Young's Motorsports Dover Motor Speedway May Team Preview

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway | BetRivers 200

Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Ryan Ellis  

Primary Partner(s): Sweetwater Construction

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis 

2026 Driver Points Position: 29th | 2026 Owner Points Position: 36th

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

● Year Three, Driven Forward: In November 2025, Ryan Ellis was announced as Young’s Motorsports’ full-time driver in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as the organization enters its third season of competition.

In a significant step for 2026, Young’s Motorsports will transition its flagship No. 02 — long synonymous with the organization’s success in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series — to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time, underscoring the team’s continued growth at the national level.

Ellis will pilot the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro across the full 33-race schedule, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s BetRivers 200 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway and culminating with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in November.

● About Ryan: A respected veteran in the NASCAR garage, Ellis joins Young’s Motorsports with more than a decade of experience across NASCAR’s national ranks, including competition in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

The 2026 season will mark Ellis’ fourth full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

The 35-year-old Virginia native is coming off his first career NASCAR top-10 finish in 2025 and looks to build on that momentum while continuing to expand his résumé, which includes 177 career starts in series competition.

Known for his consistency, professionalism, and versatility both behind the wheel and in the garage, Ellis aims to apply his experience to elevate Young’s Motorsports’ competitive presence in its third season of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.

● All-Aboard!: For the 14th of 33 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back for the second time this season Sweetwater Construction as the primary partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday’s 200-lap event.

Sweetwater Construction is a Cranbury, N.J.-based construction management and general contracting firm delivering high-quality construction solutions throughout New Jersey.

Founded in 1988 by the late Ronald C. Witt Sr., the company has built a reputation for excellence through its commitment to integrity, craftsmanship, and client-focused service.

Today, under the leadership of President and CEO Ronald C. Witt Jr., Sweetwater continues to expand its footprint across a diverse range of market sectors, including corporate interiors, healthcare, biopharma, life sciences, multi-family, senior living, institutional, and hospitality.

Specializing in out-of-ground construction, additions and renovations, and interior construction projects, Sweetwater Construction remains dedicated to delivering projects safely, efficiently, and with the highest level of quality.

● Time to EATS!: This weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports will proudly promote The Ashburn Pub and its EATS! campaign aboard the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet.

Located in the Ashburn Village Shopping Center, The Ashburn Pub has served the Loudoun County community since August 1995 and has become a staple destination for casual dining, award-winning food and one of the area’s most extensive bourbon selections.

Known for its welcoming neighborhood atmosphere and classic American pub fare, The Ashburn Pub continues to deliver a unique dining experience that has made it a longtime favorite throughout Northern Virginia.

● Ryan Ellis O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Dover Motor Speedway International Stats: Saturday afternoon’s battle at the Monster Mile will mark Ellis’s 11th NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, a fast 1.0-mile concrete oval that continues to deliver action-packed racing year after year.

In his previous 10 outings at Dover, Del.-based track, Ellis delivered a track-best finish of 13th after starting 23rd in the spring edition of the BetRivers 200 while driving for Alpa Prime Racing. Overall, he holds an average NOAPS finish of 29.1 at the popular venue.

Further bolstering his Dover résumé, Ellis has made two starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2014, earning a track-best 24th in 2015 with MAKE Motorsports.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns to action Saturday, May 16, as the series heads to the “Monster Mile” at Dover Motor Speedway for another pivotal stop in the 2026 season.

The event is part of a marquee triple-header weekend at the famed one-mile concrete oval, beginning Friday evening, May 15, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, followed by the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, and culminating Sunday, May 17, with the NASCAR All-Star Race making its debut at Dover Motor Speedway.

Known for its high banking, concrete surface and physically demanding nature, Dover Motor Speedway presents one of the toughest challenges on the NASCAR schedule.

Nicknamed the “Monster Mile,” the track features steep 24-degree banking in the corners and high speeds that place a premium on rhythm, consistency and driver endurance over the course of a run.

The concrete surface creates unique handling characteristics compared to traditional asphalt tracks, often leading to changing grip levels as the race progresses.

Passing opportunities can be difficult to come by, making track position, pit strategy and execution on restarts especially critical throughout the event.

Drivers must remain disciplined while navigating heavy traffic and long green-flag runs, where mistakes can quickly compound and cost valuable track position.

Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports look to capitalize at Dover as the No. 02 team continues its push through the 2026 campaign.

With one of NASCAR’s most challenging venues on deck, the weekend provides another opportunity for Ellis to strengthen his position in the championship standings and continue showcasing the organization’s growth and determination at the national level.

