Random Vandals Racing Locks In 2026 Title Charge With Megennis and Hays
The grid for the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is already taking shape, and one team has just fired a warning shot across the bow of the Grand Sport (GS) paddock. Random Vandals Racing has officially confirmed its lineup for the No. 92 BMW M4 GT4 EVO, and it is a pairing that blends raw speed with a storyline fans can really get behind.
The team announced that veteran wheelman Robert Megennis will join forces with Nicky Hays, the newly minted recipient of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development (3D) Scholarship. For a team that has been steadily climbing the ranks of American sports car racing, this move signals that Random Vandals isn’t just showing up to participate in 2026. They are showing up to hunt for hardware.
A Reunion of Speed and Friendship
Chemistry is often overlooked in endurance racing. You can have two of the fastest drivers in the world, but if they can’t agree on a setup or communicate effectively during a chaotic driver change, the race is lost before it begins. That shouldn’t be a problem for the No. 92 crew.
Megennis and Hays aren’t just co-drivers. They are long-time friends. That existing relationship significantly reduces the learning curve. They already speak the same language.”I’m ecstatic to join Random Vandals Racing alongside Rob in 2026,” Hays said, clearly energized by the opportunity.
“Rob and I have been friends for a while, and reuniting as teammates in sports cars is special. His experience in the GS class will be a huge asset.”Megennis echoed that sentiment. He knows that in the Pilot Challenge, arguably one of the continent’s toughest door-banging series, trusting your teammate to bring the car back clean and fast is everything.
“So excited to be racing in 2026 with Random Vandals and Nicky,” Megennis said. “RVR is a team that’s had a lot of success and wins over the last few years, and I know we’ll have all the tools to continue that form.”
The Impact of the IMSA 3D Scholarship
The arrival of Nicky Hays at Random Vandals carries significant weight beyond lap times alone. Hays enters the program holding the banner of the 2026–27 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship.
This isn’t a participation award. It is a prestigious honor that provides substantial resources to ensure talented drivers get a proper shot in top-tier machinery. Hays proved his mettle last year with impressive drives in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series, catching the eye of the scholarship committee and, crucially, RVR Team Principal Paul Sparta.
Sparta, known in the garage for his no-nonsense approach to racing, sees the potential in Hays. He knows that putting a hungry scholarship winner next to a proven podium contender like Megennis is a recipe for success.
“I have known Rob for a while, so I am really pleased to finally get him in a Vandals car,” Sparta said. “We are chuffed to have Nicky as Rob’s teammate. Nicky put in some great drives last year in Super Trofeo, so I can’t wait to see how Rob and Nicky will go in our M4. Fast is my expectation.”
The Weapon of Choice: BMW M4 GT4 EVO
The duo will pilot the No. 92 Vbrick Systems with Franck Muller BMW M4 GT4 EVO. In the hands of Random Vandals, the BMW platform has proven to be a formidable weapon. The car is known for its reliability and straight-line speed, two traits that are absolutely critical when you are fighting for position on the high banks of Daytona or the long straights of Road America.
The GS class is a meat grinder. It features a mix of factory-supported efforts and privateer squads, all fighting within tenths of a second. To win here, you need a car that can handle the abuse of a four-hour endurance race and a team that executes pit stops flawlessly. Random Vandals Racing has spent the last few seasons refining its operation, and the 2025 season showed it has the momentum to run at the front.
All Eyes on Daytona
The clock is already ticking toward January. The season opener at Daytona International Speedway is the ultimate litmus test. There is nowhere to hide on the high banks. For Random Vandals, the goal is clear. They have the car, they have the financial backing of partners like Vbrick Systems and Franck Muller, and now, they have the drivers.
Megennis brings the consistency and the calm hand of experience. Hays brings the fire of a driver who knows he has earned a golden opportunity and wants to prove IMSA right for choosing him. When the engines fire in Florida, the No. 92 won’t just be another car on the entry list. It will be a serious contender.
