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The Thunder’s anonymous dominance, plus a NASCAR controversy

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The Pulse Newsletter
📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.


Good morning! Gather some assets today.


While You Were Clinching: The Thunder have found their final form

For years, the NBA had an inside joke of sorts about Sam Presti. The Thunder general manager was always building, always hoarding assets, always making the smart move — but what was it all for? Kevin Durant, Paul George, Russell Westbrook. Superstars all out the door with no rings to show. 

Now, a ring sits four wins away after Oklahoma City thundered past the Timberwolves in a decisive 124-94 Game 5 win at home last night. Consider this arc: 

  • Entering last season, the joke was very much valid. Oklahoma City started the 2023-24 year with a ragtag group of young, talented players no one knew what to do with. Vegas had them winning 44.5 games — they won 57. They leaped ahead of Presti’s originally theorized timeline to contention. He went out and acquired Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason to turn a surprise contender into a legitimate behemoth.

  • And, voila, this year’s Thunder — which still entered the year as the NBA’s youngest team — won 68 games, tied for the fifth-best season in league history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a return piece from the Clippers in the George trade, just won MVP. The future is fully built. 

Not so suddenly, the Thunder are both the NBA’s best team and the clear favorite entering next week’s finals. They are terrifying to play against. BetMGM has them -750 to win it all. 

OKC isn’t flashy, either, and I’d wager this might be our most anonymous elite team/MVP pairing in recent memory. 

More eyes than ever will be on the Thunder next Thursday when they face the winner of Indiana-New York in Game 1 of the finals. I can’t wait. 

  • Not so surprising? In the NHL, the Panthers advanced to their third straight Stanley Cup final with a boffo win in a tight Game 5 on the road. The last three minutes of this game were a microcosm of Carolina’s entire series: down 4-3, on a power play, unable to score, with the penalized Sam Bennett racing out of the box to score an empty-netter for Florida with less than a minute left to seal the series. Brutal. 

We have two more clinch possibilities tonight. Onward:


News to Know

Vrabel addresses Diggs video
If you have logged on to any slice of sports social media in the last 24 hours, you’ve seen the video of new Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs on a boat partying, handing women a bag of an unknown pink substance. New England coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged yesterday he had seen the video and emphasized he wants players to “make great decisions on and off the field.” Diggs was not present at OTAs yesterday. More on this developing story here.

France scraps NASCAR plan after backlash
Jim France, NASCAR’s co-owner and CEO, was close to a deal that would’ve funded a car in an upcoming Cup Series race before intense backlash led him to step away. According to an exclusive report from The Athletic, France scrapped the deal after our reporters started asking around about the arrangement, which would present pretty obvious ethical hurdles. Owning a series and a team/car is not wholly unheard of — see the Penske dynasty/debacle in IndyCar — but France’s proposed involvement here still made people quite angry. Read the full report here.

More news

  • Baylor redshirt freshman defensive lineman Alex Foster died at just 18. Read our full report.
  • Former Sonic Shawn Kemp could face jail time in connection to a 2023 assault. More details here.
  • Roland Garros has not been nice to Casper Ruud. His French Open exit headlined yesterday’s action, which you can catch up on here.
  • Marlins second baseman Ronny Simon was grateful for the outpouring of support after his three-error game Tuesday. It’s a nice story.
  • The Wrexham documentary series was renewed for a fifth season, which I already assumed was happening.

📫 Love The Pulse? Check out our other newsletters.


Phenoms: The teenager has fully taken over


Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

In the sports world, there will always be phenoms. Young, shooting stars that take our breath away before making us say, “Wait, how old?” LeBron James posed on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16. Tiger Woods won the U.S. Amateur at 15. 

Lamine Yamal is different. 

  • Over the last two years, we have seen Yamal go through the awkward stages of adolescence while taking over the soccer universe. Before his 18th birthday, Yamal helped Spain win Euro 2024 and become FC Barcelona’s best player. So much for plebeians like myself, who tended to plants at a local nursery for minimum wage at 17.
  • There is an argument to be made that Yamal is the best soccer player in the world at 17 years old. Many in the sport agree. Yamal has scored 18 goals and dished 21 assists while helping Barca win La Liga this year. He will soon take his talented left foot back to the Spanish squad for Nations League next week. Trust me, watch any game and his play will jump off the screen.

