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.
Did Davenport bend the Eldora special? Plus Dream brings out the good parts, Peck's terrible luck | Daily 6-5-2025
Big names struggle at Eldora, but not Bobby Pierce. We'll also talk what could be trouble for Jonathan Davenport, trick parts and pieces come out for the Dream, Justin Peck's terrible luck, an ugly modified crash, and more. Let's go!
It's Thursday, June 5th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
Today's Daily show is being supported by BAPS Motor Speedway and SprintCarUnlimited.TV. Coming up this Sunday, June 8th, the 2025 BAPS 410 sprint car schedule continues with round number five of their season long championship. Sunday's program will feature some of the best sprint car teams in Central Pennsylvania, joined by super sportsman. Drivers already with wins this year at BAPS include Danny Dietrich, Ashton Torgerson, and Troy Wagaman Jr. If you can't get to the track, watch it all live on SprintCarUnlimited.tv. Sprint cars will be on track for hot lap/time trials at 6:15PM. The upcoming 410 schedule at BAPS will feature several more 410 sprint car shows, including Pennsylvania Speedweek in June and the World of Outlaws in July. All races, except the World of Outlaws event, will be included in the track championship. Head over to bapsmotorspeedway.com to see the full slate of races, and if you want to watch each of the championship races live, including this Sunday, plus the PA Speedweek show, the Kevin Gobrecht Classic, and the season finale Sprint Showdown in November, you can do that all season long on SprintCarUnlimited.TV.
Dream week at Eldora is underway, and last night it was Bobby Pierce picking up the $20,000 win with the FloRacing Night in America Series. Hudson O'Neal led up to half way, and then it was all the 32 from there. Those guys out front were real fast, and before a late caution, Pierce had a nearly three second lead on O'Neal. Only the top 11 cars in the main event were still on the lead lap at the finish. Big names who had issues yesterday and finished down the order, included Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr., Devin Moran, and Brandon Overton. Davenport hit the wall in qualifying and went to a backup car for the rest of the program after running the primary in the heat race. This might be something to pay attention to the rest of the weekend. That 49 team didn't even re-wrap the special Eldora car. It showed up to the track with the same white scheme they had previously. It kinda feels like they blew the dust off of it, and just rolled it in the trailer from the corner of the shop they keep it. The contact with the wall didn't look super hard, and he did run it in the heat, but I do think it's concerning he ran it for a few laps, then pulled out the backup. I know they said on the broadcast they weren't sure if the motor was laying down, or the car was hurt, but he didn't look right in the heat. If that car is now bent, that might mean JD's odds to win just got worse. He was playing catch-up after swapping to the backup car, using a provisional to start the feature, so I don't know how representative last night's performance really was. He doesn't go again until Friday, so there is plenty of time to repair it. RTJ also had issues early and took a provisional to start the feature. Moran was fast, but he had a mechanical issue end his night while running in the top five. They should be fine the rest of the week though, as they shared it was a battery problem. And Overton was out early after what looked like heavy contact with the wall. I know we shouldn't overreact to one race night, but Pierce certainly looked really strong last night, and O'Neal was up front like I thought he would be. We'll see if any of these other guys can mount a charge. Remember today and tomorrow at Eldora are split field prelim nights. Half go today, half go Friday, then everyone is back together Saturday. Drop your Dream win picks below in the comments. Curious if guys are all in on Pierce, or if you think it'll be someone else.
Something else to mention here, especially when we start talking about guys having special Eldora cars. A lot of teams bring out their best ideas for weeks like this. It's not just about special wraps and merch. There are some interesting things to notice on a lot of cars if you get a chance to walk the pits this week. Body panels a little more tweaked, spoiler angles, a trick part here or there. Eldora is a big fast race track, and guys will have their best power under the hood, and all the little aero stuff they can manage. I know several of you noticed Cade Dillard's car at the Show-Me 100 had the sail panels filled in, and that is back this week for Eldora. And check out the little front kickout on Tyler Erb's lower nose valance. That doesn't feel accidental. These are just a few examples. I heard the tech line was quite interesting yesterday, and there were tin snips and adjustment hammers necessary to appease Eldora officials. Not that that is a new thing, but fun to point out either way.
In sprint car action last night, Rico Abreu bagged High Limit win number five on the year. Kyle Larson was out front until an open red right past half way. On the restart, Abreu jumped both second running Tanner Thorson, and Larson to takeover the lead. He then held off a late Larson charge for the score. I think Larson would have had a serious shot at it, but on the final lap, he got blocked low into turn one by the lapper of Luke Nellis, and it really ended Larson's momentum. It felt like there was a slider coming. Thorson ended up third for his first High Limit podium since winning during Gold Cup last year. And just miserable luck for Justin Peck. Effectively tied for quick time, four to one in his heat, wins the dash, but his Ford engine came apart before he was even onto the backstretch on the opening lap of the feature. An absolute shame, because he was fast. The series will be at 141 Speedway today to make up the rained out Tuesday show. Brad Sweet is back in front of the standings, but has just two points on Tyler Courtney. The top five are separated by just 31 points total.
On the Outlaw side, Carson Macedo outdueled Kerry Madsen at Jackson Motorplex in a midweek show that drew a very nice 42 cars. It was Macedo's second win in four races. David Gravel got another podium, his top ten streak is now 39. And Chris Windom another top five. I know we talked yesterday about Christopher Thram getting a chance in the TKS ride, and I think some folks were surprised to see Ian Madsen in the 2KS yesterday. He finished 19th in the feature, with Thram done in the night's B-Main. The announcement for TKS did say that Thram would debut this coming weekend at Knoxville. So no, I don't think Thram is fired before he even started. The Outlaws are off today, then race Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Wisconsin.
The Indiana Midget Week show last night was dominated by Jacob Denney. It was USAC midget win number two on the year. Justin Grant went six to two, and Kale Drake seven to three. JG maintains the season long championship lead, while Drake continues as midget week leader. Still to come are midget week stops at Lincoln Park, Bloomington, Haubstadt, and Kokomo.
Super DIRTcar Series wins this week went to Ryan Godown on Tuesday at Big Diamond, and Stewart Friesen picked up a guaranteed Super Dirt week starting spot by winning last night at Selinsgrove. Did you guys see the insane crash they had last night? Lap 12, they had a huge pile up on the frontstretch, Matt Sheppard got turned, Godown flipping, and 11 other cars involved. It looked like the big one at Talladega. All drivers were okay, but definitely a wild moment there. The Super DIRTcar Series big blocked modifieds are back in two weeks.
If you want a full rundown on weekend racing coming up, make sure to check out dirtrackr.com/watchtonight. You can find all your daily streaming options there. I'd also suggest the schedule at dirtondirt.com, and the schedules at tjslideways.com and sprintcarratings.com. Those four places will give you about as complete a picture as you'll find.
That's the Daily show for this week. I appreciate all the views, comments, and support from everyone that tunes in regularly. Enjoy the dirt racing weekend ahead and we will see you guys back here on Sunday.