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NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS: ELITE MOTORSPORTS EVENT PREVIEW

CONCORD, N.C. (April 22 2026) – After securing their first Top Fuel victory in just the third race with a nitro program, Elite Motorsports enters this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the fourth of 20 events on the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule, on a high-note.

Elite Motorsports Tallies First Top Fuel Victory

Tony Stewart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team, led by crew chiefs Mike Green and Joe Barlam, rallied to victory at the NHRA Winternationals defeating rising-star Justin Ashley for the third Top Fuel victory of Stewart’s career.

Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman purchased the Top Fuel operation late in the 2025 season and quickly began putting the pieces together for a full-time program starting with Stewart as the driver. R+L Carriers came on board and with the hiring of championship crew chiefs Green and Barlam, a winning operation took shape.

Through the first two races Stewart and the R+L crew qualified in the top five and had quarterfinal finishes to put them sixth in points. Their No. 7 qualifying position and victory in Southern California pushed them into fourth in points as they look to finish out the first quarter of the Mission Foods season.

“All the ingredients are here. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but to see these guys and see their progression, it’s awesome. It’s been great to race with them,” Stewart said. “This is not easy, we definitely know that, but it’s such a unique and great group of people at Elite Motorsports. To get Richard his first win in the nitro class, there’s no words to express how much that means. It’s such a special deal and a cool feeling.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. Reaches Milestone

When Jeg Coughlin Jr. takes the tree during the first round of eliminations on Sunday at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, it will be his 500th NHRA Pro Stock national event start.

“Five hundred Pro Stock events. Yet it seems like yesterday I was making my debut at the 1997 Dallas FallNationals,” said Jeg Jr. who raced his first full professional season in 1998. “I’ve had so many great runs, wins and championships since then. And been on so many great teams and made some awesome fans along the way. It really has been such a fun run and we ain’t done yet.”

En route to the milestone, Jeg Jr. was the 1998 Rookie of the Year, has visited the final round professionally 121 times and tallied 69 Pro Stock victories and is the only professional driver to visit the winners circle from all 16 possible starting positions. In the sportsman ranks, Jeg Jr. has tallied 19 national event wins in 26 final rounds and a Super Gas world championship. This weekend, he’ll be hoping to round out his Pro Stock victories to 70.

“As we continue into Charlotte and our 4-Wide event, this JEGS team couldn’t be more excited,” Jeg Jr. said. “Our car has been better and showing signs of winning ways. If we could pull that off this weekend it would be my 70th Pro Stock victory. That would be really cool. Stay tuned to FS1 this weekend and follow how it goes.”

HBOT4 Heroes Hosts Decorated Veteran

Elite Motorsports partner, HBOT4 Heroes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans and first responders suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), post‑traumatic stress (PTSD), and other invisible wounds of service, has invited Sergeant Major Joe Houles to be their guest for the 4-Wide Nationals weekend.

Retired Sgt. Maj. Joe Houle is a highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served 32 years, including service in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart. After retiring in 2000, he became a key co-founder and director for the Carolina Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville, N.C., dedicated to preserving the legacy of Carolina Marines and Sailors.

Troy and Jeg Coughlin Jr. Bring Awareness to Children of Valor

Jeg and Troy Coughlin Jr., along with Paige Coughlin who will be racing in the Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, have come together to support Children of Valor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the children of Special Operations military service members.

The organization will have a midway display as well as representation on Troy Jr., Jeg Jr. and Paige Coughlin’s hot rods. The weekend will highlight the organization’s growing partnership with Troy Jr., a longtime supporter of Children of Valor and owner of Revelry 1 clothing which recently designed a limited-edition collaborative t-shirt to raise awareness and support for the nonprofit’s mission. The t-shirt will be available at the Children of Valor midway display.

Children of Valor will also have guests Thomas Moore, a Children of Valor ambassador and previous grant recipient sharing his story for month of the military child (April), and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rick Fowler, who served 20 years on active duty in the Navy. He retired from SEAL Team 1 and served another 25 years as the Force Training Officer for Naval Special Warfare, onsite for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.

Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge

The four-wide format for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals offers additional opportunity for Elite Motorsports drivers to take home victory. Like the regular two-wide format, the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge will be a rematch of the semifinal competitors from the previous race, however, at zMAX, the rematch will also include quarterfinalists to keep with the four-wide format through qualifying.

Not only will race winner Tony Stewart and semifinalist Greg Stanfield compete in the race-within-a-race but quarterfinalists Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. as well.

Elite Motorsports Continues Expansion

Earlier this week it was officially announced that Mike Lomas will join Elite Motorsports competing in the Lucas Oil NHRA Drag Racing Series. Lomas joins Royce Lee Freeman in the Competition Eliminator category and will make his debut at zMAX Dragway this weekend. The addition solidifies Elite’s commitment to growing the sport. The team now houses six Pro Stock cars, a Top Fuel dragster, two Competition Eliminator entries as well as a Pro Mod program driven by Mason Wright.

Competition at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 4:15 and 7 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at noon. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning with qualifying shows Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at noon ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

The Role of Experience in Building a Winning Racing Career

In the high-octane world of professional motorsport, the narrative often focuses on the breathtaking arrival of teenage prodigies. Armed with lightning-fast reflexes, absolute fearlessness, and a seemingly innate ability to extract raw speed from a machine, young drivers frequently dominate the headlines. However, while raw talent is the key that unlocks the door to elite categories like Formula 1, the World Endurance Championship, or the World Rally Championship, it is not the factor that builds a lasting legacy.

When analyzing the careers of multi-time world champions, a distinct pattern emerges: peak performance is rarely achieved in the early twenties. Instead, the true mastery of motorsport is a slow-cooked amalgamation of intuition, tactical patience, and psychological fortitude. Experience is the invisible force multiplier that transforms a fast driver into a dominant champion. To understand how a racing career is truly built, we must dissect the multi-faceted role that years behind the wheel play in shaping a driver’s approach to the track, the team, and the immense pressure of the sport.

The Nuances of Racecraft and Resource Management

In junior categories, races are often short, frantic sprints where the driver who pushes the hardest from start to finish emerges victorious. In elite professional racing, however, the paradigm shifts to endurance and resource management. A veteran driver understands that a race is not won in the first corner, but rather orchestrated over hundreds of miles.

Experienced drivers excel in several critical areas of racecraft:

  • Tire Preservation: Veterans can feel the micro-degradation of rubber through the steering wheel. They know precisely how to alter their braking points and cornering lines to extend the life of a tire compound far beyond the manufacturer’s predictions.
  • Fuel Efficiency: Knowing how to “lift and coast” without losing significant lap time allows seasoned drivers to finish a race lighter and faster, or to execute strategies that younger drivers simply cannot physically manage.
  • Strategic Overtaking: Instead of forcing a high-risk pass immediately, an experienced driver will spend laps studying the car ahead, identifying their rival’s weakest corner, and executing a clean, calculated overtake when the battery deployment or aerodynamic tow is optimal.

This profound understanding of the “long game” is what separates the impulsive from the elite. A rookie might set the fastest lap of the race but ultimately finish fourth because they destroyed their tires in the process. Conversely, a veteran will happily sacrifice a tenth of a second per lap to ensure they have the grip required to defend their position during the chaotic final laps. This transition from driving a car to actively managing a complex mechanical system is a skill that can only be forged in the crucible of real-world racing experience.

