NAPA of Taneytown
.jpg)
Fairfield Auto Center
.jpg)
Jeremy Ott Wins Season-Opener at Winchester
March 21, 2026 (Winchester, VA)-The David H. Martin Excavating, Inc. East Coast Legend Series kicked off its 2026 season Saturday at Winchester Speedway, and Jeremy Ott was the star of the show. Ott, former Series champion and driving the Friese Motorsports No. 10, led flag-to-flag to claim victory.
Ott won his heat earlier in the evening and started from the pole. In the early stages of the event, Ott led by several car lengths, but he was reeled in by Seth Kearchner, and his son, Lincoln Kearchner.
From there, Ott was forced to hold off the Kearchners. Likewise, Steve Partin, Justin Wagaman and Shaun Abney were showing good speed and were in the lead pack. Despite their best efforts, Ott held everyone at bay and crossed the stripe to claim the checkers for his first win of the season.
Seth Kearchner finished in an impressive runner-up spot. Partin got by Lincoln Kearchner late in the going to finish third, relegating Lincoln Kearchner to fourth. Wagaman was fast all night and rounded out the top-five.
Logan Jones recovered from an early-race crash and advanced nicely through the field to take sixth. Abney was competitive all night and finished seventh. Mike Mohelski, a former winner in the Super Cup Stock Car Series, ran solidly to take eighth. Jeremy Hahn had a good night and scored ninth, and Rick Hartwig, with a freshly rebuilt FZ09, took the 10th spot.
Joining Ott as heat winners earlier in the evening were Seth Kearchner, Colton Friese and Wagaman. Thirty cars started the feature, which was scheduled for a 32-car starting field.
Special thanks to David H. Martin, Series title sponsor; Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard for its Tri-Track Challenge Sponsorship (to include Winchester); Fairfield Auto Service and NAPA Auto Parts Taneytown for its sponsorship of the East Coast Winchester Track championship award.
The Series welcomed Crim’s Trailer Sales (Tony Crim) as the event sponsor for Saturday’s East Coast Race. The Series returns to Winchester Speedway this Saturday, March 28 as Cline Construction (George Cline) will sponsor the night’s race.
Feature Finish: 1. Jeremy Ott, 2. Seth Kearchner, 3. Steven Partin, 4. Lincoln Kearchner, 5. Justin Wagaman, 6. Logan Jones, 7. Shaun Abney, 8. Mike Mohelski, 9. Jeremy Hahn, 10. Rick Hartwig, 11. Tyler Rampmeyer, 12. Owen Wagaman, 13. Ryan Walls, Jr., 14. Ryan Walls, 15. Tim Poffenberger, 16. KJ Massey, 17. Eric Moats, 18. Brady Moats, 19. Bill Diehl, 20. Blake Nalley, 21. Dalton Friese, 22. Moses Goetz, 23. Kelby Friese, 24. Brad Kelley, 25. Jacob Wiles, 26. Colton Friese, 27. Brian Rampmeyer, 28. Hunter McElroy, 29. Cameron Sutton, 30. Jayden Powell DNS: Cameron See and Kirk Martin
Notables: Owen Wagaman was the highest-finishing rookie of the seven rookies who competed. Wagaman finished 12th. Former Series champion, Bill Diehl, ran in the top-10 for the majority of the race, but a mechanical failure late in the going forced him to a 19th-place finish. Defending Series champion, Colton Friese, finished a disappointing 26th after spinning early in the race and retiring from the event.
2026 East Coast Legend and INEX MEMBERSHIPS
AVAILABLE ON PIT PAY!
2026 East Coast Legend Series Rules Updates
1. Drivers who do not qualify or start a feature will now receive 40 show-up points. Again in in 2026, feature winners receive an additional 10 points. Feature Winners will now receive 110 points. The difference in points between first and second is now 13 points. The point difference between 24th and those who do not qualify/start a feature is now 19 points. This does not alter how INEX points are awarded. In a case where show-up points are awarded, this point differential will not be applicable
2. In 2026, The East Coast Legend Series will continue the Rookie Rule (with changes). For a Rookie's first FIVE events, he/she will be required to start at the rear of heat races ONLY. After the driver's respective heat race, the driver will then start in either the A/B Main in the qualified spot from the heat race. If the event has time trials/hot lap time trials, Rookies will start in the qualified position posted from time trials. Rookies will be required to have their rear bumpers, and new for 2025 their front bumpers, painted or taped yellow from bumper tab to bumper tab or rear horn to rear horn, and the bumpers must remain yellow, or blue, for the duration of the season. Rookie drivers are those with NO prior Legends experience or less than FIVE Legends events as a driver. After the completion of a Rookie's first FIVE events, the driver will not be required to adhere to the Rookie Rule UNLESS the Series race director feels it's warranted based on performance shown by driver.