NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS RECAP: TONY STEWART TAKES R+L CARRIERS TO FINAL QUAD TONY STEWART, R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster Qualifying: No. 12 3.808 seconds, 329.91 mph
Race Results:
E1: 3.727 at 331.36 def. Billy Torrence 3.731 at 335.98, Josh Hart 3.753 at 333.16, Tony Schumacher Broke.
E2: 3.776 at 328.22 Lost to Shawn Langdon 3.748 at 329.02; def. Spencer Massey 3.798 at 326.56, Billy Torrence 3.785 at 324.44.
Final Quad: 10.663 at 66.89 Lost to Doug Kalitta 3.692 at 342.98, Shawn Langdon 3.727 at 338.51, Leah Pruett 3.724 at 329.42.
“We had a shaky start to the weekend; qualifying didn’t go quite the way we wanted but these R+L guys they kept their heads down and got to work. Mike Green and Joe Barlam pulled us together and we were able to make a decent run to pull data from. But I love the four-wide, especially on race day. It’s like two heat races and then the feature. The weather was on our side today; cooler conditions gave way for some really stout racing. This class is so tight, the competition is unreal and we saw that today. Lining up in the final quad with Leah, that was special. It wasn’t the final run we needed wanted to make, we wanted to give them all a run for their money, but it just wasn’t in the cards. But reaching the finals, picking up semifinal points, that’s nothing to hang our heads about. The great part is we get to turn around and do it all over again in just a few days. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Huge thank you to Jason Cox and all the R+L folks we had out here this weekend, Sergeant Major Houle and his son who spent the weekend with us through HBOT4Heroes, the friends and family who came out to support, we had Tommy DeCarlo’s family out, Kyle Larson came by, had a chance to meet Scott McLaughlin — it was a busy weekend in the pits and on the race track.”
RICK WARE RACING Jack Link’s 500 Date: April 26, 2026 Event: Jack Link’s 500 (Round 10 of 36) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Format: 188 laps, broken into three stages (98 laps/45 laps/45 laps)
Race Winner: Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports (Chevrolet) Stage 1 Winner: Ryan Preece of RFK Racing (Ford) Stage 2 Winner: Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
RWR Finish:
● Cody Ware (Started 36th, Finished 21st / Running, completed 188 of 188 laps)
RWR Points:
● Cody Ware (35th with 85 points)
RWR Notes:
● Ware earned his third top-25 of the season and his fourth top-25 in 12 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega.
● Ware finished seventh in Stage 2 to earn four bonus points.
Race Notes:
● Carson Hocevar won the Jack Link’s 500 to score his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory. His margin over second-place Chris Buescher was .114 of a second.
● Hocevar is the 14th driver to score his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega. He joins Richard Brickhouse (September 1969), Dick Brooks (August 1973), Lennie Pond (August 1978), Ron Bouchard (August 1981), Bobby Hillin Jr. (July 1986), Davey Allison (May 1987), Phil Parsons (May 1988), Ken Schrader (July 1988), Brian Vickers (October 2006), Brad Keselowski (April 2009), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (May 2017) and Bubba Wallace (October 2021).
● This was Chevrolet’s 883rd all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its second of the season. Chase Elliott won for the Bowtie Brigade March 29 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
● This was Chevrolet’s series-leading 46th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega. Chevrolet won its first race at Talladega on May 5, 1977 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip.
● There were six caution periods for a total of 30 laps.
● Only 21 of the 40 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Tyler Reddick remains the championship leader after Talladega with a 110-point advantage over second-place Denny Hamlin.
Sound Bites:
“Coming to the checkered flag, they’re all stacking up, and we’re all trying to go for it, trying to make a move. We had a super-fast Super.com Chevrolet all day, and we did a good job keeping her at the front. The cards just didn’t fall in our favor.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Super.com Chevrolet
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Würth 400 on Sunday, May 3 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Jeff Arend Mooneyes Funny Car Driver for Jim Dunn Racing 4-Wide Nationals April 23-26 | Charlotte, North Carolina
Event Recap
Jeff Arend, driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Mooneyes Funny Car:
Earned No. 13 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (6.577 ET at 105.74 mph)
Fell to No. 14 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (4.234 ET at 247.47 mph)
Earned No. 13 provisional qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (4.080 ET at 305.15 mph)
Secured No. 13 qualifying position based off of Saturday’s Q3 run. The team elected to not make a qualifying run in Q4 on Saturday.
Eliminated following Round 1 on Sunday:
Round 1: 4.100 ET at 309.06 mph, lost to J.R. Todd in first (3.896 ET at 335.32 mph), Alexis DeJoria in second (3.962 ET at 324.36 mph), and Hunter Green in third (4.005 ET at 320.89 mph).
Notes of Interest
Arend represented Mooneyes this weekend in Charlotte. Mooneyes products and logos are an indelible part of hot rod nostalgia, easily recognizable to gearheads and novices alike. They take pride in producing high-quality products that look great and get the job done right. Mooneyes produces Moon Fuel Blocks, Moon Tanks, Moon Discs, and Moon Valve Covers among other original parts right on site in their machine shop. They also supply various parts and accessories for hot rods and kustoms as well as an expanding like of custom motorcycle products. Located in the same place since it all started back in the 1950s, Mooneyes is located in Santa Fe Springs, California.
The 4-Wide Nationals marked Jim Dunn Racing’s highest qualifying position of the 2026 season.
The NHRA will be racing back-to-back with a thrilling debut next weekend at South Georgia Motorsports Park for the 41st annual NHRA Southern Nationals. The historic Southern Nationals return to a new location during the NHRA’s milestone 75th anniversary campaign. It marks the first of four visits to new facilities for the NHRA in 2026. The festivities kick off from 6-8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 30 with a “Rev & Rally” race weekend preparty and fanfest from Visit Valdosta at the Rainwater Conference Center.
Arend will be back behind the wheel of the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car in Georgia and also in Chicago May 14-17 for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK.
Jeff Arend, Driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Mooneyes Funny Car
“I’m proud of the effort and progress this Jim Dunn Racing Mooneyes team showed this weekend. We were able to run consistent without hurting any race car parts. Thank you to all the fans that came out to support us in Charlotte. It was great being back behind the wheel. We kept J.R. (Todd), Alexis (DeJoria), and Hunter (Green) honest during eliminations. We will step up our game in Georgia and Chicago.”
Next Up The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA Southern Nationals May 1-3 at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia.
Ron Capps (Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) — left to right — each earned the coveted diamond Wally on Sunday at the 4-Wide Nationals, celebrating NHRA’s 75th anniversary. (CMS/HHP photo)
Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta powers to historic 342 mph pass to claim victory
Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also earned Wallys
CONCORD, N.C. (April 26, 2026) – Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta shattered the track speed record in the final round en route to the win on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, beating a loaded final quad of Shawn Langdon, Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett at the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the fourth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Kalitta went 3.692-seconds at 342.98 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster, setting the track record and making the third-fastest run in NHRA history, as the Top Fuel points leader collected his second win this season and the 60th in his career.
After winning two world titles in the past three years, there has been no let-up from Kalitta, who became the first Top Fuel driver to get two wins in 2026.
“Alan [Johnson, crew chief] thought it was going to run over 340 mph, so that was good. I don’t know how he predicts these things, but the guy’s a wizard tuning these cars and I’m just very, very fortunate,” Kalitta said. “It’s a hell of an opportunity to work with him and Connie’s [Kalitta, team owner] given us everything we need with all three of our cars. I’m sure he is pretty proud of what we accomplished.
“The guys pulled through for me. I was really happy to see that light when it came on. We had a lot of support here and this is the kind of race you want to win.”
Funny Car’s Ron Capps stayed red-hot in the loaded category, winning for the second time in three races thanks to a run of 3.905 at 334.90 in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra in the championship round to hold off past world champions Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and J.R. Todd in a thrilling finale.
Capps had the dominant car all weekend, qualifying No. 1 and making the quickest pass of the weekend in the first round of eliminations when he went 3.865 at 333.00. Capps left first and never trailed in an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the finals, enjoying his 79th career victory and his fifth in Charlotte, the most among active Funny Car drivers. It continued his impressive start to the year, as it gave Capps his third straight final round. The three-time world champion also has a pair of No. 1 qualifiers in 2026, as everything appears to be lining up for a strong championship push for the veteran and points leader.
“I still can’t believe it,” Capps said. “You have cars like this at times in your career and you just don’t want to mess up as a driver. It sounds funny, it sounds strange, but you’re given something that leaves the trailer and all the knobs turn in the right direction to go win a race. Any driver will tell you this and if they don’t, they’re lying, but it’s like you’re given this to not screw up and to cut a light and, most importantly, drive it, keep it as straight as possible in a Funny Car.
“The four-wide brings such a unique mentality to everything. I’m getting older, but it’s just so much fun to get up there and have the confidence from everybody on the team that I could still do it in the seat. This is especially cool because this is the only four-wide race this year. Sunday night’s over with, and you look back and say, man, everybody came together really made this a great event.”
In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford won for the first time at zMAX Dragway, rolling to his second win in four races to open 2026 with a run of 6.526 at 210.05 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Cody Coughlin, Greg Anderson and Matt Latino in the finals.
Hartford won the opener in Gainesville, but then struggled in Phoenix and Pomona, losing in the first round at both events. The veteran, though, bounced back in impressive fashion this weekend, getting his second win of the year and 10th in his career. This one sent him to third in points, as Hartford made the most of his opportunities on Sunday in Charlotte.
