Dale Earnhardt Jr. looked so different in a resurfaced throwback NASCAR photo that motorsports fans needed context from the legend himself to believe it was him.

The image shared from a Reddit post captioned “If party like it’s 1999 were a picture,” showed Earnhardt Jr. shoulder to shoulder with NASCAR rivals from yesteryear. He appeared beardless, unstyled, and almost anonymous from the man who is teaming up with Arby’s next season.

The photo featured drivers Mike McLaughlin, Earnhardt Jr., Randy LaJoie, and Matt Kenseth, a group that once defined the Busch Series landscape. All four finished first through fourth in the 1998 Busch Series standings, with Earnhardt Jr. taking first place and a modest $836,425 in prize money.

Earnhardt Jr. interacted with the post in the comment section and later confirmed that it was a banquet afterparty on the West Coast. That year’s season resulted in Jeff Gordon’s third Driver’s Championship and Dale Earnhardt Sr. winning the Daytona 500.

At the time, Dale Jr. was 25 years old, clean-shaven, and wearing a plain dark crewneck with dark brown hair. There were no accessories, no JR Motorsports in existance, and signs of where his life would eventually land.

At 51 years old, Earnhardt Jr. now has visibly gray hair, black-framed glasses, and is often seen in a team button-down shirt and a broadcast headset. Outside of being a Hall of Fame driver with two championships and 24 Cup Series victories, the veteran driver now operates his own O’Reilly Auto Parts team and has become one of NASCAR’s most vocal critics.

Dale Jr. has expressed concerns as the sport continues to change its postseason format, along with gripes about NextGen cars.”I love being a broadcaster in this sport. I am a big fan of NASCAR, I’m a big believer in NASCAR, and I read a lot of the dialogue online.”

“I want to say that I don’t love the Next Gen car, but it’s here,” he said. I don’t love the Next Gen car. It’s an IMSA car, it’s a sports car, it’s got a diffuser, it’s got low-profile tires, it’s got big rims and big brakes.”

“It’s a sports car, it’s not a NASCAR stock car, but it’s here. Everybody’s invested. There are millions of dollars already way down the road, and the car is here.”

Dale Jr. will head JR Motorsports with a skilled lineup targeting the championship next season. Justin Allgaier will come back to drive the No. 7 car in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, alongside Sammy Smith, now in his third year with the team.

After a close call last year, where three drivers, including Conor Zilisch, vied for the title but were edged out by Jesse Love, the team is determined to claim the crown this year.

• NASCAR racing has been absent from Kentucky Speedway for more than five years.
• Once a host of the top three NASCAR series, Kentucky Speedway now sits as a multi-purpose facility.

What started in 1997 as a vision to bring top-tier racing in America to Northern Kentucky now sits just off I-71 having not hosted live racing in front of fans for more than five years. Kentucky Speedway, founded by Jerry Carroll and now owned by Speedway Motorsports, is part of a cohort of race tracks around the United States that still exist, but haven’t hosted race weekends in years.

There are plenty of reasons Kentucky Speedway is effectively closed − the COVID-19 pandemic impact on live, in-person sports, NASCAR scheduling and Speedway Motorsports’ allotment of race weekends on the NASCAR schedule being chief among them.

Speedway Motorsports owns Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Echopark Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilksboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.

“I’ve been thinking about this race since we left last year,” summed up the focus at the front of the field by Jax Wittmer, who captured his first career golden Driller in the 41st annual Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout powered by NOS Energy Drink.

Leading all 20 laps in the Flying A-Motorsports Junior Sprint A-Feature, Wittmer’s determination was apparent after settling for second one year ago. Perfect laps by the Pennsylvania driver, the difference at the line was 1.762-seconds over Grayson Graham, with Stetson Stoup working from seventh to the final podium step.

Gage Pio and Levi Ballard from 15th completed the top five. Hudson Andrews, Jaxson Evett, Bryton Buoy, Beau Wyatt, and Ryker Sumner made up the top ten.

The Flying A-Motorsports Junior Sprint field consisted of 130 drivers.

The 42nd annual Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout powered by NOS Energy Drink takes place December 29, 2026, through January 2, 2027, at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, located inside the SageNet Center at Expo Square.

