BARBERVILLE, FL (February 27, 2026) – Volusia Speedway Park was unforgiving to Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing in 2024.

The pairing entered the year with hopes of challenging for their first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship. But four nights outside the top 10 to start the year buried them in a deep hole. They did all they could to climb out, but ultimately the gap proved too large. Macedo settled for runner-up in the standings as David Gravel was crowned champion.

The next year, Macedo won the season opener, but it only awarded show up points. On the first full points paying night of the season, he slipped to 12th.

This year, there would be no slow start.

Only one car was on the Volusia podium all three nights during the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, and it was none other than the JJR No. 41. Macedo marched from ninth to runner-up in the season opener, came home third the next night, and finalized the week with a charge from 12th to third. The performance left Macedo trailing Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Gravel by only four markers. No huge hole to dig out of.

“Yeah, it was just a great start for us,” Macedo said. “I feel like for JJR and myself to start off on that note is big for us. I think in the past for us we’ve left Volusia with a pretty heavy deficit, not every year, but most years… It’s just tough to play the catch-up game. It’s so close.”

The early speed is a testament to the efforts of Macedo and the JJR crew. One of the areas they highlighted to improve was Qualifying. A few years ago, they were arguably the top qualifiers on the circuit before sliding a bit over the last couple seasons. They had an average Qualifying result of sixth at Volusia and were fastest in their Flight on the second night.

“I just think that JJR put in a lot of work over the off-season to better our program, especially our qualifying program,” Macedo said. “I think, other than the last night, that really showed. We had a lot of speed early in the night.”

Another factor that plagued them in 2025 was the occasional mechanical gremlin. Issues with parts can lead to DNFs and have major points implications. Last year’s issues led to five finishes outside the top 20. For reference, Gravel’s championship stats showed only four results outside the top 10. Macedo slid a spot to third in points as Buddy Kofoid climbed ahead.

Winning a World of Outlaws championship requires near perfection. There may be room for one or two DNFs but nothing beyond that. Blend a few nights of not finishing with a few more nights of bad luck that are bound to struck over the long season, and that’ll effectively end a team’s title chances.

“I think the biggest thing is just our DNFs,” Macedo said. “You can’t have those. We blew up a few engines. I know we also had some stuff happen. Then one night there in Pennsylvania I packed the hood scoop and had to go to the work area and finished in the back because there were only a few laps to go. I got a flat at Attica with like four or five to go. I was running fourth or so before that. But it has nothing to do with luck. It’s on our shoulders to make sure we don’t have failures, don’t have problems and things like that. I do think over the off-season we’ve worked really hard in that area. We spoke to Paul Kistler about the engine failures that we had, and I feel like he’s addressed them. And I think that it wasn’t on his shoulders; it was part failures and other issues. You just can’t have that stuff happen.”

Volusia is ready to breathe life back into the 2026 campaign this weekend. After three weeks off, the tour returns to the Forida 1/2 mile on Sunday-Monday, March 1-2 for the Bike Week Jamboree. Those are the first two of a 10-race March that takes the Series to eight tracks in seven states, signaling the true beginning of the grind that is The Greatest Show on Dirt.

And this time around, Macedo and the team can head to the “Sunshine State” without wondering how they’re going to get themselves back in contention. They didn’t stumble out of the gate. They’re running stride for stride with two fellow title favorites. The 29-year-old feels mentally and physically better than he has in years. They’re a championship caliber organization. Now, it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together.

“I just think it’s big to not be coming in with a deficit,” Macedo said. “It sucks having to battle back and play the catch-up game. I feel like we’re all going in tied at this point, and that makes me confident. For whatever reason, even though we’ve had a lot of speed at Volusia and won races there, it’s just been like an Achilles heel for consistency for some reason.

“I think a big deal too is just coming in healthy for the first time in a while. I feel like I’m super healthy. My body is in a good place. My head is in a good spot, and I think that’s a big deal. I don’t have any broken legs or lingering injuries or a broken back from the year before. From my Knoxville wreck, it took me a while just to get completely in a physical spot. I think that’s helpful as well.”

Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team continue their championship chase this Sunday-Monday, March 1-2 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Bike Week Jamboree. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

NOT PLAYING CATCH UP: Carson Macedo Confident After Early Volusia Speed

BARBERVILLE, FL (February 27, 2026) – Volusia Speedway Park was unforgiving to Carson Macedo and Jason Johnson Racing in 2024.

The pairing entered the year with hopes of challenging for their first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship. But four nights outside the top 10 to start the year buried them in a deep hole. They did all they could to climb out, but ultimately the gap proved too large. Macedo settled for runner-up in the standings as David Gravel was crowned champion.

The next year, Macedo won the season opener, but it only awarded show up points. On the first full points paying night of the season, he slipped to 12th.

This year, there would be no slow start.

Only one car was on the Volusia podium all three nights during the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, and it was none other than the JJR No. 41. Macedo marched from ninth to runner-up in the season opener, came home third the next night, and finalized the week with a charge from 12th to third. The performance left Macedo trailing Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Gravel by only four markers. No huge hole to dig out of.

“Yeah, it was just a great start for us,” Macedo said. “I feel like for JJR and myself to start off on that note is big for us. I think in the past for us we’ve left Volusia with a pretty heavy deficit, not every year, but most years… It’s just tough to play the catch-up game. It’s so close.”

The early speed is a testament to the efforts of Macedo and the JJR crew. One of the areas they highlighted to improve was Qualifying. A few years ago, they were arguably the top qualifiers on the circuit before sliding a bit over the last couple seasons. They had an average Qualifying result of sixth at Volusia and were fastest in their Flight on the second night.

“I just think that JJR put in a lot of work over the off-season to better our program, especially our qualifying program,” Macedo said. “I think, other than the last night, that really showed. We had a lot of speed early in the night.”

Another factor that plagued them in 2025 was the occasional mechanical gremlin. Issues with parts can lead to DNFs and have major points implications. Last year’s issues led to five finishes outside the top 20. For reference, Gravel’s championship stats showed only four results outside the top 10. Macedo slid a spot to third in points as Buddy Kofoid climbed ahead.

Winning a World of Outlaws championship requires near perfection. There may be room for one or two DNFs but nothing beyond that. Blend a few nights of not finishing with a few more nights of bad luck that are bound to struck over the long season, and that’ll effectively end a team’s title chances.

“I think the biggest thing is just our DNFs,” Macedo said. “You can’t have those. We blew up a few engines. I know we also had some stuff happen. Then one night there in Pennsylvania I packed the hood scoop and had to go to the work area and finished in the back because there were only a few laps to go. I got a flat at Attica with like four or five to go. I was running fourth or so before that. But it has nothing to do with luck. It’s on our shoulders to make sure we don’t have failures, don’t have problems and things like that. I do think over the off-season we’ve worked really hard in that area. We spoke to Paul Kistler about the engine failures that we had, and I feel like he’s addressed them. And I think that it wasn’t on his shoulders; it was part failures and other issues. You just can’t have that stuff happen.”

Volusia is ready to breathe life back into the 2026 campaign this weekend. After three weeks off, the tour returns to the Forida 1/2 mile on Sunday-Monday, March 1-2 for the Bike Week Jamboree. Those are the first two of a 10-race March that takes the Series to eight tracks in seven states, signaling the true beginning of the grind that is The Greatest Show on Dirt.

And this time around, Macedo and the team can head to the “Sunshine State” without wondering how they’re going to get themselves back in contention. They didn’t stumble out of the gate. They’re running stride for stride with two fellow title favorites. The 29-year-old feels mentally and physically better than he has in years. They’re a championship caliber organization. Now, it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together.

“I just think it’s big to not be coming in with a deficit,” Macedo said. “It sucks having to battle back and play the catch-up game. I feel like we’re all going in tied at this point, and that makes me confident. For whatever reason, even though we’ve had a lot of speed at Volusia and won races there, it’s just been like an Achilles heel for consistency for some reason.

“I think a big deal too is just coming in healthy for the first time in a while. I feel like I’m super healthy. My body is in a good place. My head is in a good spot, and I think that’s a big deal. I don’t have any broken legs or lingering injuries or a broken back from the year before. From my Knoxville wreck, it took me a while just to get completely in a physical spot. I think that’s helpful as well.”

Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing team continue their championship chase this Sunday-Monday, March 1-2 at Volusia Speedway Park’s Bike Week Jamboree. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2026) – The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, which takes place March 5-8 at Gainesville Raceway, will once again kick off for fans at Burnyzz Speed Shop, March 4, with the Gatornationals FanFest hosted by Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Josh Hart and wife Brittanie Hart.

 The biggest names in NHRA will be at the Burnyzz Speed Shop FanFest in advance of the 2026 Gatornationals, photo credit Werner Communications

In advance of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season kickoff, NHRA is joining Ocala-based Top Fuel driver for John Force Racing and 2021 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Top Fuel winner Hart along with this wife Brittanie, to host the 4th annual Gatornationals FanFest. The free event will run from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Burnyzz Speed Shop. It will feature a massive car show, live music, food trucks and a driver autograph session from 7-8:30 p.m. that will include current NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series stars as well as former Gatornationals winners.
 
“Every year Brittanie (Hart, Josh’s wife) and our Burnyzz Speed Shop team do a great job organizing the FanFest and I love showing off Burnyzz Speed Shop,” said Hart. “The Gatornationals is one of the most historic motorsports events in the country and we are excited to have it in our backyard. I am looking forward to showing our shop to some of my new John Force Racing teammates and getting that second Gatornationals win. I want to thank everyone at Burnyzz Speed Shop for supporting this great event.”

 NHRA fans packed Burnyzz Speed Shop for the Gatornationals FanFest

AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS FANFEST RETURNS TO BURNYZZ SPEED SHOP ON MARCH 4

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2026) – The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, which takes place March 5-8 at Gainesville Raceway, will once again kick off for fans at Burnyzz Speed Shop, March 4, with the Gatornationals FanFest hosted by Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Josh Hart and wife Brittanie Hart.

 The biggest names in NHRA will be at the Burnyzz Speed Shop FanFest in advance of the 2026 Gatornationals, photo credit Werner Communications

In advance of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season kickoff, NHRA is joining Ocala-based Top Fuel driver for John Force Racing and 2021 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Top Fuel winner Hart along with this wife Brittanie, to host the 4th annual Gatornationals FanFest. The free event will run from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Burnyzz Speed Shop. It will feature a massive car show, live music, food trucks and a driver autograph session from 7-8:30 p.m. that will include current NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series stars as well as former Gatornationals winners.
 
“Every year Brittanie (Hart, Josh’s wife) and our Burnyzz Speed Shop team do a great job organizing the FanFest and I love showing off Burnyzz Speed Shop,” said Hart. “The Gatornationals is one of the most historic motorsports events in the country and we are excited to have it in our backyard. I am looking forward to showing our shop to some of my new John Force Racing teammates and getting that second Gatornationals win. I want to thank everyone at Burnyzz Speed Shop for supporting this great event.”

 NHRA fans packed Burnyzz Speed Shop for the Gatornationals FanFest

Drivers and former Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals winners who are scheduled to appear include NHRA legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, Hart, John Force Racing’s Jack Beckman, Jordan Vandergriff and Alexis DeJoria, as well as Top Fuel’s Justin Ashley, racing legend Tony Stewart, 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde, Pro Stock Motorcycle reigning world champ Richard Gadson, Tony Schumacher, Jasmine Salinas, Ida Zetterstrom, former winners Darrell Gwynn, David Grubnic, Frank Hawley and Jim Yates, as well as other stars of the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
 
A full list of drivers scheduled to appear is included below.
 
Frank Hawley                              Don Garlits                       Darrell Gwynn
David Grubnic                             Jim Yates                         Josh Hart
Justin Ashley                               Doug Foley                       Jasmine Salinas
Shawn Reed                               Tony Schumacher             Tony Stewart
Ida Zetterstrom                           Will Smith                         Scott Farley
Joe Morrison                               Jack Beckman                  Jordan Vandergriff
Buddy Hull                                  Alexis DeJoria                   Spencer Hyde
Chad Green                                Hunter Green                    Chris King
Dan Wilkerson                             Paul Lee                           Dave Richards
Stephen Bell                               Eric Latino                        Ryan Oehler
 
 
In addition, NHRA will have the specialty Gatornationals trophies on display for fans and there will be several ticket giveaways for car show participants and fans.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 7 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 8.
 
To purchase tickets to the 2026 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, including upgraded experiences in the Gainesville Top Eliminator Club, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

Friday Portion of Wieland Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway Canceled Due to Severe Weather Threat

OCALA, FL – (February 27, 2026) – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing and Ocala Speedway officials have announced that the Friday portion of the Wieland Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway has been canceled due to the forecasted threat of rain and severe thunderstorms in the evening hours. With safety as the top priority for drivers, teams, staff, and fans, officials made the decision following updated weather models indicating a significant chance of heavy rainfall, and potentially severe storm conditions throughout the evening. “We are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone involved,” said Ocala Speedway management. “Given the timing and potential severity of the incoming weather system, canceling Friday’s program is the most responsible course of action.” Friday’s event will not be rescheduled. Saturday’s finale remains on schedule, featuring a complete Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing program, including Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap, $25,000-to-win A-Main. Pit gates are scheduled to open at 2:00 PM, with grandstand gates opening at 5:00 PM. On-track action will begin with Dirt Draft Hot Laps at 6:00 PM.  For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit LucasDirt.com.

Declan Bender (No. 70)

Posted on behalf of On The Box Racing DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 27, 2026) – On The Box Racing (OTB Racing) is proud to officially announce its five-rider team for the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, marking a significant expansion for the team across three premier classes: Mission AFT SuperTwins, KICKER AFT Singles, and AFT AdventureTrackers. The 2026 program represents the largest and most comprehensive effort in the team’s existence and reflects the continued support and investment from our sponsors. Competing in AFT’s premier division, the Mission AFT SuperTwins, OTB Racing will field Declan Bender and Brandon Price. Price sat out a majority of the season in 2025 due to injury, where OTB picked up Bender for the remaining eleven races of the season. Bender finished 10th overall in 2025 with one podium finish, four top five finishes, and nine top 10 finishes. Price finished 13th overall, with only competing in five of the seventeen races last year, two of which were podium finishes. “I am so excited to be back with OTB racing for this season,” says Bender. “After how we finished 2025, I can’t wait to get back in the saddle and continue where we left off. The team and I have been putting in a lot of work this off-season, and are very confident in where we believe we should be, so now we just have to turn it into reality!” Price also chimed in on his gratitude. “I’m grateful to Wayne for the opportunity to race a full season at the top level once again with OTB Racing. I’m really comfortable on the Yamaha MT-07’s and I’m looking forward to working with Mike Luczak and Wyatt Neal. I’ve been putting in the work this offseason to run up front more consistently and contend for wins.”

Brandon Price (No. 92)

For the first time, OTB also has brought on a KICKER AFT Singles rider, Bradon Pfanders. Last year, Bradon finished 6th overall in the standings with one podium and eleven top ten finishes. Pfanders is super excited for the opportunity to ride for the OTB racing team in 2026. “It’s a fresh start for me, after riding another brand for most of my career and having this opportunity to ride Yamahas I was a little skeptical at first, but maybe it’s the piece of the puzzle that’s been missing to be where I know I should be. I am confident with myself and all the people in my corner we can consistently be fighting at the front all season long.”

Brandon Pfanders (No. 83)

Wrapping up the team’s line up is the two riders who will be competing in the AFT AdventureTrackers series, Austin Luczak and Will Harris. Both Luczak and Harris competed in the class last year. Luczak ran all four races of the series, finishing 6th overall and grabbing a third place finish as well as three tops fives. Team Owner, Wayne Sody is looking forward to the new challenges. “2026 is our year. We have researched and developed new technologies which will take us to the top. Crew chief, Mike Luczak has prepared our bikes for the last two years with absolute perfection and we are so excited to have the best equipment for our riders this season. I am thrilled to have OTB represented in three classes and see what is in store for us this season. We need to show our sponsors that their dedication to the team is well deserved and will bring home the consistent podium finishes that we strive for!” OTB has also added some new faces to the pit. Mike Luczak returns as crew chief along with Wyatt Neal as Brandon Price’s mechanic and Meg Neal as team manager. Rich Pfanders will be wrenching for Declan Bender, and Ryan Wells will wrench and coach the young gun, Bradon Pfanders. Thank you to our sponsors who make this all possible – Memphis Shades, Corbin, Sody Concrete, Glen’s Auto, Luczak Racing, Rausch Racing, Vortex Brewing Company, Fredericktown Yamaha, Lisa Niner, Black Hills Powersports, Vinson Construction, Motion Pro, Vortex, Arai, ODI, RP Exhausts, and Upstate Coatings.

OTB Racing Announces Expanded Five-Rider Program for 2026 Season

Declan Bender (No. 70)

Posted on behalf of On The Box Racing DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 27, 2026) – On The Box Racing (OTB Racing) is proud to officially announce its five-rider team for the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, marking a significant expansion for the team across three premier classes: Mission AFT SuperTwins, KICKER AFT Singles, and AFT AdventureTrackers. The 2026 program represents the largest and most comprehensive effort in the team’s existence and reflects the continued support and investment from our sponsors. Competing in AFT’s premier division, the Mission AFT SuperTwins, OTB Racing will field Declan Bender and Brandon Price. Price sat out a majority of the season in 2025 due to injury, where OTB picked up Bender for the remaining eleven races of the season. Bender finished 10th overall in 2025 with one podium finish, four top five finishes, and nine top 10 finishes. Price finished 13th overall, with only competing in five of the seventeen races last year, two of which were podium finishes. “I am so excited to be back with OTB racing for this season,” says Bender. “After how we finished 2025, I can’t wait to get back in the saddle and continue where we left off. The team and I have been putting in a lot of work this off-season, and are very confident in where we believe we should be, so now we just have to turn it into reality!” Price also chimed in on his gratitude. “I’m grateful to Wayne for the opportunity to race a full season at the top level once again with OTB Racing. I’m really comfortable on the Yamaha MT-07’s and I’m looking forward to working with Mike Luczak and Wyatt Neal. I’ve been putting in the work this offseason to run up front more consistently and contend for wins.”

Brandon Price (No. 92)

For the first time, OTB also has brought on a KICKER AFT Singles rider, Bradon Pfanders. Last year, Bradon finished 6th overall in the standings with one podium and eleven top ten finishes. Pfanders is super excited for the opportunity to ride for the OTB racing team in 2026. “It’s a fresh start for me, after riding another brand for most of my career and having this opportunity to ride Yamahas I was a little skeptical at first, but maybe it’s the piece of the puzzle that’s been missing to be where I know I should be. I am confident with myself and all the people in my corner we can consistently be fighting at the front all season long.”

Brandon Pfanders (No. 83)

Wrapping up the team’s line up is the two riders who will be competing in the AFT AdventureTrackers series, Austin Luczak and Will Harris. Both Luczak and Harris competed in the class last year. Luczak ran all four races of the series, finishing 6th overall and grabbing a third place finish as well as three tops fives. Team Owner, Wayne Sody is looking forward to the new challenges. “2026 is our year. We have researched and developed new technologies which will take us to the top. Crew chief, Mike Luczak has prepared our bikes for the last two years with absolute perfection and we are so excited to have the best equipment for our riders this season. I am thrilled to have OTB represented in three classes and see what is in store for us this season. We need to show our sponsors that their dedication to the team is well deserved and will bring home the consistent podium finishes that we strive for!” OTB has also added some new faces to the pit. Mike Luczak returns as crew chief along with Wyatt Neal as Brandon Price’s mechanic and Meg Neal as team manager. Rich Pfanders will be wrenching for Declan Bender, and Ryan Wells will wrench and coach the young gun, Bradon Pfanders. Thank you to our sponsors who make this all possible – Memphis Shades, Corbin, Sody Concrete, Glen’s Auto, Luczak Racing, Rausch Racing, Vortex Brewing Company, Fredericktown Yamaha, Lisa Niner, Black Hills Powersports, Vinson Construction, Motion Pro, Vortex, Arai, ODI, RP Exhausts, and Upstate Coatings.

Next UpThe 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season will kick off with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona’s Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the “World Center of Racing” on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase tickets to the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack. After the season opener, America’s Original Extreme Sport will head north for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track at Senoia Raceway on March 21. Tickets are available now at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280

CONCORD, NC (February 27, 2026) – Michael Ledford is picking up speed in unfamiliar territories. 

Building on a career-high season in the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds during 2025, the 21-year-old racer is preparing to take bigger steps in his career with championship hunts in the Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS) Modified Championship and the DIRTcar National standings, while gaining seat time in a Super Late Model for the 2026 DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour. 

The Pontiac, IL native has steadily built his resumé aboard a UMP Modified at his home tracks, Fairbury Speedway and Farmer City Raceway, at the start of the decade. In 2023, Ledford ventured across Illinois and Missouri with success. He grabbed 16 wins at local races, along with his first Prairie Dirt Classic Showdown victory with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals, and his first MARS win in the season-closing FALS Frenzy. 

