to be a lot of fun experiencing something new. I’m glad that Stefan trusts me to do it. There’s a lot of guys who could probably do it better than me but it’s going to be cool to do that and learn what it’s like from a new perspective. I’ve spotted on road courses and at the Cup race at Indy but leading the charge at the truck race at Nashville is going to be different.” What are the do’s and don’ts of being a good spotter?“When I’m a driver I know what I want to listen to. I know what I want to hear and what I don’t really care to hear. I think it’s a little easier as a driver to be a spotter than just having no experience at all. I know what a good spotter sounds like and as a driver what I want to hear. I think not being panicked and staying calm and feeding the information when I can without talking too much. I feel like I have a good understanding of what I need to do. I hope I’m able to relay the information that I need to throughout the good situations and the bad. Stefan is a really good dude and helps me a lot as a driver in the Cup Series with the notes that he takes.” You will also be in The CW booth on Saturday evening. How will you prepare for the broadcast on Saturday? “Everyone in the booth and at The CW does a good job I feel like it’s going to be pretty easy to blend in and be a part of it and try to add where I can. I love watching the races on The CW. It’s going to be so much fun to learn alongside Adam (Alexander) and the entire crew. It’s a great opportunity for me to see things from a different perspective and learn what it’s like to be one of those guys in the booth. I’m certainly looking forward to it.”

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: 5Poles: 3Laps Led: 1,051Top-Fives: 24Top-10s: 47Stage Wins: 10 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 886 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 769Laps led to date: 257,785Top-fives to date: 4,460Top-10s to date: 9,198                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,220           Chevrolet: 886           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 848                                                                                          Ford: 748           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 210

GRAND FORKS, ND (May 27, 2026) – North Dakota is ready to welcome The Greatest Show on Dirt for the first time in 2026 this weekend.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will first visit Grand Forks’ River Cities Speedway on Friday, May 29, and then make its grand return to Minot’s Nodak Speedway.

River Cities has become a staple of the schedule since first appearing in 2007. The 1st Leg of the Northern Tour Don Mack Classic will be the tour’s 36th appearance. Longtime Series announcer Johnny Gibson calls River Cities his favorite track of the more than 400 he’s visited, thanks to the countless thrillers it’s served up over the years.

The teams will then take a day off before returning to action at Nodak for the Gerdau Metals Recycling Magic City Showdown. It’ll mark a popular return to the 3/8-mile dirt track after eight years away. Nodak has hosted the World of Outlaws 13 times in the past.

BUY RIVER CITIES TICKETS HERE
BUY NODAK TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top stories to watch in North Dakota:

10-TIME’S TURF

The journey to cementing himself as one of the greatest to ever wheel a Sprint Car began in North Dakota for Donny Schatz. Going to the races with his family as a kid lit a fiery passion that powered him to 10 World of Outlaws championships and countless more accolades. Any trip home to race is special for the Fargo, ND driver, and he’s always seemed to find a little extra speed for his local fanbase.

The numbers for Schatz at River Cities look like he’s playing a video game set to easy mode. He’s competed in all 35 Series races, bagged a dozen victories, placed on the podium 24 times, tallied 31 top fives, and never finished worse than eighth. His average finish over that stretch is an astonishing 2.94.

It’s a similar story over at Nodak for Schatz. It took the 48-year-old seven tries to best the World of Outlaws at the track in the town where he was born, but once he did, he couldn’t be stopped. His 2012 victory was the first of five consecutive wins at Nodak. He was also on the podium in the two most recent visits of 2017 and 2018.

Schatz heads home with the momentum of five consecutive top 10s in the CJB Motorsports No. 15, including top fives in the last two races. He’s tied with Sheldon Haudenschild for fourth in points during his 30th season.

BUDDY’S BROOM

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid broke out the broom last year at River Cities.

The Penngrove, CA native got it done from the front row in the spring, outdueling David Gravel to make his first visit to Victory Lane in Grand Forks, ND. Fast forward to August, and Kofoid put on a spectacular show with a drive from ninth to victory in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. He joined Donny Schatz and Craig Dollansky as the third competitor to top two in a row at the bullring.

Friday presents the chance to put his name next to only Schatz, who is the lone driver to win three straight at River Cities. The 24-year-old is fresh off banking $20,000 by charging from seventh to the front on Monday at Huset’s Speedway for his Series-leading sixth score of the season. That equaled him with Carson Macedo for second in the standings, but he’s still got some work to do to chase down David Gravel (+118 points) for the championship lead.

HAUD’S HUNT

If there was ever a track that owed a driver a win, it may be River Cities Speedway to Sheldon Haudenschild.

The Wooster, OH native has had one taken from him in just about every conceivable fashion. Crashes, late passes, and more have prevented Haudenschild from parking in Victory Lane at the 1/4 mile. He’s led laps in seven different Features and finished on the podium four times, including a trio of runner-ups.

Haudenschild will see if a new team can turn his fortune around on Friday. The 32-year-old is having an impressive first season with KCP Racing so far. They’ve collected a win, 11 top fives, and 16 top 10s through 24 races this year.

DAKOTA DOUBLE

Aside from Schatz, the only other full-time World of Outlaws driver to double up with wins at both River Cities and Nodak is two-time and defending Series champion, David Gravel. Former Series regulars Craig Dollanksy, Joey Saldana, and Daryn Pittman also pulled it off during their time on tour.

Gravel first conquered River Cities in 2017 with CJB Motorsports and did so again six years later with Big Game Motorsports. Gravel’s Nodak victory came during the same season he got his first at River Cities. The Watertown, CT native is amid another excellent campaign with a 4.96 average finish so far in 2026 as he chases a third straight title.

Three drivers – Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, and Buddy Kofoid – will have the opportunity to add their name to the list of those with victories at both facilities on the agenda. Schuchart snagged a pair of River Cities scores (2019 and 2023) in the Shark Racing No. 1S. He’s tried five times at Nodak with a best of fourth in 2016. Macedo and Kofoid also have two River Cities trophies, but they’ll both be making their Nodak debuts.

NOSA NAMES

With North Dakota being a mainstay of the World of Outlaws tour, many locals look forward to the opportunity to battle the best on a big stage. Expect this weekend to be no different.

Donny Schatz’s nieces, Amelia and Laela Eisenschenk, made their World of Outlaws debuts last year and will be back for more this weekend aboard their uncle’s cars. Both have accumulated plenty of laps at River Cities over the last couple of years with several top 10s to show for it. They each raced at Nodak earlier this month with NOSA. Amelia finished fifth with Laela close behind in seventh.

Grand Forks, ND’s own Mark Dobmeier has been winning at River Cities since the turn of the century to the tune of more than 150 victories at his home track. A piece lacking from that résumé is one with the World of Outlaws, but he’s been close with six top fives, including a pair of podiums. Over at Nodak, he’s won five times with NOSA and was a World of Outlaws top-five finisher in 2010.

Fellow Grand Forks resident, Jade Hastings, has asserted himself as one of the best currently at River Cities. He claimed half of the track’s 12 NOSA events in 2025 and already won there again this year last week.

Fans can anticipate additional regulars from the region, including Jack Croaker (East Grand Forks, MN), Weston Olson (Warren, MN), Blake Egeland (Climax, MN), Nick and Zach Omdahl (East Grand Forks, MN), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, May 29 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND
Sunday May 31 at Nodak Speedway in Minot, ND

AROUND THE TURN
Friday, June 5 at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, MI (TICKETS)
Saturday, June 6 at Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, WI (TICKETS)
Sunday, June 7 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (24/84 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (3364 PTS)
2. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-118 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-118 PTS)
4. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-188 PTS)
5. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-188 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-252 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-420 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-450 PTS)
9. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-498 PTS)
10. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-516 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (13 Drivers):
6 Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Wins – David Gravel
2 Wins – Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Logan Schuchart, Aaron Reutzel

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):
137 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
126 Laps Led – David Gravel
65 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
44 Laps Led – Bill Balog
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney, Aaron Reutzel
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
33 Laps Led – Brady Bacon
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms
26 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne
20 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
17 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
15 Laps Led – Rico Abreu
11 Laps Led – Giovanni Scelzi
10 Laps Led – Cole Macedo
7 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek, Brian Brown
6 Laps Led – Brock Zearfoss
1 Lap Led – Christopher ThramPODIUM FINISHES (24 Drivers):
13 Podiums – David Gravel
10 Podiums – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
5 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Podiums – Donny Schatz
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri, Ryan Timms, Spencer Bayston, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Bill Balog, Scott Bogucki, Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom, Brad Sweet, Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne, Justin Whittall, Troy Wagaman Jr., Giovanni Scelzi, Logan Schuchart

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (13 Drivers):
9 Quick Times – David Gravel
3 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Quick Times – Logan Schuchart
1 Quick Time – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Brady Bacon, Will Armitage, Michael Kofoid, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (31 Drivers):
18 Heat Wins – David Gravel
11 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
5 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, Bill Balog
4 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid, Donny Schatz
3 Heat Wins – Ashton Torgerson, Emerson Axsom, Rico Abreu, Cole Macedo
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne, Aaron Reutzel
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Will Armitage, Rees Moran, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Justin Whittall, Chad Trout, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Spencer Bayston, Austin McCarl

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (52 Drivers):
20 Dashes – David Gravel
18 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
15 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
9 Dashes – Carson Macedo
7 Dashes – Bill Balog
6 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Emerson Axsom, Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
5 Dashes – Cole Macedo, Garet Williamson
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Kasey Jedrzejek, Ryan Timms, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel
3 Dashes – Brent Marks, Kerry Madsen, Chase Dietz, Tanner Holmes, Brian Brown, Spencer Bayston
2 Dashes – Scotty Thiel, Chris Windom, Kasey Kahne, Troy Wagaman Jr., Brady Bacon, Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Justin Henderson, Austin McCarl
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Brock Zearfoss, Bryce Lucius, Christopher Thram, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich, Logan Rumsey, Daryn Pittman, Kody Hartlaub, Freddie Rahmer, Justin Whittall, Chad Trout, Brenham Crouch, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Joe B. Miller

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (18 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Bryce Norris, Giovanni Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, Doug Hammaker, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Spencer Bayston, Skylar Gee, Justin Henderson, Emerson Axsom

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (15 Drivers):
5 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
3 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Michael Kofoid, Spencer Bayston
1 Hard Charger – Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi, Ryan Timms, Logan Schuchart, Brady Bacon, Sheldon Haudenschild, Tyler Ross, Cameron Smith, David Gravel, Emerson Axsom

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (16 Drivers):
4 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
2 Fastest Laps – Bill Balog, David Gravel, Brady Bacon, Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
1 Fastest Lap – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Kasey Jedrzejek, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Kasey Kahne, Giovanni Scelzi

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (13 Drivers):
7 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
3 Hottest Laps – Michael Kofoid
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart, Garet Williamson, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms, Daryn Pittman, Giovanni Scelzi

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner
Wed, Feb 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Spencer Bayston (1)
Fri, Feb 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Michael Kofoid (1)
Sat, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (1)
Sun, March 1 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
Mon, March 2 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (2)
Fri, March 6 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Donny Schatz (1)
Fri, March 13 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / David Gravel (1)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / David Gravel (2)
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / David Gravel (3)
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Carson Macedo (1)
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Michael Kofoid (2)
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (3)
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (4)
Sun, April 19 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Tyler Courtney (1)
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brad Sweet (1)
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (4)
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Michael Kofoid (5)
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kasey Kahne (1)
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (5)
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (1)
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Carson Macedo (2)
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Sun, May 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (6)
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sun, May 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Fri, June 5 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, June 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Tues, July 21 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sat, Aug 29 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, Sept 11 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Fri, Oct 16 / Lincoln Park Speedway / Putnamville, IN
Sat, Oct 17 / TBA
Fri, Oct 23 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Sat, Oct 24 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Wed, Nov 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thurs, Nov 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Fri, Nov 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Sat, Nov 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

*denotes unofficial split-field prelim race.

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: Rivers Cities, Nodak Return Bring World of Outlaws to Schatz’s Home Turf 

GRAND FORKS, ND (May 27, 2026) – North Dakota is ready to welcome The Greatest Show on Dirt for the first time in 2026 this weekend.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will first visit Grand Forks’ River Cities Speedway on Friday, May 29, and then make its grand return to Minot’s Nodak Speedway.

River Cities has become a staple of the schedule since first appearing in 2007. The 1st Leg of the Northern Tour Don Mack Classic will be the tour’s 36th appearance. Longtime Series announcer Johnny Gibson calls River Cities his favorite track of the more than 400 he’s visited, thanks to the countless thrillers it’s served up over the years.

The teams will then take a day off before returning to action at Nodak for the Gerdau Metals Recycling Magic City Showdown. It’ll mark a popular return to the 3/8-mile dirt track after eight years away. Nodak has hosted the World of Outlaws 13 times in the past.

BUY RIVER CITIES TICKETS HERE
BUY NODAK TICKETS HERE

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVision

Let’s look at the top stories to watch in North Dakota:

10-TIME’S TURF

The journey to cementing himself as one of the greatest to ever wheel a Sprint Car began in North Dakota for Donny Schatz. Going to the races with his family as a kid lit a fiery passion that powered him to 10 World of Outlaws championships and countless more accolades. Any trip home to race is special for the Fargo, ND driver, and he’s always seemed to find a little extra speed for his local fanbase.

The numbers for Schatz at River Cities look like he’s playing a video game set to easy mode. He’s competed in all 35 Series races, bagged a dozen victories, placed on the podium 24 times, tallied 31 top fives, and never finished worse than eighth. His average finish over that stretch is an astonishing 2.94.

It’s a similar story over at Nodak for Schatz. It took the 48-year-old seven tries to best the World of Outlaws at the track in the town where he was born, but once he did, he couldn’t be stopped. His 2012 victory was the first of five consecutive wins at Nodak. He was also on the podium in the two most recent visits of 2017 and 2018.

Schatz heads home with the momentum of five consecutive top 10s in the CJB Motorsports No. 15, including top fives in the last two races. He’s tied with Sheldon Haudenschild for fourth in points during his 30th season.

BUDDY’S BROOM

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid broke out the broom last year at River Cities.

The Penngrove, CA native got it done from the front row in the spring, outdueling David Gravel to make his first visit to Victory Lane in Grand Forks, ND. Fast forward to August, and Kofoid put on a spectacular show with a drive from ninth to victory in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. He joined Donny Schatz and Craig Dollansky as the third competitor to top two in a row at the bullring.

Friday presents the chance to put his name next to only Schatz, who is the lone driver to win three straight at River Cities. The 24-year-old is fresh off banking $20,000 by charging from seventh to the front on Monday at Huset’s Speedway for his Series-leading sixth score of the season. That equaled him with Carson Macedo for second in the standings, but he’s still got some work to do to chase down David Gravel (+118 points) for the championship lead.

HAUD’S HUNT

If there was ever a track that owed a driver a win, it may be River Cities Speedway to Sheldon Haudenschild.

The Wooster, OH native has had one taken from him in just about every conceivable fashion. Crashes, late passes, and more have prevented Haudenschild from parking in Victory Lane at the 1/4 mile. He’s led laps in seven different Features and finished on the podium four times, including a trio of runner-ups.

Haudenschild will see if a new team can turn his fortune around on Friday. The 32-year-old is having an impressive first season with KCP Racing so far. They’ve collected a win, 11 top fives, and 16 top 10s through 24 races this year.

DAKOTA DOUBLE

Aside from Schatz, the only other full-time World of Outlaws driver to double up with wins at both River Cities and Nodak is two-time and defending Series champion, David Gravel. Former Series regulars Craig Dollanksy, Joey Saldana, and Daryn Pittman also pulled it off during their time on tour.

Gravel first conquered River Cities in 2017 with CJB Motorsports and did so again six years later with Big Game Motorsports. Gravel’s Nodak victory came during the same season he got his first at River Cities. The Watertown, CT native is amid another excellent campaign with a 4.96 average finish so far in 2026 as he chases a third straight title.

Three drivers – Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, and Buddy Kofoid – will have the opportunity to add their name to the list of those with victories at both facilities on the agenda. Schuchart snagged a pair of River Cities scores (2019 and 2023) in the Shark Racing No. 1S. He’s tried five times at Nodak with a best of fourth in 2016. Macedo and Kofoid also have two River Cities trophies, but they’ll both be making their Nodak debuts.