Psychological Resilience and Pressure Management

Motorsport is a uniquely isolating endeavor. Once the visor goes down, the driver is entirely alone, strapped into a volatile machine traveling at over 300 kilometers per hour, with the weight of hundreds of team employees and millions of fans resting on their shoulders.

The psychological armor built over years of competing provides veterans with several distinct advantages:

  • Emotional Compartmentalization: If a pit stop is botched or a mechanical failure occurs, experienced drivers do not succumb to “red mist” or blind rage. They instantly reset, adjusting their strategy to salvage the best possible result from a compromised situation.
  • Navigating Media Scrutiny: Veterans know how to deflect the immense pressure of the global sporting press, shielding themselves from the psychological warfare that takes place off the track.
  • Decisiveness in Chaos: When sudden rain falls or a safety car is deployed, the veteran does not panic. They have an internal database of past scenarios to draw upon, allowing them to make split-second, race-winning calls on tire changes before the team engineers even have time to analyze the radar.

This psychological resilience ensures that a bad qualifying session does not ruin the entire weekend. Experience teaches a driver that the championship is a marathon. They learn to accept when a car is only capable of finishing fifth, banking the points rather than risking a devastating crash in a futile attempt to win. This emotional maturity and calculated risk assessment are the hallmarks of a driver who understands the bigger picture of a championship campaign.

Adaptation and Analytical Thinking

The technological landscape of motorsport evolves at a breakneck pace. The cars driven at the start of a decade are fundamentally different from those driven at its end. Aerodynamic regulations change, hybrid power units are introduced, and software systems become exponentially more complex. A driver relying solely on natural talent will quickly become obsolete if they cannot adapt their driving style to the demands of new machinery.

This relentless pursuit of mental sharpness, pattern recognition, and strategic adaptation extends far beyond the paddock. In the modern digital age, analytical minds frequently seek out fresh challenges to test their cognitive flexibility and risk-assessment skills in varied environments. For instance, enthusiasts who explore new casino games online are fundamentally engaging in a very similar psychological exercise: they must quickly learn novel mechanics, calculate shifting probabilities, and adapt to unfamiliar reward systems. In racing, this capacity to rapidly master the unknown, process dense streams of telemetry data, and translate it into a winning strategy is exactly what allows veterans to outsmart younger, highly-rated opponents year after year.

Guiding Team Engineering and Development

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of an experienced driver’s value is their role outside of the cockpit. In elite racing, a driver is not merely an employee who steers the car; they are the most critical sensor in the entire engineering feedback loop.

A veteran’s experience transforms the team dynamic through:

  • Precise Feedback: While a rookie might simply say a car “feels loose,” an experienced driver can pinpoint exactly which phase of the corner the aerodynamic balance shifts, giving engineers the exact data they need to adjust the suspension geometry.
  • Development Direction: Veterans have the historical context to know which development paths lead to dead ends. They guide the factory’s aerodynamic and mechanical updates, effectively building the car around their preferred driving style over the course of a season.
  • Leadership and Morale: In times of technical crisis or poor performance, an experienced world champion serves as the emotional anchor for the entire garage, uniting mechanics and engineers toward a common goal.

This collaborative engineering prowess means that a veteran driver can effectively make a mediocre car good, and a good car exceptional. They possess the vocabulary and the technical understanding to bridge the gap between human intuition and data-driven engineering. This is why top-tier teams will often pay a premium to secure a driver in their late thirties; they are investing not just in a pilot, but in a chief developmental consultant.

Conclusion: The Crucible of Time

In conclusion, while youth and raw speed will always capture the imagination of the public, the foundation of a winning racing career is built on the bedrock of experience. It is the years of trial, error, heartbreak, and triumph that forge a driver capable of conquering the world’s most demanding circuits.

Experience transforms a fast driver into a complete racer. It teaches the invaluable lessons of tire management, emotional control, technological adaptation, and engineering leadership. As long as motorsport remains a complex intersection of human endurance and mechanical perfection, the seasoned veteran—armed with the scars and wisdom of countless battles—will continue to hold the ultimate advantage when the lights go out.

The Hidden Challenges Behind Hit and Run Accident Claims

Some crashes leave more than damage behind. They leave silence, confusion, and a road full of questions nobody answers. A hit-and-run accident can turn a normal claim into a stressful chase for proof, payment, and peace of mind. The other driver disappears, but the problems stay.

That is why many people seek legal help after a hit-and-run accident sooner than expected. These cases often involve missing details, stubborn insurance disputes, and evidence that can fade quickly. If the path feels unfair, you are seeing the hidden side of these claims, and it deserves attention.

The Driver Is Gone, but the Damage Stays

In a regular crash, both drivers usually stop, exchange information, and begin the claim process. In a hit-and-run case, that basic step never happens. The person responsible leaves, taking key details with them.

Meanwhile, the injured person may be left with pain, vehicle damage, towing bills, and medical treatment. There may be no name, no insurance card, and no clear story about what happened.

This missing link creates a harder starting point. Instead of moving straight into recovery, the victim often has to begin with uncertainty. Even simple questions become difficult to answer.

Who caused the crash? What vehicle was involved? Was the driver intoxicated, distracted, or uninsured? Those missing facts can slow everything down.

Finding Proof Becomes the First Battle

Evidence matters in every injury claim, but it matters even more in a hit-and-run case. Since the other driver is absent, proof must come from the scene and the people around it.

Useful evidence may include:

  • Witness names and phone numbers.
  • Traffic or business camera footage.
  • Photos of damage and road marks.
  • Police reports.
  • Broken parts left behind.
  • Nearby dash camera recordings.

The problem is speed. Cameras may erase footage. Witnesses move on. Weather changes the scene. Memories fade quickly.

That means the first battle is often not with insurance. It is with time. Strong evidence collected early can shape the whole claim, while lost evidence can weaken it before it begins.

Insurance Claims Are Not Always Easy

Many people believe their own insurance company will automatically step in and solve everything. Sometimes coverage helps, but claims are not always simple.

If you are a victim of a hit and run, you may need to use uninsured motorist coverage or similar protection, depending on the policy. Even then, insurers may request proof, statements, repair records, medical records, and details about the missing driver.

They may ask whether contact actually happened. They may question injuries. They may review treatment timing or dispute the value of losses.

This can feel frustrating because the injured person did nothing wrong, yet still must prove the case carefully. The lack of an identified driver often creates more scrutiny, not less.

Time Can Quietly Hurt the Case

Many hit-and-run claims lose strength through delay. Pain may seem small at first, so treatment is postponed. Photos are forgotten. Reports are filed late. Calls to insurers are pushed aside because life feels overwhelming.

Unfortunately, delay can create problems such as:

  • Gaps in medical records.
  • Missing surveillance footage.
  • Harder witness contact.
  • Questions about injury seriousness.
  • Missed notice deadlines under policies.

Even a strong case can become harder if too much time passes. Quick action does not mean panic. It means protecting facts while they still exist.

Keeping records, saving receipts, and seeking medical care early often helps more than people realize.

The Emotional Weight of an Unknown Driver

There is another challenge people rarely discuss. Hit-and-run crashes can feel deeply personal because someone chose to leave.