In 2024, Ledford failed to match his previous year’s stats, recording only four Feature wins. Deciding it was time for a reset before 2025, he joined Mike Learman’s Royal Race Cars to pilot the No. 9 house car. 

“It really starts there,” Ledford said. “I got ahold of Mike and wanted to do something a little different. I came off a pretty tough year in 2024, so I got with him and didn’t really plan on doing like a ton of Modified racing to start with. But we ended up winning the Illini 100 with the Modified and decided that we could go for a national title. But it was a really fun year, I did a lot more traveling than we ever did since we were stuck to two tracks (Fairbury and Farmer City).” 

The win at the MARS season-opener propelled Ledford to compete for the overall championship. Throughout the season, he faced an equal on-track adversary in the form of Owensboro, KY’s Cole Falloway. While Ledford topped Falloway in the wins column, the “Blue Grass State” driver scored his first MARS crown by 25 markers. Ledford finished runner-up to Falloway once more in the DIRTcar National points by 54 points. 

“I feel like we can race really hard against each other, but also really clean,” Ledford said. “I got a lot of respect for him. I hadn’t raced against him a ton previous to last year, so it was pretty cool doing that. We raced against each other almost 75% of the time, it seemed like.  

“That’s what made it tough at the end to gain points on him because he would win once and extend his lead, then I would maybe win the next one. But it canceled each other out more than anything. It was a lot of fun, but I kind of wish we were able to sometimes stay away from each other.”

After Ledford got a taste for season-long points racing, he looked to tackle a full slate with the Summit Modified Nationals for the first time in 2025. Through 14 starts, he earned a career-high three Feature wins at Macon Speedway, Farmer City, and Butler Motor Speedway, 10 top fives, and 13 top-10s en route to a third-place points finish. 

“The big thing is that a lot of the tracks were new to me,” Ledford said. “So, it’s like trying to learn how to get around there pretty good, then obviously, there’s a ton of work with these cars. I like my stuff pretty well maintained, and not having to worry about it breaking on the track. 

“It was a lot of work, but if you’re trying to get good laps, there’s no better place than the Hell Tour to get laps against really good competition. So, I’m looking forward to doing some of that with the Modified and Late Model to get some seat time, but it’s tough.” 

Ledford faced the “Sunshine State” for the first time with his UMP Modified at Volusia Speedway Park for the 55th annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. The “World’s Fastest Half Mile” took the “Madman” out of his comfort zone with the high speeds, but he adapted through the week with a showing of three top fives and two second-place runs. 

“It was really fun, the facility and everything there was really, really nice,” Ledford said. “The track races really well. I had some issues in Qualifying just because I’m not used to hammering down and not really lifting. But I think towards the end, we got a lot better. 

“I mean, the only track close to a 1/2-mile is Red Hill (Raceway), and I don’t race there very much. The rest of the stuff around here is all 1/4-miles, so it took about four or five races until I started to feel like I had a little better feel for it. Just like anything, you need laps and learn to change your driving style a little bit.” 

Moving into the 2026 season, Ledford’s primary objective will be the chase for his first MARS Modified crown. After getting a feel for points racing against Falloway, he learned valuable lessons that will help him go a long way in the 21-race journey. 

“I think that starts with the little things,” Ledford said. “There was a night I missed the Feature, and I think I had a provisional that I didn’t use, then I had a couple of DNFs here and there. Matt (Curl) and Jonathan (Clayton) do a really good job with that Series. I really like it, the pay is really good, and it gives us a good regional tour.” 

Alongside the Modified activity, Ledford will get to open up the notebook for the Super Late Model in 2026. With little expectations, it allows him to understand the machine without extra pressure to win each night. 

“I don’t have much experience, but I don’t have a ton of expectations,” Ledford said. “Which is fun for me because with the Modified, you expect to win, and then you get upset if you finish second. I’m looking forward to getting some Summer Nationals time and locally around here at Farmer City and Fairbury.” 

Ledford will be present at the 2026 MARS Modified Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment opener at Farmer City Raceway alongside the World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision for the World of Outlaws Illini 100 on Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11. 

ILLINI 100 TICKETS 

Michael Ledford Chasing Championships in UMP Modifieds, Building Late Model Experience in 2026

CONCORD, NC (February 27, 2026) – Michael Ledford is picking up speed in unfamiliar territories. 

Building on a career-high season in the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds during 2025, the 21-year-old racer is preparing to take bigger steps in his career with championship hunts in the Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS) Modified Championship and the DIRTcar National standings, while gaining seat time in a Super Late Model for the 2026 DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour. 

The Pontiac, IL native has steadily built his resumé aboard a UMP Modified at his home tracks, Fairbury Speedway and Farmer City Raceway, at the start of the decade. In 2023, Ledford ventured across Illinois and Missouri with success. He grabbed 16 wins at local races, along with his first Prairie Dirt Classic Showdown victory with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals, and his first MARS win in the season-closing FALS Frenzy. 

In 2024, Ledford failed to match his previous year’s stats, recording only four Feature wins. Deciding it was time for a reset before 2025, he joined Mike Learman’s Royal Race Cars to pilot the No. 9 house car. 

“It really starts there,” Ledford said. “I got ahold of Mike and wanted to do something a little different. I came off a pretty tough year in 2024, so I got with him and didn’t really plan on doing like a ton of Modified racing to start with. But we ended up winning the Illini 100 with the Modified and decided that we could go for a national title. But it was a really fun year, I did a lot more traveling than we ever did since we were stuck to two tracks (Fairbury and Farmer City).” 

The win at the MARS season-opener propelled Ledford to compete for the overall championship. Throughout the season, he faced an equal on-track adversary in the form of Owensboro, KY’s Cole Falloway. While Ledford topped Falloway in the wins column, the “Blue Grass State” driver scored his first MARS crown by 25 markers. Ledford finished runner-up to Falloway once more in the DIRTcar National points by 54 points. 

“I feel like we can race really hard against each other, but also really clean,” Ledford said. “I got a lot of respect for him. I hadn’t raced against him a ton previous to last year, so it was pretty cool doing that. We raced against each other almost 75% of the time, it seemed like.  

“That’s what made it tough at the end to gain points on him because he would win once and extend his lead, then I would maybe win the next one. But it canceled each other out more than anything. It was a lot of fun, but I kind of wish we were able to sometimes stay away from each other.”

After Ledford got a taste for season-long points racing, he looked to tackle a full slate with the Summit Modified Nationals for the first time in 2025. Through 14 starts, he earned a career-high three Feature wins at Macon Speedway, Farmer City, and Butler Motor Speedway, 10 top fives, and 13 top-10s en route to a third-place points finish. 

“The big thing is that a lot of the tracks were new to me,” Ledford said. “So, it’s like trying to learn how to get around there pretty good, then obviously, there’s a ton of work with these cars. I like my stuff pretty well maintained, and not having to worry about it breaking on the track. 

“It was a lot of work, but if you’re trying to get good laps, there’s no better place than the Hell Tour to get laps against really good competition. So, I’m looking forward to doing some of that with the Modified and Late Model to get some seat time, but it’s tough.” 

Ledford faced the “Sunshine State” for the first time with his UMP Modified at Volusia Speedway Park for the 55th annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. The “World’s Fastest Half Mile” took the “Madman” out of his comfort zone with the high speeds, but he adapted through the week with a showing of three top fives and two second-place runs. 

“It was really fun, the facility and everything there was really, really nice,” Ledford said. “The track races really well. I had some issues in Qualifying just because I’m not used to hammering down and not really lifting. But I think towards the end, we got a lot better. 

“I mean, the only track close to a 1/2-mile is Red Hill (Raceway), and I don’t race there very much. The rest of the stuff around here is all 1/4-miles, so it took about four or five races until I started to feel like I had a little better feel for it. Just like anything, you need laps and learn to change your driving style a little bit.” 

Moving into the 2026 season, Ledford’s primary objective will be the chase for his first MARS Modified crown. After getting a feel for points racing against Falloway, he learned valuable lessons that will help him go a long way in the 21-race journey. 

“I think that starts with the little things,” Ledford said. “There was a night I missed the Feature, and I think I had a provisional that I didn’t use, then I had a couple of DNFs here and there. Matt (Curl) and Jonathan (Clayton) do a really good job with that Series. I really like it, the pay is really good, and it gives us a good regional tour.” 

Alongside the Modified activity, Ledford will get to open up the notebook for the Super Late Model in 2026. With little expectations, it allows him to understand the machine without extra pressure to win each night. 

“I don’t have much experience, but I don’t have a ton of expectations,” Ledford said. “Which is fun for me because with the Modified, you expect to win, and then you get upset if you finish second. I’m looking forward to getting some Summer Nationals time and locally around here at Farmer City and Fairbury.” 

Ledford will be present at the 2026 MARS Modified Championship presented by Summit Racing Equipment opener at Farmer City Raceway alongside the World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision for the World of Outlaws Illini 100 on Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11. 

ILLINI 100 TICKETS 

How can you watch the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Summer Nationals? Live on DIRTVision. 

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

O’Neal Captures Thursday Night Victory at Wieland Winter Nationals in Ocala

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

CONCORD, NC (February 26, 2026) – The Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in early February may officially signal the start of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season, but the month of March is when the campaign truly comes alive.

After a few weeks off, The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to tackle a stretch of 10 races in 28 days that will take the world’s best Sprint Car drivers to eight tracks in seven states. It starts with a return to Florida and journeys along the country’s southern rim before wrapping up in the Midwest.

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

Volusia Speedway Park | Bike Week Jamboree (March 1-2): The “Sunshine State” welcomes the tour on the first day of the month as the World of Outlaws are set to bring some four-wheel flavor to Florida’s Bike Week. Whether you’re local to the area or a biker who rode in from afar, Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park is the place to be on the evenings of Sunday-Monday, March 1-2. David Gravel swept last year’s Bike Week Jamboree.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Talladega Short Track | Dega Duel (March 6): It’s a quick turnaround after Volusia as the teams have just three days off before it’s race day at Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track. The 1/3-mile dirt track sits down the street from its pavement counterpart, the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway. It’ll mark Talladega’s 14th time hosting the World of Outlaws. The track is home to David Gravel’s first victory (2011). Current full-timers Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog are also former Talladega winners.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Magnolia Motor Speedway | Black Ice Brawl (March 7): The only Mississippi visit of the year brings the tour to Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS. The Series’ first stop at “The Mag” in 2021 was topped by Sheldon Haudenschild. More dates followed in 2023 and 2025, and this year will mark the first time Magnolia has hosted the World of Outlaws in consecutive seasons.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Kennedale Speedway Park | Cowtown Classic (March 13-14): Mid-March takes the World of Outlaws to their home state as Kennedale Speedway Park plays host for a full weekend of action. Carson Macedo claimed the Series debut at Kennedale in 2024. Last year continued the tradition of Californians conquering the “Lone Star State” track as Fresno’s Giovanni Scelzi and Penngrove’s Buddy Kofoid split victories.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lawton Speedway | Sooner Stampede (March 20): An all-Oklahoma weekend opens at Lawton Speedway. The “Sooner State” oval appeared on the schedule twice during the inaugural season in 1978, with Rick Ferkel and Sammy Swindell bagging the wins. The track was frequently visited through the early 1980s before a long hiatus and has since become a staple once again with Daryn Pittman, Carson Macedo, and Buddy Kofoid claiming the trio of trips in the 2020s.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Creek County Speedway | Creekadega 40 (March 21): Yes, Oklahoma, it’s happening. The Greatest Show on Dirt is invading “Creekadega.” The World of Outlaws will make their debut at Sapulpa, OK’s Creek County Speedway to close the “Sooner State” weekend. Combine the best Sprint Car drivers with this bullring, and the result promises to be a thriller. The American Sprint Car Series has delivered many exciting races at Creek County over the years.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

US 36 Raceway | KC Classic (March 27): Sprint Car fans across the country rejoiced when this “Show-Me State” gem was put back on the World of Outlaws calendar. Sprint Cars at US 36 Raceway simply do not miss, and the Osborn, MO track is set to start a weekend in the Midwest. Jac Haudenschild won the Series debut at US 36 in 2006, and the place seems to suit the Haudenschild style as his son Sheldon boasts a pair of victories there (2020 and 2023).

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

81 Speedway | Tallgrass Tussle (March 28): The first of three scheduled nights in Kansas on the 2026 calendar punctuates the month of March. Park City, KS’ 81 Speedway is the destination. Sammy Swindell dominated the opening chapter of the track’s history with the World of Outlaws by winning the first five races. Ten-time champion Donny Schatz has a pair of 81 scores (2006 and 2017), and Rico Abreu topped the two most recent visits.

THE MONTH AHEAD: Busy March Ready to Bring 2026 World of Outlaws Season Back to Life

CONCORD, NC (February 26, 2026) – The Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in early February may officially signal the start of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season, but the month of March is when the campaign truly comes alive.

After a few weeks off, The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to tackle a stretch of 10 races in 28 days that will take the world’s best Sprint Car drivers to eight tracks in seven states. It starts with a return to Florida and journeys along the country’s southern rim before wrapping up in the Midwest.

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

Volusia Speedway Park | Bike Week Jamboree (March 1-2): The “Sunshine State” welcomes the tour on the first day of the month as the World of Outlaws are set to bring some four-wheel flavor to Florida’s Bike Week. Whether you’re local to the area or a biker who rode in from afar, Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park is the place to be on the evenings of Sunday-Monday, March 1-2. David Gravel swept last year’s Bike Week Jamboree.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Talladega Short Track | Dega Duel (March 6): It’s a quick turnaround after Volusia as the teams have just three days off before it’s race day at Eastaboga, AL’s Talladega Short Track. The 1/3-mile dirt track sits down the street from its pavement counterpart, the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway. It’ll mark Talladega’s 14th time hosting the World of Outlaws. The track is home to David Gravel’s first victory (2011). Current full-timers Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Bill Balog are also former Talladega winners.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Magnolia Motor Speedway | Black Ice Brawl (March 7): The only Mississippi visit of the year brings the tour to Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS. The Series’ first stop at “The Mag” in 2021 was topped by Sheldon Haudenschild. More dates followed in 2023 and 2025, and this year will mark the first time Magnolia has hosted the World of Outlaws in consecutive seasons.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Kennedale Speedway Park | Cowtown Classic (March 13-14): Mid-March takes the World of Outlaws to their home state as Kennedale Speedway Park plays host for a full weekend of action. Carson Macedo claimed the Series debut at Kennedale in 2024. Last year continued the tradition of Californians conquering the “Lone Star State” track as Fresno’s Giovanni Scelzi and Penngrove’s Buddy Kofoid split victories.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lawton Speedway | Sooner Stampede (March 20): An all-Oklahoma weekend opens at Lawton Speedway. The “Sooner State” oval appeared on the schedule twice during the inaugural season in 1978, with Rick Ferkel and Sammy Swindell bagging the wins. The track was frequently visited through the early 1980s before a long hiatus and has since become a staple once again with Daryn Pittman, Carson Macedo, and Buddy Kofoid claiming the trio of trips in the 2020s.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Creek County Speedway | Creekadega 40 (March 21): Yes, Oklahoma, it’s happening. The Greatest Show on Dirt is invading “Creekadega.” The World of Outlaws will make their debut at Sapulpa, OK’s Creek County Speedway to close the “Sooner State” weekend. Combine the best Sprint Car drivers with this bullring, and the result promises to be a thriller. The American Sprint Car Series has delivered many exciting races at Creek County over the years.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

US 36 Raceway | KC Classic (March 27): Sprint Car fans across the country rejoiced when this “Show-Me State” gem was put back on the World of Outlaws calendar. Sprint Cars at US 36 Raceway simply do not miss, and the Osborn, MO track is set to start a weekend in the Midwest. Jac Haudenschild won the Series debut at US 36 in 2006, and the place seems to suit the Haudenschild style as his son Sheldon boasts a pair of victories there (2020 and 2023).

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

81 Speedway | Tallgrass Tussle (March 28): The first of three scheduled nights in Kansas on the 2026 calendar punctuates the month of March. Park City, KS’ 81 Speedway is the destination. Sammy Swindell dominated the opening chapter of the track’s history with the World of Outlaws by winning the first five races. Ten-time champion Donny Schatz has a pair of 81 scores (2006 and 2017), and Rico Abreu topped the two most recent visits.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 26, 2026) – After succeeding in its mission to help elevate Midget racing and the drivers in the division, the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets presented by Toyota will continue that initiative in a new fashion this year.

Maintaining the goal of putting Midget racers in front of large crowds, Xtreme Outlaw will shift its focus to hosting premier events only, while also supporting two regional series.

Two of the most important tracks to the Xtreme Outlaw brand will, again, present a stage for Midget racers from across the country to showcase their talents in front of thousands, as the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will join the Ironman 55 Weekend with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Aug. 7-8, and return to Millbridge Speedway, Nov. 2-3, for the World Championship lead-up to the World of Outlaws World Finals.

“Our goal with Xtreme is always to help elevate dirt Midget racing and help showcase the rising talent of the sport, which has been a tremendous success when you look at the budding careers of former Xtreme drivers like Jade Avedisian, Ryan Timms, Taylor Reimer, Jacob Denney, and more,” said Tyler Bachman, Xtreme Outlaw director of events. “It’s exciting to see what we’ve accomplished in a short time with Xtreme since its inception in 2022. As the economy of Midget racing shifts, this new focus allows us to continue our goals and bring the best talent in Midget racing to fans around the world.”

In addition to hosting the premier events, Xtreme/DIRTcar will also serve as the sanctioning body for the Xtreme Dirt Midget Association and the Centennial Midget Series – formerly the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association, the oldest Midget association in the country.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets have been part of the Ironman 55 Weekend at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park since its debut season in 2022. The first five Xtreme races at the high-banked Missouri track saw five different winners, including eventual Series champions Cannon McIntosh and Jade Avedisian. In total, seven different drivers have won during the Ironman weekend – McIntosh, Avedisian, Chance Crum, Michael Pickens, Karter Sarff, Cameron Key, and 2025 Series champion Jacob Denney.

After the success of the World Championship event at Millbridge last year, it only made sense for the Series to again help serve as the prelude to World Finals at the track that helped launch the Series. The Xtreme Midgets debuted at the Salisbury, NC track on May 24, 2022, and saw Gavan Boschele claim the inaugural victory.

Like I-55, Millbridge has had three Series champions score a win at the track, including McIntosh, Denney, and inaugural champion Zach Daum. The other two winners at the track include Sarff and Taylor Reimer, who became the first women to earn a national dirt racing victory.

The events at I-55 and Millbridge will pay $4,000 to win on the first night and $5,000 to win on the final night.

To keep up with the latest event info, visit the Xtreme Outlaw site and follow the Xtreme Outlaw social channels.

Where can you watch the Xtreme Outlaw Midget events? All live on DIRTVision. 

Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Shift Focus to Premier Events

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 26, 2026) – After succeeding in its mission to help elevate Midget racing and the drivers in the division, the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets presented by Toyota will continue that initiative in a new fashion this year.

Maintaining the goal of putting Midget racers in front of large crowds, Xtreme Outlaw will shift its focus to hosting premier events only, while also supporting two regional series.

Two of the most important tracks to the Xtreme Outlaw brand will, again, present a stage for Midget racers from across the country to showcase their talents in front of thousands, as the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will join the Ironman 55 Weekend with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Aug. 7-8, and return to Millbridge Speedway, Nov. 2-3, for the World Championship lead-up to the World of Outlaws World Finals.

“Our goal with Xtreme is always to help elevate dirt Midget racing and help showcase the rising talent of the sport, which has been a tremendous success when you look at the budding careers of former Xtreme drivers like Jade Avedisian, Ryan Timms, Taylor Reimer, Jacob Denney, and more,” said Tyler Bachman, Xtreme Outlaw director of events. “It’s exciting to see what we’ve accomplished in a short time with Xtreme since its inception in 2022. As the economy of Midget racing shifts, this new focus allows us to continue our goals and bring the best talent in Midget racing to fans around the world.”

In addition to hosting the premier events, Xtreme/DIRTcar will also serve as the sanctioning body for the Xtreme Dirt Midget Association and the Centennial Midget Series – formerly the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association, the oldest Midget association in the country.

The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets have been part of the Ironman 55 Weekend at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park since its debut season in 2022. The first five Xtreme races at the high-banked Missouri track saw five different winners, including eventual Series champions Cannon McIntosh and Jade Avedisian. In total, seven different drivers have won during the Ironman weekend – McIntosh, Avedisian, Chance Crum, Michael Pickens, Karter Sarff, Cameron Key, and 2025 Series champion Jacob Denney.

