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Luke Morey named Coltman Farms Racing developmental driver

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAYSVILLE, Georgia (Jan. 27, 2026) -

Coltman Farms Racing owner Brett Coltman is thrilled to announce the signing of 17-year-old Luke Morey to a developmental contract.

Morey, who is originally from Zeeland, Michigan, will race a regional Super Late Model schedule out of his family’s shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, with Coltman Farms Racing support beginning in 2026.

As part of the agreement, when not racing regionally, Morey will travel with Coltman Farms Racing’s national touring team to gain additional experience as a crew member.

Morey will open his 2026 season under the Coltman Farms Racing banner this Thursday through Saturday with the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series at Georgia’s Needmore Speedway.

“It means the world to me to be a Coltman Farms Racing development driver,” said Morey. “Seeing everything Brett has done for the sport is incredible. He’s helping take Dirt Late Model racing to the next level. To have his support and belief in me is something I’m extremely grateful for, and it motivates me to work even harder to represent the team the right way.

“Any time I get the opportunity to go on the road to these national events, I’m learning something. It will help me build my own notebook and better understand what it takes to compete at that level. It also gives us the chance to work together more as a team and apply what I learn to my own program.”

The addition of Morey as a developmental driver is an extension of the relationship he already had with Coltman Farms Racing. The organization first partnered with Morey as a sponsor in 2024.

“I wouldn’t want any other logo on the nose of our race car,” said Morey. “Last year we wanted to go to the World 100 and get our first laps at Eldora and get experience at the biggest Dirt Late Model race in the world. Where we were at during that time, we just couldn’t really make it out.

“We reached out to Brett Coltman with Coltman Farms Racing, and he made it happen for us. We made the trip and in our first race at Eldora we made the show. Ever since that week, Coltman Farms Racing has been on the nose of our race car.”

Though still young, Morey has an abundance of experience in a variety of race cars. He started by racing mini wedges in Michigan at the age of 7 before his family relocated to North Carolina, where he began racing Bandoleros.

He quickly transitioned to Legend cars and later asphalt Late Models with the CARS Tour. In 2023 he went from asphalt to dirt when he began racing a 602 Modified owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr.

Morey made the transition to dirt Super Late Model competition in 2024 and, after a year of gaining experience, earned his first Super Late Model victory earlier this year at West Virginia’s Tyler County Speedway.

“I’ve gotten to watch Luke grow as both a racer and a man for the last year,” said Coltman Farms Racing owner Brett Coltman. “He’s wise beyond his years and embodies everything we at Coltman Farms Racing want in our drivers. We’re thrilled to have him as part of our team and I’m looking forward to watching him develop into a championship-caliber driver in the years to come.”

Morey is grateful for the opportunity to expand his relationship with Coltman Farms Racing and is looking forward to what the 2026 season has in store for him.

“It’s been great working with Brett and Coltman Farms Racing for the last year. They’ve given me opportunities no one else can give,” Morey said. “He does a lot for the sport. It means a lot to see someone like Brett giving back to the Dirt Late Model world.

“I just want to thank Coltman Farms Racing for helping me with my career and giving me this amazing opportunity. It’s been a really fun year working with them and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Winward Racing Secures Third Rolex 24 At Daytona Race Win in Six Years in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 once again proved its competitiveness with strong results by Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams at this weekend's 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway: First and Sixth place in the GT Daytona (GTD) class and Second, Third and 11th place in the GTD Pro category. A hard-fought GTD victory was secured by two-time and reigning IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTD Champions Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and endurance race co-drivers Indy Dontje and Lucas Auer in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The GTD Pro double podium included the No. 75 SunEnergy1 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 team with Kenny Habul, Chaz Mostert, Will Power and Maro Engel in second and the debuting No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Scott Noble, Jason Hart, Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz in third place. It was the first double podium showing at the Rolex 24 for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams since Winward and 75 Express secured a one-two finish in GTD in 2021.

With Ellis starting the race, the No. 57 moved into the early GTD lead in the race's opening hour to lead a strong performance by all five competing Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries. The No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Scott Andrews, Lin Hodenius, James Roe Jr. and Ralf Aron joined Winward in GTD while the No. 69 Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 team of Anthony Bartone, Fabian Schiller, Jules Gounon and Maximilian Götz joined 75 Express and Winward in the GTD Pro division.

As night fell, thick fog descended on the Daytona International Speedway. Due to increasingly poor visibility, the race continued behind the safety car just before Midnight and continued to circulate under the yellow flag for six hours and 33 minutes – the longest full-course caution period in the history of the Rolex 24. The previous record was three hours and 58 minutes in 1989.

After the race went back to green flag conditions Sunday morning, the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing teams continued their strong performances. All five Mercedes-AMG GT3s continued to hold their own within the leaders in their classes during this phase.

With just under four hours remaining until the end of the race, the No. 69 Bartone/GetSpeed entry dropped from winning contention after losing several laps resolving an electronics issue.

In the dramatic final hours, the lead in the two GTD classes changed hands several times due to different fuel and pit stop strategies. Ellis took the lead in the GTD field in his final stint and successfully fended off all challengers until he crossed the finish line with a 1.367-second margin of victory. The winning Winward entry led the race eight different times for a total of 69 laps.

Lone Star finished sixth in GTD, the team's best result to date as it starts its third season of IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD competition at the Rolex 24. The team's previous best Rolex 24 finish was eighth in its 2024 debut in the race.

The victory was Winward's third Rolex 24 triumph since winning in its GTD debut in 2021. The No. 57 team and drivers also won the Rolex 24 in 2024.

Including 32 points earned by Ellis and the No. 57 team by qualifying second for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the No. 57 Winward Racing team and drivers leave the season-opening race already with a comfortable 46-point GTD championship lead over the nearest challengers, 382 - 336. The No. 57 team and drivers earned 350 points for the Rolex 24 race win. Mercedes-AMG has in turn built an early 27-point lead in the GTD manufacturer standings, 382 - 355, over the nearest challenger.

Winward also left IMSA's season-opening races at Daytona as the only team to secure a podium finish in every series and class in which it competed. In addition to the GTD win and GT Pro P3, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Bryce Ward and Daan Arrow secured third in the Grand Sport (GS) class in Friday's four-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race. In his Daytona debut, Arrow pulled off a last lap pass for the final podium finishing position.

The Friday GS race also marked the return of Murillo Racing to IMSA with the newlywed driving duo of Aurora Straus and Kenny Murillo. Murillo Racing is back in partnership with the P1 Motor Club and Straus and Murillo co-drive the No. 24 Murillo Racing P1 Motor Club Mercedes-AMG GT4. The No. 24 showed top-10 pace early in Friday's four-hour race and persevered to a lead-lap finish after rebounding from some typical endurance racing setbacks.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition is the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 18 - 21 at Sebring International Raceway.

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing: "I am simply overwhelmed by the performances of our four teams and all the drivers. Winward Racing with their third victory here at Daytona – incredible. In the GTD Pro class, 75 Express and Winward Racing were rewarded with podium places. But Bartone Bros with GetSpeed and Lone Star Racing also did a great job. We certainly did not have the fastest car over the entire race distance, but we were fast enough at the right time to finish on the podium, which is just great! I am very proud that we got all five cars to the finish line. It was a strong performance all around from all the teams. I can only thank everyone involved."