All official rules, event information, and dates are online at http://www.tulsashootout.com. Fans can also follow the Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout powered by NOS Energy Drink at https://www.facebook.com/TulsaShootout and on Twitter (@TulsaShootout).

RACE RESULTS:

Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout powered by NOS Energy Drink

Tulsa Expo Raceway (Tulsa, Okla.)

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints

Heat Races (Top 72 in points to 6 Qualifying Races)

FuelTech Race 49 (8 Laps): 1. 21G-Giselle Hicks[3]; 2. 12A-Brady Ayres[6]; 3. 21E-Miles Enfinger[4]; 4. 17P-Evan Phillips[8]; 5. 7A-William Wright[5]; 6. 55Z-Levi Mitchell[2]; 7. 23R-Rylan Short[7]; 8. 22F-Evan Frantz[1]

FuelTech Race 50 (8 Laps): 1. 66-Breck Buoy[2]; 2. 93W-Wyatt Parsley[5]; 3. 52L-Lucas Coulter[8]; 4. 99K-Karter Bates[4]; 5. 9-Estela Stillwell[1]; 6. 09K-Weston Kesner[6]; 7. 23K-Kasten Short[3]; 8. 8B-Addisyn Burck[7]

FuelTech Race 51 (8 Laps): 1. 51-Easton Cambensy[2]; 2. 17G-Grayson Logan[4]; 3. 1-Paxton Perry[5]; 4. 84-Chase Bohanon[3]; 5. 26B-Brighton Hazelwood[1]; 6. 45T-Wyatt Tyre[7]; 7. 52K-Dawson Kreutter[8]; 8. 4C-Gus Hess[6]

FuelTech Race 52 (8 Laps): 1. 17B-Aj Barber[4]; 2. 1P-Paxton Belchik[3]; 3. 57-Andrew Lawson[2]; 4. 45W-Dakota Warhurst[1]; 5. 7W-Willard Ballard[5]; 6. 95-Landen Edsall[7]; 7. 28B-Brex Woods[6]; 8. 37K-Kacie Pittman[8]

FuelTech Race 53 (8 Laps): 1. 7G-Grayson Graham[4]; 2. 7R-Ashlyn Wittmer[5]; 3. 3T-Bentley Thompson[3]; 4. 56L-Giovanni Lucito[1]; 5. 20-Preston Trautschold[8]; 6. 98-Mason McBride[7]; 7. 55P-Preston Caskey[6]; 8. 24Z-Julian Zayas[2]

FuelTech Race 54 (8 Laps): 1. 83-Audrey Larson[2]; 2. 47-Stetson Stroup[7]; 3. 37J-Jayden Ferneau[1]; 4. 9B-Weston Foster[6]; 5. 16-Jett Swindoll[4]; 6. 14B-Chase Buntin[8]; 7. 21B-Brantley Lewis[5]; 8. (DNF) 25K-Kaysen Keeney[3]

FuelTech Race 55 (8 Laps): 1. 5-Gage Pio[5]; 2. 707-Jax Wittmer[8]; 3. 41-Beau Wyatt[3]; 4. 14K-Kaseton Morris[6]; 5. 7B-RJ Bellbowen[1]; 6. 57B-Lowry Bacon[2]; 7. 77-Wesson Whitaker[7]; 8. (DNF) 14A-Brycen Austin[4]

FuelTech Race 56 (8 Laps): 1. 1T-Ryder Morris[1]; 2. 14E-Jaxson Evett[4]; 3. 54-Luke Coates[7]; 4. 1Z-Zander LaRose[3]; 5. 12-Hudson Jordan[5]; 6. 52C-bostynn coleman[6]; 7. 45R-Aiden Rupa[8]; 8. 6T-Wyatt Turner[2]

FuelTech Race 57 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Ryker Toops[3]; 2. 52-Carson Brazeal[4]; 3. 17M-Garrett Mohrfeld[5]; 4. 21T-TomTom Hernly[7]; 5. 28-Archer Jumper[6]; 6. 97-Trigg Hazelwood[2]; 7. 40C-Koen Coleman[1]; 8. (DNS) 11-Axel Frisell