After the success of the World Championship event at Millbridge last year, it only made sense for the Series to again help serve as the prelude to World Finals at the track that helped launch the Series. The Xtreme Midgets debuted at the Salisbury, NC track on May 24, 2022, and saw Gavan Boschele claim the inaugural victory.

Like I-55, Millbridge has had three Series champions score a win at the track, including McIntosh, Denney, and inaugural champion Zach Daum. The other two winners at the track include Sarff and Taylor Reimer, who became the first women to earn a national dirt racing victory.

The events at I-55 and Millbridge will pay $4,000 to win on the first night and $5,000 to win on the final night.

To keep up with the latest event info, visit the Xtreme Outlaw site and follow the Xtreme Outlaw social channels.

Where can you watch the Xtreme Outlaw Midget events? All live on DIRTVision. 

ARTICLE: https://xtremeoutlawseries.com/news/xtreme-outlaw-midgets-shift-focus-to-premier-events/FAN 101: https://about.dirtcar.com/ 

Event: DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyneDate/Time: Sunday, March 1, 2026, 3:30 p.m. ETLocation: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TexasLayout: 2.4 Mile Asphalt Road CourseTV/Radio: FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioAfter opening the 2026 season on two drafting-style oval tracks at Daytona International Speedway and EchoPark Speedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX team now shift their focus to road-course competition for Sunday’s DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas. While Berry and the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse have shown consistent speed on intermediate and superspeedway ovals – regularly running among the leaders – road courses have presented a different challenge.  Through nine career road-course starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, Berry is still seeking his first top-10 finish. Even so, he’s encouraged by the team’s preparation and believes the technical, 20-turn, 2.4-mile COTA layout presents an opportunity to take a step forward.Berry emphasized that a strong start to the weekend will be critical. “Qualifying and track position are going to be important,” he said. “For us it’s about executing a clean, solid race and being more competitive than we were last year. “If we can limit mistakes, keep the car pointed in the right direction and stay on track all day, we’ll give ourselves a shot at a solid finish.” On-track activity begins Saturday with practice scheduled for 10 a.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 11:10 a.m. ET. Coverage of Saturday’s action will air on Amazon Prime. Sunday’s 95-lap, 228-mile event is set to take the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. ET, with live television coverage on FOX. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 20 and 45.Josh BerryAge: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)Hometown: Hendersonville, TennesseeCrew Chief: Miles StanleyIG: @joshberry88X: @joshberryAbout DEX DEX is the nation’s largest independent provider of document technology and managed print services, delivering a broad range of products and solutions that help organizations improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and strengthen security. DEX uses real-time data analytics to help businesses gain valuable insights into their print job patterns and frequency, resource allocation, and cost distribution. The knowledge gained is used to optimize workflows, enhance user performance, eliminate unnecessary expenses, and ensure print security and compliance.

CHICAGO (February 26, 2026) — For decades Zizzo Racing has competed on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series racing the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster across the country at select national events. The part-time team with a full-time team attitude is led by team owner Tony Zizzo, driver TJ Zizzo and crew chief Mike Kern with an assist in recent years from legendary crew chief Rahn Tobler. Prior to the historic Gatornationals Tobler will be inducted into the Don Garlits Drag Racing Hall of Fame and TJ Zizzo along with his entire team could not be more excited for Tobler who has been instrumental in the impressive progression of their Chicago based Top Fuel team.   “I love Rahn for so many reasons and I am so excited for him to receive this amazing honor,” said Zizzo. “He has been a great help to this Rust-Oleum team on and off the track for decades. His attitude is amazing and his knowledge, attention to detail and giving spirit fits in perfectly with our organization. He has no ego and I am so thankful he has been part of our team working with Mike and the rest of our Rust-Oleum crew. We have known he was a Hall of Famer for years.”  Rahn Tobler(left) with Mike Kern have worked together on the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team for years, photo credit Auto ImageryTobler is one of only three NHRA crew chiefs to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, capturing 65 races and counting across both disciplines. Between 1980 and ’82, Tobler led NHRA legend Shirley Muldowney to two NHRA and one AHRA Top Fuel titles and was part of her 1977 NHRA championship team. Tobler led Cruz Pedregon to the NHRA 2008 Funny Car championship, and Ron Capps to the 2016 title as part of Don Schumacher Racing. Tobler’s impact extends beyond titles as many assistants who have worked with him have gone on to great achievements on their own, including former-assistants-turned-crew-chiefs Dickie Venables, Eric Lane and John Collins.   For decades he has simply been dedicated to drag racing and a career that started with a passion for drag racing, a relocation and a chance meeting.   “When I was 15, my mom was transferred from Inglewood, California to Houston for her job, which I thought was the end of the world,” said Tobler. “I used to bag groceries at a grocery store as my afternoon job and there was an auto repair shop that always had the front overhead doors open. One time I caught a glimpse of a front engine top fuel dragster sitting in there. I went by this shop for probably about a month just hanging around and then one day they asked me if I wanted to go to a race with them. This was the Stevens and Venables operation, which was Dickie Venables’ father, and they were going to go to Amarillo for the world finals in 1971 and I jumped in this single cab pickup with them. That was kind of the start of it.”  Rahn Tobler keeps a watchful eye on the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster, photo credit Auto ImageryWhen Tobler got the call from the hall of fame he was honored and humbled. His long-time friend and Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman made the call and Tobler was thrilled to have that personal interaction.   “Jack and I are good friends and talk regularly. He had indicated to me that my name was certainly going to be on the ballot when the ballots came around,” said Tobler. “He let me know that the voting came out and it was a landslide. This was the first time that I’d ever been on the ballot, so I felt very, very honored. It’s nice to be noticed what for what I’ve done for the last 54 years.”   As a member of Zizzo Racing Tobler has been instrumental in building consistency and high performance with the team. Over the past two seasons the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team has recorded No. 1 qualifiers and set team records for low elapsed time and top speed. Tobler’s insight and discussions with crew chief Mike Kern have made TJ Zizzo and the team one of the most feared part-time operations on the NHRA tour. For Zizzo the opportunity to be competitive has been a thrill for the season generation driver.   “I really can’t say enough about Rahn and what he has brought to the team,” said Zizzo. “When he is at the track, he is constantly looking at our dragster and talking to the guys on the crew. I have never felt more confident in the performance of our team. I am so happy for Rahn to be going into the Hall of Fame.”   Zizzo Racing will make their 2026 NHRA season debut at Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, May 15-17. For more information on Zizzo Racing visit www.zizzoracing.com.

Sheppard Returns to Wieland Winter Nationals Victory Lane at Ocala

OCALA, FL (February 25, 2026) – It took Brandon Sheppard nine years to return to Victory Lane at Ocala Speedway, but on Wednesday night the New Berlin, Illinois driver captured the 30-lap Wieland Winter Nationals feature for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing. Sheppard earned his third career victory at Ocala and his first since 2017, driving the Rocket 1 to a 0.583-second win over Hudson O’Neal. Devin Moran finished third, with Brandon Overton and Clay Harris rounding out the top five. Kyle Bronson powered around the outside of the front row to grab the early lead, with Sheppard settling into second. Bronson, who was seeking his first Lucas Oil Series win since the 2021 Silver Dollar Nationals, maintained a steady two-car-length advantage through the opening laps. However, as he exited Turn 4 to complete Lap 6, Bronson suddenly slowed with apparent drivetrain issues. Sheppard, closing quickly on the bottom, made slight, unavoidable contact as Bronson decelerated. The caution flag waved as Bronson headed to the hot pit, ending his night. Sheppard inherited the lead, with O’Neal and Overton in pursuit until a caution on Lap 18 reset the field. Two laps after the restart, Moran slipped past Overton for third. The final 10 laps featured an intense three-car battle as Sheppard, O’Neal, and Moran navigated heavy lapped traffic. Both challengers closed in, but Sheppard cleared a slower car on the white-flag lap, giving him just enough breathing room to secure the win at the checkers. The victory marked Sheppard’s 37th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph. He also broke a tie with Don O’Neal for fourth place on the all-time Georgia-Florida Speedweeks win list with his 25th victory.“It felt good to see the checkered flag,” Sheppard said. “We definitely had some stuff messed up on the front end from the contact with Kyle. I felt terrible about that. It looked like he missed it a little bit, and I was filling the gap on the bottom when we came together. I hate that for him, but we had a really fast car again tonight. It was just one of those deals where we got out front. My dad said last night I was messing around too much in lapped traffic, so this one’s for him.” With the win, Sheppard became the winningest Rocket 1 driver during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks over the last 25 years, earning his 11th victory and breaking a tie with Josh Richards. “I was running a different line in Turns 1 and 2 than I expected,” Sheppard added. “I would enter on the bottom and slide across the middle. I kept waiting for it to change because I knew it might go away at some point. I felt good on both the bottom and the top and was just trying to maintain speed. With the front end being jacked up, it was wherever the car put me. Turns 3 and 4 were tougher because I needed to carve down the hill and come off lower and straighter, and I struggled with that late in the race.”O’Neal, who was seeking his second career win at Ocala, closed the gap in the final laps but settled for second. “Sheppy had a good race car,” O’Neal said. “I felt like we were pretty maneuverable and could really build momentum down the back straightaway. The longer the race went, the better I felt. I gained on him late, and lapped traffic definitely played a factor. I got caught behind Ross (Robinson), and I just wasn’t able to capitalize with a lap or two to go.” Moran, who started eighth, advanced to third on Lap 20 and joined the late-race battle to round out the Big River Steel Podium. “I felt like my car was really good again,” Moran said. “I jumped the cushion in the heat race, got into the wall, and let Hud get by me, and that really dictated our night. You have to start up front here. I know they’re working hard on the track night in and night out, and I’m sure they’ll have it figured out by the end of the week.” The winner’s Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Performance Grading, Petroff Towing, Sunoco Race Fuels, Franklin Enterprises, Gunter’s Honey, Stiles Marine and Maintenance, Collins Brothers Towing, and Fox Shocks. Completing the top 10 were Drake Troutman, Brian Shirley, Garrett Alberson, Carson Ferguson, and Ricky Thornton Jr. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsWednesday, February 25, 2026Ocala Speedway | Ocala, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Brandon Overton | 14.288 secondsFast Time Group B: Garrett Alberson | 14.141 seconds (Overall) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 3. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[3]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 5. 09-Michael Leach[4]; 6. 11-Josh Rice[7]; 7. 32J-Justin Weaver[6]; 8. 18-Chase Junghans[8]; 9. C4-Freddie Carpenter[9]; 10. 12L-Dave Loudin[10] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 3. 19M-Brenden Smith[3]; 4. 15K-Cody Overton[4]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[7]; 6. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[5]; 7. 17SR-Brody Smith[8]; 8. 6B-Adam Boyd[10]; 9. (DNS) 22-Daniel Hilsabeck; 10. (DNS) 111-Max Blair Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[2]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 4. 22*-Drake Troutman[3]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[6]; 6. 10-Garrett Smith[5]; 7. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[8]; 8. 77-Preston Luckman[7]; 9. 15-Clay Stuckey[10]; 10. 79-Cory Hedgecock[9] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 3. 58V-Daulton Wilson[3]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 5. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 7. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[8]; 8. 81F-Jadon Frame[7]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[9]; 10. 55-Eli Johnson[10] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[4]; 2. 7-Ross Robinson[2]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[3]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[1]; 5. 32J-Justin Weaver[5]; 6. 17SR-Brody Smith[6]; 7. 12L-Dave Loudin[11]; 8. C4-Freddie Carpenter[9]; 9. 18-Chase Junghans[7]; 10. 6B-Adam Boyd[8]; 11. (DNS) 22-Daniel Hilsabeck; 12. (DNS) 111-Max Blair UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 8-Dillon McCowan[2]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 3. 10-Garrett Smith[3]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[4]; 5. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[6]; 6. 81F-Jadon Frame[8]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[10]; 9. 55-Eli Johnson[12]; 10. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[5]; 11. 77-Preston Luckman[7]; 12. (DNS) 79-Cory Hedgecock Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (30 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $7,0002 – 4 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $3,5003 – 8 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $2,0004 – 5 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,5005 – 3 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,4006 – 14 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $1,3007 – 20 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $1,2008 – 6 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $1,1009 – 10 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $1,00010 – 17 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $95011 – 7 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $90012 – 13 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $85013 – 11 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $80014 – 9 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $75015 – 24 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $72516 – 18 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $70017 – 19 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $70018 – 12 – 58V – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $70019 – 22 – 10 – Garrett Smith – Madison, GA – $65020 – 15 – 15K – Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – $62521 – 2 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $72522 – 23 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – $60023 – 21 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $60024 – 16 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $600 Race Statistics  Entrants: 40Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Brandon SheppardMD3 Lap Leaders: Kyle Bronson (Laps 1-6); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 7-30)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon SheppardWieland Feature Winner: Brandon SheppardMargin of Victory: 0.583 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Tyler Erb (Lap 3); Josh Rice (Lap 5); Kyle Bronson (Lap 6); Ross Robinson (Lap 18)MyRacePass Series Provisionals: n/aFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Devin MoranPenske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Brandon Overton, Clay HarrisBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Devin MoranPEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Clay HarrisWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dallon MurtyVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brenden SmithXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Dan EbertHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Brian Shirley (Advanced 13 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (24 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon OvertonO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Kyle Bronson | Lap 3 | 14.468 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Kyle BronsonVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Brandon SheppardOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny WhiteARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Drake Troutman | 14.5629 secondsTime of Race: 17 minutes 09 seconds

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg1.8-mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit St. Petersburg, FloridaRace AdvanceFebruary 27-March 1, 2026 DETROIT (February 25, 2026) – The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES kicks off with the traditional spring break party – the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – with Chevrolet looking to win their tenth manufacturer title since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012, and their 17th all-time manufacturer crown since 1979.  A dozen drivers, including 2025 second-place championship finisher and 2024 winner at this event, Pato O’Ward, will represent the Bowtie brand to start the season on the demanding 1.8-mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit. “After a strong finish to the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, we’re eager to get back on track and compete for a tenth manufacturers’ title since 2012,” said GM Motorsports – IndyCar Program Manager Andrew Schutter. “An extension to our supplier agreement, the spring break party atmosphere, and massive crowds, provide our engineers a little extra energy as we kick off our season in St. Petersburg. Our talented engineers, teams, and drivers have worked together during the off-season to find every possible hundredth-of-a-second gain that will make the difference in the ultra-competitive field in 2026. ”  Highlights of the 2026 season include the Indianapolis 500, where Chevrolet will be going for their 14th trip to victory lane, a return to Phoenix Raceway in a doubleheader with NASCAR, new street circuits in Arlington, Texas, Markham, Ontario, and Washington, D.C., and visits to iconic tracks across the country as part of the 18-race schedule.

Chevrolet on the Streets of St. Petersburg Chevrolet-powered drivers have won nine of the 14 NTT INDYCAR SERIES held on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012, with Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet winning in 2024. Seven drivers and three teams have combined for the nine wins, with Team Penske’s seven wins leading all squads.Only drivers from Team Penske have won the pole on the palm tree-lined circuit on the edge of Tampa Bay, with the ‘Captain’s’ men wearing Bowties winning ten of the 14 poles since 2012. A driver representing Team Chevy has stood on the podium 25 times since 2012, while 16 drivers representing six teams have led 754 laps across those 14 races.

Starting the year off on a high note Since 1946, Chevrolet-powered cars have won the first race of the year (against competition) on 16 occasions, and eight of the 14 season-opening races since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012.  Juan Pablo Montoya (2015 & 2016), Rick Mears (1989 & 1990) and Mario Andretti (1987 & 1988) are the drivers with multiple Chevrolet-powered wins in season-opening races. Team Penske (1989, 1990, 1992, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022, & 2024) has ten wins in the first race of the year, leading the way for Team Chevy.

Notable Numbers 6 – the number of different countries represented by Team Chevy drivers – United States (6) – Denmark (2) – Brazil (1) – Mexico (1) – Netherlands (1) – New Zealand (1)9 – the number of wins by current Team Chevy teams, Arrow McLaren and ECR12 – the number of drivers representing Team Chevy in the season-opening NTT INDYCAR SERIES race13 – the number of driver championships won by Chevrolet all-time26.7 – the average age of the dozen Chevrolet-powered drivers in the 2026 season opener – Josef Newgarden is the elder statesman at 3532 – the number of wins by Josef Newgarden, the winningest Team Chevy driver all-time 40 – the number of different drivers that have won INDYCAR races while powered by Chevrolet124 – the number of Bowtie-backed wins by Team Penske since their first at Pocono Raceway by Rick Mears in 1987127 – the number of wins by Chevrolet since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012141 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012237 – the number of wins by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time245 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time362 – the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012676 –  the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time

Making his Team Chevy return One of those season-opening winners, James Hinchcliffe, returns to the street circuit where he won the first race of the 2013 NTT INDYCAR SERIES while piloting a Chevrolet-powered Dallara. The Canadian will make his NASCAR debut on Saturday, stepping behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series.

James Hinchcliffe crosses the line in the No. 27 Andretti Global Chevrolet to win Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the first race of the 2013 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season (Photo: INDYCAR)

“It’s awesome,” said Hinchcliffe after the win in 2013. “There’s been a lot of talk about it in the off-season, when that first one was going to come, what we had to do to get there My answer was always the same. We had to minimize the mistakes. The team is good, the car is good, the engineers are good. We proved last year the team is capable of winning. It’s down to me on any given Sunday to minimize mistakes.  “We capitalized on restarts. The last restart was on blacks, everyone around us was on reds. Helio made a mistake. I thought I would lead for a couple laps, but he would catch up. For that many laps on technically the slower tires took everything out of me.  “I was so happy to get it done and get Go Daddy its first win in IndyCar, Chevrolet back in Victory Circle, one, two, three on the podium, podium sweep. My teammate on the podium. It’s just a helluva day.”

What They’re Saying: Caio Collet, No. 4 COMBITRANS AMAZONA Chevrolet:HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO MAKE YOUR FIRST INDYCAR START?“Very excited. I think the team has put in a lot of work, and so have I. We have been checking as many boxes as we can to prepare for the race as best we can, and I feel ready to attack the challenge. It is a dream coming true. A little bit anxious about it, but taking it day-by-day. Hopefully we can start off with a great race weekend.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Chevrolet:“I think Chevy’s done a lot of development through the winter, and from what I can tell, in Sebring and at the Open Test in Phoenix, I feel pretty good about some of the things that they’ve accomplished. It’s going to be hard to tell where everybody stacks up but I’ve been quite comfortable with Chevrolet, and y I’m looking forward to returning with them to the grid.” Arrow McLaren Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing and kicking off the season this weekend in St. Pete. It’s always a great atmosphere down there, and it’s a place where we’ve had success in the past. We had a really strong year in 2025, but the offseason has been all about preparing to take that next step in 2026. That mission starts this weekend.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“It’s been a busy offseason of training for me. I was fortunate to get a lot of track time with the endurance racing along with simulator time, meetings with the crew, our recent tests in Sebring and Phoenix. I’m ready to put all that work to the test in St. Pete and get back to NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing.” Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m eager to get on track this weekend. My focus is always on getting better, progressing, learning. I’m looking forward to continuing that progress into Year 2 at Arrow McLaren, starting with St. Pete. It’s been a full offseason of prep including two recent quality tests, and we’re ready to go and deliver a strong result.” ECR Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet:“Last week’s Phoenix test was a great first showing of how hard everyone at ECR has worked over the offseason. Now it is finally time to get the season started with the first race of the year and I could not be more excited. St. Pete is always a fun challenge with an unpredictable race, and I can’t wait to get out there and see what the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet can accomplish.”Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet: “I’m excited to get back on track in St. Pete with Splenda Stevia! ECR has done an incredible job over the offseason preparing and I’m looking forward to building on last year’s progress. We had a very solid test at Phoenix as a team and now we want see our hard work come together in the season opener!”

