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Brent Sexton Set To Make 360 Wing Debut At Watsonville And Merced This Weekend

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Lakeside, CA — April 23, 2026 — Sexton Gatlin Racing will cap off a busy April when Brent Sexton heads north this Friday and Saturday for a pair of winged 360 sprint car races. The first stop is Friday night at Watsonville Speedway, followed by a Saturday showdown in the highly competitive Sprint Car Challenge Tour event at Merced Speedway. The two nights of racing will mark Brent's first appearance in a winged 360 car.

Last Saturday, Brent and his youngest son, 21-year-old Grant, made the trek to the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare for a date with the third-year Ultimate Sprint Car Series. It was Brent's fourth race with the series in 2026 and his second at the Thunderbowl this year. In his previous appearance at the popular Central Valley oval, he turned in an impressive performance. After finishing fifth in his heat race, he started 14th in the A Main and charged forward to a strong seventh-place finish. That effort was even more notable considering officials red-flagged the race early due to time constraints, while both the driver and car had more to give.

Unfortunately, things did not go as well for the three-time lightning sprint car champion this time around. A broken shifter cable in qualifying immediately put him behind the eight-ball for the remainder of the night. Unable to start his heat race, he was forced to line up near the back of the field for the main event.

Starting 17th, Sexton advanced one position before his night came to an early end. A sticking throttle created a dangerous situation, prompting him to pull into the infield rather than risk taking a chunk out of the crash wall.

"The throttle was sticking and I was standing on the brakes trying to keep it under control," he said. "It didn't end well."

Grant's night showed early promise. He qualified fourth fastest in Group #1 with a lap of 16.007, which ranked eighth overall among the 19 cars on hand. He then started fourth and finished second in his heat race. In the main event, he rolled off from seventh and battled inside the top 10 for much of the race until contact from another car on lap 17 forced him to retire early. He was credited with a 15th-place finish.

This weekend's races will mark the 11th start in April for a Sexton Gatlin Racing driver and car combination.

Earlier this month, Sexton Gatlin Racing was scheduled to compete at both Watsonville and Merced with the non-wing USCS. However, both events were canceled due to rain.

One year ago, Brent made his Watsonville Speedway debut and immediately turned heads. He opened the weekend by qualifying third fastest in his USCS group with a lap of 13.375, which placed him 10th overall in the 19-car field. He then started fourth in his heat race, led much of the distance, and finished second.

Starting seventh in the main event on the Santa Cruz County oval, Sexton quickly found himself in the thick of the action. Working both the high and low lines, he advanced as high as fourth before slipping back to eighth or ninth during the intense battle. Staying composed, he rallied to finish fifth at the checkered flag.

"It was so much fun," he said at the time. "I loved the track. I am having the time of my life. To finish fifth the first time ever at the track, that is cool. I am happy."

Spectator gates at Watsonville Speedway will open at 4:30 p.m. for Friday's race. The track is located at 2601 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville, California (95076). For more information, visit watsonvillespeedway.com.

For Saturday's event, Merced Speedway is located at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Merced, California (95341). Additional information can be found at mercedspeedway.net.

For more updates, follow Sexton Gatlin Racing on social media and stay tuned for results throughout the 2026 season.

Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2026 season possible. East County Electric Works, Antonelli's Deli, Keys Brothers, Geoff Dale, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Valley Lubricant Services, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, and Troy Dirt.

Collie would like to express his thanks to the following sponsors. Sexton Gatlin Racing/HRP Hose and Rubber Products/Sexton Fire Protection/Maxima Racing Oils/Automated Interiors/Valley Lubricant/Swift Powdercoating/Sunnyside Promotions/Sids Auto Body/BK Wings/BTS Equipment/TC Construction/Thunderstruck Motorsports/AG Sand Cars/Mom/Dad/Tavo/Grant/Dant

If you or your company are interested in becoming a marketing partner with Sexton Gatlin Racing in 2026, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail mailto:sextonfire@cox.net or mailto:sextonfire@gmail.com.

Brent Sexton SGR 2026 Results

2/28/26 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main

3/6/26 Imperial Valley Raceway CLS/SCLS Lightnings 10th A Main

3/7/26 Imperial Valley Raceway CLS/SCLS Lightnings 7th A Main

3/12/26 Las Vegas Dirt Track Ultimate Sprint Cars DNS

3/21/26 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main

3/28/26 Thunderbowl Speedway Ultimate Sprint Cars 7th A Main

4/4/26 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 8th A Main

4/11/26 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 6th A Main

4/18/26 Thunderbowl Raceway Ultimate Sprint Cars 18th Main

Braydin Collie SGR 2026 Results

3/6/26 Imperial Valley Raceway CLS/SCLS Lightnings 13th A Main

3/7/26 Imperial Valley Raceway CLS/SCLS Lightnings 2nd A Main
4/4/26 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main

Grant Sexton SGR 2026 Results

3/12/26 Las Vegas Dirt Track Ultimate Sprint Cars 15th A Main

3/13/26 Las Vegas Dirt Track Ultimate Sprint Cars 21st A Main

4/4/26 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 1st A Main

4/11/26 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 12th A Main

4/18/26 Thunderbowl Raceway Ultimate Sprint Cars 15th A Main

Bradin Chiaramonte SGR 2026 Results

3/7/26 Imperial Valley Raceway CLS/SCLS Lightnings 15th A Main

Dalton Sexton SGR 2026 Results

3/6/26 Imperial Valley Raceway CLS/SCLS Lightnings DNS

Mark Henry SGR 2026 Results

4/4/26 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 10th A Main

Drake Cardey SGR 2026 Results

4/11/26 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 11th A Main

This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com