FuelTech Race 58 (8 Laps): 1. 82-Frank Jirik[1]; 2. 40-Tigh Shaffer[3]; 3. 87-Levi Ballard[6]; 4. 11E-Easton Wright[4]; 5. 15G-Giovanni Anderlini[8]; 6. 25D-Samantha Dozier[2]; 7. 32-Cash Wright[5]; 8. 86B-Elliott Murray[7]

FuelTech Race 59 (8 Laps): 1. 7-Hudson Andrews[6]; 2. 65-Bryton Buoy[7]; 3. 23P-Micah Porter[5]; 4. 379-Kendyl Leal[2]; 5. 14-Lane White[1]; 6. 8-Trace Latour[4]; 7. 3G-Everett Geiger[3]; 8. (DNF) 4U-Lee Uzzell[8]

FuelTech Race 60 (8 Laps): 1. 24K-Kasen Kalkwarf[1]; 2. 19-Liam Barton[3]; 3. 12M-Braycen Morris[4]; 4. 49-Brooks White[6]; 5. 9E-Connor Edsall[8]; 6. (DNF) 23D-Wally Duros[2]; 7. (DNF) 89-Easton Loomis[7]; 8. (DNS) 15A-Athena Webster

FuelTech Race 61 (8 Laps): 1. 28K-McKenna Kren[1]; 2. 23-EJ Hatch[3]; 3. 47M-Maggie Stroup[7]; 4. 17H-Huxcen Roush[8]; 5. 26C-Camden McGaha[4]; 6. 17C-Caleb Johannesen[5]; 7. 64B-Barrett Bressler[6]; 8. 25P-Presley Hall[2]

FuelTech Race 62 (8 Laps): 1. 14P-Kruize Parson[2]; 2. 15-Braylon Morris[4]; 3. 74C-Cale Martin[1]; 4. 45-Colt Crisp[5]; 5. 36W-Wheelen Schuerenberg[6]; 6. 45X-Gunner Hudson[7]; 7. (DNF) 62B-Braelyn Wentz[3]

FuelTech Race 63 (8 Laps): 1. 3P-Ryker Sumner[2]; 2. 51K-Kase Martin[1]; 3. 2-Brody Sullivan[7]; 4. 36J-Jaxson Payero[5]; 5. 10-Easton Gardner[3]; 6. 17-Thatcher Parker[6]; 7. (DNF) 33-Luke Spring[4]

FuelTech Race 64 (8 Laps): 1. 5B-Evan Boyd[2]; 2. 1L-Axten Larsen[1]; 3. 99E-Emeryn Fenton[5]; 4. 81-Liam Lofton[4]; 5. 27-Brody Lewis[6]; 6. (DNF) 33F-Fisher Kelsey[3]; 7. (DNF) 25Z-Bentlee Zimmerman[7]

Qualifiers (Top 12 in combined Heat/Qualifier Passing Points lock into the A-Feature)

Race 250 | Qualifier 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7G-Grayson Graham[3]; 2. 83-Audrey Larson[1]; 3. 7-Hudson Andrews[4]; 4. 28K-McKenna Kren[6]; 5. 7R-Ashlyn Wittmer[2]; 6. 52-Carson Brazeal[5]; 7. 23-EJ Hatch[7]; 8. 45-Colt Crisp[10]; 9. 11E-Easton Wright[11]; 10. 49-Brooks White[9]; 11. 379-Kendyl Leal[12]; 12. 1L-Axten Larsen[8]

Race 251 | Qualifier 2 (10 Laps): 1. 54-Luke Coates[2]; 2. 707-Jax Wittmer[4]; 3. 14P-Kruize Parson[1]; 4. 20-Preston Trautschold[9]; 5. 14B-Chase Buntin[12]; 6. 1-Paxton Perry[7]; 7. 15-Braylon Morris[5]; 8. 84-Chase Bohanon[11]; 9. 12A-Brady Ayres[3]; 10. 17P-Evan Phillips[6]; 11. 21E-Miles Enfinger[8]; 12. 36J-Jaxson Payero[10]

