Champion King Joe Dawkins visits the California Speedway! The long time Elsinore native basks in his bungalow 364 days a year, smoking Winston cigarettes while lying on his hammock. Joe was on the news last September, falling through the netting last year after he gained his 300th pound. Fortunately, the empty Budweiser cans cushioned his body from the ground. Former counterpart Jeremy Van Splunder won the first event here in 1996! It was a rectangle then. The only rectangle today is Steve Inkman's Bran Flakes box, still unopened after his Pepto Bismol breakfast.

Race Results

Points Standings

Race Recap

Despite Inkman's illness, he would make the field for the first time since Daytona! Other notables are Doug Spark and Rob Scarberry, ready to climb out of their wormholes and into the top-35. King Joe waves he green flag! 45 cars thunder below, with pole-sitter Zach Michael leading the charge. Both he and John Battista attempt their fifth-straight top-20 finish. The #39 Lucas Racing Wendy's Chevrolet would take the top-spot from Zach on lap-11 with help from teammate Adam Crapser.

Battista, Michael and Rick Jackson would pull away from the field! A dominating run for the #39, going for his first victory since Richmond in 2024. His 50-race winless streak has pressured the crew to develop a superstition. "We had him walk under a ladder backwards to reverse the bad luck." said crew chief Lew Money. Unfortunately, it appears to have failed. A missed lugnut drops them back to fifth after fuel stops. By lap-65 he was back on top, leading a nine-car cavalcade through the rough-and-tumble California asphalt.

John Battista, Rick Jackson, Craig Lee, Steven Spears, Zach Michael, Dakota Wilkins, Alan Nesfeder, Ryan Heuser and Markell Murphy pulled far ahead of the remaining field! Towards the rear, Trey Larkin suffered a broken jack during his pit stop, losing five laps and finishing 44th in his backup car. He went for a near-flip during his accident in qualifying, still suffering from contusions. Now his pride will start to swell. Up front, points leader Dakota Wilkins flew past John Battista on lap-98, winning the Halfway Bacon Bonus!

Mike Carroll blows! Fortunately it was only the right-rear tire. Unfortunately, he would still finish last; a victim of low attrition due to the unusually cool atmosphere. The second pit stop saw leader Dakota Wilkins come in a lap early, busting out a 3.5-second advantage on the field! His gap would reluctantly shrink, with Zach Michael, Ryan Heuser, Rick Jackson, Steven Spears and Markell Murphy in a draft-line towards the front. Miraculously, the #77 Colorado Rockies Chevrolet held strong, maintaining their advantage past the 60-to-go mark.

Zach Michael takes the lead on lap-147! Wilkins and Ryan Heuser bottleneck for the second position, lending the #20 Coca-Cola Mustang a full-second advantage before the final fuel stops. Michael and Wilkins came in first. Miraculously, Ryan Heuser would come out on top! An Adam Crapser spin out of the pits brought out the first caution flag. Heuser was able to reach the pit-exit line just before Zach, handing the #138 NOS Energy Chevrolet the top-spot with a one-lap tire advantage.

On the other side of the track, John Tharp and John Battista tangled attempting to enter the pits! Tharp struck a blow rear-first into the outside wall, decimating his Zig-Zag Toyota after a semi-decent run. Amazingly, the suspension parts were still in tact, limping to 26th place in front of some of the non-crippled contenders. Cristian Torres at Las Vegas remains the only Toyota to record a top-10 in 2026. The caution flag would trap Donald Stewart, Rob Scarberry, Geno Sphere, Jimmie Stevens, Steve Inkman, Doug Spark, Jeremy Hebel and Ziggy Moonglow one lap down.

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