Month: May 2026

Thursday Night “Under The Lights” Series, Round 2: A Historic Night for Team Jolly Rogers and Emerging Stars

Mostly AI-generated content

Date: May 22, 2026
Track: SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane

The latest race day at Stewart Raceway will be remembered as a defining moment for the emerging talents in the sportsman and amateur ranks. It was a day where the established Experts—Dustin Jolley, Dean Donaldson, Kevin Webster, and newly promoted Expert John Rogers—faced fierce competition from the rising stars. The highlight of the event was an absolutely stunning Overall Official victory by Team Jolly Rogers’ very own Cece Caro, proving that the newer drivers are here to dominate.

Overall Official: Cece Caro Takes the Crown!

In an incredible display of consistency and skill, Cece Caro secured the Overall Official victory with a massive 116 laps and 89 points. She outperformed the entire field, including the veteran Experts, to stand on the top step of the podium.

Team Jolly Rogers had a spectacular outing, with Expert driver John Rogers finishing 4th overall. The synergy and performance from both Cece and John throughout the day were exceptional.

Official Overall Standings

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Cece Caro 116 89 730.425
2 Dean Donaldson 112 81 726.602
3 Steve Stewart 109 87 711.579
4 John Rogers 104 73 767.369
5 Dustin Jolley 102 69 759.413
6 Max Dunn 96 60
7 Kevin Webster 91 53 800.09
8 Trakker Clay 16 20 71.213
9 Rip Rippen 14 17

Detailed Event Analysis

The individual segments proved to be a grueling test of endurance, and the newer drivers shined brightly across the board.

Qualifying: Cece Caro Takes Pole!

The pace was blistering right from the start of the qualifying session, but one driver stood entirely in a league of her own. Cece Caro laid down an absolutely flawless, lightning-fast 5.526-second lap to capture the Pole Position!

This dominant and spectacular qualifying run set the tone early for Team Jolly Rogers, with her teammate John Rogers following closely in second place. Not to be outdone by the Experts, amateur Max Dunn put down a stellar qualifying run of 5.805 seconds to grab the 4th position on the grid, further proving the incredible speed the newer drivers brought to the track.

Place Name Lap Time Speed (Mph)
1 Cece Caro 5.526 591
2 John Rogers 5.633 580
3 Steve Stewart 5.670 576
4 Max Dunn 5.805 562
5 Dustin Jolley 5.825 561
6 Dean Donaldson 5.879 555
7 Rip Rippen 6.505 502
8 Trakker Clay 6.758 483
9 Kevin Webster 7.629 428

Feature Main

Cece Caro drove a phenomenal race, racking up 96 laps to secure a brilliant 2nd place finish. Right behind her was teammate John Rogers, taking 3rd. Their tandem performance kept the pressure high and the crowd on their feet.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 99 71 724.454
2 Cece Caro 96 63 719.116
3 John Rogers 94 57 764.593
4 Dean Donaldson 92 52 726.294
5 Dustin Jolley 92 53 759.413
6 Max Dunn 88 49
7 Kevin Webster 81 37 730.756

Scratch Races

Scratch A: Cece Caro and John Rogers continued their stellar day, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively and setting themselves up for their successful Feature Main runs.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 10 16
2 Cece Caro 10 13 4.366
3 John Rogers 10 11 2.776

Scratch B: Dustin Jolley clinched the win, with Dean Donaldson in 2nd. However, amateur Max Dunn put together a solid run to take 3rd place, proving he can hang with the Experts.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 10 16
2 Dean Donaldson 10 13
3 Max Dunn 8 11

Scratch C: Expert Kevin Webster took the win, but all eyes were on the impressive runs by newer drivers Trakker Clay and Rip Rippen, who took 2nd and 3rd, showcasing great potential.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Kevin Webster 10 16 69.334
2 Trakker Clay 10 13 62.064
3 Rip Rippen 9 11

Consolation Race (Consi)

Dean Donaldson took the top spot, but Cece Caro and Max Dunn followed closely in 2nd and 3rd, reinforcing the theme of the day: the newer drivers are closing the gap!

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 10 16 .308
2 Cece Caro 10 13 6.943
3 Max Dunn 8 11
4 Trakker Clay 6 7 9.149
5 Rip Rippen 5 6

Overall with IROC Firebirds

When factoring in the IROC Firebirds race, the standings shifted. Dean Donaldson took the overall top spot, followed by Dustin Jolley in 3rd.

The real story here was amateur Max Dunn. Max drove brilliantly to capture 4th place overall, outperforming Expert Kevin Webster. Max’s performance is a testament to the hard work the newer drivers have been putting in. Trakker Clay also completed an impressive 84 laps in the combined standings.