Race 252 | Qualifier 3 (10 Laps): 1. 3P-Ryker Sumner[1]; 2. 5-Gage Pio[4]; 3. 47M-Maggie Stroup[2]; 4. 87-Levi Ballard[5]; 5. 52L-Lucas Coulter[3]; 6. 37J-Jayden Ferneau[10]; 7. 17H-Huxcen Roush[6]; 8. 45W-Dakota Warhurst[11]; 9. 17M-Garrett Mohrfeld[7]; 10. 12M-Braycen Morris[8]; 11. 1Z-Zander LaRose[9]; 12. (DNS) 15G-Giovanni Anderlini

Race 253 | Qualifier 4 (10 Laps): 1. 5B-Evan Boyd[1]; 2. 21G-Giselle Hicks[3]; 3. 47-Stetson Stroup[4]; 4. 1P-Paxton Belchik[6]; 5. 1T-Ryder Morris[5]; 6. 3T-Bentley Thompson[9]; 7. 2-Brody Sullivan[2]; 8. 81-Liam Lofton[11]; 9. 56L-Giovanni Lucito[12]; 10. 74C-Cale Martin[10]; 11. 23P-Micah Porter[7]; 12. 99E-Emeryn Fenton[8]

Race 254 | Qualifier 5 (10 Laps): 1. 66-Breck Buoy[2]; 2. 17G-Grayson Logan[1]; 3. 65-Bryton Buoy[4]; 4. 21-Ryker Toops[3]; 5. 41-Beau Wyatt[9]; 6. 82-Frank Jirik[5]; 7. 40-Tigh Shaffer[6]; 8. 28-Archer Jumper[11]; 9. 21T-TomTom Hernly[7]; 10. 9B-Weston Foster[8]; 11. 9E-Connor Edsall[10]; 12. 7A-William Wright[12]

Race 255 | Qualifier 6 (10 Laps): 1. 14E-Jaxson Evett[1]; 2. 51-Easton Cambensy[2]; 3. 17B-Aj Barber[4]; 4. 24K-Kasen Kalkwarf[5]; 5. 51K-Kase Martin[7]; 6. 99K-Karter Bates[10]; 7. 7W-Willard Ballard[12]; 8. 19-Liam Barton[6]; 9. 57-Andrew Lawson[9]; 10. 93W-Wyatt Parsley[3]; 11. 36W-Wheelen Schuerenberg[11]; 12. 14K-Kaseton Morris[8]

C-Features (Top 2 advance B-Features)

Race 332 | C1 (10 Laps): 1. 95-Landen Edsall[2]; 2. 86B-Elliott Murray[9]; 3. 23R-Rylan Short[4]; 4. 26B-Brighton Hazelwood[3]; 5. 12-Hudson Jordan[1]; 6. (DNF) 3G-Everett Geiger[6]; 7. (DNF) 55Z-Levi Mitchell[5]; 8. (DNF) 24Z-Julian Zayas[8]; 9. (DNF) 21B-Brantley Lewis[7]; 10. (DNS) 11-Axel Frisell; 11. (DQ) 17-Thatcher Parker[11]

Race 333 | C2 (10 Laps): 1. 17C-Caleb Johannesen[4]; 2. 98-Mason McBride[2]; 3. 7B-RJ Bellbowen[3]; 4. 15A-Athena Webster[11]; 5. 27-Brody Lewis[1]; 6. 77-Wesson Whitaker[6]; 7. 32-Cash Wright[7]; 8. 62B-Braelyn Wentz[8]; 9. 57B-Lowry Bacon[5]; 10. 6T-Wyatt Turner[10]; 11. (DNF) 40C-Koen Coleman[9]

Race 334 | C3 (10 Laps): 1. 14-Lane White[3]; 2. 28B-Brex Woods[6]; 3. 89-Easton Loomis[7]; 4. 37K-Kacie Pittman[8]; 5. 97-Trigg Hazelwood[5]; 6. 25P-Presley Hall[10]; 7. 16-Jett Swindoll[1]; 8. 52K-Dawson Kreutter[4]; 9. 4C-Gus Hess[9]; 10. (DNF) 33F-Fisher Kelsey[11]; 11. (DNF) 45X-Gunner Hudson[2]