“If you’re going to win in this class, you pretty much have to leave ahead of everybody and that’s really hard to do,” Hartford said. “I struggle with it. I was .024 in the final and I thought that was great for me, especially on the four-wide, which is hard. You’ve heard from everybody; there’s a lot going on. It’s very confusing, and I just took my time, made sure I was ready and rolled in… To come out here and run and be competitive with these super teams, it’s just incredible, and it’s an honor to have my wife do it alongside me, my brother do it alongside Eddie and me.”
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera was back to his winning ways this weekend at zMAX Dragway, capped off by a victory on Sunday with a run of 6.758 at 199.88 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to outlast a quad that included teammate and reigning world champion Richard Gadson, Clayton Howey and Chase Van Sant.
It’s the first win of the year for Herrera and, remarkably, the 29th in his young career, a day after winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. After back-to-back world championships in dominant fashion, Herrera finished second to Gadson a year ago. He still enjoyed a strong season and Herrera was back in top form in Charlotte, showcasing a stellar .019 reaction time in the final quad.
“I knew we all were going to push the tree in the final and I think that’s the tightest I’ve seen a four-wide final in the bike category,” Herrera said. “It’s pretty cool to have all Suzukis in the final, too. I had a bracket bike all day long, same with Richard and Clayton, and it’s awesome to get the four-wide win here at zMAX and to get my first diamond in Wally. It’s pretty cool to win in NHRA’s 75th anniversary.
“Losing the second round in Gainesville lit a fire under me and I didn’t want that to happen to me again this weekend. I knew I had to be better as a rider at everything and feel like this weekend I proved it to myself.”
TICKETS: Fans can lock in their seats now for the 2027 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, returning April 2-4 by renewing through July 31 at www.CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. The action doesn’t stop there—don’t miss Memorial Day Weekend’s crown jewel, the Coca-Cola 600, May 22-24 at America’s Home for Racing. Tickets can be bought online or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).
REDDICK OVERCOMES MULTIPLE INCIDENTS, LEADS TOYOTA AT TALLADEGA Reddick extends top-15 streak to start season
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 26, 2026) – Tyler Reddick overcame multiple incidents, including a cut tire in the closing laps to lead Toyota with a 14th-place finish at Talladega. The points leader continued his streak of finishing every race in the top-15 this season.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Talladega Superspeedway Race 10 of 36 – 500.08 miles, 188 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Carson Hoceva* 2nd, Chris Buescher* 3rd, Alex Bowman* 4th, Chase Elliott* 5th, Zane Smith* 14th, TYLER REDDICK 15th, DENNY HAMLIN 17th, CHRISTOPHER BELL 22nd, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK 23rd, ERIK JONES 25th, RILEY HERBST 29th, CHASE BRISCOE 34th, TY GIBBS 36th, BUBBA WALLACE *non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 14th
Can you talk how you got this car to a top-15 finish?
“Yeah, we able to overcome problems that we had throughout the day. The second cut tire, I thought was going to be the end of our day, but thankfully we hit it somewhat true enough that all it did was bend stuff, not break it. It was just the day we needed to have with the adversity we had along the way. Bummed we didn’t get ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK and Toyota to victory lane today, but all-in-all, I think we did gain more ground on those around us in points, so to wreck and be able to accomplish that is a good deal.”
TY GIBBS, No. 54 SAIA Freight & Logistics Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 34th
Can you tell us what happened out there?
“Well, we had a really good first stage in our SAIA Camry. Unfortunately, not a lot of people pitted with us, and we just barely made it on the lead lap at the end of the first stage. I thought we were really fast. I thought our car was really good, but didn’t end well. Unfortunate end of the day for us. We will keep working hard. Thanks for SAIA, Monster, Toyota – everyone that supports us. I’m excited for Texas. Not a lot of luck at the roulette table today at Talladega, so we will look forward.”
BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Xfinity Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 36th
Can you take us through what happened?
“Got wrecked there, unfortunately. Our Xfinity Toyota Camry was a little unstable getting pushed, but manageable. Maybe that hard of a hit was too much, so unfortunately, we wiped out a bunch of cars. Got to debrief, got to be better. Just kind of riding around, not doing much in the first stage – nothing to show for it at Talladega. Unfortunate, it is a place we come to with a lot of confidence, and it is what it is. We will put this one behind us and go on to Texas and have some fun.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.
CONCORD, N.C. – April 26, 2026 – Austin Prock and his Ford Racing Nitro Mustang Funny Car faced a challenging but productive weekend at the 2026 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, qualifying No. 16 and exiting in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.
The weekend marked another step forward in the team’s ongoing development of its Funny Car combination. While the result was not what Prock and team were looking for, the weekend provided valuable data as the team continues working to harness the horsepower in their Ford Racing Nitro Mustang.
Prock opened qualifying Friday afternoon with a 4.977-second pass at 176.56 mph after the car dropped a cylinder at the hit and moved hard toward the inside. Prock fought to keep the Mustang under control before the car knocked the tires loose.
