NORTH WILKESBORO, NC – July 20, 2026 – Team Penske’s Joey Logano won Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, earning his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and the 38th win of his Cup Series career. Logano’s triumph marked Ford Racing’s second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory following Ryan Blaney’s win at Atlanta, while also delivering the 400th NASCAR Cup Series points win for Roush Yates Engines.

“Congratulations to Roger, Mike, Paul, Joey and everyone at Team Penske on the win at North Wilkesboro,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “To earn our 400th NASCAR Cup Series points win is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the dedication of everyone at Roush Yates Engines, Ford Racing, and our race teams over the years. Joey and the No. 22 team put together a strong performance throughout the race and we’re proud to provide the horsepower that helped deliver Ford Racing’s second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory.”

“It was just a solid race car. I knew in practice that the car had speed and the balance was really loose. When you have that, its like, ‘OK, if we get the balance right, this thing is really fast, I think.’ So, they did a good job dialing it in overnight and putting it in position at the end of the first stage. That’s when we finally got where we needed to be and was able to just set sail up front. It was just a really solid race car. I was lucky to get to drive this one today and really just being able to manage a lot of things inside the car, so I’m proud of Paul Wolfe. He does a good job. We tested twice over the offseason here when they were testing all of the other stuff with the rules packages and stuff, so just a really good tester,” commented Logano.

After Saturday’s qualifying session was rained out, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney was awarded the pole position for Sunday’s Window World 450 based on the NASCAR rule book. However, Blaney was forced to start from the rear of the field after adjustments to the power steering on his No. 12 Ford before the race. As Blaney worked his way back to the front of the field, teammate Joey Logano steadily climbed into contention after starting 11th. While Ty Gibbs claimed the opening stage, Logano remained among the leaders throughout the first 80 laps and collected valuable stage points with a third-place finish before taking control during the middle portion of the race.  Despite multiple pit strategy cycles and late pressure from Denny Hamlin, Logano maintained control throughout the final stage after winning Stage 2 to sweep the race’s final two segments. The No. 22 team continued to execute on pit road and on restarts, allowing Logano to lead a race-high 323 of 450 laps and hold off Hamlin by 0.376 seconds to secure his first victory of the season. The victory also marked the 400th NASCAR Cup Series points win for Roush Yates Engines.

Three additional Ford Racing drivers finished inside the top 10, with RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski finishing seventh, Front Row Motorsports’ Todd Gilliland eighth and RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece 10th.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the Brickyard 400, where Ford Racing will look to extend its winning streak to three consecutive races.

JOEY LOGANO WINS AT NORTH WILKESBORO, DELIVERING ROUSH YATES ENGINES’ 400TH NASCAR CUP SERIES POINTS WINNORTH WILKESBORO, NC – July 20, 2026 – Team Penske’s Joey Logano won Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, earning his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and the 38th win of his Cup Series career. Logano’s triumph marked Ford Racing’s second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory following Ryan Blaney’s win at Atlanta, while also delivering the 400th NASCAR Cup Series points win for Roush Yates Engines.

“Congratulations to Roger, Mike, Paul, Joey and everyone at Team Penske on the win at North Wilkesboro,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “To earn our 400th NASCAR Cup Series points win is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the dedication of everyone at Roush Yates Engines, Ford Racing, and our race teams over the years. Joey and the No. 22 team put together a strong performance throughout the race and we’re proud to provide the horsepower that helped deliver Ford Racing’s second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory.”

“It was just a solid race car. I knew in practice that the car had speed and the balance was really loose. When you have that, its like, ‘OK, if we get the balance right, this thing is really fast, I think.’ So, they did a good job dialing it in overnight and putting it in position at the end of the first stage. That’s when we finally got where we needed to be and was able to just set sail up front. It was just a really solid race car. I was lucky to get to drive this one today and really just being able to manage a lot of things inside the car, so I’m proud of Paul Wolfe. He does a good job. We tested twice over the offseason here when they were testing all of the other stuff with the rules packages and stuff, so just a really good tester,” commented Logano.

After Saturday’s qualifying session was rained out, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney was awarded the pole position for Sunday’s Window World 450 based on the NASCAR rule book. However, Blaney was forced to start from the rear of the field after adjustments to the power steering on his No. 12 Ford before the race. As Blaney worked his way back to the front of the field, teammate Joey Logano steadily climbed into contention after starting 11th. While Ty Gibbs claimed the opening stage, Logano remained among the leaders throughout the first 80 laps and collected valuable stage points with a third-place finish before taking control during the middle portion of the race.  Despite multiple pit strategy cycles and late pressure from Denny Hamlin, Logano maintained control throughout the final stage after winning Stage 2 to sweep the race’s final two segments. The No. 22 team continued to execute on pit road and on restarts, allowing Logano to lead a race-high 323 of 450 laps and hold off Hamlin by 0.376 seconds to secure his first victory of the season. The victory also marked the 400th NASCAR Cup Series points win for Roush Yates Engines.

Three additional Ford Racing drivers finished inside the top 10, with RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski finishing seventh, Front Row Motorsports’ Todd Gilliland eighth and RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece 10th.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the Brickyard 400, where Ford Racing will look to extend its winning streak to three consecutive races.

42 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 488 WINS – 452 POLES

RACE RECAP – SONOMA Race 11 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF STOMPS SONOMA FIELD FOR SECOND VICTORYBeckman bows out in semifinals, DeJoria and Hart end day in Round 1

RACE RECAP – SONOMARace 11 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF STOMPS SONOMA FIELD FOR SECOND VICTORYBeckman bows out in semifinals, DeJoria and Hart end day in Round 1

SONOMA, Calif. (June 20, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and the John Force Racing Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car dominated the NHRA Sonoma Nationals weekend at Sonoma Raceway, earning the No. 1 qualifying spot both Friday and Saturday and then overpowering all four opponents on Sunday to pick up their second diamond Wally of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Jack Beckman and the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team earned a semifinal finish while the day for both the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team of Alexis DeJoria and the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster team of Josh Hart ended in Round 1. Vandergriff lined up in the final round against Daniel Wilkerson who was looking for his first NHRA Funny Car event win. Wilkerson left the starting line first by just a few thousandths of a second (.057 to .065) but Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car powered ahead at 100 feet and never looked back, running 3.900 seconds at 330.72 mph to Wilkerson’s run of 3.950 seconds at 301.33 mph. “The Cornwell Quality Tools team behind me had the car running so well and so and smooth at this race,” Vandergriff said. “Today was one of those days where I got up there, and I knew I was going to go straight and tried and true. Heading into this final round, I knew that we had the car. “ It was the third final round in Vandergriff’s 11-race Funny Car career. He earned his first victory May 3 at South Georgia Motorsports Park, in just his fifth race. He also was the No. 1 qualifier and finished runner-up in the final round to John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the New England Nationals, which was delayed by rain and finally completed a week later at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Vandergriff also earned a runner-up finish in Top Fuel at the 2019 NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. The strong NHRA Sonoma Nationals showing moved Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools team up to second in the point standings, 74 behind leader Ron Capps. “Getting my second win means a lot because, after my first win, I remember sitting home on the couch, looking at the Wally and thinking, ‘You know, how do I get a second one?’,” said Vandergriff. “The first one felt like such a whirlwind, and a dream come true. This is my job. My job is to come to John Force Racing and win Wallys for Cornwall Quality Tools. Now I’m going to go home and look at two Wallys and ask myself how to get a third.” Vandergriff’s semifinal matchup was his first-ever race day meeting against two-time NHRA Funny Car Champion Austin Prock. Prock left first by seven thousandths of a second but the Cornwell Tools Chevy powered its way past at the finish line by three thousandths of a second, running 3.911 seconds at 329.91 mph to Prock’s 3.921 seconds at 329.67 mph. “I think I was just waiting such a long time from the sidelines, and picturing my life, the way I wanted it to be, and this is exactly how I wanted it to be,” said Vandergriff. “Maybe not a Funny Car. I didn’t picture that part but I just wanted to be here and have the opportunity to compete against the best in the world and prove that I can hang with the best. In 2019, I felt like I could but everything was taken away from me. It’s been a long road back but now I have two of these Wallys.” The Funny Car rookie set low ET of Round 1 in defeating Jason Rupert, running 3.891 seconds at 328.46 mph to Rupert’s 4.040 seconds at 322.50 mph. In Round 2, he had his hands full with four-time champion Matt Hagan but the Cornwell Tools Chevy clicked the win light with a run of 3.932 seconds at 330.72 mph to Hagan’s 3.956 seconds at 327.98 mph. Beckman faced Daniel Wilkerson in the other semifinal matchup, with the PEAK SQUAD choosing the left lane. Both cars spun the tires almost immediately off the starting line and both drivers pedaled their way to the finish line. Wilkerson was able to hook up better to take the victory with a run of 5.159 seconds at 299.33 mph to Beckman’s 5.793 seconds at 205.19 mph. Despite the loss, the PEAK SQUAD moved up one spot, to third, in the 2026 point standings with three races remaining in the regular season. “It was a good weekend, two wins away from a great day,” said Beckman. “When you’re driving the PEAK Chevy for the Peak SQUAD, we have everything it takes to win. If you don’t win, you’re disappointed. It doesn’t mean sour grapes, just that we’re trying that hard. We think that we should be good enough to contend every weekend. We qualified second, got some bonus points and moved up in the points but, ultimately, we lost a weird semifinal. Our car smoked the tires at the step of the throttle. It did not move six inches and blew the tires off. From a driver’s standpoint, it’s kind of fun, because you can have more input into the tune up. And Dan Wilkerson’s doing the same thing in the other lane. If the other car is going down the track, there’s no point beating your equipment up. But there was an opportunity. I pedaled it and got it to recover. He did a good job in the other lane. His spot a little later in the run. It gave him more momentum, and I wasn’t able to chase him down.” Beckman took out Jeff Arend in Round 1, running 3.928 seconds at 328.06 mph to Arend’s 4.064 seconds at 311.77 mph. The PEAK SQUAD then ended Cruz Pedregon’s day in Round 2 with a run of 3.894 seconds at 332.43 mph to Pedregon’s 4.009 seconds at 319.45 mph. DeJoria and Cruz Pedregon left the starting line almost dead even (DeJoria’s .099 to Pedregon’s .097) and were side by side to halftrack before the Bandero Café Chevy lost traction and smoked the tires. Pedregon spun the tires near the finish line but held on for the win, running 4.450 seconds at 197.97 mph to DeJoria’s 3.732 seconds at 170.86 mph. “These last few races the Bandero Café Chevy SS nitro Funny Car team have been very good,” said DeJoria. “Everything has fallen into place. We have a consistent race car, we are qualifying well and we’ve had some races where we’ve had the best car on the property and just came up short. I continue to be very confident in our abilities. Before I even got to Sonoma, I could feel it on my bones that we were gonna win this race. That’s not me being cocky. It’s just the confidence I have in our capabilities of getting that Wally because it is going to happen. But NHRA drag racing is a very humbling sport. But, when we do win, and we are going to win at least once this season, this team is going to be on a roll.” Hart grabbed the holeshot against Jasmine Salinas by two hundredths of a second (.057 to .078) but the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster lost traction just a couple hundred feet into the run. The Gatornationals winner kept his foot on the accelerator but wasn’t able to keep pace, running 4.430 seconds at 194.32 mph to Salinas’ run of 3.756 seconds at 319.90 mph. “All of our high hopes for the weekend started to go downhill with the Friday night qualifying session being cancelled,” said Hart. “That was something I had looked forward to all year and it just didn’t happen. We struggled in qualifying and then again in the first round today. We’ll regroup and be ready for Seattle next week.” The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 11 of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 1,069; 2. Doug Kalitta, 984; 3. Leah Pruett, 803; 4. Antron Brown, 680; 5. (tie) Maddi Gordon, 648; Tony Stewart, 648; 7. Josh Hart, 592; 8. Billy Torrence, 559; 9. Justin Ashley, 484; 10. Clay Millican, 455. The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 11 of 20 races are: 1. Ron Capps, 852; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 778; 3. Jack Beckman, 764; 4. Matt Hagan, 744; 5. J.R. Todd, 721; 6. Chad Green, 667; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 644; 8. Austin Prock, 597; 9. Spencer Hyde, 544; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 543. NEXT RACEThe 12th of 20 races of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the July 24-26 Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (July 20, 2026) – On Saturday it was wet and on Sunday the sun shone brightly at Watkins Glen International. The weather didn’t matter. On both days CD Racing drivers Matthew Brabham and Chris Dyson overwhelmed their on-track Trans Am by Pirelli competition. For both 100-mile sprint races Brabham and his #16 GYM SODA Ford Mustang started on the pole, led from start to finish, and along the way set the fastest lap of the race. Dyson, driving a partial season but coming off a strong race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month, scored a pair of podium finishes at the Glen – third place on Saturday and second on Sunday. Saturday, Race 1 Following an hour-long delay due to a thunderstorm, pole-sitter Matthew Brabham took the lead at the green flag, negotiating the changes in a wet but drying track to score a dominating flag-to-flag 17-second win for CD Racing. Brabham let out all the stops at the end, setting the fastest lap of the race, which gave him the pole for Sunday’s race. (That kept unbroken Brabham’s season-long now nine-race string of race pole positions.) Brabham credited his success on Saturday in part to his three championship-winning seasons in Stadium Super Trucks, including at the Glen. “I’ve had a lot of experience here in the wet, racing Super Trucks here with Robby Gordon, and also IMSA here, so I knew I had an advantage, and I feel like that showed.”  Picking up where he left off last month at Road America, Brabham was again able to out-pace and outscore Paul Menard, his chief competitor for the championship. Dyson and Menard spent the last dozen laps of Saturday’s race in a head-to-head battle after both had swapped to slicks together during a full-course yellow.  At multiple points, Dyson was able to get close enough to threaten the runner-up, but some traffic on the last lap fully settled the match in Menard’s favor. The two multiple Trans Am Series champions raced hard and fairly, reprising their race-long duel from 2024. “That was a good fight,” a smiling Dyson said afterwards. “And I almost had him! That’s what it’s all about right there, that kind of racing. A lot of respect out there at those speeds, but we were sure pushing hard.” Sunday, Race 2 The weather might have been the opposite Sunday of what it was Saturday, but the result was pretty much the same – Dyson domination. Under a bright sky and with temperatures in the low 70s, Brabham took the lead at the green flag and quickly pulled out a narrow but steady lead over Paul Menard, setting what turned out to be the fastest lap of the race on his fourth circuit of the legendary New York State circuit. Despite slightly easing off his pace, Brabham’s lead over Menard had expanded to 2.5-seconds by the one-third mark in the 100-mle race. “Paul only missed pole by two-tenths in good weather on Friday, so we knew he had a fast car for Sunday,” Brabham said after the race. “I was being careful with pace, and assumed he was saving his car for the last few laps, too. I thought my GYM SODA car had the edge, I figured we might have a real shoot-out at the end, especially if there was a yellow-flag restart.” As it turned out, a couple of laps before the halfway point, Menard had a flat tire. He lost a just over a minute in the pits replacing it returning to the track in fourth place, well behind Brabham and Dyson. Dyson’s race suddenly took on more urgency as the runner-up position was now his to lose.  And with vital points on the line to assist Brabham’s championship run, it was a spot that the team wanted to keep. “Paul’s car had been super-fast all weekend and I knew he would be head down, in attack mode after that pit stop.” But Dyson responded by calmly making a series of his fastest race laps of the weekend, and the gap which had been narrowing to Menard steadied.  “I came into this weekend just wanting to execute perfect laps and get on the podium, but when we had the chance to help Matty, I stepped it up a notch and I was really pleased that we held that gap and took second. Once again, another classic at the Glen. What a drive by Matty; the season we’re having as a team has been so memorable. I couldn’t be more proud to have the team come home with another ‘sweep’ at our New York home track.”   In the end Brabham was 7.5 seconds ahead of Dyson and more than 23 seconds ahead of Menard. “It’s an honor to represent this team this year,” Brabham said. “The car has been so good and the whole Dyson crew is doing an awesome job.  Fantastic to have both cars take home the 1-2 today and win the weekend.” Next Up: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park  The Trans Am series was absent from Canadian Tire Motorsports Park from 2015 through 2023. CD Racing’s Chris Dyson qualified on the front row in 2024 and won the pole last year. But the second step on the podium in 2024 has been the team’s best result to date. Matthew Brabham completely dominated the 2013 Mazda Pro Series, winning 13 of the 16 races on the schedule. Two of the three races he failed to win were at CTMP. Dyson Racing has always been fast at Mosport (CTMP) and has a storied history there.  Dyson noted that “we won back-to-back IMSA races in 1995 and 1996 and double wins again (with the American Le Mans Series) in 2004 and 2005.  We’ve been on the podium several times since and it’s time for another win there. We will be using the next month’s break now to make sure we are fully prepared.”Click here for more on Chris Dyson Racing.Canadian Tire Motorsports Park ScheduleQualifying takes place Friday, September 4, 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ETThe 100-mile race takes the green flag Saturday, September 5, at 2:15 p.m. Broadcast ScheduleAll Trans Am races are live-streamed on the Trans Am YouTube channel.

Event: Window World 450

Location: North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026

Start: 28th

Finish: 36th

For a portion of Sunday night’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse were making steady progress through the field before another stroke of misfortune ended their night before the halfway point.

After qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather on Saturday, the starting lineup was set by the NASCAR performance metric, placing Berry 28th on the grid. Undeterred, Berry methodically worked his way through the field, climbing to 17th by the conclusion of Stage 1 on Lap 80.

Berry’s charge continued when the green flag waved to begin Stage 2. Displaying the short-track prowess that has become one of his trademarks, he advanced to 12th before making a scheduled green-flag pit stop.

On a track the size of North Wilkesboro, green-flag pit stops typically leave drivers multiple laps down while the field cycles through. Berry’s stop was clean, but a caution flag flew before the remaining frontrunners could complete their stops, trapping the No. 21 and significantly altering the team’s strategy.

Despite battling to recover, Berry’s night came to an abrupt end on Lap 199 when Christopher Bell’s No. 20 car slid up the racetrack and made contact with the left side of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, sending Berry into the outside wall.

The damage proved too extensive to continue, relegating Berry to a 36th-place finish.

“It looked like the 20 just got loose and chased it up into us and we wrecked,” Berry told reporters at the track, adding that it was especially frustrating given that his Mustang was so fast. “We drove up to probably just outside the top 10.

“We had top-five lap times, the car was good, and then we pit and the caution of course comes out and we get trapped two laps down, wave around, just back there in the crap and just get wrecked.

“It’s disappointing. I felt like tonight was the night we certainly could have gotten a good finish like it looks like our teammates are going to do, but that was tough. I’m aggravated at the 20, but he’s in the same position I am. He was back there and just got loose.”

Berry said this season’s string of setbacks has been unlike anything he has experienced in his racing career.

“I’ve never lived through a season like this when it’s just one thing after another,” he said. “Things that people don’t see that don’t make it on TV. I don’t go on social media every week and post about every little thing that went wrong in our race.

“We just can’t catch a break, flat out. Even this week, we were eighth in practice and had a good car and, of course, qualifying gets rained out. If we get to qualify, I felt like we would have had a much better starting spot, a much better pit stall.

“It’s just one thing after another and it’s certainly discouraging.”

Event: Window World 450

Location: North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026

Start: 28th

Finish: 36th

For a portion of Sunday night’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse were making steady progress through the field before another stroke of misfortune ended their night before the halfway point.

After qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather on Saturday, the starting lineup was set by the NASCAR performance metric, placing Berry 28th on the grid. Undeterred, Berry methodically worked his way through the field, climbing to 17th by the conclusion of Stage 1 on Lap 80.

Berry’s charge continued when the green flag waved to begin Stage 2. Displaying the short-track prowess that has become one of his trademarks, he advanced to 12th before making a scheduled green-flag pit stop.

On a track the size of North Wilkesboro, green-flag pit stops typically leave drivers multiple laps down while the field cycles through. Berry’s stop was clean, but a caution flag flew before the remaining frontrunners could complete their stops, trapping the No. 21 and significantly altering the team’s strategy.

Despite battling to recover, Berry’s night came to an abrupt end on Lap 199 when Christopher Bell’s No. 20 car slid up the racetrack and made contact with the left side of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, sending Berry into the outside wall.

The damage proved too extensive to continue, relegating Berry to a 36th-place finish.

“It looked like the 20 just got loose and chased it up into us and we wrecked,” Berry told reporters at the track, adding that it was especially frustrating given that his Mustang was so fast. “We drove up to probably just outside the top 10.

“We had top-five lap times, the car was good, and then we pit and the caution of course comes out and we get trapped two laps down, wave around, just back there in the crap and just get wrecked.

“It’s disappointing. I felt like tonight was the night we certainly could have gotten a good finish like it looks like our teammates are going to do, but that was tough. I’m aggravated at the 20, but he’s in the same position I am. He was back there and just got loose.”

Berry said this season’s string of setbacks has been unlike anything he has experienced in his racing career.

“I’ve never lived through a season like this when it’s just one thing after another,” he said. “Things that people don’t see that don’t make it on TV. I don’t go on social media every week and post about every little thing that went wrong in our race.

“We just can’t catch a break, flat out. Even this week, we were eighth in practice and had a good car and, of course, qualifying gets rained out. If we get to qualify, I felt like we would have had a much better starting spot, a much better pit stall.

“It’s just one thing after another and it’s certainly discouraging.”

Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team will look to rebound next weekend in the Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

SONOMA, CA (July 19, 2026) — Rising star Dylan Winefsky rolled into Sonoma Raceway with his Nitro Moose Funny Car team looking to continue to develop as a professional driver. The up-and-coming driver from El Mirage, Arizona, made his first appearance at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals and through four qualifying passes he found himself just on the outside of the 16-Funny Car qualified field. This was Winefsky’s third NHRA national event of the 2026 season and the first time he would not be competing on race day. For a team that does not compete every race the race-to-race challenges are real.   “This weekend we learned that it’s hard to go from real tough conditions to extremely phenomenal conditions without having any type of data to go back and look at,” said Winefsky. “We were starting from square one this weekend. We got behind the eight ball on Q1 and just fell off from there. I said in all the interviews the week before the race if you get behind the eight ball, you’ll never get caught up.”  The Nitro Moose Funny Car team and driver Dylan Winefsky made the most of their four qualifying runs, photo credit SR Driven MediaThe Nitro Moose Funny Car team and the rest of the Funny Car field had two qualifying runs on Friday and in the first session Winefsky’s team had a mechanical issue that robbed him of valuable horsepower. In the second run of Friday night, recognized as the biggest opportunity for teams to run low elapsed times, new issues impacted the success of the team.   “In Q1 we went out, had some pan pressure early in the run, that that got us behind the eight ball,” said Winefsky. “In Q2 we had clutch issues, and then Q3 and Q4, we just we kept detuning it and detuning it, but it just made it more violent. The good news is now we have more data, and we know next time what we have to do.”   While Winefsky didn’t improve on the two Saturday qualifying runs, the memory of the Friday night qualifying session was not lost on the young driver. A sellout crowd packed the Sonoma Raceway grandstands all weekend, but Friday night was especially exciting.   “To be honest with you, I think that was one of the largest crowds we have raced in front of,” said Winefsky. “When you roll up before they start it and you look around. It’s pretty cool. There are a lot of people, but as soon as they say they’re going to start it, all that just goes away. As a driver you have one job to focus on, and that’s getting down the track. Everything else just goes away at that point.”  Dylan Winefsky will leave Sonoma Raceway with valuable experience and data for future runs, photo credit SR Driven MediaEven without runs on race day Winefsky made significant improvements as a driver. He has now made over a dozen runs this season and with every trip down the track he feels more comfortable and more confident. The sponsor’s support has been a huge element for their success off the track. This weekend the Nitro Moose team was supported by Robert’s Car Care, Stith Printing, Bob Jackson Auto Body and Sterling Homes.   “All these runs just give me more seat time,” said Winefsky. “Every run this weekend I learned something new because each run it went and it did something different. In Q4 I experienced a little bit of death wobble. I had never experienced that before, so now I have that under my belt and I know what to do and what not to do.”   When a 12,000-horsepower Funny Car experiences death wobble the load on the front tires gets uneven and the front tire starts to shake and shimmy. A severe vibration moves from the front of the chassis all the way through the race car up through the steering column.   Winefsky and the Nitro Moose Funny Car team will head back to their Arizona shop and prepare for the historic U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. Fans interested in more information on Dylan Winefsky can follow his social media on Facebook and Instagram.   Qualifying Results Q1: 4.445 sec, 196.93 mph; Qual. 11 Q2: 11.767 sec, 78.50 mph; Qual. 17 Q3: 8.910 sec, 101.79 mph; Qual. 18 Q4: 9.504 sec; 96.24 mph; Qual. 18 Bonus points: 0

NASCAR Cup Series North Wilkesboro Speedway Window World 450 Team Chevy Post-Race Report July 19, 2026

Van Gisbergen Leads Chevrolet with Top-Five Finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway  Matches Career-Best Oval Finish in NASCAR’s Premier Series

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

In a historic night under the lights at North Wilkesboro Speedway, it was Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen that led Chevrolet to the checkered flag with a fifth-place finish in the Window World 450. The impressive run matched the New Zealand native’s career-best oval finish in NASCAR’s top division, with it also marking his first top-five result on a short-track. The effort was accompanied by 49 laps led – the second highest of the race – and a pair of top-five stage points to leave the North Carolina short-track with a 54-point advantage over the Chase cutline. Spire Motorsports’ Daniel Suarez rallied to a ninth-place finish – his sixth top-10 of the season – to round out the Team Chevy top-10.  RACE RECAP:  Stage One: With the starting lineup set by the rulebook, Carson Hocevar led Team Chevy to the green flag from the fourth position for a historic night under the lights at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A stellar start for the Michigan native saw the No. 77 Chevrolet reach the second position on the opening lap of Stage One. With a long green flag run to open the race, the leaders were well into lap traffic when the first caution of the day flew right at the halfway mark of the stage for a spinning John H. Nemechek. Early pit strategy came into play as the top-10 saw a split call for two versus four tire stops. Shane van Gisbergen, who maintained a top-10 running position throughout the run, opted for a pair of right-side tires only to jump up into the second row for the restart. Prime track position saw the New Zealand native get to second on the restart and takeover the lead just a few laps later. The top-three drivers pulled away to a 3.5-second lead with Van Gisbergen seeing a hard-charging Ty Gibbs and Joey Logano in his rearview mirror. Continuing to pace the field until the final lap of the stage, a side-by-side battle with Gibbs saw Van Gisbergen just miss the stage win by a mere 0.074-seconds.  Stage Two: With a four-tire call by crew chief Stephen Doran, a clutch stop by the No. 97 pit crew saw the New Zealand back on the front row to lead the field to the green flag for Stage Two. The restart saw Van Gisbergen on the door of Logano for three laps around the .625-mile circuit before clearing the driver to inherit the lead once again. The effort saw the driver surpass 600 career laps led in NASCAR’s premier series, making him the 126th driver in history to accomplish the feat. With another long green flag run at hand, Logano was able to capitalize on lap traffic to trade positions with Van Gisbergen. In the meantime, his Team Chevy teammate, Chase Elliott, made a quiet climb into the top-five to reach up to the runner-up position near the one-third mark of the stage. While struggling with the handling of his Chevrolet in lap traffic, Elliott fell to the fourth position as the first green flag pit cycle got underway. But amidst the cycle saw the second natural caution of the evening, ultimately resulting in just the top-15 cars remaining on the lead lap. Among those on the positive side of the cycle were Van Gisbergen and Hocevar. Making their stops under the caution, the pair rejoined the top-five for the restart. With 30 laps to go in the stage, Hocevar made a quick report that he was struggling with the handling of his Chevrolet on the long runs. While holding onto a sixth-place finish in the stage, it was Van Gisbergen that continued his impressive run by collecting back-to-back top-five stage points and lead the Bowtie brigade to the second green-white checkered flag.  Final Stage: The inside lane continued to be a strong suit for Van Gisbergen with the Team Chevy driver quickly finding the top-five once again on the opening lap of the final stage. With the race falling into a long green flag run once again, Van Gisbergen held onto a running position within the top-six as then race leader, Logano, began the green flag pit cycle as the race hit 90 laps to go. Just five laps into the run, Doran made the call to bring his driver to pit road for four tires and fuel, ultimately cycling back up into the fourth position. Going caution-free to the end, Van Gisbergen navigated through lap traffic to lead Team Chevy with a top-five finish and his career-best short-track showing.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos.     Driver 5th – Shane van Gisbergen9th – Daniel SuarezChevrolet’s season statistics with 21 NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 6Poles: 4Top-Fives: 38Top 10s: 73Stage Wins: 15

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on TNT Sports and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

NASCAR Cup SeriesNorth Wilkesboro SpeedwayWindow World 450Team Chevy Post-Race ReportJuly 19, 2026

Van Gisbergen Leads Chevrolet with Top-Five Finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway  Matches Career-Best Oval Finish in NASCAR’s Premier Series

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

In a historic night under the lights at North Wilkesboro Speedway, it was Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen that led Chevrolet to the checkered flag with a fifth-place finish in the Window World 450. The impressive run matched the New Zealand native’s career-best oval finish in NASCAR’s top division, with it also marking his first top-five result on a short-track. The effort was accompanied by 49 laps led – the second highest of the race – and a pair of top-five stage points to leave the North Carolina short-track with a 54-point advantage over the Chase cutline. Spire Motorsports’ Daniel Suarez rallied to a ninth-place finish – his sixth top-10 of the season – to round out the Team Chevy top-10.  RACE RECAP:  Stage One: With the starting lineup set by the rulebook, Carson Hocevar led Team Chevy to the green flag from the fourth position for a historic night under the lights at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A stellar start for the Michigan native saw the No. 77 Chevrolet reach the second position on the opening lap of Stage One. With a long green flag run to open the race, the leaders were well into lap traffic when the first caution of the day flew right at the halfway mark of the stage for a spinning John H. Nemechek. Early pit strategy came into play as the top-10 saw a split call for two versus four tire stops. Shane van Gisbergen, who maintained a top-10 running position throughout the run, opted for a pair of right-side tires only to jump up into the second row for the restart. Prime track position saw the New Zealand native get to second on the restart and takeover the lead just a few laps later. The top-three drivers pulled away to a 3.5-second lead with Van Gisbergen seeing a hard-charging Ty Gibbs and Joey Logano in his rearview mirror. Continuing to pace the field until the final lap of the stage, a side-by-side battle with Gibbs saw Van Gisbergen just miss the stage win by a mere 0.074-seconds.  Stage Two: With a four-tire call by crew chief Stephen Doran, a clutch stop by the No. 97 pit crew saw the New Zealand back on the front row to lead the field to the green flag for Stage Two. The restart saw Van Gisbergen on the door of Logano for three laps around the .625-mile circuit before clearing the driver to inherit the lead once again. The effort saw the driver surpass 600 career laps led in NASCAR’s premier series, making him the 126th driver in history to accomplish the feat. With another long green flag run at hand, Logano was able to capitalize on lap traffic to trade positions with Van Gisbergen. In the meantime, his Team Chevy teammate, Chase Elliott, made a quiet climb into the top-five to reach up to the runner-up position near the one-third mark of the stage. While struggling with the handling of his Chevrolet in lap traffic, Elliott fell to the fourth position as the first green flag pit cycle got underway. But amidst the cycle saw the second natural caution of the evening, ultimately resulting in just the top-15 cars remaining on the lead lap. Among those on the positive side of the cycle were Van Gisbergen and Hocevar. Making their stops under the caution, the pair rejoined the top-five for the restart. With 30 laps to go in the stage, Hocevar made a quick report that he was struggling with the handling of his Chevrolet on the long runs. While holding onto a sixth-place finish in the stage, it was Van Gisbergen that continued his impressive run by collecting back-to-back top-five stage points and lead the Bowtie brigade to the second green-white checkered flag.  Final Stage: The inside lane continued to be a strong suit for Van Gisbergen with the Team Chevy driver quickly finding the top-five once again on the opening lap of the final stage. With the race falling into a long green flag run once again, Van Gisbergen held onto a running position within the top-six as then race leader, Logano, began the green flag pit cycle as the race hit 90 laps to go. Just five laps into the run, Doran made the call to bring his driver to pit road for four tires and fuel, ultimately cycling back up into the fourth position. Going caution-free to the end, Van Gisbergen navigated through lap traffic to lead Team Chevy with a top-five finish and his career-best short-track showing.

Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 ResultsPos.     Driver 5th – Shane van Gisbergen9th – Daniel SuarezChevrolet’s season statistics with 21 NASCAR Cup Series races complete: Wins: 6Poles: 4Top-Fives: 38Top 10s: 73Stage Wins: 15

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on TNT Sports and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Post-Race Driver Quotes: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 27th “We dug ourselves a little hole for tonight by having to serve a pass-thru penalty on Lap One. We worked our way back onto the lead lap at the first stage break, but the handling of the Busch Light Chevy just wasn’t what we needed on the long green flag runs. It makes it difficult when you don’t have much time to make adjustments. The guys worked hard to make some changes and we gambled on some pit strategy that didn’t fall our way. It makes for a tough day of short-track racing.”   Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 23rd “I’m proud of the fight from everyone on the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Supreme Long Range Chevrolet team tonight at North Wilkesboro Speedway. We had a fast Chevy and raced our way into the top-10 but unfortunately an untimely caution after our first green flag stop put us two laps down. We were battling our way back, making the corrections needed to combat the looseness the car was developing, and were hoping for a caution late in the run, but didn’t catch the break we were hoping for. We’ll leave here with the 23rd place finish and focus on the upcoming short tracks on the schedule.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletFinished: 9thIt was a quiet night for the No. 7 team. What was it like running 450 laps around North Wilkesboro Speedway? “It kind of reminded me a little bit like Bristol (Motor Speedway). It was a grind-type of day. The car was never perfect, but you had to get the most out of it that you could. A ninth-place finish, that’s not what we’re here for, but the No. 7 Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation Chevrolet team did a good job and executed all night. We didn’t have a car to win or run top-five, but we had a top-10 car and that’s where we ended up. Proud of the effort by the whole team. Ryan (Sparks, crew chief) did a good job on the strategy and they made good calls on adjustments. We just have to keep pushing.” With the field as tight as it was, were you surprised that it went green the entire last stage? “No, not really because everyone is just really good, especially when you start getting into a run. Very few people make mistakes, so I’m not surprised.”   Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletFinished: 16th“Honestly, we didn’t do much different than what we’ve been doing. Since the All-Star Race at Dover (Motor Speedway), we’ve just had good execution. We had one little slip up on a pit stop, but we rebounded really well. We had some things go our way. I think that’s why it’s so important to focus on the recipes of success and don’t be so focused on the results because you can’t really control the results. They’ll swing like a pendulum and it’s in our favor right now. This is who we really are when things go right, so it’s nice to see the fruits of our labor.”   Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletFinished: 33rd“Tough night for our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen team. Our Chevrolet was tight, really tight, from the start. Andy (Street, crew chief) and the guys kept making adjustments throughout the night but nothing seemed to help get it on the loose side. It was a grind out there, but there will be nights like this in the learning process. We will shift our focus to next week.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletFinished: 5th“It was an awesome night for the No. 97 Wendy’s Chevrolet team. It was pretty cool to get the lead. I just wasn’t good enough on the long run. But overall, I had a lot of fun. Thank you to Wendy’s, Chevrolet, everyone at Trackhouse Racing for the support. Everyone on this team did a great job. It was a good points race, which is what we really needed. Just like in the Truck race, I could roll the bottom really well. I was loose-in, which hurt. We had one good stage where I could run up in the top lane, but I was married to the bottom for most of it. It just seemed to work for our car.” What is it about North Wilkesboro Speedway that suits your driving style? “Yeah, it’s a bit like a road course. I tried right-foot braking for a bit. Half of the race, I right-foot braked and I just feel comfortable doing that. It’s a real balance track and you can really effect the car with your driving technique, so I felt comfortable doing that.”

SONOMA, CALIF. (July 19, 2026) — Spencer Hyde, the driver of the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car, advanced to the quarterfinals of the uber competitive DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge. He entered race day from the No. 6 qualifying position, based on a pass that was the quickest run of his 2026 season thus far.
 
“It was great to see the car get in the low 3.9s this weekend,” said Hyde. “We brought on a new sponsor this weekend, Magest, and you always want to perform well for the people who have opened up their checkbooks for you.”

 Three straight sellout days saw Spencer Hyde post solid numbers and race to the quarterfinals at Sonoma Raceway, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Magest is a partner of Hyde’s family company Hyde Construction. They are constantly expanding their reach within the steel industry and are introducing new product lines/vendor relationships to provide their clients with the most economical and advanced building solutions. Owners Brock and Amanda Martin attended Sonoma Raceway this weekend to show their support for Hyde.
 
Hyde’s best run of the weekend came during the second round of qualifying on Friday night, a qualifying session that is known for producing high speeds. His 3.915 second, 325.92 mph pass was enough to get him in the top half of the qualified field, at the No. 6 spot. This was also his quickest pass that he’s made so far in 2026. With 18 viable cars on the property this weekend, it made the high qualifying position even more impressive.
 
“The Sonoma race is a trek for almost all of the teams, so pretty much any Funny Car team that adds themselves on the entry list has a shot at taking home a Wally,” said Hyde. “You have to take everyone you line up against seriously and give it your all with every pass.”
 
On Sunday, Hyde was first up against No. 11 qualifier Dave Richards. Unfortunately for the BlueBird Turf team, Richards’ car broke on the starting line and Hyde essentially had a single in the first round.
 
“You hate to see a guy break, because it doesn’t make for the best race for the fans,” said Hyde. “But this was an instance where the luck went our way. The silver lining was it guaranteed us a trip to the quarterfinals, meaning the fans got to see our car with the Magest, Hyde Construction, OUTLAW Light Beer and Caine Group decals on it another time.”
 
In the quarterfinals, Hyde faced Richards’ SCAG Racing teammate Daniel Wilkerson, another driver who entered race day looking to win his first Wally. Wilkerson, the No. 3 qualifier, was first off the starting line, and Hyde wasn’t able to catch him. The second-generation Funny Car driver went on to advance to the finals.
 
“Everyone keeps saying that Dan and I are the next guys up,” said Hyde. “He’s a great guy and the fans love him. Hopefully both of our first wins come soon.”
 
Despite his quarterfinal exit, Hyde still believes this race carries a lot of good mojo for him. It was here last year when he advanced to his first final round in a Funny Car, a move that propelled him to winning the 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. And as a driver who is about to become a first-time dad, the ‘Kids Only’ autograph session now holds an even more special place in his heart.
 
“This is a beautiful track, and I am thrilled that it appears we will be coming back again next year,” said Hyde. “In my short Funny Car career, I’ve created a lot of cool memories here, and I can’t wait to keep making more. Next year Courtney and I will have our own participant in the ‘Kids Only’ autograph session.”
 
Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car will be back in competition next week at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals on July 24-26 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, July 24 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, July 25. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Northwest Nationals visit nhra.com.
 
Qualifying Results – Funny Car
Q1: 4.495 sec, 179.97 mph; Qual. 13
Q2: 3.915 sec, 325.92 mph; Qual. 6
Q3: 4.722 sec, 172.06 mph; Qual. 6
Q4: 4.572 sec, 188.23 mph; Qual. 6
Bonus Points: 0
 
Race Results
First Round
Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (.119), 4.241 sec, 222.11 mph def. Dave Richards, Wellington, Fla., SCAG Racing/BlueBird Turf/Versatran Ford Mustang, Broke
 
Second Round
Daniel Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Scag Power Equipment Ford Shelby Mustang, (.054), 4.255 sec, 217.88 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (.092), 4.327 sec, 250.92 mph
 
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car

HYDE ADVANCES TO QUARTERFINALS WITH NEW SPONSOR MAGEST IN SONOMA

SONOMA, CALIF. (July 19, 2026) — Spencer Hyde, the driver of the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car, advanced to the quarterfinals of the uber competitive DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge. He entered race day from the No. 6 qualifying position, based on a pass that was the quickest run of his 2026 season thus far.
 
“It was great to see the car get in the low 3.9s this weekend,” said Hyde. “We brought on a new sponsor this weekend, Magest, and you always want to perform well for the people who have opened up their checkbooks for you.”

 Three straight sellout days saw Spencer Hyde post solid numbers and race to the quarterfinals at Sonoma Raceway, photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

Magest is a partner of Hyde’s family company Hyde Construction. They are constantly expanding their reach within the steel industry and are introducing new product lines/vendor relationships to provide their clients with the most economical and advanced building solutions. Owners Brock and Amanda Martin attended Sonoma Raceway this weekend to show their support for Hyde.
 
Hyde’s best run of the weekend came during the second round of qualifying on Friday night, a qualifying session that is known for producing high speeds. His 3.915 second, 325.92 mph pass was enough to get him in the top half of the qualified field, at the No. 6 spot. This was also his quickest pass that he’s made so far in 2026. With 18 viable cars on the property this weekend, it made the high qualifying position even more impressive.
 
“The Sonoma race is a trek for almost all of the teams, so pretty much any Funny Car team that adds themselves on the entry list has a shot at taking home a Wally,” said Hyde. “You have to take everyone you line up against seriously and give it your all with every pass.”
 
On Sunday, Hyde was first up against No. 11 qualifier Dave Richards. Unfortunately for the BlueBird Turf team, Richards’ car broke on the starting line and Hyde essentially had a single in the first round.
 
“You hate to see a guy break, because it doesn’t make for the best race for the fans,” said Hyde. “But this was an instance where the luck went our way. The silver lining was it guaranteed us a trip to the quarterfinals, meaning the fans got to see our car with the Magest, Hyde Construction, OUTLAW Light Beer and Caine Group decals on it another time.”
 
In the quarterfinals, Hyde faced Richards’ SCAG Racing teammate Daniel Wilkerson, another driver who entered race day looking to win his first Wally. Wilkerson, the No. 3 qualifier, was first off the starting line, and Hyde wasn’t able to catch him. The second-generation Funny Car driver went on to advance to the finals.
 
“Everyone keeps saying that Dan and I are the next guys up,” said Hyde. “He’s a great guy and the fans love him. Hopefully both of our first wins come soon.”
 
Despite his quarterfinal exit, Hyde still believes this race carries a lot of good mojo for him. It was here last year when he advanced to his first final round in a Funny Car, a move that propelled him to winning the 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. And as a driver who is about to become a first-time dad, the ‘Kids Only’ autograph session now holds an even more special place in his heart.
 
“This is a beautiful track, and I am thrilled that it appears we will be coming back again next year,” said Hyde. “In my short Funny Car career, I’ve created a lot of cool memories here, and I can’t wait to keep making more. Next year Courtney and I will have our own participant in the ‘Kids Only’ autograph session.”
 
Hyde and the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car will be back in competition next week at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals on July 24-26 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, July 24 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, July 25. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Northwest Nationals visit nhra.com.
 
Qualifying Results – Funny Car
Q1: 4.495 sec, 179.97 mph; Qual. 13
Q2: 3.915 sec, 325.92 mph; Qual. 6
Q3: 4.722 sec, 172.06 mph; Qual. 6
Q4: 4.572 sec, 188.23 mph; Qual. 6
Bonus Points: 0
 
Race Results
First Round
Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (.119), 4.241 sec, 222.11 mph def. Dave Richards, Wellington, Fla., SCAG Racing/BlueBird Turf/Versatran Ford Mustang, Broke
 
Second Round
Daniel Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Scag Power Equipment Ford Shelby Mustang, (.054), 4.255 sec, 217.88 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Contractors & Engineers Funny Car, (.092), 4.327 sec, 250.92 mph
 
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car

1. Ron Capps, 852
2. Jordan Vandergriff, 778
3. Jack Beckman, 764
4. Matt Hagan, 744
5. J.R. Todd, 721
6. Chad Green, 667
7. Alexis DeJoria, 644
8. Austin Prock, 597
9. Spencer Hyde, 544
10. Daniel Wilkerson, 543