Race 335 | C4 (10 Laps): 1. 4U-Lee Uzzell[6]; 2. 09K-Weston Kesner[3]; 3. 26C-Camden McGaha[1]; 4. 25D-Samantha Dozier[5]; 5. 55P-Preston Caskey[4]; 6. 22F-Evan Frantz[8]; 7. 14A-Brycen Austin[9]; 8. (DNF) 45R-Aiden Rupa[2]; 9. (DNF) 33-Luke Spring[7]; 10. (DNS) 10-Easton Gardner

Race 336 | C5 (10 Laps): 1. 9-Estela Stillwell[2]; 2. 64B-Barrett Bressler[6]; 3. 23K-Kasten Short[7]; 4. 23D-Wally Duros[5]; 5. 25K-Kaysen Keeney[9]; 6. 8-Trace Latour[4]; 7. 45T-Wyatt Tyre[1]; 8. 52C-bostynn coleman[3]; 9. 8B-Addisyn Burck[8]; 10. (DNS) 25Z-Bentlee Zimmerman

B-Features (Top 3 advance to the LCQ)

Race 337 | B1 (10 Laps): 1. 14E-Jaxson Evett[1]; 2. 87-Levi Ballard[3]; 3. 1-Paxton Perry[5]; 4. 7R-Ashlyn Wittmer[4]; 5. 47M-Maggie Stroup[2]; 6. 56L-Giovanni Lucito[9]; 7. 28-Archer Jumper[8]; 8. 95-Landen Edsall[13]; 9. 12A-Brady Ayres[7]; 10. 2-Brody Sullivan[6]; 11. 49-Brooks White[10]; 12. 86B-Elliott Murray[14]; 13. 14K-Kaseton Morris[12]; 14. 379-Kendyl Leal[11]

Race 338 | B2 (10 Laps): 1. 51-Easton Cambensy[1]; 2. 24K-Kasen Kalkwarf[3]; 3. 19-Liam Barton[7]; 4. 23-EJ Hatch[6]; 5. 3T-Bentley Thompson[5]; 6. 11E-Easton Wright[9]; 7. 17C-Caleb Johannesen[12]; 8. 51K-Kase Martin[4]; 9. 98-Mason McBride[13]; 10. 9B-Weston Foster[10]; 11. 9E-Connor Edsall[11]; 12. (DNF) 45W-Dakota Warhurst[8]; 13. (DNF) 28K-McKenna Kren[2]; 14. (DNS) 15G-Giovanni Anderlini

Race 339 | B3 (10 Laps): 1. 14P-Kruize Parson[2]; 2. 14B-Chase Buntin[3]; 3. 83-Audrey Larson[1]; 4. 17H-Huxcen Roush[6]; 5. 45-Colt Crisp[7]; 6. 74C-Cale Martin[10]; 7. 99K-Karter Bates[5]; 8. 1Z-Zander LaRose[12]; 9. 14-Lane White[13]; 10. 17M-Garrett Mohrfeld[8]; 11. 28B-Brex Woods[14]; 12. 1L-Axten Larsen[11]; 13. 1T-Ryder Morris[4]; 14. 17P-Evan Phillips[9]

Race 340 | B4 (10 Laps): 1. 17G-Grayson Logan[1]; 2. 37J-Jayden Ferneau[4]; 3. 21-Ryker Toops[2]; 4. 82-Frank Jirik[5]; 5. 21T-TomTom Hernly[8]; 6. 4U-Lee Uzzell[13]; 7. 52L-Lucas Coulter[3]; 8. 23P-Micah Porter[10]; 9. 36J-Jaxson Payero[12]; 10. 09K-Weston Kesner[14]; 11. 57-Andrew Lawson[9]; 12. 84-Chase Bohanon[7]; 13. 7W-Willard Ballard[6]; 14. (DNF) 99E-Emeryn Fenton[11]

Race 341 | B5 (10 Laps): 1. 1P-Paxton Belchik[2]; 2. 41-Beau Wyatt[3]; 3. 20-Preston Trautschold[1]; 4. 52-Carson Brazeal[4]; 5. 15-Braylon Morris[5]; 6. 21E-Miles Enfinger[10]; 7. 64B-Barrett Bressler[14]; 8. 81-Liam Lofton[7]; 9. 40-Tigh Shaffer[6]; 10. 7A-William Wright[12]; 11. 93W-Wyatt Parsley[8]; 12. 9-Estela Stillwell[13]; 13. 12M-Braycen Morris[9]; 14. (DNF) 36W-Wheelen Schuerenberg[11]

