ANTHONY ALFREDO BATTLES THROUGH DAMAGE IN DIFFICULT NIGHT AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY
Pit Road Incident and Tire Failure Derail Promising Night for No. 96 Shapiro Chevrolet Following Back-to-Back Top-10 Finishes
MADISON, Ill. (September 12, 2026) — After entering World Wide Technology Raceway with momentum from back-to-back top-10 finishes, Anthony Alfredo and Viking Motorsports appeared poised to continue their recent run of strong performances Saturday night.
Instead, a promising night turned into a battle simply to reach the checkered flag.
Driving the No. 96 Shapiro Chevrolet, Alfredo showed competitive speed from the start and raced inside the top 15 during the opening portion of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series event.
Then everything changed on pit road.
At the conclusion of the opening stage, a major stack-up developed on pit lane, collecting numerous cars and creating one of the most chaotic moments of the night. Alfredo and the No. 96 Chevrolet were caught in the incident and sustained damage.
The Viking Motorsports crew immediately went to work making repairs and getting Alfredo back into the race.
Unfortunately, their problems weren't over.
After returning to competition, Alfredo suffered a tire failure that caused significant damage to the left-front of the No. 96 Chevrolet. Between the pit-road incident and the additional damage from the tire failure, Alfredo eventually found himself three laps down.
At that point, another top-10 finish was no longer the objective.
The challenge became finding a way to keep fighting.
Alfredo and the Viking Motorsports team did exactly that.
Despite the damage and lost laps, the crew continued repairing and improving the car while Alfredo battled his way back into contention. By the time the checkered flag flew, the No. 96 had recovered all three lost laps and returned to the lead lap before finishing 22nd.
"Had a solid car in St. Louis, but unfortunately got collected in a pile up on pit road at the end of stage one when we were inside the top 15. I guess there's a first for everything," Alfredo said.
"We went three laps down at one point while repairing the damage, but fought all the way back to the lead lap for a 22nd-place finish. I'm proud of everyone at Viking Motorsports for never quitting. Ready to bounce back at Bristol."
While the final result was disappointing, the determination displayed by Alfredo and Viking Motorsports was another indication of the progress the team continues to make.
Alfredo arrived at Gateway following back-to-back top-10 finishes, including a strong sixth-place performance at Darlington Raceway one week earlier. The recent stretch has demonstrated the growing competitiveness of a Viking Motorsports program that continues to develop throughout the 2026 season.
Saturday night didn't erase that progress.
Instead, it showed another side of a team becoming increasingly competitive — the ability to keep working when circumstances take a race out of their hands.
That same determination has been a hallmark of Alfredo's career. In addition to competing with Viking Motorsports, Alfredo serves as a simulator driver for Hendrick Motorsports, working with drivers, crew chiefs and engineers as part of the organization's preparation for NASCAR Cup Series race weekends.
That technical experience, combined with the continued development of Viking Motorsports, has helped Alfredo and the No. 96 team become increasingly competitive as the season has progressed.
Now the focus shifts to Bristol Motor Speedway.
Alfredo and Viking Motorsports will return to action Saturday, September 19, looking to put a difficult night in St. Louis behind them and get back to the form that produced consecutive top-10 finishes heading into Gateway.
ABOUT ANTHONY ALFREDO
Anthony Alfredo is a native of Ridgefield, Connecticut and competes in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for Viking Motorsports.
Known for his technical approach, adaptability and ability to maximize opportunities behind the wheel, Alfredo has competed across NASCAR's national touring series, including the NASCAR Cup Series.
In addition to his racing schedule, Alfredo serves as a simulator driver for Hendrick Motorsports, working with the organization's drivers, crew chiefs and engineers as part of the preparation process leading into NASCAR Cup Series race weekends.
In 2026, Alfredo pilots the No. 96 Chevrolet for Viking Motorsports while also competing in select NASCAR Cup Series events.
Alfredo is represented by Race Face Brand Development.
ABOUT VIKING MOTORSPORTS
Viking Motorsports competes in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series with a focus on building a competitive program capable of consistently racing against NASCAR's established organizations.
With Anthony Alfredo behind the wheel of the No. 96 Chevrolet, Viking Motorsports has continued to make progress throughout the 2026 season, producing increasingly competitive performances and establishing itself as a growing presence in the series.
ABOUT DUDE WIPES
DUDE Wipes is a men's personal care brand best known for its flushable wipes and growing lineup of hygiene products. Founded by longtime friends with the goal of providing a better alternative to traditional toilet paper, the company has grown from a startup into a nationally recognized consumer brand available through major retailers across the United States.
DUDE Wipes is a partner of Anthony Alfredo and Viking Motorsports, supporting the No. 96 Chevrolet in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
MEDIA CONTACT
Rod Wortham
Race Face Brand Development
rod@racefacebd.com
racefacebranddevelopment.com