IROC Firebirds Race Results

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 76 58 705.774
2 Dean Donaldson 76 52 690.906
3 Steve Stewart 76 46 795.561
4 Trakker Clay 68 38 766.208
5 Kevin Webster 68 42 627.962

Combined Overall (Including IROC)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 188 133 1417.508
2 Steve Stewart 185 133 1507.14
3 Dustin Jolley 178 127 1465.187
4 Max Dunn 167 106
5 Kevin Webster 159 95 1428.052
6 Cece Caro 116 89 730.425
7 John Rogers 104 73 767.369
8 Trakker Clay 84 58 837.421
9 Rip Rippen 14 17

Unofficial Race Report: Event 144

Class: Mega-G+ 1.7 Lites (Support Class)

During the unofficial Event 144 on May 21st, the action was fast and unpredictable. Expert Dustin Jolley took the overall win. Yet again, it was a newer driver who stole the spotlight: Max Dunn drove an extraordinary race to secure 2nd place overall, besting Expert Kevin Webster and fellow amateur Trakker Clay.

Place Driver Total Laps Total Points Segment Run Time
1 Dustin Jolley 38 29 176.113
2 Max Dunn 35 22 172.990
3 Kevin Webster 18 13 147.345
4 Trakker Clay 17 7 188.860

Track Records Update

Despite the blistering pace set throughout the weekend and the dramatic improvements from our newer drivers, an analysis of the official track database confirms that no new track records were broken during these events. The existing records remain safe for now, but with the newer drivers finding this much speed, those times are surely on notice.

Overall Points Standings (Rounds 1 & 2 Combined)

Expert Division

Hand Driver Total Points
1 Steve Stewart 201
2 Dean Donaldson 199
3 John Rogers 189
4 Dustin Jolley 176
5 Kevin Webster 133
6 Joe Clarke 88

Sportsman/Amateur Division

Hand Driver Total Points
1 Dear Cece 174
2 Max Dunn 134
3 Trakker Clay 84
4 Rip Ripping 17

Way too many detailed reports to deal with. Curious and serious analytical types can find all the Detailed SlotTrak Reports here.

A big thanks to Mike Johnston (Rip Rippen) for bringing the main course Taco Bar action, way good stuff. And, as always, thanks to everyone for bringing other dishes, hydration products, and all kinds of good vibes to the event!

Okay, please let me know what you think of the format we ran. Be honest and make suggestions. We finished way earlier than usual, but I don’t think we can squeeze two different classes into one night. Though we did run another 20-lap, full-rotation race after the feature event.

Next Thursday is a no-go for us. Saturday or Saturday night might work.

Oops: Video links from the house Android. Thanks, John!

https://www.youtube.com/@CentralCoastHO/videos

Okay, shut up and drive!

Race Report: 2026 50/50 Series, Round 1, May 14, 2026 — Team Jolly Rogers Dominates the Squeeze Lane

This race report is AI generated. It summarizes the competitive slot car action held on May 14, 2026, at the SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane, featuring the Mega G+ 1.7 Corvette C8 and the Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan classes.

Race Report: Team Jolly Rogers Dominates the Squeeze Lane

The SR3 Road Course Squeeze Lane lived up to its name this week, providing a high-tension backdrop for some of the most dramatic racing of the 2026 season. While the usual Experts were in attendance, the night truly belonged to Team Jolly Rogers, with John Rogers securing the overall victory across both events and Cece Caro showing incredible poise in the final segments.

Team Jolly Rogers captured the final moments of the final Viper race segment on video. It's a pretty good watch. Thanks, John!!

Overall Championship Standings

At the conclusion of the double-feature, John Rogers (Expert) stood atop the podium as the overall champion, edging out the veteran field with a total of 198 laps.

Place Driver Total Laps Total Points Total Time
1 John Rogers (Team Jolly Rogers) 198 116 1222.349
2 Dean Donaldson (Expert) 195 118 2503.277
3 Dustin Jolley (Expert) 193 107 1186.217
4 Steve Stewart (Expert) 192 114 2511.786
5 Cece Caro (Team Jolly Rogers) 176 85 2539.547

Race 1 Analysis: Mega G+ 1.7 Corvette C8 (i)

The first race of the night saw John Rogers take the overall win with 78 laps. Cece Caro showed significant progress, finishing 5th overall and proving she can run with the Experts.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 John Rogers 78 58 565.696
2 Steve Stewart 77 58 1877.118
3 Dean Donaldson 75 54 1852.741
4 Dustin Jolley 75 52 554.380
5 Cece Caro 75 45 1904.337
6 Joe Clarke 73 44 604.971
7 Kevin Webster 71 42 1876.475
8 Max Dunn 70 34 593.813
9 Trakker Clay 68 36 606.143