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "When we walked into this weekend, just the atmosphere of the team felt just like 2021 and 2024. So, I just knew that we had a chance. From the moment the race started, you could see the pace in the car. The guys did an incredible job, just keeping it clean. I mean, we went from the back to the front more times than I thought were possible. We had to take two emergency service penalties, endure some bad luck throughout the whole race and really had to fight for this one. The boys earned this in pit lane and on the track and hats off to the entire team and Philip for that final stint. He managed to get by for the lead and stay in front and just drove the wheels off that thing! This race went by as one of the quickest I can remember, but those last few minutes felt like another 24 hours! My heart rate is going to still be coming down in the next week or so!"

Philip Ellis, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "I'm super stoked that we came out on top. It was super rough. It changed as well as the race went on. Sometimes other cars had the upper hand when it was a bit colder and then it looked like we got the upper hand when it was a bit warmer towards the end. Of course, the team put us in a great spot as well with good strategy calls, so that was the basis of all of it. And then yeah, I can't thank my teammates enough. They've done an outstanding job this entire week and, in the race, and the team of course gave us a sort of rocketship. Yeah, I couldn’t be happier."

Kenny Habul, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: "Thanks to Mercedes-AMG for an always strong car and strong support. Chaz and Will drove amazingly, and Maro at the end there is what he does. My stints were fast, I am very happy, just a couple seconds off the other. For us, this is a victory. We gave it our all, all that we could do. I am very happy, and now off to Bathurst."

Will Power, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: "There's some seriously good drivers on this team. Honestly, seriously good drivers throughout the field, and it's really cool to drive with the 75 Express team in a Mercedes-AMG. I really enjoyed it, I enjoyed it in Indy last year, and I really want to do more. It's so much fun, and I can't believe this is my first time here at Daytona. I definitely plan to come back. Kenny is so fast. At his age, and for a guy whose day-to-day job is running a huge business and is not in the car very often, his pace is amazing. The last time we shared a podium was 27 years ago in Formula Ford, so it was pretty cool to share one again. The actual racing itself over the last nearly two weeks, it was great to experience that and the level of competition. I expected tough competition, but I like just how much fun the driving was. I really enjoyed it. It's very important at this stage of my career to have fun driving, and I think when you're really competitive, you're having fun. As long as I'm competitive, I'll continue to drive."

Maro Engel, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: "First of all, a big thank you to Kenny and the entire 75 Express team. Kenny put together this ‘Aussie Express’, as we nicknamed it, with Chaz and Will, and brought me into the team. It was great fun driving with them. We gave it our all in the race and are very happy with second place. Of course, it was close, but that’s how it is sometimes in sport. It was a great race by everyone."

Chaz Mostert, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: "It's just such an honor to be part of his programs. I mean, I'm obviously a bit of the wing in, you know, like Indianapolis, or whenever he needs me. I'm always on call and I'll always be there for Kenny, and it was just an awesome privilege to be back at the Daytona 24. I haven't been here since 2020, and you always just have to be in it to win it, and we fought all the way to the end. Maro did a super job. Kenny and Will both kept the car safe and had plenty of speed throughout the race too. I'm not going to lie, and there is a bittersweet taste in my mouth after coming up just so short of the win. I hope we can run it again and come back stronger next year. The fog overnight made for some of the toughest stints I've ever done. Your heart rate even gets lower because you are going so slow, have a half empty fuel tank, the fog is heavy, the visibility low and you are in a nice warm car. It makes you want to go night, night! It was pretty tough, but we got through it. We made the big trip over with our young daughter for her first major international race. She's not even two yet, and this is the furthest flight she's done, and it was great. Now we're looking forward to getting home, back to a bit of normality before the Australian 12-hour race kicks off, and then straight back into Supercar."

Scott Noble, Driver – No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "It's my fifth year of racing and my coach, Jason Hart, searched long and hard to find the right team with the right culture, with the right car, with the right brand. Jason put it all together, and when you have Mercedes-AMG together with Winward Racing, you know you have the right combination. Being a bronze and a gentleman driver, it is by far the easiest and best race car I've ever driven. I knew that right away in our first test just a couple of months ago. So, for it to all come together and see everybody - how smart they are, how hard they work, how much we train, how much we practice - and we end up on the podium in my first time at Daytona is kind of stupid, crazy fun! It's a life journey for many. I'm 63 years old, and I couldn't be happier with Mercedes-AMG. They are so supportive. I mean, I have never been in those types of meetings before. It is just great to see all of the love and all the caring. They truly care about the car and the client. So here we are, on the podium at Daytona, and thanks to Winward, Mercedes-AMG, my great co-drivers and coach and teammate Jason. I went out in my first run and planned a double stint. It was going so well, I felt great and the car was so easy to drive. I said, 'let's get a triple out of the way to give you guys more options for strategy, and that really worked out in the long run, because we're able to put the two Mercedes-AMG performance drivers, Maxime and Luca in there, and they just tore it up. Jason more than held his own when he was in there too and did the majority of the night and the long caution in the fog, but he had a great first drive in the sun and a great last stint in the sun too."

Jason Hart, Driver – No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "I want to thank Scott and the Noble family for their commitment and trust in me with their father. Trusting me with their husband and father as we go off and do all of these races. Huge thanks to Mercedes-AMG for the drivers they provided us with on the factory side, and of course, Winward, who made it all happen. All of their crew men and women the incredible effort they put in. We can't thank them enough. We are very appreciative to them for having us, and for them to win a race again here at Daytona, and for us to be on the podium too, it is just unbelievable. I did most of the driving in the fog and the hardest thing was staying awake. I kept wanting to go to sleep, like in a foggy drive from Dallas to Houston or something when you're just trying to stay awake because it's so boring because you don't see much. Plus, race cars are smoother at speed. I dreamed of being in a race car all my life, but I never dreamed of driving in the fog, under caution for over four hours, but I'll take it. We were on the podium in Daytona!"

Maxime Martin, Driver – No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "It's amazing. It's amazing for the team. It's amazing for everyone. I think it's fantastic for Scott, in his first time at Daytona, to be on the GTD Pro podium. Winward took a win in GTD and third in GTD Pro, which is great for them. I think if we could have known this before the race, we would have all signed off on it. It's an amazing result, and now we just have to enjoy it. At the moment, Daytona is not too bad for me! Fifth in GTD Pro last year and a podium in 2026. I have done worse, and this is really quite good with Mercedes-AMG."

Lin Hodenius, Driver – No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "My first race as a Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver was quite nice but challenging. I was sick last week, so it was very physically demanding. Still, it was an amazing experience to put everything together and be part of this race. The night stints especially were a very special experience. Finishing in sixth place is a great result after a very exciting final. I’m really proud of myself, my teammates, and every member of Lone Star Racing."

Ralf Aron, Driver – No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "Our goal for the race was to have, let's say, a boring race until the last couple of hours. No penalties or major mistakes and that was perfect. The crew didn't get any penalties, and the drivers didn't get any penalties. So, I think everyone did a fantastic job and the car was in great shape for the end of the race. I have to thank my teammates for keeping the car in one piece as well. We had the chance to fight for the finish. We couldn't charge as hard as we wanted for the end, but the winning Winward car wasn't far ahead of me at that point. I'm really happy that I got the chance to be there at the end to fight for it. The team really deserves it, and I'll be cheering them on all year. I think if they keep doing the same things, racing clean and so on, they'll win some races this year."

