Fireworks, Fury, and the Rise of the Orange 32:
The ProTruck Challenge’s Explosive Start to Summer

June closed with thunder at Thompson Speedway. July opened with fireworks at Wiscasset. And through it all, one truck — one driver — kept rewriting the script of the 2026 ProTruck Challenge. His name is Randy Burr, and right now, he’s the storm everyone else is trying to outrun.

Thompson: The Warning Shot

The JFK Roofing 35 wasn’t just another stop on the tour — it was a tribute. The field rolled out in honor of Cindy Burdick, whose team fields the No. 151 Chevrolet for Bert Ouellette. But sentiment didn’t soften the competition. Fifteen trucks unloaded with something to prove.

From the moment the orange No. 32 hit the track, the paddock felt the shift. Burr wasn’t just fast — he was untouchable. His 21.675-second qualifying lap earned the PMW Marine Fast Time Award, and even a third-place redraw couldn’t dull the edge.

One background story was that the 151 team had a tire mix‑up. They on used Hoosiers. The race was a new‑tire event. This should’ve buried their chances. Instead, Ouellette qualified in the top six and landed on the outside pole after the redraw. Todd Taylor was lucky enough to draw the pole . Once the green dropped, the story bounced back to Burr.

On the drop of the greenTaylor jumped out front, but Burr stalked him like a hunter who already knew the ending. Lap 2: a nose under the 47. Lap 3: the pass completed. From there, the 32 didn’t just lead — it dominated. Burr took his third win in four races, and the paddock left Thompson with a single, uneasy conclusion: If you want the 2026 title, you’re going to have to go through the Orange 32.

Eight Days, Two Bombshells

The tour had barely caught its breath from the mid-week event when two headlines detonated.

1. A New Era for the Short Track Challenge

The Short Track Challenge gained a new identity — and a new force. Chappell Tractor stepped in as sponsor of the Chappell Tractor Short Track Showdown, putting $2,500 on the line for the top three short‑track performers of 2026. They’ll also back the ProTruck races at Star Speedway’s Classic Weekend and the Championship Race at Lee USA Speedway.

2. The Bounty

A $1,000 bounty was placed on Randy Burr. Beat him at Wiscasset, and the money was yours. Fail, and Burr would pocket it.

But Burr didn’t flinch. He simply said that if no one could beat him, he’d donate the money to a fundraiser for longtime friend and ProTour tech chief Jay Dimond. It was classic Burr — fast on the track, humble off it.

Wiscasset: Where the Fireworks Hit the Track

Wiscasset Speedway on Independence Day is a sensory overload — the smell of race fuel, the crackle of fireworks, the hum of a packed crowd. Presented by 32 Signs, the event offered fans a smooth, fast track, 250th‑celebration giveaways, and a full fireworks finale.

The Chapman Charge

Before the engines even fired, Tyler Chapman was already having a day. He won a random drawing for a fresh set of Hoosiers, topped practice, and then claimed the PMW Fast Time Award. If anyone looked ready to challenge Burr, it was the driver of the B&W Paving No. 81. The redraw placed Taylor (47) and Paquette (94) on the front row. Burr drew fourth. Chapman drew sixth — a setback met with confidence. The trucks rolled out with America 250 banners across their windshields, waving flags in a pre‑race lap that felt more like a ceremony than a parade. Fans got out‑of‑truck introductions. The stage was set.

Early Sparks

From the drop of the green flag for the 55 lap event, Taylor and Paquette fought tooth‑and‑nail. The 47 and 94 ran two laps side by side before Taylor edged ahead. Behind them, Chapman began carving through the field with surgical precision. The first twist came when Chris Palamar’s No. 42 erupted in smoke, slowing the field

Paquette’s Moment — Chapman’s Answer

On the restart, Paquette used the outside lane like a slingshot, and took over the lead. Chapman jumped into second. Burr pressured Taylor until another caution flew for JP’s No. 28 Dodge Ram. Then came the restart that changed the tone of the night.

The field was restarted. This time it was Paquette and Chapman side‑by‑side. Chapman’s 81 had the bite. He took the lead on the second trip down the backstretch. Moments later, Duane Noll’s No. 2 blew up, and the field slowed for caution number three.

