Determined to Deliver: Donnie Adams Jr. Eyes Breakthrough Season
Determined to Deliver: Donnie Adams Jr. Eyes Breakthrough Season
After two full seasons back on the pavement sprint car trail, Donnie Adams Jr. believes the pieces are finally in place.
If there’s one word that defines his mindset heading into the 2026 season with the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, it’s simple: determined.
“The first year was knocking the rust off and learning new tracks,” Adams explained. “The second year was going back with a notebook and improving. Almost every race last year, there was at least one point in the day where we were really good. It might have been practice, qualifying, somewhere, but we were never good at the right time.”
That frustration has fueled his offseason.
Donnie Adams Jr. with crew member and cousin, Chance Stone - Rick Kimball Photo
Adams feels the last two years of experience have built toward something bigger. The equipment is better. The notebook is thicker. And perhaps most importantly, he’s more comfortable back in a rhythm of racing.
For years, Adams’ pavement sprint car starts were limited to mainly the Little 500 or occasional appearances when USAC ran non-wing sprint cars. Now, instead of racing once a year and shaking off rust, he’s competing nearly every other week.
“It’s just a rhythm,” Adams said. “When you’re doing it consistently, racing becomes your mindset. You don’t have to knock the rust off anymore. I don’t know if ‘mature’ is the right word, but I’ve definitely improved. I’m more comfortable again.”
Building on IRP Momentum
When asked what race stands out from last season, Adams didn’t hesitate.
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, IRP, provided a glimpse of what’s possible.
With a rebuilt engine and a newer car trending in the right direction, Adams and his team unloaded with speed. They were among the quickest in practice and competitive throughout the night, a strong way to close the season.
Donnie Adams Jr. at Lucas Oil Indianapolis raceway park in October of 2025 - Rick Kimbell Photo
“That was the best we’ve felt with our equipment,” Adams said. “To end the year showing improvement like that, that’s something I want to build on.”
He also noted gains during the Michigan swing, historically his toughest tracks. Even on nights where results didn’t show it, he felt the team made meaningful strides by the end of each event.
Defining Success in 2026
Not long ago, a top-five finish felt like a stretch goal. Now, Adams sees it as a realistic expectation.
“Before two years ago, a top five didn’t feel achievable at all,” he admitted. “Now, if we start good and qualify well, I think top fives are definitely manageable.”
His goals are clear: contend for top-five finishes consistently and aim for a top-five finish in overall Tour points. Adams plans to run the full schedule, and he believes the key lies in putting the entire program together - unloading fast, tuning effectively before the feature, and capitalizing when it counts.
“It’s about starting good and being able to tune on it before the feature,” he said. “If we do that, there’s no reason we can’t be up there.”
A Family-Driven Effort
For Adams, this journey is about more than lap times.
What started as a limited schedule has grown into a full-family operation. The increased racing means more races, more shop time, more preparation, but that hasn't dampened his enthusiasm.
In fact, the shop has become one of his favorite places to be.
“I love building nice race cars, hopefully fast race cars,” he said with a smile.
Last season tested that commitment. Between races at Winchester and Salem, Adams and his team built an entirely new car in just two weeks. They received the frame on a Thursday and loaded up the finished car at midnight the following Friday before the race weekend.
“That proved to myself that I’m capable of more than I thought,” Adams said. “It’s not easy, but it’s manageable. And we’re having fun doing it.”
The racetrack is also where lifelong friendships thrive. Adams frequently pits alongside longtime family friends, including Tony and Glenn Main. Relationships that date back to his father’s racing days. The bond runs deep, extending far beyond the pit area.
“They’re true family to me,” Adams said.
Tony Main (Left) and Donnie Adams Jr. (Right) talk before practice at Lorain Raceway Park in 2024 - Jack Kessler Photo
Powered by Partners
As Adams prepares for 2026, he does so with strong support behind him.
His own business, Adams & Company Tax Services, serves as the foundation of the program. Returning partners like Cammack Station, Reliance Machine Company of Muncie, Gene’s Root Beer of Anderson, and FTL Global Carriers of Elwood continue to back the effort. Many of the sponsors have supported Adams throughout his entire career.
“These are good companies that have been around a long time,” he said. “They’re not just sponsors — they’re friends.”
But above all, Adams credits the people at home.
“I work all day, come home, eat dinner, spend time with my family, and then I go out to the shop,” he said. “My wife and kids put up with a lot. They’re a big reason why I’m doing this, because they support me and they enjoy it.”
With renewed confidence, improved equipment, and a determined mindset, Donnie Adams Jr. believes 2026 could be the year the results finally match the progress.
And if IRP was any indication, he’s closer than ever.