Maximilian Götz, Driver – No. 69 Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3: "Our focus was on the race right from the start, and strategically everything went according to plan. The fuel saving and energy management worked well, we received few penalties and were able to maintain our pace. A big thank you to everyone at Team Bartone Bros with GetSpeed. The cooperation was excellent throughout and everyone gave their all. It makes it all the more bitter that we ultimately fell back due to an electronic problem and were no longer in a position to fight for the class victory. With over three hours under full course yellow, I probably drove the longest stint of my life in this race, and I can say one thing: driving behind the safety car on the oval for that long is definitely more exhausting than driving at full speed."

Bryce Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: "Congratulations to the team to start with. The whole team, the tire changers, the fuelers, the spotters and Russell and the boys back home. They prepared that car amazingly, and we had a great long run car. It showed in the end. We needed all four hours, or actually three hours and 58 minutes to get to where we wanted to be. It was mega and a beautiful way to go. I think for me personally, it was one of my best races. I really had a great start. While I dropped a few places in the beginning, I didn't get disheartened. I knew we had a good car, it improved and the car came together, the crew came together, and honestly, I am so happy to be leaving Daytona in third place."

Daan Arrow, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: "I think it was understanding what we had, which was a very long race and really nothing to win in the first few hours. I was listening to the advice I was given and trying to learn, so I was falling back actually every stint, but in the end all of those learnings came together and we could move forward. We kept the car in one piece, which was very important, and we made it to where we wanted to be. The crew is amazing and did my first stop so well and so quick, I didn't expect it and I stalled the engine because I didn't expect we could be done already! So, they outperformed my expectations, and I have high expectations! It was a really good start to the year."

Thienes Sweeps VPRC Bronze Podium with Back-to-Back Wins and Second Overall Finish in Sunday’s Race 2

Hirshberg Finishes Second in Bronze on Saturday at Daytona Season Opener

Monrovia, Calif. (Thursday, January 22, 2026) – Forte Racing opened the 2026 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season with a commanding performance at Daytona International Speedway, highlighted by Brian Thienes’ Bronze Cup sweep and a strong podium showing from Jon Hirshberg in the season-opening weekend.

Building on the momentum from last season, Thienes delivered back-to-back Bronze Cup victories in both ROAR Before the Rolex 24 races, capped by an impressive second-overall finish in Sunday’s Race 2. Hirshberg added to the team’s success with a second-place Bronze Cup result in Saturday’s Race 1, giving Forte Racing a double-podium start to the new season.

Saturday’s opening race saw Thienes and the No. 77 Ligier LMP3 work forward from seventh on the grid, ultimately securing fifth overall and first in the Bronze Cup. Hirshberg followed closely behind in class, finishing second in Bronze to complete a strong one-two result for Forte Racing in the category.

Sunday’s Race 2 presented an entirely different challenge, as wet conditions at Daytona tested both drivers and teams from the opening green flag. Thienes rose to the occasion, delivering consistently fast and controlled lap times in the rain while navigating traffic and changing conditions to secure another Bronze Cup victory and second overall.

Reflecting on the weekend, Thienes credited the team’s preparation and adaptability for the strong start to the season.

“After qualifying seventh for both races and finishing fifth and second and leaving the weekend tied for second in the overall championship, I’m very satisfied with the results,” Thienes said. “I appreciate all the hard work the team put into the car all weekend and especially my engineer Pete Jacobs for giving me a competitive car, particularly for Sunday’s race in the rain. We learned a few things about the car that hopefully will be able to carry forward to our next race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. I’m looking forward to another successful season with Forte Racing powered by US RaceTronics.”

Jon Hirshberg also delivered a strong opening performance to his 2026 campaign, converting consistency and race craft into a Bronze Cup podium in Saturday’s Race 1. Returning to Daytona with Forte Racing for select events this season, Hirshberg focused on building momentum early while supporting a strong overall team result.

“It was great to be back at Daytona with Forte Racing to kick off the season,” Hirshberg said. “The team gave us a solid car all weekend, and finishing on the Bronze podium in the opener is a strong way to start the year. Daytona is always a challenge, but it’s the perfect place to set the tone, and I’m excited to build on this momentum as the season continues.”

From an engineering standpoint, the Daytona weekend required strategic decision-making and adaptability across sessions, particularly with tire strategy and evolving weather conditions. The team’s race engineer, Peter Jacobs, and the team were up for the challenge.

“Daytona never fails to surprise us,” Jacobs said. “Going into the ROAR, we knew we faced a challenge with our dated Ligier 320 versus the new 325 cars and only Bronze drivers behind the wheel. However, our #77 car emerged as the fastest 320 in the field, consistently running in the top 5 during Practice 1.

In Practice 2, we maintained strong performance in the early stages until most of the competition opted for sticker tires. We made the strategic choice to save our stickers for both races, but looking back, especially with Sunday turning into a rain race, we would have been better prepared for qualifying had we followed the field’s lead.

Qualifying 7th was our worst result ever at Daytona, a track where we’ve historically been competitive. After qualifying, we recognized the need to make some changes to the car, and this decision paid dividends as we finished 5th overall and 1st in class.

Feeling that further improvements were necessary for race two, both the car and Brian delivered an impressive performance, culminating in a 2nd overall finish and another 1st in class.

Every team member played a crucial role in this successful start to what promises to be an amazing season.”

Team principal Shane Seneviratne praised the execution across the weekend and emphasized the importance of starting the season with momentum.

“Daytona is always a demanding place to start a season, and I’m incredibly proud of the way this team performed across every session,” Seneviratne said. “Brian and Jon both delivered exactly what we expect from our drivers, and the engineering and crew work were outstanding, especially in challenging conditions. This was a smart, disciplined weekend that sets the tone for the rest of the year.”

Team manager David Cozart echoed those sentiments as Forte Racing turns its focus toward the next round.

“With our first races under our belt, I would like to thank my entire crew and drivers for establishing a solid foundation for the 2026 season,” Cozart said. “Both Brian and Jon had a successful weekend and are coming home with trophies.

We look forward to the next race at COTA and carrying this momentum forward.”

With a Bronze Cup sweep and strong overall pace demonstrated at Daytona, Forte Racing now heads to Circuit of the Americas focused on building upon a successful season opener and continuing its push toward championship contention in the 2026 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.

For updates, behind-the-scenes coverage, and live action from the paddock, follow @ForteRacing on Instagram.

* Photos by Brayan Castiblanco

ABOUT FORTE RACING (Formerly US RaceTronics)

Forte Racing, based in Los Angeles and Charlotte, competes in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar GTD Championship, IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo series with support from Lamborghini Squadra Corse. In 2025, the team will expand into the McLaren Trophy America series in SRO, further broadening its competitive footprint.

Founded as US RaceTronics by Shane Seneviratne in 2005, the team quickly made its mark with multiple wins and podiums in the Atlantic Championship before transitioning to Lamborghini Super Trofeo in 2015, winning multiple North American and World Championships.

In 2023, the team entered IMSA WeatherTech GTD with a Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 GT3, driven by Misha Goikhberg and Loris Spinelli. They secured four top-five finishes in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including a win at the 2023 Petit Le Mans and a second-place finish in 2024, finishing fifth in the GTD Championship both years. Forte Racing continues to build its reputation as a rising force in GT racing.