That choice often creates anger, stress, and a sense of powerlessness. Victims may replay the event again and again, wondering if the driver will ever be found. They may feel blamed by insurance questions or exhausted by paperwork.

This emotional pressure can make decisions harder. Some people accept low settlements just to end the stress. Others avoid treatment because they are mentally drained.

A claim is not only about paperwork. It is also about handling the strain created by a driver who vanished instead of taking responsibility.

Strong Claims Usually Come From Clear Steps

Hit-and-run cases reward the organization. Small actions often make a big difference later.

Helpful steps include seeking treatment, reporting the crash, gathering photos, keeping expense records, and responding carefully to insurance requests. Staying consistent matters.

Even if the driver is never found, a well-documented claim may still have value through available coverage. Many people do not realize that until much later.

The key is not guessing your way through a confusing process.

Final Thoughts

Hit and run accident claims are harder because the person at fault disappears, while the injured person must carry the burden of proof. Missing evidence, insurance disputes, deadlines, and emotional strain can all reduce the value of a valid claim if handled poorly.

That is why many people look for legal help after a hit-and-run accident before mistakes pile up. Clear records, timely action, and steady guidance can turn a chaotic situation into a stronger path forward.

Reliable Moving Services for Furniture and Belongings in Toronto by A-Z Moving

As in any major Canadian city, moving services are in high demand in Toronto; the vast majority of residents planning to move flat, house or office realise that organising a move themselves is not the best idea. It makes much more sense to contact A-Z Moving or other companies offering similar services, so that they can handle all the complexities of organising the move. In this way, A-Z Moving’s customers and clients are offered a convenient alternative to having to deal with a complicated move themselves. There is no need to book a moving van yourself, pack your belongings, load everything onto the van, and so on. Why take such a risk? In the process, as an inexperienced mover, you could damage your belongings, and then the savings you hoped to make by doing everything yourself will certainly not pay off. It is far wiser to turn to professionals straight away, who can guarantee the safe transport of your belongings and ensure that nothing gets damaged or lost during the move.

Why You Should Choose A-Z Moving Services

Of course, A-Z Moving isn’t the only moving company Toronto; there are plenty of other firms that also provide convenient, high-quality moving services in the city. Nevertheless, anyone who frequently finds themselves needing to organise a move – whether it be a personal move, such as moving out of a flat or house, or a business-related move, such as relocating a factory, office or shop – will appreciate this. All these people understand that if they need to use moving services in Toronto frequently, it is worth carefully researching the market for these services and finding the best balance between service quality and price.

At A-Z Moving, this is exactly what you get; by contacting us, you can be sure that you will find the most affordable prices available in Toronto for such services. At the same time, the quality of service—which primarily involves the efficiency of the organisation’s moving services and, of course, a guarantee that all your belongings will be securely packed and delivered without the slightest risk of damage— is all provided by A-Z Moving, so you can be confident that you have chosen one of the best moving companies in Toronto.

Packing your belongings before a move

A major advantage of A-Z Moving is that you choose exactly the services you need. If you wish to pack your belongings yourself – perhaps because you don’t trust the moving team or want to save money – at A-Z Moving you can book precisely the Toronto moving services you require, whilst anything you don’t need and can do yourself you won’t have to pay for them.

You can always buy packing materials here and, if necessary, insure your belongings. This is very convenient, because if you’re moving something that’s extremely fragile and expensive, then in any situation—even if it happens to get damaged through the company’s fault—you’ll be compensated for the full value of those items.

It is precisely the flexibility that A-Z Moving offers its customers that has enabled the company to establish itself as a leader amongst all providers of similar services in Toronto. If you want to organise a move to Toronto quickly and affordably, A-Z Moving is the obvious choice for you if you are looking for the best value for money. Of course, you could try to organise the move yourself, face certain risks and problems along the way, and learn from personal experience that it is far more beneficial to entrust such tasks to professionals.

Data-Driven Betting: How Analytics Improve Your Chances of Winning

The development of sports betting has changed to being based on gut instinct and local allegiance to a more rigorous, mathematical system. The distinction between a casual punter and a profitable one in the modern world of betting may be the capacity to process large amounts of data. Data-driven betting uses historical performance, real-time statistics, and predictive models to determine value where the general market may view just noise. By considering each match a set of data points, but not an emotional experience, bettors are able to reduce risk and exploit mathematical advantages.

Key Statistical Foundations for Successful Wagering

It takes more than following the latest scores to be successful in the modern gambling world. It requires knowledge of the way bookmakers make their lines and how the lines do not represent the statistical reality of an event. Although most fans seek the best betting sites offers in order to leverage the initial bankroll, the viability of the betting plan in the long-term is determined by the quality of data.

Nowadays, modern analytics systems offer availability of anticipated objectives (xG), player efficiency ratings, and sophisticated situational metrics, which previously were considered the prerogative of professional syndicates. By employing these tools, it is possible to determine probability more objectively and ensure that all the bets made are supported by a verifiable trend and not a mere hunch.

Using Predictive Modeling to Find Value

Predictive modeling is the process of making predictions based on past data to determine the future of events. Each of the factors, including home-field advantage, weather conditions, and injury reports, has a weight assigned to it, allowing the bettor to compute his/her own true odds of a game.

You have found value when your model indicates that a particular team has a 60% chance of winning, yet the bookmaker is telling you that it has only a 50% chance.

Essential Mathematical Models for Bettors

  • Poisson Distribution: The Poisson Distribution is commonly applied in sports with low scores, such as soccer, to determine the probability of a particular scoreline given an average scoring rate.
  • Elo Rating: A player/team skill calculation system, which changes dynamically after each match.
  • Regression Analysis: Assists in establishing the power of the correlation between certain variables, e.g., a quarterback passer rating and the chances of a team to cover the spread.

Machine Learning Integration in Sports Markets

Machine learning has emerged as a foundation of high-level sports analytics as computational power becomes more powerful. Contrary to the fixed models, machine learning algorithms have the ability to discover non-linear relationships in data that are complicated and could not be detected by human analysts.

The systems are capable of handling thousands of variables at a time, including travel fatigue and social media sentiment. Through predictive modeling of sports, the bettors will be able to correct their strategy to consider the noise of the data so that the insights they use are statistically significant, rather than mere chance streaks.

Advanced Player Metrics and Impact Analysis

To have a competitive advantage, it is necessary to examine beyond the simple box scores. In basketball, e.g., a more detailed picture of the contribution of a player is presented by “Player Impact Estimate” (PIE) compared to points per game. Expected Points Added (EPA) is a measure in football of the impact of a given play on the probability of a team scoring.

Critical Performance Data for Individual Athletes

  • Usage Rate: Determines the players who have the highest impact on the offense’s possessions of their team’s offense, which is essential in player prop bets.
  • Clutch Performance Data: Examines the performance of teams and individuals during high-pressure situations or during the last few minutes of a game.
  • Defensive Efficiency: Calculates how much a team is efficient in stopping scoring in relation to the number of possessions, which is more informative than total points allowed.

Bankroll Management and Reducing Financial Variance

Even the most advanced data models are not able to take into consideration the randomness of sports. Variance reduction and managing bankroll comes into play here. Kelly Criterion is a mathematical formula that is commonly used by professional bettors to determine how many bets to place and their size.

This will make sure that you will only bet more when the edge is high and less when the edge is thin, so that your capital is not wasted in the cold streaks that are bound to come with any statistical venture. 