HARLAN, IA (July 18, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. won the 16th Annual Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals on Saturday night at Shelby County Speedway, leading all 80 laps to become the 12th different driver to win the crown jewel event. Thornton, a Chandler, Arizona, native who now resides in Indianola, Iowa, earned $52,000 for the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event. Jonathan Davenport, the only three-time winner in the event’s history, which began in 2011, gained two positions after the race’s lone caution with 70 laps complete. Davenport, who was running fourth before the yellow, passed both Brian Shirley and Bobby Pierce to earn the runner-up finish and $53,000. Pierce, who entered the event having won 12 of his previous 14 feature starts, ran second for 71 laps before Davenport slipped past him late, relegating him to third at the finish. Shirley finished fourth, while championship points leader and Thursday night’s Go 50 winner Brandon Sheppard completed the top five. In Wieland Victory Lane for the 60th time in his career and the fourth time this season, Thornton joined an elite group of Silver Dollar Nationals champions. “At the start I didn’t know whether I needed to be on the bottom or the top. I felt like that first lap I moved out in three and four and I was like, ‘Man, that didn’t feel very good.’ I ran about four or five laps there, tried it again, and I don’t know if they were going in too hard above the cushion. It was weird because it was really fluffed up there, so I backed down and just rode around. Then we got to lapped traffic and I felt like I really wanted to move up and try to blow by those cars.” “I was trying to get myself clear of Hoffman and McCreadie. I stayed beside them for what felt like 50 laps, and I figured the top wasn’t any better, so I just kept rolling around the bottom. Hats off to everyone at Koehler Motorsports. It’s a little sigh of relief because I feel like we got our old selves back. I love coming to this place, and thanks to all of the fans for coming out. It’s pretty awesome to win this since I’m only an hour and a half away.” Davenport, who started ninth, quickly climbed to third before settling into fourth for much of the race. He passed Pierce and Shirley late to secure second. “The track just went away. We could never get it packed in under green. I floated out there a few times and just slid. Before that caution came out I went all the way to the top because we’re not running for points, so I was going to try something. I thought Bobby might try the top on the restart, and if that happened it would give Shirley clean air on the bottom. Then maybe I could roll the middle just right and get a run on him. It kind of worked out, just not exactly the way I drew it up.” Pierce, the 2019 Silver Dollar Nationals winner, rounded out the Big River Steel podium in third. “I looked at the scoreboard and thought we were almost done because the race went by so fast. Congratulations to Ricky. He drove a heck of a race and did a great job getting through lapped traffic. I didn’t have anything for him. The last time we were here it was a barnburner, so we set up for that. We made a couple of changes I didn’t really like, but now I think we know a little better for next year.” “I thought the top was going to be fast for a long time, but once they dropped the green the bottom was the preferred lane and the top just turned to crumbs. It caught a lot of us by surprise. I thought the track crew did everything right, and just like with a race car, you take notes for next time. I’m sure we’ll get another barnburner next year.” The winning Koehler Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis was powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Coltman Farms Racing, Certified Inspection Services, Strange Oval, Sunoco Race Fuels, Elite Ready Mix, D&E Outside Service, and SI Towing and Recovery. Completing the top 10 were Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, Max Blair, Clay Stuckey, and Ryan Gustin. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals | Night 2Saturday, July 18, 2026Shelby County Speedway | Harlan, IA Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 4. 44M-Chris Madden[6]; 5. 17SS-Brenden Smith[4]; 6. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[2]; 7. 17SR-Brody Smith[13]; 8. 53-Andrew Kosiski[10]; 9. 51W-JT Wasmund[8]; 10. 10T-Jeff Tharp[7]; 11. 15C-Curt Schroeder[11]; 12. 71M-Mike Morton Jr[12]; 13. (DNS) 24C-Brandon Conkwright UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 3. 13-Dallon Murty[4]; 4. Z76-Zach Zeitner[2]; 5. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 6. 43-Derrick Stewart[6]; 7. 4-JC Wyman[8]; 8. 21H-Brett Hopp[9]; 9. 35D-Dylan Sillman[11]; 10. 3-Mike Collins[13]; 11. 45D-Dan Battaglia[12]; 12. 4TW-Tim Ward[7]; 13. 22M-Charlie McKenna[10] MyRacePass B-Main Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 9-Tim McCreadie[1]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[6]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 5. 15D-Justin Duty[8]; 6. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[4]; 7. 25-Chad Simpson[5]; 8. 80-Allan Hopp[10]; 9. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[7]; 10. 32X-Chris Simpson[9]; 11. 56-Chris Spieker[11]; 12. 10-Junior Coover[12] All Makes Collision Non-Qualifier Race Finish (20 Laps):1. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 2. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 3. 25-Chad Simpson[12]; 4. 15D-Justin Duty[6]; 5. 4-JC Wyman[11]; 6. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 7. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[18]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 9. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[9]; 10. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[7]; 11. 3-Mike Collins[20]; 12. 80-Allan Hopp[15]; 13. 10T-Jeff Tharp[19]; 14. 43-Derrick Stewart[8]; 15. 21H-Brett Hopp[14]; 16. 53-Andrew Kosiski[13]; 17. 51W-JT Wasmund[16]; 18. Z76-Zach Zeitner[3]; 19. 17SR-Brody Smith[10]; 20. 32X-Chris Simpson[21]; 21. (DNS) 35D-Dylan Sillman Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals | Feature Finish (80 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $53,2002 – 9 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $53,0003 – 2 – 32 – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – $15,0004 – 7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $10,8005 – 3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $9,9006 – 4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $9,2007 – 5 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $8,2008 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $6,8009 – 6 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $5,00010 – 8 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $4,80011 – 15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $5,50012 – 22 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $4,60013 – 12 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS – $4,50014 – 26 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $4,40015 – 21 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $5,10016 – 17 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $4,20017 – 10 – 9H – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – $4,10018 – 18 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $4,80019 – 23 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $4,80020 – 19 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $4,60021 – 20 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $4,50022 – 14 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $4,40023 – 16 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $4,30024 – 13 – 4 – Tad Pospisil – Norfolk, NE – $3,50025 – 24 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $4,30026 – 25 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $100 Race Statistics  Entrants: 54Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.MD3 Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 1-80)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Margin of Victory: 0.697 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Debris (Lap 70)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Josh Rice; Daniel HilsabeckFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Brenden SmithTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Bobby PiercePenske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, Brandon SheppardBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Bobby PiercePEM 4th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dan EbertVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Chase JunghansXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Dallon Murty (Advanced 12 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (80 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon SheppardO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Bobby Pierce | Lap 4 | 14.055 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Brenden SmithVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Jonathan DavenportOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Anthony BurroughsARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 13.3894 secondsTime of Race: 25 minutes 36 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 5610 – $241,3002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 5475 – $216,0503 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 5380 – $280,5244 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 5080 – $118,9005 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 5055 – $130,5756 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 4975 – $189,8257 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 4840 – $110,9258 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 4760 – $94,0509 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 4695 – $97,17510 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 4485 – $73,47511 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 4395 – $86,05012 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 4360 – $74,40013 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 4230 – $73,15014 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 4215 – $96,50015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 3845 – $55,87516 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 3570 – $39,62517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 3305 – $27,775

Thornton Takes First Career Silver Dollar Nationals Win at Shelby County

HARLAN, IA (July 18, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. won the 16th Annual Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals on Saturday night at Shelby County Speedway, leading all 80 laps to become the 12th different driver to win the crown jewel event. Thornton, a Chandler, Arizona, native who now resides in Indianola, Iowa, earned $52,000 for the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event. Jonathan Davenport, the only three-time winner in the event’s history, which began in 2011, gained two positions after the race’s lone caution with 70 laps complete. Davenport, who was running fourth before the yellow, passed both Brian Shirley and Bobby Pierce to earn the runner-up finish and $53,000. Pierce, who entered the event having won 12 of his previous 14 feature starts, ran second for 71 laps before Davenport slipped past him late, relegating him to third at the finish. Shirley finished fourth, while championship points leader and Thursday night’s Go 50 winner Brandon Sheppard completed the top five. In Wieland Victory Lane for the 60th time in his career and the fourth time this season, Thornton joined an elite group of Silver Dollar Nationals champions. “At the start I didn’t know whether I needed to be on the bottom or the top. I felt like that first lap I moved out in three and four and I was like, ‘Man, that didn’t feel very good.’ I ran about four or five laps there, tried it again, and I don’t know if they were going in too hard above the cushion. It was weird because it was really fluffed up there, so I backed down and just rode around. Then we got to lapped traffic and I felt like I really wanted to move up and try to blow by those cars.” “I was trying to get myself clear of Hoffman and McCreadie. I stayed beside them for what felt like 50 laps, and I figured the top wasn’t any better, so I just kept rolling around the bottom. Hats off to everyone at Koehler Motorsports. It’s a little sigh of relief because I feel like we got our old selves back. I love coming to this place, and thanks to all of the fans for coming out. It’s pretty awesome to win this since I’m only an hour and a half away.” Davenport, who started ninth, quickly climbed to third before settling into fourth for much of the race. He passed Pierce and Shirley late to secure second. “The track just went away. We could never get it packed in under green. I floated out there a few times and just slid. Before that caution came out I went all the way to the top because we’re not running for points, so I was going to try something. I thought Bobby might try the top on the restart, and if that happened it would give Shirley clean air on the bottom. Then maybe I could roll the middle just right and get a run on him. It kind of worked out, just not exactly the way I drew it up.” Pierce, the 2019 Silver Dollar Nationals winner, rounded out the Big River Steel podium in third. “I looked at the scoreboard and thought we were almost done because the race went by so fast. Congratulations to Ricky. He drove a heck of a race and did a great job getting through lapped traffic. I didn’t have anything for him. The last time we were here it was a barnburner, so we set up for that. We made a couple of changes I didn’t really like, but now I think we know a little better for next year.” “I thought the top was going to be fast for a long time, but once they dropped the green the bottom was the preferred lane and the top just turned to crumbs. It caught a lot of us by surprise. I thought the track crew did everything right, and just like with a race car, you take notes for next time. I’m sure we’ll get another barnburner next year.” The winning Koehler Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis was powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Coltman Farms Racing, Certified Inspection Services, Strange Oval, Sunoco Race Fuels, Elite Ready Mix, D&E Outside Service, and SI Towing and Recovery. Completing the top 10 were Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, Max Blair, Clay Stuckey, and Ryan Gustin. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals | Night 2Saturday, July 18, 2026Shelby County Speedway | Harlan, IA Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 4. 44M-Chris Madden[6]; 5. 17SS-Brenden Smith[4]; 6. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[2]; 7. 17SR-Brody Smith[13]; 8. 53-Andrew Kosiski[10]; 9. 51W-JT Wasmund[8]; 10. 10T-Jeff Tharp[7]; 11. 15C-Curt Schroeder[11]; 12. 71M-Mike Morton Jr[12]; 13. (DNS) 24C-Brandon Conkwright UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 3. 13-Dallon Murty[4]; 4. Z76-Zach Zeitner[2]; 5. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 6. 43-Derrick Stewart[6]; 7. 4-JC Wyman[8]; 8. 21H-Brett Hopp[9]; 9. 35D-Dylan Sillman[11]; 10. 3-Mike Collins[13]; 11. 45D-Dan Battaglia[12]; 12. 4TW-Tim Ward[7]; 13. 22M-Charlie McKenna[10] MyRacePass B-Main Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 9-Tim McCreadie[1]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[6]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 5. 15D-Justin Duty[8]; 6. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[4]; 7. 25-Chad Simpson[5]; 8. 80-Allan Hopp[10]; 9. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[7]; 10. 32X-Chris Simpson[9]; 11. 56-Chris Spieker[11]; 12. 10-Junior Coover[12] All Makes Collision Non-Qualifier Race Finish (20 Laps):1. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 2. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 3. 25-Chad Simpson[12]; 4. 15D-Justin Duty[6]; 5. 4-JC Wyman[11]; 6. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 7. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[18]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 9. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[9]; 10. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[7]; 11. 3-Mike Collins[20]; 12. 80-Allan Hopp[15]; 13. 10T-Jeff Tharp[19]; 14. 43-Derrick Stewart[8]; 15. 21H-Brett Hopp[14]; 16. 53-Andrew Kosiski[13]; 17. 51W-JT Wasmund[16]; 18. Z76-Zach Zeitner[3]; 19. 17SR-Brody Smith[10]; 20. 32X-Chris Simpson[21]; 21. (DNS) 35D-Dylan Sillman Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals | Feature Finish (80 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $53,2002 – 9 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $53,0003 – 2 – 32 – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – $15,0004 – 7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $10,8005 – 3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $9,9006 – 4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $9,2007 – 5 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $8,2008 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $6,8009 – 6 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $5,00010 – 8 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $4,80011 – 15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $5,50012 – 22 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $4,60013 – 12 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS – $4,50014 – 26 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $4,40015 – 21 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $5,10016 – 17 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $4,20017 – 10 – 9H – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – $4,10018 – 18 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $4,80019 – 23 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $4,80020 – 19 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $4,60021 – 20 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $4,50022 – 14 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $4,40023 – 16 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $4,30024 – 13 – 4 – Tad Pospisil – Norfolk, NE – $3,50025 – 24 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $4,30026 – 25 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $100 Race Statistics  Entrants: 54Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.MD3 Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 1-80)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Margin of Victory: 0.697 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Debris (Lap 70)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Josh Rice; Daniel HilsabeckFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Brenden SmithTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Bobby PiercePenske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, Brandon SheppardBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Bobby PiercePEM 4th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dan EbertVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Chase JunghansXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Dallon Murty (Advanced 12 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (80 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon SheppardO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Bobby Pierce | Lap 4 | 14.055 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Brenden SmithVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Jonathan DavenportOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Anthony BurroughsARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 13.3894 secondsTime of Race: 25 minutes 36 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 5610 – $241,3002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 5475 – $216,0503 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 5380 – $280,5244 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 5080 – $118,9005 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 5055 – $130,5756 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 4975 – $189,8257 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 4840 – $110,9258 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 4760 – $94,0509 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 4695 – $97,17510 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 4485 – $73,47511 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 4395 – $86,05012 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 4360 – $74,40013 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 4230 – $73,15014 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 4215 – $96,50015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 3845 – $55,87516 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 3570 – $39,62517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 3305 – $27,775

Macri drives by Williamson in the closing laps to become only the second driver to sit atop the throne two years in a row

ROSSBURG, OH (July 18, 2026) – The Posse-Posse chants rocked the Eldora Speedway stands on Saturday night.

The huge crowd had just seen history made after a thrilling conclusion to the 43rd running of the Kings Royal. Anthony Macri wore the crown for the second year in a row, but the path to the throne proved to be much more difficult in 2026.

The Dillsburg, PA native led the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series field to green for the 40-lapper and paced the opening dozen circuits. But it was Garet Williamson surging to the front on Lap 13 in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23. Williamson was a rocket out front as he wasted no time pulling away from the field. Behind him, the war began for second as 10th-starting Rico Abreu was on the move in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 14 and took the spot, but Macri got it back with seven laps to go and set his sights on Williamson.

The laps clicked away, and Williamson remained committed to the cushion while Macri built speed through the middle. Coming to two laps to go, Macri snuck by to regain the lead and set sail. A yellow flag for a stopped Spencer Bayston on the final circuit set up a green-white-checkered finish. Macri stayed composed when the green flag flew and drove away to his second straight Kings Royal title.

“I’m speechless,” Macri said. “Joe (Mooney) gave me a good car. These guys gave me a good car. I’m worked up. I can barely breathe. When you’re out front, you’ve got to run time trial laps early in the race. I wasn’t really sure where to be. I was starting to get to lapped traffic there, and my car wasn’t handling great with the fuel load and probably where I had the wing. He (Williamson) passed me, and I didn’t want that to happen obviously. I tried to pace him then Rico got by me, and I knew it was time to turn the wick up because you can only lose so many positions and get so many back. So, I got my wing back further, which I didn’t think was the right move. But I pulled it back, and we just started pounding the middle there and got really good.”

Macri put his name in elite company by joining Donny Schatz as only the second driver to win consecutive Kings Royals. He’s also the ninth competitor with multiple victories in the crown jewel alongside Steve Kinser (seven), Donny Schatz (six), Jac Haudenschild (three), Sammy Swindell (three), Doug Wolfgang (two), Dave Blaney (two), Joey Saldana (two), and Brad Sweet (two). The 27-year-old is the first from the state of Pennsylvania to reach the feat.

It’s also a continuation of Macri’s amazing recovery. After a back injury sidelined him for months earlier this year, he’s returned to the seat of the Macri Motorsports No. 39M and been on a tear. The Kings Royal was his fifth win since getting back behind the wheel to go along with the four he picked up during Pennsylvania Speedweek last month. Overall, he’s got eight checkered flags in 2026, including three with the World of Outlaws.

Rico Abreu wheeled his way to second on the final restart. It gave him two consecutive runner-ups in the Kings Royal and three overall as he continues to come so close to the crown he wants to wear so bad.

“Thinking about it all over again, I probably would’ve tried to get the middle working a little more,” Abreu admitted. “But I just was running the top so hard and getting my tires really hot and trying to process what I needed to do at that time in the race. Restarting on the bottom hurt me some until the end when I got the guys to come back out and adjust my tire pressures. I was able to take off there on that last restart. It’s just such hard racing. Hats off to the 39M guys.”

Giovanni Scelzi made a late run to the podium in the Spire Motorsports No. 77. His third place effort marked his best in the Kings Royal.

Corey Day came home fourth while Garet Williamson slipped to a tough to swallow fifth after leading the most laps. The Columbia, MO native continues to beat on the door of his first World of Outlaws win, and the Kings Royal would’ve been the ideal time.

“It sucks,” Williamson said. “First win at the Kings Royal would’ve been something I’d never forget. Hats off to my guys. We’ve had a great car the last two nights. I think I probably just got beat there by experience. I probably pushed a little too hard in the beginning of that race getting passed those guys, something probably I shouldn’t have done. I probably knew better, but I had a really good car and just wanted to get to the lead and set my own pace.”

NIGHTLY NOTES

David Gravel set the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night for the 13th time this year.

Chase Dietz clocked Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Carson Macedo (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Kerry Madsen (Knoxville Bound Heat Two), Garet Williamson (WIX Filters Heat Three), Chris Windom (Golf Cart Services Heat Four), Brent Marks (Tub O’ Towels Heat Five), and Anthony Macri (Air National Guard Heat Six).

The SPA Technique Pole Award went to Anthony Macri.

Joel Myers Jr. topped the Toyota C-main.

Cole Macedo won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid moved from 17th to sixth to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Logan Schuchart was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

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

Anthony Macri clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Brent Marks.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series head to Canada for two nights (Tuesday-Wednesday, July 21-22) at Ohsweken Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Six Nations Showdown. For tickets, CLICK HERE. Then it’s over to New York’s Weedsport Speedway for the Empire State Challenge on Saturday-Sunday, July 25-26. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri[1]; 2. 14-Rico Abreu[10]; 3. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 4. 14M-Corey Day[9]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[17]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[15]; 8. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[16]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[3]; 10. 13-Tanner Holmes[14]; 11. 2-David Gravel[20]; 12. 27-Emerson Axsom[12]; 13. 55-Kerry Madsen[5]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 16. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[24]; 17. 2C-Cole Macedo[21]; 18. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 19. 51-Ashton Torgerson[18]; 20. 19-Brent Marks[2]; 21. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel[23]; 23. 101-Kalib Henry[11]; 24. 23D-Chase Dietz[19]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

KING ANTHONY XLIII: Anthony Macri Makes History with Second Straight Eldora Kings Royal Crown

Macri drives by Williamson in the closing laps to become only the second driver to sit atop the throne two years in a row

ROSSBURG, OH (July 18, 2026) – The Posse-Posse chants rocked the Eldora Speedway stands on Saturday night.

The huge crowd had just seen history made after a thrilling conclusion to the 43rd running of the Kings Royal. Anthony Macri wore the crown for the second year in a row, but the path to the throne proved to be much more difficult in 2026.

The Dillsburg, PA native led the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series field to green for the 40-lapper and paced the opening dozen circuits. But it was Garet Williamson surging to the front on Lap 13 in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23. Williamson was a rocket out front as he wasted no time pulling away from the field. Behind him, the war began for second as 10th-starting Rico Abreu was on the move in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 14 and took the spot, but Macri got it back with seven laps to go and set his sights on Williamson.

The laps clicked away, and Williamson remained committed to the cushion while Macri built speed through the middle. Coming to two laps to go, Macri snuck by to regain the lead and set sail. A yellow flag for a stopped Spencer Bayston on the final circuit set up a green-white-checkered finish. Macri stayed composed when the green flag flew and drove away to his second straight Kings Royal title.

“I’m speechless,” Macri said. “Joe (Mooney) gave me a good car. These guys gave me a good car. I’m worked up. I can barely breathe. When you’re out front, you’ve got to run time trial laps early in the race. I wasn’t really sure where to be. I was starting to get to lapped traffic there, and my car wasn’t handling great with the fuel load and probably where I had the wing. He (Williamson) passed me, and I didn’t want that to happen obviously. I tried to pace him then Rico got by me, and I knew it was time to turn the wick up because you can only lose so many positions and get so many back. So, I got my wing back further, which I didn’t think was the right move. But I pulled it back, and we just started pounding the middle there and got really good.”

Macri put his name in elite company by joining Donny Schatz as only the second driver to win consecutive Kings Royals. He’s also the ninth competitor with multiple victories in the crown jewel alongside Steve Kinser (seven), Donny Schatz (six), Jac Haudenschild (three), Sammy Swindell (three), Doug Wolfgang (two), Dave Blaney (two), Joey Saldana (two), and Brad Sweet (two). The 27-year-old is the first from the state of Pennsylvania to reach the feat.

It’s also a continuation of Macri’s amazing recovery. After a back injury sidelined him for months earlier this year, he’s returned to the seat of the Macri Motorsports No. 39M and been on a tear. The Kings Royal was his fifth win since getting back behind the wheel to go along with the four he picked up during Pennsylvania Speedweek last month. Overall, he’s got eight checkered flags in 2026, including three with the World of Outlaws.

Rico Abreu wheeled his way to second on the final restart. It gave him two consecutive runner-ups in the Kings Royal and three overall as he continues to come so close to the crown he wants to wear so bad.

“Thinking about it all over again, I probably would’ve tried to get the middle working a little more,” Abreu admitted. “But I just was running the top so hard and getting my tires really hot and trying to process what I needed to do at that time in the race. Restarting on the bottom hurt me some until the end when I got the guys to come back out and adjust my tire pressures. I was able to take off there on that last restart. It’s just such hard racing. Hats off to the 39M guys.”

Giovanni Scelzi made a late run to the podium in the Spire Motorsports No. 77. His third place effort marked his best in the Kings Royal.

Corey Day came home fourth while Garet Williamson slipped to a tough to swallow fifth after leading the most laps. The Columbia, MO native continues to beat on the door of his first World of Outlaws win, and the Kings Royal would’ve been the ideal time.

“It sucks,” Williamson said. “First win at the Kings Royal would’ve been something I’d never forget. Hats off to my guys. We’ve had a great car the last two nights. I think I probably just got beat there by experience. I probably pushed a little too hard in the beginning of that race getting passed those guys, something probably I shouldn’t have done. I probably knew better, but I had a really good car and just wanted to get to the lead and set my own pace.”

NIGHTLY NOTES

David Gravel set the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night for the 13th time this year.

Chase Dietz clocked Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to Carson Macedo (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Kerry Madsen (Knoxville Bound Heat Two), Garet Williamson (WIX Filters Heat Three), Chris Windom (Golf Cart Services Heat Four), Brent Marks (Tub O’ Towels Heat Five), and Anthony Macri (Air National Guard Heat Six).

The SPA Technique Pole Award went to Anthony Macri.

Joel Myers Jr. topped the Toyota C-main.