NOSA NAMES

With North Dakota being a mainstay of the World of Outlaws tour, many locals look forward to the opportunity to battle the best on a big stage. Expect this weekend to be no different.

Donny Schatz’s nieces, Amelia and Laela Eisenschenk, made their World of Outlaws debuts last year and will be back for more this weekend aboard their uncle’s cars. Both have accumulated plenty of laps at River Cities over the last couple of years with several top 10s to show for it. They each raced at Nodak earlier this month with NOSA. Amelia finished fifth with Laela close behind in seventh.

Grand Forks, ND’s own Mark Dobmeier has been winning at River Cities since the turn of the century to the tune of more than 150 victories at his home track. A piece lacking from that résumé is one with the World of Outlaws, but he’s been close with six top fives, including a pair of podiums. Over at Nodak, he’s won five times with NOSA and was a World of Outlaws top-five finisher in 2010.

Fellow Grand Forks resident, Jade Hastings, has asserted himself as one of the best currently at River Cities. He claimed half of the track’s 12 NOSA events in 2025 and already won there again this year last week.

Fans can anticipate additional regulars from the region, including Jack Croaker (East Grand Forks, MN), Weston Olson (Warren, MN), Blake Egeland (Climax, MN), Nick and Zach Omdahl (East Grand Forks, MN), and more.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 
Friday, May 29 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND
Sunday May 31 at Nodak Speedway in Minot, ND

AROUND THE TURN
Friday, June 5 at Hartford Speedway in Hartford, MI (TICKETS)
Saturday, June 6 at Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, WI (TICKETS)
Sunday, June 7 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI (TICKETS)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (24/84 Races):
1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (3364 PTS)
2. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-118 PTS)
3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-118 PTS)
4. Sheldon Haudenschild – KCP Racing No. 18 (-188 PTS)
5. Donny Schatz – CJB Motorsports No. 15 (-188 PTS)
6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-252 PTS)
7. Garet Williamson – Fischer Motorsports No. 23 (-420 PTS)
8. Cole Macedo – TwoC Racing No. 2C (-450 PTS)
9. Spencer Bayston – Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17 (-498 PTS)
10. Chris Windom – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-516 PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (13 Drivers):
6 Wins – Michael Kofoid
5 Wins – David Gravel
2 Wins – Anthony Macri, Carson Macedo
1 Win – Spencer Bayston, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Logan Schuchart, Aaron Reutzel

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):
137 Laps Led – Michael Kofoid
126 Laps Led – David Gravel
65 Laps Led – Carson Macedo
44 Laps Led – Bill Balog
40 Laps Led – Anthony Macri
37 Laps Led – Tyler Courtney, Aaron Reutzel
35 Laps Led – Donny Schatz
33 Laps Led – Brady Bacon
28 Laps Led – Ryan Timms
26 Laps Led – Sheldon Haudenschild
25 Laps Led – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne
20 Laps Led – Logan Schuchart
17 Laps Led – Spencer Bayston
15 Laps Led – Rico Abreu
11 Laps Led – Giovanni Scelzi
10 Laps Led – Cole Macedo
7 Laps Led – Kasey Jedrzejek, Brian Brown
6 Laps Led – Brock Zearfoss
1 Lap Led – Christopher ThramPODIUM FINISHES (24 Drivers):
13 Podiums – David Gravel
10 Podiums – Carson Macedo, Michael Kofoid
5 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild
4 Podiums – Donny Schatz
3 Podiums – Anthony Macri, Ryan Timms, Spencer Bayston, Rico Abreu
2 Podiums – Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
1 Podium – Ashton Torgerson, Bill Balog, Scott Bogucki, Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom, Brad Sweet, Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne, Justin Whittall, Troy Wagaman Jr., Giovanni Scelzi, Logan Schuchart

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (13 Drivers):
9 Quick Times – David Gravel
3 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild
2 Quick Times – Logan Schuchart
1 Quick Time – Ashton Torgerson, Kasey Jedrzejek, Brady Bacon, Will Armitage, Michael Kofoid, J.J. Hickle, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel

HEAT RACE WINNERS (31 Drivers):
18 Heat Wins – David Gravel
11 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
5 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart, Bill Balog
4 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid, Donny Schatz
3 Heat Wins – Ashton Torgerson, Emerson Axsom, Rico Abreu, Cole Macedo
2 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Chase Dietz, Kasey Kahne, Aaron Reutzel
1 Heat Win – Chase Dietz, Justin Peck, Tanner Holmes, Scotty Thiel, Kasey Jedrzejek, Will Armitage, Rees Moran, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Justin Whittall, Chad Trout, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Spencer Bayston, Austin McCarl

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (52 Drivers):
20 Dashes – David Gravel
18 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
15 Dashes – Michael Kofoid
9 Dashes – Carson Macedo
7 Dashes – Bill Balog
6 Dashes – Ashton Torgerson, Emerson Axsom, Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz
5 Dashes – Cole Macedo, Garet Williamson
4 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Kasey Jedrzejek, Ryan Timms, Rico Abreu, Aaron Reutzel
3 Dashes – Brent Marks, Kerry Madsen, Chase Dietz, Tanner Holmes, Brian Brown, Spencer Bayston
2 Dashes – Scotty Thiel, Chris Windom, Kasey Kahne, Troy Wagaman Jr., Brady Bacon, Will Armitage, J.J. Hickle, Justin Henderson, Austin McCarl
1 Dash – Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Brock Zearfoss, Bryce Lucius, Christopher Thram, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Rees Moran, Bryce Norris, Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich, Logan Rumsey, Daryn Pittman, Kody Hartlaub, Freddie Rahmer, Justin Whittall, Chad Trout, Brenham Crouch, Giovanni Scelzi, Joel Myers Jr., Joe B. Miller

MICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (18 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Donny Schatz
2 LCS Wins – Michael Kofoid, Chris Windom, Garet Williamson
1 LCS Wins – Cameron Martin, Bill Balog, Blake Hahn, Landon Crawley, Bryce Norris, Giovanni Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, Doug Hammaker, Daryn Pittman, Kerry Madsen, Spencer Bayston, Skylar Gee, Justin Henderson, Emerson Axsom

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (15 Drivers):
5 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo
3 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz
2 Hard Chargers – Garet Williamson, Michael Kofoid, Spencer Bayston
1 Hard Charger – Chris Windom, Giovanni Scelzi, Ryan Timms, Logan Schuchart, Brady Bacon, Sheldon Haudenschild, Tyler Ross, Cameron Smith, David Gravel, Emerson Axsom

ACME FASTEST LAP AWARDS (16 Drivers):
4 Fastest Laps – Michael Kofoid
2 Fastest Laps – Bill Balog, David Gravel, Brady Bacon, Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel
1 Fastest Lap – Anthony Macri, Brock Zearfoss, Sheldon Haudenschild, Cole Macedo, Ryan Timms, Kasey Jedrzejek, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Kasey Kahne, Giovanni Scelzi

RACE READY CLOTHING HOTTEST LAP OF THE NIGHT AWARDS (13 Drivers):
7 Hottest Laps – David Gravel
3 Hottest Laps – Michael Kofoid
2 Hottest Laps – Logan Schuchart, Garet Williamson, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 Hottest Lap – Austin McCarl, Brent Marks, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, Tyler Courtney, Ryan Timms, Daryn Pittman, Giovanni Scelzi

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner
Wed, Feb 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Spencer Bayston (1)
Fri, Feb 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Michael Kofoid (1)
Sat, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (1)
Sun, March 1 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
Mon, March 2 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Anthony Macri (2)
Fri, March 6 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Donny Schatz (1)
Fri, March 13 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / David Gravel (1)
Fri, March 20 / Lawton Speedway / Lawton, OK / David Gravel (2)
Sat, March 21 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / David Gravel (3)
Fri, March 27 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Carson Macedo (1)
Sat, March 28 / 81 Speedway / Park City, KS / Michael Kofoid (2)
Fri, April 10 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (3)
Sat, April 11 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Michael Kofoid (4)
Sun, April 19 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Tyler Courtney (1)
Fri, April 24 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brad Sweet (1)
Sat, April 25 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (4)
Tues, May 5 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Michael Kofoid (5)
Fri, May 8 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Kasey Kahne (1)
Sat, May 9 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (5)
Fri, May 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (1)
Sat, May 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Tues, May 19 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / Carson Macedo (2)
Sat, May 23 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Sun, May 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Michael Kofoid (6)
Fri, May 29 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sun, May 31 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Fri, June 5 / Hartford Speedway / Hartford, MI
Sat, June 6 / Plymouth Dirt Track / Plymouth, WI
Sun, June 7 / Angell Park Speedway / Sun Prairie, WI
Fri, June 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Sat, June 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Wed, June 17 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Thurs, June 18 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, June 20 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, June 26 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Sat, June 27 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Fri, July 10 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Sat, July 11 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Tues, July 14 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH
Fri, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Sat, July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
Tues, July 21 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Wed, July 22 / Ohsweken Speedway / Ohsweken, ON, Canada
Sat, July 25 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Sun, July 26 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY
Wed, July 29 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA
Fri, July 31 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Aug 1 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Fri, Aug 7 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Sat, Aug 8 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Wed, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Thurs, Aug 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Fri, Aug 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA*
Sat, Aug 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA
Fri, Aug 21 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Sat, Aug 22 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN
Fri, Aug 28 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sat, Aug 29 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND
Fri, Sept 4 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sat, Sept 5 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Sun, Sept 6 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD
Fri, Sept 11 / Belleville High Banks / Belleville, KS
Sat, Sept 12 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS
Mon, Sept 14 / El Paso County Raceway / Calhan, CO
Fri, Sept 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Sat, Sept 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, CA
Tues, Sept 22 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA
Fri, Sept 25 / Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA
Sat, Sept 26 / Ventura Raceway / Ventura, CA
Fri, Oct 2 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Sat, Oct 3 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA
Thurs, Oct 8 / Millstream Speedway / Findlay, OH
Fri, Oct 9 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Sat, Oct 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Fri, Oct 16 / Lincoln Park Speedway / Putnamville, IN
Sat, Oct 17 / TBA
Fri, Oct 23 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Sat, Oct 24 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR
Wed, Nov 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thurs, Nov 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Fri, Nov 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Sat, Nov 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

*denotes unofficial split-field prelim race.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/top-five-storylines-rivers-cities-nodak-return-bring-world-of-outlaws-to-schatzs-home-turf/

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – As the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series marches toward heat of the summer, Alexis DeJoria and John Force Racing’s Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team have turned up wick on their recent performances leading into the inaugural May 29-31 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway.

With a semifinal finish two races ago in the Southern Nationals and a runner-up showing two weeks ago in the Route 66 Nationals, the Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg-led team is providing DeJoria with a race car capable of going rounds and eventually capturing her first NHRA Funny Car event victory since October 2021 in Bristol, Tenn.

DeJoria started off the 2026 season with a final-round appearance but was followed by a first-round exit in Phoenix. Since then, she has won at least one round of eliminations in each of the four succeeding races. To put aa point on it, DeJoria’s 10 round wins after just six events this season matches the total number she earned in the entire 2025 season.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.

Quotes

What are your expectations for the inaugural Potomac Nationals?

“Honestly, I don’t have any expectations heading to Maryland. We’ve never raced there, so it’s new territory for all of us. There are so many factors at play when it comes to assessing a new track. One thing I can say is we have a great tune-up for hot or cold weather.

How has your season progressed?

Now that we have the consistency we were working on, Mike (Neff) and Jonnie (Lindberg) will be shooting for those low E.T.s and high mph. At John Force Racing, we have a team full of experts who know what they are doing, which means a high level of confidence for me as a driver, even when we’re looking at a new facility. My faith in this crew is unwavering. After winning the Mission #2fast2tasty Challenge and getting another runner-up in Chicago, we’re on a good trajectory.”

Weekend Appearances

Sat., March 30, 9:30-10 a.m. ET, autograph session at Mission Foods display, NHRA Midway; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

DEJORIA’S PERFORMANCE HEATS UP AS SUMMER NEARS

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – As the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series marches toward heat of the summer, Alexis DeJoria and John Force Racing’s Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team have turned up wick on their recent performances leading into the inaugural May 29-31 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway.

With a semifinal finish two races ago in the Southern Nationals and a runner-up showing two weeks ago in the Route 66 Nationals, the Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg-led team is providing DeJoria with a race car capable of going rounds and eventually capturing her first NHRA Funny Car event victory since October 2021 in Bristol, Tenn.

DeJoria started off the 2026 season with a final-round appearance but was followed by a first-round exit in Phoenix. Since then, she has won at least one round of eliminations in each of the four succeeding races. To put aa point on it, DeJoria’s 10 round wins after just six events this season matches the total number she earned in the entire 2025 season.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.

Quotes

What are your expectations for the inaugural Potomac Nationals?

“Honestly, I don’t have any expectations heading to Maryland. We’ve never raced there, so it’s new territory for all of us. There are so many factors at play when it comes to assessing a new track. One thing I can say is we have a great tune-up for hot or cold weather.

How has your season progressed?

Now that we have the consistency we were working on, Mike (Neff) and Jonnie (Lindberg) will be shooting for those low E.T.s and high mph. At John Force Racing, we have a team full of experts who know what they are doing, which means a high level of confidence for me as a driver, even when we’re looking at a new facility. My faith in this crew is unwavering. After winning the Mission #2fast2tasty Challenge and getting another runner-up in Chicago, we’re on a good trajectory.”

Weekend Appearances

Sat., March 30, 9:30-10 a.m. ET, autograph session at Mission Foods display, NHRA Midway; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

Event	Qualify	Round by Round	Round Record	Points Position
Gainesville	11	Beat Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde, J.R. Todd; lost to Chad Green	3-1	2
Phoenix	12	Lost Jordan Vandergriff	3-2	6
Pomona1	7	Beat Dave Richards; lost to Ron Capps	4-3	7
Charlotte	5	Won 1st Quad; lost 2nd quad	5-4	6
Valdosta	10	Beat Cruz Pedregon, Matt Hagan; lost to J.R. Todd	7-5	6
Chicago	12	Beat Spencer Hyde, Dave Richards, Matt Hagan; lost to Chad Green	10-6	6

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff learned over the previous two events that NHRA drag racing can be a fickle dance partner but he and John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevy SS Funny Car team look to regain their winning form at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, May 29-31 at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsburg, Md.

Vandergriff stormed to his first NHRA Funny Car victory May 3 at the Southern Nationals, the inaugural NHRA national event at South Georgia Motorsports in his adopted home state. Just two weeks later, however, at Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago, the team qualified 10^th and, despite a solid run, lost in the first round against eventual event winner Chad Green.

The results exemplify the extreme yin and yang of the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph sport but Vandergriff sees it simply as part of the learning process to a long and successful career.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.

Quotes

You had great success at South Georgia in early May with this season’s first inaugural event so how do you see things working out at Maryland International Raceway?

“I know absolutely nothing about Maryland but I’m super excited to get there to learn all about it, see the venue and track and meet all the fans. I think it’s cool for the NHRA to go to new markets so we can race in front of new fans as well as longtime fans. The new tracks level the playing field and, based on the last time we went to a new track, it worked in our favor. I’m really confident in Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker and this Cornwell Quality Tools team to figure out the new racetracks.”

You talked about some of the things you prepared for going to the inaugural at South Georgia that the average fan may not think about.

“The first thing is to check out the shutdown area to see how long it is, where the turnoff is, how hard I’ll need to turn around and where we’re going to get back to the pit area. Then it’s up to the starting line to get a view of the overall area, the eye level down track, looking at the Christmas Tree from where I’ll be staging the car, getting a feel for how the grandstands are laid out and what sight lines you have there and if wind may come into play at some point down the track. There are plenty of things you have to check out coming to a new racetrack but it’s all fun.”

The first-round loss at Chicago after winning your first event just two weeks before couldn’t have been on that list of firsts you’ve spoken about this year. Talk about how you’ve worked through the mental process in preparation for this weekend.

“The main takeaway is that drag racing isn’t easy. We were coming off our best weekend, my first career win in South Georgia. We get to Chicago just two weeks later and we struggled all weekend. We actually had a really good run in the first round of eliminations but just got outrun a little bit. It’s the highs and lows of drag racing and you’re going to go through these kinds of times. You obviously don’t want the lows but they’re going to happen. We know the Cornwell Tools Chevy has been really good all season so we’re going to brush this one off, reset and head into Maryland with the confidence that we have had all year.”

