DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

Dirt racing news, results, discussion, analytics. Sprint cars, late models, modifieds, you name it. From national series, to top local shows. Brought to you five days a week. Email the show at info@dirtrackr.com.

Of course EPJ is back, this dirt track is getting smaller, breaking sprint car news | Daily 10-03-2024

Earl Pearson Jr. is racing this weekend, but I'll explain why I don't think this is a grand comeback. Plus changes coming to I-70 Speedway, breaking IRA sprint car ride news, big events ahead this weekend, and more. Let's go!

It's Thursday, October 3rd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

So obviously, since we hadn't heard a word from Earl Pearson Jr. in months, I talk about him this week, and suddenly he's back in the news. Although for everyone trying to dunk on me on social media, I don't know that this announcement really changes much. If you haven't seen, Black Diamond Racecars announced yesterday that they will field a car for EPJ this weekend during the Fall Nationals at the Lucas Oil Speedway with the MLRA. Pearson's 46 will carry sponsorship from long time partner Lucas Oil, and there's even a Dunn Benson sighting on the wrap. This will be EPJ's first race since the Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway back in July. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, I did a deep dive on Pearson's recent activities away from the race track, which includes his family taking control of a lodge and camp ground in Georgia. And looking at his comments to FloRacing about this new deal, and recent comments his wife made, I still think we are looking at the end of Pearson's career as a full time late model racer. The Black Diamond announcement is only for racing this weekend, and EPJ told FloRacing's Kyle McFadden that he could quote "possibly" run more events, but that he was quote "not sure yet." And just over a week ago, in a piece shared to Facebook by writer Alan Jennejohn, Pearson's wife Missy talked about how she is loving having Earl at home, that they are navigating the next chapter of their life, but that it has been quote "very hard watching Earl let go of racing." While more one off races are certainly possible, that doesn't sound like a family prepared to continue racing full time on a tour. I think if you are an EPJ fan, take the time to enjoy seeing him run this weekend, because these opportunities are likely going to get fewer and further between. The Fall Nationals for the MLRA at Wheatland start tonight, with $5000 to win programs Thursday and Friday, while Saturday is $10,000 to win. The MLRA will then head to I-70 next Thursday, and they close out October 11th and 12th at Tri City Speedway. Chad Simpson currently leads Tony Jackson Jr. for the MLRA championship.

Speaking of I-70, they've got a busy next week before their season closes out for 2024, and then changes are likely coming to that facility. They've got USRA and POWRi action on Saturday night, then the Kubota High Limit sprint cars are there Tuesday for $20,000 to win, and then that Thursday night MLRA show. After Thursday though, a reconfigure of the track surface will begin, that will likely see the track reduced from just under a half mile, which is what it is now, to likely a 1/3 mile dirt track. I-70 was originally a paved 5/8 mile track, but was brought back to life several years ago as a dirt track, with the size reduced a bit, and the owners piled a ton of money into bringing it back and making it a modern facility. It's a special events track that only had, I believe, 10 events on it's 2024 schedule. So no regular weekly racing there, unlike other facilities. It's an incredible place though, with nice chair-back grandstands, and all the modern amenities. Casey Shuman, who was a sprint car and midget racer, and still dabbles here and there, is the track's promoter. Casey also previously the World of Outlaws Late Model Series director, and he and wife Brooke ran the POWRi WAR series. It seems like bigger tracks these days are becoming a tougher sell, especially for some of the regional and local racers, and I think it's not a bad idea for I-70 to go this direction. Hopefully the effort will lead to bigger car counts in the future for their special events. I-70 is located not far from Kansas City, and if you want to check it out coming up, head over to i70motorsportspark.com for information.