In Friday’s second session, Prock’s Ford Racing Mustang left the starting line well with a .873 60-foot time, but the run ended early when the car lost traction, resulting in a 6.596 at 118.45 mph. The pass dropped Prock to 16th in the qualifying order.
“Conditions were gorilla tonight, and I haven’t got very many shots in that hot rod in these conditions,” Prock said after Q2. “But this Ford, it left great and it was heading straight down the track. It was anchored down, but I felt the sidewall quivering a little bit. As soon as it cleared up, it chopped the tires off. I can promise you that this Ford is going to run low ET soon.”
Saturday brought two more qualifying attempts as the team continued working through the setup. In Q3, Prock pedaled the car multiple times before shutting off early, recording a 6.083 at 129.19 mph. The run kept him on the bump spot entering the final session.
In Q4, the Funny Car delivered another challenging and disappointing run, posting a 4.833 at 168.26 mph. The pass secured the No. 16 qualifying position and a spot in Sunday eliminations against No. 1 qualifier Ron Capps, along with Chad Green and Spencer Hyde rounding out the quad.
“We made it in the show, but not by anything extravagant by any means,” Prock said. “Made some headway on the engine program this weekend. Got it running clean and we’re now just trying to harness all this Ford horsepower. In Q4, we made it the furthest down the track than we have all weekend with smoking the tires. I stood on the gas and had a great light, but it put a cylinder out at the hit. The Mustang moved hard right, the cylinder relit, and I got it back on track but smoked the tires around half track. We got a chance to win on Sunday and that’s all that matters.”
In Sunday’s opening round of four-wide eliminations, Prock lined up against Capps, Green, and Hyde. Prock left with a .070 reaction time and was on a solid early run, posting a .877 60-foot time, a 2.245 at 330 feet, and a 3.298 at 211.46 mph to the eighth mile. However, the car blew the tires off just after half-track and slowed to a 4.460 at 191.76 mph.
Capps advanced with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, while Green moved on in the second transfer position. Prock finished third in the quad, ending the weekend in the first round.
Despite the early exit, the weekend gave Tasca Racing additional direction as the team continues to build consistency with its Ford Racing Nitro Mustang Funny Car. Prock and the team showed improved early numbers and made progress with the engine program but continued with challenges throughout the weekend.
The Tasca Racing team will leave Charlotte focused on turning the weekend’s data into results as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues next week in Adel, GA for the NHRA Southern Nationals.
Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray have been named drivers of Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 “Free Agent” RAM 1500 entry for one race apiece in this year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
Bowyer, the 2008 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and 10-time Cup Series race winner from Emporia, Kansas, will drive the No. 25 RAM 1500 entry at Dover Motor Speedway on May 15. McMurray, the 2010 Daytona 500 & Brickyard 400 champion and seven-time Cup winner from Joplin, Missouri, will pilot the entry during the series’ inaugural event at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado on June 19.
The announcement was made during NASCAR’s pre-race show before the Cup Series’ Jack Link’s 500 event at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, where both Bowyer and McMurray work as NASCAR analysts for FOX Sports. It also comes as the Truck Series is set to embark on a six-race consecutive stretch, starting from May 1 to June 6.
“Bringing in veterans like Clint and Jamie adds another level of excitement, which is why we created the Free Agent Program,” Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, North America marketing/retail strategy at Stellantis, said. “Their experience and success help showcase Ram’s unique approach to America’s motorsport while allowing fans to watch a couple of their favorite drivers get behind the wheel of a Ram 1500 with Kaulig Racing.”
Bowyer has made a total of 15 starts in the Truck Series division. His latest start occurred at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2024 as he finished 17th while driving for Spire Motorsports. He recorded three victories in the series, with his latest occurring at Kansas Speedway in June 2011.
The May 15 event at Dover is scheduled to mark Bowyer’s second series start at the Monster Mile. His first occurred in June 2007 as he finished 34th following an opening lap accident. He has also made a total of 30 Cup starts at Dover, with a win at the track in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in September 2009.
“I’m pumped to get back in a truck, especially one with Ram power behind it,” Bowyer said. “Dover is a beast — concrete, tight and unforgiving — and I plan to put this No. 25 Ram Free Agent truck right up front where it belongs.”
Like Bowyer, McMurray is a former Truck Series race winner. He achieved his lone victory at Martinsville Speedway in October 2004. He has also made 25 starts in the series, with his latest dating back to October 2008 at Martinsville, as he embraces the challenge of campaigning in a street course venue for the first time ever.
“Racing on a naval base in San Diego for the very first time is going to be an incredible experience,” McMurray said. “Street courses reward precision and adaptability, and I’m looking forward to teaming with Kaulig and Ram to make some history in that No. 25 truck.”
Kaulig Racing launched its free agent driver program ahead of its inaugural campaign in the Craftsman Truck Series division in November 2025. The program involved featuring various competitors from multiple racing divisions and disciplines to compete in at least a single Truck event in one of Kaulig’s RAM 1500 entries numbered 25. The competitors who compete in the entry would not compete for the 2026 Truck Series driver’s championship, but would be evaluated by their on-track performance for a season-ending program prize.
