April 23, 2026 – Indianapolis, Indiana – Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Perfit-Parts.Com and BG Products Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series officials today jointly announced that several 360 bonuses will be up for grabs the weekend of their co-sanctioned events May 8-9.
The events are being ran as open 410 races under Must See Racing rules. But due to the fact that there will be a number of 360 cars that compete with the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series, and local cars in the area, over $2,400 in 360 bonuses will be up for grabs at the conclusion of the weekend.
The weekend will kick off with an open practice at Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, South Carolina on Thursday May 7. The following evening will see a complete program of racing at the same track. The weekend will conclude on Saturday May 9 when both series visit Cordele Motor Speedway in Cordele, Georgia for the first time. Both races will pay full points for Must See Racing while no points will be awarded to Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series competitors towards their championship chase.
The 360 bonuses will be awarded by both series at the conclusion of the weekend based on a two-race weekend point average. Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series 360 cars will be eligible for $1,000 to the weekend’s highest points earner. A $250 bonus will be awarded to the second and third highest points earners after the two races. You must be a Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series member using a 360 engine to be eligible for these bonuses.
All non-Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series 360 competitors will be eligible for bonuses put up by Must See Racing. A $400 bonus to the weekends highest two-race points earner will be up for grabs with second and third place drivers picking up $250 for accumulating the second and third highest weekend points total. A driver will not be able to claim bonuses from both series, only the series they are registered with.
The weekend will officially kick off the 2026 Must See Racing 2026 season under the direction of new series owner Tony Roberts. It will be the third and fourth races off the 2026 Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series schedule. This will be the third time in the past three seasons that both groups have worked together to co-sanction races.
For more information on these events please visit http://www.mustseeracing.com.
April 14, 2026 – Indianapolis, Indiana – The Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Perfit-Parts.Com officially announced today that their season opening weekend will be a co-sanction partnership with the BG Products Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series.
The weekend will kick off on Friday May 8 when both series visit Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, South Carolina. The following evening will see both series visit Cordele Motor Speedway in Cordele, Georgia. There will be an open practice at Anderson Motor Speedway on Thursday night May 7.
The co-sanctioned events will be a special promotional sanction for the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series, and no points will be awarded. Both events will be full points paying events for the Must See Racing Sprint Series.
This will not be the first time the pair have worked together. Both series worked together last fall when they co-sanctioned events at Pensacola, Florida and Montgomery, Alabama. They co-sanctioned yet another event at Inverness, Florida in 2024.
“Co-sanctioning together helps us grow our relationship and better’s pavement sprint car racing” Commented SSSS Series Manager Rick Day. ”We worked together on the Children’s Dream Fund 50 in 2024, and I think it was successful. So, we’re gonna try and work with the new partners and see what we can build towards the future.’
Longtime MSR official Tony Roberts recently purchased MSR from Jim Hanks late last month. He now is tasked with guiding the highly successful 410-winged pavement sprint car series into the future.
“I wanna show everybody my willingness to work with other groups that have cars just like ours” explained Roberts. “I think it’s vital for the sport. If we have a good turnout, and continued cooperation, I think we’ll look at working together more in the future.”
Officials from both series will work together to tech the cars and run the program each night. It will be run under MSR rules. There will be several 360 bonuses up for grabs each night that will be announced in the coming days.
Both series officials also announced that they have extended their disciplinary agreement that was originally announced in 2024. If you are fined or disciplined in one series, the other series will honor the penalty until it is lifted. For more info, please visit www.mustseeracing.com or www.southernsprintcarshootout.com.
MUST SEE RACING MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Roberts admin@dfq.racing
March 25, 2026 – Holly, Michigan – Must See Racing CEO and President Jim Hanks today announced that he has sold his sprint car series and will step away from the day-to-day operations of the series effectively immediately. The timing of the sale comes less than six weeks before the opening weekend is set to kick off the sixteenth season of racing for the 410-winged asphalt sprint car series.
Long time Must See Racing official Tony Roberts now assumes ownership of the series. The Indiana native began his tenure in auto racing in an official’s capacity in the early1990’s while living in California. His brother Dan Robets was working at Ventura Raceway. He was heading up a local karting club that raced at the track and asked Tony for a hand.
Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Roberts moved to Bakersfield, California after a stint in the United States Air Force.in the late 1980’s.