Chaos in Turn One

The field was back underway quickly only to have the fourth caution bring the action to a halt . Charette (1) and Taylor (47) tangled, collecting Churchill (05), who slammed the barrier hard.

The Duel Everyone Came to See

When the green flew again, Chapman had Burr directly behind him. Chapman stretched the 81 into the lead. Paquette and Burr fought side‑by‑side until the 32 took over the runner up spot. Paradis and Caron held steady in the top five.

Lap by lap, the 32 reeled in the 81. With 15 to go, Burr launched off turn four, pulling alongside Chapman. The two leaders fought door‑to‑door down the backstretch. They stayed side by side through turns 3 and 4. Burr was a nose ahead at the line. Chapman is tough to pass. He threw the 81 into turn one so hard the tail stepped out. Out of two the 32 took over the top spot. In turn three, Chapman slammed Burr — a desperate shot at survival. But Burr absorbed it, straightened the wheel, and powered away.It was the drive of a champion. It was the drive of a man with a bounty on his head. It was the drive of the fastest truck in New England.

Burr took the win — his fourth in five races.

Chapman had to settle for second. Paquette settled for third.. Taylor clawed back to fourth. Mercedes Caron wheeled her 52 to fifth.

The Road Ahead: Mad Dog Awaits

Next up is Monadnock Speedway — the track they call Mad Dog — for the Duel at the Dog, featuring the Whelen Modifieds, Granite State Pro Stocks, and the $10,000 ProTruck Challenge presented by Atlantic Building Supply.

It’s race six. It’s Chase qualification time. And the fight for the final transfer spots is a knife‑edge battle between Pereira (28), Churchill (05), Caron (52), and Ouellette (151) — who fell from second to tenth after a mechanical failure at Wiscasset.

Every lap matters now. Every mistake is magnified. Every point could decide a season.

The Short Track Showdown standings are equally volatile. Burr leads. Taylor holds second. Chapman sits third, with Noll, Paquette, and Paradis all within striking distance.

Monadnock won’t just be a race. It will be a reckoning.

Gates open at 2:30. Opening ceremonies at 6. If you love short-track chaos, you’ll want to be there.

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JFK Roofing 35 at Thompson up next!

The $10,000 Pro Truck Challenge will make its second visit of the season to Thompson Speedway this Wednesday evening, June 24, for the JFK Roofing 35.

The most recent event took place at New London-Waterford Speedbowl, where Randy Burr was the class of the field all day. Burr set fast time in qualifying, recorded the fastest lap of the race, and drove his No. 32 Silverado to victory after taking the lead on lap 25 and never looking back. His dominant performance earned him $1,400, including bonus awards from PMW Marine for fast time in qualifying and the Taylor Lawn Care/Cons Automotive $300 Fast Time of the Race Award.

Duane Noll finished second, while Todd Taylor’s No. 47 rounded out the podium in third.

The No. 94 of Jason Paquette appeared poised to capture his first career Pro Truck Challenge victory. Paquette led laps and ran near the front for most of the race before suffering a late-race tire puncture that dropped him back to a 10th-place finish.

The Pro Truck Challenge utilizes a unique tire program, with half the races run on new tires and half on used tires to help control costs and promote environmental responsibility. The Speedbowl event was a used-tire race. Teams without suitable used tires may compete on one or more new tires but must start toward the rear of the field.

That was the situation for Tyler Chapman, who started 15th in the No. 81. Chapman methodically worked his way through the field and eventually climbed to second place. A late technical issue relegated him to a ninth-place finish, but fans were treated to an impressive charge from the back to the front.

This week, the series returns to Thompson Speedway for the second of three visits scheduled in 2026. Randy Burr won the season opener there in April and enters Wednesday night’s race leading both the Challenge and Thompson Speedway point standings. With two wins already this season, Burr is clearly the driver to beat. Can he make it three wins in four races?

The No. 151 of Bert Ouellette may have something to say about that. In the Thompson opener, Ouellette led the most laps before settling for second. He rebounded by winning the season’s second race at the Magic Mile in Loudon.

A victory by Ouellette would be especially meaningful, as Wednesday’s race honors the memory of Cindy Burdick. A longtime car owner and supporter of the sport, Burdick’s team owns the No. 151 that Ouellette drives. The team has enjoyed success at Thompson in the past and will undoubtedly be making a special effort in her honor.

