STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. After a banner 2024 season that saw him tie the single season SK Light record of 10 wins in a single season at Stafford Speedway, Ellington, Conn. native Tyler Chapman will make the move up the open wheel ladder to Staffords premier SK Modified division this year and challenge for NAPA Rookie of the Year honors.

Were definitely excited to be moving up, said Chapman.  We saw on Facebook that Alexander Pearl was moving up with us this season so its cool to see someone moving up with me and we can fight it out on the track.

Weve always gotten along, hes always raced me clean, and weve been in the modifieds together since I got started, so it should be a lot of fun this season.

Since notching his first SK Light feature victory during the 2021 season, Chapman has gone on to win a total of 22 SK Light races, tying him with Chris Matthews for the most wins in the divisions history.  But in making the move to the ultra-competitive SK Modified division at Stafford, Chapman knows he is in for a tough fight to reach the kinds of victory totals he has become accustomed to reaching.

Were not expecting to have anywhere close to 10 wins or even a couple of wins, said Chapman.  Were going to try to go out there and hopefully win Rookie of the Year if we can and if a win comes along, then it comes our way.  But when youre racing against good drivers and guys who build the cars, its going to be tough.

While chasing NAPA Rookie of the Year honors along with his first SK victory, Chapman is looking forward to once again sharing the track with his brother Steven, who is heading into his third full season of SK Modified competition.

Were hoping we can get one win this season and its going to be a lot of fun racing with Steven again, said Chapman.  Its been a long time since we raced together.  I remember once I took him out by accident and then he got me back like 3 years later racing at Thompson so itll be exciting to see what comes along as were racing SK Modifieds.

In preparation for his move into the SK Modified division, Chapman made three SK Modified starts last season, finishing 16th driving Tom Bolles No. 76 car, and Chapman scored his first top-10 behind the wheel of Keith Roccos No. 57 car at the NAPA Fall Final.

Last year was pretty good in the SKs, said Chapman.  We finished second in our heat race driving Tommy Bolles car and our plan for that night was just to putt around.  We missed the setup a little bit for the feature, but it was good to get a feel of the car and how different it was from an SK Light car.  I also got to see how different the racing is between the two divisions.  Its a little different from the SK Lights and you really have to depend on your spotter to help you out.

Chapmans three SK Modified starts last season came in cars that he hadnt raced before and was unfamiliar with so he is looking forward to seeing what he can do in his own car that he has been driving for the last four seasons at Stafford.

Im excited to drive my car since Ive been driving the same car for the last 4 years now and I really havent changed much in height or weight, said Chapman.  Tommys [Bolles] car was setup to fit him in the car and Im pretty different in size compared to Tommy and we really didnt adjust anything when I drove Keiths car in the last 2 races, so 100% Ill be more comfortable in my own car.

CONCORD, N.C. Competing at the highest level of dirt Late Model racing has always been the goal for Polk, Mo.s Dustin Walker.

With his daughter and crew chief Lacey in tow, Walker is ready to continue battling against the best in his third full-time season with the World of Outlaws Late Models in 2025.

We enjoy doing it, Walker said. Thats the biggest thing. If my daughter gets tired of traveling, I guess I wont do it anymore. We enjoy doing it together.

Both father and daughter have been through a trial by fire over the past two years with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet, but Walker said hes especially proud of Laceys growth as one of the youngest crew members on tour.

Its funny, when we pit next to people that dont know us and she tries to jump in and help, people try to move her out of the way, Walker said. And then Ryan [Gustin]s guys are like Hey, she probably knows more than all these other people put together, just let her work.

Traveling the country as a small family-run team is what makes racing enjoyable for Walker, but its also what makes it challenging. Increasing work obligations compared to the past two years will limit Walkers ability to focus on racing between events, an issue he hopes to resolve by bringing on additional team members this season.

Only reason we need more crew help is just because Im busy with work, Walker said. Were back to rock drilling for the power co-op down here. So, well probably have to find somebody who can drive my hauler, because theres going to be some of these weeks where Im going to have to fly back and forth.

If a lack of crew help didnt present enough of a challenge, Walker also had to spend much of last season learning the ins and outs of his new Longhorn Chassis machines after switching manufacturers early in the year. With an up-to-date notebook in hand at many of the tracks on the schedule, he feels prepared to make his third season his best one yet.

Since we switched chassis, weve felt better, Walker said. Some of the results arent there because we figured it out too late in the night. You need to unload and be better. We definitely feel better about it.

A prime example of Walkers newfound confidence is Volusia (Fla.) Speedway Park, where the season will commence at DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Jan. 22-25) and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 13-15). As a product of bullring racing across the Midwest, the Worlds Fastest Half Mile was unlike anything Walker had ever competed on when he made his first appearance there in 2023. Since then, hes become a fan of the high speeds and looks forward to kicking the year off in strong form.

This is going to be the first time Im actually excited about going there, Walker said. The first year, we went there with all new stuff. Never been anywhere that big. Werent that great, updated that car and werent that great last year. But we got in a Longhorn and a different shock package and were just better at bigger places. We didnt really have any great results at Charlotte, but we had a couple of things that were just wrong. Went to a different bird cage and had the wrong arrangement of stuff.

Once we straightened that out for our [Last Chance Showdown] that night we were pretty good, started 16th and made it to fourth or fifth. So, for me that was pretty good. Were just hoping to keep making the baby steps.

The World of Outlaws Late Models season begins with six nights of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, beginning with DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals (Jan. 22-25) followed by Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 13-15).

