Rob Poole To Return Back Behind the Wheel in 2026

After stepping away from the driver’s seat for 10 years, Rob Poole is back and will be joining The Fyre Place & Patio Shop OSCAAR Hot Rods presented by Bromley Automotive for the 2026 campaign.

“Honestly, it's just about having fun for us,” Poole said. “Got an opportunity there last fall to pick up a car, not really sure what we were gonna do with it, and just kind of looked at the rules. We decided the Hot Rod division seemed like it had kind of taken off and I like the old school car looks so we decided to proceed in that direction. So we've been working away here all Winter on it - probably not as much as we should be; I’ve just been involved with my kids sports and coaching and stuff. So we're working hard here to be ready to go hopefully at the start of the season.”

The decision to return back behind the wheel comes easily, with the kids being older and his daughter having grown interested. 

 “For the last couple seasons, we've been helping work on Danny Benedict's late model in the APC series and my daughter especially grew a real love for it,” he shared. “Danny treats her like his own and the kids were interested in it, and I've never really lost it. So yeah, I just decided to get ourselves a car, and I just want to get the kids involved, and have some fun really. That’s what it’s all about.”

Going into his season, Poole is keeping the goals in check in just wanting to make some laps, knock the rust off, and “learn what it’s all about again to go left.” 

“We get to go on the road here again and travel like we used to and see some new tracks, while hanging out with some friends again that we haven't raced with,” he added.

Looking at the schedule, there’s an excitement in getting to Flamboro Speedway and Full Throttle Motor Speedway to try them both out, but also getting the chance to race dirt for the first time in his career at Brighton Speedway. 

For Poole, he grew up going to the track as his parents would go to Sunset Speedway weekly to watch the races. He got to be friends with Herb Walters and helped him work on John Mombourquette’s car. 

The experience led him to buying a car of his own, and having success with becoming a multi-time thunder car champion. 

“That was pretty good; never expected to get that good, or that level at that point,” he reflected. “We were just happy to be out there, but we were winning lots and touring and winning and hanging out with all my good friends working on the car, and that's what we did for fun. Those were some really good times back then. 

“I mean the super (late model) was an amazing car to drive. There's nothing like that, but never really had the budget that we needed to run that successfully. But I got good memories from all of it and making good friends at the racetrack. But I’d have to say the hay day of the thunder cars was the top of the shelf there.”  

Based on the road that he has taken to get to the success he had over the years, Poole’s advice to those getting started is don’t be afraid to get involved. 

“I was super shy,” he recalled. “When I was younger, I just never put myself out there, but it was always something that really interested me. Finally, like I said, working with Herbie, and that felt like you were part of the team, and then next thing, just taking that leap to buy your own car, just having no clue what you're doing and learning along the way. But, I would just say, if you're interested at all, don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody, especially nowadays. It seems like everybody's looking for somebody to help them work on the cars and stuff. So just put yourself out there.”

As he gets ready to make his return back behind the wheel, there are some people he would like to thank.

“First of all, I want to thank a few people that helped me get here,” he started. “I want to start with my wife, my daughter, my son; without their support, I wouldn't be doing this. They were all in 100% when we had this opportunity, and now looking forward to doing it with them. I want to thank Brett and Ernie Murray; they're the ones I got the car from. They've been very generous with some of the old parts that I need and just help in general, and talking me into doing this. I think Brett was the one that kind of pushed me and some days, I wonder if it was the right decision, but it'll be in the end. 

“I gotta thank Doug and Danny Benedict. They have both put in a million hours on this car, especially Doug over the winter, and I wouldn't be able to do it without them. I can't thank them enough. My buddy Warren is still building motors just like the old days; as soon as I told him I needed an engine, he was all over it, able to help me out again. So I appreciate that. I got another young guy there, Cameron Gill, he's been helping us out, showing an interest in it. He's just a young guy, but an awesome fabricator, welder; we've had him doing everything, and he's been a real asset helping us get this car going so I gotta thank them first off. 

“And then the sponsors. I’ve got Brett Murray’s company Jebco Industries. One of our old sponsors from way back when found out we were racing again - they were all over it, and that’s R.A. Electrical. I can’t thank them enough. We’ve got a couple new sponsors - Batte Pole Line, Worksite Clothing & Boot, Futuregreen Irrigation, DNA Landscaping, CVP Crop Management, Eva’s Fresh Flowers, and Visser Farms. So without all of them being able to help us get this car going, I couldn't do it, so gotta give them a big shout out.”