Several other contenders will be worth watching. Jason Paquette continues to be one of the fastest competitors at every event and appears overdue for his first Pro Truck Challenge victory. Tyler Chapman will again bring his No. 81 to Thompson, while Dennis Charette’s No. 1 machine enters the event after a strong third-place finish in the Icebreaker. Todd Taylor is always a threat at Thompson and will have his No. 47 prepared for another run at Victory Lane.

Summer Wednesday night racing at Thompson Speedway always produces intense competition, and the JFK Roofing 35 should be no exception.

We hope to see you there!

The ProTruck Challenge Heads to the SpeedBowl

The $10,000 ProTruck Challenge is returning to the New London-Waterford Speedbowl this Saturday, June 6th, 2026, for a highly anticipated 55-lap main event.

Race Day Essentials

• The Matchup: The 55-lap event acts as a high-stakes showdown, pitting the full touring roster against local weekly track favorites.
  
  
• The Venue: The New London-Waterford Speedbowl is a historic, high-action 3/8-mile asphalt oval located in Waterford, Connecticut.
  
  
• Division Lineup: Alongside the ProTruck touring drivers, the event features six weekly racing divisions making their return to action, including the heavy-hitting SK Modifieds® and Crown Vics.
  
  
• The Team to Watch: All eyes will be on Bert Ouellette driving the iconic Cindy Burdick Motorsports #151 truck. As the very first winner of the modern ProTruck Touring era (which kicked off on May 5, 2016), Ouellette has a rich history with the series. He enters the Speedbowl with massive momentum after dominating the prestigious Magic Mile 55 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway earlier this season. Starting from the pole position, Ouellette utilized the top groove to build unmatched momentum, leading from green to checkered flag to secure his 5th career ProTruck victory. Given his masterclass performance on the “Magic Mile,” the #151 team is widely expected to be a premier contender for the win this Saturday night.
  
  
• Strategic Tire Rules in Play: Unlike the previous high-speed tracks on the 2026 schedule, this week shifts the mechanical advantage to tire management. According to the ProTruck Challenge 2026 Tire Schedule, teams must use previously raced/used Hoosier tires for the Waterford event. This rule rewards drivers who can manage their equipment and search for grip on the short track, leveling the playing field for a truly competitive, door-to-door race. 
  
  
• Historic Milestones & Record Breakers
  
  
  • The First Winner: Bert Ouellette won the inaugural modern-era event on May 5, 2016, driving the Cindy Burdick Motorsports #151—the exact truck he pilots today.
    
    
  • The Win Leader: Gerard Giordano Jr. took advantage of a fierce 2016 Chase battle to score his first career victory. He went on to secure a record-setting 15 series wins.
    
    
  • The Peak Season: 2017 stands as the banner year for the series at the Speedbowl, hosting a record five events in a single season.
    
    
  • Solo Visits: In 2021, after COVID, the touring series made only a single appearance at the Waterford track. That event was captured by Andrew Morin. Why not 3 or five races at the SpeedBowl these days? Great question.
    
    
    
• Legendary Rivalries & Controversies
  
  
  • The 2017 DQ Drama: Strict contact rules in that season led to the most controversial finish in tour history when Frank Dumicich Jr. was stripped of a last-lap smash & pass on Stringer. The race director awarded Stringer the official victory.
    
    
  • The Father-Son Wall-Scraper: On August 26, 2017, Allen Coates defeated his son, Corey Coates, in a brutal, door-to-door battle. While fighting for the lead the trucks rubbed door to door lap after lap. Sparks flew as the outside truck needed evey inch and scraped the backstretch wall. This may have been the best tour race ever.   Corey later got revenge by winning the October 7th race.
    
    
  • The Ultimate Effort: In October 2022 Devin Deshaies won at Waterford in a dominant fashion. The next race, which was a winner take all Chase Championship. Deshaies was clearly the favorite to reign as Champion. Approximately four weeks later in practice on Championship Race day Devin wrecked his #64 truck in practice. Tyler Chapman went home and brought back his race truck. Devin started dead last in Chapman’s trick, and fought all day. The run from the back was impressive. Devin did not win the Championship that year for he didn’t win the race but the effort stands as unforgettable in modern tour history.
    