  • This week, Barcelona signed Yamal to a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2031 and pay him $45 million per year, which makes him the team’s highest earner before the U.S. would allow him to buy cigarettes. Off the pitch, he is the emerging face of a brand worth billions

Pol Ballús, our excellent Barca reporter, has the inside story of how the club signed Yamal to such a remarkable deal. It’s worth a read this morning. 

And try to catch this kid on TV soon if you can. 

  • In other phenom news: Woods’ son, Charlie, won his first junior golf tournament at 16 years old yesterday. He beat the top-ranked junior in America by six shots. Watch out.

What to Watch

📺 NBA: Pacers at Knicks
8 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
Do-or-die for the best Knicks season in 25 years. Indiana can book its first finals trip of this century. The atmosphere should be buzzy. This is why we watch sports. 

📺 NHL: Oilers at Stars
8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Copy and paste from above. The road team can clinch a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. The home team plays for its season in front of a home crowd. Fun night. 

Get tickets to games like these here.


Pulse Picks

Mike Sando picked his favorite offseason moves for each NFL team. Hooray for a QB retiring. 

Also, Dane Brugler revisited his 2025 NFL Draft top 50 rankings. See the hits and misses here

🎥 The “No Dunks” guys ranked Tyrese Haliburton’s flawless Game 4 among the best playoff performances so far. Watch it here

The Pirates don’t want to trade Paul Skenes but … they’d have to consider these five packages

Women’s golf has a new star in 16-year-old Asterisk Talley, as Brody Miller writes. The sport is wrestling with how to protect her

Great guest spot: Matt Antonelli was a first-round MLB bust. He gave us five lessons he learned

Sam Blum bought a ticket to attend a Sacramento A’s home game as a fan, and it doesn’t sound like anyone is happy there

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Antonio Morales’ ranking of every five-star QB in the recruiting era. 

Most-read on the website yesterday: Our latest 2025 NHL Mock Draft.

Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Top photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)



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Speedway Motorsports Announces Promoter of the Year – Drag Bike News

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Speedway Motorsports officials, in recognition of exemplary performance and exceptional service on behalf of and its world-class facilities, recognized the 2025 recipients for the company’s O. Bruton Smith Award, Promoter of the Year, Speedway of the Year and the Acceleration Award. Announcements were made during a company-wide town hall meeting this week as the industry-leading company wraps up a successful year hosting entertainment and motorsports events across the country.

Dover Motor Speedway’s Jim Hosfelt earned the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award, while Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell received Promoter of the Year honors. Las Vegas Motor Speedway was named Speedway of the Year award and Sonoma Raceway earned the fourth annual Acceleration Award.

“At Speedway Motorsports, our goal is to exceed expectations in sports and entertainment by delivering unforgettable moments at every touchpoint,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “That mission is only possible because of the passion, dedication and effort our teams across the country bring to their work each day. It’s a privilege to celebrate the leaders and teammates across our footprint whose commitment fuels our momentum and helps transform every event into a truly remarkable experience for our fans.”

Bruton Smith Award

Dover Motor Speedway Vice President of Safety and Security, Jim Hosfelt, received the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award.

Established 13 years ago to recognize one employee annually across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, the recipient of this prestigious award is someone who exhibits Speedway Motorsports’ founder O. Bruton Smith’s traits: character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect and appreciation for team members, vision and determination. It is the company’s highest honor.

Hosfelt joined Dover Motor Speedway in 2014 to oversee the day-to-day security and event-time public safety at the facility. Shortly after Speedway Motorsports acquired Dover in 2021, Hosfelt added the title of Director of Safety and Security for Speedway Motorsports, working as a liaison for NASCAR and federal agencies at events across the company’s portfolio of properties.

Prior to his speedway tenure, the Cumberland, Md. native spent 25 years in law enforcement with the Dover Police Department, where he retired as Chief of Police.