WAYNESVILLE, Ga. With an outlook for cold temperatures during the evening hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series together with Golden Isles Speedway, has made the following schedule adjustments.

Tuesdays open practice for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, 602 Late Models, 604 Late Models, Enduro, Mini Late Models and Crown Vic will now shift to Thursday, Jan. 16 from 5:00 8:00 p.m.

Wednesdays program has been canceled entirely.

Thursdays Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, presented by FloRacing event, paying $10,000 to win, will shift to Jan. 19. The 604 Late Models, Mini Late Models and Crown Vic will also be on the racing card for Jan. 19.

Fridays $12,000 program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing will go as scheduled. Joining the program on Friday, January 17 will be the 602 Late Models, Mini Late Models and Crown Vic.

Saturdays $25,000 to win event for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing will also remain as scheduled. The racing program includes 604 Late Models, Mini Late Models and Enduro.

AL DUWADIMI, Saudi Arabia Belgian Guillaume De Mévius earned his first stage win of the Dakar Rally on Saturday to move to 15th in the Ultimate standings as Mattias Ekström, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Mitch Guthrie Jr. and Seth Quintero all cemented their places in the top 10.

Getting back into the rhythm of racing after Fridays Rest Day proved a struggle for some on the special stage to Al Duwadimi, but De Mévius excelled.

Thats a good day for us, De Mévius said. We had a bad first week, so we push during this second week. Our target is to pick up World Championship points and also secure a top-10 spot.

The biggest push at the top of the Ultimate class came from five-time Dakar champion Al-Attiyah in his Dacia Sandrider, after taking more than four-and-a-half minutes out of race leader Henk Lategan.

On the dunes it was not easy, but we did a good job, Al-Attiyah said. Im sure we can be even faster to try and get back the time weve lost.

Australian Daniel Sanders retained his overall bike lead with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider looking to use a favourable starting position on Stage 7 to press home his advantage. KTM riders Luciano Benavides and Edgar Canet decided not to risk it all on the arduous route.

Its tough to get back on the rhythm after the rest day, Sanders admitted.

Another stage win in the SSV class has lifted Francisco Chaleco López onto the overall podium with the Chilean left with six stages to grab another title in his illustrious Dakar career.

We drove the final kilometers at night-time and this was difficult, López said. This race has been a real adventure and we still have the Empty Quarter to come.

The Challenger class also finished after the sun set with American Corbin Leaverton of the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team claiming second to lie seventh overall.

I probably enjoyed that stage more than any Ive raced since Ive been here, Leaverton said. Shoutout to my co-driver Taye (Perry), it was a faultless day from her in the navigators seat.

Sundays Stage Seven sees the two-wheel and four-wheel competitors take divergent paths with the first Ultimate class crews on the Al Duwadimi special stage having no bike lines to follow in the sand.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart is set to embark on his second full season behind the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster.

Stewart, who shocked the motorsports world in late 2023 with the announcement of filling in for his wife, Leah Pruett, for the full NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series slate in 2024 as they planned to start a family, was jumping off the deep end. 

The driver nicknamed Smoke had been a circle track racer for decades. During that time, he reached the pinnacle in multiple series as a multi-time champion and countless race winner on dirt and asphalt. 

However, transitioning to drag racings premiere series was a new beast to conquer.

Heading into 2024, Stewart was prepared as one could be following a runner-up season competing for NHRAs National Top Alcohol title. 

While question marks loomed on how the racing legend would adapt to 330-plus mph passes in a Top Fuel car, Stewart admitted his comfort level rose earlier than I even anticipated. 

I think by the third race, I was starting to feel a little bit more comfortable and I would say for sure, by midpoint of the season, Stewart said. 

I know theres scenarios that havent happened yet that Im going to have to deal with on a run. But for the most part, I felt like Id been through enough stuff that I felt comfortable in the team meetings at the end of the weekend, the crew chief and the guys are telling you youre doing a good job driving the car.

As long as youre getting that endorsement from those guys, because theyre the ones that are putting all the labor into it.

An added bonus for Stewart was having two built-in driver coaches at his side in wife Pruett and Funny Car driver Matt Hagan. 

Having Leah and Matt as coaches, I mean, I had all the resources available to me to have a successful rookie season, Stewart said. 

With those guys help, I got comfortable very quick.

While Stewart was unable to hoist a Wally in his first year of Top Fuel competition, he earned rookie-of-the-year honors. Ironically, it was Stewarts first rookie award in 26 years when he took the NASCAR Cup Series tour by storm in 1999.

The 53-year-old rookie reached the final round twice and earned four semifinal appearances. On top of that, Stewart averaged the fourth-best reaction time (0.070 seconds) out of all Top Fuel drivers.

As someone whose roots are deeply tied in side-by-side racing on oval tracks, any tendencies Stewart learned in his extremely successful open-wheel or stock car career are practically useless.

I think the drag racing side is so drastically different from everything else that you havent had to worry about breaking bad habits because you didnt have any habits over here, Stewart said. 

It literally was starting from a blank sheet of paper. Having the ability to watch for a couple years and be Leahs boyfriend and then Leahs husband and be at the race track and watch her and watch Matt. 

That kind of led into my opportunity to run in the alcohol class and still having Leahs mentorship there, Stewart continued. Leah, a lot of times, was able to come watch my alcohol run. 

I think that really made the learning process much, much easier and much more enjoyable. 

Theres very, very few times that I feel like the things that really made me good in circle track racing really applies to the drag racing side now. Its just a totally different discipline.

Stewart will head into this season with a large part of the learning process behind him and plenty to look forward to as he showed flashes of whats to come.