Shortly after his Ventura Raceway stint, Roberts landed a job with the USAC Western States Series. During his tenure with the USAC, he held several prominent roles within the series under the tutelage of Tommy Hunt.
After moving back to the Midwest in 2013 Roberts took a position of Track Director with Must See Racing at the Urging of Bill Shipman. He was immediately impressed with 410-winged pavement sprint car racing noting that it was exciting and captivating. He has been involved with multiple racing series over the years that have included a variety of race cars including Go Karts, 410-winged sprint cars, midgets, USAC Silver Crown cars, and super modifieds among others. He has worked at tracks ranging in size from a quarter mile to one mile in length.
“It’s an honor to be able to acquire such a historic series” stated Roberts. “Jim Hanks has done a remarkable job establishing a brand-name brand with great drivers and exciting racing. I already have a great relationship with the teams from my time as an official. I hope to honor the traditions and build on what Jim and Nancy have established for years to come”.
Hanks, 78, caught the racing bug as a small child while attending races at Motor City Speedway in Detroit. He instantly caught the racing bug and soon began racing Go Karts. He would purchase sprint cars and USAC Silver Crown cars in the mid 1990’s. His cars were a regular staple at USAC Sprint Car, USAC Silver Crown, and Super Sprints events. Notable drivers include Kevin Feeney, Aaron Pierce, Mike Ling, and Curt Shumaker.
Hanks, along with his wife Nancy of 56 years, founded Must See Racing as a motorsport’s television production entity in 2008. He produced tape delayed racing broadcasts for Fox Sports Network in the early years. He ultimately sought to bring winged pavement sprint car events regularly into the homes and televisions of millions.
After difficulties convincing two rival series to work together in an effort to produce sufficient car counts for his nationally televised events, Hanks decided to form his own series so he could have control of every aspect of his events from start to finish. He believed creating his own series was essential to producing quality winged pavement sprint car events for national television audiences. In 2011 the Must See Racing Sprint Series was born. The series had a strong presence in the Midwest. The Holly, Michigan based series has competed in 13 different states to date. The sanctioning body has also included Super Modifieds and 602 Crate Sprint Cars under its umbrella in the past. MSR sanctioned and televised the Little 500 from 2012-2020.
Two events that stand out in MSR’s sixteen-year history was a one-off non-wing sprint car event at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Indiana. That event saw 27 cars take the green flag during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic year. Kody Swanson won the event that was televised on MAVTV.
On October 1, 2011, MSR visited Bristol Motor Speedway for the only time winged pavement sprint cars visited the legendary high-banked half-mile speedway. Brain Gerster won that $10,000 event and still today holds the all-time track record with a lap of 12.742-seconds (150+ mph).
“For over thirty years I have been blessed with the privilege to participate as a car owner and as the founder and owner of Must See Racing which has been an important business endeavor and a responsibility to best represent our sport providing racing entertainment for the fans and value for the teams, tracks, sponsors and all the stakeholders.
Positively contributing to racing has been important and a key part of my life however, I must immediately and unconditionally retire from the business of racing for the wellbeing of my family, my health and the future of MSR.
My gratitude for the business and personal support over the years is beyond measure and I thank everyone …our staff, the teams, tracks, multimedia partners, sponsors, fans and most importantly my wife Nancy.
Moving forward under the direction and management of the experienced and capable hands of long time MSR official Tony Roberts the future of Must See Racing is strong, very strong. “
An impressive 2026 schedule is already in place that includes three $10,000-to-win events and a first-ever trip to Canada on August 7. For more info, please visit http://www.mustseeracing.com.
News, information and updates about the all new MUST SEE RACING will soon be available and provided by Tony Roberts.
March 20, 2026 – When three-time Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Perfit-Parts.Com champion Joe Liguori makes his 2026 debut, he will do so with a new team and new colors. Liguori will be chasing his fourth series title.
Liguori began driving for the Riverview, Florida based PCS Racing Team owned by Doug Kenny late last season. He ran a strong third place in the 2025 MSR finale at Montgomery, Alabama this past October to seal his third championship. With a little luck in that race, he may have had a shot to win it. The season ending weekend at Pensacola, Florida and Montgomery, Alabama was the first time Liguori had run for the team in MSR competition.
