10/12/2026
Friday night we officially wrapped up our 2026 race season after 18 nights of racing! Looking back, this season was a step in the right direction for our program. Despite all the rainouts, we managed to make improvements in our qualifying performance and heat race results, and we feel like we have something to build on heading into next year.
With that being said, we know there is still a lot of work to do if we want to take the next step and become more consistent throughout the entire night.
Equipment & Reliability: One of our biggest priorities this offseason is getting our worn-out equipment serviced and refreshed. As parts wear, they can lose consistency and performance, and worn components can make it harder to get the car to respond the way we need it to. We’ve had our share of mechanical failures this year, and we need to get ahead of those issues instead of fighting them at the track. A more reliable race car gives us a better opportunity to focus on making speed rather than fixing problems.
Learning to Race the Slick: Another area we need to improve is our ability to get the car working when the track slicks off. We know we still lack some of the experience and knowledge needed to make the right adjustments as track conditions change throughout the night. We had nights where the car felt good early, but as the track changed, we struggled to find the balance we needed. Building our notebook, learning more about setup changes, and understanding how to adjust the car for slick conditions will be a major focus this offseason.
Building the Right Team: We’re also considering bringing a crew chief into our program to help us take the next step. Having someone with additional experience, knowledge, and a different perspective could help us make better decisions on setup, adjustments, and overall race strategy. We have a good core, and work ethic as a team is not an issue. We want to keep learning, and we understand that surrounding ourselves with the right people can make a big difference. We are not 100% sure on how hiring a crew chief would fit into our budget, but if we have to sacrifice a couple race nights in order to come up with better results, it might be the better option!
Driver Confidence & Consistency: We also need to find ways to make the driver more comfortable and confident in the car. The more comfortable we are, the better we can communicate what the car is doing and make the right adjustments. It’s a combination of driver feel, setup knowledge, and having equipment we can trust.
We aren’t where we want to be yet, but we can honestly say we made progress this season. Racing is a constant learning process, and sometimes the toughest nights teach you the most. We know where we need to improve, and now it’s time to put in the work to make those improvements happen.
A HUGE thank-you to all of our sponsors, crew, family, friends, and everyone who supported Lance Heinberger Racing throughout the 2026 season. We couldn’t do this without you, and we appreciate everyone who has been part of it!
All American Roof Pros
Techsol Construction
Station House Antiques
Joe's Hand Cleaner
Oyster Lawn Care
Day’s Pressure Washing
Horton Repair & Service
Cuts by Tanner
Greber Racing Components
Cricket Lane Dental
GUNK
High Speed Ti
Rankin Speed Designs
TruForm Race Products
8740 Suspension
Gressman Powersports
Start Imagining, LLC
Ohio Motorsport Photography 📸
