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| OCALA, FL (February 26, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal passed race-long leader Kyle Bronson on lap 14 and never looked back, capturing Thursday night’s Wieland Winter Nationals feature for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing at Ocala Speedway. O’Neal, who started ninth, earned $10,000 for his second career victory at Ocala. Devin Moran finished second, followed by Bronson, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Tim McCreadie. Despite a late-race caution with three laps remaining, O’Neal maintained control and crossed the finish line 0.924 seconds ahead of Moran. The win marked O’Neal’s 36th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory and his sixth overall triumph of the season – a total that leads the nation. With the win, he also takes over the series points lead heading into Friday night’s $12,000-to-win main event. “It got latched up pretty early, and I was a little nervous,” said the Martinsville, Indiana native. “I was trying to use the right front and not the right rear, keeping the right rear underneath me. I wanted to make sure I didn’t have a flat, especially as hard as I was going to have to run after that last caution to get away from them. It’s pretty awesome to get one here in the middle of the week. Hopefully, this is what’s to come for the rest of the week. “It’s been a really good year so far, and I am very blessed in that aspect of life.” Moran, the defending series champion, came home second after starting seventh. “I was just holding on. I didn’t have much tire left,” Moran said. “Like I said last night, it doesn’t matter what the track conditions are here at Ocala — I love coming here. In three nights, I’ve got three podiums. We just need to work on our early program again. We were good early in the week, but we kind of made the wrong calls the last night or two. We’ll get back to our notebook and figure out what we can do the rest of the week.” Bronson, who led the opening 13 laps, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium despite battling handling issues. “It’s definitely good to run well. We had a really good race car, but the bumper got knocked off on the left front when I hit the wall on the first lap,” Bronson said. “I think me and JD got tight there — maybe he clipped the right rear quarter panel. I’ll have to watch the video. Hopefully he’s okay. I want to thank my guys for not giving up on me. It’s been a tough road here.” The winning Todd and Vickie Burns, SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding Company, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Seven Spurs Ranch, Beeman Lumber, Lucas Oil Products, Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Penske Racing Shocks. Completing the top ten were Brandon Overton, Carson Ferguson, Boom Briggs, Drake Troutman, and Dennis Erb Jr. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsThursday, February 26, 2026Ocala Speedway | Ocala, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Dallon Murty | 14.232 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport | 14.449 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[2]; 2. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[3]; 5. 79-Cory Hedgecock[6]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 7. 18-Chase Junghans[5]; 8. 9-Tim McCreadie[8]; 9. 8-Dillon McCowan[10]; 10. 81F-Jadon Frame[9]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[11] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 4. 99B-Boom Briggs[6]; 5. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 6. 77-Preston Luckman[8]; 7. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[7]; 8. 32J-Justin Weaver[10]; 9. 17SR-Brody Smith[9]; 10. 16-Tyler Bruening[3] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 58V-Daulton Wilson[2]; 3. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[3]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 5. 19M-Brenden Smith[4]; 6. 111-Max Blair[7]; 7. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[6]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[8]; 9. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 10. 15K-Cody Overton[10] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 3. 22*-Drake Troutman[3]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 5. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[8]; 7. 7-Ross Robinson[6]; 8. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 9. 55-Eli Johnson[10]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[7] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 3. 9-Tim McCreadie[7]; 4. 79-Cory Hedgecock[1]; 5. 18-Chase Junghans[5]; 6. 77-Preston Luckman[4]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[9]; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[6]; 9. 81F-Jadon Frame[11]; 10. 93L-Cory Lawler[13]; 11. 32J-Justin Weaver[8]; 12. 17SR-Brody Smith[10]; 13. (DNS) 16-Tyler Bruening UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19M-Brenden Smith[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[3]; 3. 1T-Tyler Erb[2]; 4. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[5]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[4]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[6]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[8]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 9. 55-Eli Johnson[10]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[12]; 11. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 12. 15K-Cody Overton[11] Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (40 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 9 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $10,0002 – 7 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $5,5003 – 1 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,5004 – 10 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,7005 – 21 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $2,5006 – 4 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,4007 – 17 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,2008 – 15 – 99B – Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – $2,1009 – 12 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $2,05010 – 14 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $2,00011 – 22 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $1,60012 – 13 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – $1,40013 – 24 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,20014 – 19 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $1,00015 – 20 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $95016 – 16 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $92517 – 3 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $90018 – 8 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $87519 – 23 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $85020 – 26 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $12521 – 18 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $80022 – 28 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – $10023 – 25 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $10024 – 27 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – $10025 – 6 – 58V – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $80026 – 5 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $80027 – 11 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $80028 – 2 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $900 Race Statistics Entrants: 41Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Kyle BronsonMD3 Lap Leaders: Kyle Bronson (Laps 1-13); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 14-40)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’NealWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 