Things appear to be bright in 2026. Liguori has teamed up with the PCS Racing Team for an assault on the 2026 MSR championship.
“The last two years I never really focused on points” explains Liguori. “I just said we’re gonna run all the races. Halfway through the season is when we started points racing. I’ve tried points racing in the past at the start of the season and it kinda bit us in the tail one time. I don’t feel like having that pressure all year long. Lately I’ve just treated it like another race every time we pulled into the pits”.
Teaming up with Kenny may have increased Liguori’s chances at another title. The two are pooling their equipment together and Liguori will now have a backup car, if needed, for the MSR season that is spread over seven months.
“When it comes to equipment and funding this will probably be one of my best seasons in racing. We’ve run for other people, but at the end of the night, we always try to make sure the bills are paid. Then it’s a matter of who actually made money that night. Sometimes everybody comes down missing a little bit of money. That’s how it goes sometimes.
“This year with Doug and them, we feel like we’ve got the equipment. We have new engines in the process right now getting ready to get installed in the car for some races, and then we start the Must See Racing season. We’ll get Doug’s second car dialed in over the summer. We’ll have my car as a back-up. We’re very fortunate to be able to have three cars at our becking call.”
Liguori may not be thinking about it at the moment, but he’s slowing catching five-time MSR champion Jimmy McCune.
“I think if we get to the fifth championship, I’ll worry about trying to knock him off. But you never know. This year we may go out and never win another championship. The goal really is to just win races. I don’t think anybody will ever catch Jimmy on the wins list of forty plus wins. But it would be nice to get to the double-digit area”.
Liguori likes the 2026 MSR season but admits it’s challenging living in Indiana.
“Everything is still over four hours away from the house. But that’s the way it goes. I live in Indiana and it’s more of a non-wing area. The wing guys are always up north or down south. That’s what I get for living in Indiana and wanting to be a wing guy. The schedule is spread out enough where we can do other things. I plan on doing a few non-wing races this year and the Race for the Million races. “This year it will be a different look for us running the #5 for Doug Kenny and the PCS Racing Team. Everything is in place for a good run. We’ll see how the season plays out and we’ll try to get them a Must See Racing championship this year” concluded Liguori.
In the high-octane world of winged pavement sprint car racing, the temptation is often to expand—more races, more tracks, more dates on the calendar. But for Must See Racing (MSR), the 2026 campaign is defined by a different philosophy. As the series gears up for its seventeenth consecutive season, President Jim Hanks and the MSR officials have unveiled a schedule and strategy that doubles down on a singular focus: Quality over Quantity.
The 2026 roadmap is not just a list of dates; it is a curated collection of marquee events designed to showcase the “World’s Fastest Short Track Cars” at the premier facilities in North America. By streamlining the schedule to focus on high-impact weekends, MSR aims to elevate the prestige of every green flag, ensuring that when the 410-winged warriors roll into town, it is a can’t-miss spectacle.
A STRATEGIC SHIFT
The decision to refine the schedule speaks to the series’ maturity and its commitment to the teams. By avoiding an oversaturated calendar, MSR allows its competitors—many of whom run family-owned operations—the time to prepare elite equipment, ensuring that car counts remain high and mechanical failures remain low. The result is a better show for the fans and a more sustainable model for the racers.
“There is no doubt that winged pavement sprint car racing today is experiencing more dramatic change since 2008 when MSR was founded. Over the years race team scheduling and commitment to specific series have continually evolved away from racing every weekend with one series to carefully picking and choosing far fewer events to best fit their available time to travel, sponsor obligations, budget, life style away from racing and racing opportunities.
We are excited, optimistic and look forward to successfully navigating the changes, challenges and opportunities in 2026 continuing our long standing commitment to excellence providing record setting racing entertainment with and for all the stakeholders, most importantly the fans.” Said MSR founder and President Jim Hanks
This strategic spacing of events also heightens the anticipation for each round. From the season opener in the Southeast to the championship battles in the fall, every race carries the weight of a major event.
NORTH OF THE BORDER: THE CANUSA SHOOTOUT
Perhaps the most buzzed-about addition to the 2026 calendar is the series’ historic expansion into international territory. For the first time in its history, Must See Racing is heading to Canada.
