Upon the unexpected passing of a longtime sponsor, the Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series has rebranded and beefed up its rookie program for the 2026 season.

The Trevor Stewart Rookie of the Race and Rookie of the Year awards pay tribute to the Big Lake, Minn., resident whose Garage Tech-Xtreme had long sponsored rookie programs. He died March 18 at the age of 52 while exercising.

The updated rookie program will pay $100 to the top rookie in each WISSOTA Challenge Series feature. At season’s end, the overall Rookie of the Year will receive $1,000 with $750 to second and $500 to third.

"Trevor was extremely passionate about recognizing the importance of our rookies,” series director Chris Stepan said in a news release. “As he climbed through different classes of racing himself over the years, he fully understood the challenges of taking the chance of stepping up into a new class.”

The rookie program sponsors are Elite Epoxy, Rod Lindquist and family, Connection Transport, Werschay Homes, Winner’s Sports Bar along with Chad Stewart and family.