● Ryan Ellis NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Dover, Ellis has 177 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races to his credit, earning a career-best sixth-place finish after starting 32nd in the 2026 edition of the United Rentals 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for Young’s Motorsports.

Since his 2012 debut, Ellis has averaged a 26.6 finish in series competition, including the past three seasons running full-time.

● Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International | Mission 200 at The Glen Race Recap: The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series made its traditional stop at Watkins Glen International this past weekend for the second road course event of the 2026 season.

Being held for the first time in the spring in the Finger Lakes region, Ryan Ellis and the Young’s Motorsports team looked to capitalize on the weekend while continuing to build valuable notes ahead of two additional road course races looming over the next six weeks.

After showing flashes of speed in practice — at one point running inside the top-10 with his No. 02 Tablo TV Chevrolet — the Virginian qualified his car on speed and rolled off from the 28th position for the 82-lap event.

From the drop of the green flag, Ellis continued to showcase his improvement on road courses, methodically working his way through the field while managing the fast-paced and technical nature of the 2.45-mile circuit.

Unfortunately, the opportunity to secure a strong finish came to an abrupt end with just 10 laps remaining when suspension issues forced Ellis behind the wall and ultimately to the garage area.

The setback resulted in a frustrating 34th-place finish that did not accurately reflect the speed and progress shown throughout the weekend.

Now, Ellis and Young’s Motorsports quickly shift their focus to the “Monster Mile” at Dover Motor Speedway, where the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series continues its 2026 campaign this Saturday afternoon.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Ryan Ellis as crew chief of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief, engineer and industry veteran Eddie Troconis.

On Saturday, Troconis will call his 35th NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race from atop the pit box. In his previous 34 starts, he has recorded two top-10 finishes, most recently in

the 2026 season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

The season’s 14th race will mark his second O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Dover Motor Speedway and his first since 2021, when he guided series veteran Josh Williams in the 2021 Drydene 200.

Additionally, Troconis has four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Dover, earning a track-best fourth-place finish with driver Ben Rhodes in 2017.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Overview at Dover Motor Speedway: This weekend’s BetRivers 200 will mark Young’s Motorsports’ third and fourth appearances at Dover Motor Speedway in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.

In the organization’s previous efforts at the challenging one-mile concrete oval, rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. delivered the team’s strongest performance during its inaugural season in 2024.

After qualifying 28th, Honeyman showcased his short-track ability by methodically working his way through the field to earn a respectable 21st-place finish.

Beyond its growing résumé in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization also brings valuable experience to Dover through its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program.

Since 2014, Young’s Motorsports has recorded 12 Truck Series starts at the “Monster Mile,” highlighted by a track-best 10th-place finish from current team principal Tyler Young in the 2015 Lucas Oil 200.

Across those appearances, the organization owns an average starting position of 22.3 and an average finishing position of 21.9, continuing to build experience at one of NASCAR’s most physically demanding venues.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 92 starts and earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes while maintaining an average starting position of 27.3 and an average finish of 24.8.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Ryan Ellis, please visit ryanellisracing.com, like him on Facebook (Ryan Ellis), and follow him on Instagram (@ryanellisracing), TikTok (@ryanellisracing), and X | Twitter (@ryanellisracing).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Ryan Ellis Quoteboard:

On Dover Motor Speedway: “Dover is one of those places that really tests both the driver and the equipment every single lap. The concrete surface is tough, the banking is aggressive and you have to stay mentally locked in from start to finish because things happen so quickly there.

“I feel like our Young’s Motorsports team has continued to make gains throughout the season, and even though Watkins Glen didn’t end the way we wanted, I think we showed a lot more speed than the finish reflected.

“Hopefully, we can take that momentum into Dover this weekend, stay out of trouble and put together a solid day for everyone at Sweetwater Construction and Young’s Motorsports.”

On Keys to Success at Dover Motor Speedway: “Dover is all about patience, discipline and keeping up with the track throughout the race.

“The concrete surface changes a lot over a run, so you have to make sure you’re taking care of your tires while still being aggressive enough to maintain track position.

“Restarts are always intense there, and once you get stuck in traffic, it can be really tough to recover. I think the biggest key for us this weekend will be staying ahead of the handling changes, executing on pit road and putting ourselves in position late in the race to capitalize on opportunities.”

On Goals for Dover Motor Speedway: “Our goal this weekend is to put together a complete race and maximize everything we have throughout the day.

“Dover is such a demanding place that you really have to stay focused and avoid putting yourself behind.

“I think if we can qualify well, maintain track position and stay on the lead lap deep into the race, we’ll give ourselves an opportunity to come away with a solid finish.

“Everybody at Young’s Motorsports has been working hard, and hopefully we can put together the kind of weekend we know we’re capable of.”

