Fast Freddie Carpenter and his team announced that he will chase Rookie of the Year with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2026.

“In 2026, I’ll be attempting to run full-time with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series,” Carpenter said in a post to Facebook. “It’s been a dream of mine for more than 30 years to ‘TO RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS.’ I don’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden I’m 55 years old… and I’m running out of Saturdays. It’s time to chase my dreams while I’m still able.”

“It’s always been said you are only as good as your competition, and I feel I can learn a lot from these guys,” he continued. “I’m sure it will start a little rough — kind of like Cole Trickle’s rookie season. Maybe I’ll get lucky and Harry will sit me down for ‘THE TALK’ and our season will end with a big win. You don’t know if you don’t try. I feel we are ready for the challenge.”

In a subsequent post, Carpenter shared the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule describing it as his team’s “tentative schedule for the 2026 season.”

However, he also shared that he plans to compete in races at Eldora, West Virginia Motor Speedway, “and some others we will add along the way that won’t conflict with the Lucas Oil schedule.”

“We will release a full schedule very soon,” the team added. “Let us know which ones you will be attending.”

Carpenter joins Cory Hedgecock in competing for Rookie of the Year with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Hedgecock was announced as the new driver for the Billy Hicks Racing team back in November where the team also made it clear they were chasing Rookie of the Year.

On top of Hedgecock, Carpenter will also be competing regularly against Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, defending champion Devin Moran, Brenden Smith, Kyle Bronson, Cory Lawler, Dan Ebert, Daniel Hilsabeck, Carson Ferguson, Garrett Alberson, and Max Blair.

As noted in Carpenter’s second post, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series kicks off in February with a practice night on the 18th and then the first night of racing on the 19th at All-Tech Raceway. It will also race at the track on the 20th and 21st before heading to Ocala Speedway for a practice night on the 23rd and then racing from the 24th through the 28th. The series concludes Speedweeks in March with a practice night on the third at Golden Isles Speedway and then racing from the 4th through the 7th.

After Speedweeks, the series heads to Ohio for races at Atomic Speedway on March 27th and Brownstown Speedway on March 28th.

NEXT: Cade Dillard Shares His Plans For 2026