DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Controversial calls, boring late model racing, wild flooding at Huset's | Daily 6-23-2024
A big show today, as we'll talk boring late model races, history made, opportunity seekers, and a racing rule I just continue to really dislike. Let's go!
It's Sunday, June 23rd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
There is a whole boat load of racing to talk about today, but unfortunately none of it involves the big money shows at Huset's. We did get that Wednesday show in last week, but the entire rest of the weekend ended up being postponed because of rain. And man did they get some rain. Much of the facility ended up being flooded because of the creek off the backside of the property going way over it's banks. And there were a number of campers that had to be rescued from flood waters take over that camping area. I don't believe any injuries were reported, but a really tough deal for folks who will have to deal with flooded out vehicles and campers. Huset's and the World of Outlaws are working on potential reschedule dates and they will announce that information when it's ready. Some wild photos and videos though of Huset's and the situation there. The Outlaws will be back in action this coming weekend with two nights at Cedar Lake in Wisconsin.
At Lernerville for the Firecracker 100, we had Ricky Thornton Jr. making history, becoming the first driver to ever win it back-to-back. The battle out front last night was pretty good early on with Mike Marlar and Drake Troutman also in the mix and leading laps. But once RTJ got out front right before half way, that was it. His margin of victory at the end was nearly 12 and a half seconds, and only eight cars were on the lead lap. There continue to be grumblings about the quality of racing we are seeing at the top of dirt late model racing right now, and some of the dominating performances in crown jewel type events this season certainly don't help that narrative. Thornton now has 11 Lucas wins on the season, and he's led every lap in six of those races. But, I think it's important to note that this doesn't necessarily feel like a problem across all of dirt late model racing. We've seen good shows plenty often through the year, including with Lucas and the Outlaws. So is this a larger problem for this side of the sport, or are some just making a big deal out of really good teams being really good teams. It's hard to say. Behind RTJ, Devin Moran charged from 16th to second, which included being involved in an early incident, and Marlar finished third. Hat tip as well to Drake Troutman, he was fifth last night, but he also won one of the prelim features on Friday. That was his first career win with Lucas, and he was obviously emotional about it, especially with losing his dad not all that long ago. Status quo in the Lucas standings, with RTJ, Davenport, Moran, and Tim McCreadie continuing to hold down those top four spots. Portsmouth and Muskingum County up next in two weeks.
With Huset's washed out, attention in the sprint car world really seemed to be split between Super Dirt Cup at Skagit and the IRA/Maverick mini speedweek. At Skagit, Corey Day was the big winner on Saturday night, taking down $76,500 with the win. That was $62k for the victory, plus more for leading laps. Zeb Wise ended up second after leading early, and Cole Macedo was third. Corey and Ronnie Day are now the first ever father-son combo to win the Dirt Cup at Skagit. Day really felt like the show all weekend, as even though he didn't win either prelim show, he spent plenty of time railing the top side and delighting sprint car fans with his cushion banging. We've about run out of nice things to say about the young California star, but I still want to make sure you are enjoying watching him on dirt while you can. He hasn't made any more pavement starts since winning that late model feature at Hickory back in April, but there are still plenty of rumblings about his future on that side of things. I would expect more pavement stuff at some point this season, and if I was a betting man, I'd put a nice chunk of change on this being his final full time year in a sprint car. As for Zeb Wise, he started the Skagit weekend with a 12th to the win charge on Thursday, and went 17th to 7th on Friday. He's currently 10th in the High Limit standings, and that team has battled this season after winning the All Star title in 2023. We'll see if this provides them a boost when the High Limit season gets back going this week at Lake Ozark. Dominic Gorden also a Skagit winner, it was his first 410 victory. Plenty of carnage though the event as well, which included Dominic Scelzi going for a nasty tumble on Thursday and sitting out the rest of the weekend. The NARC sprint cars are back this coming weekend with a stop at Silver Dollar on Saturday. Cole Macedo holds a five point lead over Justin Sanders in the championship.