How do you prepare for the upcoming three races in consecutive weekends?

“It’s going to be a whirlwind but I’m just going to try to stay locked in throughout the three weeks. I’ll come into Maryland ready to go, with the mindset that this is the start of a three-week run where I have to be ready at all times. It’s going to be great bonding experience for the team and a good chance to prove that we can we can be consistently strong over the three weeks.”

How do you plan to keep up your physical fitness during this three-week stretch?

“I like to use fitness as a way to stay sharp. I’ve been thinking about the routine I’ll have on the road in these three weeks. It will be a challenge but I’ll find time at the hotel gym. Maybe not so much lifting but focusing instead on getting an hour of cardio in each day.”

Weekend Appearances

Thurs., March 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET, NHRA Fan Fest at The Barns at New Market, 29133 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, 20659; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

VANDERGRIFF SET TO REBOUND AT NHRA POTOMAC NATS

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff learned over the previous two events that NHRA drag racing can be a fickle dance partner but he and John Force Racing’s Cornwell Tools Chevy SS Funny Car team look to regain their winning form at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, May 29-31 at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsburg, Md.

Vandergriff stormed to his first NHRA Funny Car victory May 3 at the Southern Nationals, the inaugural NHRA national event at South Georgia Motorsports in his adopted home state. Just two weeks later, however, at Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago, the team qualified 10^th and, despite a solid run, lost in the first round against eventual event winner Chad Green.

The results exemplify the extreme yin and yang of the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph sport but Vandergriff sees it simply as part of the learning process to a long and successful career.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.

Quotes

You had great success at South Georgia in early May with this season’s first inaugural event so how do you see things working out at Maryland International Raceway?

“I know absolutely nothing about Maryland but I’m super excited to get there to learn all about it, see the venue and track and meet all the fans. I think it’s cool for the NHRA to go to new markets so we can race in front of new fans as well as longtime fans. The new tracks level the playing field and, based on the last time we went to a new track, it worked in our favor. I’m really confident in Chris Cunningham, Jason Bunker and this Cornwell Quality Tools team to figure out the new racetracks.”

You talked about some of the things you prepared for going to the inaugural at South Georgia that the average fan may not think about.

“The first thing is to check out the shutdown area to see how long it is, where the turnoff is, how hard I’ll need to turn around and where we’re going to get back to the pit area. Then it’s up to the starting line to get a view of the overall area, the eye level down track, looking at the Christmas Tree from where I’ll be staging the car, getting a feel for how the grandstands are laid out and what sight lines you have there and if wind may come into play at some point down the track. There are plenty of things you have to check out coming to a new racetrack but it’s all fun.”

The first-round loss at Chicago after winning your first event just two weeks before couldn’t have been on that list of firsts you’ve spoken about this year. Talk about how you’ve worked through the mental process in preparation for this weekend.

“The main takeaway is that drag racing isn’t easy. We were coming off our best weekend, my first career win in South Georgia. We get to Chicago just two weeks later and we struggled all weekend. We actually had a really good run in the first round of eliminations but just got outrun a little bit. It’s the highs and lows of drag racing and you’re going to go through these kinds of times. You obviously don’t want the lows but they’re going to happen. We know the Cornwell Tools Chevy has been really good all season so we’re going to brush this one off, reset and head into Maryland with the confidence that we have had all year.”

How do you prepare for the upcoming three races in consecutive weekends?

“It’s going to be a whirlwind but I’m just going to try to stay locked in throughout the three weeks. I’ll come into Maryland ready to go, with the mindset that this is the start of a three-week run where I have to be ready at all times. It’s going to be great bonding experience for the team and a good chance to prove that we can we can be consistently strong over the three weeks.”

How do you plan to keep up your physical fitness during this three-week stretch?

“I like to use fitness as a way to stay sharp. I’ve been thinking about the routine I’ll have on the road in these three weeks. It will be a challenge but I’ll find time at the hotel gym. Maybe not so much lifting but focusing instead on getting an hour of cardio in each day.”

Weekend Appearances

Thurs., March 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET, NHRA Fan Fest at The Barns at New Market, 29133 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, 20659; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

Event	Qualify	Round by Round	Round Record	Points Position
Gainesville	8	Beat Jack Beckman, John Smith; lost to Chad Green	2-1	4
Phoenix	5	Beat Alexis DeJoria, lost to Matt Hagan	3-2	7
Pomona1	3	Beat Daniel Wilkerson, Chad Green; lost to Ron Capps	5-3	5
Charlotte	2	Won 1st quad; lost in 2nd quad	6-4	5
Valdosta	3	Beat Jeff Arend, Spencer Hyde, Hunter Green, Ron Capps	10-4	4
Chicago	10	Lost to Chad Green	10-5	5

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – The first third of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season hasn’t produced the results Jack Beckman and his John Force Racing PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team expect of themselves but they have every reason to believe they will be back to peak performance in the May 29-31 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway.

The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion and drag racing historian knows his team, like most if not all the others in the nitro categories, will be creating the first pages of race track setup information during this inaugural event. It will be imperative, therefore, to be successful in all four qualifying runs to then prepare for Sunday’s elimination rounds.

Few have the experience Beckman has accumulated in his decades of racing in taking that in-the-driver’s-seat knowledge and translating it to success on race day. He looks to capitalize on that experience and earn the team’s first event win of the year.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.

Quotes

Do you have any familiarity at all with Maryland International Raceway? 

“I filmed an episode of the TV show Pinks with Clay Millican out there, probably 17 years ago, but none other than that. I know it’s the shortest concrete section on the tour and I know it’s the third-lowest elevation of any racetrack on tour. I also know it’s a track we need to win at.

“I always love going to new racetracks. That’s always cool to me as a historian and a fan, going to a new venue. My dad’s from Maryland and Christine’s from Maryland so there’s a lot of family in that area. What better place to earn our first Wally of the year.”

What does a lower elevation and short concrete pad mean regarding setting up the car for PEAK performance?

“Dan Hood and Tim Fabrisi (the PEAK SQUAD’s crew chiefs) have a pretty sophisticated program and we always try to get our power level about as close to a baseline as we can, whether we’re at Vegas or Gainesville. That involves compression ratio, which is head gasket thickness, blower overdrive, ignition timing and nitro percentage. That’s not difficult to do. What’s difficult to do is give the car enough clutch to run fast without overpowering the racetrack. Concrete provides better traction than asphalt but it’s a lot more expensive and arguably a little harder to keep clean. So, most racetracks now are 700 feet of concrete but Maryland, from what I understand, has just over 300 feet. 

“The shorter pad is going to present unique challenges for two reasons. One is we are coming off that transition from concrete to asphalt and it’s almost never perfectly smooth. That bump could upset the car and we’ll reach it in what I would argue is the most critical area of acceleration. The issue is there are probably no data sheets in most of these crew chiefs’ computer cache that go back to racetracks with that short of a launch pad, and certainly our tuneups and power level have evolved since then. So, there’s going to be a lot of educated guesses for the first couple of qualifying runs trying to get situated and get the car to a level where it can make that transition and still put up a respectable ET.”

Assess where the team is in the point standings after six races heading into Maryland.

“There’s only ever one inaugural event at these new facilities so we have three more shots this year to etch our names in the history books. We still want to earn our inaugural win of 2026. I didn’t think we’d be going into Race 7 this deep in the point standings but it is what it is. We just have to make our bad outcomes fewer and further between. We’ll continue working on a solution to that this weekend.”

Weekend Appearances

Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

BECKMAN SEES NHRA POTOMAC NATS AS KEY OPPORTUNITY

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – The first third of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season hasn’t produced the results Jack Beckman and his John Force Racing PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team expect of themselves but they have every reason to believe they will be back to peak performance in the May 29-31 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway.

The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion and drag racing historian knows his team, like most if not all the others in the nitro categories, will be creating the first pages of race track setup information during this inaugural event. It will be imperative, therefore, to be successful in all four qualifying runs to then prepare for Sunday’s elimination rounds.

Few have the experience Beckman has accumulated in his decades of racing in taking that in-the-driver’s-seat knowledge and translating it to success on race day. He looks to capitalize on that experience and earn the team’s first event win of the year.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 468; J.R. Todd, 468; 3. Matt Hagan, 459; 4. Chad Green, 443; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 416; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 389; 7. Spencer Hyde, 312; 8. Jack Beckman, 311; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 233; 10. Dave Richards, 222.

Quotes

Do you have any familiarity at all with Maryland International Raceway? 

“I filmed an episode of the TV show Pinks with Clay Millican out there, probably 17 years ago, but none other than that. I know it’s the shortest concrete section on the tour and I know it’s the third-lowest elevation of any racetrack on tour. I also know it’s a track we need to win at.

“I always love going to new racetracks. That’s always cool to me as a historian and a fan, going to a new venue. My dad’s from Maryland and Christine’s from Maryland so there’s a lot of family in that area. What better place to earn our first Wally of the year.”

What does a lower elevation and short concrete pad mean regarding setting up the car for PEAK performance?

“Dan Hood and Tim Fabrisi (the PEAK SQUAD’s crew chiefs) have a pretty sophisticated program and we always try to get our power level about as close to a baseline as we can, whether we’re at Vegas or Gainesville. That involves compression ratio, which is head gasket thickness, blower overdrive, ignition timing and nitro percentage. That’s not difficult to do. What’s difficult to do is give the car enough clutch to run fast without overpowering the racetrack. Concrete provides better traction than asphalt but it’s a lot more expensive and arguably a little harder to keep clean. So, most racetracks now are 700 feet of concrete but Maryland, from what I understand, has just over 300 feet. 

“The shorter pad is going to present unique challenges for two reasons. One is we are coming off that transition from concrete to asphalt and it’s almost never perfectly smooth. That bump could upset the car and we’ll reach it in what I would argue is the most critical area of acceleration. The issue is there are probably no data sheets in most of these crew chiefs’ computer cache that go back to racetracks with that short of a launch pad, and certainly our tuneups and power level have evolved since then. So, there’s going to be a lot of educated guesses for the first couple of qualifying runs trying to get situated and get the car to a level where it can make that transition and still put up a respectable ET.”

Assess where the team is in the point standings after six races heading into Maryland.

“There’s only ever one inaugural event at these new facilities so we have three more shots this year to etch our names in the history books. We still want to earn our inaugural win of 2026. I didn’t think we’d be going into Race 7 this deep in the point standings but it is what it is. We just have to make our bad outcomes fewer and further between. We’ll continue working on a solution to that this weekend.”

Weekend Appearances

Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

Event	Qualify	Round by Round	Round Record	Points Position
Gainesville	9	Lost to Jordan Vandergriff	0-1	11
Phoenix	2	Lost to Daniel Wilkerson	0-2	10
Pomona1	8	Beat Jim Campbell; lost to J.R. Todd	1-3	10
Charlotte	6	Advanced Rounds 1 & 2; runner-up to Ron Capps	3-4	8
Valdosta	11	Lost to Matt Hagan	3-5	8
Chicago	1	Beat Chris King; lost to Matt Hagan	4-6	8

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – Josh Hart sees the second of four inaugural events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, the May 29-31 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, as the perfect opportunity to showcase the championship-caliber talent his John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster team is made of.

With Maryland International Raceway hosting its first NHRA national event comes the opportunity for Hart and the balance of the Top Fuel entries to compete on a level playing field as it relates to track history … because there is none. Track data, so critical in getting these 12,000-horsepower cars down the track successfully, will be at a bare minimum for all nitro teams until Friday afternoon’s first round of qualifying.

The Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led Speedmaster program proved their mettle at the season-opening Gatornationals by grabbing the No. 1 qualifying spot, posting Hart’s first official run in excess of 340 mph and, ultimately, his career third national event victory. The team’s overall performance dipped over the next few races but bounced back two weeks ago at Route 66 Raceway, Hart’s 100^th Top Fuel start, with a semifinal finish and career-best run of 341.25 mph, the first and only 340-mph run in the track’s history.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 594; 2. Doug Kalitta, 540; 3. Leah Pruett, 429; 4. Tony Stewart, 388; 5. Josh Hart, 376; 6. Maddi Gordon, 358; 7. Antron Brown, 313; 8. Justin Ashley, 311; 9. Billy Torrence, 282; 10. Clay Millican, 252.

Quotes

How are you preparing for the Potomac Nationals?

“At this stage, about one-third of the way through the 2026 season, the Speedmaster Top Fuel team is focused on one round at a time, both in qualifying and eliminations. There’s so much at stake every time you roll up to the line that you can’t take anything for granted and can’t look past one round to the next.”

What are your thoughts on competing in an inaugural NHRA event?

“I love the new venues because it levels the playing field. Dave Grubnic and John Collins (crew chiefs) have decades of knowledge to pull from and, with track guru Lanny Miglizzi providing information to all the John Force Racing teams, I have every confidence our Speedmaster team will end up in the winner’s circle at the end of the day Sunday.”

Assess where the team is six races into the season?

“The Speedmaster team has come together nicely. We’re six races in and getting our feet firmly planted as we go. We’ve proven what we’re capable of but now it’s time to show everybody we are a championship-caliber combination. It’s time to turn on more win lights each weekend and set some records.”

Weekend Appearances

Thurs., March 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET, NHRA Fan Fest at The Barns at New Market, 29133 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, 20659; Sat., March 30, 9:30-10 a.m. ET, autograph session at Mission Foods display, NHRA Midway; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

HART SAYS TIME IS NOW TO SHOW CHAMPIONSHIP CHOPS

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MAY 27, 2026) – Josh Hart sees the second of four inaugural events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, the May 29-31 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, as the perfect opportunity to showcase the championship-caliber talent his John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster team is made of.

With Maryland International Raceway hosting its first NHRA national event comes the opportunity for Hart and the balance of the Top Fuel entries to compete on a level playing field as it relates to track history … because there is none. Track data, so critical in getting these 12,000-horsepower cars down the track successfully, will be at a bare minimum for all nitro teams until Friday afternoon’s first round of qualifying.

The Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led Speedmaster program proved their mettle at the season-opening Gatornationals by grabbing the No. 1 qualifying spot, posting Hart’s first official run in excess of 340 mph and, ultimately, his career third national event victory. The team’s overall performance dipped over the next few races but bounced back two weeks ago at Route 66 Raceway, Hart’s 100^th Top Fuel start, with a semifinal finish and career-best run of 341.25 mph, the first and only 340-mph run in the track’s history.

The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after six of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 594; 2. Doug Kalitta, 540; 3. Leah Pruett, 429; 4. Tony Stewart, 388; 5. Josh Hart, 376; 6. Maddi Gordon, 358; 7. Antron Brown, 313; 8. Justin Ashley, 311; 9. Billy Torrence, 282; 10. Clay Millican, 252.

Quotes

How are you preparing for the Potomac Nationals?

“At this stage, about one-third of the way through the 2026 season, the Speedmaster Top Fuel team is focused on one round at a time, both in qualifying and eliminations. There’s so much at stake every time you roll up to the line that you can’t take anything for granted and can’t look past one round to the next.”

What are your thoughts on competing in an inaugural NHRA event?

“I love the new venues because it levels the playing field. Dave Grubnic and John Collins (crew chiefs) have decades of knowledge to pull from and, with track guru Lanny Miglizzi providing information to all the John Force Racing teams, I have every confidence our Speedmaster team will end up in the winner’s circle at the end of the day Sunday.”

Assess where the team is six races into the season?

“The Speedmaster team has come together nicely. We’re six races in and getting our feet firmly planted as we go. We’ve proven what we’re capable of but now it’s time to show everybody we are a championship-caliber combination. It’s time to turn on more win lights each weekend and set some records.”

Weekend Appearances

Thurs., March 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET, NHRA Fan Fest at The Barns at New Market, 29133 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, 20659; Sat., March 30, 9:30-10 a.m. ET, autograph session at Mission Foods display, NHRA Midway; Sat., March 30, 10-10:30 a.m. ET, autograph session at Cornwell Tools display, NHRA Midway.

Track Schedule

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Fri., May 29, with the final two rounds Sat., May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. ET.

TV Schedule

Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., May 29, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, May 31, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET.

