WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.: With an off-weekend from his full-time ARCA Menards Series East campaign, reigning series champion Isaac Kitzmiller will join the national tour and make his road course debut at Watkins Glen International in Friday afternoon’s General Tire 100 at The Glen.

Focused on one day taking the reins from his father, Jason Kitzmiller, the younger Kitzmiller is using the opportunity to accelerate his development ahead of a planned full-time move to the ARCA Menards Series.

The event will mark his first experience turning both left and right in stock car competition — a meaningful step in broadening his skill set.

While the transition to a road course introduces a new set of challenges, Kitzmiller and the A.L.L. Construction Racing — CR7 Motorsports team view the weekend as a critical building block.

Known for his consistency and racecraft on ovals, the East Series champion now aims to apply those strengths to the heavy braking zones, elevation changes and technical corners that define the historic 2.45-mile layout in upstate New York.

The weekend represents more than just another start — it’s a benchmark. Against a deeper and more varied ARCA Menards Series field, Kitzmiller will gain valuable seat time in a discipline that continues to grow in importance across NASCAR’s national landscape.

With an eye firmly on the future, the added experience could prove pivotal as he prepares for the next phase of his career.

Surrounded by a team committed to his long-term growth, Kitzmiller approaches the General Tire 100 at The Glen with a balance of confidence and curiosity — focused on learning, adapting and continuing to build toward becoming a well-rounded contender wherever the schedule takes him next.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity at Watkins Glen International,” said Kitzmiller. “It’s going to be a big learning experience for me, just getting comfortable with the rhythm of a road course and understanding how these cars handle when you’re turning both directions.

“I know there’s going to be a lot to take in, but that’s what makes it exciting. We’ve got a great group with A.L.L. Construction Racing and CR7 Motorsports, and the goal is to keep improving every lap, make the most of the experience and put ourselves in a solid position by the end of the race.”

It’s been a strong 2026 campaign in ARCA Menards Series East competition for the 17-year-old phenom.

Through the opening three races, he has delivered three consecutive top-five finishes — already matching his total from his championship rookie season in 2025.

Fresh off a fifth-place finish last weekend in Nashville, Kitzmiller now returns to the premier ARCA Menards Series stage for his second national start of the year.

More notably, he carries momentum into Watkins Glen International with an opportunity to secure his sixth consecutive top-10 finish in just his sixth series start — a testament to both his consistency and rapid development at the national level.

“We’ve had a really solid start to the season, and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team,” said Kitzmiller.

“To be able to put together consistent runs and stack top-fives and top-10s, especially across different types of tracks, says a lot about the group we have behind us.

“Heading into Watkins Glen International, the goal is to keep that momentum going. This is a completely new discipline for me, but at the same time, it’s another opportunity to prove we can adapt and stay competitive no matter where we race.

“If we can come out of here with a sixth straight top-10, that would mean a lot and just keep building toward what we’re trying to accomplish this year.”

Number six carries added meaning this weekend on the shores of Seneca Lake, as the Maysville, West Virginia native will also have the rare opportunity to compete alongside his father, Jason Kitzmiller, in a discipline far different from what the two are accustomed to.

Through the previous five races, the younger Kitzmiller has carried the banner in the friendly family rivalry, but with 100 miles on deck Friday afternoon, he knows this may present his toughest test yet, going head-to-head with his father on unfamiliar ground.

“It’s pretty special anytime you get to share the track with your dad,” sounded Kitzmiller. “We’ve had a little fun with it this year, and I’ve been able to stay ahead so far, but this weekend at Watkins Glen International feels like a whole different deal.

“This is new territory for both of us in a lot of ways, and I know he’s going to be just as competitive as ever. At the same time, it’s something I don’t take for granted — not everyone gets the chance to race head-to-head with their dad at a place like this. Hopefully we can both have a strong run, but I’m definitely going to do everything I can to make it six in a row.”

If tackling a new road course with seven turns isn’t enough to digest, the threat of possible inclement weather is also on the minds of teams and competitors. With the ARCA Menards Series accustomed to competing in the rain on road courses, a wet track at Watkins Glen International would only add another layer of complexity to the weekend.

Should Mother Nature intervene, Kitzmiller understands the importance of staying disciplined while embracing yet another new challenge with respect — balancing patience with progression as he continues to expand his skill set in unfamiliar conditions.

“If it rains, that just adds another element to it,” said Kitzmiller. “I’ve never raced in those conditions before, especially not on a road course, so there’s going to be a lot to learn really quickly.

“At the same time, everyone is dealing with the same track, so it comes down to staying smooth, being patient and not overdriving the car. If we can keep it on track, make smart decisions and keep improving, I think we can still have a solid day at Watkins Glen International no matter what the weather does.”

