Four nights of dirt-flying action came to a thrilling close Saturday as three drivers battled their way to Victory Lane and the 2026 World of Outlaws champions were crowned at the Dave Smith Motors World Finals.

AT A GLANCE:

  • Carson Macedo raced to victory in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series finale; David Gravel secured his third championship title
  • Jonathan Davenport captured the final World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature of the season; Bobby Pierce claimed his third consecutive series championship.
  • Alex Payne raced to Victory Lane in the Super DIRTcar Series finale; Alex Yankowski became the youngest champion in series history.

The championship celebration began before the green flag even waved, as fans were treated to the return of the fan-favorite 3x4-wide salute. The one-of-a-kind dirt racing parade brought all three premier series onto the track together for a memorable moment before the final feature races of the season.

A DEEPER DIVE:

NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series

Carson Macedo closed out the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season with a thrilling drive from the eighth starting position to capture Saturday night's feature at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Giovanni Scelzi, fresh off Friday night's victory, paced the opening laps from the pole before an opening-lap caution after contact in Turn 2 reshuffled the field. Macedo steadily climbed through the pack, reaching second by Lap 10 before reeling in the leader through lapped traffic.

The Jason Johnson Racing driver made his move with eight laps remaining in the 25-lap feature, sliding underneath Scelzi in Turn 2 to take the lead. Michael Kofoid quickly followed into second, setting up a late-race duel as the two drivers battled through the closing laps. Kofoid searched for an opening, but Macedo held strong to keep his No. 41 out front and capture the checkered flag by 0.324 seconds. The win marked Macedo’s eighth of the season and his second career triumph at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Kofoid finished second, followed by Scelzi, Buddy Schweibinz and Steven Snyder Jr., who rounded out the top five.

Despite battling engine issues Saturday, David Gravel entered Championship Saturday with his third consecutive World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series title already secured after clinching the championship Thursday at the Dave Smith Motors World Finals. Gravel capped another dominant campaign with 11 victories and 48 top-five finishes, securing his place among the series’ elite. 

“These championships are never easy. You’ve got to keep working hard because guys are always chasing you, and you’re always trying to get better,” Gravel said. “You’re going to have bad nights and make mistakes as a driver, but as a champion, you have to bounce back, get on the podium and start rolling again. It’s been a great year. It’s humbling because it’s not easy, and that’s what makes it so much fun.”

World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Jonathan Davenport delivered a dominating finish, leading all 50 laps, to capture the final World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature victory of the season. Davenport charged to the front early, working his way from P2, before establishing control of the race. While the top three quickly separated themselves from the field, Davenport continued to build his advantage as he held off challenges from Dallon Murty and 2026 champion Bobby Pierce.

A pair of cautions in the closing stages gave the field opportunities to close the gap, but Davenport proved untouchable on the restarts, steadily pulling away from Pierce, who settled into second. With seven laps remaining, Davenport maintained a lead of more than two seconds and cruised to the checkered flag. The victory marked Davenport’s ninth win at Charlotte and his 20th World of Outlaws Late Model Series triumph, further cementing his legacy at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Pierce finished second, Dallon Murty third, Brandon Overton fourth, and Trey Mills fifth, for the top five in the series. 

Bobby Pierce secured his third consecutive World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship on Friday night, adding another milestone to a historic season. The reigning champion also set the record for the most points scored by an Outlaw driver in a single season while continuing to prove himself against one of the most competitive fields in dirt racing.

“The single-season win record in one year is crazy, going down that road of six or seven wins or whatever it was,” Pierce said. “Getting runs like that, racing against some of these guys, there’s no slouches.”

Super DIRTCar Series

A date Alex Payne had circled on his calendar became a reality Saturday night as he returned to Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the second consecutive year. One year after capturing the Super DIRTcar Series feature on Nov. 7, Payne repeated the feat by leading all 40 laps of Saturday night’s finale. After finishing second in the Super DIRTcar Series Toyota Heat Race, Payne earned the redraw for the pole position — a spot he admits he hates being in — and delivered a dominant performance, threading the needle through lapped traffic and four cautions to secure the win and a top-five finish in the 2026 standings.

“This is incredible”, said Payne. “I don't know what to say; this feeling never gets old, but it's so hard to get.” The win gives Payne his sixth career win, tying him with greats such as Anthony Perego, Bobby Varin, Jeff Hoffman, Gary Balough and Dick Rankin.

Bridesmaid no more. After finishing runner-up in the 2025 season, 22-year-old Alex Yankowski entered the day with the championship already secured after making history the night prior with a photo finish that mathematically clinched the Super DIRTcar Series title. Yankowski entered the season finale in the middle of the pack and battled throughout the night before suffering a blown tire on Lap 38. After re-entering the race in 10th, he charged through the field to finish fifth and extend his streak of top-10 finishes.

No stranger to success in Charlotte, “Kid Rocket” captured his first career Super DIRTcar Series win on the famed dirt in 2021. It was only fitting that the same venue that launched his rise to the top became the place where he secured his first championship.

“When I look at my name next to theirs (Gravel and Pierce), it doesn't make any sense to me,” said Yankowski. “I remember coming here for, as a family for the first time, and just being in awe. 
I never thought I'd be able to race an event here, never mind, be competitive, so, it's a special place in my heart, and I hope it's not the last time I'm on the stage with guys of this caliber.” 

TICKETS:

Fans can renew their tickets for the 2027 World Finals, set for Nov. 3-6, 2027. With another World Finals in the books, America’s Home for Racing now turns its attention to Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health, open nightly Nov. 20-Jan. 3. Fans can plan their visit, view the full schedule and purchase tickets at charlottemotorspeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

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