Sprint Car Smackdown is officially here!
The intensity, the pageantry, the atmosphere and the racing itself are enough to make a working man and woman go wild.
The time has come again for Chili’s Sprint Car Smackdown XV at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, August 27-28-29.
Since Smackdown’s inaugural edition in 2012, it’s been a staple of the racing calendar, one which delivers the goods with more than 50 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car drivers entered for the event from all over the country and around the globe, all chasing the glory of a $30,000-plus payday on championship night and the title belt along with numerous bonuses across three-straight nights at Indiana’s baddest bullring.
Smackdown is a bucket list item for fans to attend. It’s a bucket list item for drivers and teams to win. The ever-brewing excitement is palpable, and the storylines are in abundance. Let’s hit with you some of the things to watch for the 15th installment of Sprint Car Smackdown 2026 right now.
SMACKDOWN SUCCESSES
Past final night Smackdown winners in this weekend’s field include five-time event champion Justin Grant, as well as one-time winners Kevin Thomas Jr., and Kyle Cummins, all of whom are also past Kokomo Speedway track champions.
Grant is the winningest driver in Smackdown history with 10 total wins (5 prelims and 5 final nights) and is also the winningest driver of all-time in USAC National Sprint Car competition at Kokomo with 12 victories. His miraculous drive with a broken left foot in the 2025 race gave him his third consecutive Smackdown title, and his fifth overall (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 & 2025).
Thomas Jr. is the most recent USAC National Sprint Car winner at Kokomo, taking the Indiana Sprint Week round in July. He possesses six overall Smackdown victories, five on prelim nights, plus the 2016 finale. Interestingly, he has won the Friday prelim in four of the past five years in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Cummins enters with a commanding 124-point lead in the season long USAC National Sprint Car standings. The defending series champion has won a pair of Smackdown prelims in 2020, then collected a dominant final night victory in 2022.
FINDING THE NEXT STEP
Six other drivers in this year’s Smackdown field have won a prelim or two but are still vying for their first career Smackdown final night triumph: two-time winner C.J. Leary (2016 & 2017), plus one-time winners Robert Ballou (2015), Chase Stockon (2015), Thomas Meseraull (2019), Logan Seavey (2019), and Briggs Danner (2025).
Leary, Ballou, and Stockon have all been close to getting that coveted final night victory. Leary finished as the runner-up in 2022. Ballou took second in 2014. Stockon performed likewise in 2015.
Seavey notched a third in the Saturday finale in both 2023 and 2025. Danner scored a sixth in 2023. Meseraull took eighth in 2020.
KNOCKIN’ ON SMACKDOWN’S DOOR
The list of potential first-time Smackdown winners – prelim or final night – is star-studded with two drivers currently residing inside the top five of the USAC National Sprint Car standings vying for a first Smackdown triumph, along with 11 of the top 20 in points.
Count Mitchel Moles and Jake Swanson in that group. Both are multi-time winners on the USAC National Sprint Car trail in 2026. Moles has garnered six wins and Swanson two. Both drivers have also previously finished as the runner-up during a Smackdown prelim. Swanson did it in 2022 and Moles followed suit in 2024. Swanson will drive a car sporting a USAC RaceAid logo, with the goal of raising awareness and funds for RaceAid throughout the weekend.
Four-time USAC National Sprint Car champion Brady Bacon has, incredibly, never won a USAC National Sprint Car race at Kokomo Speedway. On five occasions, he finished as the runner-up on his Smackdown prelim night.
Add to the mix past USAC National Sprint Car winners Trey Osborne and Jadon Rogers, plus 2025 Smackdown Rookie of the Year Cale Coons, plus a handful of drivers seeking their first USAC National Sprint Car triumph: Hayden Reinbold, Ricky Lewis, Harley Burns, Gunnar Setser, and Gavin Miller, just to name a few. Miller ran third at Kokomo in July.
POTENTIAL $50,000 PAYDAY
This weekend’s Smackdown finale will continue with Smackdown Saturday night not only being the richest USAC Sprint Car race of the year, but also the richest ever in the state of Indiana.
A pair of $6,000-to-win preliminary night features set the stage on Thursday and Friday, followed by the $30,000 finale on Saturday night. With $20,000 in lap leader money up for grabs, leading all 40 laps on Saturday would net a driver a $50,000 payday.
The base pay of $30,000 for winning the feature is supplemented by adding a cool $500 per each lap led throughout the course of the feature thanks to a number of sponsors who’ve made it possible. The take home pay for the winners over the past four years has been $35,000, $44,500, $35,000, and $31,000 in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively.