Team and Driver Previews: We sent out extensive team and driver previews earlier this week that you can read here:A.J. Foyt RacingArrow McLarenECRJuncos Hollinger RacingTeam Penske

Tune-In Guide: FridayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 1:30pm (ET)/12:30pm (CT)/11:30am (MT)/10:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 SaturdayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 SundayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 9am (ET)/8am (CT)/7am (MT)/6am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps) – noon (ET)/11am (CT)/10am (MT)/9am (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Chevrolet history on the Streets of St. Petersburg Wins – 9 2024 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2022 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2020 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2019 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2016 – Juan Montoya – Team Penske2015 – Juan Montoya – Team Penske2014 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – James Hinchcliffe – Team Penske2012 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske

Poles – 10 2025 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2024 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2022 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2020 – Will Power – Team Penske2019 – Will Power – Team Penske2017 – Will Power – Team Penske2016 – Will Power – Team Penske2015 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – Will Power – Team Penske2012 – Will Power – Team Penske

Podiums: 25 Chevrolet driver podiums on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Will Power (5), Josef Newgarden (4), Helio Castroneves (3), Pato O’Ward (3), Simon Pagenaud (3), Juan Montoya (2), Marco Andretti (1), James Hinchcliffe (1), Ryan Hunter-Reay (1), Tony Kanaan (1), Scott McLaughlin (1) Chevrolet team podiums on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Team Penske (18), Andretti Global (3), Arrow McLaren (3), Chip Ganassi Racing (1) Laps Led: 754 Chevrolet driver laps led on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Will Power (213), Scott McLaughlin (127), Josef Newgarden (83), Helio Castroneves (73), Juan Montoya (71), Simon Pagenaud (64), James Hinchcliffe (26), Christian Lundgaard (23), Pato O’Ward (23), Oriol Servia (16), Rinus VeeKay (13), Ryan Briscoe (9), Jordan King (5), Tomas Enge (4), JR Hildebrand (3), Mike Conway (1) Chevrolet team laps led on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Team Penske (640), Arrow McLaren (46), Andretti Global (26), ECR (19), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (16), Panther Racing (7)

CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIESFirestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg1.8-mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit St. Petersburg, FloridaRace AdvanceFebruary 27-March 1, 2026 DETROIT (February 25, 2026) – The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES kicks off with the traditional spring break party – the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – with Chevrolet looking to win their tenth manufacturer title since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012, and their 17th all-time manufacturer crown since 1979.  A dozen drivers, including 2025 second-place championship finisher and 2024 winner at this event, Pato O’Ward, will represent the Bowtie brand to start the season on the demanding 1.8-mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit. “After a strong finish to the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, we’re eager to get back on track and compete for a tenth manufacturers’ title since 2012,” said GM Motorsports – IndyCar Program Manager Andrew Schutter. “An extension to our supplier agreement, the spring break party atmosphere, and massive crowds, provide our engineers a little extra energy as we kick off our season in St. Petersburg. Our talented engineers, teams, and drivers have worked together during the off-season to find every possible hundredth-of-a-second gain that will make the difference in the ultra-competitive field in 2026. ”  Highlights of the 2026 season include the Indianapolis 500, where Chevrolet will be going for their 14th trip to victory lane, a return to Phoenix Raceway in a doubleheader with NASCAR, new street circuits in Arlington, Texas, Markham, Ontario, and Washington, D.C., and visits to iconic tracks across the country as part of the 18-race schedule.

Chevrolet on the Streets of St. Petersburg Chevrolet-powered drivers have won nine of the 14 NTT INDYCAR SERIES held on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012, with Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet winning in 2024. Seven drivers and three teams have combined for the nine wins, with Team Penske’s seven wins leading all squads.Only drivers from Team Penske have won the pole on the palm tree-lined circuit on the edge of Tampa Bay, with the ‘Captain’s’ men wearing Bowties winning ten of the 14 poles since 2012. A driver representing Team Chevy has stood on the podium 25 times since 2012, while 16 drivers representing six teams have led 754 laps across those 14 races.

Starting the year off on a high note Since 1946, Chevrolet-powered cars have won the first race of the year (against competition) on 16 occasions, and eight of the 14 season-opening races since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012.  Juan Pablo Montoya (2015 & 2016), Rick Mears (1989 & 1990) and Mario Andretti (1987 & 1988) are the drivers with multiple Chevrolet-powered wins in season-opening races. Team Penske (1989, 1990, 1992, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022, & 2024) has ten wins in the first race of the year, leading the way for Team Chevy.

Notable Numbers 6 – the number of different countries represented by Team Chevy drivers – United States (6) – Denmark (2) – Brazil (1) – Mexico (1) – Netherlands (1) – New Zealand (1)9 – the number of wins by current Team Chevy teams, Arrow McLaren and ECR12 – the number of drivers representing Team Chevy in the season-opening NTT INDYCAR SERIES race13 – the number of driver championships won by Chevrolet all-time26.7 – the average age of the dozen Chevrolet-powered drivers in the 2026 season opener – Josef Newgarden is the elder statesman at 3532 – the number of wins by Josef Newgarden, the winningest Team Chevy driver all-time 40 – the number of different drivers that have won INDYCAR races while powered by Chevrolet124 – the number of Bowtie-backed wins by Team Penske since their first at Pocono Raceway by Rick Mears in 1987127 – the number of wins by Chevrolet since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012141 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012237 – the number of wins by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time245 – the number of earned poles by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time362 – the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered teams since the introduction of the 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 in 2012676 –  the number of podiums by Chevrolet-powered cars in INDYCAR all-time

Making his Team Chevy return One of those season-opening winners, James Hinchcliffe, returns to the street circuit where he won the first race of the 2013 NTT INDYCAR SERIES while piloting a Chevrolet-powered Dallara. The Canadian will make his NASCAR debut on Saturday, stepping behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series.

James Hinchcliffe crosses the line in the No. 27 Andretti Global Chevrolet to win Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the first race of the 2013 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season (Photo: INDYCAR)

“It’s awesome,” said Hinchcliffe after the win in 2013. “There’s been a lot of talk about it in the off-season, when that first one was going to come, what we had to do to get there My answer was always the same. We had to minimize the mistakes. The team is good, the car is good, the engineers are good. We proved last year the team is capable of winning. It’s down to me on any given Sunday to minimize mistakes.  “We capitalized on restarts. The last restart was on blacks, everyone around us was on reds. Helio made a mistake. I thought I would lead for a couple laps, but he would catch up. For that many laps on technically the slower tires took everything out of me.  “I was so happy to get it done and get Go Daddy its first win in IndyCar, Chevrolet back in Victory Circle, one, two, three on the podium, podium sweep. My teammate on the podium. It’s just a helluva day.”

What They’re Saying: Caio Collet, No. 4 COMBITRANS AMAZONA Chevrolet:HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO MAKE YOUR FIRST INDYCAR START?“Very excited. I think the team has put in a lot of work, and so have I. We have been checking as many boxes as we can to prepare for the race as best we can, and I feel ready to attack the challenge. It is a dream coming true. A little bit anxious about it, but taking it day-by-day. Hopefully we can start off with a great race weekend.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Chevrolet:“I think Chevy’s done a lot of development through the winter, and from what I can tell, in Sebring and at the Open Test in Phoenix, I feel pretty good about some of the things that they’ve accomplished. It’s going to be hard to tell where everybody stacks up but I’ve been quite comfortable with Chevrolet, and y I’m looking forward to returning with them to the grid.” Arrow McLaren Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing and kicking off the season this weekend in St. Pete. It’s always a great atmosphere down there, and it’s a place where we’ve had success in the past. We had a really strong year in 2025, but the offseason has been all about preparing to take that next step in 2026. That mission starts this weekend.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“It’s been a busy offseason of training for me. I was fortunate to get a lot of track time with the endurance racing along with simulator time, meetings with the crew, our recent tests in Sebring and Phoenix. I’m ready to put all that work to the test in St. Pete and get back to NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing.” Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m eager to get on track this weekend. My focus is always on getting better, progressing, learning. I’m looking forward to continuing that progress into Year 2 at Arrow McLaren, starting with St. Pete. It’s been a full offseason of prep including two recent quality tests, and we’re ready to go and deliver a strong result.” ECR Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet:“Last week’s Phoenix test was a great first showing of how hard everyone at ECR has worked over the offseason. Now it is finally time to get the season started with the first race of the year and I could not be more excited. St. Pete is always a fun challenge with an unpredictable race, and I can’t wait to get out there and see what the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet can accomplish.”Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet: “I’m excited to get back on track in St. Pete with Splenda Stevia! ECR has done an incredible job over the offseason preparing and I’m looking forward to building on last year’s progress. We had a very solid test at Phoenix as a team and now we want see our hard work come together in the season opener!”

Team and Driver Previews: We sent out extensive team and driver previews earlier this week that you can read here:A.J. Foyt RacingArrow McLarenECRJuncos Hollinger RacingTeam Penske

Tune-In Guide: FridayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 1:30pm (ET)/12:30pm (CT)/11:30am (MT)/10:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 SaturdayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 SundayNTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 9am (ET)/8am (CT)/7am (MT)/6am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps) – noon (ET)/11am (CT)/10am (MT)/9am (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Chevrolet history on the Streets of St. Petersburg Wins – 9 2024 – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren2022 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2020 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2019 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2016 – Juan Montoya – Team Penske2015 – Juan Montoya – Team Penske2014 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – James Hinchcliffe – Team Penske2012 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske

Poles – 10 2025 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2024 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske2022 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske2020 – Will Power – Team Penske2019 – Will Power – Team Penske2017 – Will Power – Team Penske2016 – Will Power – Team Penske2015 – Will Power – Team Penske2013 – Will Power – Team Penske2012 – Will Power – Team Penske

Podiums: 25 Chevrolet driver podiums on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Will Power (5), Josef Newgarden (4), Helio Castroneves (3), Pato O’Ward (3), Simon Pagenaud (3), Juan Montoya (2), Marco Andretti (1), James Hinchcliffe (1), Ryan Hunter-Reay (1), Tony Kanaan (1), Scott McLaughlin (1) Chevrolet team podiums on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Team Penske (18), Andretti Global (3), Arrow McLaren (3), Chip Ganassi Racing (1) Laps Led: 754 Chevrolet driver laps led on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Will Power (213), Scott McLaughlin (127), Josef Newgarden (83), Helio Castroneves (73), Juan Montoya (71), Simon Pagenaud (64), James Hinchcliffe (26), Christian Lundgaard (23), Pato O’Ward (23), Oriol Servia (16), Rinus VeeKay (13), Ryan Briscoe (9), Jordan King (5), Tomas Enge (4), JR Hildebrand (3), Mike Conway (1) Chevrolet team laps led on the Streets of St. Petersburg: Team Penske (640), Arrow McLaren (46), Andretti Global (26), ECR (19), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (16), Panther Racing (7)

Manufacturer History on the Streets Of St. Petersburg  Wins (with competition)  9 – Chevrolet (2024, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)6 – Honda (2025, 2023, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2005) Poles (with competition)  10 – Chevrolet (2025, 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012)5 – Honda (2023, 2021, 2018, 2014, 2005) Historical Chevrolet in the INDYCAR SERIES information INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturer Championships (since 1979)Chevrolet-Powered Wins in the Twin-Turbo 2.2L V6 Era (2012-present)Chevrolet-Powered Wins – All-Time

CASA GRANDE, AZ (Feb. 25, 2026) — Opening weekend of Arizona’s newest open-wheel racing spectacle is complete, and the stars of the American Sprint Car Series are ready for another two nights of action in the inaugural Sonoran Clash.

Central Arizona Raceway’s 3/8-mile confines in Casa Grande, AZ, hosts the national 360 Sprint Car series for the second consecutive weekend this Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 28–March 1. A $4,000 grand prize is on the line for the winner Saturday night, while Sunday’s winner will pocket $6,000.

Avanti Windows & Doors has sponsored a points fund for the event, which awards $4,000 to the driver with the most points after all Feature events have been completed. The runner-up in points will receive $3,000, third place gets $2,000, and $1,000 goes to fourth. Matt Covington currently tops the standings with a 27-point lead over Sam Hafertepe Jr.

Pit gates will open each day at 2 p.m. (MT). Grandstands open at 4 p.m., and Hot Laps are set for 6 p.m. with Qualifying and racing to follow. Adult GA tickets are $35, seniors/military are $30, kids ages 11–17 are $20 and children 10-and-under are free.

Tickets can be purchased at the track on race day. If you can’t make it to the track, how can you watch the action? Every American Sprint Car Series race is live on DIRTVision.

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN — For the first time in nearly five years, Matt Covington is the American Sprint Car Series points leader.

Covington, of Glenpool, OK, has vaulted into the lead of the national championship standings with a runner-up finish on Saturday and his first win of the season Sunday at Central Arizona Raceway. His closest competition, six-time and defending Series champion Sam Hafertepe Jr., finished third on Saturday before a 19th-to-fourth drive on Sunday, putting him five points behind Covington in the current Series standings.

The last time Covington sat atop the American Sprint Car Series points tally was during the 2021 season, when he and eventual champion Blake Hahn engaged in a tight battle for the lead for several races. His return to the top of the 360 Sprint Car world comes in pursuit of his first national championship, which he’s been chasing for over a decade.

Covington also leads the Sonoran Clash event points standings by 27 over Hafertepe. The driver with the most points after Sunday’s main event will claim a $4,000 bonus, courtesy of Avanti Windows & Doors.

ANOTHER SHOT — Justin Peck asserted dominance over his 360 cubic-inch brethren with a win last Saturday night but was bitten by misfortune while leading on Sunday. He’ll be back in action this weekend with plans to reclaim what could have been back-to-back wins on the national circuit.

Peck, 27, of Monrovia, IN, scored his fourth full-points paying Series win in his last four such starts on Saturday, taking the lead from Covington at the halfway point and driving off to the $4,000 victory. The following evening, Peck led the opening 13 laps before his right-front tire went flat under caution, sending him to the infield, resulting in a DNF.

Peck currently sits fifth in the Sonoran Clash points standings.

RACING ROYALTY — After debuting with the American Sprint Car Series last weekend, Wyatt Miller is set to return to competition at Central Arizona in pursuit of more laps for his budding open-wheel career.

Miller, 14, of Statesville, NC, is the grandson of motorsports legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. Since his debut in Outlaw Karts in 2020, Miller has won several open-wheel races in both karts and Micro Sprints — most notably topping the Restricted A-Class main event at the prestigious Tulsa Shootout in 2024. He’s also produced a standout motorsports resume as an early teenager with starts in asphalt Late Models and off-road trucks, notably winning the 2025 AMSOIL Champ Off-Road Pro Spec championship.

Miller made his full-size Sprint Car debut last September at Creek County Speedway, finishing third in the local Champ Sprints division, and logging another two starts at Vado Speedway Park in 360 action in November. Last weekend, Miller got his first taste of competition in the national 360 Sprint Car world, logging finishes of 11th and 13th in a field of 34 drivers.

HEATING UP — After taking a hard crash in the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park, Kyler Johnson got a solid rebound weekend at Central Arizona.

Johnson, 22, of Quinter, KS, rolled out a brand-new car for Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, which ended up suffering frame damage in a rollover crash, forcing the team to a backup for the rest of the event. For Central Arizona, the team prepared that same car, making it their primary machine for 2026, and hit their stride in the desert with finishes of seventh on Saturday before leading 10 laps of Sunday’s main event and finishing second.

That runner-up finish ties Johnson’s career best with the American Sprint Car Series — a mark which he reached twice last year — and seeds him third in the Sonoran Clash points standings.

YOUNG GUNNER — Fifteen-year-old Levi Hillier turned several heads in his American Sprint Car Series debut over the weekend and is projected to return for more action this Saturday–Sunday.

The Burlington, WA-native jump-started Saturday’s program by setting Quick Time in Qualifying and later finishing fifth in the main event. The following night, Hillier showed speed again in the main event, starting fourth and crossing the finish line third to bank his first career national Sprint Car series podium finish.

Those results have ranked he and the Rudeen Racing No. 26R fourth in the Sonoran Clash points standings – 32 points behind leader Covington.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 

• Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 28–March 1, at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, AZ

TRACK FACTS

• High-banked, 3/8-mile oval
• Track Record — 13.924 seconds set by Levi Hillier on Feb. 21, 2026

ON THE INTERNET
X — @ASCSRacing
Instagram — @ascs_racing
Facebook — @AmericanSprintCarSeries
YouTube — @AmericanSprintCarSeries
DIRTVision — DIRTVision.com (Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (5/35 Races)

1. Matt Covington (392pts)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. 387pts (–5)
3. Kyler Johnson 353pts (–39)
4. Brock Zearfoss 341pts (–51)
5. Whit Gastineau 338pts (–54)
6. Seth Bergman 326pts (–66)
7. Ryder Laplante 324pts (–68)
8. Hank Davis 315pts (–77)
9. Brogan Carder 273pts (–119)
10. Austyn Gossel 267pts (–125)

FEATURE WINNERS (4 Drivers):

1. Tyler Courtney (2 wins)
2. Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Matt Covington (1 win)

FEATURE LAPS LED (8 Drivers)

1. Justin Peck (27 laps)
2. Austin McCarl (21 laps)
3. Brady Bacon, Matt Covington (18 laps)
4. Cameron Martin (16 laps)
5. Brian Brown (13 laps)
6. Kyler Johnson (10 laps)
7. Cole Macedo (7 laps)
8. Tyler Courtney (6 laps)

QUICK TIME AWARDS (4 Drivers)

1. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Chris Martin, Levi Hillier, Kyler Johnson (1 award)

HEAT RACE WINNERS (15 Drivers)

1. Whit Gastineau, Chris Martin, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Matt Covington (2 wins)
2. Brady Bacon, Tyler Clem, Emerson Axsom, Brian Brown, Cole Macedo, Garen Linder, Colby Copeland, Justin Peck, Nick Parker, Hank Davis, Ryder Laplante (1 win)

DASH APPEARANCES (22 Drivers)

1. Whit Gastineau (4 appearances)
2. Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3 appearances)
3. Emerson Axsom, Austin McCarl, Brady Bacon, Davie Franek, Chris Martin, Matt Covington, Justin Peck, Kyler Johnson, Levi Hillier (2 appearances)
4. Brock Zearfoss, Cameron Martin, Cole Macedo, Tyler Clem, Hank Davis, Ryder Laplante, Nick Parker, Colby Copeland, Garen Linder (1 appearance)

SMITH TITANIUM LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (5 Drivers)

1. DJ Christie, Matt Covington, Tyler Clem, Whit Gastineau, Sterling Cling (1 win)

HARD CHARGER AWARDS (5 Drivers)

1. Ryder Laplante, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Sam Hafertepe Jr., DJ Netto (1 award)

PODIUM FINISHES (11 Drivers)

1. Tyler Courtney, Brady Bacon, Austin McCarl, Matt Covington (2 podiums)
2. Cole Macedo, Brock Zearfoss, Emerson Axsom, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Levi Hillier, Kyler Johnson (1 podium)

2026 SCHEDULE + WINNERS

Race Number. Day, Date / Track / City, State / Winner (Total Wins)

TOP FIVE STORYLINES: ASCS Leads Charge Over Challengers in Sonoran Clash Finale

CASA GRANDE, AZ (Feb. 25, 2026) — Opening weekend of Arizona’s newest open-wheel racing spectacle is complete, and the stars of the American Sprint Car Series are ready for another two nights of action in the inaugural Sonoran Clash.

Central Arizona Raceway’s 3/8-mile confines in Casa Grande, AZ, hosts the national 360 Sprint Car series for the second consecutive weekend this Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 28–March 1. A $4,000 grand prize is on the line for the winner Saturday night, while Sunday’s winner will pocket $6,000.

Avanti Windows & Doors has sponsored a points fund for the event, which awards $4,000 to the driver with the most points after all Feature events have been completed. The runner-up in points will receive $3,000, third place gets $2,000, and $1,000 goes to fourth. Matt Covington currently tops the standings with a 27-point lead over Sam Hafertepe Jr.

Pit gates will open each day at 2 p.m. (MT). Grandstands open at 4 p.m., and Hot Laps are set for 6 p.m. with Qualifying and racing to follow. Adult GA tickets are $35, seniors/military are $30, kids ages 11–17 are $20 and children 10-and-under are free.

Tickets can be purchased at the track on race day. If you can’t make it to the track, how can you watch the action? Every American Sprint Car Series race is live on DIRTVision.

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN — For the first time in nearly five years, Matt Covington is the American Sprint Car Series points leader.

Covington, of Glenpool, OK, has vaulted into the lead of the national championship standings with a runner-up finish on Saturday and his first win of the season Sunday at Central Arizona Raceway. His closest competition, six-time and defending Series champion Sam Hafertepe Jr., finished third on Saturday before a 19th-to-fourth drive on Sunday, putting him five points behind Covington in the current Series standings.

The last time Covington sat atop the American Sprint Car Series points tally was during the 2021 season, when he and eventual champion Blake Hahn engaged in a tight battle for the lead for several races. His return to the top of the 360 Sprint Car world comes in pursuit of his first national championship, which he’s been chasing for over a decade.

Covington also leads the Sonoran Clash event points standings by 27 over Hafertepe. The driver with the most points after Sunday’s main event will claim a $4,000 bonus, courtesy of Avanti Windows & Doors.

ANOTHER SHOT — Justin Peck asserted dominance over his 360 cubic-inch brethren with a win last Saturday night but was bitten by misfortune while leading on Sunday. He’ll be back in action this weekend with plans to reclaim what could have been back-to-back wins on the national circuit.

Peck, 27, of Monrovia, IN, scored his fourth full-points paying Series win in his last four such starts on Saturday, taking the lead from Covington at the halfway point and driving off to the $4,000 victory. The following evening, Peck led the opening 13 laps before his right-front tire went flat under caution, sending him to the infield, resulting in a DNF.

