Dawson Sutton Eyes Breakout Sophomore Season in NASCAR Truck Series
They say the biggest leap for a driver comes between their rookie and sophomore seasons. For 20-year-old Dawson Sutton, that jump can’t come soon enough.
After a 2024 campaign packed with lessons, bumps, and flashes of real potential, the Lebanon, Tennessee native is gearing up for his second season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with his sights set firmly on the postseason. And with the season opener at Daytona just around the corner on February 13, Sutton is ready to put Year One in the rearview mirror and hit the gas on Year Two.
“I learned a lot during my rookie season, and I’m anxious to get back on the track,” Sutton said this week. That’s not just talk-he’s coming off a season where he got a crash course in the grind of national-level racing.
New tracks, limited practice time, and the steep learning curve of the Truck Series all tested the young driver. But heading into 2026, he’s bringing something that can’t be taught: experience.
Last season, Sutton showed flashes of what he’s capable of. He notched a top finish of fourth at Talladega, one of the toughest tracks in the series, and was running up front late at Michigan before a final restart shuffled him back. That kind of performance, especially on superspeedways where chaos reigns and experience matters, is no small feat for a rookie.
But Sutton knows where he needs to improve if he wants to take that next step. “It’s hard to pass on a lot of these tracks,” he admitted.
“That’s why qualifying is so important. If you get stuck back in the field it’s hard to move up.
I need to do a better job of qualifying this season.”
That’s the kind of self-awareness that separates the good from the great. Sutton isn’t just chasing lap times-he’s focused on the full picture: track position, race craft, and maximizing every opportunity.
This year also brings a new dynamic to the Rackley WAR team, with the addition of Toni Breidinger as Sutton’s teammate. Breidinger, who balances her racing with modeling work for Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret, is set to run eight races in 2026, including a high-profile stop at Nashville Superspeedway on May 29. Her presence adds both attention and depth to the team’s lineup.
Rackley WAR-short for Willie Allen Racing-is a family affair. The team is co-owned by former driver Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton, Dawson’s father. The family business, Rackley Roofing, continues to sponsor both Dawson and Breidinger, keeping the Sutton name front and center on and off the track.
The team made a strategic move last year, relocating from Centerville, Tennessee to Statesville, North Carolina-right in the heart of NASCAR country. It’s a move designed to put them closer to the sport’s resources, talent pool, and competitive edge, while still maintaining their Lebanon roots and company headquarters.
“We’ve got a good team,” Sutton said. “We’re all optimistic about this season.”
And with good reason. The Truck Series playoff format remains intact for 2026, with the top 10 drivers after 18 regular-season races advancing to a seven-race championship battle. Sutton is aiming to be one of them.
“I’m glad NASCAR kept the playoff because it creates a lot of interest and excitement, like the NFL playoffs,” he said. “I wish they had kept the ‘win-and-in’ rule that gave a race winner an automatic spot, but the best drivers will still end up racing for the championship. My goal is to be one of them.”
It’s a clear target-and one that feels within reach. Sutton has the team, the talent, and now the experience to make a serious run. If he can sharpen his qualifying, stay clean in the chaos, and keep building on the foundation he laid last year, don’t be surprised if you see the No. 26 truck in the playoff mix come fall.
For Dawson Sutton, the learning curve is flattening-and the fast lane is calling.