We do have a little breaking news to share on the show today, this one regarding regional sprint car stuff. Earlier this week, it was announced that Tylar Rankin and Greg Wheeler Motorsports were parting ways. Rankin was an IRA full timer in 2024, picking up the rookie of the year award, with a top five and 10 top tens in 25 races. They ended up sixth in the IRA standings behind Scotty Thiel's championship. Rankin is on the hunt for a new deal, but could also race his own car in 2025. As for Greg Wheeler Motorsports, they will announce today that they've hired New Zealand racer Max Guilford to pilot the #16C for a full IRA run in 2025. They will also likely make some starts with other series, including the Outlaws and High Limit. Guilford ran a partial IRA slate this season in the Benic #79M, and was an IRA winner at Beaver Dam in June. Guilford also raced with Bill Rose for a handful of shows on tour with the Outlaws, before he was hurt in a crash at Huset's in August. He's on the mend though, and is headed back down under to prepare to race there for the summer. His best finish with Rose and the Outlaws was a 13th at River Cities. 2024 was his first significant winged sprint car schedule in the US. He appeared 34 times between the Outlaws, IRA, MOWA, FAST and others. He had that IRA victory, plus seven top fives and 13 top tens. He started coming to the US to race in 2019 and 2020, but back then it was to run non-wing shows. From what I can find he didn't make his first winged starts until the summer of 2023. We don't know the IRA schedule yet, as we're still a few months away from those announcements, but Guilford and Wheeler should be right in the mix next season for that title.

Alright, looking ahead to the weekend, a bunch of racing is coming up. At Williams Grove, it's National Open time, with a $75,000 payday on the line Saturday night for the World of Outlaws and Posse drivers. They are expecting at least 50 cars, and I think you'll see some High Limit teams make the trip since they are off. Brent Marks your defending National Open winner, with Lance Dewease taking it in 2022, and Carson Macedo back in 2021. At the two Grove Outlaw shows earlier this summer, TJ Stutts went to victory lane, as did David Gravel. Over the last 38 features at the Grove, Gravel leads all drivers in average finish, with Donny Schatz second. Both drivers could use good runs this weekend, as Schatz hasn't won since the Jackson Nationals, and Gravel is trying to hold off a charging Carson Macedo in the Outlaw championship. Macedo and Buddy Kofoid have been red hot lately, with those two drivers winning 10 of the last 13 Outlaw races. Both Williams Grove nights will be live on DIRTVision.

At Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, the Lucas Chase will finally get rolling with two nights at the Pittsburgher 100. $10,000 to win on Friday, and $50,000 to win on Saturday, but more importantly, the first chance for Ricky Thornton Jr., Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, and Tim McCreadie to establish themselves for the title fight. These races will be a bit more important with the loss of the East Bay and Atomic shows. It was going to be a seven race battle, but now it's down to five. RTJ has won two of the last three at PA Motor Speedway, but that was with SSI. With him being a bit off as of late, we'll see if he can get going in the right direction again this weekend. These two will be live on FloRacing.

Another season that's getting close to wrapping is that for the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series. They are at the Talladega Short Track Friday and Saturday, coinciding with the NASCAR weekend at the big track. After Saturday, just one more weekend remains, they'll run I-75 October 31st through November 2nd. Brandon Overton likely on his way to the series championship, as he leads Ashton Winger by almost triple digits. Overton though only has two wins this season, with the last coming way back in May at Swainsboro. Hunt the Front TV has the streaming for this one.

Elsewhere you've got the Xtreme Outlaw midget finale at Jacksonville, they're running both nights with MOWA sprint cars. Cannon McIntosh comfortably ahead of Ryan Timms for that Xtreme title. The MARS late models have two nights at Fairbury coming up, $5000 and $12,000 to win. These are their final shows of the season, and just seven points separate Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker for that MARS championship. Should be a fun weekend there. At the Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway, POWRi sprint cars will race Friday and Saturday for $5000 and $7000 to win. Ayrton Gennetten leading that championship, and these guys will also get a chance to tune-up before High Limit comes to town the following weekend. And after two months off because of High Limit and the Outlaws in California, the NARC series fires back up with a stock on Saturday at Hanford for the Morrie Williams twin 20s. Justin Sanders and Cole Macedo locked in a tight one there, and there are only five events left to decide things. If you want some modified action, check out the USMTS competitors at Route 66 in Texas. They're going topless for two nights, Friday and Saturday. Jake Timm and Rodney Sanders trying to catch Jim Chisholm for that championship at the moment.

Drop me a comment, and let me know your weekend dirt racing plans. We'll call it good for there today. Appreciate you guys tuning in all week.

Enjoy the dirt racing weekend ahead, and we'll see you right back here on Sunday.