LCQ (Top 8 advance to the A-Feature)

Race 423 | LCQ (12 Laps): 1. 14E-Jaxson Evett[1]; 2. 14P-Kruize Parson[4]; 3. 87-Levi Ballard[6]; 4. 51-Easton Cambensy[2]; 5. 41-Beau Wyatt[9]; 6. 17G-Grayson Logan[3]; 7. 21-Ryker Toops[13]; 8. 14B-Chase Buntin[8]; 9. 37J-Jayden Ferneau[10]; 10. 19-Liam Barton[15]; 11. 24K-Kasen Kalkwarf[7]; 12. 20-Preston Trautschold[12]; 13. 1-Paxton Perry[14]; 14. 83-Audrey Larson[11]; 15. (DNF) 1P-Paxton Belchik[5]

A-Feature:

Race 429 | A Main (20 Laps): 1. 707-Jax Wittmer[1]; 2. 7G-Grayson Graham[2]; 3. 47-Stetson Stroup[7]; 4. 5-Gage Pio[3]; 5. 87-Levi Ballard[15]; 6. 7-Hudson Andrews[4]; 7. 14E-Jaxson Evett[13]; 8. 65-Bryton Buoy[8]; 9. 41-Beau Wyatt[17]; 10. 3P-Ryker Sumner[11]; 11. 21G-Giselle Hicks[9]; 12. 14B-Chase Buntin[20]; 13. 21-Ryker Toops[19]; 14. 17G-Grayson Logan[18]; 15. 54-Luke Coates[5]; 16. 66-Breck Buoy[6]; 17. 17B-Aj Barber[10]; 18. 5B-Evan Boyd[12]; 19. (DNF) 51-Easton Cambensy[16]; 20. (DNF) 14P-Kruize Parson[14]

Tulsa Shootout PR

CONCORD, NC, UNITED STATES, January 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wheelhouse Motorsports today announced a new strategic partnership with Robert Noaker Racing (RNR), uniting two leading organizations known for their development of competitive Mustang racing programs. The collaboration brings together RNR’s championship-winning expertise with Wheelhouse’s operational strength, deep technical resources, and nationally recognized driver development capabilities.

Robert Noaker Racing enters the partnership following back-to-back Team and Driver Championships in 2024 and 2025, including a flawless 2025 Mustang Challenge season in which the Noaker-prepared car led every lap of every race. Wheelhouse Motorsports will integrate this proven technical knowledge with its own established infrastructure, including its GT4 Mustang program competing in the World Racing League (WRL).

Operations will be based at the Wheelhouse Motorsports facility located on the campus of Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Wheelhouse team, including the manager, engineering staff, and technical crew, brings over 100 years of combined motorsports experience to the program. At the track, competitors will also recognize familiar faces, as the RNR crew, led by Bob Noaker, will collaborate with Wheelhouse personnel to support all Mustang Challenge efforts.
“As we continue to expand Wheelhouse Motorsports, this partnership represents a significant step forward,” said Dan McKeever, owner of Wheelhouse Motorsports. “Robert Noaker Racing has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in the Mustang Dark Horse R platform, and by combining that expertise with our operational systems and our long-standing commitment to driver development, we are well-positioned to deliver a next-level experience for our customers and competitors.”

The alliance leverages Wheelhouse’s roots in operating the Ford Performance Racing School, the nation’s premier performance driving school since 2006. The organization operates owner-experience programs for Ford and offers 1-day, 2-day, and Advanced high-performance driving courses, giving clients access to top-tier coaching and continuous development. Integrating this expertise with RNR’s race-winning preparation provides a comprehensive solution for drivers seeking a pathway into professional competition.

“This partnership allows both of our organizations to do what we do best,” said Robert Noaker, owner of Robert Noaker Racing. “Wheelhouse brings unmatched operational depth, driver training, and a world-class facility. When we combine that with the experience our team has developed running and winning with the Dark Horse R, we create a program built to elevate any driver who wants to compete at a higher level.”