Details

Segment Breakdown

      • Segment 1: Steve Stewart took an early lead, but the story was Cece Caro holding a steady 3rd place on the Green lane with a fast lap of 6.795s.
      • Segment 2: Dean Donaldson asserted himself on the White lane, taking the segment win.
      • Segment 3: Stewart found speed in the Orange lane, while Cece navigated the difficult Blue lane to keep her total lap count competitive.
      • Segment 4: Dustin Jolley set a blistering pace on the White lane, securing the segment win with a fast lap of 5.844s.

      • Segment 5: Dean Donaldson returned to the top in the Blue lane, with John Rogers shadowing him in 2nd on the White lane.

      • Segment 6: John Rogers took control of the Green lane, winning the segment and signaling his intent for the overall title.

      • Segment 7: Dustin Jolley won the segment, but John Rogers remained remarkably consistent in the Orange lane to maintain his aggregate lead.

      • Segment 8: John Rogers won again, this time in the Blue lane, setting up a clear path to victory.

      • Segment 9: In a brilliant display of late-race speed, Cece Caro took the win in the final segment on the White lane, finishing her race on a high note while the leaders managed their gaps.

Race 2 Analysis: Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan

The Viper race was a masterclass in speed by Dean Donaldson, but it will be remembered for the strategic “fuel” battle between John Rogers and Dustin Jolley.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 120 64 650.536
2 John Rogers 120 58 656.653
3 Dustin Jolley 118 55 631.837
4 Steve Stewart 115 56 634.668
5 Joe Clarke 102 44 634.172
6 Cece Caro 101 40 635.210
7 Kevin Webster 100 38 673.606
8 Max Dunn 95 40 771.990
9 Trakker Clay 87 28 671.836

Details

Segment Breakdown

      • Segments 1–4: Dean Donaldson was untouchable, winning four consecutive segments and setting times that reset the expectations for this track.

      • Segments 5–7: The Expert field traded blows, with Steve Stewart and Dustin Jolley picking up segment wins as Dean rotated out.

      • Segment 8: John Rogers found his rhythm, winning the segment in the White lane, just ahead of Dustin Jolley.

      • Segment 9: The Dramatic Finish: The final segment was a heart-stopper. John Rogers drove a clinical race to take the segment win. Meanwhile, Dustin Jolley, pushing his Viper to the absolute limit to close the gap, famously “ran out of fuel” (metaphorically or mechanically) at the most critical moment, settling for 2nd in the segment and 3rd overall.

Team Jolly Rogers captured the final moments of the final segment on video. It’s a pretty good watch.

New Track Records

The May 14 session saw a massive shift in the record books for the SR3 Road Course.

Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan: Dean Donaldson shattered the previous Viper benchmarks (which were in the 4.2s range) with a jaw-dropping 3.665s lap in Segment 4.

Mega G+ 1.7 Corvette C8: Dustin Jolley set a new class benchmark of 5.844s.

Technical Spotlight: Anomaly or Rocket Ship?

The community is already buzzing about Dean Donaldson’s 3.665s lap in the Viper race. To put this in perspective, the previous records for similar Viper classes rarely dipped below 4.2 seconds.

Interestingly, Trakker Clay also clocked a 3.693s in the same segment. Given that both drivers simultaneously saw a nearly 1-second improvement over their average lap times in Segment 4, it is highly probable that this was a sensor anomaly or a crash/rider situation rather than pure mechanical speed. However, until a track inspection proves otherwise, the record stands as a testament to a very “hot” moment on the Squeeze Lane.

Final Results Summary and Series Points Standings:

      • Overall Champion: John Rogers (Team Jolly Rogers)

      • Corvette Winner: John Rogers

      • Viper Winner: Dean Donaldson

      • Hard Charger: Cece Caro (Team Jolly Rogers)

Based on the scoring reports from May 14, 2026, here are the series points standings categorized by driver classification. Standings are calculated from the combined totals of the Mega G+ 1.7 Corvette C8 and Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan races.

Expert Division Standings

The Expert field was incredibly tight, with only four points separating the top three drivers after both events.

Rank Name Total Points Laps Completed Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson

118

195

2503.277

2 John Rogers

116

198

1222.349

3 Steve Stewart

114

192

2511.786

4 Dustin Jolley

107

193

1186.217

5 Joe Clarke

88

175

1239.143

6 Kevin Webster

80

171

2550.081

Sportsman Division Standings

Cece Caro leads the Sportsman division, notably outperforming Expert Kevin Webster in total points and Expert Joe Clarke in total laps.

