DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Coincidence, or is there a chassis "storm" brewing? | Daily 8-29-2024
A surprise winner with High Limit, Chris Madden back behind the wheel, we'll preview weekend racing, and talk about an intriguing dirt late model chassis situation. Let's go!
It's Thursday, August 29th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
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Kubota High Limit sprint cars at Grays Harbor last night, and I gotta be honest here friends, I did not have Trey Starks winning a national touring race during 2024 on my sprint car bingo card. Especially ahead of a guy like Justin Sanders, and during a season where Justin Peck is still winless. And don't get me wrong, I think Starks is a talented driver. He's won a Knoxville Nationals prelim and made the main event there, and he's led laps against the Outlaws on several occasions. And that's to say nothing of his performances in Washington weekly. But lately, he's struggled in big events. He was just okay against the Outlaws last season at Skagit and Grays Harbor, and he's been a non-factor the previous two seasons during the Super Dirt Cup. With Skagit being his home race track, you'd expect him to be strong there. So he was not on my radar last night for win chances against this field of High Limit cars. But things went his way all night. A strong qualifying effort and a heat race win put him in the dash, and he won that from the pole, putting him out front for the feature. From there, he held off an early challenge from Cole Macedo, and a last lap charge from Tyler Courtney to score the victory. He was emotional in victory lane, being joined by his son who was just born about two weeks ago. Hopefully this is a boost from him headed into the Skagit Nationals, because I think it would be really fun to see him challenge again, especially Saturday night for the big money. Starks joins a short list of sprint car drivers this season who aren't full timers to win on a national tour. That includes Danny Dietrich, TJ Stutts, Brady Bacon, and Anthony Macri. Sunshine and Brad Sweet joined Starks on the podium, with both drivers in need of good runs. It sounds like there was some scale drama for Sweet afterwards, as a flat tire made it difficult to get the car weighed, but the 49 eventually got cleared. Not much change at the top of the standings, but the charter picture has now shifted. James McFadden charging from 19th to eighth and Corey Day down in 14th sees the Roth 83 move into that fifth position. So if the season ended now, Roth gets the charter, and the Meyers 14 is on the outside looking in. High Limit shifts over to Skagit tonight to begin the three race weekend, with Saturday culminating in $100,000 to win.
Moving on, there is a dirt late model situation I want you to keep your eye on involving a newer chassis player that's been making a little noise as of late. Way back at the start of 2024, we talked about Stormy Scott and Jason Durham starting their own chassis brand, called Category 5. They were partnering up with Bruce Nunnally to build them, but we literally haven't heard a word about them since January. If you don't know, Jason Durham was Jonathan Davenport's crew chief through a lot of his success in recent years, and Nunnally runs a very successful chassis shop called Brucebilt that builds and repairs all sorts of cars. Stormy has run a very abbreviated schedule this season, but he did win a Comp Cams show in May. Recently though, there have been a couple of Category 5 appearances elsewhere that should raise some eyebrows. At Batesville a few weeks ago during the Topless 100, Jared Landers made a rare late model start for him these days. But not behind the wheel of a Longhorn out of the Lance Landers shop, but instead it was in a Category 5 car owned by Steve Lampley. Landers ended the weekend with finishes of 12th and 15th. Not bad for a guy that runs just a handful of races a season. That same Lampley car with Randy Korte has then appeared in recent days with the MARS series, but not with Landers in it. Shannon Babb has been driving the car, and he finished 2nd last Friday at Tri-City and fifth at Red Hill. According to Dirt on Dirt this same car will be back next week at Eldora for the World with Landers back in the seat, and Babb will race it during the Dirt Track World Championship. I bring this up because there have been some rumblings about Jonathan Davenport's future out and about, with Category 5 mentioned in the same sentences. It could all be nothing, but Davenport's old crew chief building cars, with his car owner's son driving one seems to be an interesting coincidence. We'll see if there really is a "storm" brewing here. Sorry, I had to.