For more information on driving opportunities, series details, or event attendance, visit www.forteracing.com.

Five Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams on Pace and Prepared for the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona Following Last Weekend’s Productive Roar Before the Rolex 24 Test

Winward Racing, Lone Star Racing, 75 Express and Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed Field Five Strong Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Entries at the Rolex 24 At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Four experienced Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams will field five Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries across two IMSA GT classes this weekend in the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 22 – 25, at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Two-time and reigning IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series GT Daytona (GTD) Champions Winward Racing fields an expanded two-car Mercedes-AMG GT3 team while single entries return for 75 Express, Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed and Lone Star Racing. The teams collectively ran a combined 981 laps on the 3.56-mile DIS road course in the Roar’s seven on-track sessions for an impressive 3,492 miles, which is enough for a trip from New York City to London with a few miles to spare.

Last year's top Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Rolex 24 results were delivered by the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a comeback fourth-place finish in GTD and a North American race-debut fifth-place GTD Pro showing for the No. 69 Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Winward's near-podium recovery proved to be the springboard to the team's second-straight IMSA WeatherTech GTD team and driver championships, a rebound that saw the team spend half the race making up seven laps after an early technical issue. Last year's no-quit lineup is back intact with full-season and two-time GTD champions Russell Ward and Philip Ellis once again joined by their endurance race teammates Indy Dontje and Lucas Auer.

The Bartone/GetSpeed team is back for its second Rolex 24 in GTD Pro with returning drivers Anthony Bartone and Fabian Schiller, who will be joined this year by 2023 GTD Pro winning co-driver Jules Gounon and Maximilian Götz.

Winward also gets in on the GTD Pro action this year with the team's first two-car IMSA WeatherTech Championship program. Debuting with the team at the Rolex 24 At Daytona is the No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Scott Noble and Jason Hart, who will be joined by endurance race teammates Luca Stolz and Maxime Martin - who raced last year in the Bartone No. 69 - for their first Rolex 24 At Daytona together and first race in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The third GTD Pro Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team is the returning No. 75 Express SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Kenny Habul, Maro Engel, Chaz Mostert and IndyCar standout Will Power, who makes his Rolex 24 debut.

The SunEnergy1 squad finished a close second in GTD when Winward Racing won its first of two Rolex 24s in 2021 and hopes to recapture that same competitive form again this weekend. Now competing in GTD Pro, the No. 75 has traditionally been on pace in recent Rolex 24s only to be hampered by setbacks. A turnaround is in the cards this weekend after a strong showing at the Roar.

Lone Star Racing joins the Winward No. 57 in the GTD class as it makes its third Rolex 24 start to kickoff its third IMEC season. Returning team drivers Scott Andrews, Lin Hodenius and Ralf Aron will be joined by experienced team newcomer Jame Roe Jr. in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The Lone Star Racing team, with Andrews among the drivers, led at three different periods in its 2024 debut before taking the checkered flag in eighth place after some typical final-hour endurance race drama. A highlight of the team’s 2025 season was an impressive third-place qualifying effort at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) by Hodenius in his across-the-board debuts in IMSA, at IMS and with Lone Star Racing. He then charged to the lead at the race start, pacing the GTD field for the first 44 laps for more than an hour on the IMS road course.

In addition to the five Mercedes-AMG GT3 Rolex 24 contenders, Winward Racing and Murillo Racing field Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries in Friday’s season-opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge four-hour race.

Russell Ward’s father, Bryce Ward, is back in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 and will be joined by Daytona-debuting Daan Arrow.

Murillo Racing returns to Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) competition in partnership with the P1 Motor Club and racing’s newest high-speed power couple Aurora Straus and Kenny Murillo co-driving. Straus and Murillo, who married on New Year’s Eve, co-drive the No. 24 Murillo Racing P1 Motor Club Mercedes-AMG GT4.

The 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona begins with practice and qualifying this Thursday and a final practice Friday. The green flag is set to wave at 1:40 p.m. EST this Saturday.

Coverage of all 24 race hours of the race will stream in the United States on NBC’s Peacock and internationally on IMSA.TV and the official IMSA YouTube channel. The flagship NBC network will broadcast the start at 1:30 p.m. EST on Saturday and returns for the final two hours beginning at noon EST on Sunday.

Indy Dontje, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "I love Daytona. It will be my fifth time returning to the Rolex 24, and I'm super excited for that. Two weeks ago, somebody asked me, a Dutch guy and friend, 'hey, are you ready for the race? Are you thinking you're going to win or are you talking about going for the win?’ And then I said, 'to be honest with you, every year we are in the mix, and we have a chance to win, a chance for the podium.' I think we have never had a year where we didn't fight for that. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the race again after last weekend's Roar. I even feel more confident we have a good car."

Will Power, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: "The Rolex 24 is a very big event that I've wanted to do for a long time. So, really happy to be here, and doing it with Kenny Habul. You know, we raced against each other years ago in Australia, in Formula Ford and Formula 3. We've talked about it actually for a while, and a couple of times it fell through because of situations, but I like it. I am having a lot of fun. It's a different style of racing. Dealing with cars motoring by you, having to navigate a lot of traffic and being very aware of what is going on around you. It’s fun, and I am looking forward to getting in the car again for the race."

Ralf Aron, Driver – No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "Well, first of all, I'm super happy to be here for the second time, although I just went to the new driver briefing just to refresh everything because I don't do IMSA all of the time. The team is very well prepared. They were well prepared last year as well, but I think they've taken another step this year. The torque sensors aren't the new thing this year, so that made the Roar a lot easier already. We could focus more on procedures and on a proper test, just the pure car setup. So, I feel very prepared. We didn't get a chance to fight at the end, unfortunately, last year, although I think the car was very capable and quick. The focus this year is to keep it clean until the end and be there to fight for it."

Anthony Bartone, Driver – No. 69 Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3: "It was nice to be back in the car after a month off from our winning weekend at Sepang in the Asian Le Mans Series. This is my biggest race of the year, so it was great to start with three strong days of practice at the Roar. We are building off last year’s fifth-place finish to make the next step in performance. We completed our entire technical plan, and everyone feels good about the effort going into the race. The team completed all items on its test checklist and confirmed the car's setup on Daytona's high-banked oval sections. Thanks to my Dad, Tony, the GetSpeed team and the RealTime crew for their work."

Maximilian Götz, Driver – No. 69 Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3: "I think we made good progress over the three days at the Roar. We’ve changed the setup quite a bit, which was the target, and we are still learning about the tires. In the end, it was productive, and we have a good car. This is my sixth Rolex 24, so I have many laps here for comparison. It is a great way to kick off the season."

Jason Hart, Driver – No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: "The car showed up really good off the truck, and then we got very particular about a few nuances in specific corners. The team has created kind of a nice basket of changes that we ran through at the Roar, and now we have decided which direction we actually want to go, when does the car need to be best, which, of course, is the last few hours. But the overall drive of the car, the function, and how docile it is, how nice it is to drive, is quite good. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is probably the most driver-friendly and easy to acclimate to of all of the GT3 cars. The nuances of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 exhibits are easy to get your head around, whereas other cars can be a little bit trickier. A good feeling for all of us this Sunday would be to be on the lead lap when the sun comes up. From there, good luck to our competitors because we feel we have a fantastic team and crazy fast closing drivers. We're ready."