    
• Then and Now:
  
  
  • Gerard Giordano Jr. (#15jr) While the Chase contenders battles, Gerard pulled off his first series win in the 2016 Chase Race. G-Rod holds the record for modern era wins with 15. G-Rod moved on to Lare Models however the 15jr is now campaigned by Chris Palamar as the #42
    
    
  • The 29 Truck that was campaigned by Josh Stringer is being updated and prepared for the return of Nathan Smith. The new number is 55. Nathan is returning after a few years off and hopes to make Saturday’s event.
    
    
  • The Iconic 3 Truck of Andy Lindeman founds it’s way to victory lane quite often and was driven to multiple Championships. It has been updated and now is campaigned by Randy Burr. The Orange 32 has tested recently and showed lots of pace. This team is another of the favorites.
    
    
  • Devin Deshaies #64 was always lightning fast. It was built by none other than Multi time track Champion and ProTruck Tour Champion Duane Noll. The Truck raced as the #11 by Keith Cassidy and won the ProTour race in October of 23. The 11 ProTruck still runs up front. It is now the 29 driven by Jaysin Beal.
    
    
  • The most colorful truck out there is the 47 of Todd Taylor. It’s fast too. Taylor won the last ProTruck Challenge race at the SpeedBowl.
    
    
  • Shawn Monahan won a ProTour event at the SpeedBowl in October of 2022. He has stepped out from behind the wheel and is now the promoter and race director at the SpeedBowl. Shawn has great plans for the SpeedBowl.
    
    
    Gates open at 1:30. Qualifying gets underway at 5:30. Racing follows right along. Be there if you can tomorrow for great racing action at the New London Waterford Speedbowl.
    6/5/26
    
    

Bert Ouellette Dominates at The NorthEast Classic

ProTruck Challenge teams headed to the Magic Mile, New Hampshire International Speedway Saturday April 18th for race two of the 2026 ProTruck Season.  Teams are always proud to be part of The Northeast Classic presented by both the American Canadian tour and the Pro All Star Series. Competing at New Hampshire International Speedway is something not every driver will experience in their career.  It’s a special moment just to pull on to the race surface.

      15 ProTrucks dared take on the high speeds of New England’s premier oval.  13 were able to take a qualifying lap . The number 94 of Jason Parquette won the PMW Marine fast time in qualifying award for the second week in a row with a lap of 33.191 seconds . Bert Ouellette in the 151 was second fastest. Unfortunately for the second race in a row, Chris Taylor suffered mechanical issues and was unable to take time. As done at most events, the top 6 do a redraw for starting position.  The 151 moved up front second to first while the 94 of Paquette was moved back to 5^th in the order.

      The show at New Hamshire moved quickly due to two days of racing being packed into Saturday.  The ProTrucks moved down the back stretch with Taylor’s 47 outside of the 151, Rookie Randy Churchill’s 05  and the 77 of Adrien Paradis in row two. Jason Paquette’s 94 Toyota and last year’s Racing Times Magazine Rookie of the Year Ethan Heilborn made up row three.  Ice Breaker winner, number 32 Randy Burr lined up inside the 52 of Mercedes Caron in row 4. The 1 of Dennis Charette and the 28 of JP (John Pereira) rounded out the top 10.

         When flagman Jason Lamoi waived the green flag to the field, Todd Taylor jumped the start but quickly adjusted to let the 151 have his spot back.  No penalty was assessed.

    By lap 2 the field sorted out into the order they had started.    Lap 5 saw Randy Burr and the 77 of Paradis make contact entering turn one.  Burr moved by with Heilborn in tow. The temporary loss of momentum relegated Paradis to 7^th.  Both Sean Caron and Ethan Heilbron suffered mechanical  failures on lap 6 causing both trucks to retire.

 At the cross flags the 151 was cruising out front a quarter lap ahead of second place Todd Taylor.  Paquette’s 94 was closing on Taylor.  Burr, battling a loose race truck was doing his best to chase down the leaders. Randy Churchill was running a solid fifth. This is how they ran until the closing stages the closing laps where Paquette was able to grab 2^nd away from Todd Taylor.  Randy Burr completed a solid fourth place run. The finish was good enough to hold onto the points lead.
The surprise late was Mercedes Caron. She ran down the top 5.  After contact with the 05 of Randy Churchill, Mercedes was able to grab a top 5 finish.