Probabilistic betting strategies enable you to view your bankroll as an investment portfolio, focusing on long-term returns instead of short-term payoffs.

Tracking Market Sentiment and Line Movement

It is not just about the sport that data-driven betting is about, but also about the market. Following the “Sharp Action”–in which the most reputable, high-volume gamblers are putting their money–can give some hints as to where the value is. In the event of the line moving against the direction of the heavy betting by the masses (Reverse Line Movement), it is a good sign that the pros are on the other side. Learning these market dynamics constitutes a kind of meta-data analysis that adds to your technical sport-based models.

Understanding the Importance of Closing Lines

Closing Line Value is one of the most important measures that can help determine how successful you are as a data-driven bettor. CLV is calculated as the odds which you bet and the odds which are provided at the end of the run before the run has begun.

When you continually beat the closing line, then it is a sign that you are discovering value before the market can do the same. A positive CLV is the best predictor of long-term profitability, over hundreds of bets, because it demonstrates your model is faster and more precise than the general betting population.

Building Sustainable Frameworks for Future Success

The last step towards parting ways with casual wagering is the creation of a personal database. You can backtest by storing your personal data and comparing the results of your model with the actual conditions. The process will help you fine-tune your variables and make better future predictions. A disciplined structure is associated with incessant trial, abandoning the search of the best betting sites offers as a main objective and, rather, on the systematic extraction of value in the odds.

Using the insights gained through algorithmic wagering, you can no longer play the game of chance but instead engage in a complex risk management and probability game. It is only with this strict use of data that a bettor can hope to keep ahead of the curve in an ever-more-efficient market.

RACING LEGEND TONY STEWART LOOKS TO CONTINUE FOUR-WIDE SUCCESS AT ZMAX DRAGWAY

CONCORD, N.C. (April 22, 2026) – Coming off a monumental win in the Top Fuel ranks, Tony Stewart is headed to zMAX Dragway for a race he’s enjoyed immensely in his brief NHRA career, as the racing legend looks to pick up another four-wide win at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.

Stewart is a self-declared fan of the unique four-wide setup, which provides the ultimate sensory overload with four nitro-burning machines racing at once and nearly 50,000-horsepower at once, delivering the ultimate spectacle in motorsports.

This weekend marks the only four-wide race of the year during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and Stewart has enjoyed plenty of success in the format, previously advancing to the final quad in Charlotte and winning a four-wide race last year in Las Vegas.

That was his first career Top Fuel win and his third came at the most recent race in Pomona this season, where Stewart handed Pro Stock powerhouse Elite Motorsports its first-ever Top Fuel victory. That was another major moment for Stewart in his NHRA career, but he sees plenty of potential and a bright future with his 12,000-horsepower R&L Carriers dragster, with a chance for back-to-back wins on the season this weekend in Charlotte.

“All the ingredients are here,” Stewart said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but to see these guys and see their progression, it’s awesome. It’s been great to race with them. This is not easy, we definitely know that, but it’s such a unique and great group of people at Elite Motorsports. To get Richard (Freeman, Elite Motorsports team owner) his first win in the nitro class, there’s no words to express how much that means. It’s such a special deal and a cool feeling.”

This year’s visit to Charlotte, which is the fourth of 20 races in 2026, will also continue the season-long celebration of NHRA’s 75th anniversary, where fans can expect multiple highlights at zMAX Dragway, including:

  • An appearance from NHRA’s four-time Funny Car world champion Hagan, as well as NHRA legends Darryl Gwynn and Frank Manzo.
  • On Sunday, a free, limited-edition NHRA schedule magnet will be given to the first 5,000 fans in attendance to take in eliminations.
  • A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and much more.

For Stewart, competing during this milestone year means a great deal to him. His Tony Stewart Racing team remains as strong as ever, with his wife, Top Fuel standout Leah Pruett, back in the sport and Matt Hagan tied for first in points in the Funny Car ranks.

He’s now helping Elite Motorsports move into the nitro ranks, adding another standout car in the loaded field that also includes points leader and reigning world champ Doug Kalitta, Langdon, Pomona runner-up Justin Ashley, Antron Brown, Josh Hart, who won in Gainesville, Clay Millican and rookie sensation Maddi Gordon.

A year ago, Stewart won twice and earned NHRA’s regular-season championship and now he’s hoping for more big moments during a huge season in NHRA history.

“We’re honored to be part of NHRA’s 75th anniversary. It truly is an honor. The camaraderie here in the pit area, it’s truly a large, large family and we’re grateful to be here,” Stewart said.

Funny Car’s Prock swept the four-wide races last year and the back-to-back world champ will look to get on track against the likes of Hagan, Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, class newcomer Jordan Vandergriff, Alexis DeJoria and Gainesville winner Chad Green.

Dallas Glenn powered his way to his first Pro Stock world title in 2025 and won last season’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals when he defeated KB Titan Racing teammate and six-time champ Greg Anderson, 2026 Gainesville winner Matt Hartford and Eric Latino.

Pro Stock Motorcycle returns in Charlotte after last racing at the season opener in Gainesville. Six-time world champ Matt Smith won at his home track last season when he defeated reigning world champ Richard Gadson, two-time champ Gaige Herrera and veteran Steve Johnson. Gadson opened 2026 with a win and will face off against the likes of Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo, John Hall and Chase Van Sant.

The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals will also feature the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown.

The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals will see the debut of the new Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series is an exciting new showcase for 2026 and will feature 10 drivers, with three rounds of qualifying over the course of Friday and Saturday in Charlotte, followed by semifinals and finals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway.

Fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, autograph sessions and much more. Race fans in Charlotte can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. Fans are also invited to congratulate the event winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 24 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 25 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 26. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 11 a.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations action at 7 p.m. ET to follow.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, please visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-3267. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.


About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

NASCAR at Talladega Spring 2026 Weekend Schedule

NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27, 2025 in Talladega, Alabama Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images

The NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Series head to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Grammy winner Zac Brown will serve as grand marshal for the Jack Link’s 500.

The ARCA Menards will join them Saturday afternoon for a full schedule of racing.

The Craftsman Truck Series has the week off but will return to competition at Texas Motor Speedway on May 1.

Cup Series Notes:

2025 Spring Pole Winner: Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

2025 Spring Race Winner: Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

Kyle Busch leads all active Cup Series drivers with 41 starts at Talladega. He is followed by Denny Hamlin (40), Joey Logano (34), Brad Keselowski (34) and Michael McDowell (30).

Bill Elliott leads the Cup Series in poles at Talladega with eight poles – 1985 sweep, 1986 sweep, 1987 sweep, spring 1990 and fall 1993.

Chase Elliott is the youngest Cup Series pole winner at Talladega – May 1, 2016, at 20 years, 5 months and 3 days.

Hendrick Motorsports leads the Cup Series in team poles – 13 poles among eight drivers at Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. holds the record for the most consecutive Cup Series victories at Talladega Superspeedway with four straight – 2001 Fall race, 2002 Spring and Fall races and the 2003 Spring race.

O’Reilly Series Notes:

Talladega is the third race in the Dash 4 Cash program.

The Dash 3 Cash drivers include Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Taylor Gray and Jesse Love.

Allgaier is the only driver in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series who has scored stage points in every stage this season. He leads the series with 151 stage points.

