DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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The Josh Richards rumors are back... So what's up? | Daily 5-7-2025

The Josh Richards rumors are back, and we'll talk about where things stand. Plus LaSalle puts on a good show, the Outlaws are in Posseland, a new sprint car deal, and more. Let's go!

It's Wednesday, May 7th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

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We'll start the show off today with an update on this Josh Richards return stuff. There was a Facebook post circulating last week that showed a blue and orange Rocket 1 sitting in the Rocket shop, and it again sparked the conversation over Richards getting back behind the wheel. The four time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion hasn't raced since 2022, and this isn't the first time these rumors have popped up. Last October, in the midst of all of the Brandon Sheppard back to Rocket rumors, Richards was talked about as potentially racing again, and Rocket even fueled it a bit with a throwback Thursday post showing both Shepp and Richards. Obviously we know now that the Sheppard stuff was true, but we have not seen Richards get in a car. I said back then that there were some rumblings that a very short schedule was possible for Richards, maybe a few races, but a full time return was unlikely. And until last week when this photo appeared, the conversation around Josh had gone a bit quiet. In a Kevin Kovac story from yesterday at Dirt on Dirt, Mark Richards was asked about the photo, and he did confirm the car was built for Josh. He also admitted that they should have had the car under a cover in the shop. Mark Richards told Kovac they are going testing towards the end of May to see how Josh feels, and then they will proceed from there. Kovac also wrote in the piece that no specific race or schedule has been laid out. That makes it sound like it's possible that no races could happen, but it would be a bit strange to completely wrap a car that has no plans of ever seeing an official race. You certainly don't need a full wrap on a car to go testing. If Josh does indeed get back in the seat, I still wouldn't expect much beyond maybe a few starts. Josh's last win on a national tour came during a Show Me 100 prelim back in 2021, and his last championship season was 2017 with Lucas. If he does come back though, and he has some speed, it could be valuable for the Rocket squad in improving their program. More information, another perspective, and another car on track wouldn't hurt. It looked like BShepp had turned a corner with back to back wins between the Illini 100 and MARS at Cedar County. It's been up and down since then though, with some top fives, but also a crash at Port Royal, a disappointing MARS race at 34 Raceway, and finishes outside the top ten at Circle City with Lucas and Mississippi Thunder against the Outlaws. He was solid last night though at La Salle, finishing fourth with the Flo series.

Speaking of the FloRacing Night in America Series, entertaining show last night at La Salle to kick off the 2025 season. It was the first race back at La Salle since the Summer Nationals were there in 2021. The facility looked great, and the track was racey all night. There were definitely some elbows out too through heats and the last chance races. Ryan Gustin and Drake Troutman controlled things early, but Bobby Pierce drove up from sixth to take the lead right around half way, and that was all she wrote. Pierce grabbed win number 12 on the season, with Ricky Thornton Jr. and Nick Hoffman in tow. It was a quiet night for a number of contenders, including Devin Moran who DNFd. Garrett Alberson, Tim McCreadie, and Brandon Overton were all out of the top ten. And I was surprised to see Jason Feger miss the feature. In terms of cars, all the main contenders for both national tours were there, except Hudson O'Neal. Tonight's Flo series event at Spoon River is on his schedule though. The rest of Illinois Speedweek includes Spoon River today, Lincoln tomorrow, and then Farmer City and Fairbury Friday and Saturday, those two are Lucas sanctioned.

Also happening tonight is the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series first trip through Central Pennsylvania in 2025. They've got Lincoln Speedway today for the Gettysburg Clash, and then it's over to Williams Grove Friday and Saturday for the Morgan Cup. No change last week after Eldora in the Outlaw standings, with David Gravel still leading Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo. Gravel won this event last season, and Lincoln in October was the site of Donny Schatz's last Outlaw win. We'll see if any of the locals can rise up and beat the Outlaws tonight or this week. The last time it happened at Lincoln was Anthony Macri in 2023. He's won the last two weekly shows there as well. Other winners at Lincoln in 2025 include Chase Dietz, Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer, and Matt Campbell. Of that group though, only Rahmer and Dietrich have Outlaw wins, but they haven't won with the series since 2018 and 2019 respectively. That Dietrich stat surprises me. I wouldn't have guessed it's been that long since his last Outlaw win. Especially with all the success he's had in PA, plus with the All Stars, and he had that High Limit score in 2024. It shouldn't be any surprise that Macri has the best betting odds for tonight among the locals.

There will be a driver in the field tonight making his debut with a new team. Dylan Norris raced this past weekend at Knoxville in a Team DGRD entry for Dennis Gainey, and that relationship will continue with Norris piloting a black and blue number six starting at Lincoln against the Outlaws. Norris has four Central PA top tens this year, and has previously won at both Lincoln and Williams Grove. Team owner Dennis Gainey never one to shy away from social media shenanigans. He posted a photo last Saturday of Norris taking his seat out of the car after the Knoxville main event, and said that the piece would be parked until Brandon Wimmer could return. He said the results were not there, and he wished Norris luck in his next venture. Definitely some nice trolling just days before announcing Norris to his car for PA. Norris was 16th in the Gettysburg Clash last year, and has 18 main event starts in 27 races against the Outlaws.

Unfortunately, you won't be getting to double box 410 sprint car action tonight, as the Kubota High Limit sprint cars will not be at 81 Speedway. That race cancelled here just a little bit ago because of weather. Brutal start here to 2025 for High Limit, with already six races lost to weather and just eight races completed. For comparison, the Outlaws have already raced 19 times this season. High Limit will try again Friday and Saturday with races at Lakeside and Tri-City. Hopefully mother nature plays a bit nicer.

That's the daily for today. If you like what we do here, make sure to subscribe on YouTube or the podcast places. You can also like and follow on Facebook, as full video versions of the show get posted there everyday as well. The goal for the year is 50,000 on both platforms.

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