Just six years ago, the final night of Smackdown paid $10,000-to-win. By 2021, it hit $15,000. In 2022, the $15,000 winner’s share was boosted even further by an extra $20,000 in lap money.
Additionally, Smackdown XV Saturday night will pay $1,500 to start, which is the largest payout for start money on the USAC National Sprint Car calendar during the 2026 season.
SMACKDOWN ROOKIES
This year’s Smackdown Rookie class looks to feature at least 13 drivers making their first ever appearance in the event.
Among the first timers for 2026 are Jacob Denney, Gavin Miller, and Jakeb Boxell, each of whom have been stalwarts of the USAC National Midget division in recent years but are relatively new to the sprint car world. In fact, Denney is a three-time USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature winner at Kokomo.
Furthermore, there’s also Eli Wilhelmus, Colin Parker, Beau Brandon, Cody Trammell, Tony Helton, and Kole Kirkman, who all possess USAC National Sprint Car experience. Caleb Sheitze and Landon Butler will be making their USAC debuts. Butler is latest in the famed lineage of racers from Florida, following in the footsteps of grandfather Stan Butler, uncle Keith Butler, and father Shane Butler.
All Rookies will be shooting for the Smackdown Rookie of the Year award, which will present $1,000 to the highest finisher from this group on Saturday night courtesy of Crume-Evans Insurance.
Past Smackdown Rookies of the Year include Brady Bacon (4th in 2013), Kyle Cummins (10th in 2014), Kody Swanson (9th in 2015 Semi), Tyler Thomas (10th in 2016), Josh Hodges (14th in 2017), Jason McDougal (4th in 2018), Dustin Smith (16th in 2019), Buddy Kofoid (5th in 2020), Tanner Thorson (2nd in 2021), Mitchel Moles (12th in 2022), Briggs Danner (6th in 2023), Kale Drake (10th in 2024), and Cale Coons (10th in 2025).
TRIFECTA OPENING NIGHT
Smackdown XV is also the kickoff for the fourth edition of the USAC Hoosier Trifecta in which USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship competitors will be racing for major prizes across three marquee events in the state of Indiana in August, September, and October.
Chili’s Sprint Car Smackdown is up first followed by the $20,000-to-win Haubstadt Hustler at Tri-State Speedway on Saturday, September 19. Another $20,000 winner’s share is posted for the Fall Nationals at Lawrenceburg Speedway, set to go on Saturday, October 10.
Winning all three Trifecta events in 2026 would net a driver a bonus of up to $30,000. The top driver finishing all three races in second place or better will receive a $20,000 payout. The top driver finishing all three races in third place or better will receive a $10,000 payout.
At the end of the three races during the USAC NOS Energy Drink Hoosier Trifecta, one driver could earn a potential $100,000 prize when all is said and done.
IT’S WORTH THE PAIN TO BE KING OF THE HILL
Smackdown preliminary events on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28, will be comprised of complete programs for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship, culminating in 30-lap feature races each night. At the conclusion of Friday night’s program, the top-8 in overall Smackdown points will be locked into Saturday night’s main event.
On the third and final night, Saturday, August 29, a 40-lap feature will close out the spectacular weekend in grand fashion, which will be preceded by heat races for all drivers not locked in and will be lined up in order of each driver’s best points night.
The unique “King of the Hill” bracket-style tournament of two-car duels for locked-in drivers takes place following Saturday’s heat races and determines the first four rows of the feature. The semi-feature will provide the final chance for drivers to lock themselves into a coveted spot for the A-Main.
Past King of the Hill champions include three-time winner Brady Bacon (2014, 2015 & 2020), two-time winners Tyler Courtney (2016 & 2019), Justin Grant (2018 & 2023), and C.J. Leary (2022 & 2025). One-time winners include Tracy Hines (2012), Chase Stockon (2013), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2017), Tanner Thorson (2021), and Mitchel Moles (2024) who became the first 8-seed to race his way to the King of the Hill title.
RACE DETAILS
This weekend at Kokomo Speedway, gates open at 3pm Eastern on Thursday and at 4pm on Friday/Saturday. Cars will hit the track at 6:30pm each night.
On Thursday/Friday, general admission tickets are $30 with kids 12 and under free. Pit passes are $35 for members and $40 for non-members (all ages). On Saturday, general admission tickets are $40 with kids 12 and under free. Pit passes are $40 for members and $45 for non-members (all ages).
