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.

Quiet tests, rumors of secret engine projects, an Outlaw busted?! | Daily 3-5-2025

Sprint car teams get in some quiet testing, including one new driver and team combination coming very soon. Plus rumors of secret dirt late model engines, an Outlaw busted, and more. Let's go!

It's Wednesday, March 5th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

Some interesting topics to dive into today. I've spent the last 24 hours since our last show trading a bunch of messages on a few different things with some industry friends.

One of my favorite things about doing this show is all the little tidbits of information that get sent my way from all sorts of different sources. Lately, that's included tips on different guys testing and getting in some practices ahead of racing coming up. A sprint car driver we didn't see in Florida with the World of Outlaws to start 2025 was Tyler Courtney and the 7BC squad. But their hauler was headed out last Thursday from Indianapolis headed west. Sunshine obviously a High Limit full timer, but that series doesn't get started at Las Vegas for another week. So why the early start? Well, testing of course. I've had images sent to me of the NOS sprint car getting in laps at Central Arizona Speedway, where High Limit will make their debut later this month. That track located south and east of the Phoenix area. I was also told the car was at Vado Speedway Park in recent days, where High Limit will go on April 1st, as they start heading back east after the early west coast swing. Courtney and Clauson Marshall finished second to Brad Sweet last season in the championship battle, and are clearly hoping to get out of the gate fast this year. With still some time before Vegas, I wouldn't be shocked if they made other stops as well.

Another interesting sprint car test session happened this week at Carolina Speedway here right near Charlotte. If you might remember back to November, we did a Daily show where we talked about some of the reasoning for why Joe Gibbs Racing eased the dirt racing restrictions for Christopher Bell. One of those being the interest in dirt racing from Joe Gibbs' grandson, and NASCAR Cup Series driver Ty Gibbs. Ty made a bunch of appearances last year at Millbridge driving for Chad Boat in micros, then jumped in a midget and raced at Turkey Night to end the USAC midget season. He also made his debut back in January at the Chili Bowl. In a Boat car, he ended up 9th in a B on his prelim night, then won a Saturday G-Main, before going 16th to sixth in an F, ending his day. Midgets and micros though not the end of the story here. Back in November, Gibbs tested one of Bernie Stuebgen's Indy Race Parts sprint cars at Ultimate Motorsports Park, and I was told Kyle Larson was there to watch and offer feedback. That test happened with the hopes that Gibbs could make some winged sprint car appearances this year. And it sounds as though that first appearance could happen next week with the Kubota High Limit sprint cars at Las Vegas. Remember that Las Vegas event happens in conjunction with NASCAR, and Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell also scheduled to appear at that event. The Las Vegas dirt track, just like Charlotte and Texas, on the same property as the big track. This week, I believe maybe yesterday, an all black sprint car was making laps at Carolina Speedway, supposedly with Gibbs in the seat. What's interesting though, is who is fielding that car. It's actually Chad Boat's CB Industries. Boat had previously partnered up with Bell for some winged stuff several years ago, but his team's focus has very much been on midgets and micros. They did expand into non-wing sprint cars this year, and have already raced that program with Daison Pursley in the seat. Pursley actually left Florida tied for the USAC sprint car championship lead, and had six podiums in six races, and a win on the final night at Ocala. The sprint car program though now very quickly expanding into winged stuff with Gibbs. Sprint car driver and wing builder Lynton Jeffrey posted a photo of the car to his Facebook story yesterday. So you'll get a trio of NASCAR stars at Las Vegas, although Bell and Larson will be hunting for the win, with Gibbs just getting his feet wet. If you ever have tips like these, don't hesitate to email or DM me.

Moving over to late models. There is an interesting rumor going around right now about engines. If you aren't aware, in big time super late model racing, there are actually very few rules on what teams are allowed for engines. They need to be conventional V8s, aluminum or steel blocks, naturally aspirated, no overhead cams, and a few other things. A very common setup these days is to run 430 or 440 cubic inch engines that are pushing 900 horsepower. But given the nature of the cars and tracks, it can be difficult to get all that power to the ground. There are builders though who are making engines with more displacement than that, we know that Vic Hill has been selling a 480 for years, and Cornett has a 470. Those larger displacement powerplants being built specifically for use at big tracks like a Volusia, Eldora, or Knoxville. In an article last year for Race Engine Technology magazine, Jack Cornett did reveal that he has one customer who runs the 470 everywhere they race. Back to the rumor though, I've had a number of friends tell me that Cornett may actually be building a 490 cubic inch piece, and that one is being used currently. Supposedly some of the aero gains, especially for those bigger tracks, means some teams are wanting even more power. There isn't anything publicly available that I can find about a 490 dirt late model engine, and nobody knows 100% for sure, but who doesn't love a good rumor about secret engine projects. There are still a lot of top teams running standard setups from the various builders and winning, so something like this wouldn't necessarily be a big advantage. The power doesn't really matter if you can't get it to the ground anyway.

Finally today, this image has been making the rounds on social media after it was shared to Kyle Bronson's snapchat stories yesterday. This is the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series tech trailer pulled over in the state of Georgia. The Outlaws headed north and west after Volusia, with Talladega and Magnolia up next. Some of the comments and replies around this image are hilarious, including Johnny Gibson quicktime references, new track record, and the officer was looking for some free NOS energy drink. I've been told all is well though, and no tickets were written after the run-in. Be safe out there friends.

That's it for the show today. If you like what we do here five days a week, please consider subscribing to the show, and liking these videos always helps. Both are free.

Hope you guys have a great Wednesday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow!