HOMESTEAD, Fla. – March 11, 2026 – Tommy Gossett brought a touch of Sunshine State pride
to the virtual grid Tuesday night, debuting a special Florida-themed paint scheme in Round 5 of
the 2026 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Qualifying Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The
event served as Round 1 of Segment 2 and the first race in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts
Series cars, a 100-lap affair that tested drivers with just two tire sets available.

Gossett, who recently relocated to Florida, rolled out a vibrant livery featuring the state’s
signature “Miami Vice” theme, palm tree accents, and subtle nods to the Florida flag—paying
tribute to his new home track and surroundings. The RYCO Performance entry looked sharp
under the southern Florida sun, but the day proved to be a tale of smart strategy undone by
rapid tire wear.

Qualifying was a hurdle for the driver. Gossett was unable to set a competitive lap time, forcing
him to start the race from 29th on the grid in second split. With tire conservation critical in the
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series machines, Gossett and crew chief Dillon Pettus opted for a calculated
gamble—saving rubber early while focusing on clean air and long-run pace.

The plan paid early dividends. Gossett methodically advanced through the field during the
middle stages of the 100-lap event, climbing into the top 20 and briefly flirting with a top-15 spot
as other cars began to struggle with their own tire issues. The duo’s calls had positioned the
No.88 RYCO entry to capitalize on the strategy.“We knew coming in that tire management was
going to decide this one,” Pettus said post-race. “Tommy drove a smart race early on, and we
made the right adjustments to get him in position. The car was rotating well and we were
gaining spots where it counted.”

Unfortunately, the long green-flag runs took their toll. As the race entered its final third, Gossett’s
tires began to fade dramatically. Grip vanished in the turns, the car tightened up, and he
watched positions slip away in the closing laps despite his best efforts to manage what was
left.“I burned them up trying to hang on there at the end,” Gossett reflected afterward. “We had
the right strategy with Dillon and the team—we were right there to make something happen. The
Florida scheme looked awesome out there representing my new home state at Homestead, and
I’m proud of how we fought. I’m not adapting well to this new wheel base. We’ll take the lessons
from the tire wear and come back stronger next time.”

Gossett crossed the finish line in 20th position. While not the result the team was hoping for
after the strong mid-race run, the outing provided valuable data as the Qualifying Series heads
deeper into the O’Reilly Auto Parts cars portion of the schedule (races 5-8). The 2026
eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Qualifying Series continues next Tuesday night as the field stays
in the O’Reilly machinery for Round 2 of Segment 2. Gossett and the RYCO Performance crew
will look to apply the hard-earned experience to improve their standing in the segment.