JR Motorsports leads the series in Most Dash 4 Cash wins with 25.

Jeb Burton and Austin Hill have the most wins at Talladega among active drivers in the series, with 2 each.

Drivers with the most Top 5s at Talladega all-time:

Joe Nemechek: 7
Joey Logano: 7
Justin Allgaier: 6
Ryan Sieg: 5
Elliott Sadler: 5

Friday, April 24

3:30 p.m.: ARCA Practice
5:30 p.m.: O’Reilly Qualifying – CW App

Saturday, April 25

10:30 a.m.: Cup Series Qualifying
Prime/MRN/SiriusXM
Post Qualifying: NASCAR Press Pass

12:30 p.m.: ARCA Alabama Manufactured Housing 200
76 Laps – 202.16 Miles
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM

4 p.m.: O’Reilly Ag-Pro 300
Stages end on Laps 25/50/113 = 300.58 Miles CW/MRN/SiriusXM
Post Race: NASCAR Press Pass

Sunday, April 26

3 p.m.: Cup Series Jack Link’s 500
Stages end on Laps 98/143/188 = 500.08 Miles
FOX/FOX One/HBO Max/MRN/SiriusXM
Post Race: NASCAR Press Pass

*All times are Eastern.

Connor Zilisch Trans Am Rookie Season Interview

Connor Zilisch at Martinsville Speedway by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

This marks the return of Rookie Seasons, in which Speedway Media looks back at a driver’s rookie years in racing.

This past weekend at Kansas Speedway, we chatted with upcoming NASCAR superstar and Trackhouse Racing driver, Connor Zilisch. During this interview, we talked with him about his career and how he got into racing.

We discussed his journey and how he went down the Trans Am racing path with Nitro Motorsports. And eventually, with Silver Hare Racing, to make his first start in 2021 at Virginia International Raceway. We also discussed his first few starts in the Mazda MX-5 Cup class and how close he was to winning the championship in 2022, memories of his first Daytona start that season, and many more.

SM: Obviously, it’s been mentioned that you are a first-generation driver. How did you discover racing and what was it about racing that made you want to go compete instead of doing other sports?

CZ: “I’ve started racing when I was four and a half years old, and been basically (racing) for as long as I can remember,” Zilisch said. “My dad got me into it when he got me a go-kart for Christmas one year and that kind of started it all. I fell in love with it really quickly.”

SM: Clearly, it’s been stated that without Kevin Harvick, you may not be racing in NASCAR at the current moment. If it wasn’t for Kevin, do you think you would not be in NASCAR right now, and if you weren’t, where do you think you would have eventually wound up? Still in Sports Cars, Trans Am, maybe IndyCar?

CZ: “It’s so hard to tell what would’ve happened,” the Trackhouse Racing driver said. “Obviously, Kevin (Harvick) did a lot for me when I was a teenager racing with Keelan (Harvick) in go-karts and obviously, he saw something in me and wanted to help me. It definitely opened the door to myself to get into this sport and get into this industry. It’s hard saying where I would’ve gone without that.”

SM: Going into the Trans AM direction. Your first start came in 2021 in the TA2 class for Nitro Motorsports at VIR at the age of 15. First, were you ready to start your racing career? And, did you think it would lead you to where you are now?

CZ: “No, I definitely didn’t think (racing in Trans Am) would lead to where I am today,” he said. “When I was 15-years-old doing that, I was just trying to make the most of every opportunity I had. And, I didn’t really know what I was going to do the following year. It’s pretty crazy how things have transpired and where I’ve gotten to today. It’s wild to think, looking back, my first start came five years ago.”

SM: Following up on that, discuss what it was like making your debut at that age, and how you got the opportunity to drive for Nitro Motorsports and eventually, Silver Hare Racing? Was it part of the Chevrolet developmental program? And was it a dream come true for you to start racing in motorsports?

CZ: “Nitro (Motorsports) wasn’t a part of the Chevrolet program,” Zilisch said. “The guy who owns it (Nick Tucker), I raced for his go-kart team and he started that Trans Am team. And he used to work for Kevin (Harvick) on his Cup car, and traveled with him. I had a connection there through him and that first start kind of came through that. Then, the relationship with Silver Hare came from when I was making my name known in the Trans Am world after that.”

SM: At age 15, did you feel like you were ready to race in Trans Am at that time when you were young?

CZ: “Yeah, I felt ready for it,” he said. “I’ve never really thought there was anything I’ve done to this point that I felt like I could do or figure out. I was young at the time, but I was able to figure it out.”

SM: Speaking of which, when you first started, would you have preferred a part-time schedule in ’21 and then a full schedule the year after, or did you like having a full-time schedule right away to help get acquainted with learning the car?

CZ: “I enjoyed doing the full-time schedule and more seat time at that age is better,” Zilisch said. “The more racing I could do, the better.”

SM: Coming into Trans Am, what kind of expectations did you put on yourself? Obviously, race wins and championships are on your mind, but realistically, what were those general expectations and did those ever change throughout time?

CZ: “I wanted to get in there and win races,” he said. “I knew if I wasn’t, I knew I wouldn’t make it to the next level. It took me a little bit of time and my team a little bit of time to get where we needed to be, but we eventually got to that place where we were able to win each and every week, and contend for wins at the racetracks.”

SM: As previously mentioned, your first start came at VIR, where you claimed the pole position with a new track record as a rookie driver. If you can remember, what were the weeks like leading up to your debut? Were you anxious, nervous, or were you ready to go after practice and qualifying? Did you feel as though your previous road course experience helped with some of those potential nerves you might’ve had?

CZ: “I had done a little bit of testing (the weeks before), so I’ve felt pretty comfortable in the car,” Zilisch said. “That was kind of one of my first big races that I was doing and I was definitely nervous leading into it. However, once we got to the track and we practiced, we were really fast in practice and it was a sigh of relief.”

SM: Unfortunately, the race didn’t pan out as you would’ve hoped, finishing 22nd due to an injector failure. Despite that, you were able to lead four laps. Looking back, what in your mind do you think you could’ve done differently to have prevented that, and what was it like leading laps for the first time in a Trans Am car? I’m sure it had to be surreal for you.

CZ: “It was really cool to have been able to qualify on the pole and lead the first bit of the race,” the 19-year-old said. “Yeah, unfortunately, it was bad luck and there’s nothing nobody could’ve done.”

SM: VIR would be the only start that year in TA2 before ’22 and ’23. At the same time, you started racing in IMSA, primarily the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series, toward the end of the year at the season-ending race, Road Atlanta. Was that to help you gain more experience and fill out your schedule? How different was it going back and forth with the MX-5 cars and the Trans Am cars, knowing you would be doing that a lot in ’22? Did you think it helped your race craft at all?

CZ: “No, I didn’t,” Zilisch said regarding going back and forth between Trans Am and Mazda MX-5 Cup. “It was what I was used to at that point in my career, driving a bunch of different cars in different series. Just more seat time was valuable for me at that age.”

SM: Based on your performance at VIR, you were able to get invited by the Silver Hare Racing team the following season. Before we talk about that, was VIR your only slated start in Trans Am, and how much of a weight was lifted off your shoulders to get a full-time season in both TA2 and Mazda?

