For the penultimate round of the 2026 season, Mustang Challenge North America returns to a track that saw exciting racing and an impromptu wedding last year: Virginia International Raceway (VIR). This will be the second time the series takes on the 17-turn, 3.27-mile circuit in southern Virginia.
Last year, Robert Noaker won both races at VIR in the Dark Horse class. Noaker returns to the track this weekend having moved up the Ford Racing Sports Car Pyramid. Now he races a Mustang GT4 for McCumbee McAleer Racing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series opening the way for a first time winner in the series at the Michelin GT Challenge weekend. In Dark Horse Legends, Zachry Lee won race one, and Tom Tait brought home the victory in race two. Tait will return to VIR this year as the Dark Horse Legends championship leader and will be looking to get another win as he fights for his first Mustang Challenge championship.
Last time out at Watkins Glen International, Round 3 Racing had an impressive weekend, winning both races in both classes. In race one, Cole Loftsgard battled with Devin Anderson early in the race before pulling away to bring home the Dark Horse win. In Dark Horse Legends, Oleg Gorshkov moved up the field throughout the race to claim top honors. In race two, Loftsgard took the lead on lap one and remained in the lead until the checkered flag flew to score his second win of the weekend. Oleg Gorshkov led from flag-to-flag to bring home the Dark Horse Legends win.
JKTG Driving Research Award
A new award will be introduced at VIR. The JKTG Driving Research Award will be given to the highest placing Ford Racing Driver Development Team competitor in each Mustang Challenge field. It will recognize the Driver Development Team member who showcases dedication to continuous learning, opportunity and evolution – principles that are key to the JKTG Foundation’s Driving Research Campaign. The goal of this new award is to highlight how JKTG empowers people and drives meaningful change both on and off the track.
The Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy (JKTG Foundation) funds cancer research, policy projects and events that promote collaboration to improve the quality, effectiveness and experience of the care that patients receive.
ORDER OF EVENTS
*Times in ET
Friday August 21
8:55 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.: Practice 1
1:35 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.: Practice 2
6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Qualifying
Saturday August 22
9:25 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.: Race 1
Sunday August 23
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Race 2