Rank Name Total Points Laps Completed Total Time
1 Cece Caro

85

176

2539.547

2 Max Dunn

74

165

1365.803

3 Trakker Clay

64

155

1277.979

Next Thursday is looking very good for us. I’ll shoot out an invite ASAP.

Okay, shut up and drive!

Thursday Night “Under the Lights” Series, Round 5 Series Finale — May Melee: Sportsman Drivers Continue to Amaze

AI-generated Race Report

May Melee: Sportsman Drivers Hold Their Ground “Under the Lights”

The May 7, 2026 edition of the “Under the Lights” series at Stewart Raceway’s SR3 Road Course brought another incredible night of tight racing and blistering speeds. The treacherous squeeze lane tested the reflexes of the entire grid, but the true headline of the event was the continued emergence of the Sportsman drivers challenging the Expert veterans.

While track host Steve Stewart (Expert) logged the most overall laps, the spotlight belongs squarely on the rest of the field, where razor-thin margins and personal bests defined the night.

John Rogers (Sportsman) put on an absolute clinic in consistency and pace, securing 3rd place overall with 336 total laps. John proved he can go toe-to-toe with the pros, famously out-lapping Expert Dean Donaldson in the lightning-fast Viper V-SPEC Lite class.

Cece Caro (Sportsman) delivered a magnificent 4th place overall finish, completing all four grueling races for a total of 318 laps. Cece’s crowning achievement came in the Mega-G+ Lites class, where she laid down a 5.505-second lap—the absolute fastest lap of the entire class, beating every single Expert driver on pure pace.

Dean Donaldson (Expert) utilized his veteran track knowledge to secure 2nd place overall (348 laps), running a highly tactical event. Meanwhile, Dustin Jolley (Expert) proved to be the ultimate sprinter. Despite missing the opening Midget race, Dustin was a dominant force in the remaining three classes, racking up 278 laps and capturing a phenomenal victory in the Viper V-SPEC finale.

Detailed Race Analysis

Race 1: OS3 TFX Midget Paper (i)

The notoriously tricky paper-bodied Midgets opened the night. Dean Donaldson (Expert) paced the contenders with 77 laps, surviving the squeeze lane to bank a solid 9.510s fast lap. John Rogers (Sportsman) kept the pressure high, dropping into the low 9-second range with a 9.284s fast lap and completing 70 laps. Cece Caro (Sportsman) drove a smart, survival-focused race to bank 62 laps. Track host Steve Stewart finished with 80 laps.

Pace Summary (Best Segments)

Driver Category Total Laps Fast Lap Best Median Lap
Dean Donaldson Expert 77 9.510 10.513
John Rogers Sportsman 70 9.284 10.290
Cece Caro Sportsman 62 10.406 11.082
Steve Stewart Expert 80 8.908 9.365
Details

Race 2: MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e (i) 18v

With the voltage cranked up, Dustin Jolley (Expert) joined the fray and immediately made an impact, logging 79 laps to tie for the race lead. Dean Donaldson (Expert) was right on his bumper with 78 laps. The Sportsman drivers were phenomenal here; John Rogers banked 77 laps with a highly consistent 6.578s best median, and Cece Caro secured 74 laps, dipping into the 5.8-second range for her fast lap. Steve Stewart also logged 79 laps.

Pace Summary (Best Segments)

Driver Category Total Laps Fast Lap Best Median Lap
Dustin Jolley Expert 79 5.407 6.093
Dean Donaldson Expert 78 5.470 6.394
John Rogers Sportsman 77 5.743 6.578
Cece Caro Sportsman 74 5.844 6.826
Steve Stewart Expert 79 5.448 6.151
Details

Race 3: Mega-G+ 1.7 Lites (Support Class)

This race was an absolute thriller. The entire grid was separated by a mere 3 laps at the finish! Dustin Jolley (Expert) and Steve Stewart tied at 79 laps, closely followed by Dean Donaldson (Expert) with 78 laps. However, the drive of the race belonged to Cece Caro (Sportsman). She not only banked a highly competitive 76 laps, but she unleashed a perfectly slotted 5.505-second fast lap—the outright fastest lap of the race, defeating the entire Expert field on pace. John Rogers finished with 77 laps.