Through this partnership, drivers have the following opportunities:
– Lease a Mustang Dark Horse R for the entire 2026 Mustang Challenge season.
– Contract Wheelhouse/RNR to maintain and operate their own cars.
– Compete with Wheelhouse Motorsports in the WRL series, piloting a GTO-class Mustang GT4.

Wheelhouse Motorsports and Robert Noaker Racing look forward to delivering a comprehensive, competitive, and professionally supported environment for drivers seeking championship-caliber performance in 2026 and beyond.

Bill Johnson
Wheelhouse
+1 910-658-1447
email us here

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Race officials say the tire tests have failed

Today, it’s the final day of the Tulsa Shootout. The event on the 1/5-mile dirt track takes place indoors on the same track as the Chili Bowl Nationals.

As the event was ongoing, officials released another set of tire sample tests. One driver has failed to conform to the benchmark.

This set of sample results were from Thursday night’s portion of the show.

“Samples taken from the car owned by Dave Mac Motorsports, and driven by Kale Drake in Stock Non-Wing have come back not conforming to the benchmark, and as a result, Drake has been disqualified. Samples were taken following race No. 244 from the mandated ASCS2 Right Rear,” the event release stated.

Race 244 Results

The tire samples were taken in the Tech Area just as the race was completed. The samples were taken using the team’s own tire groover.

“All samples were placed into a vial and then put into a numbered evidence bag. Each sample, including the date it was taken, race number, tire compound, tire serial number, evidence bag number, official’s initials, and a team representative’s signature.”

“In all classes, tire samples will be taken and sent to be tested. Any doping of tires is illegal and will result in the disqualification and forfeiture of all purse money.”

Two samples of the same tire were tested. Both failed to meet the benchmark.

Yesterday, officials released the first lab test results from tire samples. All drivers conformed to the benchmark.

The finale of the event is currently ongoing.

Links

Tulsa Shootout

– Advertisement –

SEASON 30: Schatz Feeling Revitalized, Grateful for Opportunity with CJB Motorsports

CONCORD, NC (January 2, 2026) – Donny Schatz stepped on stage feeling bad for Johnny Gibson.

The suited men sat in front of hundreds at the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet. Thousands more watched at home on DIRTVision. So many eyes fixed on them. Gibson’s job? To find the good in every competitor’s campaign as an avenue of introduction.

“How could he possibly spin this positively,” Schatz wondered. The 48-year-old had been in this position several times before when Gibson needed no creative optimism. Schatz’s résumé boasts so many successful seasons with The Greatest Show on Dirt that have occurred right alongside Gibson’s tenure.

Schatz knew 2025 was not among them. He went winless for the first time since his rookie year in 1997. Headlines showed his name, but not in the fashion he’s accustomed to. The Sprint Car world was rocked when Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing parted ways in August, ending a run that began in 2008. The Fargo, ND native then split time driving four different cars to finish the season. No way Gibson could find a sliver of sunlight in an entirely overcast sky, right?

But the longtime Series announcer proved Schatz wrong. All it took was a little math.

“Like five minutes before I went up to go on stage, I actually said to myself, ‘I’m not sure what Johnny Gibson, and he’s the best at his job, could possibly talk about with me in front of the crowd here that has a silver lining,’ and I said that to him when I got up there,” Schatz said. “And he said, ‘It’s 30 years next year.’ And I said, ‘No, Johnny, it’s not 30 years. It’s 29.’ And he said, ‘No, it’s 30.’ I guess you just lose track of anything past the first couple. It’s crazy to think about.”

Since that realization washed over Schatz, more reasons to be hopeful have entered his life. Along with reaching a major milestone by contesting his 30th season in 2026, he’ll open a new chapter.

The 10-time Series champion recently inked a deal with Chad Clemens’ CJB Motorsports for the upcoming season. The move pairs Schatz with one of the sport’s most legendary mechanics, Barry Jackson. After enduring one of the most trying years of his career, the move rejuvenated the 48-year-old as he prepares for his World of Outlaws career to span three full decades.

