Valvoline premium racing oils fueled on-the-track success across multiple racing series last season. From the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to World of Outlaws, Valvoline was powering many of the race cars that crossed the finish line first. Here are our most noteworthy wins from 2016.

NASCAR Cup Series

Jimmie Johnson capped off an unbelievable run for his record-tying seventh Cup Series championship with his win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite starting from the last position, he overcame adversity and earned a series-high fifth win, which crowned him 2016 champion and placed him among the ranks of legends Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty.  Johnson’s career may be defined by this race due to the format changes that NASCAR has implemented with playoff-style title challenges. No other driver has earned the number of titles Johnson has over so many different championship formats.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Elliott Sadler’s win at Darlington Raceway was a pivotal moment in the season for JR Motorsports. The team was poised to earn a seed into the newly formed Chase format on performance, but lacked that signature win until the Virginia native’s victory guaranteed their spot. It was Sadler’s first career win at Darlington and second of three victories for 2016. 

World of Outlaws Dirt Late Model

Josh Richards’ win at the Dirt Track at Charlotte echoed the dominant season that he had. While the win alone was significant, it earned him a record fourth series championship and 18th win of the season, which also broke the previous single-season record. Richards is now the all-time wins leader in the WoO Late Model Series and tops the list of fast time awards and heat race wins.

World of Outlaws Sprint Car 

Brad Sweet’s name will go down in World of Outlaws history as the inaugural race winner at Plymouth Speedway in Indiana. The feat marked his sixth victory of the season, a series high at the time, and he did so with his teammate Daryn Pittman finishing close behind in the runner-up position.

Another noteworthy victory for Team Valvoline™ in this series was Jason Johnson’s Knoxville Nationals victory - undoubtedly the most significant accomplishment of his career. For Johnson, winning the biggest race of the season meant out-dueling nine-time Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz, and he did so by .168 seconds.

NHRA – Pro Stock 

Shane Gray hadn’t visited victory lane since 2014 prior to his Pro Stock win in October. Gray edged out teammate Drew Skillman to earn his first win of the season, fifth of his career and first at The Strip.

 

Valvoline Sponsor Wins 2016 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

• 2/18 – Daytona International Speedway – Dale Earnhardt Jr. *non-points, qualifying race

• 2/28 – Atlanta Motor Speedway – Jimmie Johnson

• 3/20 – Auto Club Speedway – Jimmie Johnson

• 10/9 – Charlotte Motor Speedway – Jimmie Johnson

• 10/30 – Martinsville Speedway – Jimmie Johnson

• 11/20 – Homestead-Miami Speedway – Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Xfinity Series

• 2/20 – Daytona International Speedway – Chase Elliott

• 9/3 – Darlington Raceway – Elliott Sadler

• 9/24 – Kentucky Motor Speedway – Elliott Sadler

NHRA Pro Stock Division

• 10/30 – The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Shane Gray

World of Outlaws Dirt Late Models

• 1/29 – Bubba Raceway Park – Josh Richards

• 2/18 – Volusia Speedway – Josh Richards

• 2/19 – Volusia Speedway – Josh Richards

• 4/2 – Farmer City Raceway – Josh Richards

• 4/3 – Farmer City Raceway – Josh Richards

• 4/29 – Carolina Speedway – Josh Richards

• 5/28 – Tyler County Speedway – Josh Richards

• 6/21 – Weedsport Speedway – Josh Richards

• 6/24 – Lernerville Speedway – Josh Richards

• 7/9 – Deer Creek Speedway – Josh Richards

• 7/13 – Ogilvie Raceway – Josh Richards

• 7/29 – Fairbury Raceway – Josh Richards

• 7/30 – Fairbury Raceway – Josh Richards

• 8/4 – Cedar Lake Speedway – Josh Richards

• 8/6 – Cedar Lake Speedway – Josh Richards

• 8/11 – Delaware Raceway – Josh Richards

• 8/12 – Potomac Speedway – Josh Richards

• 8/14 – Erie Speedway – Josh Richards

• 8/27 – Merritt Speedway – Josh Richards

• 10/28 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte – Josh Richards

World of Outlaws Sprint Car

• 2/12 – DIRTcar Nationals – Brad Sweet

• 2/14 – DIRTcar Nationals – Brad Sweet

• 2/27 – Royal Purple Raceway – Daryn Pittman

• 3/24 – Placerville Speedway – Jason Johnson

• 4/1 – Ocean Speedway – Brad Sweet

• 4/15 – Bakersfield Speedway – Brad Sweet

• 4/16 – Perris Auto Speedway – Daryn Pittman

• 4/18 – USA Raceway – Daryn Pittman

• 5/13 – Plymouth Speedway – Brad Sweet

• 5/24 – New Egypt Speedway – Daryn Pittman

• 6/24 – Jackson Motorplex – Daryn Pittman

• 7/2 – Badlands Motor Speedway – Brad Sweet

• 7/15 – Eldora Speedway – Daryn Pittman

• 7/22 – Williams Grove Speedway – Daryn Pittman

• 8/13 – Knoxville Nationals – Jason Johnson

• 9/14 – El Paso County Raceway – Jason Johnson

• 10/21 – Lakeside Speedway – Brad Sweet

• 10/22 – Salina High Banks Speedway – Daryn Pittman

• 10/28 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte – Jason Johnson

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

• 2/5 – Golden Isles Speedway – Josh Richards

• 2/7 – Golden Isles Speedway – Josh Richards

• 2/8 – East Bay Raceway – Josh Richards

• 2/9 – East Bay Raceway – Josh Richards

• 4/23 – Hagerstown Speedway – Gregg Satterlee

• 5/21 – LaSalle Speedway – Brandon Sheppard

• 9/16 – Knoxville Speedway – Josh Richards

• 10/8 – Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway – Josh Richards

• 10/15 – Portsmouth Raceway Park – Brandon Sheppard

DIRTcar Late Model

• 2/16 – Volusia Speedway – Josh Richards

• 7/1 – Fayetteville Speedway – Josh Richards

Driver Championships

• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion – Jimmie Johnson

• World of Outlaws Late Model Champion – Josh Richards