Forte Racing’s 2026 Season Kicks Off This Weekend at the ROAR Before the Rolex 24

Thienes and Hirshberg Return for VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Campaign

Daytona Beach, Florida (Thursday, January 15, 2026) – Forte Racing opens its 2026 competition season this weekend at the ROAR Before the Rolex 24, entering two Ligier LMP3 cars in the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

The team welcomes back Brian Thienes in the No. 77 Thienes Engineering LMP3 and Jon Hirshberg in the No. 86 Dakine/JR286 LMP3, each returning to familiar machinery with a shared focus on strong results to begin the new season. Thienes returns for the full VPRC campaign after finishing the 2024 season as the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Championship runner-up and 2024 Bronze Champion. Hirshberg will contest select sprint and endurance events throughout the 2026 schedule.

Returning to Daytona, where he has enjoyed strong results in the past, Thienes is eager to begin the 2026 season alongside the Forte Racing squad.

“Looking forward to returning to Daytona to start the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, where we have had great results in the past with several podium finishes,” Thienes said. “Especially looking forward to working with forte racing powered by US RaceTronics. US RaceTronics always provides well-prepared racecar. Most important, I am looking forward to working with my rockstar engineer, Pete Jacobs, who always engineers the most competitive race car possible.”

After contesting select events with Forte Racing in recent seasons, Hirshberg returns to the lineup eager to build momentum early and carry that focus into the 2026 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge campaign.

“I’m excited to rejoin Forte Racing for the 2026 season in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge,” Hirshberg said. “Daytona is the ultimate place to kick off the year and competing in LMP3 with a team I trust and respect makes it even more special. We have unfinished business, and I’m focused on starting the season strong.”

Forte Racing team owner Shane Seneviratne is eager to see the team hit the track as the season gets underway.

“We’re excited to kick off the 2026 season at Daytona with the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and to welcome Brian and Jon back with Forte Racing,” Seneviratne said. “The ROAR is always an important benchmark for the year ahead, and both drivers bring experience, focus, and the right mindset to start the season strong. Our LMP3 program continues to grow, and we’re looking forward to building momentum right from the opening weekend.”

Team manager David Cozart echoed that excitement as Forte Racing prepares to open a new year of competition.

“Forte Racing is looking forward to starting a new year of competition with Brian Thienes and Jon Hirshberg.” Cozart said. “Both drivers will once again campaign our Ligier P3 machines as part of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, competing for Bronze Cup honors and overall podium finishes. Personally, I can’t wait for the smell of gas and rubber that comes with the first competition of the year after a long hiatus.”

Broadcast Information:

Fans can follow Forte Racing and the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge throughout the ROAR Before the Rolex 24 weekend via:

Peacock – Live and on-demand coverage of both races
IMSA Official YouTube Channel – Live streams and replays
IMSA.com – Timing, scoring, and weekend updates

Race 1 will air Saturday, January 17th at 1:55PM ET, with Race 2 live coverage starting Sunday, January 18th at 1:15PM ET.

For updates, behind-the-scenes coverage, and live action from the paddock, follow @ForteRacing on Instagram.

* Photos by Brayan Castiblanco

ABOUT FORTE RACING (Formerly US RaceTronics)

For more information on driving opportunities, series details, or event attendance, visit www.forteracing.com.

Brody Roa Returns to the Chili Bowl Nationals for the First Time Since 2022

Cypress, CA – January 13, 2026 — For the first time since 2022, Brody Roa, the 2023 USAC/CRA Sprint Car Champion and 2019 USAC Southwest Series titleholder, will return to the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As he has in previous appearances, Roa will drive for Texas-based car owner Kevin Ramey. He is scheduled to compete in his preliminary night on Friday, January 16, with the all-important finals taking place 24 hours later.

Roa and his wife, Tailor, flew to Oklahoma on Wednesday morning in preparation for the event. For the talented Garden Grove, California, racer, this year marks his sixth career appearance at what has grown into the largest and most competitive midget race in the world. Roa will be one of 406 drivers all chasing the iconic prize — the coveted Golden Driller Trophy.

Work obligations prevented Roa from arriving earlier in the week, forcing him to miss Sunday’s pre-race practice. In his absence, Ramey’s 22-year-old son Dylan shook down the car and helped get the #7N dialed in ahead of Roa’s arrival.

“It has been a few years,” Roa chuckled about returning to the Chili Bowl. “Kevin Ramey called and asked if I wanted to go racing. He put another car together. He has six cars running, and I am one of his fleet.

A past USAC Southwest Series champion, Roa understands that success at the Chili Bowl often hinges on a strong preliminary night. A solid performance can position a driver well for Saturday’s alphabet soup of mains, while a tough night can mean starting deep in the program early Saturday morning.

“With that many cars on hand, it is always important to go forward every time you are on the track,” Roa said. “The heat race is important to keep your nose clean, pass cars, and have a decent race to get yourself in a qualifier. That is the name of the game on the prelim. night. If you get yourself in a C Main, that is a lot of cars to pass on a prelim night. I think it was the last time I was there driving for Ramey; we had a terrible heat race. We had to go from the C, to the B, and to the A that night.”

“I think my worst year was the D main on Saturday,” Roa recalled. “When I first went there, I said, ‘If I still have my suit on when they went to live TV, I am good.’ (MAVTV would go live about the D main time).”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Roa is aiming to maximize the opportunity in what he believes is the best equipment he has had at the event.

“I would like to get as far as I can on Saturday,” Roa enthused. “Have a good prelim night. I would like to run top 10 on our prelim night. That is doable for us. Put us in a B or C on Saturday and see what we can do there. The A would be ideal on Saturday.”

Roa feels confident heading into the week, believing this year’s entry gives him his strongest chance yet at the Tulsa indoor classic. He will pilot a Spike chassis powered by an Ed Pink Ford engine.

“This is the best midget program Ramey has had since I began driving for him. I think this is the seventh different engine I have run in a midget,” Roa laughed. “And I am pretty sure I have only ran about 10 different midget races. I have been through a bunch of engine packages.”

Preparation for the race has gone beyond equipment, as Roa has also focused on his physical conditioning.

“I have lost about 20 pounds since I got the call from Ramey,” Roa enthused. “Just to try and be my best version of a midget driver.”

Fans can hear more from Roa in a recent interview on Racer Radio Show with Dave Stall, where he discussed his return to the Chili Bowl:
http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/radio26/RACERRADIO260104.mp3
(Roa’s segment begins around the 25-minute mark).

For fans unable to attend in person, every night of the Chili Bowl will be streamed live on FloRacing.

Roa would like to thank Kevin Ramey and his entire crew for the opportunity to compete in the Chili Bowl, along with the marketing partners supporting the effort: Precise Racing Products, Smiley's Racing Products, American Fire Extinguisher, Jambo Barbeque Pits, Kiwi Landscaping, HWY 360 Pawn, Bluemax Pay, The BLRH Group, Mow Time, Graham’s Wrecking Service, Ten Hagen Excavating, and Big Dog Printing.