Like his father, the younger Kitzmiller and company welcome Carter Machinery, promoting the Caterpillar® (Cat®) brand as the primary partner aboard the No. 79 Chevrolet for Friday afternoon’s General Tire 100 at The Glen.

Carter Machinery’s humble beginnings date back to 1928, serving customers throughout Virginia and southeastern West Virginia. As customer needs evolved, the company expanded its offerings by adding new products, services, and locations, with significant growth following its 2020 acquisition of Alban Tractor Company.

Today, Carter Machinery’s footprint spans the Mid-Atlantic, with more than 30 locations across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

The company sells, rents, and supports the full line of Cat® equipment, engines, and electric power generation systems, backed by strong parts availability, a diverse rental fleet, and an expert service team committed to customer success.

Continued investment in people, infrastructure, technology, and tooling has positioned Carter Machinery as one of Caterpillar’s premier dealers in North America and around the globe.

“Carter Machinery has been such an important partner for my family and our race team, and we’re really proud to represent them every time we hit the track,” said Kitzmiller.

“This weekend at Watkins Glen International is even more special because it feels like double the exposure for them — not only being part of a national series event, but also having both my dad and I out there carrying the same colors.

“That’s something pretty unique, and it gives Carter Machinery and A.L.L. Construction even more visibility throughout the weekend. They’ve built an incredible company with a strong reputation across the Mid-Atlantic, and for us, the goal is to keep putting together strong, consistent runs and hopefully give them a result they can be proud of.”

In addition to Carter Machinery, A.L.L. Construction Inc., Grant County Mulch, A&J Excavating, Cobra Mining, Champion Power Equipment and Volt Battery Technology will all serve as associate marketing partners on his No. 79 Chevrolet Friday afternoon.

Since 2025, Kitzmiller has made five ARCA Menards Series starts, earning one top-five and five top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth-place finish at Dover Motor Speedway in July 2025.

The General Tire 100 at The Glen (41 laps | 100.45 miles) is the fifth of 20 races on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Friday, May 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., while group qualifying is slated to begin shortly thereafter at 10:30 a.m. The race is scheduled to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. ET. The continuation of the 74th season of ARCA competition will be televised live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).

Dirt Racing and Time in Trans Am Series Have 17-Year-Old Primed for Watkins Glen

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 7, 2026) – The General Tire 100 Friday at Watkins Glen International will mark Carson Brown’s first career road-course start in the ARCA Menards Series. But if you’re thinking the 17-year-old will need all 41 laps to figure out the nuances of turning left and right around the 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course in upstate New York, think again.

Despite his youth, Brown brings a repertoire of racing skills to Watkins Glen and his No. 28 Klean Freak Chevrolet from Pinnacle Racing Group, including race-winning road-course ability in Trans Am’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series.

In 2025, Brown made five TA2 starts, which included Watkins Glen. He qualified third and finished third in his July visit to the track, and it served as a prelude to Brown’s first TA2 victory two months later when he won at VIRginia International Raceway near Alton.

“I drove for TeamSLR, and the owners, Scott Lagasse Sr. and Scott Lagasse Jr., are both former drivers. They’re very good mentors and their cars are really good, too,” Brown said. “We ended up finishing about three spots better every race, and by the time we got to VIR, we were like, ‘This is our time.’ I qualified second and, at first, was just trying to pace myself, but ended up racing really hard for the lead, and then I pulled away for the win.”

Brown won by 1.748 seconds. The three TA2 races that preceded that win obviously helped, but so did Brown’s prodigious dirt-track background. His dirt experience started in Legend Cars and continued in winged and non-winged 600cc Micro Sprint Cars beginning in 2022. Brown delved into dirt Super Late Models in 2023, winning in his sixth start Aug. 19 at Moler Raceway Park in Williamsburg, Ohio.

“My dirt experience has helped me adapt to new racetracks and new disciplines quicker,” Brown said. “Dirt tracks are always changing with the way the surface goes from tacky and smooth to dry and hard-packed, to the way the groove ends up – cushion, no cushion, a berm on the bottom. You’re forced to adapt every lap, so I’m used to experimenting and finding the feel that works best in a short amount of time.”

Brown and his ARCA counterparts have limited time to dial in their racecars before the General Tire 100. A 45-minute practice at 9:30 a.m. EDT is followed by a 20-minute group qualifying session at 10:30 a.m. That’s it for track time ahead of the 41-lap race at 1 p.m.

To take full advantage of the time available, Brown has been at the GM Tech Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, utilizing its simulator. As a development driver for Richard Childress Racing, Brown is immersed within Wise Optimization, the driver development arm of GM Motorsports.

