Hoosier Tire Reveals Hoosier Hero Class of 2026

Indianapolis, Ind. – December 11, 2025 - Hoosier Racing Tire revealed its class of 2026 Hoosier Heroes today at a special announcement during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis.
 

Launched in 2022, the Hoosier Hero program celebrates racers who live out Hoosier’s spirit of passion, pride, and success both on and off the track. This year’s process kicked off with fans nominating more than 400 racers over the summer. From there, the field was narrowed down to 25 finalists, who went through a combined fan, industry, and media vote. When voting wrapped up - with over 17,000 votes cast - the 2026 class was set.
 

Meet the 2026 Hoosier Heroes:
 

· Victoria Beaner – Pro Jr. Dragster, Micro Sprint, Pro Late Model
· Emily Billings – INEX Bandolero
· Vito Cancilla – Pro Late Model, Super Late Model, CARS Tour
· Joey Coulter – SMART Modified Tour, WHELEN Modified Tour
· Callum & Ryan Crowe – Sidecar, Isle of Man TT
· Jimmy Dale – Drag Racing
· Morgan Grosz – WISSOTA Late Model
· Andy Jankowiak – ARCA, Modifieds
· Ryan Kisner – MWEDT/Pro, Pro-AM
· Chris Morris – IMCA Modified
· Mitch Thomas – UMP Modified, Late Model
· Westin Workman – GR Cup North America
 

“The Hoosier Hero program is our way of celebrating the people who make racing what it is,” said Joerg Burfien, President & CEO, Hoosier Racing Tire. “The Class of 2026 reflects the heart of this community, its leaders, competitors, and mentors who have lifted the sport in meaningful ways. Their induction as Hoosier Heroes is not just a recognition of past success, but a tribute to the positive influence they’ve had on everyone around them.”
 

In addition to honoring active racers through the annual Hoosier Hero class, Hoosier also names a Hoosier Hero Legend each year. Presented alongside the Hero program, this distinction recognizes an individual whose influence and achievements have left a lasting mark on motorsports.
 

Frank Kimmel was named the 2026 Hoosier Hero Legend, honoring his extraordinary contribution to motorsports. Kimmel is the winningest driver in ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) history with 80 wins, 10 championship titles and over 10,000 laps completed across 191 races. His remarkable consistency, skill, and dedication to the sport have left an incredible mark on the racing community.
 

“Frank Kimmel has long embodied the spirit, excellence, and integrity that define a Hoosier Hero,” said Nic Moncher, Head of Marketing, Hoosier Tire. “His decades of achievement on and off the track have left an unmistakable mark on our sport and on the racing community. Being named a Hoosier Hero Legend in 2026 is not only a fitting honor, but a formal recognition of the standard he has set for competitors, teams, and fans alike. Frank’s legacy continues to influence every corner of the industry, and this distinction reflects the impact he’s made throughout an extraordinary career.”

The Hoosier Hero campaign will air on Racer+ as a 12-part series with each episode highlighting a different member of the 2026 class. Racer+ is a direct-to-consumer streaming app available on iOS, Android-connected devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and online at racerplus.com.
 

The Hoosier Hero class of 2026 will be sharing their stories throughout the week at the PRI Show on stage in the Hoosier Booth (Yellow Hall, Booth 3439) with longtime motorsports broadcast member Jim Tretow leading the conversations.

Follow Hoosier on social media @hoosiertire on Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn to learn more about the Hero program and help celebrate the newly minted class throughout the year.

Learn more about the 2026 Hoosier Heroes here.
 

For more information on Hoosier Tire or to find your nearest Hoosier Racing Tire distributor, visit hoosiertire.com.
 

TIRES DESIGNED FOR CHAMPIONS

YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour Announces 2026 Schedule

Tour to Race at Jennerstown Speedway in Pennsylvania for the First Time 

(Anderson, Indiana): Tour officials are excited to announce the schedule for the 2026 YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour racing season. 

The ten race schedule will include nine points earning events and one special event, the 78th Annual Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by ED Martin Automotive Group. Special events do not count toward the season-long points championship.

“We are excited to kick off our fifth season of competition,” said Jared Owen - YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, Series Director. “The 2026 season will look both familiar and different to our fans and competitors. It was important to us to maintain a level of familiarity, but also bring in new challenges as well. We feel as though this schedule gives us that perfect mixture and we are very excited for the 2026 season.”