Smoke Returns to NASCAR

Tony Stewart Joins Ram’s Free Agent Program with Kaulig Racing at Daytona Truck Race

Auburn Hills, MI – January 13, 2025 — NASCAR fans, get ready: Tony Stewart, three-time Cup Series champion and motorsports icon, is officially returning to the NASCAR stage at Daytona in 2026. Stewart will team up with Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing as the first competitor in Ram’s groundbreaking Free Agent program within the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Stewart, known to fans as "Smoke," last competed in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2005 and the Cup Series in 2016 before shifting his focus to NHRA drag racing with Dodge. His return marks a monumental moment for the sport—blending Stewart’s legendary competitive spirit with Ram’s bold re-entry into NASCAR.

“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate,” said Stewart, a 19-time winner at Daytona across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and IROC. “Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.”

The Free Agent program is designed to bring legendary drivers and rising stars into the spotlight, giving fans a unique mix of experience and fresh talent behind the wheel of Ram trucks.

“We’re not just returning to the track; we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program—allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis. “This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing—pure adrenaline for the fans.”

Ram will field five trucks in the 2026 season with Kaulig Racing, signaling a major investment in NASCAR. Stewart’s involvement and the Free Agent Program underscore Ram’s innovative approach on and off the track.

"Having Tony Stewart in one of our Ram trucks is the kind of thing you dream about,” said Matt Kaulig, Founder and Owner of Kaulig Racing. “He’s a legend—his name alone brings energy to the sport. We couldn’t be more fired up to have him in our camp as we roll into Daytona for our first race. This is going to be a ride worth watching."

In addition to his NASCAR and drag racing success, Stewart is the first and only driver to win all three USAC National championships (Midget, Sprint, Silver Crown) in one year (1995). He also took an Indycar championship in 1997. Stewart’s career is celebrated as a member of the NASCAR (2020) and National Sprint Car (2022) Halls of Fame.

Fans can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes content, new Ram Truck announcements, and immersive race-day experiences as part of this historic collaboration at Daytona in February.

The Kaulig Racing lineup has one more spot for Daytona:

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
Daniel Dye
Justin Haley
Tony Stewart (Free Agent)
Race For The Seat

Ram Brand

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Ram light-duty and heavy-duty pickups offer products in the fastest growing segment within the pickup space—Sport trucks. Ram introduced the largest variety of off-road performance trucks the brand has ever offered, including the new Ram 1500 RHO with more horsepower per dollar than any other performance off-road pickup.

In the commercial business, Ram offers the Chassis Cab line with features to help customers and upfitters. Ram Professional is making considerable changes in process, execution and resources with a focus on commercial offerings, dedicated B2B-focused expertise, and sales and service support, which are critical to growing in this segment.

Ram continues to outperform the competition, setting the benchmark in the most important areas for truck buyers:

· America’s Best Full-size Truck and Van Powertrain Limited Warranty 10 years/100k miles

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· Most luxurious: Ram 1500 Tungsten with air suspension, 24-way massage seats and 540 horsepower

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· Ram 1500 RHO: Best off-road performance per dollar

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· Ram Power Wagon: Most off-road capable full-size pickup

Ram is improving market competitiveness and growth while maintaining pricing power through products, services and electrified offerings. Aligned under the global presence of the Stellantis Pro One commercial vehicle organization, Ram currently offers a wide range of products globally, from the Ram 700 compact pickup to the Ram 5500 Chassis Cab and a range of ProMaster vans.

Ram is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Ram and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Ram Truck brand: ramtrucks.com

Facebook: facebook.com/RamTrucks

Instagram: @ramtrucks

Twitter: @RamTrucks, @StellantisNA

YouTube: youtube.com/RamTrucks, youtube.com/StellantisNA

Shugah’” Shane Sexton 2025 Season Review – 2026 Opener Just Around The Corner

Perris, California — December 10, 2025 — “Shugah’” Shane Sexton closed out a successful 2025 racing season at the Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series’ 9th Annual Western States Lightning Sprints Championship on the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. While the finale did not go as planned, the affable driver—who competed in both Lightning and 410 sprint cars in 2025—enjoyed a fun and rewarding campaign in which the highs outweighed the lows by a wide margin.

A heavy equipment operator when he wasn’t behind the wheel of a race car, Sexton made 14 appearances on Southern California dirt tracks in 2025. Ten of those came in his primary focus for the season, Lightning Sprints, while four were in his 410 sprint car, competing in the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Series.

Eight of his 14 starts were with the SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series at Barona Speedway, where he turned in his strongest performances of the year. Three of those outings resulted in top-three finishes, highlighted by a victory on June 7 in his first Lightning Sprint start of the season. He followed that win with two second-place finishes and two thirds. In the three races where he did not reach the podium, he was eliminated early due to racing incidents.

In a true case of “you can’t make this stuff up,” Sexton appeared poised to finish third in the season long SCLS championship standings following a hard-fought battle heading into the late-October finale. He did everything required on track, passing the necessary number of cars to secure the podium position in the points chase. However, on the final lap, a broken left-rear torsion arm forced him out of the race, dropping him back to sixth in the championship standings.

“We finished the 2025 season with 5 heat race wins, eight top 10s, five top 5s, and one win in the SoCal Lightning Sprints,” the Warner Springs, California driver told his social media followers. “Missed the first two races, but overall had speed every time we hit the track. The 410 season didn’t go as planned due to a lot of the races conflicting with class schedule, but with limited track time we went forward in every main, and I’ll take it. Next season, we will be redoing our design on our Lightning Sprint. So, it will be a blank canvas with plenty of room for new sponsorship. Thank you to my sponsors for this 2025 season! GAS Chassis, Mike Pridgeon Race Engines, AG Sand Cars, HRP, Savage Racing, Adfab Graphics, Elite Powder Coating, and Sexton Fire Protection.”

The season finale at Bakersfield was a rare night when Sexton battled car issues all night. In qualifying, a birdcage failed. With that fixed, he went out for his heat and dropped an injector. Lastly, in the main, a bent left rear torsion arm ended his race early and saddled him with an 18th-place finish.

The start to Sexton’s 2026 season is not that far away. The first USAC/CRA race of the year is February 14th at Perris Auto Speedway. The first weekend of March, the SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series will kick off its third season with two nights of racing at the California Mid-Winter Fair at the Imperial Valley Raceway.

Businesses interested in partnering with Shane Sexton’s exciting program in 2026 are encouraged to contact him at ShaneSexton7@gmail.com or (610) 362-5921.

Sexton Gatlin Racing Finishes 2025 With a Flurry of Races

Lakeside, CA — December 7, 2025 — Nine months after opening what turned out to be a very busy season, Sexton Gatlin Racing wrapped up its 2025 campaign with a flurry of races in late November. Dodging raindrops throughout, the team’s season finale featured three team drivers competing at four different tracks across three distinct racing disciplines.

The final stretch was scheduled to begin on November 14 with night one of the Hangtown 100 at Placerville Speedway. Three-time lightning sprint car champion Brent Sexton made the 540-mile trip to the iconic Northern California venue to represent SGR in the Bay Cities Racing Association sanctioned event. That opening night was ultimately rained out. Fortunately, track officials were able to beat Mother Nature the following evening, and Brent delivered a strong performance, charging from 14th to finish fourth in the main event on a rough-and-tumble “cowboy-up” racing surface.

Next up on the schedule was a November 21 event at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California. However, after conceding defeat at Placerville the previous Friday, Mother Nature answered back decisively, washing out the event and handing racing a knockout blow.