Currently, Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 entry, which is led by crew chief Alex Yontz, is ranked in 25th place in the 2026 owner’s standings through six of the 25-race schedule. Bowyer and McMurray are set to join Tony Stewart, Ty Dillon, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie and Carson Ferguson as competitors who have piloted the entry in at least a single event. They will each compete alongside Kaulig’s four RAM 1500s entries: the No. 10 entry piloted by Corey LaJoie, the No. 12 entry piloted by rookie Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, the No. 14 entry piloted by newcomer Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell and the No. 16 entry piloted by Justin Haley.
While Dillon is the only competitor who has piloted the No. 25 entry twice, Braun has recorded the entry’s highest-finishing result of ninth place during the series’ inaugural event at the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Parker Kligerman is scheduled to drive the No. 25 entry this upcoming Friday, May 1, at Texas Motor Speedway. Ferguson is scheduled to compete in the No. 25 entry for a second time at Martinsville on October 30. Kaulig’s selection and reveal of drivers for the remainder of this season remains to be determined.
Clint Bowyer’s Truck Series return with Kaulig Racing is set for May 15 at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. The ECOSAVE 200 will air at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
Jamie McMurray’s Truck return with Kaulig will occur at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado on June 19 at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
Seven-time NASCAR champion to serve as brand ambassador and anchor new licensed product lines
STATESVILLE, N.C. (APRIL 26, 2026) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB announced today an expanded relationship with Dollar Tree, one of the fastest growing retailers in the country. The agreement includes a personal services deal with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and CLUB owner Jimmie Johnson as a brand ambassador, along with a direct-to-retail licensed product program featuring team branding.
Johnson, one of the most accomplished drivers in motorsports history with 83 Cup Series victories, will serve as a key ambassador for Dollar Tree, helping to amplify the company’s focus on speed, safety, productivity, performance and teamwork. As part of the agreement, Johnson will participate in national marketing campaigns, digital and social content, in-store promotions and select corporate events.
“This partnership is rooted in shared values and a belief in building something meaningful together,” said Rick McNeely, Executive Advisor, Dollar Tree. “Jimmie’s career is defined by consistency, performance and teamwork — qualities that align directly with how we operate as a company. We’re excited to bring his voice and credibility to our customers and associates.”
Johnson said the opportunity reflects a natural alignment between his career and Dollar Tree’s growth. “I’ve always believed success comes from preparation, discipline and the people around you,” Johnson said. “Dollar Tree is building something special, and I’m proud to be part of it. From the products on shelves to the teams behind the scenes, there’s a strong connection in how we approach performance every day.”
In addition to the personal services agreement, Dollar Tree and Johnson have entered a licensing agreement for a new line of co-branded products in Dollar Tree stores beginning this fall. The program will feature Johnson’s name, image and likeness alongside LEGACY MOTOR CLUB branding.
Initial product categories will include an exciting selection of automotive products, supplies, and accessories at an exceptional value. Additional categories, such as toys, health and personal care items and apparel are expected to be added to the assortment at a later date.
“We’re incredibly excited to introduce this new product line, developed in partnership with Jimmie Johnson, one of the most iconic names in NASCAR,” said Brent Beebe, Chief Merchandising Officer, Dollar Tree. “Our collaboration blends performance, style and everyday practicality that I anticipate our customers will love. This partnership is about offering great products that deliver exceptional value and make it easy for our customers to find what they need — while discovering something new every time they walk through our doors.”
Johnson’s role as owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB adds a unique dimension to the partnership, connecting competitive performance on the track with a broader consumer platform.
The collaboration reflects a long-term vision for a meaningful, recognizable partnership between motorsports and retail. “This is about more than a traditional endorsement,” Johnson added. “It’s about building a legacy together, creating products and experiences that connect with people in a real way.”
About Dollar Tree: Dollar Tree, Inc., headquartered in Chesapeake, VA, is one of North America’s largest and most loved value retailers, known for delivering great value, convenience, and a “thrill-of-the-hunt” discovery shopping experience. With a team of approximately 150,000 associates, Dollar Tree operates more than 9,200 stores and 18 distribution centers across 48 contiguous states and seven Canadian provinces under the brands Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada. The Company is committed to being a responsible steward of its business – supporting its people, serving its communities, and creating lasting value. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.
Strong Fan Turnout, Challenging Conditions Bring Excitement to Spec Miata at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
HSR Grand Prix Classics Open Wheel Races See Winners Dominate
901 Shop Trio Sweeps Final Endurance Race of Saturday Slate in B.R.M Challenge
BRASELTON, Georgia (April 26, 2026) – The 48th annual HSR The Mitty presented by Hagerty roared to life Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (MRRA), with a packed schedule of sprint and feature races.
