Shift Up Now Athlete Madelyn Tabor took over the American Rally Association (ARA) class championship lead when she and co-driver Sophia McKee earned their first L4WD class win at the Overmountain Rally Tennessee (OVRMTN) in Newport, TN on September 18-19, 2026.
Driving the No. 209 Madelyn Tabor Racing / Matrix Motorsports Ford Fiesta Rally 3 nicknamed “Jellybean,” Tabor is supported by Shift Up Now, WIMNA, Steven Redd Racing, Tabor Accounting Group, and Rusty Wallace Ford.
Tabor entered this seventh event of the season tied for second in the National L4WD championship standings. OVRMTN also brought one of the deepest ARA fields of the season, including international rally talent.
The 13 stages and 100+ competition miles of OVRMTN ran through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, including repeated runs through stages such as Low Gap, The Gulf of Tennessee, Wasp, Weaver’s Bend, and Big Clifty before closing with the Newport Speedway Super Special Stage. One of the most demanding events on the calendar, OVRMTN is known for technical gravel roads, elevation changes, tight and twisting sections, rough rocky areas, and limited room for error.
On Thursday, Tabor and McKee completed pre-event recce, making stage notes and settling into their communication rhythm.
Friday then brought hot and humid conditions for the 11:00am EST opening of the rally. The No. 209 lined up third in class (16th overall), and started out SS1 'Low Gap' with a very competitive pace, even after hitting a rock and developing a minor vibration in the car.
The next stage was SS2, 'The Gulf of Tennessee,' with almost 15 miles of tight and twisty roads. Tabor focused on managing the car and trusting the notes. SS3 continued on this same note, then the duo was able to shave 17 seconds off the last stage of the day, ‘The Gulf of Tennessee II.’ With the National L4WD championship in sight, the team’s approach was measured and intentional.
On Saturday, warm, humid conditions continued for the 9:00am EST start. This time, Tabor and McKee were starting second in class, and 17th overall.
The first loop of three stages (SS5,SS6,SS7) started out smoothly, setting down good times. By SS6, Tabor and McKee had taken over the lead in class, with the second-place car running approximately 30 seconds behind. They pushed the pace, shaving off 37 seconds on SS8 from SS5, and 17 seconds on SS9 from SS6. The SS10 and SS12 ended up being canceled.
Ultimately, Jellybean crossed the finish line 15th overall and ninth nationally, with Tabor and McKee earning their first-ever victory in the L4WD class. This win, in conjunction with Tabor’s win in the power stage (a national-only stage near the end of the rally awarding three extra points) also gave Tabor the ARA class championship lead.
“Overmountain is such a technical event, and it takes a lot of focus to manage the car, the notes, and the road conditions from start to finish,” said Tabor. “Sophia and I came into the weekend wanting to be smart, keep building confidence, and bring the car home. Earning max points and first in class was a huge push for the championship, and I'm happy to go into the final event first in class.
“This season has been all about learning, building, and continuing to grow with the car and the team. Huge thank you to Sophia, the entire Tabor Racing Team crew, Matrix Motorsports, Shift Up Now, WIMNA, Steven Redd Racing, Tabor Accounting Group, and Rusty Wallace Ford. We’ll ride this momentum to LSPR and aim to finish the season on a high!”
Next up, Tabor heads to Marquette, Michigan for the eighth event of the 2026 ARA National Championship, the Lake Superior Performance Rally on October 9-10, 2026.