Reserved Seating is offered as a 3-Day Pass at $100. To purchase, call 779-230-1310. After August 16, the 3-day pass will be $100. To purchase online, please visit https://www.myracepass.com/
As far as the off-track activities at Kokomo, on Friday, a cornhole tournament will be held at Noon outside turn four and a concert will be held immediately following the checkered flag at the stage outside turn four. On Saturday, the Riley Kids Auction & Kickball game will take place between 11am-3pm.
All three nights of racing during Smackdown will be shown live on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/
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EXPECTED 2026 SPRINT CAR SMACKDOWN XV ENTRIES:
1 RYLAN GRAY/Greenfield, IN (Gray Motorsports)
2B DALTON STEVENS/Scurry, TX (2B Racing)
2BX (R) CALEB SHIETZE/Kokomo, IN (2B Racing)
2E THOMAS MESERAULL/San Jose, CA (Epperson Racing)
3p KYLE CUMMINS/Princeton, IN (Petty Performance Racing)
3R STEVIE SUSSEX/Tempe, AZ (Rock Steady Racing)
4 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (TOPP Motorsports)
G5 GUNNAR SETSER/Columbus, IN (Jason Setser)
5T JAKE SWANSON/Anaheim, CA (Daming Swanson Motorsports)
6T TREY OSBORNE/Columbus, OH (Trey Osborne Racing)
9z ZACK PRETORIUS/Yorktown, IN (Jeff Pretorius)
11 JACK HOYER/Frankfort, IN (Chris Hoyer)
11A AARON DAVIS/Windfall, IN (Jeff Davis)
11c BRAYDEN CLARK/Tipton, IN (Clark Racing)
12 ROBERT BALLOU/Rocklin, CA (Ballou Motorsports)
12J STEVE JUSTIS/Evansville, IN (Justis Family Racing)
14 JADON ROGERS/Worthington, IN (Jadon Rogers)
15 KEVIN THOMAS JR./Cullman, AL (BBI Motorsports)
16 HARLEY BURNS/Brazil, IN (Britt Aero Racing)
16K (R) COLIN PARKER/Martinsville, IN (Knight Racing)
17 BRYCE ANDREWS/Kenosha, WI (Team MSR)
18 (R) LANDON BUTLER/Bushnell, FL (Landon Butler Racing)
18K (R) KOLE KIRKMAN/Kokomo, IN (Mike Dice)
19 HAYDEN REINBOLD/Gilbert, AZ (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)
19AZ MITCHEL MOLES/Raisin City, CA (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports)
21 ANTON HERNANDEZ/Arlington, TX (John Hajduk)
21AZ (R) GAVIN MILLER/Allentown, PA (Team AZ-Curb-Agajanian Racing)
21B (R) BEAU BRANDON/Elwood, IN (Beau Brandon Racing)
21K KOBE SIMPSON/Bonham, TX (Kevin Simpson)
28 BRANDON MATTOX/Terre Haute, IN (Brandon Mattox Racing)
34 SHANE COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Jeff Olson)
34T (R) CODY TRAMMELL/Smithville, IN (Cody Trammell)
39 BRIGGS DANNER/Allentown, PA (Hogue Racing Enterprises)
39G MATT GOODNIGHT/Winchester, IN (Goodnight Racing)
41 RICKY LEWIS/Oxnard, CA (Ricky Lewis)
44 TODD HOBSON/Clyde, VIC (Jason Soudrette Racing)
45N TROY CAREY/Tullamore, NSW (Troy Carey Motorsports)
49 BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK (Davis Brothers Racing)
51T EDDIE TAFOYA JR./Chino Hills, CA (Eddie Tafoya)
53 C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Fox Brothers-Brayden Fox Racing)
54 (R) JAKEB BOXELL/Zanesville, IN (Matt Westfall)
55 (R) ELI WILHELMUS/Newburgh, IN (Kent Wilhelmus)
57 LOGAN SEAVEY/Sutter, CA (Abacus Racing)
57H KYLE SHIPLEY/Phoenix, AZ (Paul Hazen)
63 CALE COONS/Greencastle, IN (Dooling Autosports-Curb-Agajanian)
75 DEVAN MYERS/Delphi, IN (Jason Myers)
78 ROB CAHO JR./Rush City, MN (Rob & Darcie Caho)
83c CHANCE CRUM/Snohomish, WA (Crum Racing)
84 CAMDEN WINTER/Galveston, IN (Frank Eisenzopf)
87 (R) JACOB DENNEY/Galloway, OH (CB Industries-Spire Motorsports)
87H (R) TONY HELTON/Cloverdale, IN (Tony Helton)
92 CHASE STOCKON/Fort Branch, IN (Tom & Laurie Sertich)
99 JACK JAMES/Harlan, IN (Jack James)
(R) represents a Sprint Car Smackdown Rookie
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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Kyle Cummins-2433, 2-Justin Grant-2309, 3-Mitchel Moles-2292, 4-Jake Swanson-2046, 5-Briggs Danner-2004, 6-Logan Seavey-1897, 7-Kevin Thomas Jr.-1880, 8-Chase Stockon-1868, 9-Robert Ballou-1815, 10-C.J. Leary-1807.
