2026 IROC Championship “Under The Lights”: A Spectacle of Speed and Precision, Where Every Lap Counted!

⚠️ This report was primarily generated by an AI model.

Event Dates: July 2-3, 2026

The SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane was alive with the roar of tiny motors and the scent of ozone this past July 2nd and 3rd, hosting the highly anticipated 2026 IROC Championship “Under The Lights.” This year’s event delivered a nail-biting display of slot car racing, with championship points fiercely contested across four official races, culminating in an electrifying finish. Beyond the intense competition, the camaraderie was palpable, fueled by the fantastic array of food and drink brought by all participants – a testament to the vibrant community spirit that thrives at Stewart Raceway. As always, the track, meticulously maintained by Stewart Raceway, provided a challenging yet fair battleground for all classes.

While all races showcased incredible skill, the championship title for the 2026 IROC event was decided by the cumulative results of the first four official races. The competition was incredibly tight, with mere laps separating the top contenders, making for one of the closest IROC finishes in recent memory at Stewart Raceway. The spirit of IROC (International Race of Champions), designed to pit top drivers against each other in equally prepared cars, was on full display, pushing every racer to their limits.

Cece Caro, an advanced class driver, showed incredible grit and consistency throughout the official championship races, securing a remarkable 3rd place overall finish in the coveted IROC event. Her performance, accumulating 308 laps and 185 points, clearly demonstrates her rising prowess on the track, making her a formidable competitor in the Advanced class.

Amateur driver Tracker Clay continued his steady ascent in the ranks, demonstrating consistent improvement across the races he entered. His dedication is clearly paying off, as he posted solid lap counts and points, constantly pushing his personal bests.

We also extend a warm welcome and highlight the impressive debut of our newest driver, Carlo Fernandez. Carlo quickly adapted to the competitive environment, putting in respectable performances and showing great potential for future events. His eagerness and speed hint at a bright slot car racing future.

While the top spot for the official championship went to Steve Stewart with 315 laps and 229 points, the battle for the podium was incredibly close, with Dean Donaldson hot on his heels, just 7 laps behind, and Cece Caro tying Dean in total laps for the official races. John Rogers also delivered a strong performance, securing a high overall finish with consistent driving. Kevin Webster and Andy Gersh both showed strong competitive spirit with solid lap counts and points in the official races. Dustin Jolley, despite only participating in one official championship race, made his mark with a win in the MegaG+ 1.5 Lexan Team Jolly Rogers class, showcasing his potential.

These events continue to uphold the rich tradition of slot car racing, echoing the history and passion often shared on stewartraceway.org, where every race is more than just a competition – it’s a community gathering, a test of skill, and a celebration of speed and precision.

2026 IROC Championship Overall Standings (Official Races 1-4)

Driver Total Laps Total Points Best Fastest Lap (Overall in Class)
Steve Stewart 315 229 5.281
Dean Donaldson 308 218 5.379
Cece Caro 308 185 5.522
John Rogers 304 203 5.374
Andy Gersh 298 185 5.764
Kevin Webster 291 179 6.058
Carlofornia Fernandez 270 140 5.756
Trakker Clay 199 114 6.083
Dustin Jolley 80 51 6.004

Race 1: MegaG+ 1.7 Modified (Official Championship Race)

Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane
Date: Jul-02-2026 18:44
Class: MegaG+ 1.7 Modified (i)

Name Total Laps Total Points Fastest Laptime
Steve Stewart 79 58 6.122
Dean Donaldson 78 56 5.799
Cece Caro 78 52 5.803
Andy Gersh 74 42 5.982
John Rogers 71 47 5.685
Kevin Webster 71 47 6.202
Trakker Clay 66 40 6.341
Carlofornia Fernandez 65 34 6.362

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 167_Jul-02-2026_SR3RoadCourseSqueezeLane.html

 

Race 2: MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e (Official Championship Race)

Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane
Date: Jul-02-2026 19:36
Class: MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e (i) 18v

Name Total Laps Total Points Fastest Laptime
Steve Stewart 79 61 5.281
John Rogers 76 54 5.374
Kevin Webster 76 53 6.058
Dean Donaldson 75 53 5.379
Cece Caro 77 50 5.522
Andy Gersh 72 45 6.028
Trakker Clay 64 32 6.083
Carlofornia Fernandez 60 28 5.756

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 168_Jul-02-2026_SR3RoadCourseSqueezeLane.html

Race 3: Wizzard Storms (Official Championship Race)

Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane
Date: Jul-02-2026 20:58
Class: Wizzard Storms (i)