0.924 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Kyle Bronson, Jonathan Davenport (Initial Start); Dallon Murty, Garrett Alberson (Lap 1); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 4); Freddie Carpenter (Lap 5); Brenden Smith (Lap 37)MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Daniel Hilsabeck, Clay HarrisFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Cory Lawler, Ross Robinson, Freddie Carpenter, Cory HedgecockTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Kyle BronsonPenske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Tim McCreadieBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Kyle BronsonPEM 4th Place Feature: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Tim McCreadieWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Carson FergusonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Tyler ErbVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Clay HarrisXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Max BlairHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Tim McCreadie (Advanced 16 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (27 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon OvertonO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O’Neal | Lap 39 | 15.384 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Jonathan DavenportVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Hudson O’NealOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason DurhamARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brenden Smith | 14.3025 secondsTime of Race: 32 minutes 01 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 935 – $37,0002 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 905 – $35,7003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 890 – $19,3004 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 790 – $27,2755 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 770 – $10,7006 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 740 – $17,2007 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 730 – $9,2008 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 705 – $9,0509 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 705 – $8,92510 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 700 – $8,12511 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 680 – $8,50012 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 675 – $7,10013 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 670 – $6,60014 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 660 – $9,80015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 550 – $4,45016 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 525 – $4,45017 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 525 – $3,40018 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 520 – $4,57519 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – 515 – $5,40020 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 515 – $3,82521 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 500 – $3,70022 – 77 – Preston Luckman – Coos Bay, OR – 490 – $2,92523 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 485 – $2,17524 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – 485 – $2,75025 – 81F – Jadon Frame – Winchester, TN – 455 – $2,00026 – 32J – Justin Weaver – Clearspring, MD – 445 – $1,30027 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – 445 – $60028 – 99JR – Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – 425 – $2,80029 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 420 – $60030 – 44 – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 405 – $3,200 |
| O’Neal Captures Thursday Night Victory at Wieland Winter Nationals in Ocala |
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| OCALA, FL (February 26, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal passed race-long leader Kyle Bronson on lap 14 and never looked back, capturing Thursday night’s Wieland Winter Nationals feature for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing at Ocala Speedway. O’Neal, who started ninth, earned $10,000 for his second career victory at Ocala. Devin Moran finished second, followed by Bronson, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Tim McCreadie. Despite a late-race caution with three laps remaining, O’Neal maintained control and crossed the finish line 0.924 seconds ahead of Moran. The win marked O’Neal’s 36th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory and his sixth overall triumph of the season – a total that leads the nation. With the win, he also takes over the series points lead heading into Friday night’s $12,000-to-win main event. “It got latched up pretty early, and I was a little nervous,” said the Martinsville, Indiana native. “I was trying to use the right front and not the right rear, keeping the right rear underneath me. I wanted to make sure I didn’t have a flat, especially as hard as I was going to have to run after that last caution to get away from them. It’s pretty awesome to get one here in the middle of the week. Hopefully, this is what’s to come for the rest of the week. “It’s been a really good year so far, and I am very blessed in that aspect of life.” Moran, the defending series champion, came home second after starting seventh. “I was just holding on. I didn’t have much tire left,” Moran said. “Like I said last night, it doesn’t matter what the track conditions are here at Ocala — I love coming here. In three nights, I’ve got three podiums. We just need to work on our early program again. We were good early in the week, but we kind of made the wrong calls the last night or two. We’ll get back to our notebook and figure out what we can do the rest of the week.” Bronson, who led the opening 13 laps, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium despite battling handling issues. “It’s definitely good to run well. We had a really good race car, but the bumper got knocked off on the left front when I hit the wall on the first lap,” Bronson said. “I think me and JD got tight there — maybe he clipped the right rear quarter panel. I’ll have to watch the video. Hopefully he’s okay. I want to thank my guys for not giving up on me. It’s been a tough road here.” The winning Todd and Vickie Burns, SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding Company, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Seven Spurs Ranch, Beeman Lumber, Lucas Oil Products, Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Penske Racing Shocks. Completing the top ten were Brandon Overton, Carson Ferguson, Boom Briggs, Drake Troutman, and Dennis Erb Jr. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsThursday, February 26, 2026Ocala Speedway | Ocala, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Dallon Murty | 14.232 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport | 14.449 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[2]; 2. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[3]; 5. 79-Cory Hedgecock[6]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 7. 18-Chase Junghans[5]; 8. 9-Tim McCreadie[8]; 9. 8-Dillon McCowan[10]; 10. 81F-Jadon Frame[9]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[11] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 4. 99B-Boom Briggs[6]; 5. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 6. 77-Preston Luckman[8]; 7. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[7]; 8. 32J-Justin Weaver[10]; 9. 17SR-Brody Smith[9]; 10. 16-Tyler Bruening[3] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 58V-Daulton Wilson[2]; 3. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[3]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 5. 