A few scattered sprinkles didn’t dampen the spirits of competitors or the many fans spectating or camping at the scenic Georgia road course. Meanwhile, a livestream of Saturday afternoon’s action announced just 24 hours previously attracted 50,000 unique live views, a measure of the growing popularity of Historic SportsCar Racing.
The legendary event surged into high gear, as roaring engines, iconic machinery, and fierce on-track battles set the tone for a marquee day of competition. A light rain swept in to open the day’s on-track action with the Mazda Spec Miata/MX-5 Feature Race, immediately throwing teams into a strategic dilemma. With changing conditions looming over the eight-lap sprint, tire choice became a critical gamble prior to the drop of the green flag.
From the drop of the green flag, the battle for podium positions in both the Spec MX (SMX) and Spec Miata (SM) classes was intense. Camden Gruber, driving the No. 24 Planet Miata 2007 Mazda MX-5, and Wes Duchak in the No. 40 Final Turn Motorsports 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata surged into the top two positions on the opening lap. Meanwhile, Michelle Squirek, in the No. 75 2011 Mazda MX-5, slipped back to third in the fight for the overall and SMX lead.
Squirek quickly recovered, reclaiming second place on Lap 2, where the top three remained unchanged until the white flag in the SMX class.
In the closing moments, slippery track conditions factored into the outcome. Duchak and Mitchell Lowry, piloting the No. 21 MLR Racing 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata, both overtook Squirek on the final lap to secure podium finishes.
Up front, Gruber led flag-to-flag to claim the overall and SMX victory. Duchak capitalized on the challenging conditions to finish second, while Lowry completed the podium in third.
In the SM class, late-race battles dramatically reshuffled the order on the final lap. Skyler Cottrell, driving the No. 91 AutoTechnic Racing 2003 Mazda Miata, regained the lead as Todd Buras, in the No. 561 East Street Racing 1999 Mazda Miata, dropped to third. Cottrell secured the class win, while active Mazda MX-5 Cup driver Chuck Mactutus charged from the back of the grid to finish second in the No. 661 2003 Mazda Miata.
“Despite what it may have looked like from the outside, it definitely wasn’t easy,” said Gruber. “I was driving real hard and had a couple of hairy moments in Turn 5. Huge thanks to everybody for the phenomenal set up in this car. I couldn’t be a whole lot happier with how the car drove.
“I was here a couple of weeks ago and we had another like race like this where it was like, ‘Is it wet, is it dry?’ So, I was a lot more comfortable making the call to dry tires. This was a whole lot of fun to race in front of this many fans; I’ve never raced in front of this many people before, so it’s just great to be out here.”
The weekend’s first Grand Prix Classics race for Groups 4A and 4B featured a pair of dominant flag-to-flag drives. Making his return to HSR competition, Tom Fraehlic was the overall winner in the No. 10 Wayne Brown Racing 1979 March Super Vee from Class 4B, a car he has raced for 28 years. He finished 6.530 seconds ahead of the Class 4A winner – Bruce Hamilton in the No. 76 Wulver Racing 1970 Brabham BT36, imported from Australia and presented in its period 1971 Australian Grand Prix livery.
The runners-up were Marc Giroux in the No. 59 GMT Racing 1969 Brabham BT29 in 4A, and Dalton Sizemore in the No. 91 Streamline Motorsports 1990 Reynard 90 SF FC in 4B.
Group 4C’s first Grand Prix Classics race was a much closer affair on the track. Nolan Allaer in the No. 70 RM Motorsports 2007 Panoz DP01/09 hounded Giano Taurino in the No. 01 Taurino Racing 2008 Ferrari A1/GP, closing within 0.2 second after six of the nine scheduled laps. Taurino pulled away and crossed the line first with about a two-second cushion but was assessed 30-second penalty for jumping the rolling start, which relegated him to second place behind Allaer. Alex Berg completed the podium in the No. 21 GMT Racing 1997 Lola T97/20.
“Giano was faster than me the entire race and those are beautiful cars,” Allaer said. “It was such an amazing experience. The beauty of historic racing is having two cars going full push like that and someone like that to race with.”
“I’m sure it was awesome for everyone to watch what these cars can do, and I had a great time out here,” added Taurino. “You can’t have a bad time here at Road Atlanta!”
In the final race of the day — the B.R.M Legacy Endurance Challenge — Todd Treffert delivered a remarkable drive, overcoming mechanical issues both before and during the race, as well as a pit stop penalty. Undeterred, Treffert set the pace overall and in the Vintage class, stretching his lead to as much as 40 seconds to secure victory in the 1972 No. 14 901 Shop Porsche 911 S/T.
“That was a challenge just to make the race,” Treffert said. “We had to change the alternator, but the 901 Shop guys killed it, just knocked it out of the park. We had starter issues in the pit stop, so they had to push-start me. We had a penalty, but I was aware of it so it was just keep pushing and see if we could make it. We kept pushing to the end. Anytime we’re driving these cars, we’re always having fun. That’s what it’s all about. It’s nice to get a medal here at the end, but it’s all about the fun.”
