A field of 24 Super Late Models are set to tackle the 55th Annual Winchester 400 presented by Vore’s Welding & Steel this Sunday at Winchester Speedway, marking the ninth round of the 2026 ASA STARS National Tour season.
This year’s race carries an emotional backdrop following the passing of longtime Winchester Speedway owner Charlie Shaw on Sept. 15 at age 90.
Shaw, a local agricultural and business leader, purchased the historic, half-mile asphalt oval to ensure its preservation for future generations of motorsport fans. A visitation and funeral service celebrating Shaw’s life and legacy were held directly at the track on Oct. 3–4, bringing together drivers, crews, and fans on the grounds he kept alive. Sunday’s race will serve as a tribute to his dedication to Midwestern short-track racing.
Missing from the field is last year’s victor, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series star Ty Majeski, who turned in a dominant performance to win the 54th Winchester 400.
Majeski swept the weekend by capturing the pole position and leading 350 of the 400 laps to secure his first Winchester rifle. Dawson Sutton finished second after making a late-race pass on Cole Butcher, who rounded out the podium in third. Eight drivers finished on the lead lap in a race marked by grueling attrition, with only 14 of 26 starters running at the checkered flag.
While neither Butcher nor Sutton are in the championship battle this year on the ASA STARS Tour, both return to Winchester this year to vie for their chance at taking this prestigious win.
Speaking of the Championship battle, Carson Brown enters the weekend as the ASA STARS National Tour points leader, holding a 176-point advantage over Canadian racer Kyle Steckly. Tristan McKee sits third in the standings, followed by Jade Avedisian and Derek Thorn. Brown will have the added challenge this weekend of starting the race from the rear of the field as we will miss both practice and qualifying in Winchester due to racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series in Charlotte on Saturday.
The preliminary 24-car entry list brings together a recurring roster of ASA STARS regulars, regional standouts, and emerging rookies. The list of veterans include 2019 Winchester 400 winner Stephen Nasse, Casey Roderick, Derek Kraus, Billy VanMeter, and Kyle Crump; leading the charge of established names aiming for a Winchester rifle.
They are joined by a contingent of young drivers including Avedisian, McKee, and Cole Munson. The roster is further bolstered by regional competitors and local entries, such as Indiana drivers JP Crabtree of Muncie and Billy Hayes of Charlottesville, as well as Michigan racers Jon Beach, Chris Munson, Chase Burda, Chris Shannon, and Michael Simko.
Practice and ASA STARS National Tour Pole Qualifying takes place Saturday, Oct. 10, beginning at 5:45 p.m. ET. Pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, Oct. 11 precede the green flag for the 400-lap feature at 1:00 p.m. ET. Flag-to-flag coverage will stream live on TrackTV.com.
55th Annual Winchester 400 Entry List
1 Jon Beach – Muskegon, MI
3 Kasey Kleyn – Quincy, WA
3 Chris Munson – Chelsea, MI
5 Tristan McKee – Kannapolis, NC
7 Kyle Crump – Rockwood, MI
8 Cole Munson – Chelsea, MI
9 Derek Kraus – Stratford, WI
9 Chase Burda – Lapeer, MI
14 Chase Pinsonneault – Belle River, ONT
22 Kyle Steckly – Milverton, ONT
22 Donnie Wilson – Oklahoma City, OK
23 Billy VanMeter – Indianapolis, IN
24 Jade Avedisian – Clovis, CA
26 Dawson Sutton – Lebanon, TN
30 Casey Roderick – Lawrenceville, GA
32 Chris Shannon – Lawton, MI
33 Albert Francis – Painesville, OH
44 Cole Butcher – Troutman, NC
45 Michael Simko – Clarkston, MI
51 Stephen Nasse – Pinellas Park, FL
55 Billy Hayes – Charlottesville, IN
81 Carson Brown – New London, NC
83 JP Crabtree – Muncie, IN
96 Derek Thorn – Bakersfield, CA