On Friday, August 7, 2026, the series will invade Delaware Speedway in Ontario for the inaugural CANUSA Shootout. This event is more than just a new track on the list; it represents a bridging of the open-wheel worlds. Delaware Speedway, a legendary half-mile paved oval known for its speed and passionate fan base, offers the perfect stage for the blistering speeds of the MSR winged sprints.
The trip north is expected to draw a unique field, pitting the stars of the MSR National Series against top Canadian talent in a battle for border supremacy. For Canadian fans who have watched the series from afar, the August 7th date is circled in red ink—a rare opportunity to witness 410-winged pavement sprints roaring through Ontario.
GLOBAL REACH: THE RACING AMERICA PARTNERSHIP
While the in-person experience remains the heartbeat of the sport, MSR’s 2026 focus on quality extends to how the world watches the races. The series has solidified a powerhouse media package through a multi-year renewal with Racing America.
The comprehensive live streaming agreement ensures that fans worldwide won’t miss a lap of the 2026 action. RacingAmerica.TV will serve as the exclusive digital home for Must See Racing, broadcasting the events live to subscribers across the globe. This partnership is pivotal for the “quality over quantity” approach; by ensuring high-definition, professional broadcast production for every event, MSR delivers value to sponsors and visibility to drivers that far exceeds the reach of a typical regional tour.
This package doesn’t just broadcast races; it tells the story of the season, from the pit area drama to the victory lane celebrations, bringing the intensity of winged sprint car racing into living rooms and onto mobile devices everywhere.
THE ROAD AHEAD
With a schedule anchored by historic venues like Berlin Raceway, Five Flags Speedway, and the new Canadian frontier at Delaware Speedway, Must See Racing is poised for a landmark year. The 2026 season promises to be a masterclass in event execution, proving that in the world of motorsports, the biggest impact doesn’t come from racing every week—it comes from making every race matter.
January 22, 2026 – Event organizer JJ Dutton today announced that the popular ‘Children’s Dream Fund Weekend of Speed’ will be back for the third consecutive season in 2026. The popular winged asphalt sprint car race will return as a two-day full points paying Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Perfit-Parts.Com events.
The weekend will kick off Friday October 2, 2026, when the series visits Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida and will conclude the following evening at Montgomery Speedway in Montgomery, Alabama. Both events will pay the winner $10,000. An overall bonus to the weekend’s highest points earner will be on the line. The amount of this bonus will be announced later.
‘The Children’s Deam Fund Weekend of Speed’ debuted in 2024 and has been contested in Central Florida until now. The event is run annually with the goal of bringing awareness to the non-profit Children’s Deam Fund organization and raising funds to assist the organization.
The Children’s Dream Fund Organization is a St. Petersburg, Florida based non-profit organization that provides children facing a life-threatening illness the chance to dream—and to see that dream come true. Since 1981, they’ve created joyful, personalized experiences for children across West Central Florida, from dream vacations and celebrity meet-and-greets to meaningful gifts. Each dream offers a break from treatment, a boost of hope, and lasting memories for families.
The organization is near and dear to the heart of race event organizer JJ Dutton. His daughter Sadie was once a recipient of a Children’s Dream Fund dream. Since then, he has worked to raise a considerable amount of money for the organization.
“This race is for the kids” explained Dutton.”It’s been a great success the last two years. It really does help kids with life threatening terminal illnesses. It’s dear to my heart. As you know, with my daughter. We don’t wanna let the kids down or the teams that are looking forward to coming and running the Dream Fund.
“Anything we can raise his year is a blessing. If we raise $100 or $100,000 it’s all the same. Every dollar amount helps and we’ll take whatever the good Lord brings us. I wish I could give them a million bucks. but the $5 guy is just as important as the $500 guy” concluded Dutton.
Joe Liguori won the inaugural event in 2024. Kody Swanson and Colton Bettis split events last season after the event shifted to a two-day format. The event has also been moved to the fall from its late Winter date.
Full purse and event details will be announced soon. Please visit www.mustseeracing.com or follow us on Facebook.
Joe Liguori accepts his Must See Racing Perfit Sprint Car Series championship awards from series competition director Brent Seelman. (KR Poole Photos)
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (Jan. 11, 2026) – In its now-traditional gala fashion, Must See Racing recognized its top drivers and teams from the 2025 season during the sanctioning body’s Night of Champions celebration Saturday night at the Fairfield Inn & Suites of Grand Blanc.
