Tyler Courtney Wins First 410 Race Since Injury vs. World Of Outlaws

Tyler Courtney is back — back in 410 Sprint Car victory lane.

Following a serious back injury during last July’s Kings Royal week at Eldora Speedway that sidelined him until the start of this season, the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing campaigner prevailed in a thriller Sunday against the World of Outlaws at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. — a race in which Courtney made contact with Buddy Kofoid amid a fierce battle for the lead on the initial final-lap attempt.

It marked the 31-year-old’s first 410 victory of any kind since last June 28’s Diamond Classic at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.

“Yeah, it’s our first one in probably almost 10 months. We won one right before I got hurt there, and then, yeah, I sat out seven months there,” said Courtney, who opened the 2026 season with back-to-back ASCS victories at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., but had gone 17 races between 410 wins. “Came back and won a couple 360 races, and kind of got off to a sluggish start with the 410 stuff. We’ve kind of gotten going a little bit better, just haven’t been able to get qualified.”

To win again Sunday at the Indiana quarter-mile he raced so often during his USAC days, Courtney had to outduel the nation’s No. 1 Sprint Car driver in Kofoid, according to FloRacing’s most recent power rankings. Courtney and Kofoid were locked in an intense, back-and-forth fight for the lead, exchanging multiple sliders in traffic until exiting turn two on the initial white-flag lap.

🤯 White flag in the air - battle for the lead! Tyler Courtney and Buddy Kofoid come together@WorldofOutlawspic.twitter.com/s9v4oyQRmw

— DIRTVision (@dirtvision) April 20, 2026

Admittedly gunning to reclaim the inside line, Courtney darted between a pair of lapped cars down the backstretch of Lap 39 — only to clip Kofoid right before the entry into turn three. The contact sent Kofoid spinning, thus ending his night.

"I was just trying to get back to the bottom there. Yeah, I mean, we made contact, but I think he's gonna be doing the same thing coming off the top like that," Courtney said. "You're going for the win, and they already threw the white. Whoever gets through the next corner first is gonna win the race.

"That was an awesome battle. I don't think I've been a part of one that good since my non-wing days, I think the Kyle Cummins always got the best of me on that. Just an awesome night for (us)."