Indy Triple Crown Report: Cole Davies Commands the Field
Date: March 21, 2026
Location: Indianapolis, IN
The Indianapolis round marked a pivotal moment in the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship, serving as the first Triple Crown event of the season. Cole Davies of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing showcased his dominance, achieving a perfect 1-1-1 performance across three 10-minute races, solidifying his position as a title contender.
Race Results:
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Race 1:
- Winner: Cole Davies (Yamaha)
- 2nd: Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC Progressive)
- 3rd: Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
- Notable: Pierce Brown (Yamaha), entering as points leader, recovered to finish 10th after a last-place start.
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Race 2:
- Winner: Cole Davies (Yamaha)
- 2nd: Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC Progressive)
- 3rd: Pierce Brown (Yamaha)
- Notable: Hammaker struggled with an early crash, finishing 9th.
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Race 3:
- Winner: Cole Davies (Yamaha)
- 2nd: Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
- 3rd: Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC Progressive)
- Notable: Brown and Jalek Swoll (Triumph) finished 4th and 5th, respectively.
Davies’s victories across all three races not only marked his first Triple Crown sweep but also elevated him to the top of the championship standings by a narrow margin. His successful strategy involved careful management of early race dynamics and decisive overtakes.
Championship Standings:
- 1st: Cole Davies – 25 points (1-1-1 finishes)
- 2nd: Seth Hammaker – 24 points (3-9-2 finishes)
- 3rd: Jo Shimoda – 23 points (2-2-3 finishes)
- 4th: Pierce Brown – 23 points (10-3-4 finishes)
The early championship race now sees four riders within two points of each other, intensifying the competition ahead of the upcoming East/West Showdown, which promises to shake up the current standings.
Key Quotes:
- Cole Davies: “I just let the race come to me tonight and made some passes. It’s good to come back and have a good Triple Crown.”
- Jo Shimoda: “I need to ride faster and keep improving on my starts. There’s still more to work on.”
- Seth Hammaker: “I salvaged a podium despite not getting great starts. I need to find better positions off the gate.”
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship will take a brief hiatus before resuming at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL, for the season’s 10th race on March 21, 2026.