Tour Staples Return

Anderson Speedway will remain a staple on the YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour schedule with three events in 2026 including the Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by ED Martin. The 26th Running of the Glen Niebel Classic will take place on April 18th as a tune up event for the 77th Annual Little 500. The series will then return to Anderson on September 26th for the 11th Annual Tony Elliott Classic. Each of the three races contested at Anderson Speedway in 2025 saw a different winner as Dakoda Armstrong (New Castle, Indiana) went to victory in the Glen Niebel Classic, Tyler Roahrig (Plymouth, Indiana) claimed victory in the Tony Elliott Classic, and Jake Trainor (Medway, Massachusetts) found his way to Victory Lane in the Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by ED Martin for his second win in three tries at the historic sprint car classic.

Fans of the series will see six tracks from 2025, outside of Anderson, return to the 2025 schedule. The series will return to Toledo Speedway for a Sunday Afternoon race on Sunday, June 14th. They will then travel to Winchester Speedway for another Sunday afternoon race on Sunday, June 28th. The series made their triumphant return to Winchester Speedway in 2025 and will look to build on the momentum going into 2026. The YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour returns to Owosso Speedway and Berlin Raceway to complete the Michigan portion of the 2026 schedule. The events will be held on Saturday, August 1st and Friday, August 28th respectively. Finally, for the third consecutive season, theYourBIGPlans.com  500 Sprint Car Tour will head to Salem Speedway on Saturday, August 15th for the 67th Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial.

Big Track Action

2026 will be the year of big track action for the YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour as they will contest five events at tracks boasting a circuit of .500 miles or larger. That will be the most .500 mile races the tour has contested in a single season. Four of the five “Big Tracks” the tour will compete at in 2026, will be tracks fans and drivers are familiar with. Those events include Toledo Speedway, Winchester Speedway, Salem Speedway, and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The fifth event will be at a new track for the YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour: Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania.

Jennerstown Speedway will be the 12th different facility the YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour has competed at since it began competition in 2022. The Pennsylvania facility will also be the only NEW track for the YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour in 2026. Jennerstown Speedway opened in the 1920’s as a flat, dirt half mile known as Jenners Fairgrounds. The facility went through a quarter mile period beginning in the 1950’s before returning to half mile racing in 1967. Jennerstown continued as a fast, half mile dirt oval until 1987 when the decision was made to pave the racing surface. The racing surface was then repaved in 2004 with a polymer based asphalt. After a brief period of uncertainty saw the track sit dormant from 2008 to 2013, racing returned in 2014 and is still going strong to this day. The YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour event at Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday, July 11th will be the first non-wing sprint car race at the historic facility since it was initially paved in 1987.

Continued Focus on Growing the Sport

The United States Speed Association - Mel Kenyon Midget Series will accompany the YourBIGPlans.com  500 Sprint Car Tour at six races in 2026. They will join the tour at Anderson Speedway, Berlin Raceway, Salem Speedway, Toledo Speedway, and Owosso Speedway. The YourBIGPlans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour will continue to partner with the series as a training ground for future sprint car teams and drivers. The USSA Kenyon Midget Champion will be granted the opportunity to test a pavement sprint car in the offseason.

For More Information visit: 500sprintcartour.com and be sure to follow on social media (Facebook: 500 Sprint Car Tour | Twitter (X): @500SprintTour | Instagram: @500sprintcartour).

2026 500 Sprint Car Tour Schedule: 

April 18 - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 26th Running of the Glen Niebel Classic

May 20-23 - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 78th Annual Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by ED Martin Automotive Group

June 14 - Toledo Speedway | Toledo, Ohio

June 28 - Winchester Speedway | Winchester, Indiana | Tom Bigelow Showdown

July 11 - Jennerstown Speedway | Jennerstown, Pennsylvania

August 1 - Owosso Speedway | Ovid, Michigan

August 15 - Salem Speedway | Salem, Indiana | 67th Running of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial

August 28 - Berlin Raceway | Marne, Michigan

September 26 - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 11th Annual Tony Elliott Classic

October 17 - Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park | Brownsburg, Indiana | Championship Night