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Sammy Smith achieves first Truck career victory at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Sammy Smith made his incoming presence as a full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor for next season known to the competition by navigating his way to his first series victory in the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23.

The two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion from Johnston, Iowa, led six times for a race-high 21 of 86 laps in an event where he qualified on the front row, led six laps throughout the first stage period and rallied from being shoved out of the draft to settle in ninth place at the first stage’s conclusion. 

After getting shoved out of the draft and settling in 18th place at the second stage’s conclusion, Smith returned atop the leaderboard with 13 laps remaining. Leading three times for 13 laps in the final laps, Smith, who restarted with the lead for a two-lap shootout, dueled for nearly the entirety of the shootout with pole-sitter Ty Majeski before the latter and Kaden Honeycutt appeared to have the edge by motoring ahead of Smith within the draft with two turns remaining. With both Honeycutt and Majeski attempting to slingshot one another, Smith executed a race-winning move on Majeski through the tri-oval to achieve his first checkered flag in the Truck division and his second NASCAR national touring series victory at Talladega.

With on-track qualifying determining the starting lineup on Friday, Ty Majeski secured his third Truck pole of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap of 177.389 mph in 53.983 seconds. Sammy Smith qualified in second place and started alongside Majeski on the front row with a lap of 177.173 mph in 54.049 seconds.

Prior to the event, Thomas Annunziata dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments to his No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota entry.

When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Ty Majeski was pushed by Kaden Honeycutt ahead of the field from the inside lane through the first two turns. Through the backstretch, Sammy Smith gained a run with drafting help from Giovanni Ruggiero and drew alongside Majeski before he quickly transitioned to the inside lane in front of Majeski. As the field scrambled and began to fan out while navigating back to the tri-oval, Ruggiero managed to motor ahead of Smith and lead the first lap from the outside lane.

As the field fanned out to three-wide formation for the second lap, Smith regained the advantage and led the latter lap from the inside lane while Ruggiero fought back to Smith’s right side. Amid the three-wide action, Justin Haley tried to form a third drafted lane towards the outside lane before he had teammate Corey LaJoie move in front of him from the draft. By the fourth lap, Ben Rhodes jumped in front of the Kaulig Racing RAM entries as he tried to motor his way to the front, but the drafted lane towards the outside wall could not motor to the front as a majority of the field opted to remain behind Smith and Ruggiero through the two-stacked lane. At the front, Smith and Ruggiero continued to duel for the top spot for the following lap. 

Through the Lap 10 mark, newcomer Austin Green motored his way into the lead for the first time as he had Layne Riggs, Ruggiero, Ben Rhodes, Smith and Haley, the latter of whom led the previous lap, following in single-file formation and ahead of the stacked field. Smith would then get pinned in the middle lane and lose a bevy of spots through the tri-oval prior to the Lap 12 mark. Shortly after, Haley dropped off the pace due to a flat tire on his entry. After nearly getting sideways through Turns 3 and 4 while the field scrambled, bumped and jostled to avoid Haley’s entry, Haley managed to enter pit road and the event proceeded without drawing a caution. With Christian Eckes limping his entry below the apron with right-side damage and a flat right-front tire, after hitting the tri-oval’s outside wall, Green retained the lead by the Lap 15 mark.

Then on Lap 16, the event’s first caution flew when a multi-truck erupted through the first two turns. The carnage started when Stewart Friesen, who was racing in the middle lane towards the top-10 mark and was beginning to fall off the pace due to a flat tire, got sideways off the front nose of Andres Perez De Lara. This caused Friesen to get sideways, barely clip Kris Wright, with Wright shooting up the track and colliding into Corey LaJoie against the outside wall, before Friesen shot back up the track and into the path of Tony Stewart. Among other competitors involved were Cole Butcher, Daniel Hemric, Perez De Lara, Thomas Annunziata, and Cleetus McFarland, the latter of whom had eased off the throttle when the carnage occurred in front of him, but only to get bumped and turned as McFarland spun and hit the backstretch’s inside wall head-on. The wreck was enough for the event to be placed in a red flag period for 10 minutes and three seconds to have the carnage cleared.

The multi-truck wreck was also enough for the first sage period to conclude under caution as Ruggiero, who had assumed the lead prior to the carnage, was awarded his first Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Teammate Honeycutt settled in second ahead of Green, Corey Heim and Riggs while Rhodes, Tanner Gray, Majeski, Sammy Smith and Mini Tyrrell were scored in the top 10, respectively. With Chase contenders Ruggiero, Honeycutt, Riggs, Rhodes and Majeski notching the event’s first round of stage points by being scored in the top-10 mark, the remaining Chasers that include Tyler Ankrum, Chandler Smith, Enfinger, Hemric and Eckes were mired in 14th, 17th, 18th, 34th and 36th, respectively.

Under the event’s first stage break period, the lead lap field led by Ruggiero pitted for service. Following the pit stops and with mixed pit strategies ensuing, Green, who only opted for fuel to his entry, exited pit road first ahead of teammate Smith while Majeski, Heim (the first with two fresh tires), Riggs, Tanner Gray, Brenden Queen, Landen Lewis, Grant Enfinger and Mini Tyrrell followed suit, respectively. During the pit stops, Riggs nearly ran over his front-tire changer while Ruggiero was mired with being stuck in reverse on exit while trying to navigate past Tyrrell as he tried to exit his pit stall. Ruggiero’s issues kept him mired in his pit stall, which dropped him out of the lead lap category, as Honeycutt pitted to have his front splitter assessed.

The second stage period started on Lap 22 as Green and Majeski occupied the front row. At the front, Majeski was pushed ahead of Green by Heim through the first two turns as Ruggiero’s entry was pushed behind the wall to have a new transmission installed. As the field navigated through the backstretch, Green fought back and muscled ahead from the outside lane through Turns 3 and 4. With teammate Smith pushing from behind, Green led the next lap before Majeski motored back ahead from the inside lane. 

By lap 25, Majeski led the next lap while Heim, who was pushing Majeski, was pinned in the middle lane as he also dropped off the pace when he reported a tire issue to his entry. Amid Heim’s issues as the latter pitted under green, teammates Green and Smith dueled for the lead in front of two stacked lanes while Majeski and Riggs pushed from behind. Green and Smith continued to duel for the lead amid the draft over the next four laps before Riggs seized a run through Turns 3 and 4 while trying to duel Smith for the lead from the inside lane.