Ricky Park finished second overall and claimed top honors in the Historic class aboard the 1973 No. 44 1973 Porsche 911 RSR, holding off the challenge from Dean DeSantis and David Hinton in the 1974 No. 82 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR fielded by AJR Heritage Motorsports. The duo ultimately finished third overall and second in class. Alan Benjamin and Barry Waddell rounded out the Historic podium in third, sharing the 1992 No. 21 Porsche 964 Carrera Cup car prepared by Boulder Classics.
The Vintage class podium was completed by a 901 Shop sweep. David Agretelis brought home second place in the 1972 No. 66 Porsche 911 S/T, followed by Craig Watkins in third with the 1968 No. 46 Porsche 911 S/T.
The full weekend race schedule continues through Sunday afternoon at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta before the curtain comes down on the 48th running of the HSR The Mitty.
Tickets for the 48th HSR The Mitty presented by Hagerty at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta can be purchased at the gate or online at: https://am.ticketmaster.com/ral/buy/Mitty2026 For complete information on the 48th annual The Mitty Presented by Hagerty race weekend, including the event schedule, entry lists and ticket information, visit: https://www.hsrrace.com/the-mitty/.
About HSR: Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) is the premier vintage and historic racing series in North America. It was formed in the mid-1970s with an inaugural event at Road Atlanta and became a part of International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) in 2022. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate and enjoy the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/, on Twitter X @HSR_race and on Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.
Ken Roczen Seizes 450SMX Points Lead with Fifth Win of the Season
PHILADELPHIA (April 25, 2026) – The final East Coast stop of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship became the biggest wild card of an already captivating season as Mother Nature became the great equalizer for Round 15 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship inside Lincoln Financial Field. An afternoon of clear conditions and cool temperatures gave way to intermittent showers for the night show, which saturated the racetrack and made both track position and a patient approach the key to victory. Amidst the most difficult and treacherous conditions of the season, the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class turned into a championship celebration as 18-year-old New Zealander Cole Davies navigated a chaotic Main Event to secure his fifth victory of the year and clinch his first professional title.
The penultimate race of the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship featured shortened 12 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event, which began with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker out front for the holeshot in front of the hometown crowd just ahead of Davies, who slotted in right behind Hammaker. Moments later, the Pennsylvania native crashed his Kawasaki, which nearly collected Davies, and dropped to the tail end of the 22-rider field. That briefly handed the top spot to MX6 Racing Kawasaki’s Derek Kelley before Davies made a pass for the lead. Davies then went down but was able to remount just ahead of Kelley and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick. A red flag for a downed rider halted the race with 7:22 remaining on the race clock, which necessitated a staggered restart.
When racing resumed, Davies reclaimed his spot out front while Bennick moved up to second. Behind them, the ClubMX Yamaha duo of Devin Simonson and Coty Schock battled for third. Simonson briefly held the position, but Shock made the pass as Simonson tipped over. Hammaker, meanwhile, had fought his way to the cusp of the podium in fourth and made the move around Schock to take control of third. Back out front, Davies rode flawlessly and never faced any pressure en route to an impressive, championship-clinching victory by a margin of 12.9 seconds over Bennick. Hammaker closed within striking distance of Bennick on the final lap and needed a second-place finish to extend the title fight, but went down and was forced to settle for third in a resilient come-from-behind performance.
Hammaker’s inability to get by Bennick became the difference maker in the championship as it gave Davies the necessary advantage to clinch the title one race early. He became the second New Zealand native to win a Supercross title, joining his mentor Ben Townley, and gave Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing a clean sweep of the divisional titles alongside Haiden Deegan in the Western Division. Moreover, Davies’ victory was the 14th for Yamaha in the 250SMX Class this season, which equals the record for a single season set by both Honda (2023) and Kawasaki (2004). Two races remain for the bLU cRU to set a new all-time standard for success.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies withstood a late-race restart to take his fifth win of the season and clinch the Eastern Divisional Championship.
Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Champion “[This championship] means everything to me and my family. We’ve sacrificed everything to come over here [and race in the U.S.]. I cannot thank them enough. All the hard work, the ups and downs, it’s all worth it now. This track was treacherous, but we got it done. A dream come true.”
Daxton Bennick – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class “[That race] was tough. I rode good in my Heat Race, so I just kept that momentum going into the Main Event. I knew if I could keep my wheels off the ground as much as I could that would put me in a good spot. I’m glad to be back up on the podium.”
Seth Hammaker – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class “I’m definitely bummed. I had big title hopes for this season, but I was racing a tough competitor. Congratulations to Cole [Davies] and his team. He’s been riding unreal this year. I felt like, for me, I took a step [forward] this season, even though it may not show it on the results side of things. I felt like my consistency has improved and I’ve been riding good, but nothing fell into place like I would have hoped. All in all, it was still a good season, and we’ve still got one more race to go.”
