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Dakoda Armstrong

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Dakoda Armstrong (born July 16, 1991) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 28 Toyota Camry for JGL Racing. He started his racing career at the age of six, winning the 1998 World Karting Association championship in his first year of racing. At age 13, he became the youngest driver to win a USAC national championship when he won the 2004 USAC Mel Kenyon Midget Series.

Armstrong began his racing career racing go-karts. He comes from an Indiana family that operates a corn and grain farming operation producing 1.9 million gallons of ethanol fuel per year for various energy programs. While growing up, he worked on his own racecars in facilities on his family’s property.

From 2007 to 2010, Armstrong entered select races of the USAC Silver Crown Series, USAC National Sprint Car Championship and USAC National Midget Series. In 2009, he signed a driver development deal with Penske Racing and drove for Cunningham Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series for seven races, posting a best finish of 3rd. He returned to Cunningham Motorsports in 2010 to drive the No. 22 Dodge full-time, winning at Talladega Superspeedway and Salem Speedway, finishing the season 7th in the standings.

In 2011, Armstrong continued in the ARCA Racing Series, running six races and winning at Winchester Speedway. He also began his NASCAR career, signing with ThorSport Racing to run seven races in the Camping World Truck Series, finishing 21st in his debut at Iowa Speedway and earning his first top ten at Kentucky Speedway. In 2013, Armstrong drove for Turn One Racing in the Truck Series, while also running five races in the Nationwide Series for Richard Childress Racing in the No. 33 and No. 21 cars.

In 2014, Armstrong competed full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Richard Petty Motorsports, earning a pole position at Daytona after qualifying was cancelled due to rain. He finished 13th in the points standings. In 2017, driving for JGL Racing in the Xfinity Series, he scored a career-best 3rd place finish at Daytona, and a 5th place finish at Iowa Speedway. However, Armstrong was released by JGL Racing on September 25 due to a lack of sponsorship.

In 2018, Armstrong finished 12th at the ARCA/CRA Super Series's Redbud 400 stock car race at Anderson Speedway. In 2021, he entered two USAC Sprints non-points races at Indianapolis Raceway Park, finishing 5th and 10th. In 2022, he finished second at Anderson's Little 500 sprint car race, and was runner-up at the Indiana-based 500 Sprint Car Tour. He also entered four USAC Midgets non-points races at Indianapolis Raceway Park, with a best result of third at the Carb Night Classic.

Dakoda Armstrong married Karlee Hensley on February 5, 2017. His younger cousin, Caleb Armstrong (born 1992), and younger brother, Dalton Armstrong (born 1994), are also racing drivers. Caleb competed in a few ARCA races for Venturini Motorsports in 2012 and 2013, while Dalton has competed in the CARS Tour and marquee late model events such as the Winchester 400. Beyond racing, Armstrong enjoys working out, iRacing, and watching football, and mentoring his younger siblings when they race.