Daytona International Speedway (FL) roars to life this weekend as the ARCA Menards Series conducts a two-day pre-season test in preparation for the February 14th ARCA Daytona 200. KLAS Motorsports is bringing two cars, the #71 Chevrolet and the #07 Ford, to the test with a driver lineup that consists of veteran Andy Jankowiak along with rookies Glen Reen and Jonah Cullen.
“The off season is officially over!” said Managing Partner Andy Seuss. “This something we look forward to all year. We are back and it is now race season again.”
Starting off their 2026 season with a field trip to the high banks of Daytona makes things even more special.
“Going to Daytona brings out the kid in me every year,” said Seuss. “It’s a privilege to drive through that tunnel. It’s never casual or every day life. It’s exciting because you never knew if you would get to do this. Any time that you go to Daytona, it is humbling. Every time that you go there, you take it all in and enjoy the moment. The test is neat because it’s a little more laid back,” said Seuss. “There is not a high-pressure schedule. There are some opportunities to savor the moments more.”
2026 will mark the first time that KLAS Motorsports will run two cars in a superspeedway race. Jankowiak will race the #71 next month at Daytona while Reen will enter the race in the #07.
“To realize that we are bringing two cars that will both go on to race at Daytona, which is a first for KLAS, is pretty amazing,” said Seuss. “We will have three drivers who are all talented in their own right. I’m excited to get there with all three of them for different reasons.
“Two of our drivers have never been on the oval there. They have more road course experience. I’m looking forward to helping them through their first time. Then obviously, it’s exciting to bring Andy J back. He has years of experience there now. We just strive to get better every time we go there. Every time we go back, we are a little bit better. You want to continue that and not lose anything.”
Although the team has never raced two cars at Daytona before, they have tested with multiple cars and drivers in the past in the pre-season tune-up.
“I feel like I’ve been in a leadership role every year since my first year,” said Jankowiak. “We’ve had multiple drivers in the test for several years. The big difference is going to be having someone to draft with in the race. It’s going to be interesting to have true coordination on the racetrack. When we’ve made deals with other guys, but you never really know who will stick to what. I’m excited to see how it will go.”
Exciting is a common word these days around the Mike Dayton-led KLAS teams as they prepare for the Daytona test at their North Carolina shop.
“The team has grown,” said Seuss. “We had two fast Superspeedway cars at the test last year. The Ford got some damage in the race. So, you worry about getting all of the details right in rebuilding. You want to have that speed back when you get down there.”
The KLAS Motorsports team will also be looking at a milestone season beyond the opening race at Daytona.
“We expect big things as the year goes on,” said Seuss. “We have multiple races booked using multiple cars. The off season has been busy talking with potential drivers in order to expand the team. We have new sponsors who we are working with. We are attracting new eyes to our program. We are bringing back sponsors who have been here since the beginning. It is awesome to know that they have faith in us and that we have been able to deliver enough for them to come back.”
The pre-season test at Daytona will take place on Friday, January 9th and Saturday, January 10th with Sunday, January 11th available as a rain date if needed. The ARCA Menards Series will visit Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2026. The race will kick off the 2026 season and will be televised live on the Fox television network.