It’s that time of year once again, but this time there are more of us looking to escape the cold and enjoy a week of the Florida sunshine!
The 2026 INEX Winter Nationals at Auburndale Speedway could not come at a better time, or with better temperatures. This year’s edition kicks off on Sunday, February 8th with a day of practice, followed by five straight days of feature racing competition for five Legend Car and three Bandolero divisions, concluding on February 13th. These five days will feature highs int the 70s, a far cry from where the temperature for most of the competitors have been enduring the last few weeks.
Over 150 entries will fill the pits around Auburndale, with some in new cars and divisions. In the Pro Division alone, there are six new faces advancing into the high division of Legend Car racing. The 2025 INEX Young Lions Asphalt and Road Course National Champion, Ben Morabito, makes the jump, along with other 2025 Young Lions Spencer Bradshaw and Dylan Bongiovanni. Three Semi-Pros from 2025, Cole Denton, Chase Burgeson, and Zachary Honaker have elected to advance to Pro in 2026.
2026 INEX WINTER NATIONALS ENTRY LIST
They all will face off against the 2025 INEX Winter Nationals Pro Champion, Danny Chisholm, and the reigning Pro Division National Champion, Joel Smith.
“Returning as the Pro Division National Champion is an honor and something I’m really proud of,” said Smith, “but it doesn’t change my approach to the new season.”
A Pro since the 2023 season, Smith scored his first victory in the Pro Division during Winter Nationals that season and learned from the Pros around him across 2023 and 2024 on his way to a national title last October. While it is great to look back and enjoy the memories and accomplishments from a year ago, he knows it’s time to look forward.
“Winter Nationals marks a new season and a new challenge,” said Smith. “Once we unload at the track, everyone starts on equal ground, and 2025 is in the past. I don’t feel any added pressure. I see it as a chance to reset, get back to work, and focus on preparing well, racing smart, and making the most of every opportunity on track.”
As is typical at national INEX events, the Semi-Pro field arrives with the largest entry count of 37. Dylan Faulkner scored two victories and the Semi-Pro championship at Winter Nationals one year ago, and would love to follow up with another Semi-Pro title. But how does one stay focused in a field with so many competitive cars?
“With the Semi-Pro field being as deep as it is, I stay focused on my own car,” said Faulkner. “I’m not worried about what others are doing to their cars. My goal is to make car as fast as possible, so every session is about improving our performance and not chasing other people’s lap times. The rest will work itself out from there.”
Another division with a strong car count is the Chargers Division, the beginner and non-points division for Legend Cars. Winter Nationals will be the first time some of these new Legend Car drivers are in such a big field or Legends, or even simply in competition. One of the 21 Chargers included in that field is Jack Smith, young brother of Joel, who trades in his Bandolero after five season.
What advice would Joel give Jack and the other Chargers?
“Be patient and think long-term. You can’t win the race on the first lap, but you can definitely lose it.”
Smith added, “Focus on learning every time you’re on track and making smart decisions. The more laps you turn, the more experience you gain. Especially early on, finishing the week with a clean car and more confidence is a success. Race with respect and take pride in being a clean racer, those habits follow you and pay off over time.”
Every track has something that makes it a challenge, or a small characteristic that tests a driver’s ability to capture the checkered flag. For Auburndale, that might just be patience and concentration.
“Patience is key at Auburndale,” Faulkner shared. “It’s a very easy track to overdrive and isn’t forgiving.”
He added that if you apply the right amount of pressure to the driver ahead of you, a move could be made to overtake if you’re successfully able to get them to make a mistake.
Including Faulkner and Chisholm, all six champions from Winter Nationals last season return. Morabito was the Young Lions champion, while Brandin Wrisley will once again go or the Masters Division title. Landon Thrasher was the Outlaws champion and Brexton Busch was the champion in the Bandits Division. Both are now in the Young Lions Division.
Championships will be awarded in the Pro, Semi-Pro, Masters, Young Lions, Outlaws and Bandits divisions, along with AFCO Fastest Lap of the Week for all eight divisions, and the MPI Up on the Wheel award for the six championship divisions.
All five days of feature racing can be streamed on USLegendCars.TV, with an approximate start time of 1pm ET/ 10am PT, Monday through Friday. Each day will feature a round of practice and Speed-U Qualifying before the broadcast begins on USLCI TV, beginning with B-Mains, and followed by the Beginner Bandoleros, Young Lions, Bandits, Masters, Outlaws, Semi-Pros, Chargers, and Pro feature races.