Prior to the Lap 31 mark, Smith was shoved out of the draft. This allowed Grant Enfinger to carve his way to the front and battle Riggs for the lead while Chandler Smith, who fell off the pace after losing a right-rear tire, pitted under green for repairs. Riggs would then motor ahead with a slight advantage and from a push by Green while Enfinger tried to reel in from the outside lane while being pushed by Rhodes. Enfinger proceeded to use a strong run through the first two turns to move in front of Riggs for the lead by Lap 33 as both Riggs and Rhodes fought back from the outside lane. Amid the latter two’s charges, Enfinger led the Lap 35 mark.

Then on Lap 37, the leader Enfinger dropped off the pace when he lost a right-rear tire and had the tire carcass slip out from his entry through Turns 3 and 4 as the field was about to enter the tri-oval. With Green pushing Enfinger at the time of Enfinger’s issues, he and the rest of the field, including Sutton as Sutton hit the tire carcass, scattered and barely avoided Enfinger as the latter limped around the track and was losing pace of the field. By then, Jake Garcia was also off the pace as the caution flew due to the debris from Enfinger’s tire carcass.

At the time of caution, which concluded the second stage period, Tanner Gray had cycled to the lead and was awarded his first Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Riggs, Rhodes, Honeycutt, Majeski, Landen Lewis, Dawson Sutton, Green, Haley and Queen were scored in the top 10, respectively. With Chasers Riggs, Rhodes, Honeycutt and Majeski notching the event’s second round of stage points, the remaining Chasers that include Ankrum, Enfinger, Smith and Eckes were mired in 13th, 23rd, 25th and 27th, respectively, while Ruggiero and Hemric were behind the wall.

During the event’s second stage break period, the field led by Gray returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Dawson Sutton, who opted for only fuel to his entry, exited pit road first while Majeski, the first who pitted for four fresh tires, followed suit along with Riggs, Lewis, Green, Gray, Haley, Ankrum, Queen and Tyrrell, respectively.

With 40 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Sutton and Majeski occupied the front row. At the front, the latter two dueled for nearly a full circuit before Majeski motored ahead from the inside lane and led the next lap. Another two laps later, trouble struck for Sutton as he pitted under green with a flat tire spotted on his entry. Majeski retained the lead over Riggs and the field before the caution returned with 37 laps remaining due to debris on the backstretch. During the latest caution, the field pitted primarily for fuel and Riggs managed to cycle to the lead by exiting pit road first.

The event’s next restart with 32 laps remaining featured Riggs and Tanner Gray dueling for the lead through the first two turns before the latter used a push from Brenden Queen to gain the upper advantage through the backstretch. Queen then darted to the left to make a move on Gray, but the latter also darted left and nearly forced Queen off the track, though Gray was able to prevail out in front. Gray led the next two laps before he was shuffled back within the top-five mark. At the front, Honeycutt was pushed over Landen Lewis by Rhodes into the lead. Honeycutt maintained the lead just before the caution flew with 32 laps remaining. The latest caution occurrence was for Jake Garcia getting bumped in the rear by Conner Jones and going head-on into the backstretch’s outside wall. With Jones also losing control and spinning his Niece Motorsporst entry, Garcia darted back across the track to the left and ran into the side of Chandler Smith, which got Smith sideways and he was hit again by Jones.

Down to the final 22 laps, the event restarted as Honeycutt dueled with Rhodes in front of two-stacked lanes through the first two turns. Rhodes would then dart to the left and move in front of Honeycutt after he received a strong push by Tanner Gray through the first two turns on the outside lane. Gray would lead the next two laps before Rhodes led the following three from the inside lane. Gray then reassumed the top spot for the following lap before Riggs was push to the lead by Majeski with 15 laps remaining. 

As the event reached its final 10-lap mark, Smith was leading over Chasers Riggs, Majeski, Rhodes, Honeycutt and Ankrum while Tanner Gray, Thomas Annunziata, Green and Lewis occupied the top-10 spots in front of Queen, Frankie Muniz, Cory Roper, Sutton and Enfinger, respectively. By then, the top-19 competitors were separated by one-and-a-half seconds of one another while Chandler Smith was mired 11 seconds behind in 20th place. 

Three laps later, the caution flew when Annunziata, who was drafted into the lead seconds earlier through the tri-oval, got turned off the front nose of teammate Honeycutt entering the first turn. The contact caused Annunziata to hit the outside wall head-on before his wrecked entry was hit by Enfinger.

With the event restarting with two laps remaining, Sammy Smith and Riggs occupied the front row in front of Majeski, Honeycutt, Green, Ankrum and the rest of the field. Through the first two turns, the inside lane led by Smith gained the advantage as the latter was pushed by Majeski and Green entering the backstretch. Exiting the backstretch, Majeski made a move to Smith’s right and he was picked up by Riggs as he challenged Smith, who was being pushed by teammate Green, in a side-by-side duel through Turns 3 and 4 along with the tri-oval. 

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Majeski was ahead of Smith by a nose. As the field stacked up entering the first two turns, a wreck ensued that involved Sutton, Timmy Hill, Rhodes, Cory Roper, Jason White and Clay Greenfield. This incident did not generate a caution as Riggs got shuffled out of the draft amid his late drafting work with Majeski.

Riggs being shuffled out allowed Honeycutt and four competitors within a small lead pack to overtake Riggs as Majeski and Smith continued to duel for the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch. Majeski was then pushed by Honeycutt ahead of Smith exiting the backstretch before Honeycutt darted beneath Majeski’s left side and tried to motor ahead through Turns 3 and 4. Entering the tri-oval, Majeski received a strong push from Smith to overtake Honeycutt, but he darted to the left. This allowed Smith to overtake Majeski from the outside lane as the lead pack fanned out. With the checkered flag waving, Smith emerged victorious by 0.091 seconds.

Talladega Field
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

With the victory, Smith, who will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet entry next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, became the 130th competitor overall to achieve a Truck Series win, the third first-time winner of the 2026 season and the eighth to achieve a first career Truck victory at Talladega. He also achieved his second NASCAR national touring series victory at Talladega after he won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ fall event at ‘Dega in October 2024 with his current O’Reilly team, JR Motorsports.

Smith’s Talladega victory was the fifth of the 2026 Truck season for Chevrolet, and the manufacturer’s eighth series win at Talladega. He also achieved the fourth Truck victory of this season and the 13th overall for Spire Motorsports. Smith’s Talladega victory capped off an eventful day for the Iowa native, where he was announced to be joining TRICON Garage for a full-time Truck Series campaign in 2027.

*This season marks the 10th time in 11 consecutive seasons where the Truck Series’ Chase event at Talladega was won by a non-Chase contender.

