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The 2026 racing season has already delivered its share of challenges and breakthroughs for sprint car driver Adrian Tetreault, as he works through early-season issues and builds momentum heading into the summer months.

Tetreault opened the season at Hattiesburg, where lingering engine issues from the end of the 2025 campaign resurfaced. Originally slated to compete in both Friday and Saturday events, Tetreault ultimately elected to run just on Friday after identifying a recurring problem.

“Right away, I could feel it missing a cylinder randomly,” said Tetreault. “When everything was firing, the car felt loose, but when it wasn’t, it would tighten up. It was a real handful to drive.”

Despite the setback, Tetreault managed a 16th-place finish before making the decision to head home early to prevent further damage.

Determined to find a solution, the team turned to engine builder John Howard. After extensive troubleshooting, the issue was traced to a faulty set of new injection nozzles that had been installed as part of a test program.

“We were essentially the guinea pig on a new set of nozzles,” Tetreault explained. “Once we pulled one out and realized it wasn’t getting idle air, everything started to make sense.”

The team replaced the faulty components with a proven set of used nozzles, immediately resolving the issue.

“It’s something we’ve been fighting for close to a year and a half,” he added. “To finally have it sorted out and feel that power again is a huge relief.”

With renewed confidence, Tetreault next traveled to North Carolina for an opportunity with prominent micro sprint and racing development figure Evan Garvy. The trip marked a unique experience, both on and off the track.

After a 12-hour haul to the Charlotte area, plans shifted quickly when a last-minute driver change was needed, opening the door for Tetreault to step in under less-than-ideal circumstances.

“We didn’t have time to reconfigure the seat, no hot laps, no heat race, nothing,” said Tetreault. “I basically went out for the feature with zero prep.”

Competing at the ultra-fast Carolina Speedway against a field dominated by 360 sprint cars, with Tetreault piloting one of only two 305 entries, the odds were stacked against him. Still, he charged forward from near the back of the field.

Starting second to last, Tetreault advanced through the field to an 11th-place finish, earning Hard Charger honors in the process.

“The biggest takeaway was how good and fast the car felt,” he said. “We didn’t want to risk tearing up equipment racing against bigger motors, so we pulled in before the end, but it was a really encouraging run.”

Saturday’s plans included putting Garvy behind the wheel, but after a full day of preparation, the team received word en route that the event had been canceled, resulting in another long trip back home without turning a lap.

Looking ahead, Tetreault is hopeful to reconnect with Garvy later this season, with potential plans including an appearance at the prestigious Tulsa Shootout in the Outlaw Wingless division.

During the offseason, the team also made a trip to Florida to acquire a 360 engine, which is currently being evaluated.

As the season progresses, Tetreault is also proud to welcome a strong group of partners supporting his efforts in 2026, including Evan Garvy, Driven Nootropics, William Denzer of Schaeffer Oil, Home of the Hustle, First Fence, Sticker Depot, and continued support through creative initiatives like 3D printing projects for Beer Hill Gang.

With early-season adversity now in the rearview mirror and performance gains beginning to show, Tetreault and is focused on building consistency and capitalizing on opportunities as the schedule unfolds.

“This is all part of racing,” Tetreault said. “You’re going to have ups and downs, but we’re heading in the right direction now. That’s what matters.”

Despite a year plagued by weather-related cancellations and limited track time, Tetreault and his small, self-funded team made the most of every lap turned—both on the track and in the community.

“It was such a weird, rain-shortened year,” said Tetreault. “Everywhere seemed to get rained out this season. It felt like a monsoon—but when the weather finally broke late in the year, we got to make up for it and get some good racing in.”

Tetreault competed in 10 events this season, with five top-ten finishes—a strong showing considering the limited opportunities to race. “Half of the time we finished in the top ten,” he noted. “You can’t complain about that. We know we’ll get better, and we’re building momentum.”

Racing Highlights and Lessons Learned

After early-season frustrations and mechanical issues—including a memorable night at Dothan where a driveshaft issue nearly ended his evening—Tetreault rallied with solid runs at Benton Speedway and Pine Ridge Speedway to close out the year.

The Dothan race became one of the most memorable moments of the season. Tetreault’s driveshaft unexpectedly popped out of the rear end, leaving him stranded in the pits, 400 miles from home, with no crew to help. Frustrated and convinced his night was over, he started to head toward the concession stand for his favorite racetrack snack—boiled peanuts.

“When you’re by yourself and something like that happens, you just think, ‘Well, that’s it,’” he recalled. “Next thing I know, I look back and nine guys are thrashing on my car trying to help me get back out there. Total strangers. That’s racing family right there.”

Thanks to their combined effort, Tetreault was able to make the feature that night. “I didn’t run great, but I was credited with a ninth-place finish—and that was all because of those guys,” he said. “That moment reminded me what this sport is really about. Everyone’s there to race, but they’ll still stop what they’re doing to help you.”

“Even though a lot of our top tens came from attrition, that’s part of racing,” Tetreault said with a laugh. “But it felt good to end the year actually passing cars and racing with the back of the pack instead of just surviving. That was a confidence booster.”

He also enjoyed the chance to race against both 305 and 360 sprint car fields, despite running a 305 engine all year. “It’s fun to challenge yourself like that,” he said. “By the end of the season, the car felt really comfortable, and we were finally able to get on the throttle and race the way we wanted.”

Community Connection and Growth

Beyond the racetrack, Tetreault made an impact through community and promotional events. This fall, his sprint car was featured at AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds—the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals—for a free family event that drew more than 2,000 visitors.

“Kids who had never seen a race car before got to sit in it and take pictures,” he said. “Some families even asked how to get their kids started in racing. That’s what it’s all about—introducing new people to the sport.”

Tetreault also supported local businesses throughout the season, including Midas, one of his growing marketing partners. He recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Midas store in the Memphis area and is already discussing expanded sponsorship opportunities for 2026.

“The folks at Midas have been incredible to work with,” said Tetreault. “They’re changing how people see auto repair—transparent, honest, and community-driven. We’re hoping to build that relationship even further next year, maybe even with a full wrap in Midas colors.”

Building for 2026 and Beyond

Looking ahead, Tetreault is already focused on next year’s goals, including returning to Central Pennsylvania for the National Open and adding more USCS and ASCS regional races closer to home.

“I’d love to make it back to Benton and Magnolia, and hopefully North Alabama,” he said. “We’re also talking with our engine builder about putting together a 360 engine, just to give us more flexibility.”

Tetreault also continues to grow his online presence, recently surpassing 1,000 Facebook followers—an important milestone for his grassroots team.

Baker River Racing is always open to creating new partnerships, whether it be for the entire season or one race at a time.

“Facebook doesn’t make us money, but it means people are paying attention,” he said. “They’re seeing what we’re doing, the racing and the community side, and that helps show our partners real value.”

A Season of Gratitude

As the season closes, Tetreault remains thankful for those who help make his racing efforts possible.

“I’m self-funded for the most part, but I’ve had amazing people step up this year,” he said. “The fans, our partners, and the Addicted2Dirt team have helped us grow so much. We went from 600 followers to over 1,000—and that’s just the start. I’m proud of what we’re building.”