The star of the show was still Ouellette in the Cindy Burdick Motorsports owned, Gary’s Services 151. He seemed to run a bit higher than everyone else. He turned the top groove into added momentum.  His pace was unmatched. Bert proudly motored the 151 under the checkered flag after a green to checkered run that never saw a challenge for his lead. This was Bert’s 5^th ProTruck Tour Victory.  It certainly is his most important Victory. He made it look easy.  

The series next event is at the Waterford SpeedBowl June 6^th. This season’s excitement is ramping up. Waterford is always a must- see event. Be there if you can.

Results for the NorthEast Classic: 1^st 151 Bert Ouellette, 2^nd 94 Jason Paquette, 3^rd 47 Todd Taylor, 4^th 32 Randy Burr, 5^th 52 Mercedes Caron, 6^th 1 Dennis Charette 7^th 77 Adrien Paradis, 8^th 05 Randy Churchill jr. 9^th 28 John Periera, 10^th Andy Pelligrini, 11^th Ethan Heilborn, 12^th 53 Sean Caron 13^th Duane Noll

Randy Burr Finds Victory Lane for Second Straight Ice Breaker Win

The 2026 ProTruck season Saturday officially got underway at Thompson’s ice breaker Saturday.   Teams once again will compete for their share of a $10,000 points fund. Last year’s champion Ryan Kuhn has moved on to compete with his super late model leaving a bit more opportunity for new teams to win. 

      Twenty ProTrucks pulled into Thompson’s paddock on Saturday.  16 were able to take time with the number 94 of Jason Paquette winning the PMW Marine pole position with a lap of 21.659 seconds Yes 6 hundredths of a second faster than outside pole sitter Bert Ouellette in the 151. Last season’s ice breaker winner Randy Burr qualified 10th. Duane Noll had trouble with his race truck. He would move on to a backup and start last. Chris Taylor suffered mechanical issues and was unable to take time.

      Soon after qualifying it was race time. Flagman Kyle Souza waived the green flag to the field where the number 94 of Jason Paquette got a great start and pulled off into the lead. Racing Times Magazine got his Rookie of the year candidate Randy Churchill jr. 05 Ford complete sideways on the back stretch. He was able to gather it up and head on into turn 3.

  Bert Ouellette, in the Cindy Burdick Motorsports 151 hounded the leader until he was able to position himself low in turn 1on lap 6.  He completed the pass and took over controlling the race. The 1 of Dennis Charette settled into 3^rd place. Todd Taylor’s Silverado followed in the 4^th spot while Randy Churchill Jr’s 05 rounded out the top five.

     Randy Burr and Duane Noll were the trucks to watch as they were carving through the field.  There was no doubt these two were going to be factors in today’s event.

     The first caution of the day flew for Cris Palamar as his number 42 Dodge went up in a plume of smoke.  Chris’s team has taken on the project of developing an LS motor program.  Luckily the failure was a power steering line. 

       The lap 16 restart had Ouelette and Parquette still in the front row. 3^rd was the 1 of Charette. The bright orange 32 of Randy Burr had worked his way from 10^th to 4^th.  The 47 of Todd Taylor rounded out the top five. When the green waved the 94 nosed ahead in turn one.  By turn 3 Ouellette moved back to the front. . Soon Burr moved into the second spot and the chase was on.

      While Burr chased a mid-pack slugfest was on between Taylor, Churchill, Coates and Noll.   Taylor got away first.  The battle was suddenly interrupted when Mercedes Caron suffered a fiery motor failure.  The 52 stopped at the end of pit row.  Mercedes took things in stride. She will be ready for Saturday’s race at New Hamshire International.

      The caution period set up a five-lap battle for the win. For the final restart it was Bert Ouellette out front. Joining Bert in the front row was the 32 of Burr. Paquette was now in the third spot. Charrette was outside of him. Taylor and Churchill shared row three.   Both drivers got great starts however Burr was able to use momentum coming out of turn 2 to cruise his way into the lead. Behind the slugfest continued. Entering turn 3 Paquette and Charette remained side by side as did Taylor and Churchill. Coates, in the 90 buried his truck deep into the turn clobbering Taylor. Somehow those two drivers gathered their trucks up while Noll in the 2, and Pelligrini in the 6 snuck by low. Taylor and Coates were not done yet. They ran side by side on the front stretch. Coates went low in turn one. He slid into the side of Taylors 47. Taylor suffered from a left front flat from the contact.