Peck currently sits fifth in the Sonoran Clash points standings.

RACING ROYALTY — After debuting with the American Sprint Car Series last weekend, Wyatt Miller is set to return to competition at Central Arizona in pursuit of more laps for his budding open-wheel career.

Miller, 14, of Statesville, NC, is the grandson of motorsports legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. Since his debut in Outlaw Karts in 2020, Miller has won several open-wheel races in both karts and Micro Sprints — most notably topping the Restricted A-Class main event at the prestigious Tulsa Shootout in 2024. He’s also produced a standout motorsports resume as an early teenager with starts in asphalt Late Models and off-road trucks, notably winning the 2025 AMSOIL Champ Off-Road Pro Spec championship.

Miller made his full-size Sprint Car debut last September at Creek County Speedway, finishing third in the local Champ Sprints division, and logging another two starts at Vado Speedway Park in 360 action in November. Last weekend, Miller got his first taste of competition in the national 360 Sprint Car world, logging finishes of 11th and 13th in a field of 34 drivers.

HEATING UP — After taking a hard crash in the season opener at Volusia Speedway Park, Kyler Johnson got a solid rebound weekend at Central Arizona.

Johnson, 22, of Quinter, KS, rolled out a brand-new car for Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, which ended up suffering frame damage in a rollover crash, forcing the team to a backup for the rest of the event. For Central Arizona, the team prepared that same car, making it their primary machine for 2026, and hit their stride in the desert with finishes of seventh on Saturday before leading 10 laps of Sunday’s main event and finishing second.

That runner-up finish ties Johnson’s career best with the American Sprint Car Series — a mark which he reached twice last year — and seeds him third in the Sonoran Clash points standings.

YOUNG GUNNER — Fifteen-year-old Levi Hillier turned several heads in his American Sprint Car Series debut over the weekend and is projected to return for more action this Saturday–Sunday.

The Burlington, WA-native jump-started Saturday’s program by setting Quick Time in Qualifying and later finishing fifth in the main event. The following night, Hillier showed speed again in the main event, starting fourth and crossing the finish line third to bank his first career national Sprint Car series podium finish.

Those results have ranked he and the Rudeen Racing No. 26R fourth in the Sonoran Clash points standings – 32 points behind leader Covington.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE 

• Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 28–March 1, at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, AZ

TRACK FACTS

• High-banked, 3/8-mile oval
• Track Record — 13.924 seconds set by Levi Hillier on Feb. 21, 2026

ON THE INTERNET
X — @ASCSRacing
Instagram — @ascs_racing
Facebook — @AmericanSprintCarSeries
YouTube — @AmericanSprintCarSeries
DIRTVision — DIRTVision.com (Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month)

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (5/35 Races)

1. Matt Covington (392pts)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. 387pts (–5)
3. Kyler Johnson 353pts (–39)
4. Brock Zearfoss 341pts (–51)
5. Whit Gastineau 338pts (–54)
6. Seth Bergman 326pts (–66)
7. Ryder Laplante 324pts (–68)
8. Hank Davis 315pts (–77)
9. Brogan Carder 273pts (–119)
10. Austyn Gossel 267pts (–125)

FEATURE WINNERS (4 Drivers):

1. Tyler Courtney (2 wins)
2. Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Matt Covington (1 win)

FEATURE LAPS LED (8 Drivers)

1. Justin Peck (27 laps)
2. Austin McCarl (21 laps)
3. Brady Bacon, Matt Covington (18 laps)
4. Cameron Martin (16 laps)
5. Brian Brown (13 laps)
6. Kyler Johnson (10 laps)
7. Cole Macedo (7 laps)
8. Tyler Courtney (6 laps)

QUICK TIME AWARDS (4 Drivers)

1. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Chris Martin, Levi Hillier, Kyler Johnson (1 award)

HEAT RACE WINNERS (15 Drivers)

1. Whit Gastineau, Chris Martin, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Matt Covington (2 wins)
2. Brady Bacon, Tyler Clem, Emerson Axsom, Brian Brown, Cole Macedo, Garen Linder, Colby Copeland, Justin Peck, Nick Parker, Hank Davis, Ryder Laplante (1 win)

DASH APPEARANCES (22 Drivers)

1. Whit Gastineau (4 appearances)
2. Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3 appearances)
3. Emerson Axsom, Austin McCarl, Brady Bacon, Davie Franek, Chris Martin, Matt Covington, Justin Peck, Kyler Johnson, Levi Hillier (2 appearances)
4. Brock Zearfoss, Cameron Martin, Cole Macedo, Tyler Clem, Hank Davis, Ryder Laplante, Nick Parker, Colby Copeland, Garen Linder (1 appearance)

SMITH TITANIUM LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (5 Drivers)

1. DJ Christie, Matt Covington, Tyler Clem, Whit Gastineau, Sterling Cling (1 win)

HARD CHARGER AWARDS (5 Drivers)

1. Ryder Laplante, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Sam Hafertepe Jr., DJ Netto (1 award)

PODIUM FINISHES (11 Drivers)

1. Tyler Courtney, Brady Bacon, Austin McCarl, Matt Covington (2 podiums)
2. Cole Macedo, Brock Zearfoss, Emerson Axsom, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Levi Hillier, Kyler Johnson (1 podium)

2026 SCHEDULE + WINNERS

Race Number. Day, Date / Track / City, State / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Thu, Jan. 29 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1)
2. Fri, Jan. 30 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (2)
3. Sat, Jan. 31 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brady Bacon (1)
4. Sat, Feb. 21 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Justin Peck (1)
5. Sun, Feb. 22 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Matt Covington (1)

Golden Isles Speedway to Host Wieland Winter Nationals Finale March 3-7

BATAVIA, Ohio (February 25, 2026) – Golden Isles Speedway will welcome teams and fans from across the country for the highly anticipated Wieland Winter Nationals finale, set for March 3–7 at the renowned 4/10-mile dirt oval. On Tuesday, March 3, the pit gate will open at 2:00 PM, followed by an Open Practice from 6:00 – 8:00 PM for all competing divisions. The remainder of the weekend, the pit gates will open at 2:00 PM each day, followed by general admission gates at 3:00 PM. The on-track excitement is slated for 5:30 PM each day with Hot Laps. A complete program is on the docket each night for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, with Wednesday’s 30-lap A-Main event paying $7,000-to-win, Thursday’s 40-lap feature boasting $10,000 to the winner, Friday’s 50-lap A-Main paying $12,000-to-win, and Saturday’s 50-lap finale awarding $25,000 to the winner. In addition to the headline division, a strong lineup of support divisions will round out the week’s competition, including Crown Vics (Wednesday & Thursday), 602 Late Models (Thursday & Saturday), and 604 Late Models (Friday & Saturday), showcasing both regional standouts and emerging talent throughout the Southeast. Golden Isles Speedway is a 4/10-mile red clay oval located off U.S. Hwy. 82 in Waynesville, Ga. just 14 miles west of I-95. To purchase tickets, camping, or find more information about Golden Isles Speedway, please visit GISDirt.com. For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit LucasDirt.com. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Purses:Wednesday, March 4: 1. $7,000, 2. $3,500, 3. $2,000, 4. $1,500, 5. $1,400, 6. $1,300, 7. $1,200, 8. $1,100, 9. $1,000, 10. $950, 11. $900, 12. $850, 13. $800, 14. $750, 15. $725, 16. $700, 17. $700, 18. $700, 19. $650, 20. $625, 21. $625, 22. $600, 23. $600, 24. $600 = $30,775 Thursday, March 5: 1. $10,000, 2. $5,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,700, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,000, 15. $950, 16. $925, 17. $900, 18. $875, 19. $850, 20. $825, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800 = $48,575 Friday, March 6: 1. $12,000, 2. $6,000, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,800, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,100, 15. $1,050, 16. $1,000, 17. $1,000,18. $1,000, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000 = $52,800 Saturday, March 7: 1. $25,000, 2. $10,000, 3. $6,000, 4. $4,000, 5. $3,500, 6. $2,700, 7. $2,500, 8. $2,300, 9. $2,200, 10. $2,100, 11. $2,000, 12. $1,900, 13. $1,800, 14. $1,700, 15. $1,600, 16. $1,500, 17. $1,500, 18. $1,500, 19. $1,500, 20. $1,500, 21. $1,500, 22. $1,500, 23. $1,500, 24. $1,500 = $82,800 Golden Isles Speedway Crown Vic Purses:Wednesday, March 4: 1. $400, 2. $200, 3. $100, 4. $75, 5. $50, 6. $40, 7. $40, 8. $40, 9. $40, 10. $40, 11. $40, 12. $40, 13. $40, 14. $40, 15. $40, 16. $40, 17. $40, 18. $40, 19. $40, 20. $40, 21. $40, 22. $40, 23. $40, 24. $40 = $1,585 Thursday, March 5: 1. $400, 2. $200, 3. $100, 4. $75, 5. $50, 6. $40, 7. $40, 8. $40, 9. $40, 10. $40, 11. $40, 12. $40, 13. $40, 14. $40, 15. $40, 16. $40, 17. $40, 18. $40, 19. $40, 20. $40, 21. $40, 22. $40, 23. $40, 24. $40 = $1,585 Friday, March 6: 1. $500, 2. $300, 3. $200, 4. $100, 5. $75, 6. $50, 7. $50, 8. $50, 9. $50, 10. $50, 11. $50, 12. $50, 13. $50, 14. $50, 15. $50, 16. $50, 17. $50, 18. $50, 19. $50, 20. $50, 21. $50, 22. $50, 23. $50, 24. $50 = $2,125 Golden Isles Speedway 602 Late Model Purses:Thursday, March 5: 1. $800, 2. $500, 3. $450, 4. $350, 5. $300, 6. $250, 7. $200, 8. $150, 9. $125, 10. $100, 11. $100, 12. $100, 13. $100, 14. $100, 15. $100, 16. $100, 17. $100, 18. $100, 19. $100, 20. $100, 21. $100, 22. $100, 23. $100, 24. $100= $4,625 Saturday, March 7: 1. $1,500, 2. $700, 3. $600, 4. $500, 5. $400, 6. $350, 7. $300, 8. $250, 9. $200, 10. $150, 11. $150, 12. $150, 13. $150, 14. $150, 15. $150, 16. $150, 17. $150, 18. $150, 19. $150, 20. $150, 21. $150, 22. $150, 23. $150, 24. $150 = $7,050 Golden Isles Speedway 604 Late Model Purses:Friday, March 6: 1. $1,500, 2. $700, 3. $600, 4. $500, 5. $400, 6. $350, 7. $300, 8. $250, 9. $200, 10. $150, 11. $150, 12. $150, 13. $150, 14. $150, 15. $150, 16. $150, 17. $150, 18. $150, 19. $150, 20. $150, 21. $150, 22. $150, 23. $150, 24. $150= $7,050 Saturday, March 7: 1. $2,500, 2. $1,000, 3. $700, 4. $600, 5. $500, 6. $450, 7. $400, 8. $350, 9. $300, 10. $200, 11. $200, 12. $200, 13. $200, 14. $200, 15. $200, 16. $200, 17. $200, 18. $200, 19. $200, 20. $200, 21. $200, 22. $200, 23. $200, 24. $200 = $9,800 About WielandIn addition to supporting motorsports, Wieland Metal Services offers one of the most extensive selections of permanently available metal products in the industry today. Our portfolio includes copper, copper alloys, aluminum, and other high-performance metals in strip and cut-to-length forms. We maintain a full range of copper and brass alloys, aluminum alloys, and stainless steel in strip, sheet, coil, and foil forms, complemented by extruded and cast semi-finished products such as rods, bars, tubes, wires, and profiles. With over twenty specialized service options across North America, we provide custom finishing capabilities and value-added services including precision metal slitting, blanking, plate cutting, tinning, and electroplating, metal coatings, traverse winding, and cut-to-size services for bars, rods, and tubes. These solutions serve customers across diverse technology sectors with uncompromising demands for precision and performance.

Jacob Lehmann (No. 14) racing at Indy Mile in 2020. [Photo: Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing]

Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system

Posted on behalf of Weirbach Racing SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 25, 2026) – Weirbach Racing is pleased to announce the sponsorship support of Jacob Lehmann for 2026, in Progressive American Flat Tracks’ Mission AFT SuperTwins division, aboard the teams Kawasaki powered machines.  Jacob Lehmann, an accomplished KICKER AFT Singles rider collected a win at Castle Rock TT in 2012,  followed by another win at the famous Peoria TT in 2014, and his last podium finish was 2nd place in 2018 at the Buffalo Chip TT. Jacob has continued to run select Twins and Singles events over the last few years and is looking to get in the mix this season with a renewed focus. Jacob’s take on the upcoming season,  “I am really excited to join Weirbach Racing the 2026 season. I’m looking forward to working with a great group of guys with plenty of experience. My goals for 2026 is to run in the top 10.”  He added, “I am incredibly appreciative of this opportunity to not only ride for Weirbach, but also for Ted’s willingness for me to design components and contribute to the development of the motorcycle to best suit my comfort and preferences.” Ted Weirbach commented, “When Jacob relocated to the San Antonio from the Pacific Northwest a few years back, we quickly became good friends and started working together as well as contesting some of the local events.  Jacob is a very talented technical rider that also knows his way around the shop, as he is a very skilled mechanic. We feel that we can compete, have a great time at the track, and continue our history of supporting the future success of the sport, along with helping the younger generation of riders.”  In that vein, Jacob plans to stay in Illinois for the week following the  Duquoin National to assist and coach young riders during the Amateur Nationals.    Weirbach Racing is lending sponsorship support in 2026 to the very talented Dillon Durelle, who will be competing in the amateur 450 Road to AFT class and subsequent AFT ProSport 450 events. Weirbach Racing will continue support of Modesto California’s Michael Inderbitzin, for select races in the Mission AFT SuperTwins class.  In the inaugural year of the Production Twins class in 2018,  Inderbitzin book ended the summer with wins aboard the Weirbach Racing Kawasaki twins at both Springfield Miles. The “team” Steve Ottmers, Jacob Lehmann and Ted Weirbach, went to work this year reconstructing our original Kawasaki Twin that Dick Weirbach created in 2012.  Ted found and repurchased the C&J frame back in 2023 and the team has been working on its return for 2026 in memory of Dick Weirbach’s legacy.  Weirbach Racing would like to thank our sponsors: CP Carillo, Spectro Oils, Cometic, Regina Chain, Engine Ice, Motion Pro, Shorai, Lehmann Racing, Durelle Racing, General Engineering. About Weirbach RacingWeirbach Racing is run by Ted Weirbach and was established by his father Dick Weirbach who passed away in 2022.   Weirbach Racing was founded in 2000 and is committed to the success and development of up and coming professional riders.  In 2009, the inaugural year of the AMA Pro Singles Championship, Weirbach Racing’s James “the Rocket” Rispoli took second place overall and in 2011 Mikey Martin won the Pro Singles Championship. Other notables to ride for Dick & Ted are Briar Bauman, Bronson Bauman, Henry Wiles, Sammy Halbert, Aaron King, Jesse Janisch, and Davey Durelle and Rob Pearson and Wyatt McGuire to name a few.  Check their web site for more information on Instagram @weirbachracing

Jacob Lehmann to contest Mission AFT SuperTwins events with Weirbach Racing

Jacob Lehmann (No. 14) racing at Indy Mile in 2020. [Photo: Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing]

Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system

Posted on behalf of Weirbach Racing SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 25, 2026) – Weirbach Racing is pleased to announce the sponsorship support of Jacob Lehmann for 2026, in Progressive American Flat Tracks’ Mission AFT SuperTwins division, aboard the teams Kawasaki powered machines.  Jacob Lehmann, an accomplished KICKER AFT Singles rider collected a win at Castle Rock TT in 2012,  followed by another win at the famous Peoria TT in 2014, and his last podium finish was 2nd place in 2018 at the Buffalo Chip TT. Jacob has continued to run select Twins and Singles events over the last few years and is looking to get in the mix this season with a renewed focus. Jacob’s take on the upcoming season,  “I am really excited to join Weirbach Racing the 2026 season. I’m looking forward to working with a great group of guys with plenty of experience. My goals for 2026 is to run in the top 10.”  He added, “I am incredibly appreciative of this opportunity to not only ride for Weirbach, but also for Ted’s willingness for me to design components and contribute to the development of the motorcycle to best suit my comfort and preferences.” Ted Weirbach commented, “When Jacob relocated to the San Antonio from the Pacific Northwest a few years back, we quickly became good friends and started working together as well as contesting some of the local events.  Jacob is a very talented technical rider that also knows his way around the shop, as he is a very skilled mechanic. We feel that we can compete, have a great time at the track, and continue our history of supporting the future success of the sport, along with helping the younger generation of riders.”  In that vein, Jacob plans to stay in Illinois for the week following the  Duquoin National to assist and coach young riders during the Amateur Nationals.    Weirbach Racing is lending sponsorship support in 2026 to the very talented Dillon Durelle, who will be competing in the amateur 450 Road to AFT class and subsequent AFT ProSport 450 events. Weirbach Racing will continue support of Modesto California’s Michael Inderbitzin, for select races in the Mission AFT SuperTwins class.  In the inaugural year of the Production Twins class in 2018,  Inderbitzin book ended the summer with wins aboard the Weirbach Racing Kawasaki twins at both Springfield Miles. The “team” Steve Ottmers, Jacob Lehmann and Ted Weirbach, went to work this year reconstructing our original Kawasaki Twin that Dick Weirbach created in 2012.  Ted found and repurchased the C&J frame back in 2023 and the team has been working on its return for 2026 in memory of Dick Weirbach’s legacy.  Weirbach Racing would like to thank our sponsors: CP Carillo, Spectro Oils, Cometic, Regina Chain, Engine Ice, Motion Pro, Shorai, Lehmann Racing, Durelle Racing, General Engineering. About Weirbach RacingWeirbach Racing is run by Ted Weirbach and was established by his father Dick Weirbach who passed away in 2022.   Weirbach Racing was founded in 2000 and is committed to the success and development of up and coming professional riders.  In 2009, the inaugural year of the AMA Pro Singles Championship, Weirbach Racing’s James “the Rocket” Rispoli took second place overall and in 2011 Mikey Martin won the Pro Singles Championship. Other notables to ride for Dick & Ted are Briar Bauman, Bronson Bauman, Henry Wiles, Sammy Halbert, Aaron King, Jesse Janisch, and Davey Durelle and Rob Pearson and Wyatt McGuire to name a few.  Check their web site for more information on Instagram @weirbachracing

February 28 – March 1, 2026

All three NASCAR national touring series will make the shift to left- and right-hand turns this weekend as the sport faces its first road racing event of the 2026 season.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

For the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS), the third stop on the schedule will take the pair to the Lonestar State to pay its annual visit to Circuit of The Americas (COTA). The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will split off from its companion series to make their much-anticipated street course debut by accompanying the NTT INDYCAR Series at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The weekend marks the start of back-to-back crossover events as the NTT INDYCAR Series will join NASCAR once again at Phoenix Raceway next weekend, with Chevrolet boasting as the only manufacturer that will compete in both series.

Milestone Win Kicks-Off Team Chevy’s COTA Success: In May 2021, the NASCAR Cup Series turned its first-ever laps at the world-class venue of Circuit of The Americas. When a torrential downpour cut the series’ debut race short, it was Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott that took the checkered flag – earning Chevrolet its milestone 800th all-time NCS win. One year later, Ross Chastain added onto the memories by making Trackhouse Racing a first-time winner at NASCAR’s highest level.  Most recently, it was William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team that took Chevrolet back to victory lane at the Austin-based circuit (Mar. 2024) – marking Chevrolet’s third, and series-leading, triumph at the venue. Accompanying its victorious accolades is another strong set of statistics with the Bowtie brand also earning at least half of the top-10 finishing positions in each of the series’ five appearances at the circuit.

VAN GISBERGEN VYING FOR RECORD-TYING VICTORY Already an arguable favorite heading to Circuit of The Americas, Shane van Gisbergen is coming off a confidence-boosting weekend at EchoPark Speedway where the Trackhouse Racing driver scored a sixth-place result – marking his career-best oval finish in NASCAR’s top division. The 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native will now return to what he knows best – making left- and right-hand turns. Van Gisbergen’s most recent NCS win came at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Oct. 2025 – a victory that made him just the second driver in history to capture five-straight road course wins. The feat places him just behind NASCAR Hall of famer and career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, who owns the record with six-straight.  In addition to his full-time ride, Van Gisbergen will also reunite with JR Motorsports to make his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start of the season. The Team Chevy driver is a four-time winner in the division, with his most recent coming in the No. 9 Chevrolet entry at the Chicago Street Course last season.

BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED For Connor Zilisch, this weekend’s trip to Texas will mark the return to the place that introduced him to NASCAR’s highest level. Last season, the 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native climbed behind the wheel of a Trackhouse Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to make his first-career NASCAR Cup Series start at Circuit of The Americas. Over the one-year timespan, the young prodigy not only put together a record-breaking season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, but landed a full-time seat in NASCAR’s top division for the 2026 season.  Sharing the road course prowess of his Trackhouse Racing teammate, Shane van Gisbergen, Zilisch knows his way around the 2.3-mile, 20-turn circuit. Last season’s NOAPS visit to COTA saw Zilisch turn a pole-winning qualifying effort into a race win – a victory that propelled the Team Chevy driver towards a record rookie campaign that ended with a 10-race win season. Zilisch will have the opportunity to defend his COTA win this weekend as he is set to join forces with JR Motorsports again for his first NOAPS start of the season.

ELLIOTT SITTING STRONG IN THE STANDINGSChase Elliott’s 11th full-time season in NASCAR’s top division is off to a strong start. Surviving back-to-back drafting tracks with top-11 finishes, the 2020 champion also banked strong points days to find himself sitting third in the driver’s points standings as the series starts its journey out west. A 21-time NCS winner, Elliott continues to lead the series’ active drivers with seven road course wins – one of which includes his win in the series’ debut at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021. Looking for his first road course win in the Next Gen era, Elliott is coming off a strong showing on serpentine tracks last season – earning top-eight results in four of the six races, including a fourth-place finish at the Austin-based circuit.

LOVE SET FOR CUP SERIES RETURNReigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, Jesse Love, will have several double-duty weekends on his schedule this season, with his first coming this weekend at Circuit of The Americas as the driver will fill the seat of a third entry for Richard Childress Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. The Menlo Park, California, native has made a quick rise through the ranks. Love first made his mark in the sport when he became the youngest champion in NASCAR history after clinching the 2020 ARCA Menards Series West title at the age of 16 years old. The driver went on to win the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship before making the jump into the NOAPS for his rookie season in 2024. But it was last season that he took his career to another level by turning his sophomore campaign in the NOAPS into a title-earning season.  Love has just five career NCS starts under his belt, with his first coming at Bristol Motor Speedway in April 2025. While it will be his first time hitting the 2.3-mile Texas circuit behind the wheel of a Cup car, the Team Chevy driver has had a pair of strong outings with the Chevrolet organization in his full-time ride – earning sixth-place results in each of his two NOAPS starts at the circuit.

A WEEKEND OF ‘FIRSTS’ FOR THE NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES For the first time in history, the streets of St. Petersburg will welcome a NASCAR-sanctioned event as the Craftsman Truck Series will make its street course debut. The series will compete alongside the NTT INDYCAR Series as they look to kick-off their 2026 season. The unique doubleheader weekend gives Chevrolet an extra boast over its competitors as the only manufacturer that will compete in both events.

Hinchcliffe Heads Back to a Familiar Place for His NASCAR Debut: Saturday’s event will feature a star-studded lineup, including former NTT INDYCAR driver, James Hinchcliffe, who will team up with Spire Motorsports to pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet entry. The venture will mark the Ontario, Canada, native’s first-ever NASCAR start, but it comes at a place he knows very well. Hinchcliffe is a six-time NTT INDYCAR Series winner, with his first-career victory coming at the St. Petersburg circuit in 2013. The driver will be well-equipped to make a strong splash into the NASCAR world with Spire Motorsports coming off a one-two finish in the NCTS last weekend at EchoPark Speedway.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of The Americas: William Byron: one win (2024) Ross Chastain: one win (2022)Chase Elliott: one win (2021) ·        In five appearances for both the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of The Americas, Chevrolet leads both divisions with three NCS wins and four-straight NOAPS wins.  ·        In 23 NASCAR Cup Series road racing events in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads the series with 17 victories – recorded by eight drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations. ·        Shane van Gisbergen, the NASCAR Cup Series most recent road course winner (Charlotte ROVAL- Oct. 2025), heads into the weekend with five-consecutive road course wins – a record that sits just behind career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon’s all-time record streak of six-straight road course triumphs.  ·        Chase Elliott leads the NASCAR Cup Series’ active drivers with seven wins on road courses – a record that also ranks him third all-time behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight wins). ·        In 146 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of 45.9%.  ·        Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.  ·        With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 881 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Circuit of The AmericasDuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyneSunday, Mar. 1, at 3:30 p.m. ETFOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesCircuit of The AmericasFocused Health 250Saturday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. ETCW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesGrand Prix of St. PetersburgOnlyBulls Green Flag 150 at St. PetersburgSaturday, Feb. 28, at 12 p.m. ETFOX, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet With COTA, track limits is a storyline. How do you manage kind of understanding what that is and pushing the line?“I grew up watching stock car racing in NASCAR, where you race grass to grass. If it was paved, you were on it, aside from super speedways. And COTA is the road course where that is not the case. We make those esses as straight as we can and cut Turn 19 as much as possible. I’m good with track limits, as long as they are enforced consistently and constantly. Make a rule. Continue to enforce it and put someone there that can see it, put some sort of technology with cameras, or automated systems, or whatever it takes. Figure out how to officiate it every time, consistently, all weekend. Whether its practice, qualifying, or the race, make the calls. They’re tough calls to make, but if we mess up, make that call instantly. Don’t wait. It needs to be very black-and-white.” How do you manage the chaos of Turn 1? It’s a pretty wild corner. What’s it like from your perspective?“I don’t manage it very well. I’ve been spun out there in the O’Reilly Series race and I’ve spun people out. It’s very challenging to find your brake marker. Restarts are a different speed than the normal laps. It helps now with the restarts all being moved back towards turn 20 but definitely challenging. I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes. The track was designed to build a lot of speed, have a ton of braking potential with the uphill elevation climb to Turn 1, and then trying to make a turn back the other way is really difficult. But when you get it right, it’s very rewarding.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on racing at Circuit of The Americas?“Racing in Austin, Texas is fun. It’s an exciting and technically challenging road course with lot of havoc created in Turn One. I feel like the key to having a good race will be having solid pit stops and keeping our Breztri Chevrolet clean.”  How tough is it to gain momentum at the start of the season?“To get going in the first part of the season is tough. You want a fast start for your team and partners, and we didn’t get that the last two weeks with the wrecks. We need to come out of this weekend with a good finish, just to feel confident that we can get back into the swing of things with points. With two drafting tracks and a road course, the meat of the schedule starts in Phoenix. That’s where you feel like more is in your control. There is a lot in your control at road courses as well, and we have put a lot of effort into COTA. I feel like our Breztri Chevrolet should be able to go out there and compete.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on the new layout at COTA, and how does it change the racing for both the drivers and the fans?“Man, every time we come back to COTA it just gets better. The new layout really makes the corners come alive, it’s exciting for the fans, and honestly, it’s just as exciting for me in the car. You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be precise, and that’s what makes this place special. For me, the new 20-turn layout is more technical and strategic, keeping me more focused with every lap. I am excited to get back out there.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHow excited are you coming back to Circuit of The Americas after last season’s performance?“Looking forward to COTA, I always love going there. We really had a good car last year at COTA. We were on the right side of strategy and coming to pit road when we did. We had a four second gap to the next guy behind us for the last couple laps of the race, and I don’t think they would have caught us. Unfortunately, a yellow came out and I had to try to race it out through a couple of restarts. Our two lap older tires were just enough that Christopher Bell was able to get us, so we gracefully faded to fifth.” How big of a factor do you expect tire falloff and strategy to be this weekend?“I think there will be a good amount of tire falloff and more than what we’ve seen in years past. Last year, we saw a good bit of tire falloff. I just mentioned how we only had two lap older tires than Christopher Bell, and he was able to outrace me at the end of the race. Tires are going to be more paramount this weekend. You might see guys, if there’s a late caution with 10 to go, that got three or four lap old tires might come, pit, and try to drive back through the field and hope that the front guys burn their stuff up. Fresher tires more times than not, especially with more horsepower you’re going to want them.”      Jesse Love, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are you looking forward to on the Cup side this weekend, and what will be key for you to have a successful race?“On the Cup side, I’m looking forward to the challenge of it and continue to learn from racing these Cup races. I’ve learned a lot from the ones I ran last year and I’m just excited for a new challenge and learning new things and aggressively trying to adapt to the things that I learn throughout the weekend. Obviously, it’s going to be really important to do the little things right this weekend as always with the Cup stuff. For me, I just want to control the things I can control, and it would be very cool to be in position to capitalize on some crazy restarts at the end and see what kind of finish we can get out of it.”   Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet“COTA is the first road course of the year, so we are all excited to get there. It brings you a little bit of everything, from slow speed corners to high-speed corners to big breaking zones. So, it challenges you in a lot of ways and it will be really interesting to see how the new 750 horsepower in my Chevrolet Camaro relates to the racing there and seeing how much tire fall off we get throughout the weekend. So it will be a really interesting race and hopefully my Haas Factory Team can adapt to it fast.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Atlanta was a tough one for us. Nobody likes ending their day early. We regrouped and we’re ready for COTA with Ram Self Storage on the car this week.”   Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet“Our No. 48 team is ready to get to COTA. We’ve had a tough start to the season with two drafting tracks back-to-back and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ve put together some really solid races at COTA and we’re preparing to do that again to build confidence in our team early in the season.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“Road racing is where I did a lot of my growing up and learning how to race. There was a lot of back and forth between stock cars and GT cars and sportscars over the years as I found my place in NASCAR. So I’m always, ‘The more the merrier,’ when it comes to road racing. There are a lot of things you can’t really learn about a road course until you’re in a car that’s really been built to attack a road course, and the current Cup car drives a lot more like a sportscar than they ever have before. They’re somewhere in between a TA and a TA2 car in the Trans Am Series. Obviously, we have a lot more horsepower than a TA2 car, but not quite the downforce and maneuverability that a TA car has. The thing that causes a bit more chaos in our road races compared to the more traditional road-racing series is the fact that these cars are so durable, and they’re handling a lot better than the previous cars did. It’s led to a lot of beating and banging, and it’s really become a left-and-right-turn short-track race more than a road-course race.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow can you maximize your weekend at COTA?“I’m looking forward to going to COTA, obviously having a road course early in the season is beneficial, especially for me. The first handful of races are places we have had success, even though Daytona and Atlanta didn’t play out the way we wanted to. I am excited to get to COTA, especially with my background. We had some good speed and opportunities on the two drafting tracks so far, but now we can learn where we have improved our road-course program from last year. We had three top-five finishes on road courses and a penalty at COTA last year potentially cost us a fourth, but this weekend we will have a lot of opportunities to score some big points, and race for a win with Katz Coffee onboard.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat is it about Circuit of the Americas that you like so much?“COTA is just super-fun, especially since they shortened the course. I really enjoy the shortened course. It has created really good racing and has a short track type feel to it now. Except for the frontstretch you don’t really have straightaways anymore. It’s just so unique. You’ve got a new passing zone now with Turn 6A, that cut through is a great passing zone and as a driver. And as a driver you’re doing more: you’re turning more and you’re in a corner more often. It’s a lot of fun.” Comment on the chaos of the restarts entering Turn 1. “Those restarts can get pretty chaotic in Turn 1. Hopefully I’m on the better end of that this year and we can get through Turn 1 a little cleaner. Turn 1 is wild and anything can happen. You can go four, five and even six-wide but you’ve got to do your best not to put yourself in a bad spot. With that said, there’s a lot of opportunities to make moves and gain positions. It’s always crazy but you’ve got to try and stay out of the chaos and make it through there. Unfortunately, I didn’t last year, and it ended up hurting my race. The elevation changes there are crazy. It’s like going up a rollercoaster and you’re able to brake so deep because of it.” Do you notice the fans at COTA?“You can see them for sure. It’s cool to have fans everywhere, whether it’s on the hill in turn 1 or watching from the stadium section. You can watch that race from just about anywhere and see every part of the track. For the fans it’s got to be really cool to walk around and see different parts of the track and get to experience the race from a different corner each lap.” On running the NOAPS race with JR Motorsports: “I’m really looking forward to my first start this season in the Roto-Rooter Chevrolet with JR Motorsports this weekend. The race at Circuit of the Americas was such a huge one for us last year and I can’t wait to be back with that group and work with Rodney Childers this weekend. COTA is a really cool track and now that NASCAR is racing the short course it gets pretty intense and chaotic. There’s not a lot of time to rest. You’re always in a corner and it’s also unique because of the track limits. You’re having to manage that at all times through the esses and everywhere. It takes an immense amount of focus to get around there and be consistent and not make mistakes that can end your day really quickly. I’m excited to go back there.”    Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSixth-place finish in Atlanta, your best finish to date in the Cup Series on an oval, how much momentum do you and the team have headed to COTA this weekend?“It’s always promising. These oval races, we are making big gains, and we weren’t really in position to score stage points last year very often. So now we are able to do that in Daytona and Atlanta, it’s very promising. These road courses, we just go and have fun, they are like a holiday for us. We just go and enjoy ourselves and hopefully come away with a lot of points and a great result.” Turn one at COTA is crazy. How do you play defense going into that turn?“It’s a tough one. There are so many options there for lines and protecting. It’s a hard restart to get right. Then, the next corner goes the opposite way, so you’re kind of always on defense there trying to be in the best spot before going into those esses, before it single files out. It’s very physical in that turn and there isn’t much room for error.” What does the bypass in the new COTA layout add to the race? “It just gives everyone more passing opportunities and more laps. You get to use the better part of the track more often. It was cool when they (NASCAR) first thought about doing the short cut, they wanted to do what we did in V8 Supercars in 2013, and it was terrible through there. But what they came up with, using the next cut through, made another passing zone and a pretty tough corner off the backstraight. I thought it was a good change.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series StatisticsManufacturer Championships:Total (1949-2025): 44First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2025 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Driver Championships:Total (1949-2025): 34First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29 Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2026 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 0Poles: 1Laps Led: 129Top-Fives: 5Top-10s: 6Stage Wins: 0 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 881 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 767Laps led to date: 256,863Top-fives to date: 4,441Top-10s to date: 9,157                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,215           Chevrolet: 881           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 847                                                                                          Ford: 747           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 205

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCECircuit of The Americas / Grand Prix of St. PetersburgFebruary 28 – March 1, 2026

All three NASCAR national touring series will make the shift to left- and right-hand turns this weekend as the sport faces its first road racing event of the 2026 season.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom

For the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS), the third stop on the schedule will take the pair to the Lonestar State to pay its annual visit to Circuit of The Americas (COTA). The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will split off from its companion series to make their much-anticipated street course debut by accompanying the NTT INDYCAR Series at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The weekend marks the start of back-to-back crossover events as the NTT INDYCAR Series will join NASCAR once again at Phoenix Raceway next weekend, with Chevrolet boasting as the only manufacturer that will compete in both series.

Milestone Win Kicks-Off Team Chevy’s COTA Success: In May 2021, the NASCAR Cup Series turned its first-ever laps at the world-class venue of Circuit of The Americas. When a torrential downpour cut the series’ debut race short, it was Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott that took the checkered flag – earning Chevrolet its milestone 800th all-time NCS win. One year later, Ross Chastain added onto the memories by making Trackhouse Racing a first-time winner at NASCAR’s highest level.  Most recently, it was William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team that took Chevrolet back to victory lane at the Austin-based circuit (Mar. 2024) – marking Chevrolet’s third, and series-leading, triumph at the venue. Accompanying its victorious accolades is another strong set of statistics with the Bowtie brand also earning at least half of the top-10 finishing positions in each of the series’ five appearances at the circuit.

VAN GISBERGEN VYING FOR RECORD-TYING VICTORY Already an arguable favorite heading to Circuit of The Americas, Shane van Gisbergen is coming off a confidence-boosting weekend at EchoPark Speedway where the Trackhouse Racing driver scored a sixth-place result – marking his career-best oval finish in NASCAR’s top division. The 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native will now return to what he knows best – making left- and right-hand turns. Van Gisbergen’s most recent NCS win came at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Oct. 2025 – a victory that made him just the second driver in history to capture five-straight road course wins. The feat places him just behind NASCAR Hall of famer and career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, who owns the record with six-straight.  In addition to his full-time ride, Van Gisbergen will also reunite with JR Motorsports to make his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start of the season. The Team Chevy driver is a four-time winner in the division, with his most recent coming in the No. 9 Chevrolet entry at the Chicago Street Course last season.

BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED For Connor Zilisch, this weekend’s trip to Texas will mark the return to the place that introduced him to NASCAR’s highest level. Last season, the 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native climbed behind the wheel of a Trackhouse Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to make his first-career NASCAR Cup Series start at Circuit of The Americas. Over the one-year timespan, the young prodigy not only put together a record-breaking season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, but landed a full-time seat in NASCAR’s top division for the 2026 season.  Sharing the road course prowess of his Trackhouse Racing teammate, Shane van Gisbergen, Zilisch knows his way around the 2.3-mile, 20-turn circuit. Last season’s NOAPS visit to COTA saw Zilisch turn a pole-winning qualifying effort into a race win – a victory that propelled the Team Chevy driver towards a record rookie campaign that ended with a 10-race win season. Zilisch will have the opportunity to defend his COTA win this weekend as he is set to join forces with JR Motorsports again for his first NOAPS start of the season.

ELLIOTT SITTING STRONG IN THE STANDINGSChase Elliott’s 11th full-time season in NASCAR’s top division is off to a strong start. Surviving back-to-back drafting tracks with top-11 finishes, the 2020 champion also banked strong points days to find himself sitting third in the driver’s points standings as the series starts its journey out west. A 21-time NCS winner, Elliott continues to lead the series’ active drivers with seven road course wins – one of which includes his win in the series’ debut at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021. Looking for his first road course win in the Next Gen era, Elliott is coming off a strong showing on serpentine tracks last season – earning top-eight results in four of the six races, including a fourth-place finish at the Austin-based circuit.

LOVE SET FOR CUP SERIES RETURNReigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, Jesse Love, will have several double-duty weekends on his schedule this season, with his first coming this weekend at Circuit of The Americas as the driver will fill the seat of a third entry for Richard Childress Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. The Menlo Park, California, native has made a quick rise through the ranks. Love first made his mark in the sport when he became the youngest champion in NASCAR history after clinching the 2020 ARCA Menards Series West title at the age of 16 years old. The driver went on to win the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship before making the jump into the NOAPS for his rookie season in 2024. But it was last season that he took his career to another level by turning his sophomore campaign in the NOAPS into a title-earning season.  Love has just five career NCS starts under his belt, with his first coming at Bristol Motor Speedway in April 2025. While it will be his first time hitting the 2.3-mile Texas circuit behind the wheel of a Cup car, the Team Chevy driver has had a pair of strong outings with the Chevrolet organization in his full-time ride – earning sixth-place results in each of his two NOAPS starts at the circuit.

A WEEKEND OF ‘FIRSTS’ FOR THE NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES For the first time in history, the streets of St. Petersburg will welcome a NASCAR-sanctioned event as the Craftsman Truck Series will make its street course debut. The series will compete alongside the NTT INDYCAR Series as they look to kick-off their 2026 season. The unique doubleheader weekend gives Chevrolet an extra boast over its competitors as the only manufacturer that will compete in both events.

Hinchcliffe Heads Back to a Familiar Place for His NASCAR Debut: Saturday’s event will feature a star-studded lineup, including former NTT INDYCAR driver, James Hinchcliffe, who will team up with Spire Motorsports to pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet entry. The venture will mark the Ontario, Canada, native’s first-ever NASCAR start, but it comes at a place he knows very well. Hinchcliffe is a six-time NTT INDYCAR Series winner, with his first-career victory coming at the St. Petersburg circuit in 2013. The driver will be well-equipped to make a strong splash into the NASCAR world with Spire Motorsports coming off a one-two finish in the NCTS last weekend at EchoPark Speedway.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of The Americas: William Byron: one win (2024) Ross Chastain: one win (2022)Chase Elliott: one win (2021) ·        In five appearances for both the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of The Americas, Chevrolet leads both divisions with three NCS wins and four-straight NOAPS wins.  ·        In 23 NASCAR Cup Series road racing events in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads the series with 17 victories – recorded by eight drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations. ·        Shane van Gisbergen, the NASCAR Cup Series most recent road course winner (Charlotte ROVAL- Oct. 2025), heads into the weekend with five-consecutive road course wins – a record that sits just behind career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon’s all-time record streak of six-straight road course triumphs.  ·        Chase Elliott leads the NASCAR Cup Series’ active drivers with seven wins on road courses – a record that also ranks him third all-time behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight wins). ·        In 146 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of 45.9%.  ·        Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.  ·        With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 881 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Circuit of The AmericasDuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyneSunday, Mar. 1, at 3:30 p.m. ETFOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts SeriesCircuit of The AmericasFocused Health 250Saturday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. ETCW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesGrand Prix of St. PetersburgOnlyBulls Green Flag 150 at St. PetersburgSaturday, Feb. 28, at 12 p.m. ETFOX, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet With COTA, track limits is a storyline. How do you manage kind of understanding what that is and pushing the line?“I grew up watching stock car racing in NASCAR, where you race grass to grass. If it was paved, you were on it, aside from super speedways. And COTA is the road course where that is not the case. We make those esses as straight as we can and cut Turn 19 as much as possible. I’m good with track limits, as long as they are enforced consistently and constantly. Make a rule. Continue to enforce it and put someone there that can see it, put some sort of technology with cameras, or automated systems, or whatever it takes. Figure out how to officiate it every time, consistently, all weekend. Whether its practice, qualifying, or the race, make the calls. They’re tough calls to make, but if we mess up, make that call instantly. Don’t wait. It needs to be very black-and-white.” How do you manage the chaos of Turn 1? It’s a pretty wild corner. What’s it like from your perspective?“I don’t manage it very well. I’ve been spun out there in the O’Reilly Series race and I’ve spun people out. It’s very challenging to find your brake marker. Restarts are a different speed than the normal laps. It helps now with the restarts all being moved back towards turn 20 but definitely challenging. I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes. The track was designed to build a lot of speed, have a ton of braking potential with the uphill elevation climb to Turn 1, and then trying to make a turn back the other way is really difficult. But when you get it right, it’s very rewarding.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on racing at Circuit of The Americas?“Racing in Austin, Texas is fun. It’s an exciting and technically challenging road course with lot of havoc created in Turn One. I feel like the key to having a good race will be having solid pit stops and keeping our Breztri Chevrolet clean.”  How tough is it to gain momentum at the start of the season?“To get going in the first part of the season is tough. You want a fast start for your team and partners, and we didn’t get that the last two weeks with the wrecks. We need to come out of this weekend with a good finish, just to feel confident that we can get back into the swing of things with points. With two drafting tracks and a road course, the meat of the schedule starts in Phoenix. That’s where you feel like more is in your control. There is a lot in your control at road courses as well, and we have put a lot of effort into COTA. I feel like our Breztri Chevrolet should be able to go out there and compete.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on the new layout at COTA, and how does it change the racing for both the drivers and the fans?“Man, every time we come back to COTA it just gets better. The new layout really makes the corners come alive, it’s exciting for the fans, and honestly, it’s just as exciting for me in the car. You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be precise, and that’s what makes this place special. For me, the new 20-turn layout is more technical and strategic, keeping me more focused with every lap. I am excited to get back out there.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHow excited are you coming back to Circuit of The Americas after last season’s performance?“Looking forward to COTA, I always love going there. We really had a good car last year at COTA. We were on the right side of strategy and coming to pit road when we did. We had a four second gap to the next guy behind us for the last couple laps of the race, and I don’t think they would have caught us. Unfortunately, a yellow came out and I had to try to race it out through a couple of restarts. Our two lap older tires were just enough that Christopher Bell was able to get us, so we gracefully faded to fifth.” How big of a factor do you expect tire falloff and strategy to be this weekend?“I think there will be a good amount of tire falloff and more than what we’ve seen in years past. Last year, we saw a good bit of tire falloff. I just mentioned how we only had two lap older tires than Christopher Bell, and he was able to outrace me at the end of the race. Tires are going to be more paramount this weekend. You might see guys, if there’s a late caution with 10 to go, that got three or four lap old tires might come, pit, and try to drive back through the field and hope that the front guys burn their stuff up. Fresher tires more times than not, especially with more horsepower you’re going to want them.”      Jesse Love, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are you looking forward to on the Cup side this weekend, and what will be key for you to have a successful race?“On the Cup side, I’m looking forward to the challenge of it and continue to learn from racing these Cup races. I’ve learned a lot from the ones I ran last year and I’m just excited for a new challenge and learning new things and aggressively trying to adapt to the things that I learn throughout the weekend. Obviously, it’s going to be really important to do the little things right this weekend as always with the Cup stuff. For me, I just want to control the things I can control, and it would be very cool to be in position to capitalize on some crazy restarts at the end and see what kind of finish we can get out of it.”   Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet“COTA is the first road course of the year, so we are all excited to get there. It brings you a little bit of everything, from slow speed corners to high-speed corners to big breaking zones. So, it challenges you in a lot of ways and it will be really interesting to see how the new 750 horsepower in my Chevrolet Camaro relates to the racing there and seeing how much tire fall off we get throughout the weekend. So it will be a really interesting race and hopefully my Haas Factory Team can adapt to it fast.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Atlanta was a tough one for us. Nobody likes ending their day early. We regrouped and we’re ready for COTA with Ram Self Storage on the car this week.”   Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet“Our No. 48 team is ready to get to COTA. We’ve had a tough start to the season with two drafting tracks back-to-back and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ve put together some really solid races at COTA and we’re preparing to do that again to build confidence in our team early in the season.”   Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet“Road racing is where I did a lot of my growing up and learning how to race. There was a lot of back and forth between stock cars and GT cars and sportscars over the years as I found my place in NASCAR. So I’m always, ‘The more the merrier,’ when it comes to road racing. There are a lot of things you can’t really learn about a road course until you’re in a car that’s really been built to attack a road course, and the current Cup car drives a lot more like a sportscar than they ever have before. They’re somewhere in between a TA and a TA2 car in the Trans Am Series. Obviously, we have a lot more horsepower than a TA2 car, but not quite the downforce and maneuverability that a TA car has. The thing that causes a bit more chaos in our road races compared to the more traditional road-racing series is the fact that these cars are so durable, and they’re handling a lot better than the previous cars did. It’s led to a lot of beating and banging, and it’s really become a left-and-right-turn short-track race more than a road-course race.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletHow can you maximize your weekend at COTA?“I’m looking forward to going to COTA, obviously having a road course early in the season is beneficial, especially for me. The first handful of races are places we have had success, even though Daytona and Atlanta didn’t play out the way we wanted to. I am excited to get to COTA, especially with my background. We had some good speed and opportunities on the two drafting tracks so far, but now we can learn where we have improved our road-course program from last year. We had three top-five finishes on road courses and a penalty at COTA last year potentially cost us a fourth, but this weekend we will have a lot of opportunities to score some big points, and race for a win with Katz Coffee onboard.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat is it about Circuit of the Americas that you like so much?“COTA is just super-fun, especially since they shortened the course. I really enjoy the shortened course. It has created really good racing and has a short track type feel to it now. Except for the frontstretch you don’t really have straightaways anymore. It’s just so unique. You’ve got a new passing zone now with Turn 6A, that cut through is a great passing zone and as a driver. And as a driver you’re doing more: you’re turning more and you’re in a corner more often. It’s a lot of fun.” Comment on the chaos of the restarts entering Turn 1. “Those restarts can get pretty chaotic in Turn 1. Hopefully I’m on the better end of that this year and we can get through Turn 1 a little cleaner. Turn 1 is wild and anything can happen. You can go four, five and even six-wide but you’ve got to do your best not to put yourself in a bad spot. With that said, there’s a lot of opportunities to make moves and gain positions. It’s always crazy but you’ve got to try and stay out of the chaos and make it through there. Unfortunately, I didn’t last year, and it ended up hurting my race. The elevation changes there are crazy. It’s like going up a rollercoaster and you’re able to brake so deep because of it.” Do you notice the fans at COTA?“You can see them for sure. It’s cool to have fans everywhere, whether it’s on the hill in turn 1 or watching from the stadium section. You can watch that race from just about anywhere and see every part of the track. For the fans it’s got to be really cool to walk around and see different parts of the track and get to experience the race from a different corner each lap.” On running the NOAPS race with JR Motorsports: “I’m really looking forward to my first start this season in the Roto-Rooter Chevrolet with JR Motorsports this weekend. The race at Circuit of the Americas was such a huge one for us last year and I can’t wait to be back with that group and work with Rodney Childers this weekend. COTA is a really cool track and now that NASCAR is racing the short course it gets pretty intense and chaotic. There’s not a lot of time to rest. You’re always in a corner and it’s also unique because of the track limits. You’re having to manage that at all times through the esses and everywhere. It takes an immense amount of focus to get around there and be consistent and not make mistakes that can end your day really quickly. I’m excited to go back there.”    Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSixth-place finish in Atlanta, your best finish to date in the Cup Series on an oval, how much momentum do you and the team have headed to COTA this weekend?“It’s always promising. These oval races, we are making big gains, and we weren’t really in position to score stage points last year very often. So now we are able to do that in Daytona and Atlanta, it’s very promising. These road courses, we just go and have fun, they are like a holiday for us. We just go and enjoy ourselves and hopefully come away with a lot of points and a great result.” Turn one at COTA is crazy. How do you play defense going into that turn?“It’s a tough one. There are so many options there for lines and protecting. It’s a hard restart to get right. Then, the next corner goes the opposite way, so you’re kind of always on defense there trying to be in the best spot before going into those esses, before it single files out. It’s very physical in that turn and there isn’t much room for error.” What does the bypass in the new COTA layout add to the race? “It just gives everyone more passing opportunities and more laps. You get to use the better part of the track more often. It was cool when they (NASCAR) first thought about doing the short cut, they wanted to do what we did in V8 Supercars in 2013, and it was terrible through there. But what they came up with, using the next cut through, made another passing zone and a pretty tough corner off the backstraight. I thought it was a good change.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series StatisticsManufacturer Championships:Total (1949-2025): 44First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2025 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Driver Championships:Total (1949-2025): 34First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29 Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2026 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 0Poles: 1Laps Led: 129Top-Fives: 5Top-10s: 6Stage Wins: 0 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 881 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 767Laps led to date: 256,863Top-fives to date: 4,441Top-10s to date: 9,157                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,215           Chevrolet: 881           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 847                                                                                          Ford: 747           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 205

Jesse Janisch (No. 33) battles with Austin Luczak (No. 188) during Jackpine Gypsies Short Track in 2025. [Photo: Hunter Scott for AMA Pro Racing]Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system The seven-race 2026 AFT AdventureTrackers™ championship will open with the class contenders vying for a $7,500 purse in Daytona DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 25, 2026) – The AFT AdventureTrackers™ title contenders charge into 2026 in search of glory as the class prepares to kick off its expanded championship slate at the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II on Friday, March 6. This marks the first time the class has been featured on the bill when the Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, opens in Daytona. Now entering its third season, AFT AdventureTrackers was originally devised to provide the massively popular and fast-growing Dual Adventure segment a competitive outlet to demonstrate the bikes’ wide-ranging capabilities and impressive versatility even in near-stock guise. With a cadre of championship-caliber riders at the controls, the class has exceeded all expectations in terms of pure spectacle, as some of the series’ most notable athletes have repeatedly performed borderline miracles on these big-bore, 500-plus pound machines as they’ve tangled for checkered flags. AFT AdventureTrackers made its high-profile debut in a showcase event on the Streets of Sturgis in 2024. Last season, the category evolved into a thrilling four-race championship tilt packed into a timeframe of less than two weeks. During its brief existence, Dual Adventure bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki, and Triumph have featured on AFT AdventureTrackers’ podiums, while decorated riders such as Dan Bromley and Jesse Janisch have logged shocking quick lap times and put on an incredible show in their heated battles for victory. And despite its relative newness, AFT AdventureTrackers has already added to its legend off the track as well. Hearkeni ng to the earliest days of motorcycle sport, there are numerous stories of these near-stock racebikes arriving at the track fresh from dealership showrooms, being ridden down Main Street at Sturgis straight from the podium, and even making a cross-country trek from one round to the next. This growing legend will be added to in 2026, as the class expands its footprint with a seven-round championship fight that will run from early March to late August with a $7,500 purse in play at each event.Next Up The Progressive AFT 2026 season begins with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack. Following the season opener, the series travels to Senoia Raceway for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track on March 21. To purchase tickets for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280.

Legends in the Making: AFT AdventureTrackers Kick Off Expanded 2026 Schedule in DaytonaJesse Janisch (No. 33) battles with Austin Luczak (No. 188) during Jackpine Gypsies Short Track in 2025. [Photo: Hunter Scott for AMA Pro Racing]Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro’s Digital Asset Management system The seven-race 2026 AFT AdventureTrackers™ championship will open with the class contenders vying for a $7,500 purse in Daytona DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 25, 2026) – The AFT AdventureTrackers™ title contenders charge into 2026 in search of glory as the class prepares to kick off its expanded championship slate at the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II on Friday, March 6. This marks the first time the class has been featured on the bill when the Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, opens in Daytona. Now entering its third season, AFT AdventureTrackers was originally devised to provide the massively popular and fast-growing Dual Adventure segment a competitive outlet to demonstrate the bikes’ wide-ranging capabilities and impressive versatility even in near-stock guise. With a cadre of championship-caliber riders at the controls, the class has exceeded all expectations in terms of pure spectacle, as some of the series’ most notable athletes have repeatedly performed borderline miracles on these big-bore, 500-plus pound machines as they’ve tangled for checkered flags. AFT AdventureTrackers made its high-profile debut in a showcase event on the Streets of Sturgis in 2024. Last season, the category evolved into a thrilling four-race championship tilt packed into a timeframe of less than two weeks. During its brief existence, Dual Adventure bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki, and Triumph have featured on AFT AdventureTrackers’ podiums, while decorated riders such as Dan Bromley and Jesse Janisch have logged shocking quick lap times and put on an incredible show in their heated battles for victory. And despite its relative newness, AFT AdventureTrackers has already added to its legend off the track as well. Hearkeni ng to the earliest days of motorcycle sport, there are numerous stories of these near-stock racebikes arriving at the track fresh from dealership showrooms, being ridden down Main Street at Sturgis straight from the podium, and even making a cross-country trek from one round to the next. This growing legend will be added to in 2026, as the class expands its footprint with a seven-round championship fight that will run from early March to late August with a $7,500 purse in play at each event.Next Up The Progressive AFT 2026 season begins with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack. Following the season opener, the series travels to Senoia Raceway for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track on March 21. To purchase tickets for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280.

DRAG RACE BRACKET BONANZA BUILDS ON PEAK PERFORMANCE IN 2026

DALLAS (February 25, 2026) — Last year PEAK ramped up their already strong fan engagement presence by joining Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the free bracket game for drag racing fans, as title sponsor for the Route 66 Nationals and World Finals editions of the game as well as sponsor of the race recap email distributed to thousands of players throughout the DRBB season. In 2026 PEAK will continue DRBB sponsorship of the Chicago NHRA national event presented by PEAK and add DRBB sponsorship of the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals. In addition to the PEAK Performance email sponsorship PEAK will be providing 30 PEAK Top Fuel dragster die-casts as additional prizes for top finishers in the DRBB regular season.
 
“The support and engagement DRBB received last year from PEAK and the #PeakSquad was fantastic for our players,” said DRBB creator Elon Werner. “They had complete ownership of the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago on and off the track and the PEAK Performance post-race emails were our most impactful digital program for our thousands of players. Expanding the program to include Dallas as well as offering additional prizes for regular season player success will only make playing Drag Race Bracket Bonanza more fun for our players. PEAK will continue to be able to communicate with new and established fans through DRBB.”

 
PEAK has offered prize packs to the top five overall finishers from the Chicago race the past two seasons and that program will be expanding to include the Texas Fall Nationals. The #PEAKSquad league is one of the most active in the DRBB player universe. Through coordinated social media posts that include participation from John Force Racing driver Jack Beckman as well as other PEAK social media influencers the engagement with drag racing fans is next level.
 
“Drag Race Bracket Bonanza’s community are some of most engaged fans of the sport,” said Brian Bohlander, director of marketing – Sports & Partnership, Old World Industries (OWI). “The #PEAKSquad community thrives when we give them ways to get involved, and DRBB is the perfect platform to do that. The energy, the competition and the creativity make Drag Race Bracket Bonanza a natural fit for the PEAK brand and we’re excited to continue to grow together year after year.”
 
Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, OWI continues to be a leading manufacturer of automotive and heavy-duty products under its PEAK and BlueDEF brands. The company has been a major sponsor in the NHRA for more than three decades, including as an official partner since the 2013 season. PEAK has also been a longtime sponsor of John Force Racing, which in 2026 includes Top Fuel driver Josh Hart, Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman along with Jordan Vandergriff and Alexis DeJoria.
 
DRBB players will have the chance to fill out their brackets for the Route 66 Nationals when qualifying ends at Route 66 Raceway on Saturday, May 16. They will then have until the first round of eliminations begins on Sunday, May 17, to submit their picks. Fans can follow DRBB on social media for cool stats, prize updates, and info on Twitter/X at @dragracebb or @DragRaceBracketBonanza on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. And they can watch the NHRA broadcast on FS1.
 

Moran Repeats Wieland Winter Nationals Opening Night Win at Ocala

OCALA, FL (February 24, 2026) – Devin Moran repeated his performance from one year ago, capturing the opening night of the 2026 Wieland Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway on Tuesday night. The caution-free 30-lap feature took just eight minutes to complete. Moran, the defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, took the lead on lap 14 from race-long leader Brandon Sheppard and went on to pace the final 16 circuits, earning his fourth career victory at Ocala. Sheppard, who was seeking his first Ocala win since 2017, finished second, followed by Clay Harris, Brandon Overton, and Hudson O’Neal. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 26th time in his career, Moran earned $7,000 for the win. “No, honestly, Sheppy took off hard there. The dirt’s not hard, but it’s definitely a little gritty. I feel like you build a little bit of heat, so I was just trying to bide my time,” Moran said. “I know how this place is when you get to lapped traffic, and if you can maneuver, you’re going to be really good. My guys provided me with a Longhorn Chassis that could move anywhere on the race track, on either end. So, it was really cool.” Regarding his second win of the season — both coming in caution-free features — Moran discussed his approach to long green-flag runs. “Honestly, I’ve always been better on long green-flag runs. I’m able to find a rhythm and places on the track where I can make speed, and that’s what I did the whole race,” he said. “When you have a car you can maneuver through traffic, it’s so fun. If you have one you can’t, it just makes it tough. Bubba (Clem) and those guys did a great job giving us a track you could move around on. I just love being in Florida for the month.” Sheppard, who set overall fast time and won his heat race, was looking to complete a clean sweep of the night but settled for the runner-up finish. “I think we had a really fast car capable of winning the race,” Sheppard said. “Congrats to Devin — he did a really good job there. I pretty much gave it away in lapped traffic. I was trying to figure out where I could pass those guys because I hadn’t passed anyone yet. I went to the top one lap, and Devin was on me and made the most of it.” Harris, who scored two podium finishes last week at All-Tech, opened the week at Ocala by rounding out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “It’s a lot more fun when you can run up front to start off the year,” Harris said. “We definitely struggled last year — switching cars, switching teams — and I didn’t have much crew help at the beginning of the season. We’ve got a good team this year, good equipment, and good cars. I could run the bottom and kind of maintain, but I couldn’t really make the top work — it would just fall off.” The winning Roger Sellers, Double Down Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Millwood Plumbing, C&W Trucking, Phillips CPA, Anthony’s Pizza, Bomag, CarSourceAuto.com, Hazen Services, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Elliott Farms, Haulin’ Haskell’s, and Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service. Rounding out the top ten were Brian Shirley, Daulton Wilson, Tyler Erb, Max Blair, and Drake Troutman. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsTuesday, February 24, 2026Ocala Speedway | Ocala, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Brandon Sheppard | 14.040 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Devin Moran | 14.227 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[2]; 3. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[5]; 6. 09-Michael Leach[6]; 7. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[8]; 8. 18-Chase Junghans[9]; 9. 32J-Justin Weaver[7] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[5]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[3]; 5. 81F-Jadon Frame[8]; 6. 13-Dallon Murty[4]; 7. C4-Freddie Carpenter[7]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[6]; 9. (DNS) 12L-Dave Loudin Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 3. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[2]; 4. 77-Preston Luckman[6]; 5. 10-Garrett Smith[9]; 6. 22*-Drake Troutman[5]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[7]; 8. 79-Cory Hedgecock[8]; 9. 93-Carson Ferguson[4] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 58V-Daulton Wilson[1]; 2. 19M-Brenden Smith[2]; 3. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[3]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[6]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 6. 15K-Cody Overton[8]; 7. 17SR-Brody Smith[5]; 8. 8-Dillon McCowan[7]; 9. 6B-Adam Boyd[9] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 2. 81F-Jadon Frame[2]; 3. 13-Dallon Murty[4]; 4. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[5]; 5. 32J-Justin Weaver[9]; 6. C4-Freddie Carpenter[6]; 7. 18-Chase Junghans[7]; 8. 09-Michael Leach[3]; 9. (DNS) 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr; 10. (DNS) 12L-Dave Loudin UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 10-Garrett Smith[1]; 2. 22*-Drake Troutman[3]; 3. 7-Ross Robinson[2]; 4. 15K-Cody Overton[4]; 5. 15-Clay Stuckey[5]; 6. 79-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 7. 17SR-Brody Smith[6]; 8. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 9. 6B-Adam Boyd[10]; 10. (DNS) 93-Carson Ferguson Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (30 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 2 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $7,0002 – 1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $3,5003 – 3 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,0004 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,5005 – 11 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $1,4006 – 5 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $1,3007 – 4 – 58V – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $1,2008 – 9 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $1,1009 – 7 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $1,00010 – 20 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $95011 – 13 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $90012 – 8 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $85013 – 10 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $80014 – 12 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $75015 – 17 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $72516 – 16 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $70017 – 15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $70018 – 14 – 77 – Preston Luckman – Coos Bay, OR – $70019 – 21 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $65020 – 18 – 10 – Garrett Smith – Madison, GA – $62521 – 24 – 15K – Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – $62522 – 22 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $60023 – 23 – 12M – Ryan Montgomery – Fairmont, WV – $60024 – 19 – 81F – Jadon Frame – Winchester, TN – $600 Race Statistics  Entrants: 36Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Brandon SheppardMD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1-13); Devin Moran (Laps 14-30)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Devin MoranWieland Feature Winner: Devin MoranMargin of Victory: 1.225 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: n/aMyRacePass Series Provisionals: n/aFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Clay HarrisPenske Shocks Top 5: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Clay Harris, Brandon Overton, Hudson O’NealBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Clay HarrisPEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Daulton WilsonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Dennis Erb, Jr.XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Kyle BronsonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Drake Troutman (Advanced 10 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Devin Moran (17 Laps)Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon OvertonO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard | Lap 1 | 15.098 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Michael LeachVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Devin MoranOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chuck KimbleARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Devin Moran | 14.5937 secondsTime of Race: 8 minutes 00 seconds

Team Penske’s season ended on a high note with Josef Newgarden (1st) and Scott McLaughlin (3rd) standing on the podium at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix.

