DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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Have you heard of this happening before? | Daily 5-22-2025

Today on the show, the story of a series cancelling a race that was apparently never scheduled to begin with. Plus folks mad at USAC, racing ahead and more. Let's go!

It's Thursday, May 22nd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

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Yesterday on the show we talked through a question from a supporter over on Patreon, and today we'll switch to a question from a YouTube channel member. Ryan asked about the situation between POWRi and Double X Speedway in Missouri. This is likely one that hasn't been on your radar, so here's what's out there, at least publicly. Back on Monday, the POWRi WAR series announced that Sunday's race, co-sanctioned by the Midwest Wingless Racing Association, had been cancelled. POWRi's announcement said quote "This decision was made following a determination by the track's management. As a result, the event has been removed from the official schedule" unquote. Apparently though, Double X Speedway never agreed to actually schedule the event. The 2025 WAR schedule that came out back in January had the Double X date on it, but when the track's schedule was released a month ago, no POWRi date. In response, the track's management shared the following message to social media, quote "Just to clarify, Double-X Speedway did NOT schedule ANY race events with POWRi of any kind, any class, any date during the 2025 season. Their claims of cancelling a race at XX is bogus as there was never an event scheduled with them. Yes, they put it on THEIR schedule but it was never on ours. That's on them, not us. We were just as surprised to see it there as everyone else. Trying to blame us for their mismanagement is very telling" unquote. Certainly not mincing words there. In a reply to a post from the MWRA, Double-X also shared that a contract for the event was never in place, and that they quote "choose not to afford them." Ryan's question was centered around the purse and the cost of having WAR sanction the race, and this reply seems to indicate that Double X decided it wasn't worth the cost. For some added context, this WAR event has been on the Double X schedule the last few years. The race happened in both 2022 and 2023, but was rained out in 2024. This isn't the first time we've seen a relationship go sideways in this manner, and it won't be the last. It's not often not as public as this, which I can never seem to decide if I think is a good thing. I understand Double X's management wanting to say their piece. And it certainly makes for good water cooler talk, but there is also a case to be made for keeing these things a bit more private. At the end of the day though, these deals need to make sense for both sides, and the tracks can't continue to lose money on events. If the numbers weren't adding up, I certainly don't blame Double X for not wanting the event back. And maybe the series puts a TBA on the schedule when it's released in the event of uncertainty and not having an actual agreement in place.

If you were hoping to hear me talk about USAC today, unfortunately last night's racing at the Terre Haute Action Track was postponed. They had rain earlier this week and could not get the track into raceable shape. They have rescheduled the event for Friday, October 3rd. The USAC week continues tonight with a sprint car stop at Circle City, and then the Silver Crown cars hit IRP on Friday. I know there were quite a few folks upset about the race being lost, which is always the case in these situations. The track and series try and make things happen, hoping they can get the track in shape. But at a certain point it becomes clear that isn't going to happen. It does seem like it was a pretty late call yesterday, with word coming just before 7:30PM, which was around an hour after cars were scheduled to be on track. But short of officials just being a lot more pessimistic in advance, and cancelling ahead of things, I'm not really sure the right way to handle this. The only way people aren't mad is if the racing happens. If they cancel early, they take a beating. If they cancel late, they take a beating. And with the way things were looking earlier in the week anyway, it was a big risk to even attempt the night. I'm sure a lot of folks stayed away knowing the conditions were sketchy, which means nobody is making any money. Just a crappy situation all the way around, as is always how it goes with rainouts.

Looking ahead to the big holiday weekend, there is a lot of racing to get into. The dirt late model weekend is headlined by the Show-Me 100 at Wheatland for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Jonathan Davenport won this event a year ago, and it was Devin Moran in 2023. Remember that Moran win came after he didn't lead a single lap. Ricky Thornton Jr. took the checkered as the leader, but was docked to fifth afterwards when his car failed the droop check. Nobody besides JD, RTJ, and Moran have won a race at Lucas Oil Speedway since Johnny Scott won there in 2022. I certainly put those three squarely in the favorites column. I might add Hudson O'Neal as well after he swept the unsanctioned races there a few weeks ago. We are still keeping an eye on the fourth and final chase spot, which Garrett Alberson has, and O'Neal, Brandon Overton, and Brandon Sheppard all want. Still plenty of time to make moves, but this looks at the moment like the only spot up for grabs, and with how close the numbers are, things will remain fluid. The rest of the dirt late model slate coming up includes a lot of regional action, including three races for the Spring Nationals. Check out the schedule page over at dirtondirt.com for a full picture.

On the open wheel side, I already mentioned USAC's plans. The big money on the line this weekend is at the Weikert at Port Royal with High Limit coming to town. Danny Dietrich won this race a year ago, and action starts Friday. This event expanding to three days has definitely caused some conversation, as this puts the opening night of the Weikert directly up against the Grove and an $8000 to win show there. Lincoln also in action on Saturday against Port. I know everyone is running their own operations here, but at least some measure of coordination between tracks might serve everyone well here. Looking at High Limit, Central PA used to be a place where Brad Sweet struggled, so this could have been a place where guys like Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, and Brent Marks could make up some ground. But the 49 has been better in this area in recent years, so no guarantees that those teams can chip away at the points lead. I think win favorites include Anthony Macri and Rico. There are several others as well, like Courtney, Aaron Reutzel, and Dietrich, who can get around Port.

On the flip side, the World of Outlaws sprint cars are in Ohio for three races. That includes Attica tomorrow night, Sharon on Saturday, and then Atomic on Monday. David Gravel has won three of the last five Outlaw races, and his top ten streak is still going strong at 34 straight races. He could be set for a historic season if guys like Carson Macedo, Buddy Kofoid, and Logan Schuchart can't start picking up some wins. Kofoid has actually moved into second in the standings with seven straight top tens, and might be the best hope at the moment.

If you want a full look at the open wheel schedule for the next few days, I'd suggest the schedule as sprintcarratings.com and tjslideways.com. They are really comprehensive, and include not just sprint cars, but other open wheel series as well.

We will shut it down right there for today. Even though it is Memorial Day weekend, the show as always will keep rolling along. So we'll be back Sunday and Monday as usual with regular shows to talk everything from the busy weekend.

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