“The sim sessions run by Josh Wise and Scott Speed are very helpful,” Brown said. “You learn your brake markers, your elevation changes, how the tires are going to grip up and where, what curbs are where, what curbs are taller than normal – it gets you prepared so that when you are out there on the track, you know what to expect. There’s still a learning curve, but it’s a little less steep.”

Brown’s ARCA results confirm that his pre-race preparation pays off. In five career ARCA starts, Brown has never finished outside the top-10. In fact, his average finish is fourth, a number bolstered by his win from the pole March 5 at Phoenix Raceway.

The sim time ahead of Friday’s race, combined with the TA2 race he ran last July at Watkins Glen, has given Brown a deep understanding of the track’s layout.

“Watkins Glen is a very fun racetrack. There’s a lot of elevation change, but it’s pretty flowy. It’s the closest a road course can get to being an oval with how the corners are shaped and how you have to carry speed through them,” Brown said.

Knowledge breeds confidence. Brown has both entering Watkins Glen, along with an extremely competent team.

“It’s my first road-course race in ARCA, but my mindset is pretty open,” Brown said. “Pinnacle Racing Group won the race last year, so winning is the expectation across the organization. It’s always the goal to come out on top. So, we’ll take all the prep work and get a baseline on the car in practice. We’ll put it all into play in the race and see how it shakes out at the end.”

The General Tire 100 will be broadcast live on FS2 and streamed on the FOX One app. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live audio coverage.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.: Make no mistake about it, ARCA Menards Series veteran Jason Kitzmiller is no road course expert, but as he navigates his second full-time season, the schedule’s diversity includes two venues where turning left and right takes top priority.

This weekend, the ARCA Menards Series returns to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International to kick off a quadrupleheader weekend of racing featuring ARCA, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and culminating with the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, May 10.

For Kitzmiller, Friday afternoon’s General Tire 100 at The Glen presents an opportunity not only to continue sharpening his road racing skills, but also to chase a measure of redemption in the Finger Lakes of New York.

It’s a double-dose weekend of redemption for the successful Virginia entrepreneur.

A strong performance two weeks ago at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway unraveled just seven laps from the checkered flag, when Kitzmiller became an innocent victim in the “Big One,” resulting in a frustrating 33rd-place finish.

But Talladega’s misfortune isn’t the only setback Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing — CR7 Motorsports team are eager to overcome.

Last summer at Watkins Glen’s 2.45-mile road course, Kitzmiller showed significant improvement from practice to qualifying and into the race, only to be collected in a late-race skirmish — again with seven laps remaining — ultimately settling for a 17th-place finish in his ARCA road course debut.

With another year of experience under his belt — and a deeper understanding of the rhythm and discipline required to succeed on road courses — Kitzmiller enters the weekend focused on putting together a complete race.

Clean laps, track position and avoiding the kind of late-race chaos that has plagued him in the past are at the forefront of the team’s objectives.

The General Tire 100, scheduled for Friday afternoon, will serve as the first of two road course challenges on the ARCA Menards Series calendar, offering Kitzmiller a valuable opportunity to measure progress against a competitive field that often features a mix of series regulars and road course specialists.

For Kitzmiller and CR7 Motorsports, the mission is clear: turn past frustrations into forward momentum.

A strong, mistake-free outing at Watkins Glen would not only deliver a much-needed result but also provide a confidence boost heading into the heart of the season, where consistency and capitalizing on opportunities can make all the difference in climbing the championship standings.

Kitzmiller said he knows Watkins Glen is still a learning curve for him, but he’s confident the gains made over the past year will show when it matters most.

‘I won’t sit here and tell you I’ve got this place figured out, because I don’t,’ Kitzmiller said. ‘But I do feel a lot more comfortable than I did a year ago. We made big strides from the first lap of practice to the end of the race last time, and I think that gives us something to build on.

“If we can keep the car clean, stay out of trouble late and execute, there’s no reason we can’t come out of here with a solid finish. That’s the goal — just put together a full race and give ourselves a shot at the end.’”

Despite the setbacks, the underlying pace has been there for Kitzmiller and his team — something that hasn’t gone unnoticed heading into the weekend.

From the steady gains made in his road course debut at Watkins Glen to the front-running speed he showcased at Talladega Superspeedway before being caught in late-race chaos, the ingredients for a breakthrough performance are evident.

Now, it’s about putting those pieces together when it counts most.

Kitzmiller emphasized that bouncing back from both disappointments isn’t just important — it’s necessary as the season begins to take shape.

