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.

Key sprint car openings and Kasey Kahne's dilemma | Daily 10-13-2025

Kasey Kahne Racing on the hunt for their next sprint car crew chief, and we know one guy isn't taking the job. Plus, the Outlaws make a possibly strategic schedule change, Josh Rice goes racing with a different team, Kyle Bronson has a new car, and more. Let's go!

It's Monday, October 13th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.

A machine is typically a sum of its parts. And what makes a Kubota great is no different, it lies in the careful planning and innovation in Kubota Genuine Parts. Power. Protection. Precision. Kubota Genuine Parts are what make a Kubota… a Kubota. If you're curious about learning more about Kubota Genuine parts you can visit KubotaUSA.com or your local Kubota dealer today. If you need to locate one of the more than 1000 dealers nationwide, open up the myKubota app and click the dealers button at the bottom.

Back on Friday, Jeremy Elliott posted his regular 90 at 9 to YouTube, and one of his topics on there was sprint car crew chief Joe Mooney confirming that he would return to Anthony Macri's 39M team for 2026. Mooney and Macri are currently in the third season together, with Mooney coming over to Macri Motorsports for the 2023 season. Mooney was previously car chief on Brad Sweet's 49 at Kasey Kahne Racing, and before that was a crew member at Shark Racing. Since they started together, this combination is one of the winningest in the sport of sprint car racing. Only David Gravel and Rico Abreu have more wins than does Macri over the last three seasons. That obviously included this year's Kings Royal, and Macri was back in victory lane on Saturday night at Lincoln with the World of Outlaws, after sitting out a few weeks with a back injury. Jeremy mentioned rumors that Mooney would maybe leave Macri's team after 2025 to go to work for a different sprint car team, but he didn't mention who that team was. Last week, we talked on the Thursday Daily show about Daison Pursley's rumored move to Kasey Kahne Racing for 2026, and KKR was hoping to pair Pursley with Mooney. That would have been a bit of a homecoming for Mooney, as, like I said, he was at KKR previously, but as a car chief on the 49. KKR has been dealing with crew chief issues since Knoxville, when they let Tye Wolfgang and the entire 49 crew go during the 360 Nationals. And Kahne himself started 2025 with Eric Prutzman on his car, but that deal went south before the Vegas High Limit opener. I don't know who at this point is even considered the 49 crew chief, but Andrew Bowman is the most experienced crew member on that car, and Kahne himself is heavily involved. They were obviously hoping to match Pursley with a veteran like Mooney, and it wasn't a bad idea at all. Mooney is certainly one of the best in the business. With Mooney deciding to stay though with Macri, I'm not sure where that leaves KKR at the moment. Top tier crew chiefs aren't exactly lined up around the block. I was sitting today trying to even think about who could be available, and the list is almost non-existent. Ricky Warner is staying with Rico, I'd all but guarantee Cody Jacobs stays at Big Game. Roth would be silly to let Dylan Buswell walk from Buddy Kofoid's team. Kyle Ripper will be back with Sheldon Haudenschild at KCP next year. Word is that Eric Prutzman will lead Gio Scelzi's team at Spire/CMR for 2026. Philip Dietz isn't going anywhere on the JJR 41. I think he's practically the team owner there these days. I doubt Jake Argo leaves the 7BC. And Heath Moyle has been around a long time, but he's got a young family in Pennsylvania, and I don't know that he could be talked into leaving Brent Marks' 19 and moving back south. From there, you'd have to look regionally, or for someone that isn't a crew chief yet. We know Nate Repetz left Macri Motorsports not long ago. He's been around a while. Maybe someone could talk Drew Warner into leaving Tarlton, but I think he's pretty tied in out in California. If Brent Ventura was going to come back, I'd imagine it would be with Roth. He's family there. It will be super interesting to see where KKR turns for a wrench to lead Pursley's effort next season.

Sticking with sprint cars, the World of Outlaws announced two more 2026 dates for their sprint car slate. The Memorial Day weekend is shifting from Ohio, to the midwest, with Knoxville and Huset's getting put together for a remade holiday weekend. Both of those shows will pay $20,000 to win. In 2025, the Outlaws hit Attica on Saturday, had Sunday off, and then went to Atomic on Monday. This is notable, because in between, a few Outlaw drivers beat feet to Port Royal on Sunday and ran the Weikert with High Limit. That short list included David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, and Zach Hampton. This will not be an option now though, as these dates will directly conflict with what I'm guessing will be the same Weikert dates in 2026, and just a few more miles in between. I leave it up to you to decide if this is an Outlaw High Limit conspiracy or not. Of note here, the Outlaw free passes are always a point of contention, but only two of 15 Outlaw drivers used their full allotment in 2025. Those drivers were the Macedo brothers, Carson and Cole. Gravel, Kofoid, Logan Schuchart, Bill Balog, Garrett Williamson, Chris Windom, and Hunter Schuerenberg all used three. Sheldon, Donny Schatz, and Skylar Gee used two. Zach Hampton used one, and Connor Morrell hasn't used any. Gio Scelzi had used two before he left, and it would have likely been three. I did hear one rumor that maybe the restrictions would be lifted for 2026, but even though we are waiting to see what the Outlaw platinum package is for 2026, I would not expect the free pass deal to change.

Two late model notes for you today. First, and I've had a bunch of messages about this one, Josh Rice made an appearance with the JRR late model team over the weekend at Atomic Speedway. Rice normally drives his family 11, but shared to Facebook that he got a late call to come drive Justin Ratliff's car at Atomic. And Rice ended up winning that $3000 late model show, topping Clint Keenan and Justin Cooper. This is notable, because Rice was rumored a few weeks ago to be replacing Daulton Wilson in the JRR ride for next season. Wilson was also in action this past weekend, but he was again in the Big Frog car. He finished sixth and 10th against Hunt the Front at Cherokee. I haven't heard anything new about this situation since we last talked about it, but my assumption is still that Wilson is out, and Rice running the JRR car this weekend would seem to be a fairly solid indication he could be the next guy as we'd discussed previously. Certainly a good first outing together, but a weekly show at Atomic and tour races with Lucas are a bit different.

Finally, did you guys see that Kyle Bronson is making a very late season chassis change for his dirt late model team? He'd been a Longhorn driver here lately, but back on Fridayy announced a swap to a Rocket XR2 on FOX Shocks. The 40B is now black instead of orange, and I'm assuming we'll see him for the first time this coming week at Eldora for the Dirt Track World Championship. 2025 has been a bit of a tough season for Bronson, with just 24 top tens in 62 races. He's got a pair of unsanctioned late model wins at East Alabama, and took one of the features at the Baltes Classic. Those are his only wins this year. I was told back in late September that this move was coming, but I forgot all about the message I was sent. That's my bad. We'll see if this XR2 can turn Bronson's performances around.

As we close out today, wherever you are watching or listening right now, maybe consider subscribing or following the show if you don't already. We are just 30 subscribers shy of 47,000 right now on YouTube. I'd love to have you join us five days a week as we talk all things dirt racing. The show can be found on YouTube, Facebook, the podcast places, and at dirtrackr.com.

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