Cole Macedo won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid moved from 17th to sixth to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

Logan Schuchart was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

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

Anthony Macri clocked the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Brent Marks.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series head to Canada for two nights (Tuesday-Wednesday, July 21-22) at Ohsweken Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Six Nations Showdown. For tickets, CLICK HERE. Then it’s over to New York’s Weedsport Speedway for the Empire State Challenge on Saturday-Sunday, July 25-26. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri[1]; 2. 14-Rico Abreu[10]; 3. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 4. 14M-Corey Day[9]; 5. 23-Garet Williamson[4]; 6. 83-Michael Kofoid[17]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[15]; 8. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[16]; 9. 7S-Chris Windom[3]; 10. 13-Tanner Holmes[14]; 11. 2-David Gravel[20]; 12. 27-Emerson Axsom[12]; 13. 55-Kerry Madsen[5]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 16. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[24]; 17. 2C-Cole Macedo[21]; 18. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 19. 51-Ashton Torgerson[18]; 20. 19-Brent Marks[2]; 21. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel[23]; 23. 101-Kalib Henry[11]; 24. 23D-Chase Dietz[19]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/king-anthony-xliii-anthony-macri-makes-history-with-second-straight-eldora-kings-royal-crown/

SATURDAY RECAP – SONOMA Race 11 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF BAGS SONOMA NATS NO. 1 QUALIFIERBeckman runner up in #2FAST2TASTY, DeJoria 7th, Hart 8th

SATURDAY RECAP – SONOMARace 11 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF BAGS SONOMA NATS NO. 1 QUALIFIERBeckman runner up in #2FAST2TASTY, DeJoria 7th, Hart 8th

SONOMA, Calif. (July 18, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team earned their second No. 1 Qualifier spot of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season by capturing the top spot for Sunday’s elimination rounds of the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Jack Beckman wheeled his PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car to the No. 2 spot and also finished runner-up in Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge special events race. Alexis DeJoria qualified the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car seventh while Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster qualified eighth. Vandergriff’s Q2 pass Friday night of 3.849 seconds at 332.43 mph was the quickest of his Funny Car career and the overall quickest run of the year in the category. He’ll face No. 16 qualifier Jason Rupert (4.048 seconds) in Sunday’s first round of eliminations. His previous top spot came at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H. Beckman used his Friday Q2 run of 3.873 seconds at 333.16 mph to capture the No. 2 spot and will face No. 15 qualifier Jeff Arend (4.019 seconds) in Round 1. The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion lined up against Austin Prock in their Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty semifinal matchup. Prock got away first and looked headed for victory before losing traction nearing the finish line, allowing the PEAK Chevy to flash by for the win. Beckman’s run of 3.951 seconds at 318.92 mph was the third-quickest run of Q3 and set him up for the final round against Ron Capps. In the final, the two left almost dead even (Beckman’s .083 to Capps’ .085) and stayed the same to halftrack before both cars spun the tires and got out of shape. Capps took the win with a run of 4.429 seconds to Beckman’s 4.856 seconds. DeJoria used her Friday Q1 pass of 3.917 seconds at 329.26 mph to qualify seventh and will face No. 10 qualifier Cruz Pedregon (3.952 seconds) in the first round. In Saturday’s Q3, Dejoria faced Capps in the #2Fast2Tasty other semifinal but the Bandero Café Chevy lost traction just past halftrack, slowing to a run of 4.860 seconds at 161.34 mph, while Capps took the win with his run of 3.941 seconds at 329.26 mph. Hart used his Friday Q1 run of 3.763 seconds at 336.82 mph to earn the No. 8 qualifying position. Due to only 14 entries, No. 7 qualifier Jasmine Salinas (3.751 seconds) will have lane choice for Sunday’s first round matchup. Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “We made some wholesale changes to the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy after Norwalk and they seem to be working out. We can push it a little bit and we’ve been really good these last three sessions, I think we’ve got a hot rod this weekend and it’s been a great weekend for us thus far. I love racing here. Each time I come here, I’m reminded of the memories of the last two years, and what I was doing then, and what I’m doing now. I’m just super grateful to have this opportunity.” Quote from Jack Beckman, PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “We’ve qualified first, first, second, third, fourth, and second in the last six races. That’s six races where we’re averaging just over No. 2 qualifier. This PEAK Chevy’s not just been quick, we’re consistently quick and we got bonus points in two of this week’s four qualifying sessions. In the last session, the car was actually running quicker than we had tuned it for. Sometimes those little miscues point out something that helps you be more consistent later so I’m not concerned that we overpowered the track. I’m thinking it will be something that will help Tim and Dan (crew chiefs Fabrisi and Hood) out as soon as tomorrow because we’re going to be in similar conditions tomorrow. I seem to do really well coming off runner-up finishes, which we just did in Norwalk, and here we are back as the No. 2 qualifier, ready to go back into race day.” Quote from Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “Before I even started to pack my suitcases for this race, I was determined. We’ve come so close. We have such a good Bandero Café Chevy and I have so much faith in our capabilities of being successful at every one of these races. I just feel it in my bones that we’re going to win soon and we’ll be gunning for it tomorrow.” Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster: “We’re not where we want to be, for sure. I had been looking forward to the night run here for a year so I’m really bummed that we missed that opportunity when last night’s session was cancelled. My confidence in this Speedmaster team is not shaken. We’re learning each other, learning the race car, and getting this thing on track.” TV Schedule

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway tri-oval Lebanon, Tennessee Saturday Qualifying ReportJuly 18, 2026 LEBANON, Tennessee (July 18, 2026) – Josef Newgarden, in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet missed out on a hometown pole at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix by less than five-hundredths of a second (0.21mph) over the 2.66-miles of qualifying. Five of the top nine drivers over the pair of laps on the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway tri-oval were Chevrolet-powered, with Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet), Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet), Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet) and Rinus VeeKay (No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet) joining Newgarden in the first five rows of the grid. After a crash 20 minutes into practice this morning, David Malukas in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet was unable to make a qualifying attempt. Team Penske will have more updates on Malukas.  Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix qualifying resultsWhat They’re Saying – Qualifying – Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet qualified 2nd:“That was certainly close to what we felt in practice. We felt like we had a good car right away, and I think we did what we could there. I hope that’s enough, but if it’s not, that’s what we had then, and we’ll go into the race with it. I think we’re going to at least be up towards the front, which is really positive for this No. 2 team and this is Astemo Chevy. Proud of the effort. We just we showed up really good. My mindset is the same everywhere, whether you’re at Indianapolis or you’re here, or you’re at Long Beach, you’re expected to do a great job everywhere, so it feels the same to me. But it’s nice to sleep in my own bed. I can say that.”Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet qualified 3rd:“I had a bobble every lap, every corner, so I don’t know, if good enough to be a pole. In terms of grip position and see where we end up. I’ll just keep doing laps, and hopefully we can move up a couple of spots and help our championship position. It was fun.  That’s hard-to-find grip here, and it’s pretty nerve-racking. It’s always nerve-racking qualifying in an INDYCAR but, like, you know, with the heat and the temperatures change all the time. I thought the guys did a really good job.” Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet qualified 6th:“We just didn’t get the balance right and it wasn’t very well executed from my side. I think (his pace) is just a testament to the inherent speed in the Java House Chevy to be able to be quickest so far with a pretty messy run. Disappointed with it, because I think there is potential on the table if we do a couple of things differently. As we all know, it’s going to be a long race tomorrow, and a whole lot to play for with the alternate tires. It will be a great show. Just a little disappointed right now.” Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet qualified 7th:“It was a good run, I wasn’t quite happy with the balance that we had in practice. Man, that can really put a dampener on weekends like this because you just have to roll out and be quick. ECR boys did a great job of turning the Splenda Chevy around and giving me something good for qualifying. I really had no remarks. I stayed flat both laps. The balance was pretty good. We’ll see how it holds up, but for now, we know that we’re not last, so that’s good Looking forward to seeing what we can do in the race tomorrow.” Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet qualified 9th:“We’re competing in IndyCar, so things change every year. You’re definitely on your toes, and I would say the car’s quite a bit different than last year from what I’ve seen. Feels good, though. Handles well, even in this extreme heat. I think that was a very comfortable car to drive, and the speed was very consistent. So, uh, happy with that, and I think, uh, you know, qualifying is one thing, but we have 300 laps of racing, which that’s going to be our focus to get the car to handle as well as possible out there.  Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet qualified 12th: What were you looking for in the handling of your car during qualifying? “Something faster. We’re slow this weekend. We’re really slow. The balance of the car wasn’t too bad. We’ve been lacking speed in general, so I’m not really sure what’s happening or going on. How important does that make the practice this evening? “We need a good, strong car, in race trim. If you can get by people. turn your race around to the positive. But so far, we were a bit on the back foot in practice one, we got very little running in, and it was feeling pretty “bad”. Then, obviously, qualifying was, I wouldn’t say it was worse than practice. I think it was maybe a little bit better. But it’s still sub-par where I believe we’ve been here in the past.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet qualified 13th:“That was a good run. Very similar to practice for us. Good balance, flat all the way around. So, um, I think that’ll hold up decently well. It tough going at the beginning. Um, but hopefully some good data to give our teammates so they can go a little better towards the end of the line. I feel like that was pretty close to the best we could have done given where we were going.” Caio Collet, No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet qualified 15th:“I think it was a clean run, specially the first lap, I think we dropped a bit too much on the second lap, and the average was not as good as we hoped for. But I think the car is feeling really, really good, and hopefully we can just tune in a couple of things in this practice later on today and be in a good place for tomorrow’s race.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet qualified 11th:“I think Chevrolet has  done a great job to optimize the run. I’m proud of our engineering team. I think the car’s been really solid since we rolled out. Should be good for the race. “ Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet qualified 19th:“Obviously, in P1, it’s all qual trims and got cut short from the David (Malukas) accident. So, just very disappointed with that. That’s pretty much it.” Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet qualified 21st: “I think it was an okay run for us. The downforce levels throughout the day here are going to be the name of the game. I think we were just maybe a little bit too draggy, but, I mean, two flats, car flat, driver flat, whatever you’re going to call it. The bump is better than it was in the last couple years, so I was happy to see that. They’ve making improvements on the track here because of that. I think it’ll allow us to run side by side a little bit better. I know that last year there was a few cars that got a little sideways over the bump when trying to fight for position, but I think that we’re going to have a better chance to do well in the race here. Happy with the car. I think that we’re going to need to find the balance and downforce level. And obviously, when we come back to the race, completely different racetrack.” David Malukas, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet did not qualify. Josef Newgarden watches qualifying on pit road at the Nashville SuperspeedwayNTT INDYCAR SERIES News ConferenceSaturday, July 18, 2026Josef NewgardenPress Conference THE MODERATOR: We’ll wrap-up qualifying TODAY. Currently joined by Nashville’s own Josef Newgarden. Second front-row start of the season. Second front-row start here at Nashville Superspeedway as well. Ironically, it’s the same front row from the 2024 race.Josef, congratulations. A good start to the weekend for you guys. JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it’s good. I think we did what we could today. Go got a good view point for tomorrow, which is great, with the Astemo car. THE MODERATOR: What did you learn from practice this morning, if anything?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Not so much outside of qualifying, to be honest. I’ll know more tonight. It’s really critical to get through high line and P2, then understand what the car is really doing. I don’t have much more to draw from or glean from yet until we get to the second session. THE MODERATOR: We’ll take some questions. Q.  Josef, does not knowing who will be in the 12 car affect you at all as team preparations or is it hoping David is back?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, I just hope we have Dave in the car. I mean, I just heard about this. I didn’t even know there was potential for that. I don’t think it will affect our program, but I would just like to see Dave obviously get time tonight and make sure we can get him comfy for tomorrow. That’s the preferred outcome. Q.  Do you feel much different with the hybrid reduction at this oval race?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Feels very similar. Honestly, no different than last year for the boring answer. Really no difference. Q.  400-mile race distance. Does this change the mindset? Does it become like an Indy 500 or something totally different?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Another boring answer. I really don’t think it does. I think it was a great show here last year. You were there yesterday when I was speaking about this onstage. That’s how I feel about it. This is a great oval to showcase INDYCAR racing for people. The only way I look at it is they get more of it, more action, a little longer format. I don’t think it will dramatically change the way we approach it. Obviously the pit stops will be different. There will be a slight difference on the strategy. I don’t foresee a big change in our philosophy, if you will. Q.  I understand that you have less downforce on the car. What did they do? Did they take out the diffuser at the back?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: They just trimmed the rear wing. Your maximum angle has been reduced by basically a (indiscernible). That’s the big change. Q.  Does that make the car skittish?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Not really. None of these things, they shouldn’t alter the race dramatically. The front tire is slightly different. INDYCAR’s goal was to keep the style of race from last year similar. These micro-adjustments, the small downforce adjustment, hybrid, et cetera, it’s not going to alter things much. It’s not going to alter it much from what we’ve seen so far. Q.  I understand this is the third time at Nashville they’ve had an alternate tire. You have to run two sets. How does that tire feel? Is there a difference?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: There is. Similar to a road and street course. You get an offset, for sure. Q.  You grew up in this climate. In some ways does it help because you know what July days are like in Middle Tennessee?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: For me, being the local expert, it’s a big advantage. Very big advantage. I understand this humidity better than anybody. It’s unique. It is musical. You have to have a rhythm to the humidity, the race (smiling). Yeah, it’s great to be from here. It’s going to help me in the race. I think so…That’s a great question, Bruce. I qualified second, so no one cares. Got to have fun (smiling). THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Talk to Kyle. Bye (smiling). Tune-In Guide Sunday, July 19Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix (Pre-Race Show) – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (PT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS1Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix (300 laps)– 5:30pm (ET)/4:30pm (CT)/3:30pm (MT)/2:30pm (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden (right) and Scott McLaughlin (left) celebrate a win and third place finish in the 2025 Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESBorchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway tri-ovalLebanon, TennesseeSaturday Qualifying ReportJuly 18, 2026 LEBANON, Tennessee (July 18, 2026) – Josef Newgarden, in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet missed out on a hometown pole at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix by less than five-hundredths of a second (0.21mph) over the 2.66-miles of qualifying. Five of the top nine drivers over the pair of laps on the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway tri-oval were Chevrolet-powered, with Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet), Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet), Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet) and Rinus VeeKay (No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet) joining Newgarden in the first five rows of the grid. After a crash 20 minutes into practice this morning, David Malukas in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet was unable to make a qualifying attempt. Team Penske will have more updates on Malukas.  Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix qualifying resultsWhat They’re Saying – Qualifying – Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet qualified 2nd:“That was certainly close to what we felt in practice. We felt like we had a good car right away, and I think we did what we could there. I hope that’s enough, but if it’s not, that’s what we had then, and we’ll go into the race with it. I think we’re going to at least be up towards the front, which is really positive for this No. 2 team and this is Astemo Chevy. Proud of the effort. We just we showed up really good. My mindset is the same everywhere, whether you’re at Indianapolis or you’re here, or you’re at Long Beach, you’re expected to do a great job everywhere, so it feels the same to me. But it’s nice to sleep in my own bed. I can say that.”Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet qualified 3rd:“I had a bobble every lap, every corner, so I don’t know, if good enough to be a pole. In terms of grip position and see where we end up. I’ll just keep doing laps, and hopefully we can move up a couple of spots and help our championship position. It was fun.  That’s hard-to-find grip here, and it’s pretty nerve-racking. It’s always nerve-racking qualifying in an INDYCAR but, like, you know, with the heat and the temperatures change all the time. I thought the guys did a really good job.” Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet qualified 6th:“We just didn’t get the balance right and it wasn’t very well executed from my side. I think (his pace) is just a testament to the inherent speed in the Java House Chevy to be able to be quickest so far with a pretty messy run. Disappointed with it, because I think there is potential on the table if we do a couple of things differently. As we all know, it’s going to be a long race tomorrow, and a whole lot to play for with the alternate tires. It will be a great show. Just a little disappointed right now.” Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet qualified 7th:“It was a good run, I wasn’t quite happy with the balance that we had in practice. Man, that can really put a dampener on weekends like this because you just have to roll out and be quick. ECR boys did a great job of turning the Splenda Chevy around and giving me something good for qualifying. I really had no remarks. I stayed flat both laps. The balance was pretty good. We’ll see how it holds up, but for now, we know that we’re not last, so that’s good Looking forward to seeing what we can do in the race tomorrow.” Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet qualified 9th:“We’re competing in IndyCar, so things change every year. You’re definitely on your toes, and I would say the car’s quite a bit different than last year from what I’ve seen. Feels good, though. Handles well, even in this extreme heat. I think that was a very comfortable car to drive, and the speed was very consistent. So, uh, happy with that, and I think, uh, you know, qualifying is one thing, but we have 300 laps of racing, which that’s going to be our focus to get the car to handle as well as possible out there.  Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet qualified 12th: What were you looking for in the handling of your car during qualifying? “Something faster. We’re slow this weekend. We’re really slow. The balance of the car wasn’t too bad. We’ve been lacking speed in general, so I’m not really sure what’s happening or going on. How important does that make the practice this evening? “We need a good, strong car, in race trim. If you can get by people. turn your race around to the positive. But so far, we were a bit on the back foot in practice one, we got very little running in, and it was feeling pretty “bad”. Then, obviously, qualifying was, I wouldn’t say it was worse than practice. I think it was maybe a little bit better. But it’s still sub-par where I believe we’ve been here in the past.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet qualified 13th:“That was a good run. Very similar to practice for us. Good balance, flat all the way around. So, um, I think that’ll hold up decently well. It tough going at the beginning. Um, but hopefully some good data to give our teammates so they can go a little better towards the end of the line. I feel like that was pretty close to the best we could have done given where we were going.” Caio Collet, No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet qualified 15th:“I think it was a clean run, specially the first lap, I think we dropped a bit too much on the second lap, and the average was not as good as we hoped for. But I think the car is feeling really, really good, and hopefully we can just tune in a couple of things in this practice later on today and be in a good place for tomorrow’s race.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet qualified 11th:“I think Chevrolet has  done a great job to optimize the run. I’m proud of our engineering team. I think the car’s been really solid since we rolled out. Should be good for the race. “ Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet qualified 19th:“Obviously, in P1, it’s all qual trims and got cut short from the David (Malukas) accident. So, just very disappointed with that. That’s pretty much it.” Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet qualified 21st: “I think it was an okay run for us. The downforce levels throughout the day here are going to be the name of the game. I think we were just maybe a little bit too draggy, but, I mean, two flats, car flat, driver flat, whatever you’re going to call it. The bump is better than it was in the last couple years, so I was happy to see that. They’ve making improvements on the track here because of that. I think it’ll allow us to run side by side a little bit better. I know that last year there was a few cars that got a little sideways over the bump when trying to fight for position, but I think that we’re going to have a better chance to do well in the race here. Happy with the car. I think that we’re going to need to find the balance and downforce level. And obviously, when we come back to the race, completely different racetrack.” David Malukas, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet did not qualify. Josef Newgarden watches qualifying on pit road at the Nashville SuperspeedwayNTT INDYCAR SERIES News ConferenceSaturday, July 18, 2026Josef NewgardenPress Conference THE MODERATOR: We’ll wrap-up qualifying TODAY. Currently joined by Nashville’s own Josef Newgarden. Second front-row start of the season. Second front-row start here at Nashville Superspeedway as well. Ironically, it’s the same front row from the 2024 race.Josef, congratulations. A good start to the weekend for you guys. JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it’s good. I think we did what we could today. Go got a good view point for tomorrow, which is great, with the Astemo car. THE MODERATOR: What did you learn from practice this morning, if anything?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Not so much outside of qualifying, to be honest. I’ll know more tonight. It’s really critical to get through high line and P2, then understand what the car is really doing. I don’t have much more to draw from or glean from yet until we get to the second session. THE MODERATOR: We’ll take some questions. Q.  Josef, does not knowing who will be in the 12 car affect you at all as team preparations or is it hoping David is back?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, I just hope we have Dave in the car. I mean, I just heard about this. I didn’t even know there was potential for that. I don’t think it will affect our program, but I would just like to see Dave obviously get time tonight and make sure we can get him comfy for tomorrow. That’s the preferred outcome. Q.  Do you feel much different with the hybrid reduction at this oval race?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Feels very similar. Honestly, no different than last year for the boring answer. Really no difference. Q.  400-mile race distance. Does this change the mindset? Does it become like an Indy 500 or something totally different?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Another boring answer. I really don’t think it does. I think it was a great show here last year. You were there yesterday when I was speaking about this onstage. That’s how I feel about it. This is a great oval to showcase INDYCAR racing for people. The only way I look at it is they get more of it, more action, a little longer format. I don’t think it will dramatically change the way we approach it. Obviously the pit stops will be different. There will be a slight difference on the strategy. I don’t foresee a big change in our philosophy, if you will. Q.  I understand that you have less downforce on the car. What did they do? Did they take out the diffuser at the back?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: They just trimmed the rear wing. Your maximum angle has been reduced by basically a (indiscernible). That’s the big change. Q.  Does that make the car skittish?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Not really. None of these things, they shouldn’t alter the race dramatically. The front tire is slightly different. INDYCAR’s goal was to keep the style of race from last year similar. These micro-adjustments, the small downforce adjustment, hybrid, et cetera, it’s not going to alter things much. It’s not going to alter it much from what we’ve seen so far. Q.  I understand this is the third time at Nashville they’ve had an alternate tire. You have to run two sets. How does that tire feel? Is there a difference?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: There is. Similar to a road and street course. You get an offset, for sure. Q.  You grew up in this climate. In some ways does it help because you know what July days are like in Middle Tennessee?JOSEF NEWGARDEN: For me, being the local expert, it’s a big advantage. Very big advantage. I understand this humidity better than anybody. It’s unique. It is musical. You have to have a rhythm to the humidity, the race (smiling). Yeah, it’s great to be from here. It’s going to help me in the race. I think so…That’s a great question, Bruce. I qualified second, so no one cares. Got to have fun (smiling). THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Talk to Kyle. Bye (smiling). Tune-In Guide Sunday, July 19Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix (Pre-Race Show) – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (PT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS1Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix (300 laps)– 5:30pm (ET)/4:30pm (CT)/3:30pm (MT)/2:30pm (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden (right) and Scott McLaughlin (left) celebrate a win and third place finish in the 2025 Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix

Chevrolet and General Motors history at Nashville Superspeedway Chevrolet wins at Nashville Superspeedway: 2 2025 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2002 – Alex Baron – Blair Racing Oldsmobile wins at Nashville Superspeedway: 1 2001 – Buddy Lazier – Hemelgarn Racing Chevrolet poles at Nashville Superspeedway: 2 2025 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2005 – Tomas Scheckter – Panther Racing Oldsmobile poles at Nashville Superspeedway: 1 2001 – Greg Ray – Team Menard Chevrolet podiums at Nashville Superspeedway: 7 Chevrolet podiums at Nashville Superspeedway by driver:  Josef Newgarden (2), Alex Barron (1), Gil de Ferran (1), Sam Hornish (1), Scott McLaughlin (1), Pato O’Ward (1) Chevrolet podiums at the Nashville Superspeedway by team: Team Penske (4), Arrow McLaren (1), Blair Racing (1), Panther Racing (1) Oldsmobile podiums at Nashville Superspeedway: 3 Oldsmobile podiums at Nashville Superspeedway by driver: Billy Boat (1), Buddy Lazier (1), Jaques Lazier (1) Oldsmobile podiums at Nashville Superspeedway by team: Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports, Hemelgarn Racing (1), Sam Schmidt Motorsports (1) Chevrolet laps led at Nashville Superspeedway: 481 Chevrolet laps led at Nashville Superspeedway by driver: Pato O’Ward (137), Josef Newgarden (114), Sam Hornish (99), Alexander Rossi (48), Tony Renna (35), Scott Sharp (16), Alex Barron (11), Scott McLaughlin (7), Will Power (7), Conor Daly (2), David Malukas (1)     Chevrolet laps led at Nashville Superspeedway by team:  Panther Racing (103), Team Penske (54), Arrow McLaren (53), Kelley Racing (51), Blair Racing (11) Oldsmobile laps led at Nashville Superspeedway: 200 Oldsmobile laps led at Nashville Superspeedway by driver: Sam Hornish, Jr. (86), Buddy Lazier (71), Billy Boat (26), Eliseo Salazar (8), Greg Ray (6), Robbie McGehee (2), Jaques Lazier (1) Oldsmobile laps led Nashville Superspeedway by team: Panther Racing (86), Hemelgarn Racing (71), Curb-Agajanian-Beck Mortorsports (26), A.J. Foyt Racing (8), Team Menard (6) Cahill Racing (2), Sam Schmidt Motorsports (1) Manufacturer History at Nashville Superspeedway Wins (with competition): 3 – Honda (2024, 2005, 2004)3 – General Motors (Chevrolet/Oldsmobile)2 – Chevrolet (2025, 2002)1 – Oldsmobile (2001)1 – Toyota (2003) Poles (with competition): 3 – General Motors (Chevrolet/Oldsmobile)2 – Honda (2024, 2004)2 – Chevrolet (2025, 2005)1 – Infiniti (2002)1 – Oldsmobile (1)1 – Toyota (2003)

Day fends off Reutzel for second Eldora win this week and builds momentum heading into the Kings Royal

ROSSBURG, OH (July 17, 2026) – Corey Day doesn’t get to drive Sprint Cars too often these days, but he sure makes the most of the opportunities when they come.

The Clovis, CA native spends most weekends wheeling for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as he climbs through the elite levels of pavement racing. But he’ll never forget where he came from. Sprint Cars remain close to heart, and he jumps back in the Jason Meyers Racing ride whenever time permits.