Smith
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“Yeah, just a great team, honestly, [crew chief] Brian Pattie and the whole No. 7 Spire crew,” Smith said on the frontstretch on FS1. “Michael Fisher did a great job up on the spotter stand. The truck was fast. I felt like we did a good job putting ourself there in a good spot. Obviously, we lost track position, but man, thanks to Spectrum, everyone for coming on board. Spire for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to racing trucks next year. I just want to win races, and that’s what I want to do. I am a winner, and I know I can win. I got another shot tomorrow with my No. 8 boys [in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series].”

Tyler Ankrum navigated his way to a runner-up result over newcomer Austin Green while Ty Majeski and Kaden Honeycutt finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Landen Lewis, Brenden Queen, Layne Riggs, Spencer Boyd and Corey Heim completed the top 10 in the final running order.

The fifth Craftsman Truck Series Chase event of the 2026 season at Talladega saw 32 lead changes among 15 leaders, and five cautions over 26 laps. In addition, 17 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results:

  1. Sammy Smith, 21 laps led
  2. Tyler Ankrum
  3. Austin Green, 14 laps led
  4. Ty Majeski, seven laps led
  5. Kaden Honeycutt, eight laps led
  6. Landen Lewis
  7. Brenden Queen
  8. Layne Riggs, six laps led
  9. Spencer Boyd
  10. Corey Heim
  11. Tanner Gray, nine laps led
  12. Frankie Muniz
  13. Jason White
  14. Chandler Smith
  15. Clay Greenfield
  16. Timmy Hill, one lap led
  17. Ben Rhodes, three laps led
  18. Cory Roper – OUT, Accident
  19. Dawson Sutton, one lap down, one lap led
  20. Justin Haley, two laps down, two laps led
  21. Christian Eckes, three laps down
  22. Josh Reaume, four laps down, one lap led
  23. Thomas Annunziata – OUT, Accident, one lap led
  24. Grant Enfinger – OUT, Accident, four laps led
  25. Giovanni Ruggiero, 29 laps down, five laps led
  26. Jake Garcia – OUT, Accident, three laps led
  27. Conner Jones – OUT, Accident
  28. Mini Tyrrell – OUT, Radiator
  29. Cole Butcher – OUT, Accident
  30. Stewart Friesen – OUT, Accident
  31. Andres Perez De Lara – OUT, Accident
  32. Kris Wright – OUT, Accident
  33. Corey LaJoie – OUT, Accident
  34. Tony Stewart – OUT, Accident
  35. Daniel Hemric – OUT, Accident
  36. Cleetus McFarland – OUT, Accident

*Bold indicates Chase Drivers

After the fifth Chase event of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Kaden Honeycutt continues to lead the standings by 43 points over Layne Riggs. The rest of the 10-Truck Chase field is displayed below.

  1. Kaden Honeycutt
  2. Layne Riggs -43
  3. Ty Majeski -141
  4. Chandler Smith -142
  5. Christian Eckes -144
  6. Giovanni Ruggiero -177
  7. Daniel Hemric -194
  8. Ben Rhodes -203
  9. Tyler Ankrum -214
  10. Grant Enfinger -219

Next on the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase schedule is Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, for the Black’s Tire 200. The event is scheduled for next Friday, October 30, and will air at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM.

TOYOTA RACING – NCTS Talladega Post-Race Report – 10.23.26

By
Official Release
-

HONEYCUTT DELIVERS TOP-FIVE AT TALLADEGA, EXPANDS POINTS LEAD
Toyota Development Driver continues top-10 streak, increases lead to 43 with two races to go

TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 23, 2026) – Kaden Honeycutt (fifth) earned the most stage points and delivered another top-five finish in the Chase to lead Toyota in Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. The Toyota Development Driver leads Layne Riggs by 43 points with two races remaining. No other driver is within 100 points of the front duo heading to Talladega.

In the last 10 races, Honeycutt has seven top-five finishes – and no finish worse than 11th. He has finished every Chase race in the top-eight. Toyota drivers Gio Ruggiero and Tanner Gray also swept the stages – both earning their first stage wins of the season.

TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS)
Talladega Superspeedway
Race 23 of 25 – 226.1 Miles, 85 Laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Sammy Smith*
2nd, Tyler Ankrum*
3rd, Austin Green*
4th, Ty Majeski*
5th, KADEN HONEYCUTT
10th, COREY HEIM
11th, TANNER GRAY
16th, TIMMY HILL
18th, CORY ROPER
23rd, THOMAS ANNUNZIATA
25th, GIO RUGGIERO
30th, STEWART FRIESEN
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

KADEN HONEYCUTT, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 5th

How do you process this finish?

“It is good. I’m just so disappointed in myself to not make the right moves at the end of the race to get the win. I should have locked on to Ty (Majeski) longer than trying to make the move too quick. I did the same thing at Daytona, and just didn’t execute where I needed to, to finish the race off. Just thank you to Safelite, TOYOTA RACING, TRICON Garage, Mobil 1 – everyone on this race team, Scott Zipadelli (crew chief), and this entire crew that does a great job. Looking forward to Martinsville, and got a good cushion, but you never say it is over till it is over. I’m sure we will be racing hard for the win next week, and we will move on to Martinsville. I also want to apologize to my teammate, Thomas (Annunziata). Definitely got plummeted by the 77 (Austin Green) from behind and got him in the left and spun him out, so very sorry to him and his team. I hated to see that happen. P5. We will take it and move on to Martinsville.”

STEWART FRIESEN, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Halmar-Friesen Racing

Finishing Position: 30th

What happened from your point of view?

“Must have hit something going into (turn) one and cut down a tire, and tried to get out of it, and there was nowhere to go. Couldn’t hang on to it and collected a bunch of trucks. Bummed. I felt like our Halmar Tundra was pretty good and really upset that we had an issue and tore up a bunch of stuff.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Majeski and Riggs Post Top 10 Finishes in Talladega NCTS Race

By
Official Release
-

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Love’s RV Stop 225 — Talladega Superspeedway
Friday, October 23, 2026

Ford Finishing Results

4th – Ty Majeski
8th – Layne Riggs
12th – Frankie Muniz
13th – Jason White
14th – Chandler Smith
17th – Ben Rhodes
22nd – Josh Reaume
26th – Jake Garcia
29th – Cole Butcher

LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops/Peak Ford F-150 – “I still have to decipher exactly what happened and what we could have done better there. I’m just kind of disappointed about how it finished there. I felt like me and the 88 were gonna get side-by-side for the win. We worked well together all day and it looked like he pushed me out and shoved me to the third lane, so I’m not exactly sure if that’s what happened. It seems like he’s not really sure, either. He was just running his race.” HOW DO YOU PROCESS BEING 43 POINTS BEHIND NOW? “We set as a goal that if I was 45 or worse back, we’re not gonna have a shot. Obviously, I think the 11 can’t be as good as us. We’re gonna have to go dominate the next two races. I know this team can do it. We’ve done it all year long. I’m excited. This is gonna be fun.”

