Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals

The Lebanon, IN native erases uncertainty with charge from 10th to the win to open the year

Spencer Bayston admits the last couple years haven’t been easy for him.

Struggling for results. Parting ways with multiple teams. An unstable future in the sport. But the uncertainty caused by that timeframe feels long gone after Wednesday night at Volusia Speedway Park.

Bayston partnered with Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing to return to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2026. The pairing got acquainted with a few races before 2025 wrapped up, and they came out of the gate swinging as Bayston began his third overall campaign with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

The NOS Energy Drink No. 17 lined up 10th on the starting grid for the 25-lap Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals season opening Feature, and Bayston got to work right away. The Lebanon, IN native wheeled by a trio of cars on the opening circuit. A little mid-race chaos among the leaders helped him climb to fourth. From there, he worked his way forward until ripping around Anthony Macri’s outside on the 16th circuit and driving away to victory.

It marked Bayston’s first Sprint Car triumph since topping the Night Before the Ironman on Aug. 4, 2023. He pushed his career total with the World of Outlaws to six checkered flags and grabbed a gator in the process with his first win at Volusia.

But more important than any statistic was the validation awarded by the victory. Bayston immediately let his car owners know they made the right choice by bringing him aboard. He shed any lingering doubt from the ups and downs of recent history. He’s feeling comfortable again with reason to believe in a bright future.

“I’m trying to take it all in,” Bayston said. “I think it’s no secret it’s been a rocky road upon my career and what I’m capable of. I think this kind of shuts up some of the naysayers, but more than anything rewards this team for all they put into the sport, all Richard and Jennifer (Marshall) and Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) have put into this Series. To be able to come and join forces with them and NOS Energy Drink and start the year off like this with a win is crazy. I haven’t been in Victory Lane in a Sprint Car in too long, way too long, so long I can’t even remember. But to come out swinging and hammering this thing first night out and get ourselves a win for all of our partners is awesome.”

Carson Macedo, Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid, and Donny Schatz rounded out the top five.

RACE NOTES:

Austin McCarl set the first Race Ready Hottest Lap of the Night.

Ashton Torgerson clocked the first Simpson Race Products Quick Time of the Year.

Heat Races belonged to Ashton Torgerson (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Logan Schuchart (DIRTVision Heat Two), David Gravel (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Anthony Macri (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Brock Zearfoss.

Zearfoss also topped the Toyota Dash.

Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

Garet Williamson marched the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 from 26th to eighth to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

The Tub O’ Towels Seventh Place Finisher was Ryan Timms.

Brock Zearfoss ran a 15.589 to grab ACME Trading Company Fast Lap honors in the Feature.

The Five Star Bodies Rookie of the Race went to Ashton Torgerson with a ninth place run.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to David Gravel.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars take on night two of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday, Feb. 5. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

Where can you get tickets to see the World of Outlaws in 2026? Click to see the full schedule.

Where can you watch every World of Outlaws race? Live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[9]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[5]; 7. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[26]; 9. 1A-Ashton Torgerson[8]; 10. 21-Brian Brown[14]; 11. 27-Emerson Axsom[23]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[1]; 13. 9-Daison Pursley[24]; 14. 2C-Cole Macedo[22]; 15. 7S-Chris Windom[18]; 16. 17GP-Hank Davis[17]; 17. 32-Bryce Lucius[11]; 18. 88-Austin McCarl[19]; 19. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[12]; 20. 6-Kasey Jedrzejek[27]; 21. 23D-Chase Dietz[15]; 22. 28M-Conner Morrell[16]; 23. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[13]; 24. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[20]; 25. 2-David Gravel[3]; 26. 19-Brent Marks[2]; 27. 17B-Bill Balog[25]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.