The night following the Tulare rainout, attention shifted to Merced Speedway, where Brent’s son Grant took center stage. The race marked a major milestone for the 21-year-old, as it was his first-ever start in a winged 360 sprint car, competing in the prestigious Chase Johnson Classic. The 2021 POWRi Southwest Series champion looked right at home from the start. He qualified 21st in the loaded 30-car field, then started sixth and finished seventh in his eight-lap heat race. That result sent the energetic young racer to the B main with one final shot at transferring into his first 360 winged sprint car main event.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Grant rose to the challenge in the 12-lap B main, capturing the fourth and final transfer spot into the A main. Starting dead last in his first-ever 360 winged sprint car feature, he kept his composure, avoided trouble, and advanced four positions to finish 20th.

The next stop on SGR’s California tour brought the team to the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. This event marked the 9th Annual California Lightning Sprints Western Lightning Sprints Championship and featured Brent and Grant Sexton, along with El Cajon rookie teammate Braydin Collie. Unfortunately, Grant’s night came to a premature end moments after he set the 13th-fastest qualifying time among the 22-car field, when an engine failure caused his car to erupt into flames.

Collie and Brent enjoyed better fortunes in qualifying. Fresh off his run in the grueling BAJA 1000, Collie timed in fifth fastest, while Brent was close behind with the seventh-quickest lap of the session. Collie, who entered the night fifth in the CLS championship standings, finished second in his heat race, while Brent secured a third-place result in his qualifier.

The spotlight shined brightly on Collie during the main event, and the teenager delivered. Starting fifth, he stayed in contention for a top-five finish throughout the race. When the checkered flag waved on both the feature and the 2025 season, Collie crossed the line in fifth. The result moved him up one position to fifth in the Motor City Buick/GMC Championship standings, just 48 points shy of third place. Additionally, he wrapped up the season as the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year standings.

Brent started from the pole in the same lightning sprint car race. Early on, the savvy veteran ran with the lead pack on an extremely rough track surface that was ravaged by heavy rain just days before. Near the end, he slipped back and ultimately finished ninth.

SGR’s final appearance of the season came at the historic 84th Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway. Spread over two nights, Brent and Grant both competed in the Ultimate Sprint Car Series portion of the program. On opening night, Grant laid down a blistering lap of 12.378 seconds, third fastest in his group and fourth fastest overall among the 56 entries. Brent followed with a lap of 12.840, placing him 32nd in qualifying.

Grant earned an automatic transfer to the A main by finishing third in his heat race. Brent’s evening proved more challenging. After finishing seventh in his heat, he was forced into the B main, where he started eighth. Disaster struck on lap two when a car ahead abruptly moved to the bottom, leaving Brent with nowhere to go. Contact destroyed the front end of his car, and with no steering, he slammed violently into the front-stretch wall, narrowly avoiding a nasty flip.

Brent emerged physically unscathed aside from a frustrated mindset, but the car sustained extensive damage and was finished for the night.

Grant started the A main in 11th position and raced his way up to seventh by the midpoint of the event before a fuel line came loose, ending his night early and relegating him to a disappointing 23rd-place finish.

Saturday’s finale saw Brent advance as far as 14th in the Last Chance Qualifier, falling short of transferring to the main event. Grant stole the show in his Last Chance Qualifier. Starting seventh, he rim-rode the high side of the beach side track and came away with a fifth-place finish, securing his entry into the A main.

During a lengthy red-flag delay for fence repairs during the race, Flo Racing placed a microphone in front of Grant as he waited patiently in his car. As usual, he delivered memorable commentary.

“I just need to keep it underneath me and don’t overdrive it, but also I have to drive the piss out of the thing and kind of let my nuts hang a bit,” he told infield announcer Drake York when asked what it was going to take to get one of the transfers. “It is always sketchy being on the bubble, not knowing who is coming up on you and not knowing what line to run. I don’t want to just follow the leader and let someone blow by me on the outside. Braden Chiaramonte has me pretty dialed in, and all my boys are working on the car this weekend. They are telling me where I can hammer it, and where I can’t hammer it. That part is nice. I don’t know, but they are telling me that you can never go wrong on the bottom. I am just going to have to sack up and make some moves so we are not so worried on the bubble.“

For the main Grant lined up for SGR’s final race of 2025, the Turkey Night Grand Prix sprint car feature. Starting 18th, he avoided the chaos that plagued much of the race and took the final checkered flag of the season in 13th place.

With the season officially concluded, the hard work now begins. The team will tear down cars, refresh equipment, and search for marketing partners ahead of the 2026 season. Anyone interested in aligning with one of the most competitive and fun teams in American short-track racing is encouraged to contact Brent Sexton using the information provided in this release.

For those interested in lightning sprint car racing, Brent also has a Henchcraft chassis with numerous spares available. As he says, he is “motivated to sell fast.”

Jeff Dyer Finishes 2025 With Hard Charger Honors at Bakersfield

Yucca Valley, CA — December 3, 2025 — California Highway Patrol Officer and open-wheel veteran Jeff Dyer wrapped up his 2025 campaign in style, powering from deep in the pack to finish sixth in the 9th Annual Western States Lightning Sprint Championship at Bakersfield Speedway, located at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The strong run secured him third place in the final Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series Championship standings.

The friendly Yucca Valley racer opened the season finale by qualifying a stout fifth out of a tough 22-car field loaded with talent from the CLS, the Bay Cities Racing Association, and the SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series. With three CLS wins already in the bank for 2025, Dyer put himself in prime position for a front-row start—he just needed to finish top four in his heat. But brutal track conditions bit hard, shuffling him back to fifth and dropping him to the inside of row seven for the 20-lap main.

Those same rough conditions gave plenty of drivers fits, but Dyer dug in, adapted to the “Cowboy Up” surface, and stormed past seven competitors to claim sixth, earning the Hard Charger award for his efforts.

Dyer actually ended the season tied for third in points, but his three feature wins served as the tiebreaker. He closed the year with a sharp 3.41 average finish across 12 CLS main events.

Finishing just ahead of Dyer in the standings was his teammate, Riverside’s Drake Cardey. The son of 2023 CLS champion “Dynamite” David Cardey stunned the paddock all season with breakout performances that not only delivered a runner-up spot in the standings but also netted him the club’s Rookie of the Year award.

Cardey went all-in at the finale. Entering the night with a legitimate shot at the title, the effervescent young driver qualified second quickest, ran second in his heat, and backed it up with a strong third-place finish in the main. When the dust settled, he came up just 54 points short of the championship.

Cardey’s impressive rookie résumé included perfect attendance and a solid 6.26 average finish. Even more impressive, over the last six races of 2025, he posted a sharp 4.00 main event average—proof that the rising star is only getting stronger.

Cardey’s California Lightning Sprint Car is sponsored by Eibach Springs, Cardey Construction, Inland Rigging, Jake Swanson Shock Technology, Last Lap Insider, and Dylan Godeniz Motorsports.

In 2025, the following marketing partners will help keep Dyer on track. Straight Time Stirrups, Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, Fonseca Racing, Specialty Fasteners, and Blud Racing Lubricants. If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2024, call (760) 550-7237 or send an email to mailto:dyermotorsports4@gmail.com.

Jeff is racing in memory of his grandparents, Glenn, and Beverly Sels, throughout the 2025 season.