TY MAJESKI, No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford F-150 – “We knew the points situation. We knew the guys that were around us had bad days. We really wanted to finish today to take advantage of it. I could have been a little bit more aggressive on my blocks with the 7 coming to the line, but I thought I executed everything pretty well up until that point. He gave me a pretty good hit in the tri-oval and I was knocked free. I was trying to save it and block him at the same time and I realized that I probably wasn’t gonna be able to save it and block him, so I decided to take the finish. I don’t know that I would have been able to execute that block with how out of shape I was, but, all in all, it was a good day for our Menards Ford F-150.” YOU WERE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE AND MOVE TO THIRD IN THE STANDINGS. “That’s two weeks in a row. We could have easily won Phoenix. We had the best truck for over half the race and here we were leading at the white flag. If we win these two races, we’re way in it. Unfortunately, it didn’t go that way, so we just have to keep executing and do the best of our ability these next two races and try and get the best points finish we can.”

JAKE GARCIA, No. 98 Quanta Services/Curb Records Ford F-150 – “I just got hit in the right-rear area. I haven’t seen a replay, but the 33 and the 95 ahead of me were getting really antsy and couldn’t stay straight. I think that kind of messed up the whole lane and I was trying to follow them to hit them square if I had to and whoever was behind me just completely ran through me and right hooked me into the wall. It’s unfortunate. It was a pretty hard hit, but I’m alright. That’s kind of the expectation when we come to these races, so I can’t say I’m disappointed, but obviously we could have had a much better result than that today.” THE SECOND HIT SEEMED TO BE PRETTY HARD. “Yeah. I lost brakes and then I tried to turn the wheel and I couldn’t turn the steering wheel either. The damage was so severe from the first hit that I was just along for the ride for the rest of it. It is what it is.”

Ty Majeski scores third Truck pole of 2026 at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Ty Majeski stormed to the pole position for the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23.

The event’s starting lineup was determined through a two-round qualifying session. The first session featured 38 competitors battling for 36 starting spots, all of whom cycled once around Talladega to post the fastest lap. At the end of the first session, the top-10 fastest qualifiers advanced to the second and final round, where they contested for the pole position. 

Majeski posted the fastest lap during the first qualifying round at 177.287 mph in 54.014 seconds. After being one of 10 competitors to transfer to the second round, the Seymour, Wisconsin, native posted the fastest lap at 177.389 mph in 53.983 seconds. Majeski’s single lap run in the final session was enough for him and his No. 88 Menards/ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 team to snag the top-starting spot at the 2.660-mile tri-oval superspeedway venue in Lincoln, Alabama.

With the pole, Majeski achieved his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole position of the 2026, his first since Michigan International Speedway in June and the 14th of his career, which ties him with Corey Heim for the eighth-most poles in the Truck division. Majeski also achieved his fourth on a superspeedway venue and his first at Talladega. Majeski, who is currently ranked in fifth place in the 2026 Chase standings, trails the points lead by 135 points as he strives to both achieve his first victory of this season and remain strking distance of contending for his second championship with three-scheduled events remaining.

Majeski will share the front row with Sammy Smith, the latter of whom is making his penultimate Truck Series start of the 2026 season and was announced to drive for TRICON Garage for the 2027 Truck season. Smith, who was the fifth-fastet during the first round, posted the second-fastest lap in the latest round at 177.173 mph in 54.049 seconds.

Points leader Kaden Honeycutt, teammate Giovanni Ruggiero and rookie Cole Butcher will start in the top five, respectively. Newcomer Austin Green, Tyler Ankrum, Corey Heim, Layne Riggs and Ben Rhodes, all of whom transferred to the second and final qualifying round along with Majeski, Smith, Honeycutt, Ruggiero and Butcher, completed the top-10 starting grid, respectively.

With six Chase contenders (Majeski, Honeycutt, Ruggiero, Ankrum, Riggs and Rhodes) set to start in the top-10 mark for Friday afternoon’s main event at Talladega, the remaining Chasers that include Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger, Christian Eckes and Daniel Hemric will start 14th, 18th, 20th and 27th, respectively.

Notably, Cleetus McFarland, who is making his third Truck career start with Niece Motorsports, will start in 24th place while Tony Stewart, who is making his second Truck start of the 2026 season with Kaulig Racing, will start in 29th place. In addition, Brenden Queen, Stewart’s teammate, was the lone competitor who did not post a qualifying lap. With his No. 12 Kaulig Racing RAM entry ranked in 21st place in the owner’s standings, he obtained the final-starting spot for Friday’s main event.

With 38 competitors vying for 36 starting spots, Norm Benning and Bryan Dauzat were the two who failed to qualify for the main event.

Talladega – Starting Lineup:

  1. Ty Majeski, 177.389 mph, 53.983 seconds
  2. Sammy Smith, 177.173 mph, 54.049 seconds
  3. Kaden Honeycutt, 176.676 mph, 54.201 seconds
  4. Giovanni Ruggiero, 176.666 mph, 54.204 seconds
  5. Cole Butcher, 176.565 mph, 54.235 seconds
  6. Austin Green, 176.324 mph, 54.309 seconds
  7. Tyler Ankrum, 176.120 mph, 54.372 seconds
  8. Corey Heim, 175.848 mph, 54.456 seconds
  9. Layne Riggs, 175.410 mph, 54.592 seconds
  10. Ben Rhodes, 174.971 mph, 54.729 seconds
  11. Jake Garcia, 175.552 mph, 54.548 seconds
  12. Kris Wright, 175.526 mph, 54.556 seconds
  13. Tanner Gray, 175.375 mph, 54.603 seconds
  14. Chandler Smith, 175.218 mph, 54.652 seconds
  15. Stewart Friesen, 175.211 mph, 54.654 seconds
  16. Cory Roper, 175.096 mph, 54.960 seconds
  17. Justin Haley, 175.048 mph, 54.705 seconds
  18. Grant Enfinger, 174.939 mph, 54.739 seconds
  19. Thomas Annunziata, 174.863 mph, 54.763 seconds
  20. Christian Eckes, 174.824 mph, 54.775 seconds
  21. Clay Greenfield, 174.776 mph, 54.790 seconds
  22. Corey LaJoie, 174.639 mph, 54.833 seconds
  23. Mini Tyrrell, 174.623 mph, 54.838 seconds
  24. Cleetus McFarland, 174.461 mph, 54.889 seconds
  25. Andres Perez De Lara, 174.433 mph, 54.898 seconds
  26. Dawson Sutton, 174.423 mph, 54.901 seconds
  27. Daniel Hemric, 174.369 mph, 54.918 seconds
  28. Conner Jones, 174.296 mph, 54.941 seconds
  29. Tony Stewart, 174.036 mph, 55.023 seconds
  30. Landen Lewis, 173.976 mph, 55.042 seconds
  31. Frankie Muniz, 173.790 mph, 55.101 seconds
  32. Spencer Boyd, 173.629 mph, 55.152 seconds
  33. Josh Reaume, 173.620 mph, 55.155 seconds
  34. Jason White, 173.538 mph, 55.181 seconds
  35. Timmy Hill, 173.312 mph, 55.253 seconds
  36. Brenden Queen, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds

*Bold indicates Chase Drivers

The 2026 Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled to occur on Friday, October 23, at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

Rackley W.A.R. ceasing Truck Series program after Talladega Chase event

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Rackley W.A.R. will end its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program at the conclusion of this weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway.

The announcement was made in a joint statement from co-owners Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton on Friday, October 23, ahead of this afternoon’s event at Talladega. In the statement, the co-owners released the following: 

“After six seasons of competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, we have made the difficult decision that tonight’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will mark the end of Rackley WAR’s NASCAR Truck Series program.”

“We are incredibly grateful for our determined and hardworking drivers, employees, and partners who have made this team their home. We have had so many great memories on and off the racetrack, with the 2022 Talladega Victory standing as one of our proudest accomplishments.”

“While this chapter of Rackley WAR in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is coming to a close, our commitment to the sport remains as strong as ever. We all remain hungry for wins in our national late model driver development team.”

“Since bringing W.A.R. (Willie Allen Racing) and Rackley Roofing together at the beginning of 2021, we have earned nearly 50 late model wins across the country, and we have no plans to slow down racing anytime soon.”

Rackley W.A.R. debuted in the Truck Series division at Daytona International Speedway in 2021. Since then, the organization has made a combined 146 starts contributed by 14 competitors over a six-year span (2021-26). Within the starts, the organization notched 27 top-10 results, six top-five results, 37 laps led and a single Playoff appearance, which occurred in 2023 with Matt DiBenedetto. DiBenedetto also recorded Rackley W.A.R.’s first Truck victory at Talladega in October 2022. 

Rackley W.A.R., which first fielded the No. 25 Chevrolet entry on a full-time basis from 2021 to 2024, would evolve by fielding the No. 26 entry as a part-time entry from 2022 to 2024 before the latter entry became a full-time entry. Rackley also fielded the No. 27 entry for a single event with William Byron at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2021 before it became a part-time entry this season, with Toni Breidinger and Kasey Kleyn making select starts.

Dawson Sutton, who made his first two Truck career starts with Rackley in 2024, serves as the team’s primary competitor since 2025. He campaigned the entire 2025 Truck season with Rackley, where he notched a career-best fourth-place result at Talladega in October, two top-10 results and an avereage-finishing result of 19.4 before he settled in 18th place in the standings. This season, Sutton, who is set to join TRICON Garage in 2027, recorded a single top-10 result, which was a seventh-place run at Bristol Motor Speedway in April, five laps led and an average-finishing result of 21.0. He will pilot Rackley’s No. 26 Chevrolet entry for the organization’s final event at Talladega.

Rackley W.A.R.’s final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start is scheduled to occur on Friday, October 23, at Talladega for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

TOYOTA RACING – NCTS Talladega Quotes – TRICON Garage – 10.23.26

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA RACING – TRICON GARAGE

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes

TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 23, 2026) – TRICON Garage partner and general manager Kevin Ray, along with 2027 drivers Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton, were made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.

KEVIN RAY, partner and general manager, TRICON GARAGE

SAMMY SMITH, No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON GARAGE

DAWSON SUTTON, No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON GARAGE

Opening Remarks.

KEVIN RAY: Good morning. It’s great to see this nice of a crowd for a Truck Series press announcement. My family and I have a great history here at Talladega, so, it’s only fitting that we’re able to announce TRICON’s next full-time lineup here at Talladega. It’s been very exciting working with Dawson (Sutton) and Sammy (Smith) to get them into our lineup. They both come with great history. So, we’ve enjoyed great success, since forming TRICON back in 2022. David (Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage), Johnny (Gray, partner, TRICON Garage), myself, it’s been a huge commitment. Most people probably thought that we were crazy when we jumped out and went five full-time teams right out of the bat, but it’s been very, very rewarding and beneficial to see what is happening on track. However, we could not do what we do without our 73 people back at the shop, and their commitment to building good fast race trucks, safe race trucks, and we’re extremely excited to have Dawson and Sammy come full time. Sammy has a history with us. He’s been with us before, and at 22, being a rookie in the truck series is, is kind of fun. We’re excited about having him, join us, and he’s got a lot of great partners that will be a part of the Truck Series, new partners to the Truck Series. Then with Dawson and all of his grassroots success; Dawson goes very well with our commitment at TRICON to development. We want to develop great talent. David’s prior experience as a driver, Johnny’s prior experience as a driver. Mine has a steering wheel holder, but we won’t talk about that (laughter). Someone like Dawson can lean on the experience from all of our other drivers and Sammy and Kaden (Honeycutt) and Gio (Ruggiero), it’s going to be an exciting 2027 season for everyone at TRICON.”

What does TRICON have that right fit for you is you take the next step in your career?

DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. I feel like it’s honestly just the place to be. It’s going be a big change for me. Having four teammates, but at the same time, I race late models and I had teammates, so I think it’ll be really cool to lean on them a lot and also just use my prior success in the grassroots stuff, and also the past few years, I’ve learned a lot and I’m just super excited for the future. This is the place to be, and I’m super excited to take it to the next level. I’m here to win races and I feel like I can do that on any level. I’m just excited to finish off today and then move on to next year.”

What excites you the most about that next chapter in your career?

SAMMY SMITH: Yeah, I think what excites me most about joining TRICON and Toyota, I think, is just getting back in the program. When I left Toyota in 23, I think it was a surprise to some, but obviously when I had everything happened over the summer of splitting from JRM, I really assessed all my options and really felt like TRICON and Toyota was really my best option to be able to go out and win races and, um, yeah, I really appreciate Kevin Ray (general manager and partner, TRICON Garage), Johnny Gray (partner, TRICON Garage), Matt Puccia (competition director, TRICON Garage); Toyota welcoming me back with Jack (Irving, general manager, TRD), Slugger (Labbe, engineering manager, vehicle support, TRD), Trent (Rodriguez, manager, driver development, TRD), Tyler (Gibbs, president, TRD), everyone to really bring me back in the program. I’m really looking forward to it. So, yeah, really looking forward to kind of getting the season started in ‘27.”

