Tovo Brothers Celebrate Birthday Weekend with a Trans Am Podium at Watkins Glen

Ethan and Jackson Tovo enjoyed a memorable birthday weekend at Watkins Glen International, highlighted by Ethan's first official Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli podium finish during the seventh round of the 2026 championship with Nitro Motorsports. The twin brothers celebrated their birthdays on Sunday, July 19, making the weekend one to remember both on and off the racetrack.

After a solid qualifying session, Ethan lined up 13th for race one while Jackson started directly alongside him in 14th. Both drivers immediately began working their way through the field. Ethan charged to a sixth-place finish, while Jackson followed with another strong drive to eighth, continuing the steady progress both brothers have shown throughout the season, and earning a pair of top-ten results.

Sunday's second race delivered the breakthrough Ethan had been chasing all year. Following an aggressive and composed drive through the field, Ethan crossed the finish line in third to earn his first proper Trans Am podium, a milestone moment in his young racing career.

Jackson's weekend was equally impressive, considering the adversity he faced. After sustaining damage in Sunday's morning warm-up crash, the Nitro Motorsports crew worked tirelessly to repair the car in time for the race. Jackson rewarded the team's efforts by battling through the field to finish tenth despite the limited preparation before the green flag.

The weekend served as another indication that both brothers continue to trend upward as the season enters its second half with an eye on a professional career in motorsports in the future.

“This weekend is one I'll never forget,” explained Ethan. “Getting my first proper Trans Am podium on our birthday makes it even more special. We've been working toward this all season, and it feels great to finally put everything together. Huge thanks to Nitro Motorsports for giving me such a strong car and to everyone who's supported us along the way. Hopefully this is the first of many.”

“It was definitely a weekend with some ups and downs,” added Jackson. “The warm-up crash wasn't ideal, but the crew did an amazing job getting the car back together before the race. Even though the result wasn't exactly what we wanted, we learned a lot and kept fighting until the end. Watching Ethan get his first podium was awesome, and I know we'll both keep pushing for even bigger results.”

With another successful Trans Am weekend in the books, the brothers will now turn their attention back to Late Model competition as they head to Tri-County Speedway this weekend.

For more information on the Tovo Twins racing program, follow them on social media by searching ‘Tovo Motorsports’ or contact RTD Media at Info@RTD-Media.com.