Away from the track, Hosfelt serves as a coordinator for food distribution events conducted by the speedway with the Food Bank of Delaware. An Air Force veteran and graduate of the FBI National Academy, he was elected to seats on Dover City Council (2015-2017) and Kent County Levy Court (2017-2019).

“The contributions Jim makes, the relationships he has across the sport, thankfully it’s a low profile thing, but (public safety) is one of the most important things we do,” said Speedway Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Mike Burch. “We talk about ‘safe, clean and comfortable.’ He’s invaluable to making sure our fans from across the nation are safe when they come to our race tracks.”

“When we finished the transaction to acquire Dover Motorsports, we had no idea what an amazing fit our teams would be,” Smith added. “Jim, specifically, is just remarkable – how he is able to be everywhere and always deliver so professionally. It’s really impressive and he’s made a tremendous impact on our company.”

H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year

Recognized for his team’s effort around the Speedway Classic partnership with Major League Baseball and continued success in NASCAR and other secondary events, Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell was named H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year for 2025. The annual award, named in honor of the legendary promoter who passed away in August, is chosen by the selection committee and given to the Speedway Motorsports general manager who best displayed the creativity, innovation, leadership and execution that are fundamental to Speedway Motorsports’ way of doing business.

A first-of-its-kind event in baseball, the Speedway Classic saw the highest ticket sales for a single event in the history of Major League Baseball with over 91,000 tickets sold.

“Humpy was known as the PT Barnum of motorsports,” Smith said. “He inspired a lot of people to think outside the box. To name Jerry as this year’s promoter is very fitting as he’s done a great job in leading the team to phenomenal success this year. Bristol has a reputation where people aren’t going to question if something like building a baseball stadium inside a race track can happen – they know it can.”

Speedway of the Year

Las Vegas Motor Speedway received Speedway of the Year recognition, edging out 10 state-of-the-art Speedway Motorsports entertainment complexes to earn top honors 11 of the last 14 years. The award was presented to LVMS President Patrick Lindsay, who replaced the facility’s longtime head Chris Powell upon his retirement earlier this year. The award recognizes the Speedway Motorsports facility with the best overall performance during 2025 in such aspects as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity.

“It’s not easy to grow on an already fantastic performance,” Smith said. “Patrick has carried the torch well and it’s great to have his leadership. It’s a huge effort because everything that happens — from corporate sales to operations and logistics — this team has done a great job and delivered every time.”

Acceleration Award

For the second year in a row, Sonoma Raceway was honored with the Acceleration Award, which recognizes a Speedway Motorsports subsidiary for significant year-over-year gains across multiple performance measures. The award was accepted by Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn.

Sonoma Raceway delivered a strong performance in 2025, driven by growing track rental activity in the raceway’s premium Turn 11 facility, along with strategic cost-efficiency initiatives that enhanced operations across the property while maintaining a high-quality fan experience.

“We had multiple speedways that made significant improvements, but we had one that really outdid themselves year-over-year,” Burch said. “They continue to bolster the fan experience, drive down expenses and find new ways to use the speedway to serve their clients.”

There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.

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Suzuki Announces 2026 Supercross Team – Drag Bike News

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Suzuki Motor USA, LLC and Pipes Motorsports Group are thrilled to unveil their official lineup for the 2026 Supercross season, fielding a trio of elite athletes including Daytona winner Ken Roczen, reigning World Supercross SX1 Champion Jason Anderson, and Colt Nichols—each competing aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450.

With three of the sport’s most accomplished and recognizable riders leading the program, Suzuki heads into the 2026 Supercross season with strong momentum and championship-level aspirations. Building on Roczen’s impressive performances throughout 2025 and in the World Supercross Championship, along with Anderson’s newly secured 2025 World Supercross title, 2026 represents a pivotal year as Suzuki lines up with a proven, competitive roster in the premier class.

Ken Roczen returns to the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki team for his fourth season on the team and he takes on a new role as Global Brand Ambassador for Suzuki. Roczen has had an impressive run on the Suzuki RM-Z450 including 19 podium finishes, a thrilling victory at Daytona, and two overall wins in the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship, dominating the Buenos Aires opener winning all three main events.

