12/30/2025
Crate Racin' USA
2026 CRUSA Winter Shootout Series Season Opens with the Ice Bowl
(Eastaboga, AL – December 30, 2025) — The eleventh season of the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout Series officially roars to life this weekend as the mini-series opens with one of the most prestigious winter events in dirt track racing — the 35th Annual Ice Bowl at the legendary Talladega Short Track.
The Chevrolet Performance 604 Late Model mini-series kicks off with a $4,000-to-win main event, launching a five-race Winter Shootout schedule that has become a cornerstone of early-season racing across the Southeast. Each year, the Ice Bowl serves as both a season opener and a tone-setter, often shaping the championship fight that follows.
Drivers from across the South are expected to converge on the 1/3-mile clay oval, continuing a long-standing tradition that has made the Ice Bowl a true staple of Southeastern dirt racing. More than 400 cars filled the pit area one year ago, underscoring the event’s reputation as one of the largest and most competitive winter shows in the region. Since the inception of the Winter Shootout Series, the Ice Bowl has opened all ten previous seasons, further cementing its place as the official launch point of the mini-series.
History has shown just how important a strong Ice Bowl performance can be. Three of the last seven Winter Shootout champions began their title runs with an Ice Bowl victory, proving that success in Eastaboga often carries momentum throughout the series.
Former Winter Shootout Series Champions
2016 – Chase Edge
2017 – Kyle Bronson
2018 – Jimmy Elliott
2019 – Jimmy Elliott
2020 – Pierce McCarter
2021 – Dylan Knowles
2022 – Cory Hedgecock
2023 – Cory Hedgecock
2024 – Will Roland
2025 – Sam Seawright
Previous CRUSA Winter Shootout Winners at Talladega
2016 – William Thomas
2017 – Brandon Williams
2018 – Ronnie Johnson
2019 – Jimmy Elliott
2020 – Jimmy Elliott
2021 – Jason Welshan
2022 – Cory Hedgecock
2023 – Jason Welshan
2024 – Will Roland
2025 – Jimmy Thomas
Full Weekend of Action Across Nine Divisions with on-track action beginning Thursday, January 1, and continuing through Saturday, January 3, with Sunday, January 4 serving as a rain date if needed. Fans will be treated to competition across nine divisions, including: Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series/DIRTcar Super Late Models, CRUSA Dirt Late Models (604's), CRUSA Late Model Sportsman (602's), CRUSA Street Stocks, CRUSA Modified Sportsman, Talladega Sportsman (Limited LM's), Factory Stock, Sunshine Compact Series Hot Shots, and Mini Stocks.
For those unable to attend in person, all three days of racing will be broadcast live on Crate Racin’ USA TV and Speed Sport 2.
2026 Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout Series Schedule (Subject to Change)
January 1–3 | Talladega Short Track – Eastaboga, AL
35th Annual Ice Bowl – $4,000 to-win
Live on Crate Racin’ USA TV & Speed Sport 2
January 15–17 | Hendry County Motorsports Park – Clewiston, FL
3rd Annual Clyde Johnson Contracting & Roofing 100 – $12,000 to-win
Live on Crate Racin’ USA TV & Done Right TV
January 22–24 | Volusia Speedway Park – Barberville, FL
10th Annual DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals – $10,000 to-win
($1,500 to-win prelims)
Live on DIRTVision
January 30–31 | Needmore Speedway – Norman Park, GA
2nd Annual South Georgia Showdown – $2,000 Friday / $3,000 Saturday
Live on Hunt the Front TV
February 28 | Cochran Motor Speedway – Cochran, GA
Winter Shootout Series Finale – $4,000 to-win
Live on Crate Racin’ USA TV
Winter Shootout Series Points Fund & Rookie of the Year
The 2026 Winter Shootout Series Champion will earn $4,000, with a total of $17,250 paid to the top ten drivers in the final standings. In addition, a dedicated Rookie of the Year points fund will award $2,750 to the top three first-year competitors.
Drivers must compete in 100% of scheduled Winter Shootout events to receive full payout. Partial participation will result in prorated payouts based on participation percentage.
Special Thanks to Our Partners - Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts • Chevrolet Performance • Hoosier Racing Tire • VP Racing Fuels & Lubricants • Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, LLC • Competition Racing Equipment, Inc. • Cruise with the Champions • Savage Chassis • Velocita by Melissa Markewitz • Bama Sheds & Pole Barns • MatMan Designs, LLC • WesPro JCB Atlanta • Scorpion Race Cars • Columbus Sports Cards • MyRacePass
Stay connected with the latest Crate Racin’ USA news, results, and standings at CrateRacinUSA.com, and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube for full Winter Shootout Series coverage all season long.
Article Credit: Cody Earley