Pace Summary (Best Segments)

Driver Category Total Laps Fast Lap Best Median Lap
Dustin Jolley Expert 79 5.535 6.115
Dean Donaldson Expert 78 5.594 6.241
John Rogers Sportsman 77 5.754 6.213
Cece Caro Sportsman 76 5.505 5.923
Steve Stewart Expert 79 5.526 5.910
Details

Race 4: Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan

The nightcap brought out the incredibly fast Lexan Vipers. Dustin Jolley (Expert) drove a spectacular race to capture 120 laps and take the win. The biggest upset of the race occurred mid-pack, where John Rogers (Sportsman) flawlessly wheeled his Viper to 116 laps, officially defeating Expert Dean Donaldson (115 laps). Cece Caro (Sportsman) wrapped up her iron-woman performance with 103 laps. Steve Stewart finished with 119 laps.

Pace Summary (Best Segments)

Driver Category Total Laps Fast Lap Best Median Lap
Dustin Jolley Expert 120 4.407 4.677
John Rogers Sportsman 116 4.444 4.825
Dean Donaldson Expert 115 4.271 4.665
Cece Caro Sportsman 103 4.662 5.612
Steve Stewart Expert 119 3.904 4.662
Details

Event Fast Laps Summary

The sheer speed achieved by the Sportsman drivers this month was incredible. Cece Caro’s overall track dominance in the Lites and John Rogers’ raw speed in the Midgets prove the gap is closing fast.

Car Class Fastest Driver Category Fast Lap
OS3 TFX Midget Paper John Rogers Sportsman 9.284s
MegaG+ 1.7 Formula e 18v Dustin Jolley Expert 5.407s
Mega-G+ 1.7 Lites Cece Caro Sportsman 5.505s
Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan Dean Donaldson Expert 4.271s

New Lap Records

Class Lane Date Time Driver
OS3 TFX Midget Paper (i) 3 May-07-2026 8908 Steve Stewart
Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan 2 May-07-2026 4407 Dustin Jolley
Viper V-SPEC Lite Lexan 5 May-07-2026 3904 Steve Stewart

Final Series Standings

The dust has settled on the Thursday Nights “Under the Lights” series, and the final standings tell an incredible story of growth and fierce competition.

The undisputed highlight of the series is John Rogers’ undeniable ascension into the Expert ranks. After weeks of battling the veterans and logging blistering fast laps, John amassed a massive 778 points and 1,537 laps across the series, securing 4th place overall in the standings. His performance proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has outgrown the Sportsman class and is ready to permanently trade paint with the pros.

Sportsman Division – Series Finale Standings

With John Rogers graduating to the next level, Cece Caro stands as the undisputed endurance champion of the Sportsman grid. Cece completed a staggering 1,441 laps over the course of the series to finish 5th overall with 653 points, consistently keeping the pressure on the top drivers.

The rest of the Sportsman field showed great flashes of speed and tactical driving throughout their respective campaigns:

Rank (Overall) Driver Total Points Total Laps
4 John Rogers (Promoted to Expert) 778 1537
5 Cece Caro 653 1441
7 Trakker Clay 161 379
10 Ramsey Wright 122 241
9 Jeff Seltzer 94 254
13 Jerry Strebig 72 157
11 Bev Seltzer 67 235
12 Mark Wialbut 65 235

Expert Division – Series Finale Standings

In the Expert division, the battle for the top spot was a grueling marathon between Dean Donaldson and Dustin Jolley. Dean ultimately edged out Dustin by just 20 points (911 to 891), utilizing his massive 1,830 completed laps to secure 2nd place overall in the series.

Rank (Overall) Driver Total Points Total Laps
2 Dean Donaldson 911 1830
3 Dustin Jolley 891 1679
6 Joe Clarke 246 567
8 Kevin Webster 125 288
– Steve Stewart 1087 1922

Okay, that’s a wrap on the Thursday Night 50/50 Series. I’m thinking a change-up for our next Thursday “Under The Lights” Series. How about an endurance series featuring the SR3 Super Speedway Oval? Something like this:

    1. Practice
    2. Qualifying (Seed number and starting lane choice)
    3. Food and Hydration break after first segment
    4. 500 Lap Feature (125 lap segments, 45-lap fuel allocation)
    5. Experts have a 3-sec longer fuel fill-up.
    6. We’ll start off this five-race series with Mega+ 1.7 Lites fitted with NASCAR hardbodies. Start working on your MegaG+ 1.7 Modifieds with the new class rules. Your existing Modified cars will do okay in this class, but cars prepared under the new rules will definitely do better.

Congrats to John Rogers for making the transfer to the Expert ranks. He’s a great driver and will definitely increase the adrenaline levels in the paddock.

As always, a big thanks to Kathy and all who brought stuff to share. Another very successful “Under The Lights” event, for sure.