Team Suzuki Supercross

“I am so happy and extremely excited to start the 2026 season with the PMG group, the people that I’ve been with for the last four years, and of course the partnership with Suzuki, ” said Roczen. “I think we have a great motorcycle and we have been able to keep making it better and better. I’ve been having a lot of fun practicing on and racing the RM-Z450.”

Ken Roczen
Ken Roczen

“We’ve been doing really well lately and I’m looking forward to carrying some of that momentum into the 2026 season. I’m excited to get it going and we have definitely done our work and now it’s time to have some fun and see where we stack up against the competition.”

New to the team for 2026, but not new to the brand, Suzuki is pleased to welcome Jason Anderson back to Suzuki on the Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance RM-Z450.

Jason Andereson
Jason Andereson

Anderson, the 2018 AMA Supercross 450SX Champion who began his career as a Team Suzuki amateur in 2003, brings a proven blend of experience and raw talent to the team—and has already showcased his exceptional speed aboard the RM-Z450 winning the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship for Suzuki.

“ I’m excited to get 2026 going with Suzuki again, and have been working really hard with the team to get ready to be on the podium!” said Jason Anderson.

Completing the 2026 Suzuki Supercross lineup is proven performer Colt Nichols. Colt had a strong season in 2025 aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450 and is looking forward to racing at the highest level with the Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance team.

Colt Nichols
Colt Nichols

 

Nichols delivered strong and consistent performances throughout the Supercross season and is already showing momentum heading into 2026, earning an overall podium finish aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450 at the final round of the World Supercross Championship during the South African GP in Cape Town.

“I’m very excited to be back with the HEP Twisted Tea Suzuki team for 2026,” commented Nichols. “ We have a fun team and I really enjoyed working and being around all of these guys. Looking forward to leveling up this year and couldn’t think of a better group to do it with”

Chris Wheeler, Motorsports Manager from Suzuki confirmed the positive mood of the team heading into the 2026 season: “There’s very good energy within our group heading into the 2026 Supercross season. We have a great mix of talent, perspectives, and experience that continues to push the program forward each year. The team is fun, but serious and focused, and we’re seeing improvement across the board—from technical development to communication—which makes the momentum around this program exciting and infectious.”

A multi-time championship winner, Larry Brooks continues to provide a wealth of experience and proven leadership to the program. His talent for matching rider strengths with exceptional Suzuki performance has been critical in the team’s preparation for the 2026 season.

“2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the HEP Suzuki team. We’re thrilled to welcome back Ken Roczen and Colt Nichols, and excited to add Jason Anderson to our team roster,” said Brooks. “That gives us three incredibly strong racers heading into the 2026 Supercross season. As a team, we’re united by a shared goal: giving our absolute best and having fun while doing what we love most—racing motorcycles for a living.”

For the 2026 season, Suzuki and Pipes Motorsports Group continue their focused commitment to the premier 450-class championship, reinforcing a clear objective: deliver peak performance and compete at the highest level of Supercross.

The team now turns its attention to the season opener on January 10 at Anaheim Stadium, where fans can expect intense, high-level racing as Roczen, Anderson and Nichols line up aboard the Championship winning Suzuki RM-Z450.

Suzuki remains proud of its deep racing heritage and moves forward with a program built on elite rider talent, experienced leadership, and strong technical expertise. With momentum on its side, the 2026 season promises plenty of excitement, and Suzuki invites fans to follow along for another action-packed year.

There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.

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This Is What Happens When a WRC Co-Driver Gets a Crack at Driving

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It takes a special kind of person to willingly strap oneself into a hatchback aimed at flying through the woods at high speeds. Rally drivers are madmen full-stop, but their shotgun-riding co-drivers are a whole different breed. Don’t discount the amount of driving know-how tucked away in those high-flying passenger seats, however. Hyundai Motorsports co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe recently took the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 at the 2025 Rallye du Pays Vençois in France, making fellow co-drivers round the world beam with pride.

