Archive for category: Sprint Cars

Coming just a day after April Fools’ Day, this is no joke — Tony Jackson is returning to the driver’s seat.

The veteran racer will pilot the Scott Hess Racing Sportsman for a select winged and wingless schedule in 2026, after previously announcing that 2025 would be his final season behind the wheel.

Jackson’s return will begin with a pair of wingless events on April 24 at Williams Grove Speedway and April 25 at Port Royal Speedway. He also plans to compete in wingless competition alongside the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at Lincoln Speedway on May 5th.

“This was always kind of the plan, but I wanted Scott to be able to find someone to race full-time, as I just really didn’t want to do it all that much,” said Jackson. “I wanted to give Chase and the team the time to get going and get racing first, respectively, but we wanted to get the word out and start getting ready to go compete for wins.”

Jackson’s 2026 schedule will be selective, allowing him to balance time away from full-time competition while still competing for victories in the familiar Scott Hess Racing entry. Following a successful 2025 campaign, Jackson credited the support of his sponsors, friends, and family as the driving force behind his decision to come back for a limited run.

“We have a rough schedule kind of laid out, but this gives me the ability to be flexible and make sure my family and business get my attention first,” he said. “If I have something on the schedule and my boy has a ballgame that pops up, that’s going to get my attention and that’s the plan.”

Jackson also emphasized that his return will not take away from Chase Gutshall’s efforts behind the wheel of Scott Hess Racing’s winged Sportsman.

“Chase is already kind of stepping into a tough situation with a car that’s won a lot of races and been successful,” he said. “I want to make sure he can feel confident and appreciated, and I’m sure those guys are going to win a lot of shows together. There may be a few nights where we run two cars here and there, and ultimately the goal for us is to just have some fun, win some races, and hopefully we can both do that for Scott and all our sponsors.”

Additional appearances will be announced at a later date.

Chase Gutshall turned heads in his debut weekend behind the wheel of the Scott Hess Racing Super Sportsman, charging from eighth on the starting grid to a solid sixth-place finish in the team’s first winged competition event of the season at BAPS Motor Speedway.

Gutshall’s night began on a high note, as he powered to a heat race victory from the second starting position, showcasing early speed and confidence with his new team.

“We were quick time overall in hot laps, and right off the trailer we were the best car on the track,” said Gutshall. “We quickly got to the lead in the heat race, and we ran well. It was nice to show speed and be competitive right out of the gate.”

The heat race win locked Gutshall into the eighth starting spot for the evening’s A-main event. Wasting no time, he surged forward and cracked the top six early in the race before adversity struck.
“We got to sixth early in the A-main and got caught up in a deal,” Gutshall explained. “We unfortunately had to go to the back, and the car was pretty bent up with a broken W-link.”

Despite the setback, Gutshall’s resilience and the team’s preparation were evident as he methodically carved his way back through the field to salvage a top-six finish.

“Even with a car that sustained damage, we worked our way back to sixth, and to do that with a banged-up car shows how good this team truly is. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

Team owner Scott Hess praised the performance, noting both the speed and determination displayed in their first outing together and expressing optimism for the season ahead.

Gutshall echoed those sentiments.

“I got in the car, and it drove like a Cadillac,” he said. “I can’t be any happier about this situation. They have a solid group of guys working on the car, great equipment, and I think we’re going to be a force to reckon with all year long.”

The strong debut sets the tone for what could be a promising partnership as Gutshall and Scott Hess Racing continue to build momentum early in the season.

The team’s next scheduled appearance will again be in winged Sportsman competition on April 4 at BAPS Motor Speedway.

Tony Jackson and Scott Hess Racing put the exclamation point on a remarkable season in 2025, competing in 37 events across both the winged and wingless Sportsman divisions and delivering a results sheet that read like a highlight reel: 15 victories, 8 runner-up finishes, four third-place runs, one fourth, and three fifth-place finishes.

Even more telling than the trophies was the week-to-week consistency. The team never finished outside the top five unless sidelined by mechanical failure or an on-track accident, a testament to preparation, execution, and the steady partnership between driver and team.

“It was like a dream year. It kind of stings a little bit to walk away after a year like that, but we’ll embrace what we did and see where things go from here,” said Jackson.

The season’s momentum culminated in two championships, with Jackson and Hess securing the Wingless Championship at Path Valley Speedway and the Hess Ornamental Iron Wingless Tour Championship as well—an unforgettable pair of titles that perfectly framed a year that began with major news.

Prior to the season, Jackson announced that 2025 would be his final year before stepping away into retirement, adding extra meaning to every victory lane photo, podium celebration, and championship moment.

“Knowing this was my last full season made every race count a little more,” Jackson added. “To be able to finish it like this—with wins, with championships, and with the people who’ve meant so much to me—this is the kind of ending you dream about.”

Now, with the season complete, Jackson looks back on his career with gratitude and pride, excited for what’s next while reflecting fondly on his time behind the wheel.

“Racing has given me memories I’ll carry forever, and to say I was part of the history of the Sportsman division is pretty darn special,” Jackson said. “I’m proud of what we accomplished, and I’m thankful for everyone who supported me—my family, my crew, and every fan who cheered us on. I’m excited for the next chapter, but I’ll always be grateful for this one.”

For team owner Scott Hess, the offseason is already taking shape. Plans are currently being assembled to place a new driver in the seat for the 2026 season, but Hess emphasized that moving on from Jackson doesn’t close the door on the partnership.

“Tony’s retirement is bittersweet for all of us,” Hess said. “You don’t replace a driver like that—you build the next chapter and appreciate what you had. And I’ll say this: there will always be a seat warm for Tony here. If he ever gets the itch to race again, we’ll be ready.”

“The expectations were to always win some races and have fun racing, but Tony not only exceeded the expectations, but he set a precedent that will be hard to match going forward. I didn’t even know Tony when we started racing, and through racing we’ve built quite a relationship, but now we’re pretty much family, and I can’t thank him enough.”

Scott Hess Racing will announce additional 2026 plans—including driver and schedule details—at a later date.

Season by the Numbers (2025)

• Events: 37
• Wins: 15
• Runner-Ups: 8
• Third-Place Finishes: 4
• Fourth-Place Finishes: 1
• Fifth-Place Finishes: 3
• Championships: 2
  
  • Path Valley Speedway Wingless Championship
  • Hess Ornamental Iron Wingless Tour Championship