A shortened 17 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with the class’ top three title contenders out front as Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence, Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb duked it out. The early edge went to Lawrence with the holeshot as he fended off Webb for the early lead, but Roczen then made his way from third to first just a couple minutes into the race. The lead trio then settled into their respective positions as Roczen and Lawrence inched away from Webb. Lawrence then started to pressure Roczen for the lead, as the championship rivals traded momentum. Then, with a little more than nine minutes remaining, Lawrence went down. He lost second to Webb but remounted in third, more than 20 seconds off the lead.
Without the pressure from Lawrence, Roczen was able to ride at his own pace and managed a comfortable margin over Webb through the heart of the Main Event, which became crucial as Roczen was faced with heavy lapped traffic throughout the entirety of the race’s second half. Webb made a final push as time ran out on the race clock and closed within a couple bike lengths of Roczen to initiate a last lap battle for the win. Roczen responded and kept Webb at bay to capture his 28th career victory by a slim margin of 2.4 seconds. Lawrence followed in a distant third on a night when just four riders finished on the lead lap.
Roczen’s class leading fifth win of the season vaulted him to the top of the championship standings on the heels of four wins over the past five races. It marks the first time in his decorated career that Roczen has had possession of the red plate in the second half of a championship campaign. The German native holds a four-point lead over Lawrence with two races remaining, while Webb lurks in third, 24 points back.
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen has seized control of the 450SMX Class title fight with his fourth win in five races.
Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class “The pressure has been there for a long time, but now I’m just dealing with it on an [every] weekend basis. I just do whatever I need to keep myself calm or whatever mindset I need to be in. There’s certain weekends where you need to be more aggressive and whatnot. This was such an important race. In these conditions things can go sideways in a heartbeat. I am so pumped and proud of my crew and myself for putting all this together when it’s really important. I’m really enjoying it. Hard work pays off.”
Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class “It got crazy at the end. I just went full send. It’s a bummer to get second after riding that flawless of a race but we were pushing hard. I got close at the end, but lappers dictated some of it at the end and helped Kenny [Roczen] or hurt me, or vice versa. I felt like tonight was an opportunity I needed to make the most of and just didn’t quite pull it off. Overall, a great ride.”
Hunter Lawrence – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class “I’ve got a little extra fuel during the week [losing the points lead]. I look forward to Denver and Salt Lake [City]. They’ve been good to me, and I like racing at altitude. Happy to get out of here in one piece. I had a few ‘oh crap’ moments out there. Damage control with that little crash, so happy with that all things considered because once it happens sometimes the train can go off the tracks. Happy to bring it home.”
The 6 Minutes + 1 Lap SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship Main Event saw the top 18 amateur prospects battle it out in the challenging conditions for a shot at a coveted national title. The action kicked off with the Triumph Factory Racing machine of Deacon Denno out front exiting the first turn, which gave him a clear track to build a gap and assume control of the race. Behind him, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson settled into a firm hold of second, while KTM Orange Brigade’s Jeremy Fappani slotted into third. The field quickly spread out as riders navigated the rain-soaked track, with Denno’s lead growing to more than a dozen seconds over the field. The newly turned 18-year-old from Texas kept his Triumph clean and on two wheels and easily completed a wire-to-wire performance by a margin of 9.3 seconds for the biggest win of his budding career. Johnson went unchallenged on the way to a runner-up finish, while Fappani did the same to round out the championship podium in third. Denno, who prevailed at Daytona in March, became the first repeat winner in SMX Next – Supercross this season and was also the only prospect to secure a top five finish at all five races.
Triumph Factory Racing’s Deacon Denno went wire-to-wire to capture the SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship.
Deacon Denno – SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Champion “I was just focused on the start. That’s a big part of [racing in] the mud and it’s a big part of any race. I got the rhythms clean and I felt like I rode smooth and calm, which is what you need in the mud. It feels good to make it known I can make it happen anywhere, Daytona, in the mud, wherever I want. A lot of confidence for me heading into the pros.”
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, May 2, with Round 16 from Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at SuperMotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news: Instagram: @supermotocross Facebook: @supermotocross X: @supermotocross YouTube: @supermotocross TikTok: @supermotocross
About the Monster Energy SMX World Championship: The Monster Energy SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship: Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About Pro Motocross Championship: The Pro Motocross Championship features the world’s fastest outdoor motocross racers, competing aboard homologated bikes from one of seven competing manufacturers on a collection of the roughest, toughest tracks on the planet. Racing takes place each Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road powersports event production, manages the Pro Motocross Championship. For more information, visit ProMotocross.com.
About Feld Motor Sports, Inc.: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
About MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., manages and produces the world’s premier motocross racing series – the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. MX Sports Pro Racing is an industry leader in off-road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit MXSportsProRacing.com for more information.