The entire evening was streamed live to a worldwide audience for the first time thanks to Racing America, the official live broadcast partner of Must See Racing.
Chief among the banquet’s honored guests were Must See Racing Perfit Sprint Car Series champion Joe Liguori and Must See Racing Midwest Lights crate sprint car titlist J.J. Henes, both of whom were recognized for their third series crowns.
Though he didn’t reach victory lane in 2025, Liguori’s consistency was unmatched, as he raced to a 119-point advantage in the final standings and clinched the title with a race to spare prior to the finale at Montgomery (Ala.) Motor Speedway in October.
“Usually I’m a lot better at this [speaking] because I’m fired up, but nothing bad has happened yet!” quipped Liguori in the opening to his title acceptance speech. “Us Italians, we have attitudes.
“We’re a small team and it’s hard to do what we do sometimes, but we just kept pushing along all year last year,” Liguori added. “We wanted to get back to the winner’s circle – that’s the one box we didn’t check in 2025 – but getting the big trophy isn’t a bad way to end the year either. Things will look a little different this coming season, driving for PCS [Racing] instead of in the family car, but we aren’t going anywhere … you’ll have to deal with this guy all the same.
“Must See Racing has an outstanding platform and it’s an honor to stand on it and represent the series as a champion again. We’ve got three of these things now, so the chase is on to try and catch [five-time series titlist Jimmy] McCune at the top.”
Henes continued his reign at the pinnacle of the Midwest Lights crate sprint car division, making it back-to-back titles and a trio overall in a bittersweet celebration for that field of competitors.
The 2025 season marked the final year of competition for the Midwest Lights as part of Must See Racing, which will transition its focus solely to the 410ci sprint cars of its national tour for 2026.
It’s a change that Henes noted in his championship acceptance speech as he nodded to the appreciation he’s had for being able to race on the Must See Racing platform since his inaugural title-winning season in 2020.
“Without Jim and Nancy putting in so much effort to even have the series, we wouldn’t have been able to do any of the cool things we’ve done in the past six years,” pointed out Henes, who ends the Midwest Lights’ tenure as its winningest driver, best qualifier, and most-decorated champion.
“To be at every race since the beginning, to win the first championship and now the last one, it’s been a lot of fun with a lot of good competition and a lot of people that you can really have fun racing right next to and knowing that they’re going to take care of you on the racetrack,” he added. “Just a pleasure to be here and represent this division … and excited about what’s next for our family and our team.”
Henes will turn his primary focus toward dirt sprint car racing and asphalt supermodified action in 2026.
Among the other Must See Racing national honorees Saturday was Theresa Statham, the leader of the Statham Construction No. 36 squadron, who received Car Owner of the Year honors for the first time.
Though she and husband Ken were unable to attend Saturday’s banquet in person, Statham issued a statement that was read during the live banquet broadcast, giving her deep appreciation to MSR founders Jim and Nancy Hanks for giving the Florida-based team a “first-class” arena to race in.
“We’re extremely grateful for this incredible honor and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to those who voted to recognize us,” Statham wrote. “We’re truly touched and appreciate all that Must See Racing does in the sprint car community.”
Must See Racing Midwest Lights titlist J.J. Henes delivers his championship acceptance speech during Saturday’s banquet festivities. (KR Poole Photos)
Four-time season winner Bobby Santos III was named Driver of the Year for the first time after posting an average finish of 1.2 across his five series starts in 2025.
“This whole bunch [with MSR] is awesome wherever we show up to compete,” said Santos. “Appreciate the mutual respect from everyone involved and it’s a lot of fun to run with the competition that we get to over here. We really enjoy it – not just winning, but having to work hard to keep improving.”
Ken Mingus brought Crew Chief of the Year honors to the family-owned Mingus Racing team in an emotional reveal led by his son and driver, Kevin Mingus, who finished top three in the point standings for a second year in a row after a fierce battle with Canadian Aaron Willison down the stretch.
Though he couldn’t make the trip from New England to Michigan, Alby Ovitt was named Rookie of the Year for the national Must See Racing series as the division’s top first-year competitor.
Additional Midwest Lights award recipients included Brandon Lemmerman (Rookie of the Year) and Justin Weese (Crew Chief of the Year), while Jon Henes was named Car Owner of the Year once again.