On Continued Partnership with Sweetwater Construction: “Having Sweetwater Construction continue to support our program means a lot.

“They’ve been incredible partners to work with, and it’s always important to represent companies that genuinely believe in what we’re building at Young’s Motorsports.

“I’m thankful for their continued confidence in our team and me, and hopefully we can reward them with a strong performance this weekend at Dover. We’re proud to have them on board and look forward to continuing to grow the relationship both on and off the racetrack.”

On 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Goals: “Our focus right now is continuing to improve and putting ourselves in position for better results as we head into the summer stretch of the season.

“I think there’s been a lot of progress behind the scenes, even if the finishes haven’t always reflected it. The communication continues to get stronger, we’re learning more each week, and the speed in the car has definitely improved compared to where we started the year.

“For us, it’s about putting together complete races and continuing to clean up the small details. If we can keep building consistency and executing throughout the weekend, I think the results we’re working toward will start coming our way.”

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: CJ McLaughlin

Primary Partner(s): Howell Engineering

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2026 Driver Points Position: N/A | 2026 Owner Points Position: 32nd

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

● Year Three, Driven Forward: Young’s Motorsports continues its campaign in the newly rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, looking to build momentum with its expanding two-car effort as the season rolls on at Dover Motor Speedway this weekend.

Veteran series competitor CJ McLaughlin joins the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization for the BetRivers 200, set to make his debut with Young’s Motorsports behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro in the 14th race of the 33-race 2026 season.

● About CJ: CJ McLaughlin is a veteran NASCAR competitor with experience across the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR-owned ARCA Menards Series ranks.

Originally from Framingham, Mass., McLaughlin, 33, has built a reputation as a versatile racer and determined independent driver throughout his career, competing on superspeedways, short tracks, intermediate ovals and road courses alike.

In addition to his NASCAR experience, McLaughlin has also competed in sports car racing and various regional touring divisions, continuing to establish himself as a respected racer with a passion for growing opportunities both on and off the racetrack.

● All-Aboard! For the 14th of 33 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Howell Companies, featuring Howell Engineering as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday’s 200-lap event.

Headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the Howell companies include Howell Engineering, Howell Surveying, Howell Construction Stakeout, Howell Environmental, ePhase, Nave Newell, Landforms, Terrain and Smith & Howell.

Howell understands the importance of comprehensive research and planning. Technical skills and groundbreaking ideas allow the companies to interpret land use regulations, meet zoning requirements and determine a project site’s ideal use.

With more than 30 years of experience, their knowledge of local, state, and federal permitting allows clients to plan cost-effective projects.

Through strategic growth and acquisitions over the past 27 years, Howell has handpicked the key Civil Engineering disciplines to take any project from due diligence through construction, regardless of scale. 

The Howell companies are uniquely equipped to complete Phase 1 ESA’s, Field Surveying, Environmental Sampling, Geotechnical Drilling/Investigations/Analysis, Land Planning, Land Development Plan Preparation, Stormwater Management, Grading & Erosion Control Design, NPDES Permitting, PADEP General Permitting, Structural and Wall Design, Landscape Design, Public Meeting Representation, Planning Modules, Stakeout Surveying, Critical Stage Inspections, Geotechnical Inspections During Construction and Project Closeout, all in house.

Certified and licensed in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware, the Howell team is comprised of 17 Licensed Engineers (PE), 2 Land Surveyors (PLS), 5 Landscape Architects (RLA), a Geologist (PG) and 5 drone pilots.

Howell has built its reputation by combining experience with the information and design skills needed to communicate decades of know-how into sound plans, controlled timelines, and strengthened relationships along the way to development approvals.

● CJ McLaughlin O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Dover Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s battle at the Monster Mile will mark McLaughlin’s second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, a fast 1.0-mile concrete oval that continues to deliver action-packed racing year after year.

In his previous outing at Dover, Del.-based track, McLaughlin delivered a track-best finish of 34th after starting 23rd in the spring 2023 edition of the BetRivers 200 while driving for Emerling-Gase Motorsports.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns to action Saturday, May 16, as the series heads to the “Monster Mile” at Dover Motor Speedway for another pivotal stop in the 2026 season.

The event is part of a marquee triple-header weekend at the famed one-mile concrete oval, beginning Friday evening, May 15, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, followed by the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, and culminating Sunday, May 17, with the NASCAR All-Star Race making its debut at Dover Motor Speedway.

Known for its high banking, concrete surface and physically demanding nature, Dover Motor Speedway presents one of the toughest challenges on the NASCAR schedule.