As luck would have it, Day’s duties with “Mr. H” weren’t required this weekend with the tour taking it off. The timing couldn’t be better with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series invading Eldora Speedway for the 43rd Kings Royal. Action opened on Friday with The Knight Before the Kings Royal, and Day’s 2026 season debut with The Greatest Show on Dirt ended in Victory Lane.

The 20-year-old survived several restarts during a chaotic 30-lapper and fended off a charge from Aaron Reutzel to get the job done and bank $25,000. Reutzel took one peek to Day’s inside midway through the race, but Day closed the door, got his elbows up, and took off after the challenge on his way to the win.

“Yeah, it was tough,” Day said. “When you lead those races like that, you get to lapped traffic for only a couple laps and it’s really hard to gauge how good where you’re running on the track is. I thought that when I got to traffic and moved to the top I made really good speed, but it was close enough to what I was doing on the bottom that I was really unsure. Then someone got a run on me on the bottom of (Turn) 1 there before the last caution. I didn’t know if it came from the top. I kind of missed the bottom, so I also didn’t know if it came from them hitting the bottom. But I would’ve rather had my speed up around the top, and if I would’ve seen a nose I could’ve gotten down rather than the other way.”

Day’s triumph was his fourth in only 10 Sprint Car races this year. It was his second this week at Eldora to go along with a Wednesday Double Down Duel$ main event. He’s now got four career victories in 44 career World of Outlaws starts. Momentum is on Day’s side as his focus now turns to chasing the Kings Royal crown and $200,000 in riches.

Aaron Reutzel finished second in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 87 after starting in the third row. Like Day, he’ll chase his first Kings Royal title Saturday.

Garet Williamson continues to bang on the door of his first career World of Outlaws win as he put the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 on the final step of the podium. It’s his fourth top three in the last seven Series races.

Brady Bacon and Rico Abreu completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Ashton Torgerson clocked the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

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

Heat Races belonged to Brady Bacon (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Tyler Courtney (Knoxville Bound Heat Two), Sheldon Haudenschild (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Garet Williamson (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Corey Day.

Day also topped the Toyota Dash.

Emerson Axsom won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Logan Schuchart wheeled from 25th to eighth to pick up KSE Racing Products Hard Charger honors.

David Gravel was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Ashton Torgerson was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Corey Day laid down the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will crown a King and hand out $200,000 to the winner at Eldora Speedway’s 43rd Kings Royal on Saturday, July 18. 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 (30 Laps): 1. 14M-Corey Day[1]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5]; 3. 23-Garet Williamson[2]; 4. 21H-Brady Bacon[3]; 5. 14-Rico Abreu[10]; 6. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 7. 2-David Gravel[15]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[25]; 9. 9-Daison Pursley[17]; 10. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss[18]; 11. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[26]; 13. 5B-Karter Sarff[19]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[11]; 15. (DNF) 21-Brian Brown[8]; 16. (DNF) 51-Ashton Torgerson[12]; 17. (DNF) 7BC-Tyler Courtney[6]; 18. (DNF) 19-Brent Marks[16]; 19. (DNF) 27-Emerson Axsom[21]; 20. (DNF) 26-Justin Peck[14]; 21. (DNF) 5-Brenham Crouch[9]; 22. (DNF) 24D-Danny Sams III[24]; 23. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[13]; 24. (DNF) 42-Sye Lynch[20]; 25. (DNF) 83-Michael Kofoid[23]; 26. (DNF) 17-Spencer Bayston[27]; 27. (DNS) 13-Tanner Holmes

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

PAY DAY: Corey Day Dominates Eldora’s Knight Before the Kings Royal

Day fends off Reutzel for second Eldora win this week and builds momentum heading into the Kings Royal

ROSSBURG, OH (July 17, 2026) – Corey Day doesn’t get to drive Sprint Cars too often these days, but he sure makes the most of the opportunities when they come.

The Clovis, CA native spends most weekends wheeling for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as he climbs through the elite levels of pavement racing. But he’ll never forget where he came from. Sprint Cars remain close to heart, and he jumps back in the Jason Meyers Racing ride whenever time permits.

As luck would have it, Day’s duties with “Mr. H” weren’t required this weekend with the tour taking it off. The timing couldn’t be better with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series invading Eldora Speedway for the 43rd Kings Royal. Action opened on Friday with The Knight Before the Kings Royal, and Day’s 2026 season debut with The Greatest Show on Dirt ended in Victory Lane.

The 20-year-old survived several restarts during a chaotic 30-lapper and fended off a charge from Aaron Reutzel to get the job done and bank $25,000. Reutzel took one peek to Day’s inside midway through the race, but Day closed the door, got his elbows up, and took off after the challenge on his way to the win.

“Yeah, it was tough,” Day said. “When you lead those races like that, you get to lapped traffic for only a couple laps and it’s really hard to gauge how good where you’re running on the track is. I thought that when I got to traffic and moved to the top I made really good speed, but it was close enough to what I was doing on the bottom that I was really unsure. Then someone got a run on me on the bottom of (Turn) 1 there before the last caution. I didn’t know if it came from the top. I kind of missed the bottom, so I also didn’t know if it came from them hitting the bottom. But I would’ve rather had my speed up around the top, and if I would’ve seen a nose I could’ve gotten down rather than the other way.”

Day’s triumph was his fourth in only 10 Sprint Car races this year. It was his second this week at Eldora to go along with a Wednesday Double Down Duel$ main event. He’s now got four career victories in 44 career World of Outlaws starts. Momentum is on Day’s side as his focus now turns to chasing the Kings Royal crown and $200,000 in riches.

Aaron Reutzel finished second in the Ridge and Sons Racing No. 87 after starting in the third row. Like Day, he’ll chase his first Kings Royal title Saturday.

Garet Williamson continues to bang on the door of his first career World of Outlaws win as he put the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 on the final step of the podium. It’s his fourth top three in the last seven Series races.

Brady Bacon and Rico Abreu completed the top five.

NIGHTLY NOTES

Ashton Torgerson clocked the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

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

Heat Races belonged to Brady Bacon (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Tyler Courtney (Knoxville Bound Heat Two), Sheldon Haudenschild (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Garet Williamson (Golf Cart Services Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Corey Day.

Day also topped the Toyota Dash.

Emerson Axsom won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Logan Schuchart wheeled from 25th to eighth to pick up KSE Racing Products Hard Charger honors.

David Gravel was the Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher.

Ashton Torgerson was the Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race.

Corey Day laid down the ACME Trading Company Fast Lap.

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

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will crown a King and hand out $200,000 to the winner at Eldora Speedway’s 43rd Kings Royal on Saturday, July 18. 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 (30 Laps): 1. 14M-Corey Day[1]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel[5]; 3. 23-Garet Williamson[2]; 4. 21H-Brady Bacon[3]; 5. 14-Rico Abreu[10]; 6. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 7. 2-David Gravel[15]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[25]; 9. 9-Daison Pursley[17]; 10. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss[18]; 11. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[26]; 13. 5B-Karter Sarff[19]; 14. 41-Carson Macedo[11]; 15. (DNF) 21-Brian Brown[8]; 16. (DNF) 51-Ashton Torgerson[12]; 17. (DNF) 7BC-Tyler Courtney[6]; 18. (DNF) 19-Brent Marks[16]; 19. (DNF) 27-Emerson Axsom[21]; 20. (DNF) 26-Justin Peck[14]; 21. (DNF) 5-Brenham Crouch[9]; 22. (DNF) 24D-Danny Sams III[24]; 23. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[13]; 24. (DNF) 42-Sye Lynch[20]; 25. (DNF) 83-Michael Kofoid[23]; 26. (DNF) 17-Spencer Bayston[27]; 27. (DNS) 13-Tanner Holmes

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/pay-day-corey-day-dominates-eldoras-knight-before-the-kings-royal/

FRIDAY RECAP – SONOMA Race 11 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF DROPS HAMMER ON SONOMA FUNNY CAR FIELDVandergriff sets season low ET, Beckman 2nd, DeJoria and Hart 7th

FRIDAY RECAP – SONOMARace 11 of 20

Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase

VANDERGRIFF DROPS HAMMER ON SONOMA FUNNY CAR FIELDVandergriff sets season low ET, Beckman 2nd, DeJoria and Hart 7th

SONOMA, Calif. (July 17, 2026) – Jordan Vandergriff and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS team made the quickest Funny Car pass of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season to capture the provisional No.1 qualifying spot during Friday night qualifying for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. The John Force Racing driver ran 3.849 seconds at 332.43 mph in the first pair of Funny Cars down the track in the session. In doing so, the Funny Car rookie earned the $4,000 Deecell Power Systems “After Dark Low Qualifier” bonus, ironically an award he presented last season as a member of the NHRA on FOX announce team. Jack Beckman and the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team moved up one spot, to second, in the night session with their run of 3.874 seconds at 333.16 mph which also was their second-quickest run of the season. Tire shake early in the night qualifying run forced Alexis DeJoria to shut off early and use her second-place performance in Q1, 3.917 seconds at 329.26 mph, to put the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car in the seventh position at the end of the day. Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel team were sixth quickest in Q1 with their run of 3.763 seconds at 336.82 mph. Unfortunately, they were unable to make the Q2 pass due to a car ahead of them oiling down the track with not enough time to clean it up before Sonoma Raceway’s noise curfew. Those teams that did run were able to keep their times which moved Hart to seventh place. Saturday’s two qualifying sessions are scheduled for 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. PT. Quote from Jordan Vandergriff, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “To be the quickest Funny Car of the year so far is a huge accomplishment, especially with how competitive this class is. And I’m a rookie—I don’t even know what I’m doing yet,” Vandergriff said. “We fumbled a little in Q1, but I knew we had something figured out. The early numbers looked really good, so I believed we were going to run quick no matter when we went down the track. “I knew the team wanted to push a little. We’ve run well this year, we’ve won a race, we’ve qualified No. 1 before, but we hadn’t really leaned on it. Tonight we did. I knew we were going to run well. I just didn’t know we were going to run that good.” Quote from Jack Beckman, PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “Danny and Tim (crew chiefs Hood and Fabrisi) are calling the shots on this and they get an A plus. We were third quickest in the first session and that’s the session where, with 18 cars here, you don’t want to take a hero swing at it. You want to be sensible and that’s exactly what they did. We had made another change in the bell housing that we think will speed up our 60-foot time a little bit without taking away anything else from the run. So, it should make this car quicker overall and it did exactly what they asked it to do in Q1. We then turned the screws on it when the track got better for the second session and went out there and went to No. 2 trailing only our teammate in the Cornwell car. So, we got bonus points in both sessions and ran our second-quickest run of the entire year. For, tomorrow, assuming that the conditions don’t get better than they were today, which is very doubtful, our goal is to get good data and qualifying bonus points and I have no reason to think we won’t get both. Quote from Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car: “We were definitely loaded for bear in Q2. Our 60-foot time was an .858 or .856. Yeah, so we were ready to lay one down and continue our consistent top qualifying runs We made a solid first run, but we just missed it. We’re still in the top half of the field and today is only Friday so we have two more runs tomorrow.” Quote from Josh Hart, Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster: “First of all, I really hate it for the race fans and the teams that came from the East Coast. Everybody’s aggravated, but it is what it is. Q1 was the first run with our brand new car, so I’m really proud of this team. It’s just another testament to how capable our Speedmaster team is and what confidence I have in them to go 336 miles per hour in a brand new car, never even been tested. So, I’m confident and, hopefully, tomorrow we’ll bring much better vibes from everybody and for everybody. The guys worked their tails off. I mean, they really did a great job. It looks amazing and we’re trying to optimize everything we can to perform as good as we can. I’m confident and, hopfully, tomorrow we’ll bring much better vibes from everybody and for everybody.”

HARLAN, IA (July 17, 2026) – Friday night’s Silver Dollar Nationals passing points format featured double heat races, each paying $2,000 to win, for the 54 competitors signed in for the event. With 10 heat races contested, there were no repeat winners as Ricky Thornton Jr. and Bobby Pierce emerged as the front-row starters for Saturday night’s 16th Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals finale. Pierce and Thornton finished tied atop the passing points standings among the 16 drivers who locked themselves into Saturday night’s feature at Shelby County Speedway, which is hosting the Silver Dollar Nationals for the first time. Thornton earned the pole position by winning the tiebreaker based on his faster heat race lap time, while Pierce will start alongside him on the front row. The opening heat race of round one produced an exciting finish as two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and 2017 Silver Dollar Nationals winner Tim McCreadie of Watertown, New York, took the lead from Brian Shirley on the final lap to claim the $2,000 victory. Shirley had led the previous 12 laps and appeared to be on his way to the win before McCreadie made the winning pass on the white-flag lap. Shirley finished second, followed by Chase Junghans and Kyle Bronson. The second heat of round one belonged to defending Silver Dollar Nationals champion Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana, who led wire-to-wire to earn the $2,000 victory. Ryan Gustin finished second, followed by Brandon Overton and Brandon Sheppard. Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Illinois, the 2019 Silver Dollar Nationals winner, captured the third heat of round one. Pierce led the final seven laps to earn the $2,000 payday. Cory Lawler finished second, with Tim Ward and Carson Ferguson completing the top four. Defending Malvern Bank West Series champion Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Nebraska, led all 13 laps to win the fourth heat of round one and collect $2,000. Dan Ebert crossed the line second, followed by Nick Hoffman and Blair Nothdurft. Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, won the fifth heat of round one, narrowly edging Ricky Thornton Jr., who charged from the ninth starting position. Moran claimed the victory by approximately half a car length. Brenden Smith finished third, followed by Derrick Stewart in fourth. The opening heat of round two featured passing points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. and Mike Marlar battling for the lead. Each driver led six laps before Thornton prevailed to earn another $2,000 victory. Marlar finished second, followed by Jacob Hobscheidt and Clay Harris. The second heat of round two saw Thursday’s Go 50 winner Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Illinois, rally from the fifth starting position to take the lead from Chad Simpson, who had paced the field for the first 10 laps. Josh Rice finished second, followed by Simpson and Devin Moran. Dallon Murty of Chelsea, Iowa, captured the third heat of round two as he drove the Skyline Motorsports entry to the $2,000 victory by leading all 12 laps. Garrett Alberson advanced from the sixth starting position to finish second. Clay Stuckey charged from 10th to third to gain valuable passing points, while J.T. Wasmund finished fourth. Three-time Silver Dollar Nationals winner Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Georgia, dominated the fourth heat of round two. The three-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion led all 13 laps and crossed the finish line nearly six seconds ahead of Max Blair. Dillon McCowan finished third, with Dennis Erb Jr. completing the top four as Davenport earned the $2,000 winner’s check. The fifth and final heat race featured an exciting battle between Zach Zeitner of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Bobby Pierce. Zeitner, the reigning and current Shelby County Speedway Late Model points leader, outdueled Pierce to score a popular $2,000 victory. Pierce finished second, followed by Chase Junghans and Nick Hoffman. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals | Night 1Friday, July 17, 2026Shelby County Speedway | Harlan, IA Penske Shocks Round 1 – Heat Race #1 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 9-Tim McCreadie[3]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 3. 15-Clay Stuckey[2]; 4. 18J-Chase Junghans[5]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[8]; 6. 49-Jonathan Davenport[11]; 7. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[4]; 8. 22M-Charlie McKenna[7]; 9. Z76-Zach Zeitner[10]; 10. 56-Chris Spieker[9]; 11. 3-Mike Collins[6] Summit Racing Products Round 1 – Heat Race #2 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin[1]; 3. 76-Brandon Overton[8]; 4. 1-Brandon Sheppard[7]; 5. 15D-Justin Duty[4]; 6. 10T-Jeff Tharp[3]; 7. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[9]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 9. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 10. 51W-JT Wasmund[11]; 11. 80-Allan Hopp[10] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Round 1 – Heat Race #3 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[3]; 2. 93L-Cory Lawler[1]; 3. 4TW-Tim Ward[6]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson[8]; 5. 8-Dillon McCowan[9]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 7. 44M-Chris Madden[10]; 8. 53-Andrew Kosiski[5]; 9. 25-Chad Simpson[11]; 10. 15C-Curt Schroeder[4]; 11. 17SR-Brody Smith[2] Simpson Race Products Round 1 – Heat Race #4 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 04-Tad Pospisil[1]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[3]; 3. 9H-Nick Hoffman[2]; 4. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[5]; 5. 111-Max Blair[8]; 6. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[4]; 7. 157-Mike Marlar[11]; 8. 32X-Chris Simpson[6]; 9. 11-Josh Rice[10]; 10. 13-Dallon Murty[9]; 11. 10-Junior Coover[7] MyRacePass Round 1 – Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps): 1. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[9]; 3. 17SS-Brenden Smith[5]; 4. 43-Derrick Stewart[2]; 5. 4-JC Wyman[8]; 6. 21H-Brett Hopp[6]; 7. 35D-Dylan Sillman[7]; 8. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[10]; 9. 71M-Mike Morton Jr[4]; 10. 45D-Dan Battaglia[1] Penske Shocks Round 1 – Heat Race #1 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 3. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[8]; 4. 6-Clay Harris[5]; 5. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 6. 04-Tad Pospisil[10]; 7. 10T-Jeff Tharp[9]; 8. 32X-Chris Simpson[6]; 9. 56-Chris Spieker[3]; 10. 71M-Mike Morton Jr[7]; 11. (DNS) 17SR-Brody Smith Summit Racing Products Round 1 – Heat Race #2 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 2. 11-Josh Rice[2]; 3. 25-Chad Simpson[1]; 4. 99-Devin Moran[8]; 5. 71-Hudson O’Neal[10]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[4]; 7. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[7]; 8. 9-Tim McCreadie[9]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[11]; 10. 4-JC Wyman[3]; 11. 4TW-Tim Ward[6] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Round 1 – Heat Race #3 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 13-Dallon Murty[3]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[5]; 3. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 4. 51W-JT Wasmund[1]; 5. 19R-Ryan Gustin[10]; 6. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 7. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[7]; 8. 43-Derrick Stewart[8]; 9. 53-Andrew Kosiski[6]; 10. 22M-Charlie McKenna[4]; 11. (DNS) 35D-Dylan Sillman Simpson Race Products Round 1 – Heat Race #4 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[4]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[3]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[11]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[9]; 7. 80-Allan Hopp[2]; 8. 15C-Curt Schroeder[8]; 9. 21H-Brett Hopp[5]; 10. 45D-Dan Battaglia[10]; 11. 3-Mike Collins[6] MyRacePass Round 1 – Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps): 1. Z76-Zach Zeitner[2]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[8]; 3. 18J-Chase Junghans[6]; 4. 9H-Nick Hoffman[9]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 7. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[1]; 8. 17SS-Brenden Smith[10]; 9. 15D-Justin Duty[7]; 10. 10-Junior Coover[5] 16th Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals Line-Up (80 Laps):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ2 – 32 – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH5 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN6 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL8 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA9 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA10 – 9H – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA12 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS13 – 4 – Tad Pospisil – Norfolk, NE14 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN16 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Line-Up (10 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN2 – 1 – Jacob Hobscheidt – Plattsmouth, NE3 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL4 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL5 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY6 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC7 – 10T – Jeff Tharp – Sherrill, IA8 – 51W – J.T. Wasmund – Pine Island, MN9 – 24C – Brandon Conkwright – Wamego, KS10 – 53 – Andrew Kosiski – Lavista, NE11 – 15C – Curt Schroeder – Newton, IA12 – 71M – Mike Morton Jr – Omaha, NE13 – 17SR – Brody Smith – Dade City, FL UNOH B-Main #2 Line-Up (10 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC2 – Z76 – Zach Zeitner – Bellevue, NE3 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM4 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA5 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL6 – 43 – Derrick Stewart – Ainsworth, IA7 – 4TW – Tim Ward – Harcourt, IA8 – 4 – JC Wyman – Griswold, IA9 – 21H – Brett Hopp – Harlan, IA10 – 22M – Charlie McKenna – Ames, IA11 – 35D – Dylan Sillman – Alvo, NE12 – 45D – Dan Battaglia – Gretna, NE13 – 3 – Mike Collins – New Orleans, LA MyRacePass B-Main #3 Line-Up (10 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY2 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL3 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA4 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD5 – 25 – Chad Simpson – Mt. Vernon, IA6 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA7 – 99-18 – Jesse Sobbing – Malvern, IA8 – 15D – Justin Duty – Molalla, OR9 – 32X – Chris Simpson – Oxford, IA10 – 80 – Allan Hopp – Harlan, IA11 – 56 – Chris Spieker – Massena, IA12 – 10 – Junior Coover – Norfolk, NE 16th Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals Points:POS – Car # – First Name – Last Name – RND 1 – RND 2 – Points – Tie Breaker (Fastest Lap)1 – 20RT – Ricky – Thornton – 67.32 – 60.76 – 128.08 – 13.6882 – 32 – Bobby – Pierce – 62.52 – 65.56 – 128.08 – 13.8623 – 1 – Brandon – Sheppard – 52.28 – 66.04 – 118.32 – 4 – 99 – Devin – Moran – 62.52 – 54.04 – 116.56 – 5 – 71 – Hudson – O’Neal – 60.76 – 51.80 – 112.56 – 6 – 15 – Clay – Stuckey – 51.00 – 61.56 – 112.56 – 7 – 3S – Brian – Shirley – 55.00 – 53.56 – 108.56 – 13.4918 – 19R – Ryan – Gustin – 55.00 – 51.80 – 106.80 – 13.7999 – 49 – Jonathan – Davenport – 47.80 – 59.00 – 106.80 – 14.03510 – 9H – Nick – Hoffman – 51.00 – 55.80 – 106.80 – 14.21711 – 111 – Max – Blair – 48.28 – 58.52 – 106.80 – 14.54512 – 18J – Chase – Junghans – 48.76 – 56.28 – 105.04 – 13.84913 – 04 – Tad – Pospisil – 59.00 – 46.04 – 105.04 – 14.15314 – 76 – Brandon – Overton – 59.80 – 43.00 – 102.80 – 15 – 60 – Dan – Ebert – 56.76 – 44.28 – 101.04 – 14.17916 – 8 – Dillon – McCowan – 50.04 – 51.00 – 101.04 – 14.41417 – 157 – Mike – Marlar – 42.04 – 55.00 – 97.04 – 13.74418 – 93 – Carson – Ferguson – 54.04 – 43.00 – 97.04 – 14.13719 – 9 – Tim – McCreadie – 62.52 – 32.76 – 95.28 – 20 – 01 – Jacob – Hobscheidt – 35.00 – 59.80 – 94.80 – 21 – Z76 – Zach – Zeitner – 28.76 – 60.76 – 89.52 – 13.95722 – 6 – Clay – Harris – 40.76 – 48.76 – 89.52 – 13.97823 – 40B – Kyle – Bronson – 48.28 – 39.00 – 87.28 – 24 – 58 – Garrett – Alberson – 27.00 – 60.28 – 87.28 – 25 – 93L – Cory – Lawler – 55.00 – 30.52 – 85.52 – 14.10426 – 17SS – Brenden – Smith – 54.52 – 31.00 – 85.52 – 14.56127 – 13 – Dallon – Murty – 23.00 – 62.52 – 85.52 – 14.6128 – 76N – Blair – Nothdurft – 48.76 – 35.00 – 83.76 – 14.20229 – 11 – Josh – Rice – 28.76 – 55.00 – 83.76 – 14.64530 – 28 – Dennis – Erb – 31.00 – 52.28 – 83.28 – 31 – 25 – Chad – Simpson – 30.52 – 51.00 – 81.52 – 32 – 44M – Chris – Madden – 40.28 – 39.00 – 79.28 – 33 – 43 – Derrick – Stewart – 47.00 – 31.00 – 78.00 – 34 – 22 – Daniel – Hilsabeck – 38.52 – 39.00 – 77.52 – 14.09735 – 10T – Jeff – Tharp – 39.00 – 38.52 – 77.52 – 14.12336 – 4TW – Tim – Ward – 56.28 – 19.00 – 75.28 – 37 – 99-18 – Jesse – Sobbing – 39.00 – 35.00 – 74.00 – 38 – 51W – J.T. – Wasmund – 24.76 – 47.00 – 71.76 – 39 – 4 – JC – Wyman – 48.28 – 23.00 – 71.28 – 40 – 15D – Justin – Duty – 43.00 – 27.00 – 70.00 – 41 – 24C – Brandon – Conkwright – 34.52 – 35.00 – 69.52 – 42 – 21H – Brett – Hopp – 39.00 – 27.00 – 66.00 – 43 – 32X – Chris – Simpson – 31.00 – 31.00 – 62.00 – 44 – 53 – Andrew – Kosiski – 31.00 – 27.00 – 58.00 – 45 – 22M – Charlie – McKenna – 31.00 – 23.00 – 54.00 – 14.14146 – 80 – Allan – Hopp – 19.00 – 35.00 – 54.00 – 14.25447 – 15C – Curt – Schroeder – 23.00 – 31.00 – 54.00 – 14.40248 – 35D – Dylan – Sillman – 35.00 – 19.00 – 54.00 – 15.11249 – 56 – Chris – Spieker – 23.00 – 27.00 – 50.00 – 14.44650 – 71M – Mike – Morton – 27.00 – 23.00 – 50.00 – 14.67951 – 45D – Dan – Battaglia – 23.00 – 23.00 – 46.00 – 52 – 10 – Junior – Coover – 19.00 – 23.00 – 42.00 – 53 – 17SR – Brody – Smith – 19.00 – 19.00 – 38.00 – 13.99554 – 3 – Mike – Collins – 19.00 – 19.00 – 38.00 – 14.621