J.J. Henes and Charlie Baur were honored as co-Drivers of the Year on the Midwest Lights side of the aisle, something Baur – who received the award for the first time – wasn’t expecting.
“I think the hardest thing for me, at least, is that this [Midwest Lights] chapter has to come to an end right after we really clicked on so many things throughout the year that put our pavement program where we’ve wanted it to get to,” said Baur. “I can’t thank Jim and Nancy enough, though, for giving us somewhere to race that has given us such great competition and so many good memories that we’ll always cherish as a family and a team.
“We might be switching primarily to dirt [sprint car] racing for 2026, but we’re keeping our pavement options open … and who knows, you guys might not be done seeing us yet!”
A complete replay of the 2025 Must See Racing banquet can be viewed on RacingAmerica.TV.
With the 2025 season officially in the books, Must See Racing will kick off its 2026 points campaign for the Must See Racing Perfit Sprint Car Series at South Carolina’s Anderson Motor Speedway on Friday, May 8.
For more news and information on Must See Racing, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
Must See Racing National Awards
Sportsmanship Award: J.J. Dutton Most Improved Driver: Tommy Nichols Fast Qualifier of the Year: Aaron Willison Hard Charger of the Year: Jimmy McCune Crew Chief of the Year: Ken Mingus Car Owner of the Year: Theresa Statham Driver of the Year: Bobby Santos III
Must See Racing Midwest Lights Awards
Sportsmanship Award: Keegan Weese Most Improved Driver: Charlie Baur Fast Qualifier of the Year: J.J. Henes Hard Charger of the Year: Andrew Bogusz Rookie of the Year: Brandon Lemmerman Crew Chief of the Year: Justin Weese Car Owner of the Year: Jon Henes Driver of the Year: J.J. Henes/Charlie Baur (co-recipients)
January 8, 2026 – Holly, Michigan – Joe Liguori will be officially crowned the 2025 Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Perfit-Parts.Com champion this Saturday night January 10, 2026, at the Champions Awards Celebration. It will be Liguori’s third series title in the past five years.
Even though Liguori has won multiple MSR titles, he’s been unable to win the titles in consecutive order. Liguori attributes this to bad luck.
“It’s been luck” reflects Liguori. “We had it in bag in 2022 until we blew the driveline out at the last race. That cost us the championship. In 2023 I was plagued with engine troubles. I really didn’t race but two races all year. Then we came back and won our second consecutive championship in a row for the first time. I’m happy with where we’re at. I would have liked to win more championships and win more races too.”
When Liguori was asked to grade his 2025 season, he gave an honest answer.
“I would probably give myself a B or B plus area. No wins but we had a couple good runs where we were competing for wins. Sandusky had a tree kind of get in the way of that one. That cost us a good solid finish that night, We had several podiums throughout the year.”
Ligouri drove for the Florida based Racing team at the final Must See Racing weekend of the year in Florida and Alabama in early October. He ran strong and was in contention for the win on the final night of the season at Montgomery, Alabama.
“That was pretty good to come out of the box so strong. We were plagued with fuel issues early in the day and didn’t get a whole lot of track time with the car. We had won there in 2021 with our own car, so we had plenty of notes.
“We were fast and started a little bit behind Aaron Willison. We kept clean air for the most part. You could have thrown a blanket over his car and my car. Right at the end I faded a little bit once Bobby (Santos) got around me. Another car in front of you with dirty air puts you behind at some of those high-speed joints. I feel if we were ahead of Aaron at the end of the race it could have been a different story.”
Liguori is eagerly waiting for the 2026 season and has high hopes driving for the PCS team several times next season.
“The plan is to defend our Must See Racing championship. We’ll run seventy-five percent of the races for Doug Kenny the #5 car. The other races will be in our own car. We’re also gonna chase the Race for the Million Tour. We’re gonna go out and do the best we can all year,” concluded Liguori. The ceremony will also honor the accomplishments of the Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series. JJ Henes will be crowned the 2025 Midwest Lights Series champion during the Champions Awards Ceremony.
This Saturday’s Champions Awards Celebration will be streamed live by Racing America beginning at 7:00 PM EST. by going
to http://www.racingamerica.com or visiting the Must See Racing Facebook page.