2026 Results

Event	Qualify	Round by Round	Round Record	Points Position
Gainesville	1	Beat Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta	4-0	1
Phoenix	10	Beat Justin Ashley, lost to Leah Pruett	5-1	2
Pomona1	2	Beat Cameron Ferre, lost to Tony Stewart	6-2	4
Charlotte	4	Lost in 1st quad	6-3	5
Valdosta	9	Lost to Leah Pruett	6-4	5
Chicago	4	Beat Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart, lost to Shawn Langdon	8-5	5

The Roth Motorsports team continues to look unbeatable at the Brandon, SD oval with an impressive drive from the Penngrove, CA native

BRANDON, SD (May 25, 2026) – It might be time to start writing Michael “Buddy” Kofoid’s name on the check before a race even starts at Huset’s Speedway.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series rolled into the Brandon, SD track on Monday for the Stars and Stripes Salute presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale. At first, Kofoid and his Roth Motorsports team actually looked beatable.

The Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying charts showed Kofoid timed in 23rd quickest. That left him lining up sixth for his Heat Race with the odds against him of finding his way to the top two and into the Toyota Dash. But the No. 83 came to life in the Heat as Kofoid ripped his way forward to second.

Misfortune bit in the redraw when Kofoid pulled the eight, the worst pill available. The Penngrove, CA native managed to advance one spot in the Toyota Dash, setting him up seventh for the 35-lap, $20,000-to-win main event. When the green flag flew, Kofoid reminded everyone he’s the man to beat at Huset’s The 24-year-old wheeled by some of the best Sprint Car drivers in the country with ease. By Lap 7, he’d worked his way onto the podium. Six laps later, Kofoid slipped under Aaron Reutzel for the lead and that was that. He sliced through traffic without issue on his way to a nearly four-second margin of victory and honored Kyle Busch with a bow when he emerged from the car.

“My car is notoriously good in dirty air and relatively unaffected, and I knew I just wanted traffic to come into play,” Kofoid explained. “I didn’t want yellows. I wanted traffic and knew that I could race really well in that and hopefully take advantage and the opportunity arose. It was a long day, a hard day qualifying 23rd and then getting to second in the Heat Race then passing a car in the Dash. I feel like that set us up really nice in the Feature starting on the bottom. I just owe it all to Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra). Collectively, we struggled in Hot Laps and Qualifying, and they don’t give up.”

Kofoid’s sixth win of the year gives him sole possession of the most in 2026 with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s the 28th of his career with the World of Outlaws, equaling him with Kerry Madsen for 25th all-time. His recent Huset’s hot streak continued as Monday marked his fifth win in the last seven visits to the Brandon, SD track. He hasn’t finished worse than fourth in his last eight races at Huset’s.

Sheldon Haudenschild took the runner-up spot in the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18. He’s posted five top fives in the last seven races and sits tied with Donny Schatz for fourth in the standings.

Aaron Reutzel completed the podium in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 87 after leading the opening 12 laps.

David Gravel and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Sheldon Haudenschild earned the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Haudenschild also set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Bill Balog (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Donny Schatz (WIX Filters Heat Three), and David Gravel (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Donny Schatz.

Schatz also topped the Toyota Dash.

Emerson Axsom won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Carson Macedo earned his second straight KSE Racing Products Hard Charger with a drive from 23rd to 11th.

Spencer Bayston was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

A 13th-place effort made Emerson Axsom the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Aaron Reutzel clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Cole Macedo.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to North Dakota for the first time in 2026 with stops at River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) on Friday, May 29 and Nodak Speedway (Minot, ND) on Sunday, May 31. 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 (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 2. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[8]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 7. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 8. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart[15]; 11. 41-Carson Macedo[23]; 12. 7S-Chris Windom[9]; 13. 27-Emerson Axsom[21]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 15. 11-Justin Henderson[5]; 16. 51-Ashton Torgerson[20]; 17. 83JR-Sam Henderson[19]; 18. 8-Jacob Hughes[17]; 19. 14H-Matt Juhl[22]; 20. (DNF) 13-Mark Dobmeier[12]; 21. (DNF) 24T-Christopher Thram[14]; 22. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[18]; 23. (DNF) 28M-Conner Morrell[24]; 24. (DNF) 10-Ryan Timms[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ANOTHER WITHDRAWAL: Kofoid Charges to Sixth Huset’s Victory, Banks $20,000

The Roth Motorsports team continues to look unbeatable at the Brandon, SD oval with an impressive drive from the Penngrove, CA native

BRANDON, SD (May 25, 2026) – It might be time to start writing Michael “Buddy” Kofoid’s name on the check before a race even starts at Huset’s Speedway.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series rolled into the Brandon, SD track on Monday for the Stars and Stripes Salute presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking finale. At first, Kofoid and his Roth Motorsports team actually looked beatable.

The Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying charts showed Kofoid timed in 23rd quickest. That left him lining up sixth for his Heat Race with the odds against him of finding his way to the top two and into the Toyota Dash. But the No. 83 came to life in the Heat as Kofoid ripped his way forward to second.

Misfortune bit in the redraw when Kofoid pulled the eight, the worst pill available. The Penngrove, CA native managed to advance one spot in the Toyota Dash, setting him up seventh for the 35-lap, $20,000-to-win main event. When the green flag flew, Kofoid reminded everyone he’s the man to beat at Huset’s The 24-year-old wheeled by some of the best Sprint Car drivers in the country with ease. By Lap 7, he’d worked his way onto the podium. Six laps later, Kofoid slipped under Aaron Reutzel for the lead and that was that. He sliced through traffic without issue on his way to a nearly four-second margin of victory and honored Kyle Busch with a bow when he emerged from the car.

“My car is notoriously good in dirty air and relatively unaffected, and I knew I just wanted traffic to come into play,” Kofoid explained. “I didn’t want yellows. I wanted traffic and knew that I could race really well in that and hopefully take advantage and the opportunity arose. It was a long day, a hard day qualifying 23rd and then getting to second in the Heat Race then passing a car in the Dash. I feel like that set us up really nice in the Feature starting on the bottom. I just owe it all to Dylan (Buswell), Nate (Knotts), and Gage (Tyra). Collectively, we struggled in Hot Laps and Qualifying, and they don’t give up.”

Kofoid’s sixth win of the year gives him sole possession of the most in 2026 with The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s the 28th of his career with the World of Outlaws, equaling him with Kerry Madsen for 25th all-time. His recent Huset’s hot streak continued as Monday marked his fifth win in the last seven visits to the Brandon, SD track. He hasn’t finished worse than fourth in his last eight races at Huset’s.

Sheldon Haudenschild took the runner-up spot in the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18. He’s posted five top fives in the last seven races and sits tied with Donny Schatz for fourth in the standings.

Aaron Reutzel completed the podium in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 87 after leading the opening 12 laps.

David Gravel and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Sheldon Haudenschild earned the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Haudenschild also set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Bill Balog (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Donny Schatz (WIX Filters Heat Three), and David Gravel (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Donny Schatz.

Schatz also topped the Toyota Dash.

Emerson Axsom won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Carson Macedo earned his second straight KSE Racing Products Hard Charger with a drive from 23rd to 11th.

Spencer Bayston was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

A 13th-place effort made Emerson Axsom the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Aaron Reutzel clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Cole Macedo.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to North Dakota for the first time in 2026 with stops at River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, ND) on Friday, May 29 and Nodak Speedway (Minot, ND) on Sunday, May 31. 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 (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[7]; 2. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 4. 2-David Gravel[8]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 6. 17B-Bill Balog[4]; 7. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 8. 88-Austin McCarl[6]; 9. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart[15]; 11. 41-Carson Macedo[23]; 12. 7S-Chris Windom[9]; 13. 27-Emerson Axsom[21]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo[13]; 15. 11-Justin Henderson[5]; 16. 51-Ashton Torgerson[20]; 17. 83JR-Sam Henderson[19]; 18. 8-Jacob Hughes[17]; 19. 14H-Matt Juhl[22]; 20. (DNF) 13-Mark Dobmeier[12]; 21. (DNF) 24T-Christopher Thram[14]; 22. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[18]; 23. (DNF) 28M-Conner Morrell[24]; 24. (DNF) 10-Ryan Timms[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/another-withdrawal-kofoid-charges-to-sixth-husets-victory-banks-20000/

CONCORD, NC (May 25, 2026) – Another long week of racing awaits the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

The original plan included three nights of action in the “Buckeye State,” but with Marion Center Raceway’s Connor Bobik Memorial finale getting rained out on May 16, a return trip will open the week on Wednesday, May 27. With $30,000 going to the winner, the event instantly becomes one of the highest-paying midweek races in all of Late Model racing, and multiple star drivers who were unable to attend the original date are now planning to take their shot at the prize.

From there, the Series will travel three hours west for the regularly-scheduled visit to Wayne County Speedway on Thursday, May 28. From there, it’s off to the recently-reopened Mansfield Speedway for one of the most anticipated races of the year, the Blaster 57 Special, paying a staggering $57,000 to win and $5,700 to start on Saturday night.

Wednesday’s stop at Marion Center will also include action for the Semi Late Models and Strictly Stocks, while the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will join the World of Outlaws at both Wayne County and Mansfield.

TICKETS & INFO

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVISION

Here are this week’s top storylines:

BACK ALREADY: For drivers on a nationally-touring circuit, going back to a track for a second time 12 days after the first visit is almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what they’ll get to do at Marion Center.

The situation gives teams a rare opportunity to plan for Wednesday’s show using the exact same chassis, engine, shocks and other components as they ran in the first half of the Connor Bobik Memorial. That’s assuming the team was happy with the combination they brought to Marion Center last time, and there are several names that certainly fall into that category.

Topping that list is MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Logan Zarin, who topped the first of two Showdowns for his first Late Model win at the national level. The second one went to regional standout Jared Miley, who will be looking to replicate that showing on Wednesday in full-field action for his first World of Outlaws win since 2022 at Port Royal Speedway.

As for the two championship contenders, neither Nick Hoffman nor Bobby Pierce were much of a factor in split-field competition, with both drivers recording seventh-place finishes.

RETURN TO WAYNE: Seven years after the last visit, the World of Outlaws are back at one of Ohio’s signature tracks.

The Series has contested six races at the Orrville, OH facility in the past. The first three visits went to Chub Frank (2006), Darrell Lanigan (2012) and Dave Hess Jr. (2013), while Brandon Sheppard swept the last three in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and has plans to go for four in a row with Rocket1 Racing.

Although it’s been absent from the World of Outlaws schedule in recent years, the track has hosted the finale of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in each of the past three seasons. The last two Hell Tour races were won by current full-time Outlaws in Tyler Erb in 2024 and Nick Hoffman in 2025. Next week’s Lonewolf 40 will be an especially important night for Hoffman, as the race is being organized by his team owner, Tye Twarog.

RACETRACK REVIVED: What started as a dream years ago is set to come to fruition next weekend.

When former NASCAR Cup Series driver and team owner Matt Tifft purchased Mansfield Speedway last year, he had bigger goals than merely bringing the abandoned racetrack back to life. He wanted to put on some of the biggest events in the sport, in addition to utilizing the property for far more than dirt track racing.

The Mansfield staff put together a 2026 schedule that includes everything from racing to concerts, monster trucks, car shows, motocross and more. It all started with opening night on May 15, which featured the Valvoline American Late Model Iron Man Series as well as the FAST on Dirt 410 Sprint Cars. The race generated plenty of buzz ahead of Mansfield’s return to the national stage, which comes in the form of the largest purse on the World of Outlaws calendar at more than $240,000 reserved for Saturday’s Feature starters.

For many drivers, the 57 Special will mark their first laps around Mansfield since competing in the track’s former marquee event, the Dirt Million. Leading that group is Bobby Pierce, who will look to avenge his 2018 defeat when he lost the lead to Earl Pearson Jr. on a late-race restart and missed out on one of the biggest wins of his career at the time. Aside from Pierce, Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Erb, Nick Hoffman and Tim McCreadie all have Dirt Million experience that they’ll try to translate into a hefty payday in Mansfield’s newest tradition.

HORNET’S NEST: Behind Hoffman and Pierce at the top of the standings, the battle for third through sixth remains a coin flip.

Only 35 points separate Tim McCreadie in third from Drake Troutman in sixth, with Ryan Gustin and Tyler Erb both squished between them. It’s impossible to give any of them the clear edge going forward, as they all have reasons to look forward to different parts of the four races on tap this week.

Gustin needs to look no further than Marion Center, as he won the 2023 Connor Bobik Memorial and finished on the podium last year. That speed appears to have carried over to 2026, as he ran in the top five in his Showdown last weekend.

Troutman is trying to make this the year he cracks the code at one of his home tracks, as he’s never finished in the top 10 in four previous Connor Bobik Memorial appearances.

Erb might call Texas home, but he’s spent the past few years living in Wapakoneta, OH near the Best Performance Motorsports shop in St. Marys, so Wayne County and Mansfield are both home games for “Terbo.”

McCreadie has a long-awaited Wayne County victory on his agenda after finishing second there three times, including twice with the World of Outlaws in 2006 and 2012.

CHASING THE CASH: With the Dirt Late Model Dream looming next week at nearby Eldora Speedway, many of the sport’s biggest stars will be getting to the area a week early to race for some big money while preparing for one of the sport’s signature events.

Hudson O’Neal is on pace to make 2026 the best year of his career to date, as his 14 wins make him the winningest Late Model driver in America this season. Mansfield in particular was a good track for the “New Deal” in its previous iteration, as O’Neal recorded three top fives in five starts and no finishes worse than ninth.

Dresden, OH’s Devin Moran will be spending the weekend in his home state after making his Marion Center debut on Wednesday. The “Mailman” has a best finish of second in four World of Outlaws starts at Wayne County, but was an early DNF in the last two editions of the Dirt Million at Mansfield in 2018 and 2019.

Other drivers who have announced their plans to go World of Outlaws racing this week include Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, Garrett Alberson, Brian Shirley, Dale McDowell and many more.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Wednesday, May 27, at Marion Center Raceway in Marion Center, PA
Thursday, May 28, at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH
Friday-Saturday, May 29-30, at Mansfield Speedway in Mansfield, OH

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Nick Hoffman (3208 points)
2. Bobby Pierce (-10)
3. Tim McCreadie (-195)
4. Ryan Gustin (-217)
5. Tyler Erb (-229)
6. Drake Troutman (-230)
7. Ethan Dotson (-273)
8. Daulton Wilson (-277)
9. Dustin Sorensen (-381)
10. Trey Mills (-443)

FEATURE WINNERS (9):
Bobby Pierce – 8
Nick Hoffman – 5
Tim McCreadie – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Ryan Gustin – 1
Chris Madden – 1
Mason Zeigler – 1
Mike Marlar – 1

FEATURE TOP FIVES (21):
Nick Hoffman – 21
Bobby Pierce – 16
Tim McCreadie – 9
Ryan Gustin – 8
Tyler Erb – 8
Drake Troutman – 8
Daulton Wilson – 7
Brandon Sheppard – 6
Chris Madden – 5
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 4
Ethan Dotson – 4
Jonathan Davenport – 4
Hudson O’Neal – 3
Mason Zeigler – 2
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Dale McDowell – 2
Ashton Winger – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Tey Mills – 1

FEATURE LAPS LED (19):
Nick Hoffman – 179
Bobby Pierce – 170
Drake Troutman – 99
Brandon Sheppard – 78
Ryan Gustin – 73
Chris Madden – 73
Daulton Wilson – 66
Tim McCreadie – 46
Hudson O’Neal – 45
Jonathan Davenport – 45
Mike Marlar – 39
Mason Zeigler – 25
Ashton Winger – 22
Ethan Dotson – 12
Brandon Overton – 12
Michael Leach – 10
Sam Seawright – 5
Dale McDowell – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 2

BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (14):
Nick Hoffman – 6
Drake Troutman – 3
Chris Madden – 2
Daulton Wilson – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
San Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1

SIMPSON QUICK TIME AWARDS (14):
Chris Madden – 5
Nick Hoffman – 4
Bobby Pierce – 2
Tim McCreadie – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Tyler Erb – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Sam Seawright – 1

