ANDERSON, Ind. — As the calendar inches closer to the start of the 2026 yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour season, Bobby Santos III isn’t reinventing the wheel—he’s refining it.
After a steady offseason centered on fine-tuning rather than wholesale changes, Santos enters the year with a quiet confidence.
With the prestigious Unified Group Services Little 500 circled firmly on his calendar, the veteran driver believes his team is better positioned than it has been in recent seasons.
“I feel like we’ve had a good offseason,” Santos said. “I’m optimistic that we’re in a better spot with our race car than we have been the last couple years. I’m excited. I think we’re prepared, and I’m really hoping we can unload with more speed than we’ve had.”
In 2026, that preparation comes with added commitment. Santos and DJ Racing intend to compete in every event on the 500 Sprint Car Tour schedule, signaling a full-season focus with a clear emphasis on consistency and championship contention.
At the center of it all remains the Unified Group Services Little 500.
While the full schedule is on the radar, Santos has made it clear the crown jewel event carries special importance.
“That’s the one I’ve got circled,” he said. “But we’re focused on being strong everywhere. Running the full schedule, you’ve got to be competitive week in and week out.”
Now firmly one of the seasoned veterans in the field, Santos’ approach has evolved over time. Once guided closely by his father in the shop, he now shoulders the responsibility of car preparation himself. A transition that has strengthened his understanding of the craft.
“At first that was harder, but I feel like I’ve learned and come a long way,” Santos explained. “And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how important it is to be in good shape. I take pride in being able to compete physically, even against the younger guys.”
That mindset began to pay dividends last season.
A breakthrough victory at Toledo Speedway highlighted Santos’ 2025 campaign and marked a turning point. After a disappointing run in the Little 500, the team regrouped, made adjustments and found consistency across multiple tracks.
“Winning Toledo was definitely the highlight,” he said. “But really from that point on, I felt like we had decent speed and were competitive everywhere we went.”
Strong finishes at Salem Speedway and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park further reinforced that progress. At IRP in particular, Santos believes the team uncovered something valuable. Something he’s eager to build on, even if the return trip doesn’t come until the fall.
“I think we found something there last October that we can carry forward,” Santos said. “I’m excited to go back and feel like we can be even better.”
While Santos is focused on his own performance, he’s equally aware of the rising level of competition across the 500 Sprint Car Tour. With a growing list of contenders capable of winning on any given night, the margin for error continues to shrink.
“From winning a race to running eighth is a pretty fine line now,” he noted. “That’s how competitive it’s become. But I love it, it brings out the best in me.”
Behind the scenes, Santos continues to rely on the unwavering support of his family. His parents remain a constant presence at the race track, playing integral roles in the operation.
“I don’t think they’ve missed a race since 2019,” Santos said. “My mom helps keep everything organized, and my dad is someone I can always rely on for setup and ideas. I’d probably be lost without them.”
That same sense of loyalty extends to longtime car owner Dick Fieler, with whom Santos enters his 11th season. Their enduring partnership is a rarity in motorsports—and one Santos doesn’t take for granted.
“To have a relationship like that in racing is unbelievable,” he said. “Dick loves sprint car racing and gives me every tool to succeed. I’m very lucky to be part of it.”
With a strengthened notebook, a full-season commitment, and a renewed focus on the sport’s biggest stage, Santos’ outlook for 2026 can be summed up in a single word:
“Focused.”
