CONCORD, N.C. — Emerson Axsom is hitting the with the World of Outlaws NOS Vitality Drink Dash Automotive Sequence.
Contemporary off the largest win of his profession on the Chili Bowl Nationals, the 21-year-old has finalized plans for a rookie marketing campaign with The Biggest Present on Grime aboard the Klaasmeyer/Petry Motorsports No. 27 dash automobile.
The addition of Axsom brings the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the 12 months contestants as much as 5 as he joins Ashton Torgerson, Scotty Thiel, Scott Bogucki, and Kasey Jedrzejek.
Axsom is among the sport’s brightest younger skills, and his inventory rose quickly over the past couple years as his focus turned winged dash vehicles. He obtained his toes moist with wings in 2023 earlier than utterly committing in 2024. He took the KPM machine to victories at Lincoln Park Speedway with the Interstate Racing Affiliation and on the famed Knoxville Raceway with each a 410 and 360 below the hood.
The Franklin, Ind., native led laps and podiumed in solely his sixth World of Outlaws begin at Beaver Dam Raceway and has since landed on the rostrum three extra instances. Final 12 months, Axsom notched his first All Star Circuit of Champions checkered flag at Eldora Speedway.
“It’s superior,” Axsom mentioned. “I’m simply grateful for the chance with Dale Klaasmeyer and Scott Petry. I believe, clearly, it’s going to be actually powerful, however I really feel like I’ve performed a variety of powerful issues in my racing profession and jumped in with each toes. Clearly, the Outlaws is the best type of racing, however I really feel like we’re up for the problem and excited for the chance.”
The Chili Bowl champion isn’t any stranger to the street. He competed with the USAC Nationwide Midgets in 2021 and the USAC Nationwide Dash Vehicles for 2 consecutive years (2022-2023).
The KPM group attended the primary 19 World of Outlaws races in 2025, and when Giovanni Scelzi parted methods with KCP Racing in July, Axsom obtained the decision to fill in for a two-month stretch. The general résumé for Axsom exhibits 62 function begins and 24 high 10s with The Biggest Present on Grime. His finest end is a runner-up at Angell Park Speedway in October.
It’s not solely an enormous step in Axsom’s profession, but in addition a dream come true for automobile house owners Dale Klaasmeyer and Scott Petry. They’ve been wanting the correct alternative to place a automobile on the World of Outlaws tour, and Axsom intends to make them proud.
“I’m tremendous grateful to have the correct individuals behind me,” Axsom mentioned. “Such as you noticed once I jumped within the 18 automobile (KCP Racing), this automobile didn’t race a single time. They informed me the entire time, ‘If it doesn’t work, then we’re gearing up for 2026.’ Clearly, that chance didn’t work out. It was an incredible alternative, and I’m grateful for it, however I believe every part occurs for a cause, proper? I’m excited to be on this automobile and grateful to be on this automobile.”
Axsom could also be a rookie, however this Hoosier has excessive hopes. He’s confirmed he can deal with one of the best, and now he’s prepared to check himself by slugging it out with them over the nine-month journey that’ll take him coast to coast with greater than 20 states on the schedule.
“I don’t actually know what to do on expectations or objectives,” Axsom admitted. “However I believe if we unload each evening with the perspective of eager to win and the objective to win, then I believe solely good issues can occur.”
