Chaos at the 2026 Tulsa Shootout Sparks Backlash Over Driver Conduct and Youth Safety
What should have been a celebration of grassroots racing talent at the 2026 Tulsa Shootout instead turned into one of the most talked-about controversies of the season. Heated confrontations, captured on video and widely shared online, shifted attention away from lap times and toward a growing concern about sportsmanship—especially when teenagers are involved.
Tensions flared following several Stock Non-Wing qualifying sessions and support races, where on-track contact spilled over into post-race confrontations. At least one driver was reportedly ejected, and critics warned that applauding retaliation sends the wrong message to young competitors. That concern grew louder after a former iRacing professional publicly urged junior racers not to copy the behavior seen at Tulsa.
One of the most debated moments involved veteran driver Dustin Bottoms and 13-year-old Tate Gurney. After Bottoms was spun during a race, he was accused of throwing his helmet toward the teenager. While it remains unclear whether Gurney was aware of Bottoms’ position before the corner contact, the incident ended Bottoms’ night and sparked widespread discussion about how adults should conduct themselves when racing against minors.
Other altercations added to the uneasy mood, including a clash between Asa Swindell and Bryant Dawson, as well as chaotic qualifier action that reportedly led to an ejection, according to coverage from FloRacing.
The controversy comes amid a broader year of alarming incidents across dirt and sprint racing. At Tulsa, micro sprint driver Gabe Zahner survived a frightening crash in which his car flipped and struck the catch fence before sliding to a stop, though no life-threatening injuries were reported. Elsewhere, serious wrecks involving Kyle Larson, Rico Abreu, and Stewart Friesen have underscored the risks drivers face.
Together, these moments have reignited calls for race organizers and sanctioning bodies to strengthen oversight, emphasize accountability, and rethink the culture being modeled—particularly when young racers are watching and learning.
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