Moran, Thornton, Others Look to add a Speedweeks Title to Their Name

Speedweeks marks the unofficial start of the dirt late model racing season, stretching across several tracks in Florida and Georgia. Traditionally, it’s a mix of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events, World of Outlaws Late Model races, and other marquee shows that bring the best drivers in the country together for high-stakes competition early in the year. For 2026, the Georgia-Florida Speedweeks slate has shifted to late February and early March, with events at All-Tech Raceway (Fla.), Ocala Speedway (Fla.), and Golden Isles Speedway (Ga.), featuring more than $650,000 in purses up for grabs across 12 nights of racing. 

Before we step into this year, looking back at the 2025 Speedweeks can give us a strong idea of who’s coming in hot this year:

Ricky Thornton Jr. was one of the most consistent winners during the 2025 Georgia-Florida Speedweeks. While he didn’t sweep the whole series, he claimed multiple victories at All-Tech and at Volusia in Lucas Oil and DIRTcar events and finished among the top in overall Speedweeks earnings.

Devin Moran pulled off a feature win at All-Tech and was arguably the standout performer, earning several Speedweeks wins and ranking high on both Lucas Oil and World of Outlaws Speedweeks leaderboards.

On the World of Outlaws Late Model side, drivers like Ryan Gustin and Nick Hoffman scored big wins at events like the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia, showcasing the depth of talent that will be in the pits this February-March.

In addition to these, 2025 ended with Devin Moran winning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship, underscoring his strong form heading into the Speedweeks.

Now looking into the 2026 Speedweeks, here at Speedway Pulse Media, we have our eyes set on a few select drivers that we think will make a huge impact this year!

Devin Moran: After a championship season in 2025 and multiple high-profile Speedweeks wins last year, Moran is one of the early favorites once again. His ability to battle through deep fields and take wins from mid-pack starting positions makes him a threat at every race. 

Ricky Thornton Jr.: Thornton’s success last Speedweeks — including several wins and strong finishes — means he’ll be one of the first names fans watch when the green flag drops this year. His smooth driving style and speed in traffic give him an edge on slick Florida and Georgia tracks.  

Jonathan Davenport: A multi-time Lucas Oil champion and perennial front-runner, Davenport always factors into the late model spotlight — especially early in the season. While he didn’t dominate 2025 Speedweeks, his experience across different dirt series makes him a perennial contender at events like Ocala and Golden Isles.  

World of Outlaws Stars (Gustin, Hoffman, Pierce): The World of Outlaws Late Model Series continues to bring deep competition straight into Speedweeks events. Drivers like Ryan Gustin and Nick Hoffman, who have already shown blistering pace in early 2026 DIRTcar Nationals races, are ones to watch for big nights during Speedweeks — potentially upsetting the Lucas Oil regulars. 

Also keep an eye on Bobby Pierce, the back-to-back World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model champion, whose experience and horsepower can make him dangerous on any Dirt Late Model card. 

In addition to the season-opening Lucas Oil dates, Speedweeks often overlap with big World of Outlaws events and marquee standalone races, meaning key battles for momentum — and bragging rights — start before the official national schedules get underway. There’s usually tight, aggressive racing on half-mile clay ovals, and while weather can always be a factor in February, the later dates in 2026 are meant to provide more consistent conditions for teams and fans alike. 

Speedweeks isn’t just a kick-off for the season — it’s a statement. Whether it’s veterans like Davenport and Thornton showing early speed, or young guns trying to break through, this season’s Georgia-Florida Speedweeks promise unpredictable action and plenty of fireworks. As teams arrive and tuning begins, one thing’s for sure: if history repeats itself, expect tight battles, late-race passes, and plenty of storylines before the regular season even starts.