Are you guys going to be running a fifth part time truck this year?

KEVIN RAY: “Yes, we will run the 1 truck as our all-star truck. We will continue to have five full-time trucks, and the 1 truck will be a rotation of drivers. Those will be announced soon.”

Can you talk about these years having driven your family team and then kind of spreading your wings and leading the nest and going off to a big opportunity like this one?

DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. The past 2 years with Rackley has been a great experience and to build relationships with those guys have been really great. I don’t have a whole lot to comment on there. This is the last race, but I’m looking forward to just going out and doing the same thing, trying to win. This is the final dance, so hopefully you can go on win.”

Do you expect to do any, um, more late model racing with Rackley WAR next year or have you not gotten that far yet?

DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. We plan on it. Right now, we’re just focused on the All American 400 in a few weeks and then the Snowball Derby. We work toward next year soon and hopefully we can line up some more races.”

Do you expect Corey Heim to raise any of your all-star truck next year?

KEVIN RAY: “Not sure yet. We’re still working through our driver lineups. We’re going to have a couple of new guys through the program again, and a couple of returning guys, so Corey (Heim) has been with us for four years now, and has done a phenomenal job, and he has at least one race with us this year after today. He has Homestead, so we’re looking at all of our drivers and funding and making sure that we pair the best available to each track, with Corey’s full-time cup schedule, we just don’t know what he’s going to be able to do.”

Obviously, Tanner Gray’s driven you for the last few years, doesn’t look like he’ll be back next year, just kind of went into that decision.

KEVIN RAY: “We will let Tanner talk about his future plans. Not for TRICON to disclose what he’s going to do for the future. He’s been a staple of our program since the inception. We’re certainly going to miss him as part of TRICON. He’s been there since, since the beginning. What more can we say about one of our founding drivers not coming back.  It’s bittersweet but we do wish him all the best in the future.”

Are you able to say definitively, is Tanner Gray outside of the organization or is there a possibility he might be in the all-star truck at any race next year?

KEVIN RAY: “As of right now, we don’t have anything inside TRICON for Tanner (Gray) for next year.Currently we don’t have any, any open races for him.”

What kind of performance and expectations do you have for each of these guys respectfully next year?

KEVIN RAY: “Our goal is always to win every race. Sammy’s (Smith) a proven national series winner. Dawson (Sutton) has won some of the biggest, late model races out there, so we do expect these guys to go perform. You’ve got Gio (Ruggiero), you’ve got Kaden (Honeycutt). They’ve been in the program for a couple of years now. So that is the experience that they can lead on our other drivers. But then again, when you look at the depth of our organization, from David (Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage) to Johnny (Gray, partner, TRICON Garage) to Matt Puccia (competition director, TRICON Garage), there’s a lot of depth inside the organization. These guys, they have the racecraft, so we do expect them to go out and perform.”

What can you just say about Kaden’s development this year and growth and also the prospects of having him back?

KEVIN RAY: “Watching Kaden (Honeycutt) over the course of this year, I think everyone has been excited, especially inside our program, to see the progression that he has made. Not only on the racetrack, but as a person. Our philosophy inside TRICON is we can all build the same parts and pieces. It’s about the people that we surround ourselves with. I think that Kaden has done a very good job coming into the program and leaning on that experience. We expect him to continue to contend for the championship this year, and our, our intent is for all four of our guys, full-time guys, to be going for the championship at Homestead next year.”

Sammy, you’ll make your 11th career truck series start, and you’ve had six top-10 finishes. What have you learned throughout your truck series races?

SAMMY SMITH: “I feel like I’ve learned kind of how the trucks drive. Obviously, I’ve had a dazzle of stars the last couple years, two or three every, every year, so it’s been good. To be able to race for Spire, some running today, obviously, and then running Martinsville. It’s always enjoyable to race on a weekend where I’m running O’Reilly Series just to get more experience and obviously, I love to race. I feel like going to next year will kind of be a rookie learning year of learning the trucks, but I know I have a lot of great resources around me to be able to go capitalize on that and try to go win races.”

###

About Toyota 

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.  

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Sammy Smith, Dawson Sutton named TRICON Garage competitors for 2027 Truck season

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

TRICON Garage revealed the additions of Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton to the organization’s driver lineup for the 2027 NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series season.

The reveal, which was made at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23, will feature Smith replacing Tanner Gray to pilot the No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry while Sutton will drive the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry. Both competitors will compete on a full-time basis. 

Smith’s transition to TRICON Garage for the 2027 season will mark his first full-time campaign in the Truck Series division. In 10 previous starts in the series over a four-year span (2023-26), the 22-year-old Johnston, Iowa, native recorded two top-five results, six top-10 results, 32 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.7. He is set to compete in the upcoming Truck Chase events at Talladega and Martinsville Speedway for Spire Motorsports.

Smith is currently competing in his fourth consecutive season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division and third in a row with JR Motorsports. As one of 12 Chase contenders, he is currently ranked in seventh place in the standings and he trails the points lead by 137 points with three-scheduled events remaining this season. He has accumulated three O’Reilly victories, including one at Talladega in October 2024, three poles, 30 top-five results, 66 top-10 results, 530 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.4 through 138 series’ starts.

Compared to Smith, Sutton has previously competed in the Truck Series division on a full-time basis, which occurred in 2025 with Rackley W.A.R. During the latter season, he notched an average-finishing result of 19.4, two top-10 results, a career-best fourth-place result at Talladega before he settled in 18th place in the standings. The 20-year-old Sutton from Lebanon, Tennessee, is set to compete in what will be Rackley W.A.R.’s final Truck start this weekend at Talldega.

Through 53 previous starts in the Truck division (2024-26), Sutton has achieved two top-five results, four top-10 results, six laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.9 as he continues his pursuit of his first series’ championship while preparing to etch a new chapter to his racing resume in 2027.

