We begin our NTDC 2026 National Championship Rewind by visiting with XPO veteran driver Chris Poynor. A two-time National Champion coming into this year’s competition, Chris walks us through his run to the 2026 NTDC 3-Axle crown.

As he shares on the podcast, NTDC 2026 Week was going quite well for Chris until he reached the Championship Drive-Off. Chris had been shut out on scoring through the first three problems on the course and he needed to rally on the final three to have a shot at a trophy. We invite you to listen to Chris as he tells the story of what helped inspire him to truly excel on the final three challenges on the championship course.

Chris also takes some time during the conversation to praise the support of his cousin and fellow XPO driver Robert Dean. Like Chris, Robert is a State Grand Champion from Washington and he was part of Team XPO in Pittsburgh during NTDC 2026. As you will hear, Chris and Robert have been practice partners for several years now.

FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org.

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