CZ: “It was good to have something I could rely on and be able to race a full-time schedule, at least very close to it with Silver Hare, and they gave me a great opportunity,” he said. “I knew I had to go and make the most of it.”

SM: Having a full-time schedule can definitely change your perspective on your expectations. Did those change in ’22, and did you find it difficult to manage those expectations as you were competing in two different series at the same time?

CZ: Yes, it (expectations changed) did,” Zilisch said. “I felt like we had a great opportunity to go out and race for wins. Everybody at Silver Hare Racing wanted to and was putting in the effort to do so. It definitely motivated me to go out and do it. Obviously, it took us a little bit of time to get where we needed to be.”

SM: Speaking of which, your first overall Daytona start came in that season with the Mazda Series with Hixon Motor Sports. What do you remember about your first Daytona experience? Being in the garage area, on pit road, pace laps before the green, etc., was it all surreal for you?

CZ: “I grew up racing at the go-kart track there, so I had been there a bunch,” he said. “It’s always pretty incredible driving under the tunnel and getting into Daytona, seeing the entire place. It’s definitely one of the more historic tracks we go to on the NASCAR schedule. But being there on the Rolex 24 weekend was really cool. It was kind of one of my first times being at an event that big, participating.”

SM: Going back to Trans Am, a little bit, you somewhat had a rough season starting out before you managed to have better finishes toward the end of the year. Was there ever a learning curve or an adjustment with the car and did you ever get comfortable with it by season’s end, especially going back and forth between the two series?

CZ: “I felt pretty comfortable in both of them right away,” Zilisch said. “It was just a matter of getting the car where I needed it to be and go out and contend for (race wins). I feel like I did a pretty good job of getting comfortable, but I had to work on my feedback and making sure I was portraying the right message to my crew chief.”

SM: Despite not having a great season in the TA2 class, you were setting the world on fire in the MX-5 Cup, where you eventually got your first career win at Road America. Looking back, what does that first win still mean to you, and have you ever had a chance to rewatch it?

CZ: “I haven’t watched it (the win) back, but it was definitely a breakthrough day for me,” the Trackhouse Racing driver said. “I ended up winning both races (MX-5 Cup) that weekend. Confidence is a big thing in racing and I felt like that gave me a big confidence boost to go out and prove to myself that I could do it.”

SM: Following up on that question, you seemed to have quickly started out better in the Mazda cars vs the Trans Am cars. Why do you think that was? Was it the cars or the tracks that suited you better?

CZ: “I think it was just the cars,” Zilisch said. “The cars in MX-5 Cup are a lot more similar throughout the field. In Trans Am, there’s a lot more variety and things you could do to the racecars to make them different. It just took us a little bit of time to get where we needed to be and be able to compete for wins.”

SM: Reflecting on your early career, you had three top-fives and five top-10 finishes in TA2, while you had four wins and finished second in the championship in MX-5 Cup. Were you satisfied with what you were able to accomplish in your rookie year, or do you think you could’ve done more, especially since you were close to winning the MX-5 Cup Championship in ’22?

CZ: “Yeah, it was tough losing that championship (MX-5 Cup), it was really close,” he said. “The one position in the last race cost us the championship, and that was definitely upsetting. It was a year of growth for me and learning. I was able to get some in the MX-5 Cup and prove to people that I’m able to do it. We came back the next year and had more success.”

SM: 2023 was a much better season for you in TA2, where you accumulated five victories with your first win coming at Road Atlanta and finishing fourth in the championship. What do you remember about that victory, and what was it about the ’23 season that went so much better for you? Do you think you could’ve won the Trans Am championship that season?

CZ: “We clicked as a team,” Zilisch said. “It took a little bit of time for us to get where we needed to be as a team, but once it clicked, we really started to fire on all cylinders and clicking off those wins. It was cool finally being able to get that chemistry together.”

SM: Do you think winning in Trans AM at Road Atlanta was life-changing?

CZ: “I didn’t think it was life (winning at Road Atlanta) changing,” he said. “I just remember that win a lot and having a great memory of being with that entire team and the excitement from everybody. I wouldn’t say it was life-changing.”

SM: During this time period, you were racing some historic tracks for the first time, like Road America, Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta, etc. What were your impressions about those tracks as you raced on them for the first time?

CZ: “I always loved going to all those tracks,” Zilisch said. “Road America was probably my favorite, and so was Road Atlanta as well. I loved going to those historic sports car tracks that are all around our country.”

SM: As of this writing, you have seven wins in Trans Am, eight in Mazda MX-5 Cup, two wins in IMSA, four victories in ARCA East, five in ARCA National, 12 in the O’Reilly Series, one in CARS Tour, and many more. What do you think is your favorite victory out of each touring division and which trophy is the one that means the most to you?

CZ: “I would say the Rolex watch that I won at the Daytona 24 hours (2024, LMP2 victory) would be my favorite trophy that I have,” he said. “It’s hard to beat a watch like that. I would say my most memorable win would be my first NASCAR win (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024 at Watkins Glen), when I won in my debut at the time. That victory meant a lot to me, but the Rolex 24 is my favorite as well.”

SM: Some racers have a memorabilia collection and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own merchandise and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you of your racing career?

CZ: “I have a lot of suits from my younger days,” Zilisch said. “I had a lot of helmets when I was a kid racing karts and I definitely try to keep all of that stuff, and I’ll sort through it later when I figure out what I want to keep and not keep. I try to keep anything that symbolizes a big moment in my career, a suit I wore in a big race. Those things are pretty valuable to me and something I try to collect.”

SM: What is one memory that you will always remember or a learning lesson that you had and that you will apply many years later in your NASCAR career?

CZ: “I would say a memory I will remember is winning my first race, that was pretty incredible,” he said. “I put in a lot of work to prepare for myself for that race, being ready when we went to Watkins Glen. To win my first race, I was one of only seven people to do it in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. That one was definitely special and will stick with me forever.”

SM: Following up on the Trans Am questions. Do you ever see yourself going back racing in that series in some one-offs, here and there, in the future?

CZ: “It’s so hard right now with me racing in the Cup Series every weekend,” Zilisch said. “I don’t really have time at the moment, but I always try to check in on all my old teams and the people who helped me. It would just be hard to get back out there and do a race, since we race every weekend ourselves.”

SM: Wrapping this interview up – Your first start came five years ago. Fast forward to 10 years from now, in 2036. You will be 30-years-old. What do you hope a 30-year-old Connor Zilisch tells a younger version of himself? Is there anything you would do differently?

CZ: “I wouldn’t change anything. He continued, saying, “I felt like I had to work really hard to get where I am today. I made it to the top quickly and find myself at the Cup Series at a young age. I would think 10 years from now, I would tell myself to enjoy it, have fun, and don’t let the moment become too big. Never let the pressure outweigh the enjoyment of the memories I am making.”

So far in Zilisch’s career, the young 19-year-old has:

5 Five career ARCA Menards Series National wins
4 ARCA East wins
1 ARCA West win
2 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series Championships class wins in the LMP2 competition
1 CARS Tour Late Model Stock and CARS Tour Pro Late Model win
7 Trans Am wins
8 Mazda MX-5 Cup wins.

Special thanks to Trackhouse Racing’s Jimmy White for coordinating this interview onsite and many thanks to Connor Zilisch for taking the time out of his busy race weekend schedule to conduct the interview.