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“We are excited to welcome Dawson and Sammy to the TRICON family for 2027 and are confident they’ll be great additions for our program,” Kevin Ray, partner and general manager, TRICON, said. “Sammy’s experience and prior success, combined with Dawson’s ability and growth as a driver, give us a lot to look forward to. We are confident in the lineup we have assembled and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”

TRICON Garage’s additions of Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton to the Nos. 5 and 15 entries occurs two days after both Kaden Honeycutt and Giovanni Ruggiero were confirmed to remain with the organization and drive the Nos. 11 and 17 entries for the 2027 Truck Series season. In addition to TRICON’s four full-time entries and competitors that have been finalized, the organization will also continue to field the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry that will serve as the ‘all-star’ entry and feature various competitors that remains to be announced.

With its driver lineup set, TRICON Garage’s 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season resumes this Friday, October 23, at Talladega Superspeedway for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

INDYCAR Announces Phase Two of 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule

By
Official Release
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New Marquee Race Weekend in Barcelona Highlights Action-Packed Summer, Furthers Series Momentum

All NTT INDYCAR SERIES Races Again To Air on FOX

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Oct. 23, 2026) – Following the historic announcement of an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier today, INDYCAR has announced Phase Two of next year’s action-packed and momentous schedule.

The summer lineup includes a mix of fan-friendly and dynamic race weekends leading up to the climactic moment at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca when the 2027 INDYCAR SERIES champion hoists the Astor Challenge Cup.

For the third consecutive season, all races will be broadcast on FOX in the United States, with three additional telecasts scheduled during the two days of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and coverage of Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is once again the only premier motorsports series in North America with all races broadcast on network television.

“The 2027 season will build off a record-shattering and landmark year for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “The sport’s growth has been immense, driving incredible viewership gains, reaching new fans in younger demos and attracting increased commercial interest from emerging and long-term partners. Our relationship with FOX Sports continues to set an industry standard, and this schedule will help us build on all of these gains and take things to the next level.”

After announcing Phase One of the 2027 schedule in August, Phase Two of the 17-race championship picks up Sunday, June 13 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. In 2026, the race on the challenging 1.25-mile oval featured 17 lead changes, wheel-to-wheel action throughout the field and an INDYCAR SERIES track-record 268 passes for position.

Two weeks later, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to picturesque Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the series’ 37th race at historic Road America on Sunday, June 27. Known for its sweeping corners, long straightaways and 4-mile layout, the historic road course remains one of the fastest and most demanding circuits on the schedule.

Racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has become a Fourth of July holiday tradition for INDYCAR, and it will continue Sunday, July 4. The technical, 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course, known for its elevation changes and tight corners, will host its 44th INDYCAR SERIES race in 2027, the longest-running road course event on the schedule.

Following the international showcase in Barcelona, the series returns to the Pacific Northwest for its annual stop at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 1. The 12-turn road course is known for its challenging opening chicane and history of thrilling finishes. In 2026, four different race teams were represented among the top four finishers.

The series then crosses the border into Canada for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham on Sunday, Aug. 15, on the Streets of Markham. The 2.19-mile temporary street circuit, which debuted in 2026, features 12 turns, a double-sided pit lane and technically challenging sections. The 2026 race featured 258 on-track passes, the most of any street circuit last season.

The 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship enters its final stretch with a return to the historic Milwaukee Mile for a pivotal doubleheader Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29. The legendary 1-mile oval, which opened in 1903, features relatively flat corners that demand precision and offers drivers two opportunities to earn valuable championship points in one weekend. Last year’s first 250-lap race featured a season-high 696 on-track passes and track records for passes for position, passes in the top 10 and passes in the top five.

The final round of the 2027 season is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 5 at legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The iconic 2.238-mile road course features 11 turns, dramatic elevation changes and the world-famous Corkscrew turn complex, providing a fitting showcase for the final race of the 17-event championship and the presentation of the Astor Challenge Cup, manufacturer award and Rookie of the Year award. It is the 13th time the legendary circuit on the Central Coast will host the INDYCAR SERIES season finale.

“One of the things that makes INDYCAR so special is that winning a championship requires drivers and teams to be competitive on every type of racetrack,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “From high-speed ovals to tight street circuits and challenging road courses, they face a different test almost every weekend. The 2027 schedule continues that tradition, featuring the 111th Running of the Indianapolis 500, alongside some of the most iconic racetracks in North America, and the historic addition of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. With 25 full-time entries battling for a championship and every race broadcast on FOX, our fans have an incredible season of racing to look forward to.”

Tune-in times for next season’s events will be announced at a later date. The 2027 schedule for INDY NXT by Firestone, INDYCAR’s developmental series, also will be announced in the coming weeks.

2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES FULL SCHEDULE

DateVenueTelevision
Sunday, March 7Streets of St. PetersburgFOX
Saturday, March 13Phoenix RacewayFOX
Sunday, March 21Streets of ArlingtonFOX
Sunday, April 4Barber Motorsports ParkFOX
Sunday, April 18Streets of Long BeachFOX
Saturday, May 15Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road CourseFOX
Sunday, May 30The 111th Indianapolis 500FOX
Sunday, June 6Streets of DetroitFOX
Sunday, June 13World Wide Technology RacewayFOX
Sunday, June 27Road AmericaFOX
Sunday, July 4Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFOX
Sunday, July 18Circuit de Barcelona-CatalunyaFOX
Sunday, Aug. 1Portland International RacewayFOX
Sunday, Aug. 15Streets of MarkhamFOX
Saturday, Aug. 28Milwaukee Mile Race 1FOX
Sunday, Aug. 29Milwaukee Mile Race 2FOX
Sunday, Sept. 5WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaFOX

FROM ESPORTS TO TRACK DAY: NASCAR AND LOGITECH G EXPAND ALLIANCE TO BRING PRECISION SIMULATION TO DRIVERS AND FANS

By
Official Release
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  • Multi-year agreement positions Logitech G’s PRO Series gear as the cornerstone of driver training and grassroots sim racing.
  • Expanded partnership highlights the sim-to-reality pipeline, featuring fan activation zones starting at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Alliance cements Logitech G as NASCAR’s Official Sim Racing Hardware Partner, connecting professional racecraft with high-fidelity home simulation.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2026) — NASCAR and Logitech G, a brand of Logitech and a global innovator in gaming technologies and gear, today announced the extension of their existing relationship, positioning Logitech G as an official partner of NASCAR. The collaboration officially links two powerhouses dedicated to pushing the boundaries of speed, technical precision, and competitive performance—cementing a seamless bridge between simulation and on-track experiences.

As part of the joint agreement, Logitech G becomes the Official Sim Racing Hardware Partner of NASCAR. The partnership will focus heavily on elevating the sim-to-reality pipeline, showcasing how elite virtual racing technology mirrors the intense physical and technical demands of a NASCAR race car. From grassroots esports competitors to professional drivers refining their race craft ahead of Sunday, the alliance highlights the crucial role high-fidelity simulation plays in modern motorsports.