Thornton Jr. Earns Pole Position for 16th Silver Dollar Nationals

HARLAN, IA (July 17, 2026) – Friday night’s Silver Dollar Nationals passing points format featured double heat races, each paying $2,000 to win, for the 54 competitors signed in for the event. With 10 heat races contested, there were no repeat winners as Ricky Thornton Jr. and Bobby Pierce emerged as the front-row starters for Saturday night’s 16th Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals finale. Pierce and Thornton finished tied atop the passing points standings among the 16 drivers who locked themselves into Saturday night’s feature at Shelby County Speedway, which is hosting the Silver Dollar Nationals for the first time. Thornton earned the pole position by winning the tiebreaker based on his faster heat race lap time, while Pierce will start alongside him on the front row. The opening heat race of round one produced an exciting finish as two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and 2017 Silver Dollar Nationals winner Tim McCreadie of Watertown, New York, took the lead from Brian Shirley on the final lap to claim the $2,000 victory. Shirley had led the previous 12 laps and appeared to be on his way to the win before McCreadie made the winning pass on the white-flag lap. Shirley finished second, followed by Chase Junghans and Kyle Bronson. The second heat of round one belonged to defending Silver Dollar Nationals champion Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana, who led wire-to-wire to earn the $2,000 victory. Ryan Gustin finished second, followed by Brandon Overton and Brandon Sheppard. Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Illinois, the 2019 Silver Dollar Nationals winner, captured the third heat of round one. Pierce led the final seven laps to earn the $2,000 payday. Cory Lawler finished second, with Tim Ward and Carson Ferguson completing the top four. Defending Malvern Bank West Series champion Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Nebraska, led all 13 laps to win the fourth heat of round one and collect $2,000. Dan Ebert crossed the line second, followed by Nick Hoffman and Blair Nothdurft. Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, won the fifth heat of round one, narrowly edging Ricky Thornton Jr., who charged from the ninth starting position. Moran claimed the victory by approximately half a car length. Brenden Smith finished third, followed by Derrick Stewart in fourth. The opening heat of round two featured passing points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. and Mike Marlar battling for the lead. Each driver led six laps before Thornton prevailed to earn another $2,000 victory. Marlar finished second, followed by Jacob Hobscheidt and Clay Harris. The second heat of round two saw Thursday’s Go 50 winner Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Illinois, rally from the fifth starting position to take the lead from Chad Simpson, who had paced the field for the first 10 laps. Josh Rice finished second, followed by Simpson and Devin Moran. Dallon Murty of Chelsea, Iowa, captured the third heat of round two as he drove the Skyline Motorsports entry to the $2,000 victory by leading all 12 laps. Garrett Alberson advanced from the sixth starting position to finish second. Clay Stuckey charged from 10th to third to gain valuable passing points, while J.T. Wasmund finished fourth. Three-time Silver Dollar Nationals winner Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Georgia, dominated the fourth heat of round two. The three-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion led all 13 laps and crossed the finish line nearly six seconds ahead of Max Blair. Dillon McCowan finished third, with Dennis Erb Jr. completing the top four as Davenport earned the $2,000 winner’s check. The fifth and final heat race featured an exciting battle between Zach Zeitner of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Bobby Pierce. Zeitner, the reigning and current Shelby County Speedway Late Model points leader, outdueled Pierce to score a popular $2,000 victory. Pierce finished second, followed by Chase Junghans and Nick Hoffman. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals | Night 1Friday, July 17, 2026Shelby County Speedway | Harlan, IA Penske Shocks Round 1 – Heat Race #1 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 9-Tim McCreadie[3]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 3. 15-Clay Stuckey[2]; 4. 18J-Chase Junghans[5]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[8]; 6. 49-Jonathan Davenport[11]; 7. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[4]; 8. 22M-Charlie McKenna[7]; 9. Z76-Zach Zeitner[10]; 10. 56-Chris Spieker[9]; 11. 3-Mike Collins[6] Summit Racing Products Round 1 – Heat Race #2 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin[1]; 3. 76-Brandon Overton[8]; 4. 1-Brandon Sheppard[7]; 5. 15D-Justin Duty[4]; 6. 10T-Jeff Tharp[3]; 7. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[9]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 9. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 10. 51W-JT Wasmund[11]; 11. 80-Allan Hopp[10] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Round 1 – Heat Race #3 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[3]; 2. 93L-Cory Lawler[1]; 3. 4TW-Tim Ward[6]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson[8]; 5. 8-Dillon McCowan[9]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 7. 44M-Chris Madden[10]; 8. 53-Andrew Kosiski[5]; 9. 25-Chad Simpson[11]; 10. 15C-Curt Schroeder[4]; 11. 17SR-Brody Smith[2] Simpson Race Products Round 1 – Heat Race #4 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 04-Tad Pospisil[1]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[3]; 3. 9H-Nick Hoffman[2]; 4. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[5]; 5. 111-Max Blair[8]; 6. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[4]; 7. 157-Mike Marlar[11]; 8. 32X-Chris Simpson[6]; 9. 11-Josh Rice[10]; 10. 13-Dallon Murty[9]; 11. 10-Junior Coover[7] MyRacePass Round 1 – Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps): 1. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[9]; 3. 17SS-Brenden Smith[5]; 4. 43-Derrick Stewart[2]; 5. 4-JC Wyman[8]; 6. 21H-Brett Hopp[6]; 7. 35D-Dylan Sillman[7]; 8. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[10]; 9. 71M-Mike Morton Jr[4]; 10. 45D-Dan Battaglia[1] Penske Shocks Round 1 – Heat Race #1 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 3. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[8]; 4. 6-Clay Harris[5]; 5. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 6. 04-Tad Pospisil[10]; 7. 10T-Jeff Tharp[9]; 8. 32X-Chris Simpson[6]; 9. 56-Chris Spieker[3]; 10. 71M-Mike Morton Jr[7]; 11. (DNS) 17SR-Brody Smith Summit Racing Products Round 1 – Heat Race #2 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 2. 11-Josh Rice[2]; 3. 25-Chad Simpson[1]; 4. 99-Devin Moran[8]; 5. 71-Hudson O’Neal[10]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[4]; 7. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[7]; 8. 9-Tim McCreadie[9]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[11]; 10. 4-JC Wyman[3]; 11. 4TW-Tim Ward[6] Cool-It Thermo-Tec Round 1 – Heat Race #3 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 13-Dallon Murty[3]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[5]; 3. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 4. 51W-JT Wasmund[1]; 5. 19R-Ryan Gustin[10]; 6. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 7. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[7]; 8. 43-Derrick Stewart[8]; 9. 53-Andrew Kosiski[6]; 10. 22M-Charlie McKenna[4]; 11. (DNS) 35D-Dylan Sillman Simpson Race Products Round 1 – Heat Race #4 Finish (13 Laps): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[4]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[3]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[11]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[9]; 7. 80-Allan Hopp[2]; 8. 15C-Curt Schroeder[8]; 9. 21H-Brett Hopp[5]; 10. 45D-Dan Battaglia[10]; 11. 3-Mike Collins[6] MyRacePass Round 1 – Heat Race #5 Finish (12 Laps): 1. Z76-Zach Zeitner[2]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[8]; 3. 18J-Chase Junghans[6]; 4. 9H-Nick Hoffman[9]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 7. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[1]; 8. 17SS-Brenden Smith[10]; 9. 15D-Justin Duty[7]; 10. 10-Junior Coover[5] 16th Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals Line-Up (80 Laps):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ2 – 32 – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH5 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN6 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL8 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA9 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA10 – 9H – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA12 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS13 – 4 – Tad Pospisil – Norfolk, NE14 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN16 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Line-Up (10 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN2 – 1 – Jacob Hobscheidt – Plattsmouth, NE3 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL4 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL5 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY6 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC7 – 10T – Jeff Tharp – Sherrill, IA8 – 51W – J.T. Wasmund – Pine Island, MN9 – 24C – Brandon Conkwright – Wamego, KS10 – 53 – Andrew Kosiski – Lavista, NE11 – 15C – Curt Schroeder – Newton, IA12 – 71M – Mike Morton Jr – Omaha, NE13 – 17SR – Brody Smith – Dade City, FL UNOH B-Main #2 Line-Up (10 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC2 – Z76 – Zach Zeitner – Bellevue, NE3 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM4 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA5 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL6 – 43 – Derrick Stewart – Ainsworth, IA7 – 4TW – Tim Ward – Harcourt, IA8 – 4 – JC Wyman – Griswold, IA9 – 21H – Brett Hopp – Harlan, IA10 – 22M – Charlie McKenna – Ames, IA11 – 35D – Dylan Sillman – Alvo, NE12 – 45D – Dan Battaglia – Gretna, NE13 – 3 – Mike Collins – New Orleans, LA MyRacePass B-Main #3 Line-Up (10 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):Start – No. – Competitor – Hometown1 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY2 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL3 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA4 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD5 – 25 – Chad Simpson – Mt. Vernon, IA6 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA7 – 99-18 – Jesse Sobbing – Malvern, IA8 – 15D – Justin Duty – Molalla, OR9 – 32X – Chris Simpson – Oxford, IA10 – 80 – Allan Hopp – Harlan, IA11 – 56 – Chris Spieker – Massena, IA12 – 10 – Junior Coover – Norfolk, NE 16th Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals Points:POS – Car # – First Name – Last Name – RND 1 – RND 2 – Points – Tie Breaker (Fastest Lap)1 – 20RT – Ricky – Thornton – 67.32 – 60.76 – 128.08 – 13.6882 – 32 – Bobby – Pierce – 62.52 – 65.56 – 128.08 – 13.8623 – 1 – Brandon – Sheppard – 52.28 – 66.04 – 118.32 – 4 – 99 – Devin – Moran – 62.52 – 54.04 – 116.56 – 5 – 71 – Hudson – O’Neal – 60.76 – 51.80 – 112.56 – 6 – 15 – Clay – Stuckey – 51.00 – 61.56 – 112.56 – 7 – 3S – Brian – Shirley – 55.00 – 53.56 – 108.56 – 13.4918 – 19R – Ryan – Gustin – 55.00 – 51.80 – 106.80 – 13.7999 – 49 – Jonathan – Davenport – 47.80 – 59.00 – 106.80 – 14.03510 – 9H – Nick – Hoffman – 51.00 – 55.80 – 106.80 – 14.21711 – 111 – Max – Blair – 48.28 – 58.52 – 106.80 – 14.54512 – 18J – Chase – Junghans – 48.76 – 56.28 – 105.04 – 13.84913 – 04 – Tad – Pospisil – 59.00 – 46.04 – 105.04 – 14.15314 – 76 – Brandon – Overton – 59.80 – 43.00 – 102.80 – 15 – 60 – Dan – Ebert – 56.76 – 44.28 – 101.04 – 14.17916 – 8 – Dillon – McCowan – 50.04 – 51.00 – 101.04 – 14.41417 – 157 – Mike – Marlar – 42.04 – 55.00 – 97.04 – 13.74418 – 93 – Carson – Ferguson – 54.04 – 43.00 – 97.04 – 14.13719 – 9 – Tim – McCreadie – 62.52 – 32.76 – 95.28 – 20 – 01 – Jacob – Hobscheidt – 35.00 – 59.80 – 94.80 – 21 – Z76 – Zach – Zeitner – 28.76 – 60.76 – 89.52 – 13.95722 – 6 – Clay – Harris – 40.76 – 48.76 – 89.52 – 13.97823 – 40B – Kyle – Bronson – 48.28 – 39.00 – 87.28 – 24 – 58 – Garrett – Alberson – 27.00 – 60.28 – 87.28 – 25 – 93L – Cory – Lawler – 55.00 – 30.52 – 85.52 – 14.10426 – 17SS – Brenden – Smith – 54.52 – 31.00 – 85.52 – 14.56127 – 13 – Dallon – Murty – 23.00 – 62.52 – 85.52 – 14.6128 – 76N – Blair – Nothdurft – 48.76 – 35.00 – 83.76 – 14.20229 – 11 – Josh – Rice – 28.76 – 55.00 – 83.76 – 14.64530 – 28 – Dennis – Erb – 31.00 – 52.28 – 83.28 – 31 – 25 – Chad – Simpson – 30.52 – 51.00 – 81.52 – 32 – 44M – Chris – Madden – 40.28 – 39.00 – 79.28 – 33 – 43 – Derrick – Stewart – 47.00 – 31.00 – 78.00 – 34 – 22 – Daniel – Hilsabeck – 38.52 – 39.00 – 77.52 – 14.09735 – 10T – Jeff – Tharp – 39.00 – 38.52 – 77.52 – 14.12336 – 4TW – Tim – Ward – 56.28 – 19.00 – 75.28 – 37 – 99-18 – Jesse – Sobbing – 39.00 – 35.00 – 74.00 – 38 – 51W – J.T. – Wasmund – 24.76 – 47.00 – 71.76 – 39 – 4 – JC – Wyman – 48.28 – 23.00 – 71.28 – 40 – 15D – Justin – Duty – 43.00 – 27.00 – 70.00 – 41 – 24C – Brandon – Conkwright – 34.52 – 35.00 – 69.52 – 42 – 21H – Brett – Hopp – 39.00 – 27.00 – 66.00 – 43 – 32X – Chris – Simpson – 31.00 – 31.00 – 62.00 – 44 – 53 – Andrew – Kosiski – 31.00 – 27.00 – 58.00 – 45 – 22M – Charlie – McKenna – 31.00 – 23.00 – 54.00 – 14.14146 – 80 – Allan – Hopp – 19.00 – 35.00 – 54.00 – 14.25447 – 15C – Curt – Schroeder – 23.00 – 31.00 – 54.00 – 14.40248 – 35D – Dylan – Sillman – 35.00 – 19.00 – 54.00 – 15.11249 – 56 – Chris – Spieker – 23.00 – 27.00 – 50.00 – 14.44650 – 71M – Mike – Morton – 27.00 – 23.00 – 50.00 – 14.67951 – 45D – Dan – Battaglia – 23.00 – 23.00 – 46.00 – 52 – 10 – Junior – Coover – 19.00 – 23.00 – 42.00 – 53 – 17SR – Brody – Smith – 19.00 – 19.00 – 38.00 – 13.99554 – 3 – Mike – Collins – 19.00 – 19.00 – 38.00 – 14.621

BARBERVILLE, FL (July 17, 2026) – After nearly 60 years, Volusia Speedway Park has established itself as one of the top dirt racing venues in the country and a premier learning ground for launching drivers and teams into the national spotlight. 

The track has enjoyed a storied history of attracting a large group of local racers, many of whom have taken the lessons learned from the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” and applied them to successful careers outside the “Sunshine State.” 

Let’s revisit who’s grown through Volusia: 

Dick Murphy (DeLand, FL) 

Before Florida provided dirt-racing talent among drivers, Volusia’s owner from 1982-92 and 1998-05 reached the heights as a pioneering car owner in Super Late Model competition. 

Dick Murphy made heavy investments in the sport when he purchased the track from Benny Corbin in 1982 while fielding a Late Model for Gaffney, SC’s Mike Duvall. That same year, Duvall and Murphy found success by scoring the National Dirt Racing Association (NDRA) championship, and Duvall drove the iconic “Flintstone F1yer” machine to his only World 100triumph at Eldora Speedway. 

Murphy continued his partnership with Duvall while running a VSP-sponsored No. M14, driven by Larry Moore in 1983. Moore won multiple races for Murphy across the NDRA, along with scoring the 1986 STARS Racing Series title. 

While Murphy scaled back his Super Late Model efforts by the end of the decade, he spent the years after focusing on the 1/2-mile track’s growth by expanding Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals into a two-week extravaganza while managing between dirt and asphalt racing on the same property.  

Murphy and Duvall’s contributions to the sport forever marked their place in history, each receiving an induction to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.  

Jason Garver (Starke, FL) 

As the reigning track champion in the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, 602 Late Models, and Factory Stocks, Garver is a seasoned Volusia veteran who hasn’t been afraid to take his talents to unfamiliar territories. 

The 49-year-old spent most of his career as a regional driver between Florida, Georgia, and Alabama while competing for track championships across several divisions on dirt and asphalt. Garver made his first start at Volusia in 2015 with an E-Mod, then started competing annually with a UMP Modified in 2018 for DIRTcar Nationals and the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial. 

Garver won his first race at the track with a Factory Stock in 2021, then won his first Golden Gator in 2022. From 2021-2024, He had sporadic starts that placed him out of championship contention, but he’s visited Volusia Victory Lane each year since 2021. 

In 2025, Garver took his first visit to the Midwest for a seven-race stretch with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals between Clarksville Speedway and Duck River Raceway Park. In that span, he earned four top 10s and his first top-five finish at Duck River. 

“Racin’ Jason” has kept himself in the track title conversation at Volusia in 2026, leading the 602 points while sitting within the top three of the UMP and 604 Late Model standings. He returned for a week with the Hell Tour and earned his first win at Harrisburg, AR’s Old No. 1 Speedway on June 30. 

Trey Mills (St. Augustine, FL) 

Before Trey Mills became known as “The Future” in dirt Late Model racing, he was once a local hotshot who looked to build his name in the Florida ranks. 

Before racing at the 1/2-mile, Mills started his career in go-karts at the former karting track, picking up multiple Feature wins before stepping up the ladder to 602 Late Models at the start of 2020. In his fourth career start on the high-speed oval, a 12-year-old Mills bagged his first Feature win and went on to finish third in the standings. 

In 2022, Mills made scattered starts in both 602 and 604 competition across the “Sunshine State” while turning his first laps in a Super Late Model at Volusia, Golden Isles Speedway, and All-Tech Raceway. In 2023, Mills made his first step into regional racing by joining the Hunt The Front Super Dirt Series, winning his first Feature at Whynot Motorsports Park and earning Rookie of the Year honors. 

Mills continued racing on the southeastern circuit while venturing toward the Midwest with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals and crown jewels like the Dirt Late Model Dream, World 100, and the Prairie Dirt Classic. Mills made his first full campaign with the Hell Tour in 2025 and scored his first victory in the Herald & Review 100 at Macon. His chain of success helped him form an MD3 Rookie of the Year hunt with the World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision, where he sits ninth in the standings. 

Kyle Bronson (Brandon, FL)

Bronson made his venture into dirt racing with karts around Florida in the 2000s, then joined the UMP Modified ranks in 2012, winning the DIRTcar Southeast UMP Modified title in his first year. 

The Brandon, FL native competed in the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series (UDLMCS) throughout the year, winning his first race at Volusia in November 2013. Bronson had a memorable debut at DIRTcar Nationals in 2014 with Golden Gator scores in the UMP Modified on Feb. 13, then with the World of Outlaws on Feb. 22. He and Kyle Strickler (2021) are the only drivers to score wins with the two divisions in the same year. 

His Volusia accomplishments continued with his sweep of the three Crate Racin’ USA Features during the inaugural DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals in 2020. A year later, he picked up his second World of Outlaws victory and another Crate Racin’ USA win during the second running of the event. 

Bronson has become a regular on the national tour circuit, trading years with the World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. But Volusia will also be an annual stomping ground for him. 

Clay Harris (Jupiter, FL) 

Similar to Bronson, Clay Harris raced karts around the “Sunshine State” in the beginning stages of his racing career, winning 13 championships across multiple sanctioning bodies before climbing up to Late Models and UMP Modifieds in 2018.

Harris made his first trip to Volusia since racing karts in 2019 for the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial, then returned in 2020 to score his first three wins on the 1/2-mile aboard his No. 6 Rocket Chassis Late Model. “The Shark” started 2021 with his first Sunshine Nationals Feature win in a 602 Late Model, then his first DIRTcar Nationals Golden Gator in 2021 with the Modified. 

The next year, Harris visited Volusia Victory Lane with the 604 Late Model and Modified in the Labor Day Classic – joining Joe Belkey and Jason Garver as the only drivers to win twice in more than one division on the same night. 

Harris began dipping his toes into Super Late Models in 2023 by following southeastern-based leagues, then plunged into a national schedule with the Lucas Oil Late Models in 2024. While he is seeking his first win, Harris has had his best run on the tour in 2026, with a career-best seven top-fives and 12 top-10s.

Tyler Clem (St. Petersburg, FL)

Tyler Clem has evolved into a Florida dirt track favorite since he arrived with a dirt Late Model at 10 years old in 2012.

The St. Petersburg, FL native grew his skillset in the Late Model categories until an offer to drive a Top Gun Sprint Car arose in 2015. Clem split his time between the two disciplines across the state, winning his first Feature at the track with the Sprint Car in 2021 en route to a Top Gun championship.

Clem’s prowess at Volusia shined when he won the inaugural Battle in Barberville to close 2022, then won the first Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout in 2023. That same year, Clem gained the chance to drive for Big Frog Motorsports in the DIRTcar Summer Nationals. Between 2023 and 2024, Clem earned a combined five top fives and 18 top-10 finishes aboard the No. 58V through his two Hell Tour expeditions.

Clem has continued to find success in 2026 with the Big Frog Late Model and the Smith Racing No. 6S 360 Sprint Car, winning the 604 Late Model Feature at the Summer Sizzler and leading the Top Gun Sprints points in his quest for a second title.