While you might not be familiar with Martijn Wydaeghe, you have likely heard of his teammate Thierry Neuville. The two have been driving together since the 2021 season, with Wydaeghe co-driving during Neuville’s 2024 WRC Driver’s Championship effort. This year wasn’t as successful for last year’s champs, with Neuville finishing 5th overall in the standings. The results were largely tempered by two consecutive retirements at the Central Europe and Japan rallies towards the end of the season. The pair came back to win the final event of the year at Rally Saudi Arabia.

While the automaker didn’t put Wydaeghe out in the proper Rally1 machine he’s used to riding in, the Belgian driver made his driving debut in the production-based Rally2 machine. He did previously get a go in the Rally1 car at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, however. I’m sure the co-driver-turned-wheelman wasn’t too upset about the more approachable platform for his first go either.

With co-driver Florian Haut-Labourdette alongside, Wydaeghe pushed the IXO-sponsored Hyundai through the 25-mile rally. His pace was undeniable, with Wydaeghe managing to take home a stage win on his very first attempt. The pair only managed to muster sixth place overall, but fans were more than happy to see Wydaeghe give it a shot. That said, I don’t think Neuville needs to be too worried about job security for the time being. Perhaps the WRC should look at a co-driver shootout event moving forward, though.

Headshot of Lucas Bell

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time. 



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Hendrick Motorsports reveals rare ‘Days of Thunder’ photos with Tom Cruise, others

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A Christmas gift from Hendrick Motorsports! A collection of rare, behind-the-scenes photos of “Days of Thunder” was revealed for fans. Featuring Tom Cruise, Rick Hendrick, Geoff Bodine, and more, the photos show moments that were largely unseen until now.

“Days of Thunder 2” is likely to happen. Tom Cruise is going to be part of it, if it does happen. It is amazing to look back at these photos, more than 35 years ago, and see how this film came to be.

The collection of photos also includes some from a 1987 IMSA race at Road Atlanta. Cruise shared a Nissan 300ZX Turbo with Rick Hendrick in the race. A mechanical issue hurt their finish in the race.

Check out the photos at the Hendrick Motorsports website. There are a lot of great snapshots into these mostly forgotten moments.

Since “Days of Thunder” came out, Hendrick Motorsports sure has changed a lot. All of the wins, championships, and so much more in the time since 1990. More than 40 years of history in the Cup Series, the story of Hendrick only continues to grow.

Kyle Larson is fresh off his second championship. William Byron was so close to becoming a champion for the third year in a row. Hendrick was not nearly the organization it is now, back when Mr. H was working with Cruise. The sport has completely changed as well.

If “Days of Thunder 2” happens, I am sure that Hendrick will be involved in that effort as well. They are involved in just about every major NASCAR promotion and new venture. Why would the sequel film be any different?

Hendrick Motorsports ready to race for championship again

In the 2026 NASCAR season, Hendrick Motorsports is going to be just as good as they were this year, if not better. Kyle Larson and William Byron are going to be good for about five wins each. Chase Elliott should be back to winning two to three races a year. You have to expect Alex Bowman to win a race or be top-16 in sports.

In the Next Gen era, Larson and Byron have been two of the most successful drivers on the track. In terms of wins, they top the list since 2022. Hendrick knows that they have three legitimate championship drivers in their stable, and a fourth that can win races and be incredibly competitive otherwise.

Hendrick Motorsports is also going to get a new Chevrolet Camaro body. What they discover with that new downforce and how they build speed with it will be very interesting to watch.





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Racing Ritual Announces Grand Opening of Premier Racing Simulator Experience in Tempe, Arizona

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Twelve state-of-the-art motion racing simulators with hundreds of car choices and 90+ circuits bring professional-grade sim racing to Phoenix Metro area.

TEMPE, AZ, UNITED STATES, December 26, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Racing Ritual, a cutting-edge simulator racing entertainment venue, will celebrate its public Grand Opening on Saturday, January 10th, 2025, at 10am, bringing an immersive motorsports experience to the heart of Tempe, Arizona.

The facility features twelve professional-grade racing simulators equipped with panoramic displays, a force feedback steering system, and a motion dynamics platform bringing the simulator telemetry to your seat. Whether visitors are seasoned motorsports enthusiasts or first-time drivers, Racing Ritual offers an accessible yet authentic racing environment. Customers have full control over their preferred level of driving assists, accommodating any skill level.