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Penske Location: Mooresville, NCOwner: Roger PenskeSeasons (including 2026) with Chevrolet: 27th

First year with Chevrolet:1968Years with Team Chevy: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, & 2026Driver Championships with Chevrolet: 1988 (Danny Sullivan), 2014 (Will Power), 2016 (Simon Pagenaud), 2017 (Josef Newgarden), 2019 (Josef Newgarden) and 2022 (Will Power) Starts with Chevrolet-power:All-time: 1062Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012: 759 Wins with Chevrolet-power:All-time (rank): 124 (1st), with the first win by Rick Mears at Pocono Raceway in 1987 Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012 (rank): 87(1st), with the first win by Helio Castroneves on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2012Most Chevrolet-powered wins at Team Penske: Will Power with 30 wins Poles with ChevroletAll-time (rank): 157 earned poles and 161 pole starts (1st), with the first by Mark Donohue at Sonoma Raceway in 1970Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012 (rank): 105 earned and 109 starts (1st), with the first earned pole by Will Power on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2012 Most Chevrolet-powered poles at Team Penske: Will Power, with 47 earned and 47 starts Podiums with ChevroletAll-time (rank): 324 (1st), with the first podium by Mark Donohue on the Indianapolis Raceway Park Road Course Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012 (rank): 221 (1st), with the first podium by Helio Castroneves on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2012:Most Chevrolet-powered podiums at Team Penske: Will Power with 80 podiums Team Notes: Is one of two teams that have been part of Team Chevy since the Chevrolet brand returned to INDYCAR racing in 2012 124 of the team’s 246 NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins, which equates to 50.4%, have been powered by Chevrolet 157 of the team’s 308 NTT INDYCAR SERIES poles, which equates to 51.0%, have been powered by ChevroletMark Donohue, at Mosport International Raceway in 1968, made the first INDYCAR and Chevrolet-powered INDYCAR start for the team, starting 6th and finishing 4thA total of 19 drivers have made Chevrolet-powered INDYCAR starts for the team, with Will Power leading all drivers with 232 starts powered by the Bowtie at Team Penske.

Driver: Josef Newgarden Age (Birthday): 35 (12/22/1990)Hometown/Residence: Nashville, Tenn./Nashville, TennCar Number: No. 2Best championship finish: 1st (2017 & 2019)2025 championship finish: 12th

Starts with Chevrolet: 181Wins with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 32 (1st/1st) – his first win was at Barber Motorsports Park in 2015Earned Poles with Chevrolet: 19 earned poles/21 pole starts (first pole was at the Milwaukee Mile in 2015)Podiums with Chevrolet: 59 (first podium was at Barber Motorsports Park in 2015) Strategist: Jonathan DiuguidRace Engineer: Luke MasonCrew Chief: Chad Gordon Notable:Newgarden’s win at the Nashville Superspeedway in the final race of 2025o 32 career INDYCAR wins (all with Chevrolet), the 10th most on the all-time career listo At least one win in 11 consecutive INDYCAR seasons  After his third straight early exit in a row at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Newgarden did not give up on his seasono Newgarden moved from 19th in points to 12th after his win at the final in Nashvilleo The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet led 27.7% of the laps in the final seven racesIs quickly moving up the all-time INDYCAR ranking lists:o 10th in wins (32)o 10th in laps led (4513)o T16th in poles (19)o 17th in podiums (61)o 17th in top 5s (87)o 20th in starts (232)President of Penske Racing, Jonathan Diuguid, will fill the role of Newgarden’s strategist, while Luke Mason and Chad Gordon continue as the two-time champion’s Race Engineer and Crew ChiefAt 35 years old, Newgarden is now the senior member of Team Penske, and the senior member of the Team Chevy contingent in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES  Quotable: Q.  Your lowest finish last year since 2014. What are you looking to recover from that?“To be more consistent. For us we just can’t have as many bad results as we had. There’s a lot of them that could have been different. They’re not. So, we’ve just got to focus on being more consistent. It’s kind of simple to say that, but that’s just what it will come down to. “If we don’t want to finish 12th in the standings, we’ve got to finish more races”. Q.  I don’t want to call you the old guy on the team because you’re only 35; at the same time, once upon a time you were the guy that could lean on Simon, Helio, Juan for the month of May, Will. You’re the guy that people are going to be leaning on. How has that transition been for you?“Fine. You know what, I am the old guy totally. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I’ve always had a strong sense for what I’ve wanted. That part is not going to change. When I was young, now I’m older, I’ll still have the same projection in my voice on what I think we need to be doing. That part is going to be similar.”

Driver: Scott McLaughlin Age (Birthday): 32 (6/10/1993)Hometown/Residence: Christ Church, New Zealand/Charlotte, North CarolinaCar Number: No. 3Best championship finish: 3rd (2023 & 2024)2025 championship finish: 10th

Starts with Chevrolet: 85Wins with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 7 (T13th/T5th) – his first win was on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2022Earned Poles with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 11 (9th/5th) – his first earned pole was on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2022Podiums with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 22 (13th/6th) – his first podium was at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2021 Strategist: Tim CindricRace Engineer: Raul PradosCrew Chief: Trevor Lacasse Notable:Finished the season off strong with podiums at the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway, and four straight top tensMcLaughlin led Team Penske in qualifying on eight occasions last year, besting his teammates Newgarden and Power, who led qualifying among the trio of drivers six and three times, respectively The No. 3 crew, also known as the “Thirsty Threes,” was the quickest group on pit road during four races, and the fourth best over the course of the season, with the over-the-wall group remaining the sameIs one of three full-time Team Chevy drivers in 2026, along with Pato O’Ward and Christian Rasmussen, to make all their starts with Chevrolet powerMcLaughlin will have a pair of new faces on the timing stand o Spainard Raul Prados, came to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock in 2012, working with A.J. Foyt Racing until joining Team Penske and taking a key role in the team’s sports car effortso Tim Cindric, former Team Penske President and key figure in McLaughlin’s move to America, will be the strategist for the No. 3 Quotable: Q.  What are you looking forward to in 2026?“I guess you could say it’s a bit of redemption in some ways. It was a terrible year on my part last year. I felt like we left a lot on the table.” “Then obviously Indy is the first one that comes to mind, but there was a lot of things that I sort of did last year. Looking back at Nashville, dropped that race from the lead; Detroit, hit Nolan; we were in a good spot. “There are things I’ve got to tidy up, team has got to tidy up, but I think we’ve had a really good off-season, and honestly, the morale on the team is so high and so excited right now. “There’s so much want to be back to where we want to be consistently, and I think there’s a refreshed sort of focus which has been really cool to be a part of and see. I’m really, really excited and just ready to go.”

Driver: David Malukas Age (Birthday): 24 (9/27/2001)Hometown/Residence: Chicago, Illinois/Charlotte, North CarolinaCar Number: No. 12Best championship finish: 11th (2025)2025 championship finish: 11th

Starts with Chevrolet: 17Wins with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 0Earned Poles with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 0Podiums with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 1 (T50th/T25th) – his first podium was at the Indianapolis 500 (IMS Oval) in 2025 Strategist: Travis LawRace Engineer: James SchnabelCrew Chief: Blaine Hardy Notable:Malukas finished his lone season with A.J. Foyt Racing in 11th place in the standings, the best championship finish of his short career His season came to life with a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, after which his average starting position improved by 3.1 positions, and his average finishing position was 1.6 positions betterThe last three newcomers to Team Penske and their championship finishes:o 2015 – Simon Pagenaud – 11tho 2017 – Josef Newgarden – championo 2021 – Scott McLaughlin – 14thThe 24-year-old has moved from Chicago, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, making it three cities in three years, this time to be closer to the Team Chevy shopWhile the team is new to Malukas, not all the faces on his timing stand will be unfamiliar, as his race engineer in 2025, James Schnabel, will make the move to the No. 12 with the driver Quotable: Q.  What do you think a successful 2026 looks like for you?“Consistency. I think that’s what really matters in INDYCAR. We have so many different circuits. You have street, road, ovals. Through all of it, they’re all just so different. “To have consistency between all of them, that would be a successful year for me.” Q.  Playing off of that, how important for a fast start — obviously 2024 you didn’t start until midsummer; last year your first top 10 came at Indy with that second-place finish, but there’s expectations for you this year as there’s always going to be on a Penske driver. How important is it for you to get off to that fast start?“Yeah, I think it’ll be important. But either way, like you said, since 2024 I’ve been jumping teams like crazy. I think a little bit more familiar on what it takes now as the priorities of jumping into a new team. I know what to run through it, but also not going to fret if things are taking some time and learning this new car, it’s not going to be the end of the world. “It’s just going to be trying to make sure we’ll get there, because eventually we will ge there. We’ll learn it, as I have with any other car previously. Not really too pressured on that. I think it’ll be fine.” Q.  How convenient is it that the Chevy simulator is just right up the street from you now?“It makes a world of difference because before you’d have to do a whole flight and multiple days. Now I can just drive right up there. “And it’s a lot better because honestly, the big difference I’d say is just from an energy perspective because I would always do like the early morning flight and then go straight go the sim, so even just performance on the sim is definitely better now since I’m having a full proper sleep.”

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets underway this week with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.  Tune-In Alert Friday, February 27 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 1:30pm (ET)/12:30pm (CT)/11:30am (MT)/10:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Saturday, February 28 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Sunday, March 1NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 9am (ET)/8am (CT)/7am (MT)/6am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps) – noon (ET)/11am (CT)/10am (MT)/9am (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218

Team Penske’s season ended on a high note with Josef Newgarden (1st) and Scott McLaughlin (3rd) standing on the podium at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix.

Media Resources: Images | Media Advances | Chevrolet Newsroom

Team Penske Location: Mooresville, NCOwner: Roger PenskeSeasons (including 2026) with Chevrolet: 27th

First year with Chevrolet:1968Years with Team Chevy: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, & 2026Driver Championships with Chevrolet: 1988 (Danny Sullivan), 2014 (Will Power), 2016 (Simon Pagenaud), 2017 (Josef Newgarden), 2019 (Josef Newgarden) and 2022 (Will Power) Starts with Chevrolet-power:All-time: 1062Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012: 759 Wins with Chevrolet-power:All-time (rank): 124 (1st), with the first win by Rick Mears at Pocono Raceway in 1987 Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012 (rank): 87(1st), with the first win by Helio Castroneves on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2012Most Chevrolet-powered wins at Team Penske: Will Power with 30 wins Poles with ChevroletAll-time (rank): 157 earned poles and 161 pole starts (1st), with the first by Mark Donohue at Sonoma Raceway in 1970Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012 (rank): 105 earned and 109 starts (1st), with the first earned pole by Will Power on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2012 Most Chevrolet-powered poles at Team Penske: Will Power, with 47 earned and 47 starts Podiums with ChevroletAll-time (rank): 324 (1st), with the first podium by Mark Donohue on the Indianapolis Raceway Park Road Course Since Chevrolet’s return in 2012 (rank): 221 (1st), with the first podium by Helio Castroneves on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2012:Most Chevrolet-powered podiums at Team Penske: Will Power with 80 podiums Team Notes: Is one of two teams that have been part of Team Chevy since the Chevrolet brand returned to INDYCAR racing in 2012 124 of the team’s 246 NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins, which equates to 50.4%, have been powered by Chevrolet 157 of the team’s 308 NTT INDYCAR SERIES poles, which equates to 51.0%, have been powered by ChevroletMark Donohue, at Mosport International Raceway in 1968, made the first INDYCAR and Chevrolet-powered INDYCAR start for the team, starting 6th and finishing 4thA total of 19 drivers have made Chevrolet-powered INDYCAR starts for the team, with Will Power leading all drivers with 232 starts powered by the Bowtie at Team Penske.

Driver: Josef Newgarden Age (Birthday): 35 (12/22/1990)Hometown/Residence: Nashville, Tenn./Nashville, TennCar Number: No. 2Best championship finish: 1st (2017 & 2019)2025 championship finish: 12th

Starts with Chevrolet: 181Wins with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 32 (1st/1st) – his first win was at Barber Motorsports Park in 2015Earned Poles with Chevrolet: 19 earned poles/21 pole starts (first pole was at the Milwaukee Mile in 2015)Podiums with Chevrolet: 59 (first podium was at Barber Motorsports Park in 2015) Strategist: Jonathan DiuguidRace Engineer: Luke MasonCrew Chief: Chad Gordon Notable:Newgarden’s win at the Nashville Superspeedway in the final race of 2025o 32 career INDYCAR wins (all with Chevrolet), the 10th most on the all-time career listo At least one win in 11 consecutive INDYCAR seasons  After his third straight early exit in a row at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Newgarden did not give up on his seasono Newgarden moved from 19th in points to 12th after his win at the final in Nashvilleo The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet led 27.7% of the laps in the final seven racesIs quickly moving up the all-time INDYCAR ranking lists:o 10th in wins (32)o 10th in laps led (4513)o T16th in poles (19)o 17th in podiums (61)o 17th in top 5s (87)o 20th in starts (232)President of Penske Racing, Jonathan Diuguid, will fill the role of Newgarden’s strategist, while Luke Mason and Chad Gordon continue as the two-time champion’s Race Engineer and Crew ChiefAt 35 years old, Newgarden is now the senior member of Team Penske, and the senior member of the Team Chevy contingent in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES  Quotable: Q.  Your lowest finish last year since 2014. What are you looking to recover from that?“To be more consistent. For us we just can’t have as many bad results as we had. There’s a lot of them that could have been different. They’re not. So, we’ve just got to focus on being more consistent. It’s kind of simple to say that, but that’s just what it will come down to. “If we don’t want to finish 12th in the standings, we’ve got to finish more races”. Q.  I don’t want to call you the old guy on the team because you’re only 35; at the same time, once upon a time you were the guy that could lean on Simon, Helio, Juan for the month of May, Will. You’re the guy that people are going to be leaning on. How has that transition been for you?“Fine. You know what, I am the old guy totally. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I’ve always had a strong sense for what I’ve wanted. That part is not going to change. When I was young, now I’m older, I’ll still have the same projection in my voice on what I think we need to be doing. That part is going to be similar.”

Driver: Scott McLaughlin Age (Birthday): 32 (6/10/1993)Hometown/Residence: Christ Church, New Zealand/Charlotte, North CarolinaCar Number: No. 3Best championship finish: 3rd (2023 & 2024)2025 championship finish: 10th

Starts with Chevrolet: 85Wins with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 7 (T13th/T5th) – his first win was on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2022Earned Poles with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 11 (9th/5th) – his first earned pole was on the Streets Of St. Petersburg in 2022Podiums with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 22 (13th/6th) – his first podium was at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2021 Strategist: Tim CindricRace Engineer: Raul PradosCrew Chief: Trevor Lacasse Notable:Finished the season off strong with podiums at the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway, and four straight top tensMcLaughlin led Team Penske in qualifying on eight occasions last year, besting his teammates Newgarden and Power, who led qualifying among the trio of drivers six and three times, respectively The No. 3 crew, also known as the “Thirsty Threes,” was the quickest group on pit road during four races, and the fourth best over the course of the season, with the over-the-wall group remaining the sameIs one of three full-time Team Chevy drivers in 2026, along with Pato O’Ward and Christian Rasmussen, to make all their starts with Chevrolet powerMcLaughlin will have a pair of new faces on the timing stand o Spainard Raul Prados, came to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock in 2012, working with A.J. Foyt Racing until joining Team Penske and taking a key role in the team’s sports car effortso Tim Cindric, former Team Penske President and key figure in McLaughlin’s move to America, will be the strategist for the No. 3 Quotable: Q.  What are you looking forward to in 2026?“I guess you could say it’s a bit of redemption in some ways. It was a terrible year on my part last year. I felt like we left a lot on the table.” “Then obviously Indy is the first one that comes to mind, but there was a lot of things that I sort of did last year. Looking back at Nashville, dropped that race from the lead; Detroit, hit Nolan; we were in a good spot. “There are things I’ve got to tidy up, team has got to tidy up, but I think we’ve had a really good off-season, and honestly, the morale on the team is so high and so excited right now. “There’s so much want to be back to where we want to be consistently, and I think there’s a refreshed sort of focus which has been really cool to be a part of and see. I’m really, really excited and just ready to go.”

Driver: David Malukas Age (Birthday): 24 (9/27/2001)Hometown/Residence: Chicago, Illinois/Charlotte, North CarolinaCar Number: No. 12Best championship finish: 11th (2025)2025 championship finish: 11th

Starts with Chevrolet: 17Wins with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 0Earned Poles with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 0Podiums with Chevrolet (rank all-time/since 2012): 1 (T50th/T25th) – his first podium was at the Indianapolis 500 (IMS Oval) in 2025 Strategist: Travis LawRace Engineer: James SchnabelCrew Chief: Blaine Hardy Notable:Malukas finished his lone season with A.J. Foyt Racing in 11th place in the standings, the best championship finish of his short career His season came to life with a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, after which his average starting position improved by 3.1 positions, and his average finishing position was 1.6 positions betterThe last three newcomers to Team Penske and their championship finishes:o 2015 – Simon Pagenaud – 11tho 2017 – Josef Newgarden – championo 2021 – Scott McLaughlin – 14thThe 24-year-old has moved from Chicago, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, making it three cities in three years, this time to be closer to the Team Chevy shopWhile the team is new to Malukas, not all the faces on his timing stand will be unfamiliar, as his race engineer in 2025, James Schnabel, will make the move to the No. 12 with the driver Quotable: Q.  What do you think a successful 2026 looks like for you?“Consistency. I think that’s what really matters in INDYCAR. We have so many different circuits. You have street, road, ovals. Through all of it, they’re all just so different. “To have consistency between all of them, that would be a successful year for me.” Q.  Playing off of that, how important for a fast start — obviously 2024 you didn’t start until midsummer; last year your first top 10 came at Indy with that second-place finish, but there’s expectations for you this year as there’s always going to be on a Penske driver. How important is it for you to get off to that fast start?“Yeah, I think it’ll be important. But either way, like you said, since 2024 I’ve been jumping teams like crazy. I think a little bit more familiar on what it takes now as the priorities of jumping into a new team. I know what to run through it, but also not going to fret if things are taking some time and learning this new car, it’s not going to be the end of the world. “It’s just going to be trying to make sure we’ll get there, because eventually we will ge there. We’ll learn it, as I have with any other car previously. Not really too pressured on that. I think it’ll be fine.” Q.  How convenient is it that the Chevy simulator is just right up the street from you now?“It makes a world of difference because before you’d have to do a whole flight and multiple days. Now I can just drive right up there. “And it’s a lot better because honestly, the big difference I’d say is just from an energy perspective because I would always do like the early morning flight and then go straight go the sim, so even just performance on the sim is definitely better now since I’m having a full proper sleep.”

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets underway this week with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.  Tune-In Alert Friday, February 27 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 1:30pm (ET)/12:30pm (CT)/11:30am (MT)/10:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Saturday, February 28 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Sunday, March 1NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 9am (ET)/8am (CT)/7am (MT)/6am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps) – noon (ET)/11am (CT)/10am (MT)/9am (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218