You can see the local and future stars of Florida racing at Volusia Speedway Park in 2026 when the Top Gun Classic takes place on Friday, Aug. 28. The night will feature a lineup of Top Gun Sprint Cars, 604 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, and Factory Stocks. 

TOP GUN CLASSIC INFO

How can you watch every lap of racing at Volusia Speedway Park? Live on DIRTVision.

SUNSHINE ALUMNI: Tracking National Icons from Volusia Speedway Park History 

BARBERVILLE, FL (July 17, 2026) – After nearly 60 years, Volusia Speedway Park has established itself as one of the top dirt racing venues in the country and a premier learning ground for launching drivers and teams into the national spotlight. 

The track has enjoyed a storied history of attracting a large group of local racers, many of whom have taken the lessons learned from the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” and applied them to successful careers outside the “Sunshine State.” 

Let’s revisit who’s grown through Volusia: 

Dick Murphy (DeLand, FL) 

Before Florida provided dirt-racing talent among drivers, Volusia’s owner from 1982-92 and 1998-05 reached the heights as a pioneering car owner in Super Late Model competition. 

Dick Murphy made heavy investments in the sport when he purchased the track from Benny Corbin in 1982 while fielding a Late Model for Gaffney, SC’s Mike Duvall. That same year, Duvall and Murphy found success by scoring the National Dirt Racing Association (NDRA) championship, and Duvall drove the iconic “Flintstone F1yer” machine to his only World 100triumph at Eldora Speedway. 

Murphy continued his partnership with Duvall while running a VSP-sponsored No. M14, driven by Larry Moore in 1983. Moore won multiple races for Murphy across the NDRA, along with scoring the 1986 STARS Racing Series title. 

While Murphy scaled back his Super Late Model efforts by the end of the decade, he spent the years after focusing on the 1/2-mile track’s growth by expanding Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals into a two-week extravaganza while managing between dirt and asphalt racing on the same property.  

Murphy and Duvall’s contributions to the sport forever marked their place in history, each receiving an induction to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.  

Jason Garver (Starke, FL) 

As the reigning track champion in the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, 602 Late Models, and Factory Stocks, Garver is a seasoned Volusia veteran who hasn’t been afraid to take his talents to unfamiliar territories. 

The 49-year-old spent most of his career as a regional driver between Florida, Georgia, and Alabama while competing for track championships across several divisions on dirt and asphalt. Garver made his first start at Volusia in 2015 with an E-Mod, then started competing annually with a UMP Modified in 2018 for DIRTcar Nationals and the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial. 

Garver won his first race at the track with a Factory Stock in 2021, then won his first Golden Gator in 2022. From 2021-2024, He had sporadic starts that placed him out of championship contention, but he’s visited Volusia Victory Lane each year since 2021. 

In 2025, Garver took his first visit to the Midwest for a seven-race stretch with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals between Clarksville Speedway and Duck River Raceway Park. In that span, he earned four top 10s and his first top-five finish at Duck River. 

“Racin’ Jason” has kept himself in the track title conversation at Volusia in 2026, leading the 602 points while sitting within the top three of the UMP and 604 Late Model standings. He returned for a week with the Hell Tour and earned his first win at Harrisburg, AR’s Old No. 1 Speedway on June 30. 

Trey Mills (St. Augustine, FL) 

Before Trey Mills became known as “The Future” in dirt Late Model racing, he was once a local hotshot who looked to build his name in the Florida ranks. 

Before racing at the 1/2-mile, Mills started his career in go-karts at the former karting track, picking up multiple Feature wins before stepping up the ladder to 602 Late Models at the start of 2020. In his fourth career start on the high-speed oval, a 12-year-old Mills bagged his first Feature win and went on to finish third in the standings. 

In 2022, Mills made scattered starts in both 602 and 604 competition across the “Sunshine State” while turning his first laps in a Super Late Model at Volusia, Golden Isles Speedway, and All-Tech Raceway. In 2023, Mills made his first step into regional racing by joining the Hunt The Front Super Dirt Series, winning his first Feature at Whynot Motorsports Park and earning Rookie of the Year honors. 

Mills continued racing on the southeastern circuit while venturing toward the Midwest with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals and crown jewels like the Dirt Late Model Dream, World 100, and the Prairie Dirt Classic. Mills made his first full campaign with the Hell Tour in 2025 and scored his first victory in the Herald & Review 100 at Macon. His chain of success helped him form an MD3 Rookie of the Year hunt with the World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision, where he sits ninth in the standings. 

Kyle Bronson (Brandon, FL)

Bronson made his venture into dirt racing with karts around Florida in the 2000s, then joined the UMP Modified ranks in 2012, winning the DIRTcar Southeast UMP Modified title in his first year. 

The Brandon, FL native competed in the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series (UDLMCS) throughout the year, winning his first race at Volusia in November 2013. Bronson had a memorable debut at DIRTcar Nationals in 2014 with Golden Gator scores in the UMP Modified on Feb. 13, then with the World of Outlaws on Feb. 22. He and Kyle Strickler (2021) are the only drivers to score wins with the two divisions in the same year. 

His Volusia accomplishments continued with his sweep of the three Crate Racin’ USA Features during the inaugural DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals in 2020. A year later, he picked up his second World of Outlaws victory and another Crate Racin’ USA win during the second running of the event. 

Bronson has become a regular on the national tour circuit, trading years with the World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. But Volusia will also be an annual stomping ground for him. 

Clay Harris (Jupiter, FL) 

Similar to Bronson, Clay Harris raced karts around the “Sunshine State” in the beginning stages of his racing career, winning 13 championships across multiple sanctioning bodies before climbing up to Late Models and UMP Modifieds in 2018.

Harris made his first trip to Volusia since racing karts in 2019 for the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial, then returned in 2020 to score his first three wins on the 1/2-mile aboard his No. 6 Rocket Chassis Late Model. “The Shark” started 2021 with his first Sunshine Nationals Feature win in a 602 Late Model, then his first DIRTcar Nationals Golden Gator in 2021 with the Modified. 

The next year, Harris visited Volusia Victory Lane with the 604 Late Model and Modified in the Labor Day Classic – joining Joe Belkey and Jason Garver as the only drivers to win twice in more than one division on the same night. 

Harris began dipping his toes into Super Late Models in 2023 by following southeastern-based leagues, then plunged into a national schedule with the Lucas Oil Late Models in 2024. While he is seeking his first win, Harris has had his best run on the tour in 2026, with a career-best seven top-fives and 12 top-10s.

Tyler Clem (St. Petersburg, FL)

Tyler Clem has evolved into a Florida dirt track favorite since he arrived with a dirt Late Model at 10 years old in 2012.

The St. Petersburg, FL native grew his skillset in the Late Model categories until an offer to drive a Top Gun Sprint Car arose in 2015. Clem split his time between the two disciplines across the state, winning his first Feature at the track with the Sprint Car in 2021 en route to a Top Gun championship.

Clem’s prowess at Volusia shined when he won the inaugural Battle in Barberville to close 2022, then won the first Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout in 2023. That same year, Clem gained the chance to drive for Big Frog Motorsports in the DIRTcar Summer Nationals. Between 2023 and 2024, Clem earned a combined five top fives and 18 top-10 finishes aboard the No. 58V through his two Hell Tour expeditions.

Clem has continued to find success in 2026 with the Big Frog Late Model and the Smith Racing No. 6S 360 Sprint Car, winning the 604 Late Model Feature at the Summer Sizzler and leading the Top Gun Sprints points in his quest for a second title.

You can see the local and future stars of Florida racing at Volusia Speedway Park in 2026 when the Top Gun Classic takes place on Friday, Aug. 28. The night will feature a lineup of Top Gun Sprint Cars, 604 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, and Factory Stocks. 

TOP GUN CLASSIC INFO

How can you watch every lap of racing at Volusia Speedway Park? Live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE:https://volusiaspeedwaypark.com/news/sunshine-alumni-tracking-national-icons-from-volusia-speedway-park-history/ 

The Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited makes its broadcast premiere this Saturday, July 18, at 9:00 a.m. ET on FS1. Tune in to relive the first Mile race of the Progressive American Flat Track season from the legendary Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, featuring high-speed drafting and close racing at the Magic Mile. Watch Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. ET on FS1.

NASCAR CUP SERIES NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES JULY 17, 2026

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 and the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST, met with the media in advance of running double duty in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

NASCAR CUP SERIESNORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAYTEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTESJULY 17, 2026

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 and the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST, met with the media in advance of running double duty in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes: You have a very busy schedule this weekend. A lot of racing for you in different series. Just talk a little bit about why you’re looking forward to this weekend.“Yeah, it’s definitely been a been a busy couple days, for sure, but it’s been fun. I haven’t done a lot of short track racing, like late model cars, in a while, so it’s just kind of neat to have that opportunity and go and run. Appreciate Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) asking me to drive his late model stock, and then obviously the FR8 Racing guys for letting me get in their straight rail car. I figured if I was going to be here, might as well try and do them both.  And then, yeah, totally separate from that, the truck opportunity came up to run that, as well. So yeah, I’m going to have plenty of laps on track this weekend, and hopefully they go alright. We’ll see.”  Now that you’re potentially just two rounds away from the million-dollar prize, how much attention are you going to pay to Todd Gilliland this weekend?“Oh, yeah, it’d be nice to win, for sure. You know, over the last couple of seasons being involved in the In-Season Challenge, it’s not something that I’m overly consumed over, you know? I can say that with a lot of confidence. You just know in the back of your mind, kind of similar to the points situation in general, if you’re going out and you’re doing your job and you’re performing at a high level, then you’re likely going to take care of the other things. So I kind of look at that in a really similar light, but I do think it is really fun. I think it’s a really good thing for just the sport, in general, to kind of have something else going on in the middle of the year. I know we’re getting close to the Chase cutoff, but still, it’s kind of neat to have another little side quest going on. I think it’d be cool to win it. We made a good run at it last year, but couldn’t quite get it done, so hopefully we can make it happen this season.”  We mentioned earlier the quadruple-header, the two CARS Tour races, the Trucks tomorrow, and obviously, the Cup car on Sunday. How are you kind of handling the weekend physically and mentally as far as preparation and compartmentalizing the four races?“Yeah, I mean, definitely the Cup stuff has my main focus, right? That’s just kind of where my head is at mentally and just making sure that I’m not letting anything else pull me away from what I’m kind of looking for in my car for Sunday night. So, I’ve kind of been using it a little bit as just extra laps on track and just helping me think about how I can be better Sunday, I think, more than anything else. But certainly, you know, all the cars drive different — like the pro car drives different than the late model stock, and the truck is going to be different than both of those. And then certainly, the Cup car drives like nothing out there that they have to offer. So, I think all those things, it’s a fun challenge and one that I haven’t really done a lot of. I did some of it early on. I remember jumping back and forth between, you know, Saturday and Sunday cars there early in my Cup career, but I don’t know that I’ve ever done four in a weekend and in four different cars. So, yeah, just trying to balance all that.” It’s been a while since I’ve driven a late model stock car – like, I don’t even know, probably 10 years. It’s been a minute. The last time I did it, Denny used to do his showdown race back in the day. He did it once at Richmond that I ran, and then he did it a couple times at South Boston, if I’m not mistaken, and I ran two or three of those and that was it. I had a lot of fun with it. It was cool, it just wasn’t the path that I came up on.  The pro cars, the straight rail late model cars, that’s more of kind of my background and what I grew up racing the most of. So, it’s been kind of fun jumping back and forth; seeing the difference in those two cars directly during the same day. I had a lot of fun with that yesterday.  It’s been a challenge. It’s been tough. Those guys are really good. You know, they do it all the time. They’re really, really, really good drivers and teams that are super competitive, and all that’s been a lot of fun. So, yeah, just kind of figuring out as I go. I haven’t driven a truck in a minute either. I’m not sure why I got hired for all this, but I’m here and I’m going to give it my best go.”   I know for Cup car and the Truck, with Chevy, you have plenty of sim time and things you can do to prepare. This late model stock deal, Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) talked about how it came about when Kyle (Busch) was supposed to be in the car, and you mentioned this Fr8 Racing deal was almost completely last second. How have you been preparing for the late model side of things?“Really, just yesterday. It’s a little easier, I think from my standpoint, coming into it knowing that – hey, we have two or three practice sessions that I can get acclimated with the cars, actually get some laps on track and get myself up to speed. I know with the Truck stuff, we have more of a full practice today, but normally it would be like 20 minutes or something on the Cup side. So I think that probably drives some of those things a little more than anything else… the amount of time on-track. So for me, it was fine. I knew I was going to have some laps to kind of get myself readjusted. I leaned on that more than anything.”   Did you feel comfortable going from the pro straight rail to a late model stock chassis throughout practice yesterday? Do you feel comfortable through tonight, Saturday and the rest of the weekend with jumping constantly to completely different cars? “I do, yeah. I mean, it’s been a challenge, like I said, for sure. But I’ve had fun with it. Again, I think for me, my mindset is all about Cup car. In the back of my mind, I’m like, okay, how can I be better on Sunday? Just the extra laps and all that I think will hopefully help.  But yeah, the rest of it has just been kind of learning as I go. I felt like by the end of the day yesterday, I felt a lot better about jumping back and forth and kind of what I needed to do differently between the two cars to at least do the best I could. Certainly wasn’t where I wanted to be, but it was an improvement throughout the day, so hopefully tonight is another step of that.”   There’s a new front bumper package in place on the Cup side this weekend that’s designed to have a little bit more give to it on contact. Do you have any anticipation of how you’ll manage that and how it’ll react, or is it just going to be kind of wait and see once you get out there?“Yeah, I think probably a wait and see situation. I mean, they’re pretty stout. You know, I had to remind myself a couple weeks ago at Chicago running the Saturday race just how fragile those cars are and how easy it used to be to destroy a front bumper, like on a restart stack, or even just hitting somebody too hard, trying to give them a shove. I remember going into that race thinking, you know, I need to not just run over somebody like we can on Sunday. It’s crazy how hard you can hit someone on a restart or bump drafting at the speedway’s.  Atlanta was a great example of that. I mean, you’re running over the person in front of you and you would think it would destroy your car, but it doesn’t. The harder you hit them on a drafting track like that, the further you push them out.  So, I’m not sure. I think the margin was so far down the road of just durability and really strong. I’m not sure how far you have to detune that to make a difference, but we’ll see.”   There are several adjustments for Daytona next month to try to improve the racing. Do you wish you had a little bit of a practice maybe before the race, instead of just going out and qualifying and racing?“Not being super familiar with all the details, I think it’s a little hard for me to say. But it just seems like every time we have practice at the speedways, everybody will run for a few minutes and then you wind up sitting there for 45 minutes or something. So I can see both sides of that. To your point, you know, maybe with a change, it might be a good idea. But also at the same time, I could also see people not participating, which obviously leads us down the road of being on TV and not having cars on track. That ends up being a bad result, which has led us to where we are today, which I totally understand that too. So see both sides of the coin. For me personally, I’m good either way.   Do you have any expectation of how Sunday’s race is going to unfold in terms of tire wear, just the cautions, anything like that?“I mean, I would have to imagine pretty similar to the All-Star Race last year. You know, the top became super dominant and it became really hard to pass. You saw that with kind of how (Christopher) Bell won the race and he had to get pretty aggressive there to do it.  But look, I think that the racetrack is going to promote that type of physicality, just by the way it’s shaped. When you get these racetracks that the top lane and momentum becomes king throughout a run, I think you’re going to have some of that. As far as the tire wear goes, you know, the marbles on the racetrack last year, I remember that kind of being a big thing and how dirty the grooves got that you weren’t running in. That became a challenge because as we started pushing the groove up, you were doing it at pretty high risk because if you got just a little too high, you were going to get sucked up into the dirt. So, yeah, I’m not sure what the cutoff is of when tires are going to become more important. I don’t think you’re going to pit from the top-five; put on four tires, start last and drive back up to the lead. I could be totally wrong, but I think at some point in time you will have a period of tire wear and heat that will equalize some older tires to some fresher ones. So, as always, that’s a balance every week. That’s just something you have to kind of figure out as we go and see what the race feels like. But it’s hot and that’ll play a factor, as well.”  Historically, races at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and even in the All-Star Race, there’s been long green flag runs, so I’m curious if you guys had any conversations about maybe going to have to make some green flag pit stops and what that’s going to be like here because that’s not something you guys have done here…“Yeah, I think we will, for sure, at some point in time. I mean, it’s 450 laps, right? That’s a lot of laps, so I would have to imagine at some point in time, you’re going to have to have a green flag stop in there. Might not, but I could see it.  I mean, we have them at Martinsville, and that’s a 500 lap race. It’s doesn’t happen a lot, but it does happen from time to time. And on a racetrack like this too where, again, you kind of get that outside lane motoring, you get some momentum rolling and we get strung out a little bit; I could see some green flag stops coming into play. I kind of hope it does. I feel like it ends up being a pretty good race when you have that and you’re taking the risk. It seems like the risk is always higher at short tracks to come and stop and be one of the first guys to put on tires because you’re exposed for so long, right? And I think that’s why you see people avoid that for a longer period of time because you’re going to go two laps, maybe more, down if you’re doing a four tire green flag stop. And if a caution flies during that period of time, you’re up the creek pretty bad, right? A wave around doesn’t fix that, where at a lot of mile-and-a-halves, a wave around would fix your problem because you’re only one lap down versus being more than one. That’s why I think the risk reward becomes a little bit more of a question, but I think it also makes it entertaining. You’ll have guys that are aggressive on that and rightfully so.”   Are you pleased that the Indy race is back on the oval as opposed to the road course? And secondly, what would it mean to you to be the first father son, if you won the Brickyard, to have that accolade?“First off, I’m glad it’s back on the big track. I certainly understood the reason for the change, and I respect the effort to try and do something different. It just kind of felt, from my seat at least, that the Brickyard is a really big deal and it always has been in our sport ever since I was a kid. I just felt like that race belongs on the big track. I just think it feels better. Whether the race is good or not, suck it up and we’ll just run it on the big track. And if it’s a good show, it’s a good show. And if it’s not, it’s not. And at the end of the day, I think that race winner should come from the big track itself. I totally support that decision, regardless of what the race looks like. That was one of the very few races that I was old enough to even have a few memories from or even just be in the pictures of dad’s wins, which was really, really neat. Even then, I knew  how big of a deal that was. It was evident in the way he acted and in the way that race was portrayed. Even as a child, you could telling the meaning behind it. So I think for that reason, it always has carried a little more weight than some of the others. I would love to check that box for a lot of reasons, with that one being the number one. But I have never won a big crown jewel race. I’ve been close on a handful of occasions, but never gotten across that bridge, so it would be as good of a place, if not the best, to make that happen.” You were on Bussin with the Boys, and while you were there, you stumped for more Saturday night races as opposed to Sunday night races, which we’ve kind of come to have here. You mentioned in particular how it puts fans in a pretty tough spot. Could you just expand on that? Have you heard things from fans like that directly, or I guess, what are your overall thoughts on Saturday night versus Sunday night?“Yeah, honestly, those comments came directly from people that I know personally that either went to the race and weren’t super thrilled about their Monday morning and probably won’t do it again, or people that chose not to go because they had to go to work on Monday morning. So it stemmed directly from fans of our sport; people that aren’t just watching on TV, people that are spending their money to come support us at the track in-person and in the stands. That was why I said that, just because I have heard it directly.  And while I totally get that TV runs the show in a lot of ways, there are still a lot of people that like coming to the races and also probably would like a day at home to recover and kind of get their affairs in order to go back to work on Monday. So I think there’s room for middle ground in that. I think Saturday night races have always been a really big deal. Growing up, for me, I always thought they were the most fun, like as a kid, as a fan, coming to the races. I mean, heck, even if I wasn’t there, I was watching it on TV and I was at home. I was fired up to have a Saturday night race. I thought it was great. The only downside was I didn’t have anything to watch on Sunday, but that was part of it, right? Like you were bummed about that when Sunday afternoon rolled around and the race wasn’t on, but the lead in, the excitement and energy for a Saturday night show, I thought, was pretty darn elite. You know, right now, you’re up against regional baseball and I think it would be a great time for us to take advantage of Saturday night races, especially in the summer. It’s hot, so we need to be under the lights. There’s no need to be racing during the day?   Do you think that hurts Atlanta, in particular, given the things that you mentioned, like the Braves, and the fact that we’re in a market where people have to go to work the next morning, or is it more general? “I think it’s just in general. I mean, I think people travel from a lot of different areas for our races, and the further they travel, the harder that is to do. No one has told me what the exact reason is for that, so I’m reaching a little bit there. I’m assuming it’s for TV. But yeah, I just think it makes a lot of sense. I think there’s room for it in our sport. We don’t have a lot of Saturday night races, in general, so if you had a couple extra, I’m not sure what that’s hurting really at the end of the day.  And again, you’ve had the World Cup on TV, which it’s winding down right now. There are some other sports here and there, but you know, baseball is probably the biggest thing that’s kind of going on right now and the push to their playoffs. But it can be difficult to watch. Like even as a Braves fan, it may be on TV at certain points in time. Maybe if they’re on the west coast, they have some kind of weird TV stuff, so if you’re not living in that particular region, you’re probably not even eligible to watch. So I think we have a unique opportunity with the networks that we’re on to take advantage of the ability to watch this across the country on the good broadcast partners that we have. I think a Saturday night race is super healthy for people at home watching. And also, the people that are here, it’s an opportunity for them to get home on Sunday and reset and go back to work on Monday.”  You haven’t ran a truck since 2023, but you’ve always done pretty well in that series. When the opportunity from Spire Motorsports came, were you excited? Hesitant? What was the initial reaction?“Yeah, excited. I mean, it’s one of those opportunities where I wish I wasn’t considering the circumstances. But when Jeff (Dickerson) reached out to me, I don’t know, a few weeks ago about it, he just said, hey, would you have any interest in doing this? Kyle (Busch) was intended to run this race. And I said, yeah, I’d be honored to run it and I would love to do it. If I can help, let me know. And he said, okay, we’ll do it… done. So that was really about it. It was a short exchange. I don’t get asked a lot to do that stuff, so I appreciated him thinking of me and being willing to let me come drive their stuff.” 