“I wasn’t to my full potential to finish out the season probably mentally,” Schatz admitted. “When things happen, it’s like a snowball effect. When bad things happen, they just keep going. I had a lot of people stick their neck out for me, and I felt like I did the best I could to get to the end and we got there. But the off-season has been a big reset. It’s been a mental reset. It’s been a physical reset. For me to start over and recharge the batteries and refresh the attitude and all the things it takes. I’m super pumped. I’m ready to get back racing.”

It’s also a dream come true for Clemens as the team owner. He’s had plenty of the sport’s best drive for him in the past. Sammy Swindell, David Gravel, and Paul McMahan are just a few who’ve piloted CJB machines. Now, he gets to add one of Sprint Car racing’s most accomplished wheelmen ever to the list.

“This is a dream of a lifetime,” Clemens said of having Schatz drive for him. “Not only is he a hell of a driver and has a lot left in him yet, but he’s also a good friend too. It’s not like I just know him as a race car driver. I know him as a friend. It’s more than just a race car driver. He’s just a really down-to-earth, good person. His family is awesome. I always talked to his father at the races. I’ve always talked to his mom. I’ve talked to his sister. It’s going to be a dream come true.”

Hiring Schatz meant expanding to a two-car team as CJB continues to field the No. 5 for Brenham Crouch. Assembling a crew and the many resources for a second top-tier Sprint Car operation is no small task. But when the opportunity with Schatz arose, Clemens and Jackson didn’t wonder if it was possible. It was merely a question of how they could make it work.

“When this whole thing came to possibly happening, my first comment to Barry was, ‘I know we can’t let this not happen. We have to make this happen somehow,’” Clemens said. “I asked him, ‘Are we able with our current situation and equipment, and are you willing to go back to the Outlaws?’ And the answers were, ‘Yes and yes.’”

Teaming up is far from the first connection between Schatz and Jackson. Their relationship dates back several years as Jackson’s path crossed with Schatz’s longtime crew chief, Ricky Warner.

“Barry is a Carlisle, Pennsylvania native, and he grew up with Rick Warner,” Schatz said. “Obviously, me and Rick have a good history together. Rick was someone that always confided in Barry for a lot of things. There was a time when Barry was building his own race cars, and I think we tried one a time or two at Oskaloosa and I think on the west coast. So, Barry is someone that’s been close back when I raced with Rick Warner. Ultimately, we respected each other. Barry is a very passionate, fiery person. You know what’s on his mind. I’m kind of the same way. I respect that.”

Roughly a month remains before the 2026 campaign begins. Luckily for the CJB crew, it ignites at a track that’s been kind to Schatz over the years. Barberville, FL’s Volusia Speedway Park is the destination in early February, and Schatz has won 24 times in 99 Sprint Car races at the 1/2 mile. With Schatz’s laps and Jackson’s extensive notebook, Schatz is optimistic they can come out of the gate swinging.

“It’s not going to take us six months to get going or get a win,” Schatz said. “I feel like we can get going right away because of Barry’s experience and my experience and obviously a fresh start. Those guys have been open to anything. They’ve asked me a lot, what it is I want to do here and there.”

Clemens shares his driver’s confidence.

“I think they’re going to start meshing right off the bat,” Clemens said. “Barry has a mindset that he wants to win and he’s driven and he’s dedicated, and Donny has the same mindset. When you have two guys that have the same mindset, I’m not going to put a projection on what I think we’re going to do, but I think it’s going to be a very positive year. I think it’s going to be a good year, and I have trust in both of them.”

Schatz’s plans are set. The season is nearing. Season number 30. A milestone that means so much to the kid from North Dakota that committed his life to Sprint Car racing. A number that’s put things in perspective and brightened his outlook as he readies for what’s ahead. He knows there’s plenty left in the tank. Schatz intends to contend in 2026.

“When it all comes together and we get to the first race, I think that’s when everybody is going to swallow hard and say, ‘Man, it took a lot to get to this point, but this is very rewarding and let’s go out and get some gators in Florida and get ourselves in a good position to race for a championship,” Schatz said.

Schatz and the CJB Motorsports No. 15 team will begin the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Feb. 4-7. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

– Advertisement –