Kody Hartlaub has teamed with Jimmy O’Brien and Timmy Wagaman to form a new 410 Sprint Car team, JTK Motorsports.
O’Brien and his J Fuels company along with Wagaman and Freedom Offroad will provide “the equipment and program support needed to keep the operation moving and ready for race-day performance,” according to a press release from Addicted2Dirt.
Hartlaub shared his gratitude, “This whole situation has shown me just how fortunate I am to have such great people around me. When everything changed, it wasn’t, ‘That sucks, let’s find you a ride.’ Instead, Jimmy O’Brien and Timmy Wagaman immediately said, ‘Let’s build something better.’”
“The funny thing is, Jimmy and Timmy had never even met each other before,” Hartlaub continued. “We got together for what was supposed to be a quick meeting, and within minutes it was obvious that everyone was in this for the right reasons. What was planned as a short discussion turned into a couple of hours of ideas, laughs, and excitement. We have our team in place, with Stephen Hamm-Reilly and Justin Reese turning the wrenches. I’m excited about what we can build together.”
“I think it says a lot that my sponsors chose to stay with me as well. Their loyalty and belief in what we’re doing means more than I can put into words,” Hartlaub added. “There will be challenges along the way, but this team is made up of people who believe in pushing forward, working hard, and finding a way to succeed. That’s the foundation we’re building on, and I’m excited to see where it takes us.”
Hartlaub’s new co-owner O’Brien explained why he formed the partnership, “Team ownership wasn’t originally a plan, but when Kody’s deal fell apart, I said we will never be in this situation again—this is an opportunity. Kody really wants to race with Steven and Justin. I love Kody and his family, and I wanted to continue building what we started and have fun racing.”
Wagaman added, “We want to give Kody the opportunity to clear his head and drive. We have cars, a mule, parts, and good quality stuff—this group of people complements each other and brings different things to the table, all while having the same mindset. I have no time for drama—we want to build something together and have fun doing it.”
The first race the team will compete in will be the Steve Smith Tribute race that takes place on Monday, June 29th at Lincoln Speedway as part of Pennsylvania SpeedWeek. However, they do not plan on competing in any other events in 2026, but will instead focus on getting prepared for the 2027 season.
This news comes less than a month after it was announced that Hartlaub had split with Pat Brewer and the NinetyFive Motorsports team. He was replaced by Logan Rumsey. A press release at the time simply stated, “Effective immediately, Kody Hartlaub and Pat Brewer/NinetyFive Motorsports have parted ways. ”
Hartlaub had 1 Top 5, and 3 Top 10s in 12 features to start 2026. His top 5 came at Williams Grove with a 5th on March 22nd. In competition with the Outlaws, he finished 27th with a DNF at Lincoln on May 5th. He finished 14th and 15th at Williams Grove on May 8th and 9th.
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