NASCAR CUP SERIES NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES JULY 17, 2026

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Camaro ZL1 and the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST, met with the media in advance of running double duty in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

NASCAR CUP SERIESNORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAYTEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTESJULY 17, 2026

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Camaro ZL1 and the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST, met with the media in advance of running double duty in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:  What was your trip to New York like? It looked like you did a lot and met a lot of cool people…“It was fun. There were a lot of cool people – like LeBron (James) walked by and I was like, should I get a photo? And then I was like, no… I walked over and he was at his table. I sat at a table far away from him and some guy came up to ask for a seat. He happened to know who I was and I knew him. He was like, hey, I’m taking this seat over to LeBron, why don’t you walk over? And so, I walked over and you could tell his security guards just started to swarm in, and then all of a sudden, the guy put his hand up and that’s when LeBron stood up, took his glasses off and then we talked for a while. And then I was like, man, I have to get a photo. It was cool. And then, I met Prince Harry. I think I was like, man, I wouldn’t make my mom proud if I didn’t ask for a photo. That’s who she loves.”   In these instances, are you introducing yourself and saying who you are? Did LeBron have an idea after hearing your name?“Yeah, he mentioned that his train’s kid races and he’s starting to get into big cars and stuff. He knew who I was, so I thought that was super cool.”    You’ve been North Wilkesboro Speedway a couple times now. Last week, you kind of talked about the nostalgia. What do you like about the racing here?“I like that the track seems like it moves around a lot. You can run like right against the fence or you can run the bottom and move around. This place tends to rubber up too, so I just enjoy that there’s so many different ways to go about it. If your car is not very good, there’s probably about four or five different options you can try to go find to make your stuff at least a little bit better because there’s just so many ways to attack the track. It goes downhill and uphill. Part of it is more banked than the other. It just does a lot of weird things that allows us to do different things.”    I saw a video of you on racing simulators, as well. Just beyond who you got to meet, what was the whole Fanatics Fest experience like?“Yeah, it was just fun to just walk around. I did a bunch of podcasts and ran around New York. Just got to enjoy it. Unfortunately, with all the smoke, it wasn’t super pretty or anything, but it was just fun. I’m not a big city guy, but when you fly private, roll in and have a chauffeur, it’s really not that bad at all. I enjoyed it.”   I know you went to the Met Gala before you were at this event. You’re kind of being the main person going all these, I guess you could say, high-key events, representing yourself and NASCAR. What’s it like going from being this kid running on short track ovals to becoming one of the faces of the sport or true superstar?“Yeah, it’s great for me. You know, like I say all the time, my favorite driver was Dale Jr. I saw him everywhere, right? You saw him on MTV, the music awards and doing all these really cool things, so I just always thought that’s really what NASCAR drivers do. In the 2000s, it was probably a lot more realistic that they all do it.  It’s really cool for me that. There’s a lot of times where I’m like, I don’t understand why I’m invited to these, but I’m definitely taking advantage of it, enjoying it, embracing it and just trying to have as much fun with it as possible, knowing that obviously it’s a really cool and once-in-a-life experience for me at a lot of these events. But also, too, it’s obviously great for the sport.”   With you running double-duty this weekend, are you taking any extra precautions with the heat this weekend?“I’ll probably just drink a little bit more water. I’m probably more reactive than proactive at a lot of this stuff. But luckily, I’m reminded a lot that I’m 23 and I can get away with it now. I was like, yeah, but it’s right now. I think I’ll be just fine. I’m excited to run both races this weekend.”    You were in the TIME100.  What is it like kind of emerging as a face of the sport and how are you kind of dealing with that?“It’s been super cool for me. I think Denny (Hamlin) and Michael (Jordan) were in it, as well. But, you know, being the solo (NASCAR driver) in it, I guess, is super fun for me. Obviously, I want to win more, but I think it’s been proven a lot within the sport that you can win multiple races in a row and that doesn’t make you outside the NASCAR bubble, right? If our viewership was based off the racing production, we’d have 10 million live viewers for Atlanta every single time, I think. Ultimately, it’s just getting people to care who’s in the cars. You can have the greatest finish of all time, but if you don’t care who’s involved in the finish, you might as well go watch iRacing, AI Racing, an animation, any kind of motorsport. It’s been super humbling for me to have a lot of people ultimately care about who’s in my car.”   You did the t-shirt exchange thing. Were you surprised by how many people turned in shirts? What was your reaction to how that went?“Yeah, I was surprised a little bit. I was more so surprised of the numbers for each driver. I was shocked how many it was just for almost everybody. But ultimately, I was just hoping it was going to be a cool experience. I had some buddies that were out there that kind of handled it for me. And I was like, man, I think you guys would enjoy doing it. They were kind of like, I don’t know. And by the end of it, when they came back, they were like, that was so much fun. They had people chanting. When people would walk up with a different shirt, it was like a viewing party just to watch. They would start chants to trade it in, take it off, the whole thing. It seemed like everybody that was there just had a lot of fun with it.”

HARLAN, Iowa (July 16, 2026) – Brandon Sheppard capitalized on a fierce battle between Ryan Gustin and Devin Moran, slipping past both drivers with six laps remaining to capture Thursday night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Malvern Bank Go 50 at Shelby County Speedway. Much like the previous two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at Shelby County Speedway, the outcome wasn’t decided until the closing laps. Sheppard pocketed the $15,000 winner’s prize while earning his series-leading eighth victory of the season. Nick Hoffman, who ran fourth for much of the race, charged to second during the closing laps. Gustin, who paced the field for 42 of the race’s 50 laps, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.Moran, who briefly wrestled the lead away from Gustin on laps 40 and 43, finished fourth, while Brian Shirley completed the top five. The victory marked the 43rd Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph of Sheppard’s career and extended his championship points lead. It also marked the fourth consecutive LOLMDS event to feature at least three different race leaders during the feature. “I was getting a heck of a show watching those two (Gustin and Moran) out front,” Sheppard said. “They were racing each other hard there, and I just felt myself slipping in the top. At some point, I knew I was going to have to move down, and there was no better time than when those two were racing each other like that. I was running around trying to see if there was anything in the bottom because, in turns one and two especially, I was losing time up there. Then we got so deep into lapped traffic that it became harder to pass on the top. The bottom started to come in, and that’s when I found a clean spot in turns three and four.” Hoffman rebounded from a heartbreaking finish Tuesday night at Adams County Speedway, where he led the majority of the race before trailing smoke over the final 10 laps and finishing third in Corning, Iowa. “It was getting pretty western up there,” Hoffman said. “I looked at the board, and we had about 10 laps to go, and I thought we still weren’t out of this deal. Depending on what they were going to do, they were throwing some haymakers and elbows. It was getting pretty aggressive. Sheppy was able to snooker them there to get by them, and then I was there a couple of laps later. I just wasn’t good enough. Once I cleared them, I fell in line behind Sheppy. Our stuff was really good. I don’t know what we could have done differently. We were fast around the top early, and then finally we got to move around. Man, that was one of the funnest races I’ve run all year.” Gustin, who was looking for his second career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory, settled for third after battling Moran throughout the second half of the race. The pair ran one-two for much of the feature before Sheppard capitalized on their side-by-side fight during the closing laps. “It was just really full-contact late model racing,” Gustin said. “It’s not the way I try to race. I try to race clean, but man, he (Moran) didn’t really do anything wrong. You’ve got to log that stuff in the back of your head when you get run over time and time again, and when it’s time to give it back, you give it back.” The winning Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis was powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Performance Grading, Petroff Towing, Franklin Enterprises, Sunoco Race Fuels, FOX Shocks, Gunter’s Honey, Stiles Marine and Maintenance, and Collins Brothers Towing. Completing the top 10 were Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Josh Rice, Max Blair, and Dennis Erb Jr. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Malvern Bank Go 50Thursday, July 16, 2026Shelby County Speedway | Harlan, IA Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Devin Moran | 14.264 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Ryan Gustin | 14.408 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[5]; 3. 44M-Chris Madden[3]; 4. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[4]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 6. 22M-Charlie McKenna[8]; 7. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 8. 4-JC Wyman[6]; 9. 10-Junior Coover[9] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 2. 17SS-Brenden Smith[2]; 3. 53-Andrew Kosiski[3]; 4. 18J-Chase Junghans[4]; 5. 17SR-Brody Smith[5]; 6. 35D-Dylan Sillman[8]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[6]; 8. 4TW-Tim Ward[7]; 9. (DNS) 45D-Dan Battaglia Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 111-Max Blair[3]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[5]; 3. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[1]; 4. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 5. 10T-Jeff Tharp[7]; 6. 32X-Chris Simpson[4]; 7. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[6]; 8. 80-Allan Hopp[8] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19R-Ryan Gustin[1]; 2. 15D-Justin Duty[3]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 4. 15-Clay Stuckey[6]; 5. 25-Chad Simpson[5]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 7. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 8. 43-Derrick Stewart[9]; 9. 51W-JT Wasmund[8] MyRacePass Heat Race #5 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 9H-Nick Hoffman[1]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[3]; 3. 16-Tyler Bruening[2]; 4. 13-Dallon Murty[5]; 5. 49-Jonathan Davenport[4]; 6. Z76-Zach Zeitner[7]; 7. 9-Tim McCreadie[6]; 8. 21H-Brett Hopp[8]; 9. 3-Mike Collins[9] Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #6 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 8-Dillon McCowan[2]; 3. 04-Tad Pospisil[3]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[7]; 5. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 6. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[6]; 7. 15C-Curt Schroeder[8]; 8. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[5] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 2. 18J-Chase Junghans[2]; 3. 17SR-Brody Smith[5]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[4]; 5. 32X-Chris Simpson[9]; 6. 93L-Cory Lawler[11]; 7. 10T-Jeff Tharp[6]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[10]; 9. 4-JC Wyman[13]; 10. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[1]; 11. 35D-Dylan Sillman[8]; 12. 4TW-Tim Ward[14]; 13. 22M-Charlie McKenna[7]; 14. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[12]; 15. 80-Allan Hopp[15]; 16. 45D-Dan Battaglia[17]; 17. 10-Junior Coover[16] UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 2. 15-Clay Stuckey[1]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[6]; 4. 49-Jonathan Davenport[5]; 5. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[7]; 7. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[9]; 8. 9-Tim McCreadie[11]; 9. 93-Carson Ferguson[10]; 10. Z76-Zach Zeitner[8]; 11. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[15]; 12. 43-Derrick Stewart[13]; 13. 51W-JT Wasmund[16]; 14. 21H-Brett Hopp[14]; 15. 15C-Curt Schroeder[12]; 16. 3-Mike Collins[17]; 17. 25-Chad Simpson[4] Malvern Bank Go 50 | Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 6 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $15,0002 – 4 – 9H – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – $8,0003 – 2 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $5,0004 – 1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $3,5005 – 3 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,0006 – 23 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,7007 – 14 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $2,5008 – 24 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,4009 – 5 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $2,10010 – 10 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $2,00011 – 7 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $1,90012 – 9 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $1,80013 – 25 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $60014 – 11 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,60015 – 20 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $1,50016 – 22 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $1,45017 – 19 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,40018 – 18 – 4 – Tad Pospisil – Norfolk, NE – $1,35019 – 13 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – $1,30020 – 17 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $1,25021 – 26 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $10022 – 28 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $10023 – 12 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,20024 – 27 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $10025 – 8 – 15D – Justin Duty – Molalla, OR – $1,20026 – 15 – 53 – Andrew Kosiski – Lavista, NE – $1,20027 – 16 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – $1,30028 – 21 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS – $1,200 Race Statistics  Entrants: 52Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Devin MoranMD3 Lap Leaders: Ryan Gustin (Laps 1-44); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 45-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Ryan GustinWieland Feature Winner: Brandon SheppardMargin of Victory: 0.606 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Tyler Bruening (Lap 12)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Ricky Thornton, Jr.; Josh RiceFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Kyle Bronson; Clay Harris; Carson Ferguson; Dan EbertTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman, Ryan GustinPenske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman, Ryan Gustin, Devin Moran, Brian ShirleyBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman, Ryan GustinPEM 4th Place Feature: Devin MoranDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Mike MarlarVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Kyle BronsonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Advanced 17 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Ryan Gustin (44 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon SheppardO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Ryan Gustin | Lap 4 | 14.517 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Tyler BrueningVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Brandon SheppardOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny WhiteARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: | secondsTime of Race: 26 minutes 39 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 5405 – $228,9002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 5280 – $205,5503 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 5180 – $268,9244 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 4955 – $113,7005 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 4865 – $122,4756 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 4725 – $133,6257 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 4685 – $104,7258 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 4560 – $91,2759 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 4550 – $81,95010 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 4360 – $68,57511 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 4265 – $80,95012 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 4220 – $68,90013 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 4090 – $91,40014 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 4055 – $66,55015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 3720 – $51,37516 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 3445 – $38,92517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 3185 – $25,475

Sheppard Seizes Control Late in Shelby County Sizzler

HARLAN, Iowa (July 16, 2026) – Brandon Sheppard capitalized on a fierce battle between Ryan Gustin and Devin Moran, slipping past both drivers with six laps remaining to capture Thursday night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Malvern Bank Go 50 at Shelby County Speedway. Much like the previous two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at Shelby County Speedway, the outcome wasn’t decided until the closing laps. Sheppard pocketed the $15,000 winner’s prize while earning his series-leading eighth victory of the season. Nick Hoffman, who ran fourth for much of the race, charged to second during the closing laps. Gustin, who paced the field for 42 of the race’s 50 laps, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.Moran, who briefly wrestled the lead away from Gustin on laps 40 and 43, finished fourth, while Brian Shirley completed the top five. The victory marked the 43rd Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph of Sheppard’s career and extended his championship points lead. It also marked the fourth consecutive LOLMDS event to feature at least three different race leaders during the feature. “I was getting a heck of a show watching those two (Gustin and Moran) out front,” Sheppard said. “They were racing each other hard there, and I just felt myself slipping in the top. At some point, I knew I was going to have to move down, and there was no better time than when those two were racing each other like that. I was running around trying to see if there was anything in the bottom because, in turns one and two especially, I was losing time up there. Then we got so deep into lapped traffic that it became harder to pass on the top. The bottom started to come in, and that’s when I found a clean spot in turns three and four.” Hoffman rebounded from a heartbreaking finish Tuesday night at Adams County Speedway, where he led the majority of the race before trailing smoke over the final 10 laps and finishing third in Corning, Iowa. “It was getting pretty western up there,” Hoffman said. “I looked at the board, and we had about 10 laps to go, and I thought we still weren’t out of this deal. Depending on what they were going to do, they were throwing some haymakers and elbows. It was getting pretty aggressive. Sheppy was able to snooker them there to get by them, and then I was there a couple of laps later. I just wasn’t good enough. Once I cleared them, I fell in line behind Sheppy. Our stuff was really good. I don’t know what we could have done differently. We were fast around the top early, and then finally we got to move around. Man, that was one of the funnest races I’ve run all year.” Gustin, who was looking for his second career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory, settled for third after battling Moran throughout the second half of the race. The pair ran one-two for much of the feature before Sheppard capitalized on their side-by-side fight during the closing laps. “It was just really full-contact late model racing,” Gustin said. “It’s not the way I try to race. I try to race clean, but man, he (Moran) didn’t really do anything wrong. You’ve got to log that stuff in the back of your head when you get run over time and time again, and when it’s time to give it back, you give it back.” The winning Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis was powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Performance Grading, Petroff Towing, Franklin Enterprises, Sunoco Race Fuels, FOX Shocks, Gunter’s Honey, Stiles Marine and Maintenance, and Collins Brothers Towing. Completing the top 10 were Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Josh Rice, Max Blair, and Dennis Erb Jr. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Malvern Bank Go 50Thursday, July 16, 2026Shelby County Speedway | Harlan, IA Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Devin Moran | 14.264 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Ryan Gustin | 14.408 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[5]; 3. 44M-Chris Madden[3]; 4. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[4]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 6. 22M-Charlie McKenna[8]; 7. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 8. 4-JC Wyman[6]; 9. 10-Junior Coover[9] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 2. 17SS-Brenden Smith[2]; 3. 53-Andrew Kosiski[3]; 4. 18J-Chase Junghans[4]; 5. 17SR-Brody Smith[5]; 6. 35D-Dylan Sillman[8]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[6]; 8. 4TW-Tim Ward[7]; 9. (DNS) 45D-Dan Battaglia Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 111-Max Blair[3]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[5]; 3. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[1]; 4. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 5. 10T-Jeff Tharp[7]; 6. 32X-Chris Simpson[4]; 7. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[6]; 8. 80-Allan Hopp[8] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19R-Ryan Gustin[1]; 2. 15D-Justin Duty[3]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 4. 15-Clay Stuckey[6]; 5. 25-Chad Simpson[5]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 7. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 8. 43-Derrick Stewart[9]; 9. 51W-JT Wasmund[8] MyRacePass Heat Race #5 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 9H-Nick Hoffman[1]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[3]; 3. 16-Tyler Bruening[2]; 4. 13-Dallon Murty[5]; 5. 49-Jonathan Davenport[4]; 6. Z76-Zach Zeitner[7]; 7. 9-Tim McCreadie[6]; 8. 21H-Brett Hopp[8]; 9. 3-Mike Collins[9] Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #6 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 8-Dillon McCowan[2]; 3. 04-Tad Pospisil[3]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[7]; 5. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 6. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[6]; 7. 15C-Curt Schroeder[8]; 8. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[5] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 2. 18J-Chase Junghans[2]; 3. 17SR-Brody Smith[5]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[4]; 5. 32X-Chris Simpson[9]; 6. 93L-Cory Lawler[11]; 7. 10T-Jeff Tharp[6]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[10]; 9. 4-JC Wyman[13]; 10. 99 18-Jesse Sobbing[1]; 11. 35D-Dylan Sillman[8]; 12. 4TW-Tim Ward[14]; 13. 22M-Charlie McKenna[7]; 14. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[12]; 15. 80-Allan Hopp[15]; 16. 45D-Dan Battaglia[17]; 17. 10-Junior Coover[16] UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 2. 15-Clay Stuckey[1]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[6]; 4. 49-Jonathan Davenport[5]; 5. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[7]; 7. 01-Jacob Hobscheidt[9]; 8. 9-Tim McCreadie[11]; 9. 93-Carson Ferguson[10]; 10. Z76-Zach Zeitner[8]; 11. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[15]; 12. 43-Derrick Stewart[13]; 13. 51W-JT Wasmund[16]; 14. 21H-Brett Hopp[14]; 15. 15C-Curt Schroeder[12]; 16. 3-Mike Collins[17]; 17. 25-Chad Simpson[4] Malvern Bank Go 50 | Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 6 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $15,0002 – 4 – 9H – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – $8,0003 – 2 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $5,0004 – 1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $3,5005 – 3 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,0006 – 23 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,7007 – 14 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $2,5008 – 24 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,4009 – 5 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $2,10010 – 10 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $2,00011 – 7 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $1,90012 – 9 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $1,80013 – 25 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $60014 – 11 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,60015 – 20 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $1,50016 – 22 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $1,45017 – 19 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,40018 – 18 – 4 – Tad Pospisil – Norfolk, NE – $1,35019 – 13 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – $1,30020 – 17 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $1,25021 – 26 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $10022 – 28 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $10023 – 12 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,20024 – 27 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $10025 – 8 – 15D – Justin Duty – Molalla, OR – $1,20026 – 15 – 53 – Andrew Kosiski – Lavista, NE – $1,20027 – 16 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – $1,30028 – 21 – 18J – Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS – $1,200 Race Statistics  Entrants: 52Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Devin MoranMD3 Lap Leaders: Ryan Gustin (Laps 1-44); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 45-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Ryan GustinWieland Feature Winner: Brandon SheppardMargin of Victory: 0.606 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Tyler Bruening (Lap 12)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Ricky Thornton, Jr.; Josh RiceFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Kyle Bronson; Clay Harris; Carson Ferguson; Dan EbertTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman, Ryan GustinPenske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman, Ryan Gustin, Devin Moran, Brian ShirleyBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Nick Hoffman, Ryan GustinPEM 4th Place Feature: Devin MoranDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Mike MarlarVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Kyle BronsonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Advanced 17 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Ryan Gustin (44 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon SheppardO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Ryan Gustin | Lap 4 | 14.517 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Tyler BrueningVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Brandon SheppardOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny WhiteARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: | secondsTime of Race: 26 minutes 39 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 5405 – $228,9002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 5280 – $205,5503 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 5180 – $268,9244 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 4955 – $113,7005 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 4865 – $122,4756 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 4725 – $133,6257 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 4685 – $104,7258 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 4560 – $91,2759 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 4550 – $81,95010 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 4360 – $68,57511 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 4265 – $80,95012 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 4220 – $68,90013 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 4090 – $91,40014 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 4055 – $66,55015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 3720 – $51,37516 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 3445 – $38,92517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 3185 – $25,475

Larson Scores Sixth Six-Figure Sprint Car Victory, Second-Most in Sprint Car Racing HistoryROSSBURG, OHIO. (July 16, 2026) – The third annual Joker’s Jackpot once again showcased the beauty of Sprint Car Racing to the masses on Thursday night at Eldora Speedway. With a $100,000 check on the line and fans worldwide watching on live television via FS1, the stars of Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing stepped up and delivered a spectacular main event at “The Big E.” Entering the 35-lap main event, all the hype surrounded Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Corey Day who shared the front row. The story quickly shifted, however, as Rico Abreu surged his “Rushville Rocket” by both of them to lead the opening lap – the first of what would be 10 lead changes. Abreu paced the opening 22 laps before Larson, who had slipped as far back as 4th, came roaring back to the front and officially assumed the lead after a series of sliders. That duel between Abreu and Larson came shortly after the moment of the race when Corey Day, who was going toe-to-toe with Larson for second, hit the turn four wall and coasted the beaten and battered #14 to a stop. Once in control of the lead, Larson cruised to a 1.480-second margin of victory as he cashed his second-straight $100,000 check from the Joker’s Jackpot. It was his sixth six-figure score, second-most in Sprint Car Racing history to Donny Schatz’s 13 in that category. It was the sixth trip to Whiskey Myers Victory Lane for the Silva Motorsports #57 crew and pushed Kyle Larson to 15 career victories with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing – second only to Rico Abreu’s 29 total. Speaking of Abreu, he settled for runner-up honors worth $25,000 aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #24. The St. Helena, California native remains so, so close to finally winning an Eldora Speedway crown jewel, and he’ll get another chance this weekend at the Kings Royal. Closing out the podium with a sixth-to-third run was Logan Schuchart aboard the Shark Racing, RelaDyne #1S. Rounding out the top-five was Carson Macedo in his Jason Johnson Racing #41 and Brent Marks in the #19. Finshing out the top-10 on Thursday was Tyler Courtney in the Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC, Spencer Bayston in the Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing #17, Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18, Brady Bacon in the TKH Motorsports #21H, and James McFadden in the Tarlton Racing #21. THE ALL-IN NOTEBOOK (7/16/26)Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, Ohio)Joker’s Jackpot Rod End Supply C-Main 1 Winner – Chase RandallRoto-Rooter C-Main 2 Winner – Cameron SmithWinters Performance B-Main 1 Winner – Anthony MacriFloRacing B-Main 2 Winner – James McFaddenDURST Dice Roll Driver – Rico Abreu (3rd-2nd)Jake’s Golf Carts Fastest Lap -Rod End Supply Hard Charger – Spencer Bayston +11 (18th-7th)Whiskey Meyers Victory Lane Visitors – Silva Motorsports #57CASM Win Sticker – Kyle Larson (6th)Angel Donor Charity -Lap Leader(s) – Rico Abreu 1-22; Kyle Larson 23-35Interstate Batteries A-Main Results (35 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 14-Rico Abreu[3]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 5. 19-Brent Marks[5]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[4]; 7. 17-Spencer Bayston[18]; 8. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 9. 21H-Brady Bacon[12]; 10. 21-James McFadden[14]; 11. 26-Justin Peck[7]; 12. 71-Parker Price Miller[11]; 13. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[10]; 14. 87-Aaron Reutzel[15]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[22]; 16. 2-David Gravel[23]; 17. 94-Brad Sweet[24]; 18. 83-Michael Kofoid[21]; 19. 9-Daison Pursley[17]; 20. 55-Kerry Madsen[19]; 21. 39M-Anthony Macri[13]; 22. 27-Emerson Axsom[16]; 23. 14M-Corey Day[2]; 24. 23D-Chase Dietz[20] WHAT’S NEXT: Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal will take center stage this weekend with the World of Outlaws, but next for Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing is a Tuesday, July 21 stop at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA for the $25,000-to-win Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup. Tickets are available for purchase HERE, or you can watch every lap live on FloRacing.