Warped Motor Sports Returns to Action for the 2026 Race Season

Just as quickly as the 2025 race season concluded last September, the 2026 race season kicked off this past weekend at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. The Toxic and Illuminator monster trucks lied dormant for 4 months undergoing thorough repairs and detailed safety upgrades and inspections, but the rust has officially been knocked off both the trucks and drivers Cory Snyder and Daniel Donnelly.

The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland is rich in monster truck racing history, with events dating back to the early 1990’s. For decades, fans in the college town were treated to grassroots-style monster truck events. But in 2026, the team at Monsters of Metal introduced a new chapter of monster truck events – events featuring a mix of old-school style J-hook head-to-head racing and new-school freestyle obstacles.

Warped Motor Sports also has a rich history in Salisbury. Team founder and owner Jay Snyder’s first ever professional event took place in Salisbury in 2005, and the team – through many different iterations – have been in attendance over the years. With family and friends in attendance, Warped Motor Sports had something to prove against a stacked lineup of talented drivers and trucks.

Daniel Donnelly returned to the seat of the Illuminator monster truck, a seat that he will reside in for a majority of the 2026 race season. Donnelly was able to wheel the 13,000+ lbs. LED-outlined monster truck to two racing semi-final round appearances – both with photo finishes. In freestyle, ragged-edge performances at all three events would put Illuminator on the podium, including a 2nd place finish at the Saturday afternoon event. It was at the Saturday afternoon where Donnelly would attempt a “tombstone” – which includes driving in reverse up a backflip ramp, then balancing the truck on its front tires in stoppie fashion. Others attempted the trick, but Illuminator was able to come the closest to nailing it.

Team lead Cory Snyder returned behind-the-wheel of the infamous green and black destruction machine Toxic. With suspension and safety upgrades to test out, Snyder would certainly stake his claim on the weekend with full-throttle performances that the fans in Salisbury would never forget. Snyder and Toxic powered their way to a final round racing appearance Saturday afternoon and podium finishes in freestyle at both Saturday events – including an absolute barn-burner of a performance at the final event with a donut that would make its way all the way to the concrete floor of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Snyder and Toxic proved once again that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Frigid temperatures outside in the pit area led to some minor mechanical woes throughout the weekend, but the team didn’t let a little wind chill suppress the performances. Even with rear steering issues on both the Toxic and Illuminator monster trucks throughout the Friday night event, Snyder and Donnelly powered through and made sure the Salisbury fans left thrilled and wanting more.

Warped Motor Sports would like to extend a big thanks to the team at Monsters of Metal and The Metal Shop for hosting an incredible inaugural event – aptly titled “Blizzard Bash” – and graciously inviting Toxic and Illuminator out to take part in such a historic weekend.

Warped Motor Sports has one more event during the winter season before outdoor season kicks off in late March with the Renegade Monster Truck Tour. Next stop – the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina for a double-header event day on Saturday, February 14. This will be the team’s first ever appearance in Fayetteville.

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