19M-Brenden Smith[4]; 6. 111-Max Blair[7]; 7. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[6]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[8]; 9. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 10. 15K-Cody Overton[10] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 3. 22*-Drake Troutman[3]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 5. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[8]; 7. 7-Ross Robinson[6]; 8. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 9. 55-Eli Johnson[10]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[7] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 3. 9-Tim McCreadie[7]; 4. 79-Cory Hedgecock[1]; 5. 18-Chase Junghans[5]; 6. 77-Preston Luckman[4]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[9]; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[6]; 9. 81F-Jadon Frame[11]; 10. 93L-Cory Lawler[13]; 11. 32J-Justin Weaver[8]; 12. 17SR-Brody Smith[10]; 13. (DNS) 16-Tyler Bruening UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19M-Brenden Smith[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[3]; 3. 1T-Tyler Erb[2]; 4. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[5]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[4]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[6]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[8]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 9. 55-Eli Johnson[10]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[12]; 11. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 12. 15K-Cody Overton[11] Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (40 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 9 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $10,0002 – 7 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $5,5003 – 1 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,5004 – 10 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,7005 – 21 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $2,5006 – 4 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,4007 – 17 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,2008 – 15 – 99B – Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – $2,1009 – 12 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $2,05010 – 14 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $2,00011 – 22 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $1,60012 – 13 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – $1,40013 – 24 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,20014 – 19 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $1,00015 – 20 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $95016 – 16 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $92517 – 3 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $90018 – 8 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $87519 – 23 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $85020 – 26 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $12521 – 18 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $80022 – 28 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – $10023 – 25 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $10024 – 27 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – $10025 – 6 – 58V – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $80026 – 5 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $80027 – 11 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $80028 – 2 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $900 Race Statistics Entrants: 41Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Kyle BronsonMD3 Lap Leaders: Kyle Bronson (Laps 1-13); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 14-40)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’NealWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 0.924 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Kyle Bronson, Jonathan Davenport (Initial Start); Dallon Murty, Garrett Alberson (Lap 1); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 4); Freddie Carpenter (Lap 5); Brenden Smith (Lap 37)MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Daniel Hilsabeck, Clay HarrisFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Cory Lawler, Ross Robinson, Freddie Carpenter, Cory HedgecockTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Kyle BronsonPenske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Tim McCreadieBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Kyle BronsonPEM 4th Place Feature: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Tim McCreadieWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Carson FergusonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Tyler ErbVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Clay HarrisXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Max BlairHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Tim McCreadie (Advanced 16 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (27 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon OvertonO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O’Neal | Lap 39 | 15.384 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Jonathan DavenportVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Hudson O’NealOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason DurhamARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brenden Smith | 14.3025 secondsTime of Race: 32 minutes 01 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 935 – $37,0002 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 905 – $35,7003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 890 – $19,3004 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 790 – $27,2755 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 770 – $10,7006 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 740 – $17,2007 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 730 – $9,2008 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 705 – $9,0509 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 705 – $8,92510 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 700 – $8,12511 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 680 – $8,50012 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 675 – $7,10013 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 670 – $6,60014 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 660 – $9,80015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 550 – $4,45016 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 525 – $4,45017 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 525 – $3,40018 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 520 – $4,57519 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – 515 – $5,40020 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 515 – $3,82521 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 500 – $3,70022 – 77 – Preston Luckman – Coos Bay, OR – 490 – $2,92523 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 485 – $2,17524 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – 485 – $2,75025 – 81F – Jadon Frame – Winchester, TN – 455 – $2,00026 – 32J – Justin Weaver – Clearspring, MD – 445 – $1,30027 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – 445 – $60028 – 99JR – Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – 425 – $2,80029 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 420 – $60030 – 44 – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 405 – $3,200 |



After opening the 2026 season on two drafting-style oval tracks at Daytona International Speedway and EchoPark Speedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX team now shift their focus to road-course competition for Sunday’s DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.
