DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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Don't know sh*t about your dirt late model? | Daily 3-17-2025

So, you're a dirt late model team, but you don't have a top level crew chief. Where do you turn when you need help, or want the best way to setup your new hot parts? We'll talk about that today, plus an update on Aaron Reutzel and more. Let's go!

It's Monday, March 17th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

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A Facebook past a little over a week ago from Brandon Sheppard caught my attention, and I think it illustrates an interesting place we've gotten to, at least in dirt late model racing. We know that across big time dirt racing, there is a serious lack of top talent in the crew department, and I think especially at crew chief. There are really only a handful of names that I think even seasoned dirt racing fans would know when it comes to crew guys, and finding help is an ongoing problem. It's a difficult life for national touring teams, living in toters and hotel rooms, and the pay isn't always top notch. And things get significantly more difficult as you go down the ladder to regional and more local teams. If you want to compete on the national stages, that means understanding how to set your race car up, and finding speed is getting more and more difficult. So if you don't have a top level crew chief guiding your operation, what do you do? Well, there are some options out there. The post I'm referring to from Sheppard was about the creation of his Shepp Speed Shop. BShepp is obviously back to being the Rocket house car driver these days, but he does have a complete late model operation of his own, including crew guys. We saw them this past weekend when the Sheppard Racing B5 made it's way to Smoky Mountain for the World of Outlaws races. That B5 team, as we've talked about, will also appear at several other races through the end of April. But when that team is on the shelf, they are now available for hire as consultants. Shepp Speed Shop is offering services to other late model teams, including race car check-ups, scaling, body and sheet metal work, and help with setups week-to-week. These services are open to Rocket chassis teams only. This consulting idea obviously not a new one, and there are a bunch of other options out there for help depending on what type of car or components you have. For example, Vinny Guliani, who was previously a crew chief and engineer across the sport, is available for Longhorn Chassis and Bilstein teams. He currently consults for drivers like Cade Dillard, Trey Mills, Mike Marlar, Tony Jackson Jr., and Brian Shirley. You can also go straight to Longhorn these days, as Matt Langston and Joe Matthews in the Longhorn Dynamics division are available to help get teams squared away. And we've talked previously about the added help Hunt the Front is getting this season from Taylon Center. He's not full time with them, but will be at a bunch of races and it's officially a consulting deal with him. These consulting guys and groups are fully spec'd out to, including their own spring smashers and shock dynos, many travel, like Vinny and Taylon, and with Shepp's deal, you can bring your car to them. So if you don't have an Anthony Burroughs, or a Bob Pierce, or Mark Richards, or Jason Durham at your disposal, you can still get top level help. For a fee obviously.

We talked yesterday on the show about sprint car driver Aaron Reutzel being injured during the Saturday night High Limit program at the Las Vegas dirt track. Reutzel was hit through his helmet visor with a rock or a dirt clod, and has a broken nose. He spent the night in the hospital, but has been released. The Ridge and Sons team has shared they are focused on his recovery and that they are quote "evaluating things day to day." The RSR 87 is declared as a full time High Limit team this season with Reutzel, and that series has three races coming up this week. They are at Tulare on Wednesday, and then Kern County and Perris Friday and Saturday. I have no idea if you can race with a broken nose, and clearly they will wait and see how Reutzel is feeling. But I have heard rumblings the team is looking at options for potential fill-in drivers. They are supposedly looking at some west coast guys who could jump in and be competitive to keep them in the owner's standings fight if Reutzel can't race on Wednesday. The team and driver did earn 25 points for Saturday's action, so while they are way down the order in 27th, they are only 52 points back. I think there are a number of folks, myself included, who felt like Reutzel could be a serious contender with High Limit this season, at least for race wins, and maybe an outside or darkhorse championship pick. This will certainly be a obstacle to the championship part, at least on the driver side. Justin Sanders hopped in the car on Saturday night to start the feature, but I don't know if he'd be a candidate or not. I have not heard what names the RSR team could potentially be talking to. If you're a west coast guy though, this would be a good chance to get some seat time with a team capable of winning. I'll keep you posted if I hear any more on this front.

In Sunday racing action, Sam Seawright took down the $6000 payday at Duck River Raceway Park in Tennessee. They were able to dodge the weather and go racing. The unsanctioned dirt late model program drew 18 cars, with Cory Hedgecock, Josh Putnam, Jadon Frame, and Max Blair completing the top five. Ricky Weiss led the first 12 laps, but was out early and finished 14th. No dirt late model racing on tap the rest of this week, that is until Friday.

One correction from yesterday, I said Michael Norris won in late model action at Port Royal. That should have been PA Motor Speedway. I had Port Royal on the brain because of that crashed tow truck.

That's the daily for today. If you want even more dirt racing content, make sure to follow DIRTRACKR across social media. We've got Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram going all the time, so wherever you are, we are as well.

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