Sean Winkler came into Pro 4 Race 3 at Lucas Oil Speedway knowing he needed a big night to close the gap—and he delivered it in dominant fashion. Winkler scored QuickTime for the bonus point, led all eight laps, and cruised to victory in a race that settled down quickly at the front. It was a huge swing in the championship, not only because of the points, but because it put Winkler back in direct striking range of Drake Mittag’s early-season advantage.
The biggest turning point came almost immediately. Jesse Newsome was the second-fastest qualifier, but his race ended on the opening lap after he ended up on his lid, forcing a DNF. With one of the few drivers who looked capable of pressuring the leader out of contention right away, the front of the race became Winkler’s to control. From there, nobody was able to mount a real challenge. Winkler’s pace was steady, his lines were clean, and he built enough cushion to keep the rest of the field fighting for the remaining podium spots.
Behind him, Brenden McGlothlin and Aidan Strawberry continued to build strong seasons of their own. McGlothlin drove from seventh on the grid to finish second—hard charger honors with a five-position gain—and turned in a race that mattered in the standings as much as it did on the track. Strawberry backed it up with third, another solid points night that keeps him firmly inside the top five in the championship hunt as the series moves deeper into the schedule.
The mid-pack was busy with drivers trying to cash in on a cleaner race than the carnage-filled Round 2. Joey Kirkz and Mason Cassidy2 ran inside the top five, while Dusty Fincher and Brayden E Carter each added valuable points and continued their consistent starts to the championship. Even with the field spreading out, there were still big moments that shaped the finishing order—especially for drivers trying to settle into the rhythm sections and survive the lap-to-lap punishment Lucas Oil can dish out.
In the standings, Winkler’s win was exactly what the championship needed: tension. Drake Mittag still sits on top with two wins in the opening rounds, but Winkler’s third-round surge cuts the gap significantly and puts him right back in the title conversation. McGlothlin’s second-place run is equally important because it keeps him close enough to capitalize if the front two trade off nights. Strawberry remains dangerous with steady finishes and enough starts logged to stay in the fight, while Fincher, Welch, and the rest of the top 10 continue to shuffle as the points format rewards every single position.
With three races now in the books, the series has a clear shape: Mittag has the wins, Winkler has the momentum, and the chase pack is close enough that one messy night can flip the order quickly. And if Race 3 proved anything, it’s that clean air and control up front still matter at Lucas Oil—once Winkler grabbed the lead and the early threat disappeared, he never had to look back.
Results – Pro 4 Lucas Oil Off Road Championship – Race 3
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Sean Winkler, 2) Brenden McGlothlin, 3) Aidan Strawberry, 4) Joey Kirkz, 5) Mason Cassidy2, 6) Dusty Fincher, 7) Griffin Williams3, 8) Brayden E Carter, 9) Doug Welch, 10) Mason Kuhn, 11) Holden Rowe, 12) Dennis Holley, 13) Casey Wynn, 14) Brandon Dittmer, 15) Robert Coursey, 16) Jesse Newsome, 17) Jason Hubbell
Top 10 Standings – Pro 4 Lucas Oil Off Road Championship (After Race 3)
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Drake Mittag – 26
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Sean Winkler – 24
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Brenden McGlothlin – 23
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Aidan Strawberry – 21
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Dusty Fincher – 16
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Doug Welch – 14
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Holden Rowe – 13
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Brayden E Carter – 10
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Jaxon Ebberts – 10
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