Archive for category: Sportsman

Jackson reaches 70 career Sportsman victories, including 50 with Scott Hess Racing

Tony Jackson and Scott Hess Racing simply cannot be stopped right now.

Jackson added another checkered flag to an already remarkable late-season run this past weekend, wheeling the Scott Hess Racing No. 88 to victory in Winged Super Sportsman competition at BAPS Motor Speedway.

The victory came just one weekend after Jackson and the team pulled off an impressive double at Williams Grove Speedway, capturing victories in both Winged and Wingless Sportsman competition.

With the latest BAPS triumph, Jackson and Scott Hess Racing have now rattled off seven consecutive Sportsman victories, putting together a stretch of dominance that could not have come at a better time as the team heads into some of the biggest races remaining on its schedule.

“I said six in a row in victory lane, but I kind of forgot about Pagoda, and that makes it seven,” said Jackson. “We’ve been on an unbelievable run, and hopefully it can keep going for one more week.”

While much of Jackson’s recent success had come in wingless competition, the team has worked diligently throughout the summer to strengthen its winged program with an eye toward the marquee events later in the season. The results are beginning to speak for themselves.

Following a victory at Williams Grove, Jackson backed it up at BAPS Motor Speedway, a facility where he and Hess have enjoyed plenty of success together over the years.

“I think the biggest thing that has happened was that we got our motor program figured out and we just were not where we needed to be early in the year,” he said. “We put a motor in for Williams Grove that was almost experimental, to see if we could find something, and right now I’m driving with as much confidence as I ever have. Everything just seems slow, and for a driver, that’s the best feeling you can have behind the wheel.”

The latest victory also carried some added historical significance for Jackson.

The veteran racer has now amassed an impressive 70 career victories in Sportsman competition, further adding to a résumé that has established him as one of the division’s most accomplished competitors. Even more impressive, 50 of those 70 victories have come behind the wheel of a Scott Hess Racing machine.

“It’s special to get to these numbers. Honestly, when I started, I didn’t know if I’d ever get one, let alone 70,” said Jackson. “I’ve been blessed with good racecars, and with Scott, it just seems we’ve clicked. If I don’t win another race, I can’t say we didn’t achieve everything we ever wanted, but hopefully we can keep going and get a few more wins.”

Jackson’s seven-race streak has showcased his versatility. Whether competing with a wing or without one, the combination of Jackson and Scott Hess Racing has continued to find its way to Victory Lane.

That momentum comes at an ideal time.

With the calendar turning to September and the Sportsman 100 looming, the team enters the most important portion of its season on arguably its hottest streak ever.

“I really wasn’t sure after last year if I’d ever run another Sportsman 100, so to even be talking about this is a blessing in itself,” said Jackson. “Last year we broke early, and we really didn’t even get a chance to compete. I’ve been in contention to win a few times, and I was lucky enough to win one, but to win one more would be the icing on the cake for a great season, and I’m excited to try.”

For a driver who initially entered 2026 planning only a limited return to competition, the season has quickly developed into another memorable chapter in Jackson’s career and his partnership with Scott Hess Racing.

What started as an opportunity to climb back behind the wheel, have some fun, and compete in select events has once again turned into a pursuit of victories — and lately, nobody has been doing that better.

UP NEXT

Jackson and Scott Hess Racing are scheduled to return to compete in winged competition on Saturday for the Sportsman 100 at BAPS, before heading to Selinsgrove Speedway on Sunday for a night of wingless racing. He’s then headed on Monday for a much-deserved family day at the Phillies games with his son and wife.

Tony Jackson continued adding to an already remarkable racing résumé this past weekend, capturing another milestone victory by earning his first career Wingless Sportsman win at The Speedway at Pagoda while also recording a podium finish with a third-place effort at Port Royal Speedway.

Driving for Scott Hess Racing, Jackson showcased consistency and speed throughout the weekend, proving once again that the team is capable of competing at the front regardless of the venue.

Saturday’s victory at The Speedway at Pagoda marked yet another accomplishment in Jackson’s distinguished career, as he conquered another new racetrack and added another win to his ever-growing list of successes. Jackson raced to the front of the field and never looked back, giving Scott Hess Racing another trip to Victory Lane.

The momentum began Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway, where Jackson battled among the leaders throughout the evening before securing a strong third-place finish against a competitive Wingless Sportsman field.

“It was a good weekend overall. The draw didn’t help us at Port Royal, as we had to start seventh, but I think we were a third place car,” said Jackson. “Pagoda was quite the experience. It was small, but had real high banking and we were just the best car all night. I had a lot of fun running there and it was good to grab a win.”

The successful weekend continues what has been another strong season for Jackson and Scott Hess Racing as the team continues to build momentum heading into the heart of the racing schedule.

Next up for the team will be winged show this weekend at BAPS Motor Speedway. With a fresh motor in the car and coming off momentum, Jackson is looking forward to the opportunity to get better on the winged side.

“We’re gearing up for the 100 lapper and we just kind of felt we needed to try some new stuff and freshen things up. So, I’m excited to see where we are with the winged car and hopefully we’ll be talking about more podiums and wins going forward.”

Tony Jackson returned to the seat of the Scott Hess Racing Sportsman last week for a pair of events, highlighted by strong speed early in the weekend as the team continues to work toward regaining comfort and consistency following Jackson’s extended hiatus from competition.

At BAPS Motor Speedway on May 3rd, Jackson climbed aboard in winged competition and showed speed immediately after unloading. After putting together a strong qualifying effort, Jackson raced to a heat race victory and appeared poised for a solid night. However, the team narrowly missed the feature setup, making it difficult for Jackson to advance through the field during the A-Main. Despite the challenges, Jackson battled to an eighth-place finish.

“I’m not a guy to put blame on one thing or the other, but I think just us not racing all year and getting comfortable again, we just missed things a bit,” said Jackson. “We started eighth and finished eighth, but it’ll take some time.”

The team then joined the World of Outlaws for a night of wingless racing on Tuesday, May 5th, where the focus shifted to continuing to build rhythm and chemistry. While Jackson and the Scott Hess Racing team struggled to get fully comfortable throughout the night, the veteran racer still managed to advance forward in the feature event, charging from seventh to finish sixth in the A-Main.

“We were better than our finish showed, but we just kind of missed things with gear selection,” he said. “We were close, but just not quite where we need to be. But to get some laps and get back into things was nice and we’ll take good with the bad and move on.”

Following a planned retirement that led to an extended break from racing, Jackson and the team understand there is still work ahead as they continue searching for the right balance and setup combination to consistently contend for wins once again.

“Right now, on the wing side there are a few teams running really well, and we got some catching up to do. On the wingless side, I think we’re just a tick off too.” Said Jackson. “But tracks change year to year and so do cars, so it’s just about getting comfortable and I think it’ll come around. We’re looking forward to the next race and hopefully finding some wins.”

The Scott Hess Racing team will return to action on Friday, May 22nd, at Port Royal Speedway in wingless competition during the prestigious Bob Weikert Memorial weekend.

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