BARBERVILLE, Fla. — One of many greatest questions coming into the 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Power Drink Dash Automobile season was may Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports staff survive Volusia Speedway Park?
That query was answered with a convincing sure on Friday night time.
The Florida oval units the tone for the season. You’ll be able to’t win the championship at Volusia, however it positive looks like you possibly can lose it. A foul journey to the “Sunshine State” can go away a staff attempting to dig themselves out of a deep gap.
Volusia hasn’t been Kofoid’s worst monitor, however it definitely hasn’t been his finest. Since becoming a member of forces with Roth, the Penngrove, Calif., native had made a dozen appearances on the half-mile with top-10 ends in solely half and a finest end of fourth coming into Friday. However Kofoid promptly silenced the doubters by grabbing his first gator.
The 24-year-old lined up on the surface of the entrance row for the 25-lapper and blasted to the lead on the opening circuit. It was removed from a cruise to victory lane as defending sequence champion David Gravel surged to second and closed in.
The Massive Recreation Motorsports No. 2 gave Kofoid every thing he may deal with, however he refused to let this one slip away. It wasn’t only a race. It was an announcement to begin the season. He desires Gravel to know he’s going to need to cope with him all 12 months within the chase for an additional championship whereas Kofoid goes for his first.
“This place is hard on motors and crew chiefs and drivers,” Kofoid stated. “I really feel like we’ve lastly been in a position to put it collectively and have issues go our method, however that is solely day one actually. It’s an extended 12 months forward. It positively doesn’t harm beginning on the precise foot, however there are a ton of tracks that David and Carson (Macedo) and everybody else on tour is absolutely good at, in all probability some that they’re lots higher at than I’m. I’ve simply bought to do the most effective I can and maximize every thing to hopefully have a shot this 12 months.”
Kofoid turned the twenty fifth completely different driver to prime a World of Outlaws race at Volusia by way of 69 visits. The twenty third World of Outlaws win of Kofoid’s profession strikes him inside one in every of equaling Ron Shuman for twenty eighth all-time.
Whereas Friday marked Kofoid’s first Volusia rating, it was the fourth for Roth Motorsports as Daryn Pittman (two) and James McFadden (one) additionally equipped Dennis and Teresa Roth with gators. With Friday’s race being the primary full factors night time of the season, Kofoid is the formally atop the standings for the primary time in his profession.
David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Anthony Macri, and Logan Schuchart accomplished the highest 5.
The end:
Function (25 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[3]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 7. 23-Garet Williamson[1]; 8. 26-Justin Peck[8]; 9. 2C-Cole Macedo[17]; 10. 17-Spencer Bayston[22]; 11. 71-Parker Worth Miller[6]; 12. 17B-Invoice Balog[20]; 13. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[9]; 14. 10-Ryan Timms[14]; 15. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[16]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[11]; 17. 5-Brenham Crouch[24]; 18. 7S-Chris Windom[19]; 19. 16C-Scotty Thiel[10]; 20. 88-Austin McCarl[18]; 21. 27-Emerson Axsom[27]; 22. 44-Chris Martin[12]; 23. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[23]; 24. 6-Kasey Jedrzejek[25]; 25. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[13]; 26. (DNF) 13-Tanner Holmes[15]; 27. (DNS) 28M-Conner Morrell
