Armstrong Captures First Tour Championship
Armstrong Captures First Tour Championship
By Kelland Sloan - 500 Sprint Car Tour Media
In the autumn chill of Indiana’s fall racing season, Dakoda Armstrong arrived at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway park with one mission for the final race of the season. After a season marked by steady momentum, calculated aggression, and the occasional setback, he only needed one more solid day at the track to clinch the 2025 500 Sprint Car Tour Championship. In the end, the mission was accomplished.
Armstrong’s journey this season began in earnest with a victory at his home track of Anderson Speedway in early April Glen Niebel Classic presented by CB Fabricating. His team consisting of crew chief Kevin Besecker and Justin Upchurch had shown up prepared. His car was balanced and responsive from the first green-flag drop. That opening win set the tone: consistency would serve him better than chasing every single checkered flag.
Dakoda Armstrong in victory lane after winning the Glen Niebel Classic at Anderson Speedway - Jack Kessler Photo
By midsummer, Armstrong found himself trailing the points lead—an uncomfortable position for a driver accustomed to racing up front. But his rebound at Salem Speedway’s Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial in September changed the narrative. That night, he led all 50 laps to the win and in doing so reclaimed the championship lead.
With only two races remaining in the season, the title fight was on. Armstrong carried a 25-point advantage into the Tony Elliott Classic at Anderson Speedway, an edge that was hard-earned and hard to defend.
Leaving Anderson with a maintained Championship lead would prove to be harder than previously thought, as Armstrong entered the facility feeling as bad as a driver possibly could. Getting sick multiple times whenever he would get out of the car during practice and qualifying, the day quickly became that of survival opposed to chasing another win. After qualifying, and starting, in sixth position, Armstrong came away with a fourth place finish and extended his lead to 36 points.
Dakoda Armstrong (#1) leading Kody Swanson (#33), and Tyler Roahrig (#56) at IRP - Rick Kimball Photo
As the penultimate event neared, the mission was clear: keep your nose clean and come away with a solid finish, and this Championship is yours. That is exactly what Armstrong did in the final event of the season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Armstrong qualified sixth, but started on the front row following a favorable draw. After leading five laps, the car began to slip away, but all he had to do was finish. Armstrong came home fifth and crossed the finish line as the 2025 500 Sprint Car Tour Champion.
For Armstrong, the significance ran deep. It transformed him from perennial contender into champion. It proved that in sprint-car racing, speed alone isn’t enough: durability, strategy and unflinching focus separate the title-winners from the rest. Amazingly over nine races, his worst finish was 6th. He concluded the season with 8 top 5’s and 9 top 10’s. He closed the season not merely as a driver who won races—but as one who gathered enough strong finishes, avoided catastrophic nights, and delivered when it counted.
Dakoda Armstrong pictured with crew and family after winning the championship - Rick Kimball Photo
Now, as the series transitions into its fifth season of competition in 2026, Armstrong will no longer be the hunter, but rather, the hunted. Armstrong spent his first four seasons chasing a championship. Now that he has finished that story, he will be looking to defend his title as others chase him. The pressure will be on, as Armstrong now has the chance to become the first back-to-back champion in tour history.