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ALL-TIME SPRINT CAR SMACKDOWN FINAL NIGHT WINS: (2012-2025)
5-Justin Grant
3-Tyler Courtney & Dave Darland
1-Bryan Clauson, Kyle Cummins & Kevin Thomas Jr.
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ALL-TIME SPRINT CAR SMACKDOWN PRELIM NIGHT WINS: (2012-2025)
5-Justin Grant & Kevin Thomas Jr.
2-Bryan Clauson, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Cummins, Dave Darland & C.J. Leary
1-Robert Ballou, Briggs Danner, Thomas Meseraull, Logan Seavey, Jon Stanbrough, Chase Stockon, Tyler Thomas & Chris Windom
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ALL-TIME SPRINT CAR SMACKDOWN WINNERS:
2012: Bryan Clauson (8/23), Chris Windom (8/24) & Bryan Clauson (8/25)
2013: Bryan Clauson (8/22), Dave Darland (8/23) & Dave Darland (8/24)
2014: Jon Stanbrough (8/22), Dave Darland (8/23) & Dave Darland (8/24)
2015: Robert Ballou (8/27), Chase Stockon (8/28) & Dave Darland (8/29)
2016: Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/25), C.J. Leary (8/26) & Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/27)
2017: C.J. Leary (8/24), Tyler Courtney (8/25) & Tyler Courtney (8/26)
2018: Tyler Courtney (8/23), Tyler Thomas (8/24) & Justin Grant (9/27)
2019: Thomas Meseraull (8/22), Logan Seavey (8/23) & Tyler Courtney (8/24)
2020: Kyle Cummins (8/27), Kyle Cummins (8/28) & Tyler Courtney (8/29)
2021: Justin Grant (8/27), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/28) & Justin Grant (8/28)
2022: Justin Grant (8/25), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/26) & Kyle Cummins (8/27)
2023: Justin Grant (8/24), Justin Grant (8/25) & Justin Grant (8/26)
2024: Justin Grant (8/22), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/23) & Justin Grant (8/22)
2025: Briggs Danner (8/21), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/22) & Justin Grant (8/23)
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KOKOMO SPEEDWAY USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR WINS: (2012-2025)
12-Justin Grant
9-Dave Darland
8-Tony Elliott & Kevin Thomas Jr.
6-Tyler Courtney & Kyle Cummins
4-Bryan Clauson & C.J. Leary
3-Jack Hewitt, Thomas Meseraull, Jon Stanbrough & Chris Windom
2-Briggs Danner
1-Robert Ballou, Tom Bigelow, Chad Boat, Jay Drake, Russ Gamester, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, Kelly Kinser, Cory Kruseman, Brad Marvel, Hunter Schuerenberg, Logan Seavey, Dean Shirley, Chase Stockon, Kevin Thomas, Tyler Thomas, Rich Vogler & J.J. Yeley
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KOKOMO SPEEDWAY USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
1981: Tom Bigelow (7/22)
1982: Rich Vogler (7/21)
1983: Dean Shirley (7/20)
1984: Jack Hewitt (7/11)
1985: Jack Hewitt (8/4)
1989: Jack Hewitt (6/25)
1990: Russ Gamester (6/24)
1991: Kelly Kinser (6/23) & Tony Elliott (8/25)
1992: Tony Elliott (6/28)
1993: Dave Darland (6/27)
1995: Tony Elliott (7/5)
1996: Tony Elliott (6/30) & Brad Marvel (7/28)
1997: Kevin Thomas (6/15) & J.J. Yeley (7/20)
1998: Tony Elliott (7/19) & Tony Elliott (8/9)
1999: Cory Kruseman (7/25) & Tony Elliott (8/8)
2000: Jay Drake (7/23)
2001: Tony Elliott (7/29)
2003: Bud Kaeding (7/23)
2006: Jon Stanbrough (7/16)
2007: Jon Stanbrough (7/15)
2008: Dave Darland (7/13)
2009: Chad Boat (7/12)
2010: Bryan Clauson (4/18) & Levi Jones (7/11)
2011: Hunter Schuerenberg (7/9)
