DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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So, is bigger really better? | Daily 5-22-2024

Two Ohio tracks went against the national tours and allowed taller sprint car wicker bills for this season. I spoke to some area drivers, and I'll share today what I learned about whether it's working or not. Plus I've got a Brady Bacon hot take and a rundown on Tuesday's racing action. Let's go!

It's Wednesday, May 22nd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

One of the stories we talked about a few times earlier this season is the ongoing situation with wicker bill sizes in sprint car racing. We know the national tours have gone to one inch wickers on the tail edge of the wing to experiment, and a lot of regional areas have followed suit. Remember the hope was to maybe fix some of the issues with dirty air by dropping that wicker from two inches down to one. One area though went completely against the grain, and decided against both dropping the inch or leaving it at two. Attica and Fremont in Ohio decided to instead add an inch, and make it so that teams could have the option to a run a three inch wicker. I've been asked about this recently, and I figured since we are few races deep now into the Ohio season, we could get some feedback. I talked to three area sprint car drivers yesterday and had all three basically tell me the same thing. That the three inch wicker just doesn't make sense unless the tracks get really slick. And that hasn't been the case early this year. One driver said his team decided to not even buy three inch wickers yet, and another said their team tried them here and there, but ended up back on the two inch. A driver also told me they've been trying to stay on the one inch where possible just to help themselves out for when they race against the national tours. That was a point that came up when this rule was announced a while back, that by not keeping everyone in line with the tours, that local guys could have a tougher go when they race against the Outlaws and High Limit. The chatter about the wickers has quieted down from where it was early on, but I do think it's having an effect on the racing and some drivers this season. Like the new sprint car tire that was introduced a year ago, I think it's definitely helped some guys, and hurt some others. The cream will always rise to the top, and those that have struggled will figure it out, but I do think this has been a factor this year that hasn't been talked about enough.

The USAC sprint cars kicked off a three race week at Terre Haute last night with the 54th running of the Tony Hulman Classic. I tweeted this out this morning, but I can never get over how absolutely massive Terre Haute looks watching sprint car races there. It feels like Talladega. The track is so wide, and the straightaways seem to go on forever. I wonder if that's scary as a driver, or if it's better, knowing you maybe have some extra space to manuever. I'll start first with the night's B-Main. Kevin Newton gets junked coming to the white for absolutely no reason, and these are situations I have a hard time understanding. Supposed to be eight cars, ends up as just seven. Nate Ervin not close out back, so the top six are all going to make the main event. Matt Goodnight makes a move into three with a slider on Newton racing for third, the 16TH gets fed that right rear and he goes for a big ride. I understand that racers race, and guys are fighting for spots, but that's just brutal. Newton didn't deserve it, and it's a unnecessary risk to take when you're already in the feature. In the main event, three different leaders, with polesitter Kevin Thomas Jr. out front early, then Jake Swanson leading a bunch of laps. He hadn't led laps in a USAC feature since he won at Lincoln Park last July. He didn't win this one though, with Logan Seavey getting by late to take the rifle trophy. Swanson ended up second, with Brady Bacon third. Seavey extends the championship lead with two nights at Circle City up next. Seavey, Kyle Cummins, and Jake Swanson winners at Circle City in 2023. USAC will be there tonight and tomorrow night, and then Silver Crown hits IRP on Friday.

Before we move on, I have one USAC related hot take today. I think there is a case to be made for Brady Bacon to go full time winged racing, and like right now. I know that might be blasphemous, especially for all you non-wing fans, but hear me out. Looking at sprintcarratings.com, Bacon has made more money winged racing this season in less races. That's obviously helped dramatically by the World of Outlaws win at Haubstadt. But even if you take that victory out, he's still making more money on a per race basis in 2024 with the wing on. He's appeared at nine winged races between the Outlaws, High Limit, and AFCS. He's made the feature in all but one event, he's got the Outlaw win, a second with the AFCS at Attica, and an average finish of 12.4. His only missed feature was at Jacksonville where he had that crash that could have been really bad. The main wing guys are all over 20 starts at this point, and if you average out Bacon's winnings, he could be upwards of $50k already this season. That would be more than Danny Dietrich and Spencer Bayston at the moment, and just behind Logan Schuchart. Between national tour appearances, Ohio races, maybe the Maverick series, and things like MOWA and POWRi, I think Bacon could do really well. He hasn't run a significant winged schedule since 2017, and I could see that group getting better as they go, with Billy Lawhead on the wrenches. Even with last night's podium run, he's already 215 points behind Seavey for the USAC sprint car title. If there was a year for him to do it, it might be this year. That's my hot take of the day.

At Action Track USA last night, it was a packed house to see a nice field of 39 Short Track Super Series modifieds. Mat Williamson picked up the win, navigating lap traffic and holding off a challenge from Billy Pauch Jr. Alex Yankowski a nice run to finish third. Remember this was a show up points only event, so no movement in the south region standings. Williamson leads the south region by seven over Anthony Perrego. The Short Track Super Series is back next Thursday at Airborne Park.

Up at Millbridge, last night was night one of two in town for the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets. I said yesterday this could be an opportunity for Cannon McIntosh to really blow this championship battle out, and that's exactly what happened. Karter Sarff dominated the feature, leading all 30 laps for season win number two. But a podium for McIntosh with Ryan Timms down in 12th, and a DNF for Chase McDermand, means Cannon Mac's lead is now triple digits. Two wins, nine top fives, nine top tens in nine races is tough to beat with any series. McIntosh at the moment leading the standings for both national midget series. The Xtreme midgets will do it all over again tonight at Millbridge, before heading to Atomic this weekend.

In Iowa, a busy Memorial Day weekend gets started tonight for the USMTS modifieds. They've got five races in five nights coming up, with Hamilton County up first. They will then hit Fayette County on Thursday, Mississippi Thunder on Friday, Deer Creek on Saturday, and Mason City on Sunday. All races this weekend are eithre $3000 to win or $5000 to win. It's been over a month since the USMTS last raced, going back to Rodney Sanders' win at Tri-State back on April 20th. Jake Timm currently leads the championship over Dan Ebert and Terry Phillips. Jim Chisolm is the onlly driver with multiple wins through the first nine races. If you can't get to the track this weekend. all the USMTS shows are streamed live on RacinDirt.

Around the other dirt racing podcasts this week, Winged Nation has Buddy Kofoid and Lucas Wolfe, Dirt Track Confessions has Hannah Newhouse, Quicktime has Dusty Zomer, Hoogie's Garage has Ashlyn Rodriguez, Kelby Watt, and Brian Brown. Turn 2 Terribles has Austin Bishop, Plum Wild has Joey Lingron, Getting up to Speed has Mark Garner, and there are new episodes of the Dirt Reporters, the Dirt Nerds, Dirt Tracks and Rib Racks, Racing Roundup, and the Driver's Project. Head over to dirtrackr.com/podcasts to find some new shows to add to your podcast app.

That's it for the daily show today. Make sure to like this video and subscribe wherever you tune in.

Hope you guys have a great Wednesday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow!