CONCORD, N.C. — Only a month remains before the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is unleashed.
An 87-day off-season will conclude on Feb. 4 when Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals brings the campaign to life.
The Greatest Show on Dirt’s 49th year of showcasing the best sprint car drivers in the world is set to begin with four consecutive nights of racing at the “Sunshine State” half-mile, culminating in a $20,000-to-win finale and the crowning of a Big Gator champion.
Volusia has served as the season-opening site since 2005. The Florida oval annually welcomes a healthy field of entries as teams shake off the winter rust and expect 2026 to be no different. More than 50 sprint cars rolled into the pit area for last year’s DIRTcar Nationals.
Volusi is home to 67 previous World of Outlaws races, making Volusia the 11th most visited track in series history. Assuming weather cooperates, it’ll crack the top 10 next month. Nobody comes close to Donny Schatz’s mark of 15 wins as he’s topped 22-percent of those 67 features. David Gravel and Brad Sweet are tied behind Schatz with seven victories apiece.
Kyle Larson is the reigning Big Gator champion. “Yung Money” took the Silva Motorsports No. 57 to victory lane on each of the last two nights in 2025 en route to the title.
Carson Macedo and Christopher Bell also won features last year. David Gravel and Daryn Pittman are tied for the most Big Gators since the award was introduced in 2012. Both own three.
David Gravel’s quest for a three-peat will begin at Volusia. He and Big Game Motorsports have claimed the last two World of Outlaws titles. Only Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Brad Sweet have won three championships in a row through the Series’ first 48 seasons. While Gravel may enter as the favorite, he’ll have a hungry group ready to dethrone him.
One of the most prominent storylines to follow in Florida will be familiar faces in new places. The most noteworthy is Donny Schatz making his first appearance in the CJB Motorsports No. 15 as he opens his 30th consecutive tour. Spencer Bayston returns to the World of Outlaws teamed with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing.
Sheldon Haudenschild’s departure opened the SJMR seat for Bayston. Haudenschild hasn’t announced his 2026 plans, but he’s expected to begin a new chapter this year at Volusia.
The trip south will also signal the start of the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year battle. Three competitors are already signed on with possibly more to come. Ashton Torgerson (Shark Racing), Scotty Thiel (Greg Wheeler Motorsports) and Scott Bogucki (Three Stooges Racing) are the current contestants.