In Indiana, the IRA Maverick speedweek seemed to draw a bunch of opportunity seekers. Instead of racing with the Outlaws at Huset's and the tough competition there, a bunch of teams decided to run these races to try and steal some wins. It was 55 cars at Lincoln Park, 47 at Bloomington, and 51 last night at Haubstadt. Thursday at Lincoln Park, we got a fun battle between Ayrton Gennetten and Emerson Axsom, with Axsom coming out on top for his first career winged 410 win. I posted this on social media, but I loved that those two raced each other hard, then got out of their cars grinning and shook hands after. Friday night at Bloomington, it was all Jacob Allen. He was one that we originally expected at Huset's, but the Shark 1A made the late call to head to Indiana, and it paid off. They grabbed a win and avoided the weather. Axsom again on the podium, as was Chris Windom. And then last night at Haubstadt, we did have a few extra invaders, with Tyler Courtney showing up after Huset's, and Justin Peck making an appearance driving for Michael Dutcher and the 17GP. All Sunshine out front, he topped Axsom and Carson Short at the end. The other driver who had a shifting schedule was Brady Bacon. Originally on the Huset's entry list, he went to Putnamville and raced with Kevin Newton. And he's continued through the weekend with USAC getting rained out in Wisconsin. The four night speedweek concludes tonight at Terre Haute. We'll see who else decides to show up for the finale.
Jumping back to late model racing, the World of Outlaws had three shows, with stops at Thunderhill, Ponderosa and Brownstown. Brandon Sheppard had yet to win an Outlaw race this season, but that is now no longer true. He went back-to-back between Thunderhill and Ponderosa, and a top five last night at Brownstown has him back out front in the championship by 12 points over Nick Hoffman. Hoffman though still leading the series in wins, now with four. He outdueled Dustin Sorensen last night in a messy feature at Brownstown. Bobby Pierce continues to charge back up through the field, he's now fourth in the standings after an eighth, and two podiums. Unfortunately for him though, he's still triple digits behind Sheppard and Hoffman. The Outlaws are off today, but right back to racing tomorrow at Independence Motor Speedway.
One other Outlaw note, Chris Madden has fallen off the tour, with that team announcing late last week that Madden is dealing with quote "unforeseen health issues." They are hoping for a swift recovery and return to the track. Madden gives up a top five spot in the standings, and his last race was a top five in the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora. Madden had already announced in early June that he was stepping back from full time competition after 2024, and pulling back to a very abbreviated schedule for 2025. Obviously hoping for the best for Madden and his family.
In other late model racing, Jeff Smith and Zack Mitchell took the Hunt the Front series shows at Lancaster and Cherokee. That score for Mitchell was a nice $20,000 payday. It was not a great weekend for points leader Brandon Overton, he had a DNF at Lancaster after a flat tire and suspension damage. He also had issues last night at Cherokee and finished 12th. He's still out front though over Sam Seawright and Ashton Winger. Hunt the Front back July 6th at Senoia.
Summer Nationals wins went to Ryan Unzicker, and two more for Tyler Erb. We had a slide job dustup at Spoon River between Jason Feger and Erb, and Unzicker was there to capitalize. Erb though, bouncing back to win at Brownstown Illinois and Pevely last night. Erb now with six wins in eight races. The Summer Nationals are at Lincoln Speedway today. Trevor Neville, Tyler Nicely, Cole Falloway weekend modified winners.
Other weekend winners included Steve Buckwalter in 410 action at Williams Grove, Matt Campbell won Saturday at Lincoln, Anthon Macri drove all the way from Huset's back to Port Royal and won there as well. Jordan Mallett won with the ASCS sprint cars at Batesville, and weekend USMTS wins went to Tyler Wolff and Jake O'Neill at 81 Speedway.
Before we close out, Zeth Sabo the winner last night at Fremont in a controversial call. He and Cap Henry tangled in turns three and four, with Henry ending up tipping over, and Sabo going for a spin. After the red was called for Henry tipped over, they gave Sabo the lead back for the restart, and he held on for one lap with the nose wing hanging off of it to win. Track officials deemed that because Sabo didn't stop moving, and the caution wasn't called for him specifically, he got his spot back. That feels like some pretty significant mental gymnastics to say that Sabo wasn't really involved there. Usually cars that spin to avoid a crash get spots back, but that's not what this was. It is not lost on some folks as well that Fremont is operated by Rich Farmer, who also owns the car Sabo drives. There is some gray area here in the rulebooks, and I still don't understand why cars can be involved in incidents and get spots back like it never happened. I know scoring reverts back to previous laps, and you can't use loops like they do in NASCAR, but no way can you convince me that cars should get back to the lead. At best, Sabo should have been fourth, because that's where he appeared to have blended back in. This is a rule that requires way too much of a subjective decision to be made, which then opens up the controversy with Farmer involved. Definitely some folks not happy in Ohio after that one.
That's it for the Daily show today. There is some scattered racing around the country, so make sure to hit up the streaming schedule today over at dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
Hope you guys have a great rest of your Sunday, we'll see you back here tomorrow!