Henry Remains Hopeful After Rough Start to 2026

FREMONT, Ohio (April 27, 2026) - April showers bring May flowers. If that statement has any truth to it, Kalib Henry's garden will become a mecca for even the most basic green thumbs when the calendar flips over later this week. The 26-year-old Sacramento, California native wouldn't be happier to experience a floral bombardment after the start the Racers for Life No. 101 team has had to open the 2026 season.

Amidst the onslaught of actual rain that has dampened much of the racing season so far in the Midwest, Henry and his Valvoline, Butlerbuilt Seats, Pub 400, Birchard Financial, C&H Veteran Enterprises, Harris Distributing, Kleinholz Electric machine have struggled across their three lone starts so far. Much of which has been out of their control.

Henry's season opened with All Star Circuit of Champions action at Attica Raceway Park. With the first of two nights being cancelled due to rain, the track was able to drop the green flag on the second night. With 40 cars checked in, Henry qualified seventh in Group B and would find himself on the pole of Adaptive One Calibers Heat Race 3. Slick track conditions create a technical surface and after a spirited battle with Tyler Courtney, Henry finished third in the heat. Rolling off 14th in the A-Main, Henry battled up to 11th before rubber became a factor later in the event. Unable to find a lane to continue advancing, Henry was forced to settle for an 11th place finish.

A week later, Henry and Co. returned to Attica for Attica Fremont Championship Series competition. After qualifying third in his respective heat, Henry brought home a second-place finish in Heat Race One. From the ninth starting spot in the A-Main, Henry capitalized on the start, making quick work up to the top five. A caution while running third on lap 12 bunched the field back up for a single file restart. Coming to complete the first lap after the restart, Henry found himself as the meat in the middle of the sandwich. Contact with Henry's right front sent the black and silver machine for a series of acrobatics before coming to a rest just past the flag stand. Henry climbed from the destroyed race car under his own power and recorded an official finish of 19th.

Fremont Speedway's season opener was yet another victim of mother nature and despite her best efforts, the track was able to win round two on April 25th. 28 cars checked in for AFCS action on what was immediately made clear, a heavy, fast racetrack. Henry found himself 21st after qualifying with a time of 12.592. Aiden Price was the quickest qualifier with a time of 11.980, just two tenths off Lee Jacob's record set back in 2003. Henry's qualifying effort would force him to start seventh in Heat Race Three. With the track still blazing fast, Henry was able to gain one position but finished one spot out of a transfer spot. With a front row starting spot in the B-Main, Henry took the green flag and was in a different zip code, reaching lap traffic in just three laps. It would all be for not though when Henry's motor expired while leading on lap nine, bringing an end to the 2025 All Star Champion's night.

"Racing has highs and lows. We finished 2025 on the highest of highs with winning the [All Stars] championship and then we're starting 2026 on the opposite end of the spectrum," said Henry when reflecting on his start to the year. "When you pull back and look at how things have gone with a clearer mindset, it's just been kind of a string of bad luck." Henry elaborated, "Track conditions made it hard to pass opening night, got caught up in a racing deal the next weekend, and nobody could have predicted the engine would have let go at Fremont." Henry remains optimistic as the season really begins to take off. "We've had speed every night. Just need to put everything together throughout the entire night and I think we'll be up there fighting for wins."

Next on the docket for Henry and the Racers for Life team is an appearance at Attica Raceway Park with special guests, the World of Outlaws. It'll mark Henry's first appearance with the Outlaws since last year's Brad Doty Classic at Attica. Plans are still being decided for Saturday.

Follow Kalib Henry Racing on social media to be the first to know when the No. 101 machine will be in action.

2026 Season Stats (U.S. Races Only)
3 Races / 0 Wins / 0 Top-5s / 0 Top-10s

Next Events
May 1st - Attica Raceway Park - World of Outlaws

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Media Contact
Zane Scott
Zane Scott Media
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Photo By: Zane Scott Media