DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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2025 World of Outlaws field takes shape with drivers in and out | Daily 12-12-2024
The PRI Show is here, and everyone has decided to drop their news. We'll run you through everything going on, including an Outlaw driver off tour, and two confirmed back next season. Plus crew chief changes, schedule releases, and a lot more. Let's go!
It's Thursday, December 12th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
We got confirmation this morning of a sprint car change that has been talked about quite a bit over the last few months in industry circles. We even touched on it here on the Daily show a few weeks ago. But Brock Zearfoss is officially off the road full time with the World of Outlaws, and will focus on a Central Pennsylvania schedule in 2025. Not a shocking move at all, and it will likely lead to more success for Zearfoss, who has had a tough go at times out on the road against the Outlaws the last few seasons. The part of the news that came together here very recently though, is that Zearfoss will run Williams Grove on Fridays and Port Royal on Saturdays for Rich Eichelberger in his eight car. Freddie Rahmer just recently departed this ride, and it worked out for Zearfoss to drive it and bring along crew chief Jim Shuttlesworth. When he isn't driving the 8, the family 3Z will fill in with other races in the area and likely at least some traveling. Shuttlesworth joined Zearfoss late this year after spending much of the season with Cory Eliason and Ridge out with High Limit. The two found success quickly, winning the season finale at BAPS in November. I heard about this Eichelberger part of the news yesterday afternoon, and it started making the rounds online last night. It's always a little easier on the wallet to race for someone else, and I think Zearfoss has the chance here to be a regular contender back in Central PA. Before 2025 gets rolling, Zearfoss will again be in Australia this winter running Perth and Bunbury, before the Classic in January.
So while Zearfoss is now confirmed out with the World of Outlaws, two more drivers are confirmed back. No surprise, both Logan Schuchart and Donny Schatz revealed yesterday they are returning in 2025. That takes us to five of the top seven in Outlaw points officially back, and I would expect Buddy Kofoid to join this group as well. Gio Scelzi remains maybe a small question, but I'd lean Outlaws for him. Further down the order, a lot of signs continue to point towards a Bill Balog return, and I think it's a good chance the 7S, 70, and 6 are all back also. With Zearfoss the only loss at this point, this series should stay at 12 full timers with the addition of Cole Macedo. There was one more in the rumor mill as a potential join, but I'd heard that announcement was expected weeks ago, so I'm wondering if maybe that deal has cooled. I won't rule out a potential surprise, but I think 12 is probably the number here.
As part of the Logan Schuchart announcement, that team shared they will have a new crew chief next year, with Kyle Pruitt joining to replace Lonnie Judy. We'll see if he can get Schuchart back to being a regular race winner. Also, if you are into crew moves, Austin McCarl is hiring veteran crew chief Scotty Martin to lead his Country Builders team in a larger traveling schedule next year. Martin has significant experience as a World of Outlaws crew chief, and has been wrenching in California. McCarl did allude to branching out in 2025 at the Knoxville banquet following his track championship there in 2024.
One other open wheel update is that Cannon McIntosh is returning to Keith Kunz Motorsports for another season in the midget. McIntosh and KKM won the Xtreme title this year, but just missed out on the USAC crown behind Daison Pursley. This car though will switch from GearWrench colors to Mobil 1.
Looking around at schedules, there have been a number of other tracks and series that released their 2025 slates in recent days, and that includes the Super DIRTcar Series and Summer Nationals. And yesterday it was the three USAC divisions, and the POWRi 410 series. You can find all of them online on social media and the series websites. Just a couple of quick things here. First, the USAC sprint cars are going west again in 2025, and they will end their season during Western World at Central Arizona. Two interesting TBAs there as well. And I said a few times this year that I don't like the big gaps in the USAC midget schedule, but they are back. The season doesn't start until April, only three races in May, one race in August, and nothing between September 20th and November 14th. They obviously think it works, but I don't get it. No other major sport or series takes two months off in the middle of their season.
In the regional sprint car battle, POWRi's 410 series has 37 races next year, including a short speedweeky type deal co-sanctioned with FAST in Indiana. Some $10,000 to win shows in there, and FAST is now under the POWRi banner for sanctioning. Aaron Fry moving quickly to make some deals as he looks at a future in competition with Rich Farmer and the All Stars. I've heard that All Star schedule could be out very soon. This regional sprint car land grab and fight continues to be an interesting story, although I wonder if folks out there really care. There is a lot of wild stuff happening behind the scenes, but it seems like unless it really affects you, the fan base is a bit out on this one.
If you want some racing this weekend, XR has the $100,000 to win crate 604 late model show at All-Tech. Prelim features are tonight and Friday, and they pay $5000 to win and $125 to start, with Saturday $100k to win and $2500 to start. 101 cars signed in, with a lot of southeastern regional guys on the list, and a few national players. Notables includes Brandon Overton, Tyler Erb, Kyle Bronson, Joseph Joiner, plus names like Ross Bailes, Clay Harris, Cory Hedgecock, Wil Herrington, Trent Ivey, Ricky Weiss, Mark Whitener, and Mason Zeigler. Last night was practice and qualifying, with Jason Garver, Michael Page, Jeremy Steele, and Luke Cooper the fast timers from each time trial group. The prelim nights will feature heats and mains, with points on the line. The top 20 in overall points after Thursday and Friday make the Saturday main event. When you can draw triple digits for number of race cars, that's hard to be upset about, but in the interest of transparency here, it isn't the 250+ the event was advertising just a few weeks ago. With a nice forecast for the next three days, it has to make you wonder if the recent drama around XR didn't keep some teams away. Going back a few weeks, I'm obviously referring here to that Peyton Taylor video about the stock car money he hadn't yet received. That video is now gone from his Facebook account though, and it's my understanding he took it down after he received the check. It's a shame it had to go down like that.
In Illinois, you've also got POWRi sanctioned midgets and micros at the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin for the Junior Knepper 55. Yesterday we talked about Christopher Bell entering this one, and at last check they are already showing 51 midgets on the entry list. That list also includes TMez, Jason McDougal, Chase McDermand, Zach Daum, and Brent Crews. Bell is also listed on the non-wing 600 entry list, which makes me wonder if we'll also see him at the Tulsa Shootout in a few weeks. As of right now, he is not on that entry list for any of the categories. This will be the final chance for these guys to race before the Chili Bowl in January, and that's clearly what Bell is doing here. Get some laps, and get comfortable again after two years away.
We are going to call it there for today. With PRI ongoing, there is the possibility that more news could drop. If anything crazy happens, we may do a Friday show, so I'll keep you posted if that happens.
Hope you guys have a great Thursday out there, we'll see you back here maybe tomorrow, maybe Sunday!