NEW PARIS, IN — When the New Paris Speedway announced that they would be adopting National Compact Touring Series rules and combine their struggling Outlaw Front Wheel Drive class with their Mini Stock group, many wondered how the new class would shape.

Most tracks in the area have switched to an ABC format with similar rule sets. New Paris and Russell’s M-40 Speedway were one of the lone holdouts on the ABC format. Russell’s M-40 decided to go in a different direction when they merged their Outlaw Front Wheel Drives and Mini Stocks together to form one class, they kept their stock class as their own, and introduced a budget class in honor of Mottville. For 2026, New Paris aligned with Russell’s as its closest track where some drivers may race on off nights in either location, and the move would also allow drivers to potentially run with the National Compacts.

It was an original member of the National Compacts Touring Series which took home the opening night feature victory as Sheldon Lindlag held off several Mini Stocks to take home the competitive victory. It wasn’t for a lack of effort by the Mini Stocks as several pushed their way forward, but Lindlag had an answer for them at every corner. For Lindlag, this was not his first experience in racing with Mini Stocks on the track, and he’s been one of the top contenders each year for Drew Jach’s Compact series. Where many fans might have assumed an easy path to victory for the Mini Stocks, as is often the case at other tracks, on this night, the Front Wheel Drive counterparts flexed their potential in the new class. While it is only one night out of several to come, the building blocks for a successful transition showed themselves immediately.

**A Returning Champion**

Nick Stremme, a former Street Stock Champion at New Paris, made his return to The Hottest 1/4 Mile in the Midwest on April 25, 2026.

The Street Stocks took two false starts to get their laps going, but once the third green flag dropped, a race to the front took place which saw Saige Hanna bolt out front quickly. A speeding ticket sent The Grumpy Girl to the back, but another Hanna soon found themself out front as her dad, Charlie, had the lead. Not for long though, as fast qualifier Andrew DeVreese raced like he was on a fire department call and chased down Hanna for the lead. Once out front, it seemed that only a mistake by DeVreese or a race changing caution could make things interesting. Former track champion, Nick Stremme, made his return to New Paris and found himself in second place as he attempted to chase down DeVreese, but there were not enough laps to make up the overall distance despite lapped traffic providing some opportunity as DeVreese worked his way through them.

**Hot Out of the Gate**

Andrew DeVreese raced his way to the front and never looked back in his first victory of the 2026 season at New Paris on April 25, 2026.

The Limited Late Models went green to checkered as Bug Schisler found himself out front within the first couple of laps and put it on cruise control from there. Street Stock winner, Andrew DeVreese, played a similar role as Stremme did in the Feature before as DeVreese attempted to chase down Schisler to put some pressure on the former track champion and defending Trifecta Champion, but it was on this night that it belonged to Schisler and crew. DeVreese raced in place for Jerime Damron who had planned to jump into the Limited Late but swapped over to race the Hornet.

Speaking of Damron, he had an impressive race himself in the Hornet A-Feature. Not only did his hood pop open during the race, which caused temporary blindness as he followed his instincts to stay in the race despite limited visibility, he had to work his way through a crowded front. Once he found some space, Damron went to work and, with a missing hood, took home the opening night win.

The B-Feature saw several new faces make their debut in the Hornets which included Doug Beem Jr., a traditional Night of Destruction competitor, and Cruz Everage, a former Mini Wedge racer who got his first big car experience this past winter in a few Enduro races. But on this night, the victory belonged to Harley Stanley as he held off Beem several times to take home the win.

No Hoodie Weather for Damron

No hood, no sweat. Jerime Damron won the Hornet A-Feature after his hood went up earlier in the race and was removed by safety during a caution on April 25, 2026 at the New Paris Speedway.

New Paris returns to action next Saturday, May 2nd, for their annual Cabin Fever featuring the first leg of the Trifecta Series. On the property will be the Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Limited Late Models. The Street Stocks race for $1,000 to win while the Limited Lates and Modifieds will race for $1,075 to win. It’s $275 to start for the Modifieds and Limited Late Models and $200 for the Street Stocks. Racing starts at 5:15 P.M.

NEW PARIS: LINDLAG IMPRESSES; DEVREESE AND SCHISLER DOMINATE