“We’re beyond excited to bring Arizona a facility that lets more people experience the joy and thrill of motorsports” said co-founder Brandon Garrett. “Our goal is to bring accessibility to a sport that is typically difficult to enter while also crafting a space that invites you to stay for more than just the racing.”

Key Features of Racing Ritual:
• Twelve Professional Simulators — State-of-the-art racing rigs designed for realistic driving dynamics, accommodating individuals, groups, and competitive events.

• Multiplayer Experience — Any number of simulators can run on the same car and track in a multiplayer lobby, with voice communications and a private leaderboard for your group.

• You’re In Control — You choose whether your group wants to run fastest lap competitions, practice, or race. You have the choice of your own car and track or lean on staff recommendations for popular combinations.

• Vehicles Across Every Discipline — Formula Style Open Wheel, Oval Racing, GT3, GT4, Prototypes, Group C, Touring Cars, Supercars, Sports Cars, and Classics

• 90+ World-Renowned Circuits — All Major Circuits, North American Favorites, European Legends, Global Destinations

• Event Space — For private venue rentals of our 2861 square foot space, you have control over our 140” 4k projector, sound system, and wireless streaming capabilities for any music and audio/visual content for your corporate event or private party. In addition, you have access to our coffee bar, refrigerators, and plenty of counter space to cater food. We have seating and table space for 40 spectators, and our venue capacity is 146.

Grand Opening Details:
• Date: Saturday, January 10th, 2025 from 10am to 1pm, Paid Sessions From 1pm-10pm
• Location: Tempe, Arizona
• Book: racingritual.com
• Instagram @racingritual

The Grand Opening event will feature special promotions and opportunities for attendees to experience all twelve simulators firsthand in short trial sessions from 10am to 1pm and then opens to paid sessions from 1pm to 10pm.
Racing Ritual invites motorsports fans, gamers, corporate groups, and families to discover the excitement of professional sim racing.

About Racing Ritual

Racing Ritual is Arizona’s premier full-motion sim racing center, a place where adrenaline meets precision, and the love of racing is celebrated.
Born from a deep passion for motorsport, we created a space where everyone from first-time drivers to seasoned racers can experience the thrill of world-class racing circuits in full-motion simulators that feel just like the real thing.
Located in the heart of Tempe, Racing Ritual is a hangout, training ground, and entertainment hub designed for connection, competition, and pure speed. Whether you’re here to chase lap times, battle friends, or just feel something real, we built this for you.

Thomas Balls
Racing Ritual
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

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.





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Everything You Need To Know About The 2026 Tulsa Shootout

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The 2026 Tulsa Shootout is shaping up to be the largest edition in the event’s history. This year’s “Mecca of Micros,” scheduled for Dec. 29–Jan. 3 inside the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has drawn a record number of pre-entered drivers.

Held a week prior to the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals in the same building, the Tulsa Shootout has currently attracted 1,939 entries from all across the globe. 

Whether you’re a seasoned dirt racing enthusiast or new to the sport, the Tulsa Shootout is sure to deliver thrilling and memorable moments throughout the six days of on-track action. 

This article breaks down everything you need to know about the 2026 Tulsa Shootout on FloRacing. 


2026 Tulsa Shootout Schedule

View the schedule for the 2026 Tulsa Shootout below. All times are in Central Time.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29

Practice: 9:00am (One round per class)

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw

K&B Motorsports Restricted

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints

JST Motorsports A-Class

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

Racing: 9:00am

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing FuelTech Heats

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints FuelTech Heats

JST Motorsports A-Class FuelTech Heats

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

Racing: 9:00am

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw FuelTech Heats

K&B Motorsports Restricted FuelTech Heats

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw FuelTech Heats

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1

Racing: 9:00am

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing E-Mains

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing D-Mains

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing C-Mains

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing Qualifiers

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints Qualifiers

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw Qualifiers

K&B Motorsports Restricted Qualifiers

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw Qualifiers

JST Motorsports A-Class Qualifiers

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw D-Mains

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw C-Mains

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2

Racing: 9:00am

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw E-Mains

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw D-Mains

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw C-Mains

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints C-Mains

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints B-Mains

K&B Motorsports Restricted C-Mains

K&B Motorsports Restricted B-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class E-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class D-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class C-Mains

