Even though Ernie Budlowski ventured into some new territory within a familiar place during the 2026 Connecticut State TDCs, the veteran XPO driver still found the route to a championship result. As you’ll hear in this edition of the podcast, Ernie has been a part of 22 editions of the Connecticut State TDCs. He’s now won 15 State Titles and, in 2026, Ernie added the Sleeper Class championship to his TDC career accomplishments, which now includes first-place trophies across five different vehicle classes.

This year, Ernie brought home the State Grand Championship for the fourth time in his career that also includes the crowning achievement of 2.8 million safe miles over his 31 years as a professional driver. While NTDC 2026 will be his 15th trip to the Nationals, Ernie tells us he never takes these opportunities for granted. In fact, one of the many highlights of the conversation can be heard when Ernie recalls his first trip to the Nationals in 2002 like it was yesterday. Ernie made his mark as a Rookie 24 years ago, winning third place in 3-Axle in Milwaukee.

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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