HEAT RACE WINS (34):
Nick Hoffman – 14
Bobby Pierce – 10
Ryan Gustin – 7
Chris Madden – 7
Tyler Erb – 7
Drake Troutman – 6
Brandon Sheppard – 4
Tim McCreadie – 3
Mason Zeigler – 3
Daulton Wilson – 3
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 3
Jonathan Davenport – 3
Brandon Overton – 3
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Tristan Chamberlain – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – 1
Dale McDowell – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Trey Mills – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1
Donald McIntosh – 1
Blair Nothdurft – 1
Logan Zarin – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Austin Smith – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Devin Moran – 1
Lane Snook – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (32):
Ethan Dotson – 4
Dennis Erb Jr. – 3
Josh Rice – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Logan Zarin – 2
Tristan Chamberlain – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Trey Mills – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1
Cory Hedgecock – 1
Jake Timm – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Michael Leach – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Carson Ferguson – 1
Luke Morey – 1
Dalton Cook – 1
Shane Clanton – 1
Michael Page – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Derrick Stewart – 1
Chad Simpson – 1
Chris Simpson – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Nick Davis – 1
Dylan Yoder – 1

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL (Practice)
Thursday, Jan. 22 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Chris Madden (1)
Friday, Jan. 23 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Hudson O’Neal (1)
Saturday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tim McCreadie (1)
Thursday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (1)
Friday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Thursday, Feb. 19 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL (Practice)
Friday, Feb. 20 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Bobby Pierce (1)
Saturday, Feb. 21 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Nick Hoffman (3)
Friday, March 13 / Volunteer Speedway / Bulls Gap, TN / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, March 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (2)
Thursday, March 19 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS (Practice)
Friday, March 20 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Bobby Pierce (3)
Saturday, March 21 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Hudson O’Neal (2)
Friday, March 27 / East Alabama Motor Speedway / Phenix City, AL / Nick Hoffman (4)
Saturday, March 28 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA / Bobby Pierce (4)
Thursday, April 9 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, April 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (2)
Saturday, April 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Bobby Pierce (5)
Tuesday, April 28 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA / Bobby Pierce (6)
Thursday, April 30 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Bobby Pierce (7)
Friday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Nick Hoffman (5)
Saturday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Ryan Gustin (1)
Wednesday, May 13 / Georgetown Speedway / Georgetown, DE / Bobby Pierce (8)
Thursday, May 14 / Selinsgrove Speedway / Selinsgrove, PA / Tim McCreadie (2)
Sunday, May 17 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA / Mason Zeigler (1)
Wednesday, May 27 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Thursday, May 28 / Wayne County Speedway / Orrville, OH
Friday, May 29 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Saturday, May 30 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Friday, June 12 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Saturday, June 13 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Friday, June 19 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Saturday, June 20 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Monday, June 22 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Wednesday, June 24 / I-94 emr Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sunday, June 28 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Tuesday, June 30 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Thursday, July 2 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Wednesday, July 8 / Stateline Speedway / Busti, NY
Friday, July 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 24 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Thursday, July 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Thursday, Aug. 20 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA (Practice)
Friday, Aug. 21 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 22 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Wednesday, Aug. 26 / Southern Iowa Speedway / Oskaloosa, IA
Friday, Aug, 28 / Adams County Speedway / Corning, IA
Saturday, Aug. 29 / Shelby County Speedway / Harlan, IA
Friday, Sept. 25 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, Sept. 26 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Friday, Oct. 2 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 3 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Friday, Oct. 23 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Saturday, Oct. 24 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Wednesday, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/top-five-storylines-big-money-at-mansfield-caps-off-four-night-pennsylvania-ohio-stretch/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSBPQRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXTmdwS2R3ZzZTdTJQeDl1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvr5nkCYwS77DA8Nttx4SEk_nDoU4CetSSq6xMdz6IIIT4FAmPN2ZHI_AD5z_aem_iq7xKIqxCaKZl2GaVvZjQw

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: Big Money at Mansfield Caps Off Four-Night Pennsylvania, Ohio Stretch

CONCORD, NC (May 25, 2026) – Another long week of racing awaits the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.

The original plan included three nights of action in the “Buckeye State,” but with Marion Center Raceway’s Connor Bobik Memorial finale getting rained out on May 16, a return trip will open the week on Wednesday, May 27. With $30,000 going to the winner, the event instantly becomes one of the highest-paying midweek races in all of Late Model racing, and multiple star drivers who were unable to attend the original date are now planning to take their shot at the prize.

From there, the Series will travel three hours west for the regularly-scheduled visit to Wayne County Speedway on Thursday, May 28. From there, it’s off to the recently-reopened Mansfield Speedway for one of the most anticipated races of the year, the Blaster 57 Special, paying a staggering $57,000 to win and $5,700 to start on Saturday night.

Wednesday’s stop at Marion Center will also include action for the Semi Late Models and Strictly Stocks, while the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will join the World of Outlaws at both Wayne County and Mansfield.

TICKETS & INFO

WATCH LIVE ON DIRTVISION

Here are this week’s top storylines:

BACK ALREADY: For drivers on a nationally-touring circuit, going back to a track for a second time 12 days after the first visit is almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what they’ll get to do at Marion Center.

The situation gives teams a rare opportunity to plan for Wednesday’s show using the exact same chassis, engine, shocks and other components as they ran in the first half of the Connor Bobik Memorial. That’s assuming the team was happy with the combination they brought to Marion Center last time, and there are several names that certainly fall into that category.

Topping that list is MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Logan Zarin, who topped the first of two Showdowns for his first Late Model win at the national level. The second one went to regional standout Jared Miley, who will be looking to replicate that showing on Wednesday in full-field action for his first World of Outlaws win since 2022 at Port Royal Speedway.

As for the two championship contenders, neither Nick Hoffman nor Bobby Pierce were much of a factor in split-field competition, with both drivers recording seventh-place finishes.

RETURN TO WAYNE: Seven years after the last visit, the World of Outlaws are back at one of Ohio’s signature tracks.

The Series has contested six races at the Orrville, OH facility in the past. The first three visits went to Chub Frank (2006), Darrell Lanigan (2012) and Dave Hess Jr. (2013), while Brandon Sheppard swept the last three in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and has plans to go for four in a row with Rocket1 Racing.

Although it’s been absent from the World of Outlaws schedule in recent years, the track has hosted the finale of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals in each of the past three seasons. The last two Hell Tour races were won by current full-time Outlaws in Tyler Erb in 2024 and Nick Hoffman in 2025. Next week’s Lonewolf 40 will be an especially important night for Hoffman, as the race is being organized by his team owner, Tye Twarog.

RACETRACK REVIVED: What started as a dream years ago is set to come to fruition next weekend.

When former NASCAR Cup Series driver and team owner Matt Tifft purchased Mansfield Speedway last year, he had bigger goals than merely bringing the abandoned racetrack back to life. He wanted to put on some of the biggest events in the sport, in addition to utilizing the property for far more than dirt track racing.

The Mansfield staff put together a 2026 schedule that includes everything from racing to concerts, monster trucks, car shows, motocross and more. It all started with opening night on May 15, which featured the Valvoline American Late Model Iron Man Series as well as the FAST on Dirt 410 Sprint Cars. The race generated plenty of buzz ahead of Mansfield’s return to the national stage, which comes in the form of the largest purse on the World of Outlaws calendar at more than $240,000 reserved for Saturday’s Feature starters.

For many drivers, the 57 Special will mark their first laps around Mansfield since competing in the track’s former marquee event, the Dirt Million. Leading that group is Bobby Pierce, who will look to avenge his 2018 defeat when he lost the lead to Earl Pearson Jr. on a late-race restart and missed out on one of the biggest wins of his career at the time. Aside from Pierce, Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Erb, Nick Hoffman and Tim McCreadie all have Dirt Million experience that they’ll try to translate into a hefty payday in Mansfield’s newest tradition.

HORNET’S NEST: Behind Hoffman and Pierce at the top of the standings, the battle for third through sixth remains a coin flip.

Only 35 points separate Tim McCreadie in third from Drake Troutman in sixth, with Ryan Gustin and Tyler Erb both squished between them. It’s impossible to give any of them the clear edge going forward, as they all have reasons to look forward to different parts of the four races on tap this week.

Gustin needs to look no further than Marion Center, as he won the 2023 Connor Bobik Memorial and finished on the podium last year. That speed appears to have carried over to 2026, as he ran in the top five in his Showdown last weekend.

Troutman is trying to make this the year he cracks the code at one of his home tracks, as he’s never finished in the top 10 in four previous Connor Bobik Memorial appearances.

Erb might call Texas home, but he’s spent the past few years living in Wapakoneta, OH near the Best Performance Motorsports shop in St. Marys, so Wayne County and Mansfield are both home games for “Terbo.”

McCreadie has a long-awaited Wayne County victory on his agenda after finishing second there three times, including twice with the World of Outlaws in 2006 and 2012.

CHASING THE CASH: With the Dirt Late Model Dream looming next week at nearby Eldora Speedway, many of the sport’s biggest stars will be getting to the area a week early to race for some big money while preparing for one of the sport’s signature events.

Hudson O’Neal is on pace to make 2026 the best year of his career to date, as his 14 wins make him the winningest Late Model driver in America this season. Mansfield in particular was a good track for the “New Deal” in its previous iteration, as O’Neal recorded three top fives in five starts and no finishes worse than ninth.

Dresden, OH’s Devin Moran will be spending the weekend in his home state after making his Marion Center debut on Wednesday. The “Mailman” has a best finish of second in four World of Outlaws starts at Wayne County, but was an early DNF in the last two editions of the Dirt Million at Mansfield in 2018 and 2019.

Other drivers who have announced their plans to go World of Outlaws racing this week include Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, Garrett Alberson, Brian Shirley, Dale McDowell and many more.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Wednesday, May 27, at Marion Center Raceway in Marion Center, PA
Thursday, May 28, at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH
Friday-Saturday, May 29-30, at Mansfield Speedway in Mansfield, OH

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Nick Hoffman (3208 points)
2. Bobby Pierce (-10)
3. Tim McCreadie (-195)
4. Ryan Gustin (-217)
5. Tyler Erb (-229)
6. Drake Troutman (-230)
7. Ethan Dotson (-273)
8. Daulton Wilson (-277)
9. Dustin Sorensen (-381)
10. Trey Mills (-443)

FEATURE WINNERS (9):
Bobby Pierce – 8
Nick Hoffman – 5
Tim McCreadie – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Ryan Gustin – 1
Chris Madden – 1
Mason Zeigler – 1
Mike Marlar – 1

FEATURE TOP FIVES (21):
Nick Hoffman – 21
Bobby Pierce – 16
Tim McCreadie – 9
Ryan Gustin – 8
Tyler Erb – 8
Drake Troutman – 8
Daulton Wilson – 7
Brandon Sheppard – 6
Chris Madden – 5
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 4
Ethan Dotson – 4
Jonathan Davenport – 4
Hudson O’Neal – 3
Mason Zeigler – 2
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Dale McDowell – 2
Ashton Winger – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Tey Mills – 1

FEATURE LAPS LED (19):
Nick Hoffman – 179
Bobby Pierce – 170
Drake Troutman – 99
Brandon Sheppard – 78
Ryan Gustin – 73
Chris Madden – 73
Daulton Wilson – 66
Tim McCreadie – 46
Hudson O’Neal – 45
Jonathan Davenport – 45
Mike Marlar – 39
Mason Zeigler – 25
Ashton Winger – 22
Ethan Dotson – 12
Brandon Overton – 12
Michael Leach – 10
Sam Seawright – 5
Dale McDowell – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 2

BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (14):
Nick Hoffman – 6
Drake Troutman – 3
Chris Madden – 2
Daulton Wilson – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
San Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1

SIMPSON QUICK TIME AWARDS (14):
Chris Madden – 5
Nick Hoffman – 4
Bobby Pierce – 2
Tim McCreadie – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Tyler Erb – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Sam Seawright – 1

HEAT RACE WINS (34):
Nick Hoffman – 14
Bobby Pierce – 10
Ryan Gustin – 7
Chris Madden – 7
Tyler Erb – 7
Drake Troutman – 6
Brandon Sheppard – 4
Tim McCreadie – 3
Mason Zeigler – 3
Daulton Wilson – 3
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 3
Jonathan Davenport – 3
Brandon Overton – 3
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Tristan Chamberlain – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – 1
Dale McDowell – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Trey Mills – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1
Donald McIntosh – 1
Blair Nothdurft – 1
Logan Zarin – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Austin Smith – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Devin Moran – 1
Lane Snook – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (32):
Ethan Dotson – 4
Dennis Erb Jr. – 3
Josh Rice – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Logan Zarin – 2
Tristan Chamberlain – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Trey Mills – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1
Cory Hedgecock – 1
Jake Timm – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Michael Leach – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Carson Ferguson – 1
Luke Morey – 1
Dalton Cook – 1
Shane Clanton – 1
Michael Page – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Derrick Stewart – 1
Chad Simpson – 1
Chris Simpson – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Nick Davis – 1
Dylan Yoder – 1

2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL (Practice)
Thursday, Jan. 22 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Chris Madden (1)
Friday, Jan. 23 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Hudson O’Neal (1)
Saturday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tim McCreadie (1)
Thursday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (1)
Friday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Thursday, Feb. 19 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL (Practice)
Friday, Feb. 20 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Bobby Pierce (1)
Saturday, Feb. 21 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Nick Hoffman (3)
Friday, March 13 / Volunteer Speedway / Bulls Gap, TN / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, March 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (2)
Thursday, March 19 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS (Practice)
Friday, March 20 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Bobby Pierce (3)
Saturday, March 21 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Hudson O’Neal (2)
Friday, March 27 / East Alabama Motor Speedway / Phenix City, AL / Nick Hoffman (4)
Saturday, March 28 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA / Bobby Pierce (4)
Thursday, April 9 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, April 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (2)
Saturday, April 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Bobby Pierce (5)
Tuesday, April 28 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA / Bobby Pierce (6)
Thursday, April 30 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Bobby Pierce (7)
Friday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Nick Hoffman (5)
Saturday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Ryan Gustin (1)
Wednesday, May 13 / Georgetown Speedway / Georgetown, DE / Bobby Pierce (8)
Thursday, May 14 / Selinsgrove Speedway / Selinsgrove, PA / Tim McCreadie (2)
Sunday, May 17 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA / Mason Zeigler (1)
Wednesday, May 27 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Thursday, May 28 / Wayne County Speedway / Orrville, OH
Friday, May 29 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Saturday, May 30 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH
Friday, June 12 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Saturday, June 13 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV
Friday, June 19 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Saturday, June 20 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI
Monday, June 22 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN
Wednesday, June 24 / I-94 emr Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sunday, June 28 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Tuesday, June 30 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Thursday, July 2 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Wednesday, July 8 / Stateline Speedway / Busti, NY
Friday, July 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 24 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Thursday, July 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Thursday, Aug. 20 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA (Practice)
Friday, Aug. 21 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 22 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Wednesday, Aug. 26 / Southern Iowa Speedway / Oskaloosa, IA
Friday, Aug, 28 / Adams County Speedway / Corning, IA
Saturday, Aug. 29 / Shelby County Speedway / Harlan, IA
Friday, Sept. 25 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, Sept. 26 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Friday, Oct. 2 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 3 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Friday, Oct. 23 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Saturday, Oct. 24 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Wednesday, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/top-five-storylines-big-money-at-mansfield-caps-off-four-night-pennsylvania-ohio-stretch/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSBPQRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXTmdwS2R3ZzZTdTJQeDl1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvr5nkCYwS77DA8Nttx4SEk_nDoU4CetSSq6xMdz6IIIT4FAmPN2ZHI_AD5z_aem_iq7xKIqxCaKZl2GaVvZjQw

EVENT INFO: Connor Bobik Memorial, Lonewolf 40, Blaster 57 Special
TRACK INFO: Marion Center Raceway, Wayne County Speedway, Mansfield Speedway

GTD PRO Corvettes hope to increase championship lead in Motor City DETROIT (May 25, 2026) – The Motor City’s hometown team is back in downtown Detroit this weekend armed with championship points leads.

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and Chevrolet are set for Saturday’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic – the annual 100-minute sprint race that will see the team’s two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs race around Detroit’s Renaissance Center for the third straight year. The yellow No. 3 and No. 4 Pratt Miller Corvettes are part of a 10-car entry in GTD PRO for the fifth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The squad is aiming for its first victory around the downtown street circuit and improve on last year’s second-place finish.

Corvette Racing Media Resources Documents | Statistics | Photos | Factory Driver Bios | Chevrolet Newsroom

Tommy Milner, the fastest GTD PRO driver in last year’s race, and Nicky Catsburg – teammates in the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R – lead the GTD PRO Drivers Championship on the strength of two consecutive podium finishes, including a runner-up finish earlier this month at Laguna Seca. The pairing also hasn’t finished lower than fourth in any race this year and lead Chevrolet’s charge to the top of the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship standings. In the No. 3 Corvette, Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims are hoping that another strong showing Detroit will elevate them in the points standings. Last year’s GTD PRO champions were class runners-up a year ago at the Renaissance Center as Sims set the fastest race lap; Garcia also was the pole-winner two years ago. This is the third appearance for the Corvette/Pratt Miller squad and the rest of the GTP and GTD PRO cars at the downtown Detroit circuit, which runs around the Renaissance Center and is the shortest on the calendar at nine turns and 1.654 miles around. The program previously scored three victories at the Belle Isle circuit. The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 30. It will air live on NBC at 4 p.m. ET with streaming coverage on Peacock in the U.S., and IMSA’s YouTube channel internationally. IMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions at IMSA.com along XM 206, SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R PRE-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is a short race but an important for everyone on the team. There will be a lot of people both from Team Chevy and also from Pratt Miller at the track. It’s nice to give the people who maybe don’t come to these races but still work on our cars a close look at the Corvettes they help design or build. Hopefully we can have a good result for them. I feel like Alex and I have been fast there in the past even though we haven’t quite gotten yet a win in Detroit. It would be a big deal for us to achieve that this year, so let’s see if we can make it happen.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’ve really enjoyed racing in Detroit the last couple of years with Corvette and Pratt Miller. To me, it’s an enjoyable track with a lot of challenges… bumpy, low-speed corners and the long straight where you really be brave on the brakes for an overtake. Our Corvette has been fast there, and last year’s finish was a big momentum push for us in the championship. I’d love to be able to have a similar result this year in front of so many GM guests and the Corvette fans.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The Detroit street race is a unique one. It’s the one street event that we get to race at in GTD PRO. You don’t know what to expect a lot of times going into it because so much can happen with the concrete walls all around you and just the nature of street tracks in general. But everyone at Corvette Racing and Pratt Miller realize that this is one of the most important races we’ll do this year. It’s in the backyard of Chevrolet and the team, so there will be a lot of support for both our Corvettes. Things haven’t worked out too well for our car at Detroit the last two years but we come in with a lot of momentum and the championship lead. We’re going to keep the same mindset as we have so far this season and hopefully that nets us a podium finish or better.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is an important race for everyone on the team. It’s an exciting one for all of us, too, as we know there will be a ton of employes, family and friends from GM and the Pratt Miller team. So we will do our best to perform and execute well for them, and hopefully that leads to a win for one of our Corvettes. Obviously I hope it is Tommy and me! The first three races have gone quite well. We have been able to minimize mistakes and take advantage of opportunities that present themselves. So let’s see what happens. It’s true that this is a very short, rough track where there aren’t a lot of places to pass. But we have seen the last two years that a lot can happen. As long as you can hang around to the end, you have a chance. That is our goal.”

IN HIS OWN WORDS: Jim Campbell Ahead of DetroitThis weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and Detroit Sports Car Classic is a showcase for GM Motorsports – and especially for Corvette Racing. The presence of Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and activities surrounding the Grand Prix will highlight what makes the Corvette line so important to Chevrolet, says Jim Campbell, Jim Campbell, Vice President, Performance and Motorsports Commercial Operations, General Motors:

Corvettes race at a wide variety of venues in IMSA. From your perspective, how important is it for people to see Corvette competing on-track at Detroit?“This is a significant part of why we race. Corvette is America’s sports car. We also consider it a great example of technology transfer and performance in the Chevrolet portfolio. We gain valuable information every time one of our Corvettes is on the racetrack. At the same time, it is definitely a point of pride for everyone within Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and General Motors to see and hear the Corvettes go around this track in our hometown and in front of so many people that support Corvette Racing and cheer us on. It’s very special.” The relationship between production and motorsports is a hallmark of Corvette Racing. How does Chevrolet tell that story on a weekend like Detroit?“There is no better way to illustrate the racetrack-to-showroom relevance of Corvette than by racing in championships like IMSA and at a high-visibility event like the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. The two Corvettes from Pratt Miller Motorsports are instantly recognizable both by sight and sound. Visually, there is no mistaking the design of the mid-engine Corvette. The sound of the 5.5-liter, production-derived, flat-plane V8 engine is just as recognizable. We are proud to race what we sell across all of our competition groups within Chevrolet, and that obviously includes Corvette.” Are there other avenues off-track where that story is evident?“The relationship between Corvette Racing and Corvette fans is extremely important. That’s why we are so proud of the Corvette Corrals that we host at many IMSA tracks. They give our race teams and our production team members the opportunity to directly interface with our Corvette owners through meet-and-greets, Q&As and hospitality. A special aspect of this Corvette Corral is that it is on top of the Beaubien Garage and overlooks the pitlane and the start/finish line. It’s a fantastic view and one we are proud to provide our Corral guests. In addition, our Chevrolet Motorsports display at Spirit Plaza is a place where fans can learn more about our cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks.” There are hundreds of GM employees who work in the Detroit area and touch the Corvette program. How special is it to give them the opportunity to get up close and see some of the results of their work on a weekend where this might be the only time each year they get to see the Corvette race cars up close?“To me, this is one of the most satisfying parts of seeing the Corvette Racing program compete at Detroit. Across our group, we have seen first-hand the wide-eyed looks of first-time race attendees from our company who are involved on the Corvette program in a number of behind-the-scenes areas. Whether they are involved in a design, engineering or commercial capacity, the pride and excitement that we see when they look inside the Corvette Z06 GT3.R or watch it fly by on the racetrack is instant. We’re proud of their contributions to the ‘One Team’ approach that has been a hallmark of Corvette Racing for more than two decades.”

2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points GTD PRO Drivers Standings1. Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 9712. Connor De Phillippi/Neil Verhagen – 9203. Harry King/Nick Tandy – 9084. Christopher Mies/Frederic Vervisch – 8975. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia – 827 GTD PRO Teams Standings1. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 9712. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 9203. No. 77 AO Racing – 9084. No. 65 Ford Racing – 8975. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 827 GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings1. Chevrolet – 10272. Porsche – 10113. BMW – 9864. Ford – 9605. Lamborghini – 853 CORVETTE RACING BY THE NUMBERS: Detroit• 1: As in one manufacturer and one model of car for the 28th consecutive year in sports car racing: Chevrolet and the Corvette• 2: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Detroit – Corvette C6.R (2007-08) and Corvette C8.R/Z06 GT3.R (2020-present)• 3: Wins in Detroit for Corvette Racing in five starts – 2007 and 2008 in GT1, and 2021 in GTLM (although it was a non-points event)• 8: Victories at Detroit for Chevrolet in IMSA competition. In addition to three wins for Corvette Racing, Corvette Daytona Prototypes won overall each year on Belle Isle from 2012-2016• 15: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 17: Wins in 2025 for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R across six different series including one each for AWA (Rolex 24) and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (VIR)• 33: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Indianapolis, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 40: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Tom Van Rompuy at Fuji in September for TF Sport• 73: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year• 84: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. TF Sport’s Peter Dempsey joined the list at Imola in the WEC season-opener• 154: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 118 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, five in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia and GT America and two in the European Le Mans Series• 376: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999• 492,332.29: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. The program should surpass the half-million mile mark at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans Corvette Racing at Detroit (wins in bold)2007 (Belle Isle) – No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Olivier Beretta – 2nd in GT1 2008 (Belle Isle) – No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Olivier Beretta – 1st in GT1 2021 (Belle Isle unofficial race) – No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1st in GTLM 2024 – No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims – 10th in GTD PRO (Garcia pole)No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 9th in GTD PRO (Milner fastest race lap) 2025 – No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims – 2nd in GTD PRO (Sims fastest race lap)No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 6th in GTD PRO

CORVETTE RACING AT DETROIT: The Hometown Team!GTD PRO Corvettes hope to increase championship lead in Motor City DETROIT (May 25, 2026) – The Motor City’s hometown team is back in downtown Detroit this weekend armed with championship points leads.

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and Chevrolet are set for Saturday’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic – the annual 100-minute sprint race that will see the team’s two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs race around Detroit’s Renaissance Center for the third straight year. The yellow No. 3 and No. 4 Pratt Miller Corvettes are part of a 10-car entry in GTD PRO for the fifth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The squad is aiming for its first victory around the downtown street circuit and improve on last year’s second-place finish.

Corvette Racing Media Resources Documents | Statistics | Photos | Factory Driver Bios | Chevrolet Newsroom

Tommy Milner, the fastest GTD PRO driver in last year’s race, and Nicky Catsburg – teammates in the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R – lead the GTD PRO Drivers Championship on the strength of two consecutive podium finishes, including a runner-up finish earlier this month at Laguna Seca. The pairing also hasn’t finished lower than fourth in any race this year and lead Chevrolet’s charge to the top of the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship standings. In the No. 3 Corvette, Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims are hoping that another strong showing Detroit will elevate them in the points standings. Last year’s GTD PRO champions were class runners-up a year ago at the Renaissance Center as Sims set the fastest race lap; Garcia also was the pole-winner two years ago. This is the third appearance for the Corvette/Pratt Miller squad and the rest of the GTP and GTD PRO cars at the downtown Detroit circuit, which runs around the Renaissance Center and is the shortest on the calendar at nine turns and 1.654 miles around. The program previously scored three victories at the Belle Isle circuit. The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 30. It will air live on NBC at 4 p.m. ET with streaming coverage on Peacock in the U.S., and IMSA’s YouTube channel internationally. IMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions at IMSA.com along XM 206, SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R PRE-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is a short race but an important for everyone on the team. There will be a lot of people both from Team Chevy and also from Pratt Miller at the track. It’s nice to give the people who maybe don’t come to these races but still work on our cars a close look at the Corvettes they help design or build. Hopefully we can have a good result for them. I feel like Alex and I have been fast there in the past even though we haven’t quite gotten yet a win in Detroit. It would be a big deal for us to achieve that this year, so let’s see if we can make it happen.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’ve really enjoyed racing in Detroit the last couple of years with Corvette and Pratt Miller. To me, it’s an enjoyable track with a lot of challenges… bumpy, low-speed corners and the long straight where you really be brave on the brakes for an overtake. Our Corvette has been fast there, and last year’s finish was a big momentum push for us in the championship. I’d love to be able to have a similar result this year in front of so many GM guests and the Corvette fans.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The Detroit street race is a unique one. It’s the one street event that we get to race at in GTD PRO. You don’t know what to expect a lot of times going into it because so much can happen with the concrete walls all around you and just the nature of street tracks in general. But everyone at Corvette Racing and Pratt Miller realize that this is one of the most important races we’ll do this year. It’s in the backyard of Chevrolet and the team, so there will be a lot of support for both our Corvettes. Things haven’t worked out too well for our car at Detroit the last two years but we come in with a lot of momentum and the championship lead. We’re going to keep the same mindset as we have so far this season and hopefully that nets us a podium finish or better.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is an important race for everyone on the team. It’s an exciting one for all of us, too, as we know there will be a ton of employes, family and friends from GM and the Pratt Miller team. So we will do our best to perform and execute well for them, and hopefully that leads to a win for one of our Corvettes. Obviously I hope it is Tommy and me! The first three races have gone quite well. We have been able to minimize mistakes and take advantage of opportunities that present themselves. So let’s see what happens. It’s true that this is a very short, rough track where there aren’t a lot of places to pass. But we have seen the last two years that a lot can happen. As long as you can hang around to the end, you have a chance. That is our goal.”

IN HIS OWN WORDS: Jim Campbell Ahead of DetroitThis weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and Detroit Sports Car Classic is a showcase for GM Motorsports – and especially for Corvette Racing. The presence of Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and activities surrounding the Grand Prix will highlight what makes the Corvette line so important to Chevrolet, says Jim Campbell, Jim Campbell, Vice President, Performance and Motorsports Commercial Operations, General Motors:

Corvettes race at a wide variety of venues in IMSA. From your perspective, how important is it for people to see Corvette competing on-track at Detroit?“This is a significant part of why we race. Corvette is America’s sports car. We also consider it a great example of technology transfer and performance in the Chevrolet portfolio. We gain valuable information every time one of our Corvettes is on the racetrack. At the same time, it is definitely a point of pride for everyone within Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and General Motors to see and hear the Corvettes go around this track in our hometown and in front of so many people that support Corvette Racing and cheer us on. It’s very special.” The relationship between production and motorsports is a hallmark of Corvette Racing. How does Chevrolet tell that story on a weekend like Detroit?“There is no better way to illustrate the racetrack-to-showroom relevance of Corvette than by racing in championships like IMSA and at a high-visibility event like the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. The two Corvettes from Pratt Miller Motorsports are instantly recognizable both by sight and sound. Visually, there is no mistaking the design of the mid-engine Corvette. The sound of the 5.5-liter, production-derived, flat-plane V8 engine is just as recognizable. We are proud to race what we sell across all of our competition groups within Chevrolet, and that obviously includes Corvette.” Are there other avenues off-track where that story is evident?“The relationship between Corvette Racing and Corvette fans is extremely important. That’s why we are so proud of the Corvette Corrals that we host at many IMSA tracks. They give our race teams and our production team members the opportunity to directly interface with our Corvette owners through meet-and-greets, Q&As and hospitality. A special aspect of this Corvette Corral is that it is on top of the Beaubien Garage and overlooks the pitlane and the start/finish line. It’s a fantastic view and one we are proud to provide our Corral guests. In addition, our Chevrolet Motorsports display at Spirit Plaza is a place where fans can learn more about our cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks.” There are hundreds of GM employees who work in the Detroit area and touch the Corvette program. How special is it to give them the opportunity to get up close and see some of the results of their work on a weekend where this might be the only time each year they get to see the Corvette race cars up close?“To me, this is one of the most satisfying parts of seeing the Corvette Racing program compete at Detroit. Across our group, we have seen first-hand the wide-eyed looks of first-time race attendees from our company who are involved on the Corvette program in a number of behind-the-scenes areas. Whether they are involved in a design, engineering or commercial capacity, the pride and excitement that we see when they look inside the Corvette Z06 GT3.R or watch it fly by on the racetrack is instant. We’re proud of their contributions to the ‘One Team’ approach that has been a hallmark of Corvette Racing for more than two decades.”