“Most sports have a version you can play in your backyard. Getting behind the wheel of a race car is a different challenge. Sim racing helps close that gap, and Logitech G’s hardware brings a physical connection to the experience,” said Nick Rend, NASCAR Vice President of Interactive and Emerging Platforms. “Expanding this partnership is about bringing that experience to more people and building a stronger connection to NASCAR.”

Professional drivers and simulator enthusiasts alike rely heavily on high-end hardware to study tracks, test lines, and maintain sharp competitive instincts between race weekends.

“What makes this partnership so special is how it elevates the fans, letting them experience the same connection and feel for the track right from their own homes that we rely on as pros,” said Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and Logitech G ambassador. “Sim racing is an essential tool for preparation and bringing that level of realism directly to the community is a massive win for everyone who loves the sport.”

The partnership will come to life across multiple touchpoints throughout the NASCAR season, including immersive activation zones at select race tracks, integrated branding across eNASCAR broadcasts, and joint content campaigns featuring NASCAR drivers who heavily utilize Logitech G’s PRO Series racing wheels and TRUEFORCE technology for training and competition.

“Racing is in our DNA, and the boundary line between the digital grid and the real-world track has never been thinner,” said Cory Church, Head of Gaming, Logitech G. “NASCAR represents the pinnacle of fierce, competitive stock car racing and we’re proud to be both continuing and extending our partnership. We are giving drivers and fans alike the ultimate tools to experience every apex, slipstream, and victory firsthand—whether they are in a motion rig at home or strapping into the real thing on race day.”

Fans can experience Logitech G at the upcoming NASCAR race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, October 24 and 25, where simulators and a full experience will be available within the midway.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook. 

About Logitech

Logitech creates design-led, software-enabled hardware solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating and gaming in the age of AI. As the point of connection between people and the digital world, our mission is to extend human potential in work and play, in a way that is good for people and the planet. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech and its other brands, including Logitech G, at www.logitech.com or company blog.

GMG Racing Rides Career Momentum to IMSA Carrera Cup North America Finale at Circuit of The Americas

By
Official Release
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  • Kyle Washington and GMG Racing Founder and Team Driver James Sofronas Compete in This Weekend’s IMSA Carrera Cup Doubleheader Finale on United States Grand Prix Formula One Weekend in Texas
  • Longtime and Champion GMG Racing Driver Washington Set for Second Carrera Cup Start of the Season in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup
  • Sofronas Suits Up for Second Carrera Cup Race of the Season in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup

AUSTIN, Texas (October 23, 2026) – Fast off of a career weekend of championship-winning competition two weeks ago, Kyle Washington, James Sofronas and the GMG Racing team have arrived at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) for this weekend’s season-ending IMSA Carrera Cup North America doubleheader during the annual COTA Formula 1 weekend.

Everyone on the GMG Racing team carries the maximum momentum of their biggest victory to date on Saturday, October 10, when Washington and all-star Porsche teammates Ayhancan Güven and Riccardo Pera scored an overall victory in the Indianapolis 8 Hour at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). The convincing victory in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo was a first on many fronts, led by Washington and GMG Racing winning their first major endurance races and clinching the 2026 GT World Challenge America Pro-Am driver and team championships. The GT World Challenge America driver title was the first championship of Washington’s racing career.

“Indianapolis certainly couldn’t have gone any better and it is all credit to Kyle, who has worked so hard, and the tireless GMG Racing crew that has consistently prepared the fastest Porsche in GT World Challenge all season,” said Sofronas, GMG Racing Owner and Founder. “We also couldn’t have done it without Ayhancan and Riccardo and our full-season co-driver Tom Sargent, who was the fastest Porsche driver all season. Along with Kyle, all four turned in fantastic performances at Indy or all season and now we look forward to taking that energy and momentum straight to COTA. We have seen some race winning success in Carrera Cup at COTA before, and the way everybody on the team is performing, there is no reason we can’t keep our great season going right up until the final checkered flag of the year on Sunday.”

Washington competes on the 20-turn, 3.426-mile COTA circuit in his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup in the Masters class. Sofronas drives the No. 14 Mobil 1/GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup in the Pro-Am division.

With the year’s primary focus on the accomplished goals of winning the GT World Challenge America championships, both Washington and Sofronas have each contested just one Carrera Cup race weekend this season. Sofronas had an early-season off-track injury that prevented him from racing for six months but he is anxious to get back into the Mobil 1 sponsored Cup car this weekend. GMG has traditionally run a select schedule of Carrera Cup races over the last four years, but the partial calendar has not stopped the team and drivers from winning success. Somewhat surprisingly, GMG Racing didn’t compete in IMSA Carrera Cup before the 2023 finale at COTA, but Sofronas swept that weekend’s Pro-Am races in his and the team’s series debut.

Sofronas opened up the 2024 season going a perfect three-for-three to start his Carrera Cup career with his third series win in a row at Sebring International Raceway. In the short time span since the 2023 COTA debut, GMG Racing has quickly built tally of 10 career Carrera Cup victories, with Sofronas accounting for seven of the wins. Sofronas is also the only active Carrera Cup driver in any class who has scored a Carrera Cup victory on each of the three North American Formula One venues – Miami, Montreal and COTA – the Porsche series has visited this season or in recent years.

This year’s Sebring opener was the site of Sofronas’ first Carrera Cup race weekend in the 2026 season.

The two most recent GMG Racing Carrera Cup wins were also the team’s first Pro class triumphs in the series. Sargent put in a pair of perfect races last April at the Grand Prix of Long Beach to sweep the weekend guest driving in Washington’s No. 32.

Washington is a frequent visitor to the Masters class victory lane. A string of career third-place finishes, including the Formula 1 support races in Miami and Montreal, are highlighted by a career-best second at COTA in 2024. He made his 2026 series debut in the Carrera Cup weekend at Indy on the IMSA Battle on the Bricks weekend in September.

The Circuit of the Americas Carrera Cup weekend begins today with a single practice session at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 35-minute race starts at 2:35 p.m. CDT on Saturday while the second and final round is slated to go green Sunday at 10:35 a.m. CDT.

Both races and more can be seen live on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel or for subscribers on the NBC Peacock streaming network. International viewers can watch the action on IMSA.tv.

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility relocated last year to The Thermal Club and a 28,000 sq. ft. trackside motorsports facility. The staff, attention to detail and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped the company support its customers to the highest level possible. We have since won several Championships, not only with Porsche, but with Audi, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona, Spa, Montreal, COTA and The Thermal Club, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

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