BARBERVILLE, Fla. — One of the biggest questions entering the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season was could Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports team survive Volusia Speedway Park?
That question was answered with a resounding yes on Friday night.
The Florida oval sets the tone for the season. You can’t win the championship at Volusia, but it sure feels like you can lose it. A bad trip to the “Sunshine State” can leave a team trying to dig themselves out of a deep hole.
Volusia hasn’t been Kofoid’s worst track, but it certainly hasn’t been his best. Since joining forces with Roth, the Penngrove, Calif., native had made a dozen appearances at the half-mile with top-10 results in only half and a best finish of fourth entering Friday. But Kofoid promptly silenced the doubters by grabbing his first gator.
The 24-year-old lined up on the outside of the front row for the 25-lapper and blasted to the lead on the opening circuit. It was far from a cruise to victory lane as defending series champion David Gravel surged to second and closed in.
The Big Game Motorsports No. 2 gave Kofoid everything he could handle, but he refused to let this one slip away. It wasn’t just a race. It was a statement to start the season. He wants Gravel to know he’s going to have to deal with him all year in the chase for another championship while Kofoid goes for his first.
“This place is tough on motors and crew chiefs and drivers,” Kofoid said. “I feel like we’ve finally been able to put it together and have things go our way, but this is only day one really. It’s a long year ahead. It definitely doesn’t hurt starting on the right foot, but there are a ton of tracks that David and Carson (Macedo) and everyone else on tour is really good at, probably some that they’re a lot better at than I am. I’ve just got to do the best I can and maximize everything to hopefully have a shot this year.”
Kofoid became the 25th different driver to top a World of Outlaws race at Volusia through 69 visits. The 23rd World of Outlaws win of Kofoid’s career moves him within one of equaling Ron Shuman for 28th all-time.
While Friday marked Kofoid’s first Volusia score, it was the fourth for Roth Motorsports as Daryn Pittman (two) and James McFadden (one) also supplied Dennis and Teresa Roth with gators. With Friday’s race being the first full points night of the season, Kofoid is the officially atop the standings for the first time in his career.
David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Anthony Macri, and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[1]; 8. 26-Justin Peck[8]; 9. 2C-Cole Macedo[17]; 10. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 11. 71-Parker Price Miller[6]; 12. 17B-Bill Balog[20]; 13. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[9]; 14. 10-Ryan Timms[14]; 15. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[16]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 17. 5-Brenham Crouch[24]; 18. 7S-Chris Windom[19]; 19. 16C-Scotty Thiel[10]; 20. 88-Austin McCarl[18]; 21. 27-Emerson Axsom[27]; 22. 44-Chris Martin[12]; 23. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[23]; 24. 6-Kasey Jedrzejek[25]; 25. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[13]; 26. (DNF) 13-Tanner Holmes[15]; 27. (DNS) 28M-Conner Morrell