Beard Motorsports: Casey Mears Jack Links 500 at Talladega Advance

CASEY MEARS Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

No. 62 Gracie Foundation Chevrolet Camaro

Event Overview

● Event: Jack Links 500 (Round 10 of 36)

● Time/Date: 3:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 26

● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway

● Layout: 2.66 mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles

● State Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps

● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Welcome to the Team, Casey Mears. A new face will be behind the wheel of the No. 62 Gracie Foundation Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports for Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. NASCAR Cup Series veteran Casey Mears takes to the track for his first of five races with the team this season. Mears and Beard Motorsports will also join forces for the July 26 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Aug. 29 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, the Oct. 25 YellaWood 500 at Talladega, and the Nov. 8 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The latter event will be Mears’ milestone 500th career Cup Series start.

● The Beard Legacy Continues. Sunday’s 500-mile race around the behemoth 2.66-mile Talladega oval will be the 35th Cup Series start and 16th at Talladega for the family-owned Beard Motorsports team. Since its inception in 2017, all but six of the team’s previous 34 races have come at Talladega and its sister oval at Daytona. The 2026 NASCAR season marks the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan-based team’s 10th competing in the Cup Series. The first eight of the team’s 15 previous Talladega outings came at the hands of veteran driver Brendan Gaughan, best of those resulting in an eighth-place finish in the April 2019 race. Behind the wheel for the team’s last four Talladega outings was Anthony Alfredo, who posted a best finish of sixth in the April 2024 race.

● Another Racing Family Legacy. Mears, who turned 48 earlier this month, comes to the Beard team with racing family history of his own with roots in Bakersfield, California. His dad, Roger, was a fixture in off-road racing for decades, his numerous wins including marquis events like the Baja 1000 and Pikes Peak Hillclimb, and championships in SCORE/HDRA and Mickey Thompson Grand National Trucks competition. Mears’ uncle Rick, meanwhile, was a longtime NTT IndyCar Series competitor and six-time series champion, and is one of only three drivers ever to win the Indianapolis 500 four times. Like his dad, Casey Mears began in off-road racing before a five-year run through the INDY NXT and IndyCar series from 1995 to 2001. He transitioned to stock cars in 2001, and made his Cup Series debut in 2003. He was a fixture in NASCAR’s top touring series for 14 seasons, scoring a win in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway before stepping away from fulltime racing following the 2016 season having made 488 career Cup Series starts. In recent years, Mears returned for select Cup Series starts, and Sunday’s race marks his eighth since returning to the series at the 2019 Daytona 500. Five of those outings since his return came last year for owner Carl Long, including his 18th-place run in the October race at Talladega and 32nd-place result at this year’s Daytona 500. At Daytona 500, Mears raced his way into main event as the top-finishing open car in his Duel qualifying race. Mears has 28 career Cup Series starts at Talladega with five top-10s – sixth in October 2007, seventh in April 2009, eighth in the April and October races in 2004, and 10th in October 2014. His three Talladega starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series feature a third-place finish in April 2007 and a fifth-place finish in April 2002. He also has one ARCA Menards Series start at the track, which resulted in a ninth-place finish in October 2001.

● The Passion Lives On. Owned and operated by the Beard family and operating out of Mooresville, North Carolina, Beard Motorsports continues in 2026 under the leadership and guidance of Linda Beard, her daughter Amie Beard-Deja, son Mark Beard Jr., and crew chief Darren Shaw. What started out as a passion project for the late Mark Beard Sr., has remained a tribute to the family’s patriarch since making its Cup Series debut in the 2017 Daytona 500 with Gaughan behind the wheel of its No. 62 Chevrolet. The family has remained committed to the vision laid out by its patriarch and has done so with notable success. Today, the No. 62 NASCAR Cup Series team is just one of its family-owned entities. Beard Oil Distributing is the foundation of the Beard family-owned business portfolio and is recognized as a women-owned certified organization through the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

● Driving for a Cause. Supporting Mears 2026 run with Beard Motorsports is a collection of longtime partners featuring the Gracie Foundation. Inspired by the late Gail “Gracie” Germain, the foundation strives to lighten the weight of the emotional journey of battling cancer through the act of a simple gesture. Gracie Gifts, beautifully packaged care boxes filled with comforting, uplifting and pampering items, are sent to women currently undergoing treatment for any type of cancer. Gail Germain is the late wife of former Cup Series car owner Bob Germain, with whom Mears has a longstanding relationship.

● Dependable Power Under the Hood. Since making its debut in the 2017 Daytona 500, the No. 62 Beard Motorsports team has been powered by ECR-built engines, and the team has leveraged the power of those engines to post solid finishes, including Noah Gragson fifth-place finish in the July 2022 race at Daytona, and the team’s seven other top-10s in 34 Cup Series starts.

Casey Mears, Driver of the No. 62 Gracie Foundation Chevrolet

You’re in the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet for your first of five races with the team this weekend at Talladega. How did it all come together?

“It’s just a cool deal. We kind of tossed around the idea for about two or three years of trying to make this happen. The conversations sparked a little bit of interest and, thankfully, Bob Germain, who is my old car owner, he really stepped up and wanted to make it happen. So if it wasn’t for him, none of this would be going on right now. We had some conversations with various people over the last year, and I thought, ‘Man, the 62 team could be a really good, viable option for me.’ Obviously, they run part-time, but I knew that they have ties with RCR (Richard Childress Racing), and they’re positioned to go out and be competitive. Their track record at the superspeedways has always shown to have speed, which I thought immediately puts me in a better situation. We’ve had people like Acrisure Protection Group and KARR Security Systems step up that have been partnered with us this last year or so, but Bob’s the main source of funding to, to put this all together. And I’m very thankful for the chance to work with the Beard family. It all has kind of floored me, really.”

You’re the most tenured Cup Series driver to drive for Beard. What do you feel that brings to the team for its next five races?

“I’m excited about it. When Brendan Gaughan was running for the team, that was good for consistency. Since Brendan retired, it’s been utilized more as a kind of RCR (Richard Childress Racing) feeder program, where their young drivers have been running races and getting experience. It will be good to have the consistency of somebody like me in the car for five events. Every race that you run, obviously you learn more about each other. The spotter and the driver get more in sync, the crew chief and the driver get more in sync, the ownership knows what to expect each race. I think it’s exciting. They’re really good at the superspeedways, and there was a period earlier in my career where I had the best average finish at the superspeedways in Cup, so there’s that factor at Talladega and Daytona.”

With your resume, you’re certainly a known entity in the Cup garage. How would you say that bodes for the need to find drivers to partner with in the superspeedway races?

“You know, I didn’t know what to expect when I first started coming back to run some of these races after being away for eight years, but I still have some really good relationships in the garage with some of the current drivers. Obviously, there’s a lot of new guys, but I was surprised to see even some of the newer guys that I hadn’t really known very well being super respectful and open, as well. I felt like guys were willing to work with me, willing to go with me, and I think that will ultimately help throughout the race. And then, obviously, when you get to the end of these superspeedway races, it’s kind of every man for himself. But I don’t see being that guy that gets completely hung out all the time because they’re worried about me not having the experience to make the right decisions or moves. Even through I was gone for all those years, I feel like I’ve earned the respect of at least knowing what I’m doing out there, and I think that’s going to be a good thing, a positive thing for the team and the program. And hopefully that adds to the value of what I can provide out on the racetrack.”