Dover Highlights Season by Extending Winning Streak and Capturing Championship

Inside Line Promotions – SPRINGFIELD, Neb. (Dec. 1, 2025) – Jack Dover powered to a pair of feature victories to extend his streak of winning seasons to 21 in a row.

“Overall, I would call it an above-average season,” the Tim Estenson Motorsports driver said. “Everybody always wishes it was better, but considering 410 racing is the best it’s ever been and we won two races, I’m pleased with that. Two wins doesn’t sound like a lot, but there’s hundreds of racers out there who wish they had one win. It’s getting harder each year.

“It was one of the more fun years I’ve had in racing. We got to race with some of the best racers out there and at the top level in 410s. Nowadays you have to be on top of your game as far as setup, tires, wings. It’s a challenge every night. You can’t just go out there, throw something together and get a top five. The most fun thing is probably the challenge.”

Dover’s two victories were during Cressman Sanitation Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars competition. That ranked second best in the series, which he also led with 11 top fives and 12 top 10s en route to winning the championship. Dover became the first driver in MSTS history to capture both the 410 and 360 championships.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” he said. “I think I won a couple of 360 championships so to be able to get the 410 championship is cool. Also, I haven’t done much 410 racing in my career and the last two years I ran a total of like 25 races as I was helping Timmy (Estenson). It’s pretty awesome to come out with a championship this year.”

Additionally, Dover garnered the MSTS King of the Wings title and he finished fifth in the championship standings at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.

Another astounding statistic from the season is that Dover officially gained 161 positions during A Mains this season. In fact, he passed seven or more cars a whopping 13 times, moved forward double-digit positions four times and charged a season-best 14 spots during two different races.

“Something that really stands out for the season is all of the Hard Charger Awards we earned as well as finishing the season with more than 160 cars passed in the A Mains,” he said. “We weren’t as good in qualifying, but we were very good in the features. For us to pass that many cars and get that many Hard Chargers is pretty respectable.”

Also of note, Dover ended the season with seven top-10 finishes in a row and he recorded his career-best Short Track Nationals result; his best Knoxville Nationals result since 2021; his best 360 Knoxville Nationals result since 2018; his best 410 result at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, since 2014; and his best World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series result since 2014.

“I want to thank Tim Estenson and everyone who backed the team for their support this year,” Dover said. “I think with what we learned throughout the year, specifically toward the end of the season after we made some changes, if we started the season right now we’d win a lot more races and take even a bigger step forward.”

SEASON STATS –

51 races, 2 wins, 17 top fives, 28 top 10s, 33 top 15s, 37 top 20s

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.JackDoverRacing.com

X: https://twitter.com/JackDoverRacing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackdoverracing?fref=ts

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Carpet Land

Carpet Land has been family-owned and operated for more than 25 years and has two convenient locations in Lincoln, Neb., and Omaha, Neb. Carpet Land’s goal is to provide the largest selection of in-stock flooring at discounted prices for its customers. Along with Nebraska’s largest in-stock carpet inventory, the company also carries large amounts of vinyl, tile, wood, laminate, luxury vinyl tiles and planks, area rugs and room size remnants. For more information, visit http://www.CarpetLandonline.com.

“We are really excited to have Carpet Land back as part of our team,” Dover said. “They’ve been a great supporter of racing in Nebraska and I can’t wait to see them to Victory Lane a lot this year.”

Dover would like to thank Certified Transmission, Carpet Land, Truline Logistics, Backlund Plumbing, Estenson Racing, Langfeldt Overhead Doors, True Trucking, Husker Diesel, Thorpe’s Body Shop, Phil Durst, Speedway Engines, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Smith Titanium, K&N Filters, FK Rod Ends, DMI, Vortex Wings, Speedway Motors, Wurth, Mecum Auctions, Industrial Plating and Arai Helmets for their continued support.

Mallett Refreshed After Unique Year and Eager to Return to Racing in 2026

Inside Line Promotions – GREENBRIER, Ark. (Dec. 1, 2025) – Perspective is a good word to describe the 2025 racing season for Jordon Mallett, who stepped away from his winged sprint car in the summer to shift priorities.

“We came out well and won a race and were doing our normal thing,” he said. “By late summer we had some family stuff going on and I decided to take a step back to be present with the family. That’s something I probably haven’t done a great job with over my career. After as many years as I’ve spent on the road, it was okay to take some time off to be with family. It was a shift in mindset.

“We had speed and everything lined up like we wanted. I wasn’t quite where I needed to be mentally and I needed to take a step back to spend family time. It was tough because I wanted to be in the race car because that’s what I know, but it was well worth it because it helped my mind. Life has changed now that I have my daughter and it’s made me appreciate my family time more. I enjoy racing, but it was a time I needed to stop and be present with her.”

Prior to his sabbatical from the seat, Mallett recorded one win and nine top 10s in 10 starts while missing out on nearly as many opportunities to race because of rainouts.

“I felt we were really solid and we had speed,” he said. “As the season progressed, it was really tough because we didn’t get an opportunity to run a lot of races because it seemed it rained every other week in the spring and summer. We had good speed, but could have been faster.”

Mallett’s triumph was his 39th career sprint car victory and it gave him a winning season during 12 of the last 14 years.

“That weekend was crazy,” he said. “We had raced with the ASCS National Tour in Kentucky in May. I went to our engine builder’s in North Carolina and went over some stuff. We decided to go to Milton, Fla., to race and it was mostly testing. On the Friday night we were hitting on all cylinders and everything went as it should have and we won. We changed a bunch of stuff up and our engine package for Saturday. We hit on all cylinders that night as well and felt we had the car to win. Some officiating got in the way and we left with a second-place finish, but it was a really solid weekend.”

Mallett has a fresh outlook for the 2026 racing season.

“My mind is focused on next year,” he said. “We left it in the summer as I was taking a little bit of time off. We’re going to get back to racing next year and are currently working on our plan.

“I want to thank our partners not only for their support of our race team, but of me as a person. They have always been behind me and were behind me this year when I needed to take some time off from racing. I feel blessed to have so many great people supporting me.”

SEASON STATS –

10 races, 1 win, 3 top fives, 9 top 10s, 10 top 15s, 10 top 20s

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://jordonmallett.myracepass.com

X: https://twitter.com/jmmotorsports14

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordonmallettmotorsports

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Water for Christ

Water for Christ was established from the joint passions of sharing the Gospel of Christ and supplying clean water to villages in developing countries. For more information, visit http://www.WaterForChrist.com.

“Water for Christ goes to Africa and other third-world countries to drill fresh-water wells where there is no access to fresh or clean water,” Mallett said. “We’re trying to raise awareness so they can continue to do what they do and hopefully on a larger scale.”

Mallett would like to thank Awakening Events, Awakening Foundation, Water for Christ, Porter Commercial Refrigeration, Red River Rack Co., D&K Farms, DHR Suspension, Racing Optics, Triple X Race Co., T&A, KSE Racing Products, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Sinco, Inc., Autometer, Callies Performance Products, ISC Racers Tape, Lone Star Super Gas (Sunoco), KR Performance Fuels, HRP Wings, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Smiley’s Racing Products, MotorState Distributing, DMI, Superior Bearing and Supply, Moss Racing Engines, Twin S Tool Corp., JET Graphics and AR Dyno Specialty for their continued support.