Up front Paquette and Charette ran side by side as Noll followed trying to find a way by. After competing two laps door to door, Charette’s Silverado got a run down the back stretch where he went on to a 3^rd place finish.

At the finish it was Randy Burr with his second Ice Breaker win in a row. Ouellette would have to settle for second. Following Charette and Paquette was Noll.  From last to fifth in a back up truck proved to be very satisfying.

The series heads to the Magic Mile for a one day all inclusive event tomorrow, April 18^th.  Randy Burr seemed to have the field covered in last year’s event when a window net latch failed causing the 32 to be black flagged while leading. Ryan Kuhn went on to battle with Duane Noll for the win.  Will Noll leave the Magic Mile with a win or will Randy Burr start season two for two?  Is there a new player in the wings?   Will Jason Paquette get his first touring win?  Could the Cindy Burdick Motorsports 151 find it’s way to victory lane. We’ll know soon….
Gates open early at NHIS. Be there if you can.

Results for the Ice Breaker: 1^st 32 Randy Burr, 2^nd 151 Bert, 3^rd 1 Dennis Charette, 4^th 94 Jason Paquette, 5^th 2 Duane Noll, 6^th 05 Randy Churchill Jr., 7^th 90 Allen Coates, 8^th 6 Andy Pelligrini, 9^th 29 Jason Beal, 10^th 20 Ethan Heilbron, 11^th 53 Sean Caron, 12^th 77 Adrien Paradis, 13^th John Pereira, 14^th Todd Taylor, 15^th 52 Mercedes Caron, 16^th 42 Chris Palamar

Hoosier 2026 Tire Schedule

The ProTruck Challenge will again compete on Hoosier Tires. Each Hoosier Tire’s chemical composition is known and able to be checked. Teams simply cannot use products that alter the tire to get an edge. Another sound reason for running Hoosiers is their cost effectiveness. Yes high quality racing tires are expensive however our teams are able to race two races easily. This allows most teams to run 10 races with only 20 tires. Certain weeks are new tire weeks. Others require used. Here is the 2026 tire schedule which for many reasons can have changes.

Race 1: Thompson’s Ice Breaker New
Race 2: NHIS’s NorthEast Classic New
Race 3: Waterford SpeedBowl Used
Race 4: Thomspon Tri Track Wed New
Race 5: Wiscasset Firecracker 55 Used
Race 6: Monadnock JDV 55 Used
Race 7: White Mountain New
Race 8: Star Classic BW sr 55 Used
Race 9: Thompson’s World Series New
Race10: Lee USA Championship Used
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One More Look Back at Thompson Speedway’s Banquet

The ProTruck Challenge Teams headed to Thompson Speedway for their annual banquet celebrating a very successful 2025 Season. Nick Bosse and his band performed both before dinner and after. Hopefully he is back next year for the 2026 banquet. The series sponsorship primarily is from Hoosier Tires East. EXIT and Evolve were not replaced in 2025. Competition director Marshall Hurley explained,
” We are lucky to have support from a number of sponsors like Advanced Overhead Door who played a huge role in putting on this banquet. For a title sponsor going forward there are offers. We want a perfect fit and we are willing to wait to find a great one. “

There was not a title sponsor for 2025, but there still was in excess of $18,000 in awards and recognitions to be handed out. Here is a summary of the top performers on track last season.

#72 Ryan Kuhn Post Season Awards $6800.00
Season Earnings of over $13,500.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Champion
Short Track Challenge Champion
Innovation Award
Crew Chief of the Year Randy Burr

#47 Todd Taylor Post Season Awards $2950.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Final Four
Best Appearing

#42 Chris Palamar Post Season Awards $1425.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Final Four
Most Improved Driver

#11 Nikolas Frechette Post Season Awards $1500.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Final Four

#94 Jason Paquette Post Season Awards $3050.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Elite Eight
Speedway Challenge Champion
NWIII Award Winner
Iron Man Award for Crew Chief Daniel Lajeunesse

#151 Bert Ouellette Post Season Awards $1600.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Elite Eight
Hard Charger Award

#1 Dennis Charrette Post Season Awards $800.00
2025 ProTruck Challenge Elite Eight
Sportsman of the Year

