ANDERSON, Ind. — Bump day for the 78th running of the Unified Group Services Little 500 at Anderson Speedway turned out to be anti-climatic.
For the third time in his career Tyler Roahrig will led the 33-car field to start the 78th running of the Unified Group Services Little 500 Saturday at Anderson Speedway..
He is joined on the front row by Jackson Macenko and three-time Little 500 champion Kody Swanson.
Only two drivers withdrew their qualifying time on Friday and were able to advance their starting position.
Colin Grissom withdrew is Thursday qualifying effort and became the fastest second day qualifier advancing from the 26th starting spot to 23rd.
David Goodwill also improved his starting position climbing from 30th to 28th.
California driver Jerry Kobza, who posted the 34th fastest time on Thursday, never made another attempt to make the starting field.
Kozba battled an engine problem throughout the week failing to ever bring his power plant up to speed, despite changing spark plugs three different time.
Indiana driver Dakoda Armstrong has to be looking for some redemption entering the 2026 race.
Two years ago he lost a Little 500 victory when his cousin Caleb Armstrong passed him on the last lap and last year was disqualified for an unapproved mechanical device negated a victory, making Jake Trainor a two-time winner.
“Every year you’re trying to get back to victory lane,” Armstrong said of his seventh starting spot. “This race is so hard to win. We just came doing everything we normally do. Our qualifying effort was OK.”
Armstrong said the team will use the same strategy used over the past two years.
“Last year was the biggest disappointment,” he said. “The year before was a team car and we finished one two. Last year I felt like we won it, what happened didn’t affect the race, but rules are rules.”
Armstrong said the team didn’t everything right in 2025.
“I think that has given us a little fire for this year,” he said. “Sometimes after you win, you lose that edge. I think we still got it.”
Armstrong said he has two runner-up finishes in close finishes and a win in the Little 500 would be special.
Little 500 Field
1) Tyler Roahrig; 2) Jackson Macenko; 3) Kody Swanson; 4) Davey Hamilton Jr.; 5) Logan Seavey; 6) Shane Hollingsworth; 7) Dakoda Armstrong; 8) Jake Trainor; 9) Ryan Newman; 10) Kyle O’Gara; 11) Derek Bischak; 12) Brian Vauughn; 13) Colton Bettis; 14) Justin Grant; 15) CJ Leary; 16) Michael Lewis; 17) Bobby Santos III; 18) Anthony Nocella; 19) Billy Wease; 20) Landon Butler; 21) Mario Clouser; 22) Donnie Adams Jr.; 23) Colin Grissom; 24) Rylan Gray; 25) Tony Main; 26) Josh Poore; 27) Travis Welpott; 28) David Goodwill; 29) Shane Butler; 30) Justin Harper; 31) Chris Schmelzle; 32) Garrett Saunders; 33) Rob Keesling; Alternate) Jerry Kozba
