DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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I had a theory for the struggles, but it was wrong | Daily 7-3-2024
Coming up we'll talk about Logan Schuchart's difficult 2024 season, or actually, maybe it's not as bad as we've thought it was. Plus where was Brent Marks last night, race results from around the country including Logan Seavey's dirt late model debut, and more. Let's go!
It's Wednesday, July 3rd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
Pennsylvania Speedweek round number four last night at Grandview Speedway. I was a little surprised to see only 24 cars there after Lincoln had 36 the night before. I know that Grandview is a bit of a hike for those teams based more around Harrisburg, and it's another two hours back today to Port Royal, but I would have liked to have seen more. One car that was missing that we initially expected to see was Brent Marks. Especially after he won the High Limit Grandview race back in late May. The chatter leading into PA Speedweek was that he would race starting at Grandview and run through Saturday at Port Royal. But the injury to crew guy Fud and some recent crashes seem to have kept that team at home. I think there is a reasonable chance we don't see them at all the rest of the week. Especially with such a lucrative stretch coming up between High Limit and the World of Outlaws big month of money races, which includes four days at Eldora where Marks has been very good in the past. It's been a brutal last month or so for Marks and that 19 team. They'd had eight straight finishes of eighth or better between Utica-Rome and I-70, which included that Grandview win. But since Eagle on June 11th, Marks has raced seven times, and finished 15th or worse in six of those starts. The only bright spot was a second place run at Port Royal for the Jim Kline Tribute. You can see why that team will likely use this off week from High Limit to reset instead of running the rest of speedweek. Last night's feature turned into a fun battle between front row starters Logan Schuchart and Anthony Macri. Both led laps, and they battled through lap traffic for much of the main event. Schuchart though eventually made the right move at the right time, and he came out on top for the $10,000 score. Macri was second, and Devon Borden was on the podium for the second straight night. Headed to Port tonight, Danny Dietrich maintains a 75 point lead in the speedweek championship after finishing fourth last night. Dietrich so far with two wins, and four top seven results through these first four races. Back to Logan Schuchart though, that team definitely is starting to look better after what has been an uncharacteristic first half of this sprint car season. Sixth in the World of Outlaws points, and he just picked up his first Outlaw win this past weekend at Cedar Lake. So two wins in his past three starts, plus a fourth at Lincoln. Huset's was a struggle the week before, but he was also fast at Knoxville, leading laps before ending up crashed. I was going to hypothesize today that maybe Logan has struggled more this season not having the second Shark car out with them on the road, but the numbers tell a different story. The perception right now is that Logan has been worse, but his average Outlaw feature finish is the best it's been since 2021. He's not starting features as well as he did last year, but he's actually qualifying a touch better, and he's more than a position higher on average at the end of races, 7.7 versus 8.8 last year. He's not winning or finishing top five as often, but he's in the top ten more often. So there are definitely some conflicting things here. I had thought maybe not having that second car to bounce ideas off of and share information with might be affecting this team, but the stats don't really show that. Schuchart though, definitely on the rise at the moment and building some momentum. Quick side note, Logan did tweet today that he won't be at Port Royal tonight or Saturday, but will be at Hagerstown on Thursday. After being on sprintcarunlimited.tv last night, PA Speedweek streaming shifts back to FloRacing tonight. Tune in there if you aren't headed for the speed palace.
At Gondik Law Speedway last night, Nick Hoffman grabbed his second super late model win in four starts with the XR Super Series. He won last Saturday at Norman County with the Outlaws, and led the final 11 laps last night for win number seven on the year. Ryan Gustin led a bunch in that race as well, but he ended up DNFing after a hard hit to the wall just as Hoffman was taking the lead from him. I'm not sure what went wrong there for Gustin, because his car just took off into turn one as he was nose to tail with Hoffman. I don't know if maybe losing the air off the nose is what caused it, but Gustin had a hard hit. Gustin continues to show speed with that Todd Cooney owned car at that Wells Infinity chassis, they just quite haven't had the results to show it. Bobby Pierce and Devin Moran were the rest of the podium. Moran extended his championship lead headed for Ogilvie tonight. Tonight's race is $50,000 to win and should again draw a nice field. Tonight's racing will then lead into a three day weekend for the World of Outlaws at Deer Creek Speedway, where Saturday will also pay $50,000 to win. While a lot of the sprint car teams are off for the fourth of July, the late model guys just keep racing.
If you want other late model action tonight, Cherokee Speedway has a $10,000 to win show that will draw a lot of the big southeast guys. That includes Daulton Wilson, Chris Ferguson, Ross Bailes, Zack Mitchell, and more. This one will be streamed on Hunt the Front TV.
Summer Nationals week four got going last night at Old No. 1 Speedway, and we will have a third different week long champion guaranteed. We told you yesterday that Tyler Erb is staying north with XR, and no Jason Feger in attendance last night. It looks like Feger will race a few times this week, just not every race. The feature was dominated by Tanner English, who picked up his first late model victory since a late season score at Duck River in 2023. English has had a tumultuous year, racing for several different owners before settling recently with Coltman Farms Racing. English now has eight straight top fives in Hell Tour action, and has to be the early favorite for this week's title. Rodney Melvin and Ethan Dotson completed last night's top three. I was super bummed for Logan Seavey who finally got to make his super late model debut. He started sixth, and was in the mix late for that lead battle running in third, when he spun to avoid an incident in front. He DNF'd after breaking something in that spin. He looked great though, and I don't think a win is off the table this season. I don't know what his plans are for today, as Seavey would have been heading to Red Hill in Illinois to run the USAC sprint car show, but that race just got postponed. Maybe he would consider racing another night in that Chris Bragg owned car, but we'll see. The Summer Nationals continues tonight at Benton Speedway.
With USAC rained out tonight, they will try again Friday and Saturday at Lincoln Park. Today's race at Red Hill was rescheduled for August 15th. And no, I haven't heard anything about any changes or disqualifications stemming from this past weekend's bolt-on weight situation at Macon Speedway.
In other sprint car action last night, Mark Dobmeier and Nick Omdahl were NOSA winners at River Cities, that saw a pair of 410 features. Jade Hastings entered the night as the NOSA championship leader, and after a second and a third, should continue in that top spot. The NOSA sprint cars race again at River Cities on July 12th.
Elsewhere tonight, the Short Track Super Series modifieds are at Fonda Speedway for $10,000 to win. This is race four for the north region, and round nine for the full season. Mat Williamson has a slight five point lead over Stewart Friesen for the north title, and Williamson leads Anthony Perrego in the overall race. Tonight starts a busy month for the Short Track Super Series with six races coming up through the end of the month. All the big names should be in attendance.
Around the other dirt racing podcasts this week, Winged Nation has Logan Schuchart and Dale Blaney, Passing Points has Jordan Mallett, Quicktime has Cody Ledger, Dirt Tracks and Rib Racks has Malyssa Perkins, Hoogie's Garage has Daison Pursley and Chase Raudman, Dunewich on Dirt has Paul Clayton, Caution Free has Joe Baggott, and there are new episodes of the Dirt Reporters, Dirt Track Confessions, the Dirt Nerds, Racing Roundup, Getting up to Speed, and the Driver's Project. To see all of these dirt racing shows and their recent episodes, visit dirtrackr.com/podcasts.
That's it for this episode of the Daily. Besides the races I've talked about today, there is a lot of other dirt racing action happening around the country during this holiday week. So make sure to hit up dirtrackr.com/watchtonight if you are looking for streaming options.
Hope you guys have a great Wednesday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow!