Our driver of the month feature has predominantly highlighted championship title holders and drivers progressing into the next levels of the sport over the past few years. All incredibly deserving and talented individuals who are a core part of our community. Today we want to highlight someone who is yet to win SuperChamps or race in the F1 (yet). Somebody absolutely at the heart of our community who is as much deserving of attention as any of our alumni or current drivers.

We’re proud to announce Joel Reynolds as our Driver of the Month for February 2026.

An instrumental element of DNH Racing and a competent and considered driver in his own right, Joel is a fixture of our long-format races. Despite living with cerebral palsy, Reynolds has competed in, and contributed to, some of the most thrilling endurance performances we’ve seen at Daytona venues across the country. From the team’s 24-Hour victory in 2025, to their current campaign to tackle the 2026 Endurance Championship across all Daytona circuits, Joel has played a key role both on and off the track.

Most recently, Joel took part in the Daytona Sandown Park Three-Hour Solo at the start of February, a challenge rarely attempted, let alone completed, by any driver. The physical and mental demands of running a kart solo for three hours are immense. For Joel, those challenges are amplified significantly by his condition.

As he explains himself, managing the physical strain is a constant consideration:

“My driving style is steady and very courteous. I'm not the best at blocking people unless it's Chris [Thompson], and then I try everything to keep him behind me. I also like to push myself with my kart driving, especially if I'm only doing 45-minute stints. This is because I get tired really quickly, because I burn eight times more energy than the average person.”

Speaking with Joel himself and Chris Thompson, a lifelong friend and one of the co-founders of DNH Racing, it quickly becomes clear that a single article cannot fully capture Joel’s influence on the team or the community around him. From these conversations, however, one thing is abundantly clear, Joel brings an energy and personality that sits right at the heart of the team.

Chris and Joel have known each other for over sixteen years, having first met at school. Their friendship predates DNH Racing itself, and motorsport has been a constant thread throughout that time.

Joel’s introduction to karting came through Chris.

“I started karting because of Chris Thompson. He mentioned about him racing at first and then he said about trying me in a go-kart. We then did a few sessions at Rouge Karting, which was an indoor track. Being a big petrolhead at the time we chatted for months about cars and karting until finally he took me to an indoor track.”

Even from those early days, Joel’s determination stood out. Chris recalls that throughout school Joel was often told by the system what he couldn’t do, rather than what he could. But those closest to him always saw things differently.

Joel himself admits that part of his motivation has always been proving those limitations wrong.

“I want to prove to myself and everyone that even if you have a disability, you can still do whatever you put your mind to. Also, I'm stubborn and like a challenge, and thought the opportunity is there, now's the time, let's do this.”

That stubborn determination was one of the driving forces behind taking on the Sandown Park Three-Hour Solo earlier this year. The race pushes drivers to their physical limits even under normal circumstances. Managing energy levels is something Joel has had to learn carefully, particularly because his condition means he expends far more energy than most drivers during a stint.

Despite the challenge, he embraced the opportunity.

“There was a lot to take away from my three-hour solo event that I need to process,  not in terms of racing, but I need to work on my energy management because of my cerebral palsy.”

Joel’s role within DNH Racing extends far beyond driving duties. In fact, when the team first began, he wasn’t even behind the wheel.

“My relationship with DNH goes back to its roots. One of my best friends (Thompson) wanted to start a team and he offered me a seat, could I refuse? Definitely not. I've been part of the team since the beginning. At first, I was tasked with the pit boards, then Chris said, “would you like 30 minutes in the driving seat?” I obviously said yes, and this is how I became part of the DNH family.”

Since then, Joel has become a constant presence at DNH events. Whether he is driving, organising pit boards, photographing races, or simply bringing humour to long nights in the pits, his influence is felt across the team. Chris describes Joel as the personality behind DNH Racing, someone who brings humour and perspective to the intense moments that inevitably come with endurance racing.

During races Joel is known for holding up entertaining pit boards and signals, often while Chris is behind the wheel, bringing a bit of light-heartedness to even the most stressful stints. He is also particularly supportive of the younger and less experienced drivers within the team, often taking the time to encourage them and ensure they feel included. For Chris, that sense of care and community is exactly what DNH Racing was built around. And Joel fits perfectly within that ethos.

Away from the circuit Joel remains heavily involved in the team’s activities, including photography for DNH, documenting many of the moments that make up their endurance campaigns. He’s also involved in several charity initiatives, continuing to support causes close to his heart outside of racing. His passion for motorsport, however, remains at the centre of everything.

Reflecting on his favourite moment so far, Joel points to a memory that came not in competition itself, but during preparation for one of the biggest endurance events on the calendar.

“My favourite event of my career was when I practiced for the MK 24 hours because I did my PB. I don't know the exact time but that was a highlight. I unfortunately didn't drive in that race; I had a situation which made me pull out. I still supported the DNH teams that were competing in this race.”

That willingness to support the team regardless of circumstance is part of what makes Joel such an important member of the DNH family. As many readers will remember, DNH went onto win that years 24 in the SODI class. For what it’s worth, one of our favourite memories from the day was seeing Joel on the top spot of the podium alongside his lifelong friend, Chris. We can’t say what the result would have been had Joel not been there, but we’re sure that he brought the strategy, humour and encouragement he’s renowned for to all of the DNH teams, of which there were numerous, racing that day.

Looking ahead, his goals remain simple.

“I just want to race and get quicker and smoother around every track we attend. I also want to be able to do more solo races, this will come in time.”

And if his journey so far proves anything, it’s that Joel approaches every opportunity with the same determination that first brought him to the sport. For anyone thinking about getting involved in karting themselves, Joel’s advice is refreshingly straightforward.

“My advice is to just try anything, even if you're scared or worried you're not good enough. Just try it and see where racing takes you. It doesn't matter if you come last, like I did in my solo three hours, if you enjoy karting go for it. I'm a strong believer that anyone can do anything.”

He also encourages new drivers to look towards the community side of the sport.

“If you want to get into karting consider joining a chilled karting team that does some endurance racing but gives you flexibility about the time in the kart.”

At Daytona we often celebrate podiums, championships and career milestones and rightly so. But just as important are the individuals who shape the spirit of our community. The drivers who bring people together, support their teammates, and remind us why we all fell in love with motorsport in the first place.

Joel Reynolds is undoubtedly one of those people.

Whether he’s behind the wheel, holding a pit board, or capturing the action from the sidelines, Joel continues to prove that passion, determination and community spirit can carry a driver a very long way indeed.

And for that reason, we are proud to recognise him as Daytona’s Driver of the Month for February 2026.