2/27/2026
Crate Racin' USA
Cochran Winter Shootout Finale Canceled Due to Mother Nature
(Eastaboga, AL – February 27, 2026) — The Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout Series was set to conclude this weekend at Cochran Motor Speedway, but persistent overnight rain and additional rainfall across the state of Georgia forced officials to cancel the highly anticipated season finale.
Track officials made the decision early Friday morning, citing concerns over track and pit conditions, as well as the safety of teams traveling long distances. In a statement posted to Cochran Motor Speedway’s official Facebook page, officials explained:
“Unfortunately this weekend’s practice and race is going to be canceled due to overnight rainfall, and it is still raining this morning. We don’t feel we can have the pits and track dry enough to provide a safe and enjoyable weekend. With people traveling over six to eight hours with Crates and Street Stocks, we wanted to make the call early. Hope everyone understands — we are as frustrated and disappointed as you.”
With the cancellation, the 2026 Winter Shootout Series officially comes to a close, crowning Alabaster, Alabama’s Deisel Jones as the 2026 CRUSA Winter Shootout Series Champion.
Jones’ championship run was built on consistency and timely performances throughout the six-race winter mini-series. He captured three victories during the 2026 campaign, including a lucrative $12,000 win at Hendry County Motorsports Park, a $3,000 triumph at Needmore Speedway, and a Sunshine Nationals preliminary victory at Volusia Speedway Park. Over the six-event schedule, Jones recorded four top-five finishes and five top-10 results, securing the title with 476 points.
The championship marks Jones’ first major Crate Racin’ USA series title and makes him the eighth different champion in the eleven-year history of the Winter Shootout Series, which debuted in 2016. The strong start to 2026 now has Jones setting his sights on the CRUSA National Dirt Late Model Series championship, which begins March 27–28 at Needmore Speedway with the 3rd Annual Southern Heritage Classic.
CRUSA 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
2026 – Deisel Jones
FINAL 2026 CRUSA Winter Shootout Series Points (Top 10)
1-Deisel Jones – 476
2-Koulten Herbert – 424 (-52)
3-Marty Massey – 386 (-90)
4-Chase Giddens – 372 (-104)
5-Clay Harris – 370 (-106)
6-Hayden Cardwell – 284 (-192)
7-Wil Herrington – 280 (-196)
8-Keaton Smith – 280 (-196)
9-Austin Storm – 278 (-198)
10-Michael Page – 276 (-200)
Attention now shifts to the 2026 Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series, which officially launches in one month with the $10,000-to-win Southern Heritage Classic at Needmore Speedway.
For more information on the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout Series — including rules, event updates, and breaking news — visit www.crateracinusa.com, email crateracinusa@gmail.com, or follow Crate Racin’ USA on Facebook, Instagram, and X @crateracinusa.
Crate Racin’ USA also extends sincere thanks to its valued partners for their continued support, including Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts, Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, Knowles Race Parts & 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, Next Racing Wheels, Top Knotch Customs, 87 Ink, and MyRacePass.
Article Credit: Cody Earley