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

Racing: 9:00am

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing B-Mains

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw B-Mains

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw B-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class B-Mains

OPENING CEREMONIES, PARADE OF STATES

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing LCQ

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw LCQ

K&B Motorsports Restricted LCQ

JST Motorsports A-Class LCQ

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw LCQ

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing A-Feature

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints A-Feature

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw A-Feature

K&B Motorsports Restricted A-Feature

JST Motorsports A-Class A-Feature

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw A-Feature

**Schedule is subject to change without notice. Any updates will be posted to http://www.tulsashootout.com.


What Classes Race At The Tulsa Shootout?

OUTLAW (Wing & Non-Wing)

This is your headlining division at the Tulsa Shootout. 

The sky’s the limit in this class. Many engines are professionally built nowadays with a 640cc max displacement, there are bigger 14 sq. feet wings to provide extra downforce, and cockpit adjustments to tweak your shocks and wings are allowed.

The unique distinction in car count for Winged Outlaw to Outlaw Non-Wing is because a good majority of racers will simply run their “Stock” car in the Outlaw Non-Wing class. Due to the size of the track and the nature of non-wing racing, the smaller motor is less of a disadvantage when the wing is not a factor. In fact, many of the Outlaw Non-Wing champions over the years have done it with a “Stock” engine under the hood.

STOCK (A-Class & Non-Wing)

More of an entry level type class, these are year-in and year-out the biggest divisions at the Tulsa Shootout and all across the country for that matter.

The “Stock” in this class is pretty simple, these are traditionally pulled right off 600cc motorcycles and plucked right into a micro sprint. Offering about 25 less horsepower, you’ll notice this group also has smaller 10 square foot wings. There are no cockpit adjustments of any sorts allowed.

RESTRICTED

The final kid class as a stepping stone before reaching Stock then Outlaw is this division intended for 8-16 years old.

Essentially the same as A-Class, the only difference in Restricted simply comes down to the motor under the hood. You’ll take a stock 600cc powerplant but similar to NASCAR, you’ll use a ¾ inch restrictor plate to tone the motor down for the kids. It’s a great entry level class for kids to understand the feel of the car and get to race competitively without the consequence of the power yet.

Like the Stock divisions, no cockpit adjustables are allowed and you’ll notice the smaller 10 square foot wings.

JR. SPRINT

The most obvious division to decipher at the Tulsa Shootout for a casual fan is the Jr. Sprints, intended for young kids 6-12 years old.

As you’d expect, everything is smaller with a Jr. Sprint from the car itself, the motor, the wings, the tires, you name it. It’s simply about getting the kids behind the wheel and learning how to race with each other. And don’t underestimate these kids either, the Jr. Sprints have often delivered some of the most exciting races of the night; and they’re certainly bringing the best interviews each and every single year.

For the complete technical breakdown of each class, you can find the official class rules at https://www.tulsashootout.com/classes/.

How To Watch The 2026 Tulsa Shootout

The 2026 Tulsa Shootout will stream live on FloRacing. You can follow the action as it happens and watch the replays and exclusive content on-demand after it’s all over on FloRacing. The 2026 Tulsa Shootout starts on Dec 29, 2025 and runs until Jan 3, 2026. 

On Your TV: Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast & Apple TV.

Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio, Samsung and LG TVs.

On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.


When Does The 2026 Tulsa Shootout Start?

The 2026 Tulsa Shootout starts on December 29 at 9:00 a.m. CT and runs through January 3, 2026.


2026 Tulsa Shootout Entry List

The entry list for the 2025 Tulsa Shootout features nearly 2,000 entries across the six divisions and features a star-studded line-up at the SageNet Center. Among the entries are NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch and Ty Gibbs in the Stock/Outlaw divisions, along with future stars Audrey Larson, Owen Larson and Brexton Busch. 

View the full 2026 Tulsa Shootout entry list here.


FloRacing Race Replays On-Demand

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloRacing subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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