#52 Mercedes Caron Post Season Awards $375.00
Social Media MVP
9th in Speedway Challenge

#20 Ethan Heilborn Post Season Awards $525.00
2025 Rookie of the Year
8th in Speedway Points

#28 John Pereira Post Season Awards $300.00
Most Popular Driver
10th in Speedway Points

The attendees of the banquet had a special task. Each had opportunity to vote for the points system for 2026. They could opt to leave things the same, use classic NASCAR scoring or even utilize the new points system in place in Cup racing today. Overwhelmingly the teams chose to continue with the Chase. The 2026 ProTruck Challenge gets underway in April at Thompson Speedway’s Ice Breaker. Be there if you can!

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The 2026 ProTruck Rules have been posted. Every year there are revisions. The series or competitors propose new or updated rule changes. Some are approved and some are not.

This year the series proposed eliminating 4bbl carburetors from competition except for claimer motors. Competitors pushed back and were not ready to give up their four barrel carbs. The competitors, led by the 94 and 47 teams tested. They were instrumental in ciming up with some rule adjustments.

Claimer motors are still exempt from carburetor rules however competitors with 602 Crate Motors may run a 650 4bbl carburetor provided they take their truck to the Chassis Dyno before racing. When they do race, they will need the dyno sheet. Having pretested at the dyno does not preclude the truck from post-race testing.

The series is attempting a cost saving measure was put into place. For 2026 most teams may use a spec front shock and receive a 100 lb. weight break. These shocks are available for under $150.00.

This type of racing has always utilized stock type front snouts. Unfortunately, these snouts are getting scarce. Companies like Howe racing, Johnson Chassis and Hamms welding have recognized this problem. They hand craft some fine replacement snouts that often turn out cheaper than prepping the stock ones. Most are lighter than the stock ones. Those replacements are legal but now have appropriate weight adjustments required.

Some pretty impressive new chassis have found their way to the series in recent years. Rules governing the set back, height and construction were reemphasized.

There were some body changes for 2026. Often teams fight overheating issues. Louvers are now allowed on the hood that may help that issue. By team request roof rails are now allowed. Spoilers have some new placement specifications and a new 8 inch Five Star Spoiler has been made legal. The new spoiler makes the Thompson and New Hampshire races especially interesting.

The new rules are posted and 2026 is officially underway.

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2026 Starts with the Annual Rules Meeting

The 2026 ProTruck Season is fast approaching. When the season ends, teams immediately start prepping their trucks for the next year. The first step is the annual rules meeting. There will ber a grace period where teams may feedback or offer adjustments to the new changes. It will be tough to get an adjustment once the changes are published on January 1 2026.

This year’s event will be held in Connecticut and hosted by Mike Leone, owner of the 1NE ProTruck team.

Some of the major 2026 Proposed Rule include,

• All weights being increased 50 lbs. except Seekonk Metric or S Chassis
• Snouts-Tubular in appearance will have a 30 lab per frame rail weight increase. The series is based off Metric Snouts.
• Enforcement of the rules governing setback and height of the main cage will be emphasized.
• Hood Louvers will be allowed to aide in cooling and handling.
• Roof Rails will be allowed
• The 10 inch rear spoiler can run Triangular side panels
• An optional 8 inch Five Star Rear Spoiler is now available
• The claimer engine program will continue to expand with motors expected to be purchased directly from the series soon.
• Engine sealing may be a process performed directly through the series in the near future. As for right now the Engine Alliance seals are preferred.
• All engines except claimers will be resuired to run the 4412 2bbl
• Seekonk Sport Trucks may convert to 3 points.
• If teams other than Seekonk Metric or Sport Truck opt for the Afco 1475, or 1474-6 shock package on the front, they will receive a 100 lb weight break. Otherwide the shock rule is unchanged.

As always, the teams discuss the 2026 schedule. A few more events could be added. The addition of Wiscasset is a pleasant surprise. The Championship most likely being decided at Lee USA’s Oktoberfest. The series is awaiting a SpeedBowl date.

All of the points series are expected back in 2026 including the $10,000 ProTruck Challenge, the Super Speedway Challenge, and the Short Track Challenge. The next event for the ProTruck teams is the 2025 Banquet where the series will hand out over $18,000 in awards. That date is expected next week.