Josh BerryAge: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)Hometown: Hendersonville, TennesseeCrew Chief: Miles StanleyIG: @joshberry88X: @joshberry
About DEX

















Milestone Win Kicks-Off Team Chevy’s COTA Success: In May 2021, the NASCAR Cup Series turned its first-ever laps at the world-class venue of Circuit of The Americas. When a torrential downpour cut the series’ debut race short, it was Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott that took the checkered flag – earning Chevrolet its milestone 800th all-time NCS win. One year later, Ross Chastain added onto the memories by making Trackhouse Racing a first-time winner at NASCAR’s highest level. Most recently, it was William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team that took Chevrolet back to victory lane at the Austin-based circuit (Mar. 2024) – marking Chevrolet’s third, and series-leading, triumph at the venue. Accompanying its victorious accolades is another strong set of statistics with the Bowtie brand also earning at least half of the top-10 finishing positions in each of the series’ five appearances at the circuit.
VAN GISBERGEN VYING FOR RECORD-TYING VICTORY Already an arguable favorite heading to Circuit of The Americas, Shane van Gisbergen is coming off a confidence-boosting weekend at EchoPark Speedway where the Trackhouse Racing driver scored a sixth-place result – marking his career-best oval finish in NASCAR’s top division. The 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native will now return to what he knows best – making left- and right-hand turns. Van Gisbergen’s most recent NCS win came at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Oct. 2025 – a victory that made him just the second driver in history to capture five-straight road course wins. The feat places him just behind NASCAR Hall of famer and career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, who owns the record with six-straight. In addition to his full-time ride, Van Gisbergen will also reunite with JR Motorsports to make his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start of the season. The Team Chevy driver is a four-time winner in the division, with his most recent coming in the No. 9 Chevrolet entry at the Chicago Street Course last season.
BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED For Connor Zilisch, this weekend’s trip to Texas will mark the return to the place that introduced him to NASCAR’s highest level. Last season, the 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native climbed behind the wheel of a Trackhouse Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to make his first-career NASCAR Cup Series start at Circuit of The Americas. Over the one-year timespan, the young prodigy not only put together a record-breaking season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, but landed a full-time seat in NASCAR’s top division for the 2026 season. Sharing the road course prowess of his Trackhouse Racing teammate, Shane van Gisbergen, Zilisch knows his way around the 2.3-mile, 20-turn circuit. Last season’s NOAPS visit to COTA saw Zilisch turn a pole-winning qualifying effort into a race win – a victory that propelled the Team Chevy driver towards a record rookie campaign that ended with a 10-race win season. Zilisch will have the opportunity to defend his COTA win this weekend as he is set to join forces with JR Motorsports again for his first NOAPS start of the season.
ELLIOTT SITTING STRONG IN THE STANDINGSChase Elliott’s 11th full-time season in NASCAR’s top division is off to a strong start. Surviving back-to-back drafting tracks with top-11 finishes, the 2020 champion also banked strong points days to find himself sitting third in the driver’s points standings as the series starts its journey out west. A 21-time NCS winner, Elliott continues to lead the series’ active drivers with seven road course wins – one of which includes his win in the series’ debut at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021. Looking for his first road course win in the Next Gen era, Elliott is coming off a strong showing on serpentine tracks last season – earning top-eight results in four of the six races, including a fourth-place finish at the Austin-based circuit.
LOVE SET FOR CUP SERIES RETURNReigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, Jesse Love, will have several double-duty weekends on his schedule this season, with his first coming this weekend at Circuit of The Americas as the driver will fill the seat of a third entry for Richard Childress Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. The Menlo Park, California, native has made a quick rise through the ranks. Love first made his mark in the sport when he became the youngest champion in NASCAR history after clinching the 2020 ARCA Menards Series West title at the age of 16 years old. The driver went on to win the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship before making the jump into the NOAPS for his rookie season in 2024. But it was last season that he took his career to another level by turning his sophomore campaign in the NOAPS into a title-earning season. Love has just five career NCS starts under his belt, with his first coming at Bristol Motor Speedway in April 2025. While it will be his first time hitting the 2.3-mile Texas circuit behind the wheel of a Cup car, the Team Chevy driver has had a pair of strong outings with the Chevrolet organization in his full-time ride – earning sixth-place results in each of his two NOAPS starts at the circuit. 

Team Penske


Juncos Hollinger Racing
ECR
Driver: Christian Rasmussen
Arrow McLaren
A.J. Foyt Racing