“You look at both races, and it’s frustrating because we had something to show for it,” Kitzmiller said. “Watkins Glen last year, we kept getting better every time we hit the track and felt like we were in position to have a really solid finish before things got out of our control late.

“Then, Talladega — I truly believe we had a car capable of winning that race. We did everything right, put ourselves where we needed to be, and just got caught up in something we couldn’t avoid.

“That’s part of racing, but at the same time, you don’t forget those opportunities. For us, it’s about turning that frustration into motivation. We know we’ve got the speed, we know we can put ourselves in contention — now it’s about finishing the job. If we can do that this weekend, it would mean a lot for our team and give us some momentum moving forward.”

While Kitzmiller continues to grow more comfortable with the fundamentals of road course racing in dry conditions, Friday’s forecast presents a new variable.

The potential for rain could force teams onto wet-weather tires, dramatically changing the complexion of the race and placing an even greater emphasis on driver control and adaptability around the seven-turn circuit.

Still, the West Virginian is hopeful the weather holds off, allowing the race to unfold under more predictable circumstances rather than turning the already fast and technical road course into a slick, survival-style challenge.

“I think we’ve made some really good gains on the dry side of things, and that’s where I’d like to keep building,” Kitzmiller said. “If it rains, it rains — everyone has to deal with the same conditions — but that definitely throws a curveball, especially at a place like Watkins Glen where everything happens so fast.

“You go from trying to hit your marks and carry speed to just trying to keep the car underneath you and stay on track. That’s a whole different mindset. We’ll be ready for it if we have to be, but I’m definitely hoping we get a clean, dry race and can show what we’ve learned over the past year.”

Regardless of what conditions greet the field on Friday afternoon, the objective for Kitzmiller and the A.L.L. Construction Racing — CR7 Motorsports team remains unchanged.

Whether it’s dry and fast or wet and unpredictable, the focus is on executing a clean, disciplined race and capitalizing on every opportunity to be there when it matters most.

“At the end of the day, no matter what the weather does or how the race plays out, our goal is to be inside the top-10 when the checkered flag waves,” Kitzmiller said.

“That’s where we feel like we belong, and it’s what this team is capable of. If we stay patient, keep the car clean and make the right calls, I’m confident we can put ourselves in that position. That’s what we’re going after.”

For the second straight year, Kitzmiller and company welcome Carter Machinery, promoting the Caterpillar® (Cat®) brand as the primary partner aboard the No. 97 Chevrolet for Friday afternoon’s General Tire 100 at The Glen.

Carter Machinery’s humble beginnings date back to 1928, serving customers throughout Virginia and southeastern West Virginia.

As customer needs evolved, the company expanded its offerings by adding new products, services, and locations, with significant growth following its 2020 acquisition of Alban Tractor Company.

Today, Carter Machinery’s footprint spans the Mid-Atlantic, with more than 30 locations across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

The company sells, rents, and supports the full line of Cat® equipment, engines, and electric power generation systems, backed by strong parts availability, a diverse rental fleet, and an expert service team committed to customer success.

Continued investment in people, infrastructure, technology, and tooling has positioned Carter Machinery as one of Caterpillar’s premier dealers in North America and around the globe.

“We’re excited to welcome Carter Machinery back on board for Watkins Glen,” said Kitzmiller. “They’re a great example of what strong partnerships look like, whether it’s on the job site or at the race track.

“We’ve had speed in our car — from Daytona to Kansas and even at Talladega where we felt like we had something to contend with before things went the wrong way late. Now it’s about putting a full race together and continuing to make gains, especially at a place like Watkins Glen where every lap matters.

“Their commitment to performance and reliability matches what we’re working toward as a team. We’re proud to represent the Cat® brand again and hopefully give them a strong, clean run on Friday.”

In addition to Carter Machinery, A.L.L. Construction Inc., Grant County Mulch, A&J Excavating, Cobra Mining, Champion Power Equipment and Volt Battery Technology will all serve as associate marketing partners for his 52nd career ARCA Menards Series start.

Entering Watkins Glen, Kitzmiller, 52, sits sixth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 27 points behind championship leader Jake Bollman with 16 races remaining.

The A.L.L. Construction Racing — CR7 Motorsports team also holds a solid eighth place in the championship owner standings.

Since 2020, Kitzmiller has earned two top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in 51 ARCA Menards Series starts, including a career-best third-place effort at Daytona International Speedway in February 2025.

The General Tire at The Glen (41 laps | 100.45 miles) is the fifth of 20 races on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Friday, May 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., while group qualifying is slated to begin shortly thereafter at 10:30 a.m. The race is scheduled to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. ET. The continuation of the 74th season of ARCA competition will be televised live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).