Before we move on to talk about some of the other racing coming up this weekend, there is some interesting news today regarding Chris Madden. The late model veteran shifted recently to crew chiefing for Ricky Thornton Jr. at Koehler Motorsports, but he will be back in a car for the World 100 next week at Eldora. In a partnership between Koehler and GR Smith, Madden will pilot a Longhorn with Cornett power and chase the globe trophy. He will not try and race and also crew chief for RTJ, so Ricky Arnold will handle those duties on the 20RT. Madden hasn't raced since July as he deals with his diverticulitis diagnosis, but he did tell FloRacing's Kyle McFadden that we could see him back in a car at World Finals after the Lucas season has concluded. Earlier this year, Madden was fifth at the Dirt Late Model Dream, and is still seeking that first big win at an Eldora crown jewel event. Going back to the 2021 season, the only driver with more top fives and top tens at Eldora than Madden is Jonathan Davenport. We talked a few weeks ago about what Madden will do in 2025, and he was still non-committal when asked by McFadden. The World 100 starts next Thursday at Eldora.
Before Eldora and the World, Madden will be busy this weekend with two Lucas nights coming up. Saturday it's $15,000 to win at Portsmouth, and Sunday is the $30,000 to win Hillbilly Hundred at Tyler County. We've had five different winners over the past five Lucas races, with Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Alberson, Tim McCreadie, Ricky Thornton Jr. and Bobby Pierce all picking up victories. We are officially down to the final eight drivers still alive in the Lucas chase, but it's really down to just the top five. The front three are pretty well locked in, with just that fourth and final spot up for grabs between Hudson O'Neal and McCreadie. Those two have swapped that spot multiple times lately, and only a few nights remain to settle it. After Sunday, the late model focus will very much shift to Eldora, with the Flo series reschedule kicking things off. I did get asked as well if the Scott Bloomquist memorial that's happening next week at Eldora will be available to stream, and I've been told it will be broadcasted on FloRacing. I'd keep an eye out for details on that.
At 300 Raceway, on top of the $100,000 to win stock car event, Friday and Saturday will also see programs for the XR Super Series late models. I know Bobby Pierce has that one on his schedule, as does Brandon Sheppard. Saturday pays $50,000 to win, but there are lots of options this weekend with Lucas in action, along with the MLRA and MARS. So I'm not sure what that field will look like. Three of the top four in the championship standings are Lucas drivers who won't be there, but we do know that drivers can miss races and still be in contention. Only a driver's 10 best races count once the season ends. With the Outlaws off, you could see some of those drivers head this direction.
In South Dakota, the other $100,000 to win sprint car weekend for a national tour is happening at Huset's Speedway with the World of Outlaws. They will race Friday through Sunday, with some of the racing being the makeup from the previously rained out High Bank Nationals. With Knoxville done for the season, I'd expect this one to be well attended by a lot of those midwest teams. Huset's had 29 last Sunday, which included Aaron Reutzel, Ryan Timms with Guy Forbrook, and Emersom Axsom. Timms will be back with Forbrook, but only for Friday and Saturday I believe. The USAC midgets race Sunday in Wisconsin, and Timms is third in the championship there with Keith Kunz. If you want some win picks for the weekend, I'd look at Sheldon Haudenschild and Carson Macedo who have both been hot lately. David Gravel will have plenty of motivation, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Buddy Kofoid run well. Gravel still very much in control of the Outlaw championship battle. After Huset's, a west coast trip is up next for the Outlaws.
If you are looking for other open wheel action this weekend, the Silver Crown Series is at Du Quoin on Saturday, the RaceSaver Nationals are happening at Eagle, plus races for the Maverick series, POWRi 410, the IRA and NOSA, FAST, ASCS, and plenty happening in Central Pennsylvania. One sidenote about Central PA, Selinsgrove was supposed to race on Sunday, but that show has been cancelled because of an emergency procedure for track promoter Stephanie Baker. Hopefully she gets well soon. Make sure to hit up the streaming schedule at dirtrackr.com/watchtonight if you can't make it to the track this weekend.
We'll call it good for there this week. Drop me a comment and let me know your dirt racing plans coming up and any win picks. Appreciate the support as always.
Hope you guys have a great Thursday out there, we'll see you back here on Sunday!