2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points GTD PRO Drivers Standings1. Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 9712. Connor De Phillippi/Neil Verhagen – 9203. Harry King/Nick Tandy – 9084. Christopher Mies/Frederic Vervisch – 8975. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia – 827 GTD PRO Teams Standings1. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 9712. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 9203. No. 77 AO Racing – 9084. No. 65 Ford Racing – 8975. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 827 GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings1. Chevrolet – 10272. Porsche – 10113. BMW – 9864. Ford – 9605. Lamborghini – 853 CORVETTE RACING BY THE NUMBERS: Detroit• 1: As in one manufacturer and one model of car for the 28th consecutive year in sports car racing: Chevrolet and the Corvette• 2: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Detroit – Corvette C6.R (2007-08) and Corvette C8.R/Z06 GT3.R (2020-present)• 3: Wins in Detroit for Corvette Racing in five starts – 2007 and 2008 in GT1, and 2021 in GTLM (although it was a non-points event)• 8: Victories at Detroit for Chevrolet in IMSA competition. In addition to three wins for Corvette Racing, Corvette Daytona Prototypes won overall each year on Belle Isle from 2012-2016• 15: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 17: Wins in 2025 for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R across six different series including one each for AWA (Rolex 24) and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (VIR)• 33: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Indianapolis, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 40: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Tom Van Rompuy at Fuji in September for TF Sport• 73: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year• 84: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. TF Sport’s Peter Dempsey joined the list at Imola in the WEC season-opener• 154: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 118 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, five in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia and GT America and two in the European Le Mans Series• 376: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999• 492,332.29: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. The program should surpass the half-million mile mark at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans Corvette Racing at Detroit (wins in bold)2007 (Belle Isle) – No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Olivier Beretta – 2nd in GT1 2008 (Belle Isle) – No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Olivier Beretta – 1st in GT1 2021 (Belle Isle unofficial race) – No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1st in GTLM 2024 – No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims – 10th in GTD PRO (Garcia pole)No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 9th in GTD PRO (Milner fastest race lap) 2025 – No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims – 2nd in GTD PRO (Sims fastest race lap)No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 6th in GTD PRO

Pierce Wins Third Career Show-Me 100 After Starting 20th

WHEATLAND, MO (May 24, 2026) – Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Illinois charged from the 20th starting position to capture the 34th Annual Show-Me 100 presented by Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging on Sunday night at Lucas Oil Speedway. Pierce took the lead on lap 61 and led the remainder of the 100-lap feature to earn $75,000 and secure his second consecutive Show-Me 100 victory. The win marked Pierce’s first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph of the 2026 season and his third career victory in the prestigious Crown Jewel event. Brandon Sheppard advanced from sixth to finish second, while Jonathan Davenport—who led a race-high 54 laps—rounded out the Big River Steel podium in third. Garrett Alberson finished fourth, and current Series points leader Hudson O’Neal completed the top five. Davenport and Josh Rice started on the front row after winning Friday night’s Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson and Cowboy Classic features, respectively. Davenport led the opening 17 laps before Rice surged to the front and paced the field for six circuits. Davenport reclaimed the lead on lap 24 and appeared in control until lap 61, when he pushed high exiting turn two, allowing both Pierce and Sheppard to drive past. Pierce then pulled away to win by 1.296 seconds over Sheppard. With the victory, Pierce became the first driver to win back-to-back Show-Me 100s since Jimmy Owens accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2013. The win was the 30th Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of Pierce’s career, tying him with Billy Moyer and Wendell Wallace as three-time winners of the event, which began in 1993. “We were off during the preliminary nights again this year, and honestly I didn’t think we had a shot to win like we did last year,” Pierce said in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. “The rain changed everything, and the track crew gave us a completely different racetrack. You never run the same setup here—it keeps you guessing.” “The racetrack had a lot of character tonight, and luckily it suited us. My guys worked their butts off all weekend. Every time we came into the pits, we changed something. Saying we threw the kitchen sink at it is probably an understatement.” Sheppard was attempting to improve on his previous best Show-Me 100 finish of second, which came in 2021. “I think we had a little different tire combination than Bobby,” Sheppard said. “I felt like I couldn’t run many laps around the top before it started to go away, so I was trying to really hit the bottom in turns three and four and slowly creep toward him. I probably didn’t move around enough, but I was trying to take care of my tires. A lot of guys on the same tire strategy faded late.” Davenport’s race-leading effort ended after contact with the rough surface affected his car during the closing laps. “I don’t know if we bent something or what, but we started bottoming out really bad,” Davenport said. “I was trying to find the smoothest part of the racetrack. The track crew actually did a really good job because there were multiple grooves at the end. Me, Sheppard, and Pierce were all trying different things. I just couldn’t slow down and launch off the bottom like some of those guys could.” Pierce’s winning Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and backed by Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, Carnaghi Towing, Leka Tree Service, Fort Knox Safes & Vaults, and First Farmers Bank & Trust. Completing the top ten were Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Overton, Clay Harris, Chris Ferguson, and Carson Ferguson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 34th Annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 presented by Ace Doran Hauling & RiggingSunday, May 24, 2026Lucas Oil Speedway | Wheatland, MO Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 2. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[1]; 3. 19M-Brenden Smith[6]; 4. 11G-Gordy Gundaker[3]; 5. 8L-Matthew Larson[7]; 6. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 7. 128-Kylan Garner[10]; 8. 1/4J-Jaxon Ertel[9]; 9. 8K-Tyler Kuykendall[13]; 10. 12-Scott Crigler[11]; 11. 96-RC Whitwell[12]; 12. 25B-Chevy Boyer[8]; 13. 66-Eli Ross[5]; 14. 96X-Dalton Imhoff[14] UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (15 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[1]; 2. 56-Tony Jackson Jr[2]; 3. 15-Clay Stuckey[5]; 4. 5S-Kolby Vandenbergh[6]; 5. 90-Brian Rickman[11]; 6. 3W-Brennon Willard[7]; 7. 11H-Jeff Herzog[4]; 8. 0X-Jason Sivils[13]; 9. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[9]; 10. 7J-Ryan Johnson[8]; 11. 18-Shannon Parker[10]; 12. 78S-Steve Stultz[14]; 13. 4X-Dalon Helm[12]; 14. (DNS) 37W-Frank Waszkiewicz; 15. (DNS) 1X-Aaron Marrant Midwest Sheet Metal Show-Me Challenge Non-Qualifier Finish (20 Laps): 1. 5S-Kolby Vandenbergh[1]; 2. 90-Brian Rickman[3]; 3. 128-Kylan Garner[5]; 4. 8K-Tyler Kuykendall[9]; 5. 8L-Matthew Larson[2]; 6. 25B-Chevy Boyer[15]; 7. 7J-Ryan Johnson[12]; 8. 78S-Steve Stultz[16]; 9. 96X-Dalton Imhoff[19]; 10. 96-RC Whitwell[13]; 11. 3W-Brennon Willard[4]; 12. 12-Scott Crigler[11]; 13. 0X-Jason Sivils[8]; 14. 11H-Jeff Herzog[6]; 15. 1/4J-Jaxon Ertel[7]; 16. (DNS) 24C-Brandon Conkwright; 17. (DNS) 18-Shannon Parker; 18. (DNS) 66-Eli Ross; 19. (DNS) 4X-Dalon Helm 34th Annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 presented by Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging |Feature Finish (100 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 20 – 32 – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – $75,0002 – 6 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $27,4003 – 1 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $10,5004 – 9 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $10,9005 – 5 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $11,9006 – 19 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $9,8007 – 16 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $7,4008 – 4 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $7,4009 – 3 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $4,50010 – 13 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $5,40011 – 7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $5,70012 – 8 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $5,20013 – 11 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $5,50014 – 2 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $5,40015 – 18 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $6,20016 – 26 – 11G – Gordy Gundaker – St. Charles, MO – $3,30017 – 17 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $4,60018 – 10 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $5,00019 – 15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $4,40020 – 24 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $2,90021 – 14 – 93O – Mason Oberkramer – Broseley, MO – $2,80022 – 22 – 56 – Tony Jackson Jr – Lebanon, MO – $2,70023 – 25 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $2,60024 – 21 – 11T – Trevor Gundaker – St. Charles, MO – $2,50025 – 12 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS – $2,50026 – 23 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $2,50027 – 27 – 5S – Kolby Vandenbergh – Ashland, IL – $2,500 Race Statistics  Entrants: 52Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Jonathan DavenportMD3 Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1-17); Josh Rice (Laps 18-23); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 24-60); Bobby Pierce (Laps 61-100Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jonathan DavenportWieland Feature Winner: Bobby PierceMargin of Victory: 1.297 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Dan Ebert (Lap 40); Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 45); Clay Stuckey, Mason Oberkramer (Lap 59); Debris (Lap 83); Debris (Lap 83)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Cory LawlerFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aShow-Me 100 Highest Point Provisional: Gordy GundakerBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan DavenportPenske Shocks Top 5: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Alberson, Hudson O’NealBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan DavenportPEM 4th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Clay HarrisWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Kyle BronsonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Devin MoranHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Bobby Pierce (Advanced 19 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (54 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Dillon McCowanPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport | Lap 1 | 15.738 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Gordy GundakerVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Bobby PierceOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Bob PierceARP Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Tony Jackson, Jr. | 15.814 secondsTime of Race: 47 minutes 26 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 3560 – $164,7002 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 3410 – $140,9003 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 3310 – $164,7244 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 3265 – $76,1755 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 3170 – $101,0756 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 3140 – $68,0507 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2970 – $64,1758 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 2960 – $54,6509 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 2910 – $56,77510 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 2840 – $45,97511 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 2790 – $58,65012 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 2730 – $45,40013 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 2635 – $43,10014 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 2490 – $32,40015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 2370 – $31,27516 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 2245 – $27,52517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 2110 – $18,725

Event: Coca-Cola 600Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North CarolinaDate: Sunday, May 24, 2026Start: 34thFinish: 29thJosh Berry and the No. 21 eero Ford Mustang Dark Horse battled through a challenging night Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, getting caught up in a late-race accident that left the team with a 29th-place finish in the rain-shortened race.After rain washed out qualifying and set the starting lineup by the rulebook, Berry rolled off 34th but quickly showed improved speed during Saturday’s practice session by posting top-10 times on the speed charts.Early in Sunday’s race, Berry brought out the event’s first caution flag with a spin on Lap 35, but the No. 21 team rebounded well from the setback. Berry methodically worked his way forward through the opening 100-lap segment and finished Stage 1 in 17th place.With the eero team electing to pit prior to the conclusion of Stage 1, Berry inherited the 15th position for the start of Stage 2 and immediately climbed into the top 10. He remained a fixture inside the top 15 throughout much of the segment before taking the green-and-white checkered flag in 12th place.Berry continued to battle inside the top 15 during Stage 3 as the No. 21 team utilized strategy during a round of green-flag pit stops to maintain track position and stay on the lead lap heading into the final 100-lap run.As threatening weather closed in around the speedway and the intensity increased late in the event, Berry was collected in a multi-car accident on Lap 329. The Wood Brothers Racing crew completed repairs and returned the No. 21 Ford to the track multiple laps down before Berry ultimately crossed the finish line in 29th place after the race was called due to rain at Lap 373.Throughout the Memorial Day weekend event, Berry carried the name of U.S. Army medic John Calvin Morgan on the windshield of the No. 21 Ford as part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program. Morgan was killed during fighting on Leyte Island in World War II and was honored alongside fallen service members throughout the Coca-Cola 600 weekend.Berry and the No. 21 team will now turn their attention to next weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, which also serves as Berry’s home track.

NASCAR Cup SeriesCharlotte Motor SpeedwayCoca-Cola 600Team Chevy Post-Race ReportMay 24, 2026

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

·        In the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, Daniel Suarez capitalized on a clutch late-race two-tire pit strategy to earn his first crown jewel victory in NASCAR’s premier series. The victory marks Chevrolet’s second-straight, and 27th all-time, triumph in the crown jewel event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  ·        The Monterrey, Mexico, native drove Chevrolet to its fourth-consecutive trip to victory lane in NASCAR’s premier series, setting the season record for the longest points-paying win streak by a single manufacturer with 13 races complete.  RACE RECAP:  Stage One: With inclement weather altering Saturday’s on-track schedule, the lineup for the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 was set by the rulebook, putting Shane van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell on the second row to lead Team Chevy to the green flag. The first green flag run saw the majority of the lead pack settle into their starting positions, quickly approaching lap traffic when the first caution of the day flew at Lap 34. Maintaining a top-10 position for the opening run, the 2017 Coca-Cola winner, Austin Dillon, gave an initial report that he was overall happy with the handling of his No. 3 Chevrolet, resulting in a call for just four tires and fuel under the caution by crew chief Richard Boswell.  Kyle Larson turned an 18th-place starting spot into a climb to 11th when the caution flag flew, and with a three-position gain in the race off pit road by the No. 5 pit crew, Larson made his first appearance in the top-10 of the day when the reigning champion inherited the eighth position for the restart. While the next green flag run was short, another trip to pit road saw a mix bag of strategy among the leaders. Electing for another set of four fresh Goodyear tires by crew chief Cliff Daniels, Larson was able to continue his progressive climb through the field with a steady position in the top-five. Yet another caution flew with less than 10 laps to go in the stage, setting up the opportunity to employ a new pit strategy. With a call for four tires and fuel from atop the No. 5 box, Larson took advantage of the fresh rubber on the restart to make a powerhouse move towards the front and enter into the battle for the lead with Denny Hamlin, ultimately going on to lead Team Chevy to the stage win. Stage Two: Electing to stay out during the first stage break, Larson kept his position at the top of the leaderboard to lead the field to the green flag for Stage Two. A long green flag run opened the next 100-lap segment with Larson continuing to be a fixture in the top-five. The first green flag pit cycle of the race was on the horizon near the midway point of the stage. Larson was among the first group of cars to get the call to hit pit road, and once the cycle was completed, the team found themselves back up in the fourth position. Going caution-free for the second-half of the stage, tire wear began to affect the handling of Larson’s Chevrolet, but he was able to hang on to earn fifth-place points in Stage Two. Stage Three: Larson’s average running position in the top-five continued throughout Stage Three, only falling out of the lead pack for a brief single-digit lap count during the green flag pit cycle. Also driving to points-earning efforts in both of the first-two stages, Van Gisbergen and Stenhouse Jr. kept their cars in position to give three Chevrolet organizations representation in the top-10 throughout Stage Three. Larson went on to lead Chevrolet to the green-white checkered flag, becoming one of three drivers to earn top-five points in each of the first-three stages. Final Stage: After a trip down pit road during the final stage break, the No. 5 pit crew kept their driver in the fifth position to take the green flag to mark 88 laps to go in the race. But a short green flag run saw varying pit strategies among the leaders, with Van Gisbergen being one of the two drivers that opted to stay out for track position and a position on the front row for the restart. A masterful restart for the Auckland, New Zealand, native saw the No. 97 Chevrolet take the top position on Lap 328 to lead their first laps of the race. But it was a clutch two-tire call by crew chief Ryan Sparks that gave Daniel Suarez a front-row position for a pair of late-race restarts. Sitting in the top position when rain took over the 1.5-mile oval, Suarez went on to capture his first career Coca-Cola 600 victory.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos.     Driver 1st – Daniel Suarez5th – Kyle Larson9th – William ByronChevrolet’s season statistics with 13 NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 5Poles: 3Top-Fives: 24Top 10s: 47Stage Wins: 11

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Nashville Superspeedway with the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday, May 31, at 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on Amazon Prime, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Post-Race Driver Quotes: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in the final stage. Finished: 35th “I’m not really sure what happened. We were on the straightaway and the last I saw in my camera was that the No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) had a run. He went to go to the inside of me and hit me in the back bumper. It turned me right into the wall and then I hit the ROVAL chicane wall, which is the worst thing you could hit. Just an unfortunate way to end the night in our Jockey Chevrolet.”   Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 5th“The No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team did a great job tonight. I thought we made the most out of it. We got a stage win there early. Other than that, I thought we had the fifth- or sixth-best car behind the Gibbs cars. I thought the No. 45 (Tyler Reddick) and I were pretty equal, but better at different points of the run. My pit crew did a really good job all night. They were extremely solid. I thought everything was going as good as it could. The restarts could have played out a little differently there at the end. I don’t really know what I could have done differently. Overall, just happy for this entire No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team. It’s cool to get Chevrolet a win today. We’ll keep trying to build on this. Daniel (Suarez, race winner) earned that win. He had to hold off some extremely good cars behind him. Super happy for Daniel, Jeff Dickerson and everyone at Spire Motorsports. It was really cool and definitely meant to be. It was super special.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 1stWhat a call by Ryan Sparks, but you’ve got to give the driver a lot of credit on those several restarts. I know you said on our pre-race show, you’ve thought about it since Thursday, how badly did you want this one for Kyle Busch?“It really means a lot. I’ve been saying for years this is my favorite race of the year. I get to have my family here every year. It’s been a very tough week. Kyle (Busch), he was special, man. This one is for Kyle, Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, all his family. This win is for him. If it wasn’t for Kyle, I wasn’t going to be an Xfinity champion. I wasn’t going to have my shot in the Cup Series. To win this race for him is unbelievable.” You mentioned your championship. In some ways, is this win more meaningful than that?“Every win is special, but it’s been a second, right? To win for Spire Motorsports, with Freeway Insurance on the car, it’s just unbelievable. The team did an amazing job. It wasn’t easy. We had a lot of issues throughout the race. They put us in contention, and we executed well. I want to thank all of our partners; Chevrolet, the Hendrick Engine Shop, there’s so many people that makes this program as successful as it is.”   Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in Stage One. Finished: 37th “I just made a mistake, spun out and hit the wall, unfortunately. I hate it. It’s been a terrible race, I feel like, throughout the course of my career, just crashed a bunch. Just a lot of race left. I was trying to find something. We were bleeding pretty bad, and I moved up to the top there, trying to click off some faster laps and, yeah, I made a mistake, stepped over the line and paid the price.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletFinished: 18th “I felt like we got pretty much everything we could out of the No. 16 Black’s Tire Chevrolet. We really struggled on restarts. The dirty air was really bad. I thought our clean air pace was decent, but we would lose so much on the restarts no matter what lane I would choose. It was just a struggle. We got the free pass there that probably saved our race. We just need more speed in our racecars. I’m proud of everyone on this team. We’re trying, but it’s just hard. I thought we maximized the day. I thought we would be maybe one or two spots better, but we weren’t much better than that.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 14th“It’s amazing to see my teammate, Daniel Suarez, get the win. It was a great call there by Ryan Sparks (crew chief for the No. 7 team) to take two-tires and get track position. Just really happy for everyone at Spire Motorsports. That’s two wins this year for the organization. The No. 71 Modo Casino Chevrolet team had a good run today, too. We lost a few spots on that last restart, but I felt really good about our speed tonight.”    Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in Stage One. Finished: 39th “I saw the No. 2 (Austin Cindric) spinning quite aways in front of me. As soon as I hit the apron, I was just going too fast to really be able to maneuver the car. I got loose and ended up getting clipped in the right-rear. It’s really unfortunate for our No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet team. I felt like we made a good adjustment on that last pit stop. We just have to keep our heads down and it’ll turn around.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 11th“It’s hard. I had an amazing day, but I’m pissed. We were a top-five or six car, but we just didn’t execute at the end. It was really cool to run up front all day. We were gifted a good starting position with qualifying getting canceled. It was a good call by Stephen (Doran, crew chief) to stay out there. It was awesome to be able to lead some laps.” You said you had some balance issues early in the race, but you were ripping the fence like you’ve been doing it for decades. How was that experience for you? “I was just a little bit tight. When the track was fresh after every restart, I couldn’t find good speed in dirty air. But when it migrated to the top, my No. 97 SuperFile Chevrolet came alive. My late-run speed was really good because I started tight. Some restarts were good, and others, I was putting myself in bad spots. But overall, it was a lot of fun.”

NASCAR Cup SeriesCharlotte Motor SpeedwayCoca-Cola 600Team Chevy Post-Race ReportMay 24, 2026

Suarez, Chevrolet Earns the Victory in the 67th Running of the Coca-Cola 600

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

·        In the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, Daniel Suarez capitalized on a clutch late-race two-tire pit strategy to earn his first crown jewel victory in NASCAR’s premier series. The victory marks Chevrolet’s second-straight, and 27th all-time, triumph in the crown jewel event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  ·        The Monterrey, Mexico, native drove Chevrolet to its fourth-consecutive trip to victory lane in NASCAR’s premier series, setting the season record for the longest points-paying win streak by a single manufacturer with 13 races complete.  RACE RECAP:  Stage One: With inclement weather altering Saturday’s on-track schedule, the lineup for the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 was set by the rulebook, putting Shane van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell on the second row to lead Team Chevy to the green flag. The first green flag run saw the majority of the lead pack settle into their starting positions, quickly approaching lap traffic when the first caution of the day flew at Lap 34. Maintaining a top-10 position for the opening run, the 2017 Coca-Cola winner, Austin Dillon, gave an initial report that he was overall happy with the handling of his No. 3 Chevrolet, resulting in a call for just four tires and fuel under the caution by crew chief Richard Boswell.  Kyle Larson turned an 18th-place starting spot into a climb to 11th when the caution flag flew, and with a three-position gain in the race off pit road by the No. 5 pit crew, Larson made his first appearance in the top-10 of the day when the reigning champion inherited the eighth position for the restart. While the next green flag run was short, another trip to pit road saw a mix bag of strategy among the leaders. Electing for another set of four fresh Goodyear tires by crew chief Cliff Daniels, Larson was able to continue his progressive climb through the field with a steady position in the top-five. Yet another caution flew with less than 10 laps to go in the stage, setting up the opportunity to employ a new pit strategy. With a call for four tires and fuel from atop the No. 5 box, Larson took advantage of the fresh rubber on the restart to make a powerhouse move towards the front and enter into the battle for the lead with Denny Hamlin, ultimately going on to lead Team Chevy to the stage win. Stage Two: Electing to stay out during the first stage break, Larson kept his position at the top of the leaderboard to lead the field to the green flag for Stage Two. A long green flag run opened the next 100-lap segment with Larson continuing to be a fixture in the top-five. The first green flag pit cycle of the race was on the horizon near the midway point of the stage. Larson was among the first group of cars to get the call to hit pit road, and once the cycle was completed, the team found themselves back up in the fourth position. Going caution-free for the second-half of the stage, tire wear began to affect the handling of Larson’s Chevrolet, but he was able to hang on to earn fifth-place points in Stage Two. Stage Three: Larson’s average running position in the top-five continued throughout Stage Three, only falling out of the lead pack for a brief single-digit lap count during the green flag pit cycle. Also driving to points-earning efforts in both of the first-two stages, Van Gisbergen and Stenhouse Jr. kept their cars in position to give three Chevrolet organizations representation in the top-10 throughout Stage Three. Larson went on to lead Chevrolet to the green-white checkered flag, becoming one of three drivers to earn top-five points in each of the first-three stages. Final Stage: After a trip down pit road during the final stage break, the No. 5 pit crew kept their driver in the fifth position to take the green flag to mark 88 laps to go in the race. But a short green flag run saw varying pit strategies among the leaders, with Van Gisbergen being one of the two drivers that opted to stay out for track position and a position on the front row for the restart. A masterful restart for the Auckland, New Zealand, native saw the No. 97 Chevrolet take the top position on Lap 328 to lead their first laps of the race. But it was a clutch two-tire call by crew chief Ryan Sparks that gave Daniel Suarez a front-row position for a pair of late-race restarts. Sitting in the top position when rain took over the 1.5-mile oval, Suarez went on to capture his first career Coca-Cola 600 victory.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos.     Driver 1st – Daniel Suarez5th – Kyle Larson9th – William ByronChevrolet’s season statistics with 13 NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 5Poles: 3Top-Fives: 24Top 10s: 47Stage Wins: 11

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Nashville Superspeedway with the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday, May 31, at 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on Amazon Prime, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Post-Race Driver Quotes: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in the final stage. Finished: 35th “I’m not really sure what happened. We were on the straightaway and the last I saw in my camera was that the No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) had a run. He went to go to the inside of me and hit me in the back bumper. It turned me right into the wall and then I hit the ROVAL chicane wall, which is the worst thing you could hit. Just an unfortunate way to end the night in our Jockey Chevrolet.”   Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 5th“The No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team did a great job tonight. I thought we made the most out of it. We got a stage win there early. Other than that, I thought we had the fifth- or sixth-best car behind the Gibbs cars. I thought the No. 45 (Tyler Reddick) and I were pretty equal, but better at different points of the run. My pit crew did a really good job all night. They were extremely solid. I thought everything was going as good as it could. The restarts could have played out a little differently there at the end. I don’t really know what I could have done differently. Overall, just happy for this entire No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team. It’s cool to get Chevrolet a win today. We’ll keep trying to build on this. Daniel (Suarez, race winner) earned that win. He had to hold off some extremely good cars behind him. Super happy for Daniel, Jeff Dickerson and everyone at Spire Motorsports. It was really cool and definitely meant to be. It was super special.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 1stWhat a call by Ryan Sparks, but you’ve got to give the driver a lot of credit on those several restarts. I know you said on our pre-race show, you’ve thought about it since Thursday, how badly did you want this one for Kyle Busch?“It really means a lot. I’ve been saying for years this is my favorite race of the year. I get to have my family here every year. It’s been a very tough week. Kyle (Busch), he was special, man. This one is for Kyle, Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, all his family. This win is for him. If it wasn’t for Kyle, I wasn’t going to be an Xfinity champion. I wasn’t going to have my shot in the Cup Series. To win this race for him is unbelievable.” You mentioned your championship. In some ways, is this win more meaningful than that?“Every win is special, but it’s been a second, right? To win for Spire Motorsports, with Freeway Insurance on the car, it’s just unbelievable. The team did an amazing job. It wasn’t easy. We had a lot of issues throughout the race. They put us in contention, and we executed well. I want to thank all of our partners; Chevrolet, the Hendrick Engine Shop, there’s so many people that makes this program as successful as it is.”   Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in Stage One. Finished: 37th “I just made a mistake, spun out and hit the wall, unfortunately. I hate it. It’s been a terrible race, I feel like, throughout the course of my career, just crashed a bunch. Just a lot of race left. I was trying to find something. We were bleeding pretty bad, and I moved up to the top there, trying to click off some faster laps and, yeah, I made a mistake, stepped over the line and paid the price.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletFinished: 18th “I felt like we got pretty much everything we could out of the No. 16 Black’s Tire Chevrolet. We really struggled on restarts. The dirty air was really bad. I thought our clean air pace was decent, but we would lose so much on the restarts no matter what lane I would choose. It was just a struggle. We got the free pass there that probably saved our race. We just need more speed in our racecars. I’m proud of everyone on this team. We’re trying, but it’s just hard. I thought we maximized the day. I thought we would be maybe one or two spots better, but we weren’t much better than that.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 14th“It’s amazing to see my teammate, Daniel Suarez, get the win. It was a great call there by Ryan Sparks (crew chief for the No. 7 team) to take two-tires and get track position. Just really happy for everyone at Spire Motorsports. That’s two wins this year for the organization. The No. 71 Modo Casino Chevrolet team had a good run today, too. We lost a few spots on that last restart, but I felt really good about our speed tonight.”    Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSidelined by damage sustained in an accident in Stage One. Finished: 39th “I saw the No. 2 (Austin Cindric) spinning quite aways in front of me. As soon as I hit the apron, I was just going too fast to really be able to maneuver the car. I got loose and ended up getting clipped in the right-rear. It’s really unfortunate for our No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet team. I felt like we made a good adjustment on that last pit stop. We just have to keep our heads down and it’ll turn around.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 11th“It’s hard. I had an amazing day, but I’m pissed. We were a top-five or six car, but we just didn’t execute at the end. It was really cool to run up front all day. We were gifted a good starting position with qualifying getting canceled. It was a good call by Stephen (Doran, crew chief) to stay out there. It was awesome to be able to lead some laps.” You said you had some balance issues early in the race, but you were ripping the fence like you’ve been doing it for decades. How was that experience for you? “I was just a little bit tight. When the track was fresh after every restart, I couldn’t find good speed in dirty air. But when it migrated to the top, my No. 97 SuperFile Chevrolet came alive. My late-run speed was really good because I started tight. Some restarts were good, and others, I was putting myself in bad spots. But overall, it was a lot of fun.”

The Clute, TX native nabs his sixth victory in the last eight races

KNOXVILLE, IA (May 23, 2026) – Good luck stopping Aaron Reutzel and Ridge and Sons Racing right now.

The combination entered Saturday’s Stars and Stripes Salute opener at Knoxville Raceway as one of if not the hottest team in the sport of Sprint Car racing. They’d clicked off five wins in their last seven races with finishes of fourth and second in the other two. The one thing missing from the run? A victory with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

Well, the No. 87 team made sure to change that in dominant fashion Saturday night.

The Clute, TX native started on the outside of the front row and rocketed by polesitter Donny Schatz to take control of the race. Reutzel wasted no time growing the advantage as the early portion of the 25-lapper unfolded. Lapped traffic posed little threat as Reutzel sliced his way through the slower cars while Schatz and Rico Abreu slugged it out for second. Schatz secured the spot and tried to put together a late run, but it was too little, too late as Reutzel wheeled his way to Victory Lane.

“I was hoping I could get a full car length on him so I could close the bottom,” Reutzel said of the start. “I thought for sure I had enough where I didn’t need to block him in the Dash, and typical Donny he just went blowing by me. I made sure to close the door on him that time. It was tough. Traffic was tough.”

The hot streak is now at six triumphs in the last eight races for Reutzel. With Knoxville earning him another $20,000, he’s nearly at $200,000 in earnings already in 2026. The eighth World of Outlaws victory of Reutzel’s career ties him with Jimmy Sills and Cody Darrah for 56th all-time. His win total at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” is up to 28 combining 410 and 360 Sprint Car competition.

Donny Schatz came out on top of a fierce battle with Rico Abreu to claim the runner-up spot, giving the 10-time champion four podiums in 2026 in the CJB Motorsports No. 15.

Abreu brought the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 24 home third for his fifth consecutive podium finish.

David Gravel and J.J. Hickle completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Garet Williamson earned his second Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night in the last three races.

Aaron Reutzel set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Aaron Reutzel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), David Gravel (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Sheldon Haudenschild (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Austin McCarl (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Donny Schatz.

Schatz also topped the Toyota Dash.

Justin Henderson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Carson Macedo marched from 22nd to ninth 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.

Aaron Reutzel clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Spencer Bayston.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Stars and Stripes Salute with a $20,000-to-win visit to Brandon, SD’s Huset’s Speedway on Sunday, May 24. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.

Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 3. 24A-Rico Abreu[6]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 2M-JJ Hickle[4]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 7. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[12]; 9. 41-Carson Macedo[22]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[17]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[10]; 12. 71-Parker Price Miller[11]; 13. 55-Kerry Madsen[16]; 14. 11-Justin Henderson[21]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart[20]; 16. 2C-Cole Macedo[15]; 17. 10-Ryan Timms[24]; 18. 17-Spencer Bayston[13]; 19. 28-Jace Park[9]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[18]; 21. (DNF) 27C-Carson McCarl[23]; 22. (DNF) 27-Emerson Axsom[14]; 23. (DNF) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[19]; 24. (DQ) 88-Austin McCarl[7]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ON A HEATER: Aaron Reutzel Stays Hot with Dominant Knoxville Victory

The Clute, TX native nabs his sixth victory in the last eight races

KNOXVILLE, IA (May 23, 2026) – Good luck stopping Aaron Reutzel and Ridge and Sons Racing right now.

The combination entered Saturday’s Stars and Stripes Salute opener at Knoxville Raceway as one of if not the hottest team in the sport of Sprint Car racing. They’d clicked off five wins in their last seven races with finishes of fourth and second in the other two. The one thing missing from the run? A victory with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

Well, the No. 87 team made sure to change that in dominant fashion Saturday night.

The Clute, TX native started on the outside of the front row and rocketed by polesitter Donny Schatz to take control of the race. Reutzel wasted no time growing the advantage as the early portion of the 25-lapper unfolded. Lapped traffic posed little threat as Reutzel sliced his way through the slower cars while Schatz and Rico Abreu slugged it out for second. Schatz secured the spot and tried to put together a late run, but it was too little, too late as Reutzel wheeled his way to Victory Lane.

“I was hoping I could get a full car length on him so I could close the bottom,” Reutzel said of the start. “I thought for sure I had enough where I didn’t need to block him in the Dash, and typical Donny he just went blowing by me. I made sure to close the door on him that time. It was tough. Traffic was tough.”

The hot streak is now at six triumphs in the last eight races for Reutzel. With Knoxville earning him another $20,000, he’s nearly at $200,000 in earnings already in 2026. The eighth World of Outlaws victory of Reutzel’s career ties him with Jimmy Sills and Cody Darrah for 56th all-time. His win total at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” is up to 28 combining 410 and 360 Sprint Car competition.

Donny Schatz came out on top of a fierce battle with Rico Abreu to claim the runner-up spot, giving the 10-time champion four podiums in 2026 in the CJB Motorsports No. 15.

Abreu brought the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 24 home third for his fifth consecutive podium finish.

David Gravel and J.J. Hickle completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Garet Williamson earned his second Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night in the last three races.

Aaron Reutzel set Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Aaron Reutzel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), David Gravel (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Two), Sheldon Haudenschild (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Austin McCarl (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Donny Schatz.

Schatz also topped the Toyota Dash.

Justin Henderson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Carson Macedo marched from 22nd to ninth 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.

Aaron Reutzel clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Spencer Bayston.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Stars and Stripes Salute with a $20,000-to-win visit to Brandon, SD’s Huset’s Speedway on Sunday, May 24. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.

Where can you see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 3. 24A-Rico Abreu[6]; 4. 2-David Gravel[5]; 5. 2M-JJ Hickle[4]; 6. 23-Garet Williamson[3]; 7. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[12]; 9. 41-Carson Macedo[22]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[17]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[10]; 12. 71-Parker Price Miller[11]; 13. 55-Kerry Madsen[16]; 14. 11-Justin Henderson[21]; 15. 1S-Logan Schuchart[20]; 16. 2C-Cole Macedo[15]; 17. 10-Ryan Timms[24]; 18. 17-Spencer Bayston[13]; 19. 28-Jace Park[9]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[18]; 21. (DNF) 27C-Carson McCarl[23]; 22. (DNF) 27-Emerson Axsom[14]; 23. (DNF) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[19]; 24. (DQ) 88-Austin McCarl[7]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/on-a-heater-aaron-reutzel-stays-hot-with-dominant-knoxville-victory/