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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!

2025 Season Opener Videos Posted

All four official races ran last Saturday and a clip of the closest finish yet recorded on video have been posted on Rumble.

The closest finish clip is a segment finish between Aaron Castro and George Peters in the MegaG+ 1.7 Modified race. The gap at the end of the 20-lap segment was just three-hundredths of a second. It was not the closest ever witnessed at Stewart Raceway, but it was pretty close nonetheless.

Enjoy!

 

2025 Season Opener – Into the fire and onto the podium.

Wow, what a turnout!  Our first “official” race of the 2025 season opened with a bang. We had 14 drivers in the mix: four Experts, five Juniors, and five Sportsman drivers, including two new drivers visiting Stewart Raceway for the first time!

 

The Short Story

Sportsman driver Jared Johnson 3rd overall, and first-time Stewart Raceway driver Dave Rowland finishes 4th overall. Expert driver George Peters leads the Expert points chase by 58 points.

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters* 238 232 1645.44
2 Steve Stewart* 159 174 1158.701
3 Jared Johnson 169 142 1292.315
4 Dave Rowland 144 142 1291.611
5 Aaron Castro* 139 120 868.844
6 Coe Rowland 136 110 1353.497
7 Arlo Roland 132 106 1255.253
8 Abe Maddox 112 101 908.988
9 Shaylin Maddox 102 83 846.329
10 Jerry Pearson* 79 58 496.859
11 Matthew Johnson 67 42 518.012
12 Eric Lane 66 40 498.861
13 Cameron Bill 50 32 411.714
14 Madeline Johnson 54 28 507.557

* Expert driver

After about an hour of open practice, racing got underway at 12:15. The first race of the 2025 50/50 Racing Series was the increasingly popular MegaG+ 1.7 Modified class, a speedy and straightforward racing platform that anybody can be competitive with.

Race 1: MegaG+1.7 Modifieds

This race should have had nine drivers. However, the Race Director mistakenly dropped two drivers from the lineup: Cameron Bill and himself. Jerry Pearson very nearly bagged his first race win as an Expert driver in this one. Jerry won the first two segments and never finished worse than 2nd through his rotations. In the end, Aaron Castro knocked Jerry off the top podium spot by winning all four of his rotations. Team Johnson’s leader, Jared Johnson, drove well and took the runner-up position against three Expert drivers!  Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Aaron Castro 80 64 476.54
2 Jerry Pearson 79 58 496.859
3 George Peters 79 55 488.663
4 Jared Johnson 71 42 491.625
5 Matthew Johnson 67 42 518.012
6 Eric Lane 66 40 498.861
7 Madeline Johnson 54 28 507.557
Race 2: MegaG+ 1.7 Modifieds (IROC)

This one was a dogfight between all categories of drivers.  Team Maddox Junior driver Abe Maddox led this one through the first three segments, winning his first two rotations and demonstrating he’s an incredibly talented driver capable of running with both Sportsman and Expert drivers. This race was highly competitive at every level, with wins by Junior, Sportsman, and Expert drivers. In the end, GP Design’s George Peters edged out Aaron Castro for the top podium spot by just two points and one lap. Junior phenom Abe Maddox bumped Home Cook’n off the final podium step with a win in the final segment. Aaron Castro set a new lap record on the Fast Esses road course in his first rotation with a 5.397 lap in the White lane. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters* 60 58 404.21
2 Aaron Castro* 59 56 392.304
3 Abe Maddox 56 55 412.669
4 Steve Stewart* 59 52 401.707
5 Dave Rowland 56 49 434.333
6 Shaylin Maddox 55 45 396.168
7 Arlo Roland 51 40 426.627
8 Coe Rowland 52 36 440.038
9 Cameron Bill 50 32 411.714

* Expert

Race 3: Viper Super 7 NASCAR “Fast” Lane Set (IROC)

This is a six-car set that Sportsman driver Eric Lane donated to our racing program. The big stories in this race were Jared Johnson making his first podium visit with 3rd place overall and one of our newest drivers, Dave Rowland, who pulled off a hard-fought 4th place overall. Actually, pretty impressive driving by everybody in this race. Jared Johnson won two segments, while Dave Rowland won one segment. While I didn’t feel like the cars were all that easy to drive, George and Home Cook’n set new lap records on each of the four active lanes. George clicked off a 5.505 lap record in the Green lane, and Home Cook’n managed a 5.486 lap record in the Blue lane.   Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart* 60 61 436.907
2 George Peters* 60 58 447.943
3 Jared Johnson 60 56 461.831
4 Dave Rowland 54 51 497.803
5 Abe Maddox 56 46 496.319
6 Shaylin Maddox 47 38 450.161
7 Arlo Roland 49 34 493.029
8 Coe Rowland 48 32 508.47
Race 4: Viper V-SPEC F1/Indy 1.7 Lexan (Eric Lane Set) (IROC)

Another IROC six-car set donated by Eric “Fast” Lane. Until Eric arrived on the scene, I’d never driven a Viper V-SPEC IROC set. The cars cost $50 each! Not my first choice for a new IROC set. This final race of the day was quite competitive also, with the two Experts just three points apart going into the final segment, and Sportsman driver, Jared Johnson landing yet another podium finish on the day. Another new Junior driver from the Team Rowland, Coe Rowland jumped from last place going into the final segment to 4th overall with a well-timed 3rd place finish.  Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 40 61 320.087
2 George Peters 39 61 304.624
3 Jared Johnson 38 44 338.859
4 Coe Rowland 36 42 404.989
5 Dave Rowland 34 42 359.475
6 Arlo Roland 32 32 335.597

2025 50/50 Series Points Standings After Round 1:
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
Sportsman
1 Jared Johnson 169 142 1292.315
2 Dave Rowland 144 142 1291.611
3 Shaylin Maddox 102 83 846.329
4 Eric Lane 66 40 498.861
5 Cameron Bill 50 32 411.714
Junior
1 Coe Rowland 136 110 1353.497
2 Abe Maddox 112 101 908.988
3 Arlo Roland 132 106 1255.253
4 Matthew Johnson 67 42 518.012
5 Madeline Johnson 54 28 507.557
Expert
1 George Peters 238 232 1645.44
2 Steve Stewart 159 174 1158.701
3 Aaron Castro 139 120 868.844
4 Jerry Pearson 79 58 496.859

What a day of racing! I’ll try to get a video of a very close finish between George and Aaron in Race 2 (MG+ Modified IROC). Speaking of video, we have the whole day on video, so I’ll try to get the photo finish clip and the event video posted ASAP.

A big welcome to our newest racing team, Team Rowland! Hopefully, Dave, Arlo, and Coe will join us again soon. They jumped right in without practice and raced the last three races with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship–awesome! Thanks to everyone for showing up and making Round 1 a great event!

We’ll see what happens next weekend; it could be a track day or race day, depending on who’s available.

Okay, shut up and drive!