DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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High Limit shores up roster with late push, late model series add full timers | Daily 12-31-2024
2025 plans come together for a bunch of drivers, and today we'll talk High Limit shoring up their roster, late model additions, regional sprint car stuff and more. Let's go!
It's Tuesday, December 31st, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
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The few-week dirt late model offseason is nearly complete. I know some of you have been having withdrawals the last several days without any dirt late model racing, so let's finally get it started. That was sarcasm, by the way. The Ice Bowl at Talladega starts Friday, and then late models will be on track at Vado Speedway Park to start the Wild West Shootout on Saturday. We'll talk more about those events later this week, but I did want to update the national tour full timers lists, because we did have additions in recent days. On the Lucas side, we can push the total up to 13 with the addition of Mike Marlar. Skyline Motorsports confirmed through a Ben Shelton release where their two drivers will race next season, and that included Marlar's return to Lucas. He was seventh in the standings in 2024, with two wins and 20 top tens in 44 feature appearances. Not a particularly consistent season for Marlar, with his two wins coming nearly eight months apart, and an average finish of nearly 11.5. With as competitive as Lucas looks like it will be this coming season, they have some work to do if they really want to find their way into that final four come championship chase time. Marlar joins the Lucas list that includes Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal, Max Blair, Devin Moran, Daulton Wilson, Clay Harris, Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert, Brandon Sheppard, Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, and Brenden Smith. Still no word yet on Jonathan Davenport. The Lucas season starts in just a little over two weeks at Golden Isles.
With the Outlaws, they gained back the other Skyline car with Tyler Bruening returning for another season full time. Bruening was eighth in the final rundown, with six top fives and 19 top tens in 41 races. He is still in search of his first career national touring victory. And surprisingly, Bruening hasn't won anywhere since a Hoker Trucking Series score at Dubuque in 2021. Bruening is full timer number 12 for the Outlaws, joining Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton, Ethan Dotson, Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Brian Shirley, Daniel Adam, Ryan Gustin, Cade Dillard, Brent Larson, and Dustin Sorensen. The Outlaw season begins January 23rd at Volusia. I doubt we are anywhere near done with series choices for either the Outlaws or Lucas.
On the sprint car front, I think if you would have asked around several weeks ago, you may have heard a bit of concern about the list of drivers who were going to tackle the full High Limit schedule in 2025. They had an incredible 16 teams complete the full pull in 2024, but I think even they wondered how many would be back, and if they could get to double digits. They've been sitting on likely eight cars for a while, looking at Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Spencer Bayston, Daison Pursley, Aaron Reutzel, Justin Peck, Tanner Thorson, and I know I keep saying this, but probably Rico Abreu. Right before Christmas though, that list grew, and it's continued to pick up a few others since. That included a bit of a surprising turn around for Kasey Kahne to bring the series to nine, we also got a Christmas Eve announcement from Brent Marks. So his return brought it to ten. Getting Marks back feels like a win for High Limit, and he adds some needed depth to that group. He's been one of the top sprint car drivers in the country at various points over the last few years, and we know he can win on the big stage. Him having any chance at a High Limit championship though will come down to consistency and those west coast trips. His team needs to make major strides in both areas to really contend over the full season. And then just today, CJB Motorsports announced they are back as well, taking Brenham Crouch on the road for his second season with High Limit. Crouch struggled in year one, with just two top tens in 51 races, and I'm a bit surprised they decided to go again. There is a case to be made for a pick and choose schedule for this group to get Crouch comfortable and build some confidence. This time around though, he will have Barry Jackson and Paul McMahan to lean on though, which will hopefully aid in his development. Crouch puts High Limit at 11, and I think it's likely now they get to 12 with rumblings of a new addition coming. There have been some social media posts about a certain sprint car driver choosing a national tour, and I think you'll see him go this way. The only other questions here include what happens with the Crouch car, if anything, and the plans for the Vermeer 55 with Hunter Schuerenberg.
Looking regionally, the new version of the All Stars picked up Devon Borden yesterday, as he's joining up with the Grove Racing 45 team. He'll run for the championship, and fill in races elsewhere. Borden brings the All Stars to four with Leyton Wagner, Darin Naida, and Cody Bova also signed. It feels like Borden is the favorite among this group so far, but there are going to be lingering questions about his health and a difficult 2024 season. The All Star schedule doesn't start until April, so still a whole bunch of time for things to grow and change here.
With the expanding POWRi 410 series, rumblings are they will get to 16 total by the time their season starts in February. So far they've confirmed three with Ayrton Genetten, and Xavier and Natalie Doney. Some other names to potentially watch here include Blake Hahn, Gunner Ramey, and Noah Gass. All ran sizeable schedules against POWRi last season and I could see them making the jump. I think you'll also see some teams and drivers get into a 410 series here for the first time with the added opportunity. They can get the benefits like a point fund and tow money, only 37 races to commit to, and they won't have to face the national touring guys often, if at all.
If you are looking for dirt racing today and for the rest of the week, you've got plenty of options. Down under, you've got sprint cars at Bunbury Speedway. That one will feature a bunch of the American guys. There is also racing at Premier Speedway, Sydney, and Maryborough. Out in Reno, they've got a big outlaw kart show indoors. Tanner Holmes is there, and it's on streaming with Fast Four. And then in Tulsa, as we speak, cars are on track for practice to get the Tulsa Shootout going. 1800 plus cars across six divisions, and a lot of big names racing the next few days. Racing starts for real later on tonight, and they've got prelims through Friday. All day Saturday will be the chase for Golden Drillers. All the action there is live on FloRacing, and if you need a Flo subscription, and want to help out DIRTRACKR, sign up at dirtrackr.com/floracing. It's a good time to get in on things with Flo, because you've got Tulsa Shootout, Wild West Shootout, then Chili Bowl, and Lucas speedweeks coming in hot. We'll keep you posted on how things are going at the Tulsa Shootout as the week progresses.
That's the daily show for today. Appreciate all of you for tuning in. Hope you guys have a great New Years Eve out there, please be safe, and we'll see you back here tomorrow!