Just how important it is to you to reach the milestone of 500 career Cup Series starts?

“You know, I ask myself that question, as well. It just kind of became a goal when I was a- made aware two or three years ago that I was only 11 races away from 500 starts, I thought, ‘Gosh, that’s just a shame to be that close and not accomplish that milestone.’ When I left the sport, I didn’t really do it on my terms – very few of us get to do that. It wasn’t because I lost the love for the sport or for racing, it was just the timing of things. The good opportunities weren’t there anymore. So I stepped away, but that didn’t mean I lost the love for it. And I think when I started understanding that I was that close to 500, it gave me a glorified excuse to really start trying to legitimately get back and do some racing, and that’s really what it is. Having 500 starts doesn’t put me in the Hall of Fame, it doesn’t change a lot of things within the sport, but personally it’s going to be pretty amazing to know that we accomplished that goal with the people that helped me do it and get there. There’s a lot of love there for that involvement.”

How difficult was it to get back into a Cup car when you came back from your eight-season hiatus last year?

“That was one thing I was curious about because, I think actually in the broadcast booth at Daytona, they mentioned that I was the oldest driver in the field. That kills me. What I was surprised about in my first race back at Martinsville, after worrying about how I was going to adapt, how I was going to feel after all that time away, I was three laps into practice before I was just mad that the car wasn’t working properly. So that didn’t take long. I was surprised how easy it was. I felt very comfortable in the car, I felt comfortable on the track, everything came back really quickly, so I was pleased to feel that way.”

Talk about the Gracie Foundation and the work you’ve done with it over the years.

“We have the Gracie Foundation on the car because that’s something near and dear to Bob. It’s something that his wife started before she passed of cancer and I think he’s super excited to have the Gracie Foundation on the car as a primary. I’ve always been front and center on what those guys have been doing and really, at the end of the day, what they do is lift the spirits of women a little bit as they’re going through treatments in their battles with cancer. It’s cool to see and cool to be a part of, and I know it’s something Bob really wants to keep going and build.”

No. 62 Beard Motorsports Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Casey Mears

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Crew Chief: Darren Shaw

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Drew Mickey

Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Spotter: Rick Carelli

Hometown: Arvada, Colorado

President: Linda Beard

Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Michael Russell

Hometown: North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Isaac Byers

Hometown: North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Kenneth Leach

Hometown: Fremont, North Carolina

Jack Man: Da’Quan Hampton

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Fuel Man: James Kelley

Hometown: Luray, Virginia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Jack Gagnon

Hometown: Quebec, Canada

Mechanic: Mark Sanders

Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Tire Technician: Mike Harrold

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Brian Trevino

Hometown: Statesville, North Carolina

Interior Specialist: Nic Hill

Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida

Engineer: Mack Kanupp

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Transporter Driver: Roger Lankford

Hometown: Lexington, North Carolina

TOYOTA RACING Weekly Preview 04.22.26

This Week in Motorsports: April 20 – April 26, 2026
NCS/NOAPS/ARCA: Talladega Superspeedway – April 24-26

PLANO, Texas (April 22, 2026) – NASCAR’s Cup and O’Reilly Series head to the heart of Alabama and Talladega Superspeedway for the first of two visits in 2026. The two series will be joined by the ARCA Menards Series for a weekend packed of high-stakes, superspeedway racing.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NOAPS

Toyota’s incredible run continues … With Tyler Reddick’s triumph at Kansas Speedway last Sunday, Toyota has now captured its seventh win in the first nine Cup Series races in 2026, the best start in as many races for a series manufacturer since 2007. The start is also the best for Toyota in its Cup Series history. For Reddick, he has now won five of the first nine races this season, becoming the first driver to do such since Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 1987. Reddick now owns a 105-point lead in the Cup Series driver standings over his 23XI Racing co-owner, Denny Hamlin.

Reddick eyes another drafting track win … Reddick began his historic 2026 Cup Series season with two consecutive drafting track wins at the Daytona 500 and at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) in February. He now heads to Talladega Superspeedway looking for three straight. Reddick has 12 career starts at Talladega, which includes the dramatic win in the 2024 spring race, when he avoided a last-lap tri-oval wreck to claim victory in his No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE.

Briscoe looks for Talladega repeat … After a dramatic win at Talladega last October that put him into the Championship 4, Chase Briscoe returns to the 2.66-mile superspeedway in hopes of a repeat victory this Sunday. The driver of the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) also enters the weekend with two consecutive top-five finishes from Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas, as well as three top-10s in the last five Cup Series races. Sunday will be the 190th career Cup Series start for Briscoe and his 11th at Talladega.

Wallace eager to continue drafting track prowess … Bubba Wallace has established himself as one of the premier drafting track drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, which recent statistics continue to show. Wallace has finished inside the top-10 in the last three drafting track races dating back to last fall’s Talladega race – a fourth-place finish at Talladega in 2025, 10th at this year’s Daytona 500 and eighth at EchoPark Speedway. Wallace is well-positioned to continue the streak this weekend in Talladega, the site of his first career Cup Series win in 2021.

Gibbs extends top-10 streak … Finishing ninth in last Sunday’s race at Kansas, Ty Gibbs has finished inside the top-10 in seven consecutive races, the best such run of his career to-date. The streak includes his first career victory at Bristol two weeks ago. Gibbs is tied with Reddick for most top-10s in the Cup Series at seven, as he sits fourth in the Cup Series points standings entering this weekend in Talladega.

Gray coming off second career triumph … Last weekend’s victory for Taylor Gray at Kansas Speedway marked the second visit to victory lane in his young O’Reilly Auto Parts Series career. Gray led 48 laps on his way to victory to give Toyota its fourth consecutive O’Reilly Series win at Kansas. The result was also Gray’s third consecutive top-10 finish, as he and the No. 54 Toyota GR Supra team for JGR have found their groove at this point in the season.

Crews continues strong start to O’Reilly career … With his fifth-place finish last weekend in Kansas, Brent Crews has now earned four-top 10s and two top-fives in six career O’Reilly Series starts to date. His last two races – Bristol and Kansas – marked his best two finishes so far, with a third at Bristol and the fifth at Kansas. This weekend, the Toyota Development Driver makes his superspeedway debut at Talladega in hopes of securing another top-10 and even top-five to continue the strong series debut.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Toyota brings strong lineup to Talladega … For this weekend’s ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, Toyota will field a strong lineup as it looks for its 12th ARCA win at Talladega, its fourth in succession and ninth in the last 10 races. In the JGR No. 18 Toyota Camry, Gio Ruggiero returns after earning a victory in Kansas last weekend, his second ARCA win of the season after he was victorious in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. For Nitro Motorsports, Jake Bollman, Isabella Robusto and Thomas Annunziata will pilot the No. 20, 55 and 70 Toyota Camrys, respectively. Bollman currently leads the ARCA Menards Series points standings by 12 points entering the weekend, as the now 19-year-old makes his debut at Talladega. Robusto makes her second career start at Talladega this weekend, where she finished third last season – the best finish by a female driver in the series at the famed superspeedway. Annunziata also makes his second career Talladega. Nitro Motorsports’ will also field Toyota Camrys this weekend for Jake Finch in the No. 15 and Gus Dean in the No. 25.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 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.