Name Total Laps Total Points Fastest Laptime
Steve Stewart 79 54 5.908
John Rogers 78 53 5.768
Andy Gersh 76 52 5.764
Dean Donaldson 76 51 5.674
Cece Caro 77 49 5.756
Carlofornia Fernandez 73 38 5.964
Kevin Webster 71 37 6.074
Trakker Clay 69 42 6.215

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 169_Jul-02-2026_SR3RoadCourseSqueezeLane.html

Race 4: MegaG+ 1.5 Lexan Team Jolly Rogers (Official Championship Race)

Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane
Date: Jul-02-2026 21:54
Class: MegaG+ 1.5 Lexan Team Jolly Rogers

Name Total Laps Total Points Fastest Laptime
Dustin Jolley 80 51 6.004
Dean Donaldson 79 58 5.879
Steve Stewart 78 56 5.692
John Rogers 79 49 5.872
Andy Gersh 76 46 6.330
Kevin Webster 73 42 6.058
Carlofornia Fernandez 72 40 5.897
Cece Caro 76 34 5.955

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 170_Jul-02-2026_SR3RoadCourseSqueezeLane.html

Race 5: MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix (Unofficial)

Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane
Date: Jul-02-2026 23:02
Class: MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix

Name Total Laps Total Points Fastest Laptime
Steve Stewart 77 55 5.947
Dustin Jolley 76 51 5.655
John Rogers 76 47 5.717
Dean Donaldson 75 47 5.833
Cece Caro 73 42 5.792
Kevin Webster 69 40 6.231

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 171_Jul-02-2026_SR3RoadCourseSqueezeLane.html

Race 6: Tyco 440-X2 Wide-Pan Porche 935 Hardbody (Unofficial)

Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane
Date: Jul-03-2026 00:01
Class: Tyco 440-X2 Wide-Pan Porche 935 Hardbody (i) Jolle

Name Total Laps Total Points Fastest Laptime
Steve Stewart 78 55 6.498
John Rogers 78 49 6.448
Dustin Jolley 75 53 6.699
Cece Caro 73 42 6.699
Kevin Webster 67 36 7.083

View Detailed Race Report: RaceReport_ 173_Jul-03-2026_SR3RoadCourseSqueezeLane.html


NEW TRACK RECORDS

The following new track records were established during this event:

Class Lane Driver Time Lap Time
MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e (i) 18v 2 Steve Stewart 20:22 5281
MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e (i) 18v 4 Dean Donaldson 20:22 5379
MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix 2 Dustin Jolley 23:45 5655
Tyco 440-X2 Wide-Pan Porche 935 Hardbody (i) Jolle 2 Steve Stewart 00:33 6910
Tyco 440-X2 Wide-Pan Porche 935 Hardbody (i) Jolle 4 Steve Stewart 00:33 6498
MegaG+ 1.5 Lexan Team Jolly Rogers 2 Dean Donaldson 22:49 5903
MegaG+ 1.5 Lexan Team Jolly Rogers 5 Steve Stewart 22:49 5692
MegaG+ 1.7 Modified (i) 2 John Rogers 19:27 5685
MegaG+ 1.7 Modified (i) 3 Cece Caro 19:27 5803
MegaG+ 1.7 Modified (i) 4 Dean Donaldson 19:27 5967
MegaG+ 1.7 Modified (i) 5 Dean Donaldson 19:27 6129
Wizzard Storms (i) 2 Steve Stewart 21:46 6146
Wizzard Storms (i) 3 Dean Donaldson 21:46 5674
Wizzard Storms (i) 4 Cece Caro 21:46 5756
Wizzard Storms (i) 5 Andy Gersh 21:46 6120
MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix 3 Steve Stewart 23:45 6162
MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix 4 Dustin Jolley 23:45 6257
MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix 5 Steve Stewart 23:45 5947

These new records highlight exceptional driving performances across various classes and lanes on the challenging SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane. Drivers like Steve Stewart, Dean Donaldson, Dustin Jolley, John Rogers, Cece Caro, and Andy Gersh pushed the limits, setting new benchmarks for speed and precision. Notably, Steve Stewart established multiple fastest lap records in various classes and lanes, demonstrating his mastery of the track. Dean Donaldson also made his mark with several new records, particularly impressing in the MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e and Wizzard Storms* classes. Dustin Jolley showed impressive pace in the MegaG+ 1.7 FireBird Camaro Deans Mix, while John Rogers set a blistering pace in the MegaG+ 1.7 Modified. Cece Caro and Andy Gersh also contributed to the record books, underscoring the high level of competition and individual achievement at this event.

* Wizzard Storms were run at a higher voltage than previous records were set with.

⚠️ End of AI‑generated content.

Thank you all for making our 2026 IROC Championship a great success!

Okay, shut up and drive!

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Author: Race Director

Just an old slot car racer and Race Director at Stewart Raceway.

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