The 40-lap event will pay $10,000 to win and $700 to start. All purse monies will be paid in U.S. Dollars.
This will be the first time since June 5, 2009, that winged pavement sprint cars have competed anywhere in the Canadian Province of Ontario. Mike Ling won that last event at Delaware Speedway over 16 years ago. It is only fitting that the return of winged pavement sprint cars to Ontario will be at the half-mile semi-banked Delaware Speedway.
Delaware Speedway management has a huge opportunity to host this historic MSR event and Delaware Speedway Director of Motorsports Alex Nagy realizes how big this event will be.
“We’re always looking for different things for our fan base” explains Nagy. “We try to feature a diverse cross section of different types of racing. We’ve looked at sprint car stuff on and off a little bit. We had some contact with local car owner Wade Litt. His son Ryan races for him, and they run with Must See Racing. He put us in touch with Must See Racing president Jim Hanks and we were able to put something together.
“It’s very exciting to us to be the ones to bring back these types of cars to the province. Fans haven’t seen these types of cars in a very long time. The timing was right and we are excited to bring asphalt sprint cars back to Ontario. With local content it should be a great show.
Our fans have a pent-up demand for these cars since it’s been so long since they’ve seen them. When I spoke with Jim Hanks, I wanted to get the purse up to show everybody we’re for real here. We’re looking to make it the best show in the area” concluded Nagy.
More details about this event will be announced as details are finalized. Officials indicated they will have a plan in place to make crossing the border an easy process for U.S. teams looking to compete in the event.
A TBA announced date for Sunday August 9 was also announced. The track and location will be announced once details have been finalized. This would give teams a two-day race weekend.
For all the latest news and updates on these events as well as the entire 2026 Must See Racing schedule please visit www.mustseeracing.com or follow the series on Facebook.
Dutton Safer Fencing is the leader in racetrack safety features that include SAFER Barrier and outside retaining wall catch fencing. Dutton Safer Fencing projects can be found at historic American ovals at Daytona, Talladega, Iowa, Michigan, and Kansas speedways among many others.
Company CEO James Dutton, who is known as “JJ” to close friends and family, also spends a substantial amount of time behind the wheel of a winged pavement sprint car during the racing season. He finished eight in the final 2025 MSR National Series point standings.
Dutton’ s name can be found on numerous cars, tracks, and series throughout the racing season. The Lutz, Florida resident has a soft spot in his heart for his fellow racers.
“I used to be that guy who ran on peoples take offs” recalls Dutton. “I just done a little better in my life as I got older. I love sprint car racing, and I love to see people go forward and get better. That’s kinda why I help people out.
“I used to be that guy who used to struggle when I was younger. I used to live paycheck to paycheck and didn’t know if I’d be able to race. I had to work two jobs to spend every dollar I could on racing. I’m now able to be able to occasionally help somebody out who might need a hand.
“Anything that has my name on it at the racetrack helps my business. My business revolves around racetracks. Catch fence, SAFER Barrier, and safety at the track. I’ve actually got a couple of jobs from my name being at the racetrack. So, not only am I helping racers, but it also helps my business. Its worked out and goes hand-in-hand.”
Dutton had a memorable racing season of his own that might be better entitled “Dutton’s World Tour”. He competed in nearly ever inch of the country and even raced on Vancouver Island in Canada in August.
The highlight of his season was his final start in October in Pinellas Park, Florida. Dutton went from seventh to first on lap one. He led most of the race before fading late in the race with mechanical gremlins. Most Dutton’s racing was with MSR this past season.
“I like Must See Racing. Jim (Hanks) has his act together. I wanted to help him out with the Champions Awards Celebration. I enjoy the different racetracks that are on the schedule. Now that I’ve got experience at these tracks, its gonna make it easier on me when we go back to them next season.” concluded Dutton.
The 2025 Champions Awards Celebration will be streamed live January 10, 2026, on Racing America.TV.
The weekend will kick off with an open practice at Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, South Carolina on Thursday May 7. The following evening will see a complete program of racing at the same track. The weekend will conclude on Saturday May 9 when both series visit Cordele Motor Speedway in Cordele, Georgia for the first time. Both races will pay full points for Must See Racing while no points will be awarded to Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series competitors towards their championship chase.