Nicknamed the “Monster Mile,” the track features steep 24-degree banking in the corners and high speeds that place a premium on rhythm, consistency and driver endurance over the course of a run.

The concrete surface creates unique handling characteristics compared to traditional asphalt tracks, often leading to changing grip levels as the race progresses.

Passing opportunities can be difficult to come by, making track position, pit strategy and execution on restarts especially critical throughout the event.

Drivers must remain disciplined while navigating heavy traffic and long green-flag runs, where mistakes can quickly compound and cost valuable track position.

CJ McLaughlin and Young’s Motorsports look to make the most of their opportunity at Dover Motor Speedway this weekend as the organization continues to build momentum and a notebook throughout the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.

With the demanding “Monster Mile” presenting one of the toughest tests on the schedule, the weekend offers McLaughlin an opportunity to gain valuable experience with the Young’s Motorsports organization while continuing to showcase the team’s growth and depth on the national stage.

● CJ McLaughlin NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Dover, McLaughlin has amassed 49 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts to his credit, highlighted by a career-best 10th-place finish after starting 35th in the 2022 Andy's Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway for RSS Racing.

Since his 2019 debut, McLaughlin has recorded an average finish of 28.2 in series competition across 17 different tracks, including Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, Richmond(Va.) Raceway, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Texas Motor Speedway,

During that span, he has competed for B.J. McLeod Motorsports, DGM Racing, Emerling-Gase Motorsports, Hattori Racing Enterprises in association with MBM Motorsports, Mike Harmon Racing, Motorsports Business Management (MBM) Motorsports, RSS Racing and SS-GreenLight Racing

Further bolstering his NASCAR résumé, Mclaughlin has made five starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2019 and owns one top-10 finish in five career ARCA Menards Series races.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding McLaughlin as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be the crew chief in his 176th NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. In his previous 175 races, he has four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.  

The season's 14th race will be his eighth tango at Dover Motor Speedway as crew chief in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. 

In his previous leadership effort at the “Monster Mile”, Abbott earned a track-best 13th-place finish with driver Jeremy Clements in the 2020 edition of the Drydene 200 Race No. 1, held during NASCAR’s return to competition following the COVID-19 shutdown.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Overview at Dover Motor Speedway: This weekend’s BetRivers 200 will mark Young’s Motorsports’ third and fourth appearances at Dover Motor Speedway in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.

In the organization’s previous efforts at the challenging one-mile concrete oval, rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. delivered the team’s strongest performance during its inaugural season in 2024.

After qualifying 28th, Honeyman showcased his short-track ability by methodically working his way through the field to earn a respectable 21st-place finish.

Beyond its growing résumé in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization also brings valuable experience to Dover through its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program.

Since 2014, Young’s Motorsports has recorded 12 Truck Series starts at the “Monster Mile,” highlighted by a track-best 10th-place finish from current team principal Tyler Young in the 2015 Lucas Oil 200.

Across those appearances, the organization owns an average starting position of 22.3 and an average finishing position of 21.9, continuing to build experience at one of NASCAR’s most physically demanding venues.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 92 starts and earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes while maintaining an average starting position of 27.3 and an average finish of 24.8.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on CJ McLaughlin, please like him on Facebook (CJ McLaughlin Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@cjmclaughlin.racing) and X |Twitter (@CjMclaughlin3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

CJ McLaughlin Quoteboard:

On Dover Motor Speedway: “Dover is one of those racetracks that really demands your full attention from the moment you hit the track.

“The banking, the concrete surface and the speed all make it a challenging place to race, but it’s also one of the most rewarding tracks when you can put together a solid run.”

On Partnership with Howell Companies: “We’ve had the chance to hang out with Denny Howell and his team at events in and around Philadelphia.

“We were blown away by the support of his whole staff – it’s been great to see how much they’re rooting for our team. It’s becoming more than a partnership at this point — it’s a friendship.”

On O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Opportunity with Young’s Motorsports: “I’m thankful for the opportunity to make my debut with Young’s Motorsports this weekend. Everybody on this team has been working hard, and I’m looking forward to building chemistry quickly and making the most of our weekend together at the Monster Mile.”

On Making First NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Start of 2026: “I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel and make my first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start of the 2026 season this weekend at Dover.

“Any opportunity to compete at this level is something you never take for granted, especially at a place as challenging and historic as the Monster Mile.

“It’s also great to have the chance to work with Young’s Motorsports for the first time. I’m looking forward to getting up to speed quickly, building chemistry with the team and hopefully putting together a strong and competitive weekend for everyone involved.”

Race Information:

The BetRivers 200 (200 laps | 100 miles) is the 14th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. Practice will occur on Sat., May 16, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 10:35 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m., with live coverage on The CW Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

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