2012: Dave Darland (7/16), Bryan Clauson (8/23), Chris Windom (8/24) & Bryan Clauson (8/25)
2013: Kevin Thomas Jr. (7/13), Bryan Clauson (8/22), Dave Darland (8/23) & Dave Darland (8/24)
2014: Dave Darland (7/12), Jon Stanbrough (8/22), Dave Darland (8/23) & Dave Darland (8/24)
2015: Chris Windom (8/26), Robert Ballou (8/27), Chase Stockon (8/28) & Dave Darland (8/29)
2016: Kyle Cummins (7/9), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/25), C.J. Leary (8/26) & Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/27)
2017: Thomas Meseraull (7/8), C.J. Leary (8/24), Tyler Courtney (8/25) & Tyler Courtney (8/26)
2018: Thomas Meseraull (7/24), Tyler Courtney (8/23), Tyler Thomas (8/24) & Justin Grant (9/27)
2019: Chris Windom (7/20), Thomas Meseraull (8/22), Logan Seavey (8/23) & Tyler Courtney (8/24)
2020: C.J. Leary (7/25), Kyle Cummins (8/27), Kyle Cummins (8/28), Tyler Courtney (8/29) & Tyler Courtney (9/26)
2021: Justin Grant (7/24), Justin Grant (8/27), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/28) & Justin Grant (8/28)
2022: Justin Grant (7/26), Justin Grant (8/25), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/26), Kyle Cummins (8/27) & Kyle Cummins (9/30)
2023: C.J. Leary (7/22), Justin Grant (8/24), Justin Grant (8/25) & Justin Grant (8/26)
2024: Kyle Cummins (7/27), Justin Grant (8/22), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/23) & Justin Grant (8/24)
2025: Briggs Danner (7/29), Briggs Danner (8/21), Kevin Thomas Jr. (8/22) & Justin Grant (8/23)
2026: Kevin Thomas Jr. (7/25)
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TRACK RECORDS FOR USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CARS AT KOKOMO SPEEDWAY:
1 Lap – 7/26/2022 – C.J. Leary – 12.284
3 Laps – 8/27/2022 – C.J. Leary – 39.543
6 Laps – 7/23/2003 – Mike Spencer – 1:32.52
8 Laps – 7/13/2013 – Tyler Hewitt – 1:49.60
10 Laps – 8/26/2017 – Chris Windom – 2:10.23
12 Laps – 8/22/2014 – Dave Darland – 2:41.06
15 Laps – 8/27/2016 – Tyler Thomas – 3:28.93
30 Laps – 8/23/2019 – Logan Seavey – 6:48.92
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SPRINT CAR SMACKDOWN KING OF THE HILL WINNERS
2012: Tracy Hines defeated Thomas Meseraull
2013: Chase Stockon defeated Dave Darland
2014: Brady Bacon defeated Dave Darland
2015: Brady Bacon defeated Chase Stockon
2016: Tyler Courtney defeated Thomas Meseraull
2017: Kevin Thomas Jr. defeated Tyler Thomas
2018: Justin Grant defeated Dave Darland
2019: Tyler Courtney defeated C.J. Leary
2020: Brady Bacon defeated C.J. Leary
2021: #4 Tanner Thorson defeated #6 Kevin Thomas Jr.
2022: #2 C.J. Leary defeated #1 Kyle Cummins
2023: #1 Justin Grant defeated #3 C.J. Leary
2024: #8 Mitchel Moles defeated #2 Kevin Thomas Jr.
2025: #2 C.J. Leary defeated #1 Kyle Cummins
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PAST SPRINT CAR SMACKDOWN ROOKIES OF THE YEAR:
2012: None (N/A)
2013: Brady Bacon (4th)
2014: Kyle Cummins (10th)
2015: Kody Swanson (9th in Semi)
2016: Tyler Thomas (10th)
2017: Josh Hodges (14th)
2018: Jason McDougal (4th)
2019: Dustin Smith (16th)
2020: Buddy Kofoid (5th)
2021: Tanner Thorson (2nd)
2022: Mitchel Moles (12th)
2023: Briggs Danner (6th)
2024: Kale Drake (10th)
2025: Cale Coons (10th)
NEXT: Knoxville Nationals Finale To Go Head-To-Head With NASCAR Cup Series In 2027
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