DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Marlar wins on something new, High Limit's schedule is out! | Daily 11-3-2025
We're reacting today to the 2026 High Limit schedule, addressing silly Kings Royal rumors, talking Mike Marlar's new shock package, and a lot more on a packed Daily show. Let's go!
It's Monday, November 3rd, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Kubota Genuine Parts.
Our first big series schedule for 2026 has been announced, with High Limit going live with their dates here just a little bit ago. 66 races overall, which is five more than last year, but three less tracks; 36 in 2025 versus 33 next year. And if you're curious, those 61 2025 dates became 50 completed races with rainouts and cancellations. Things again start out west at Las Vegas in March, but there is no early season California trip this time. It's Vegas, Central Arizona, Vado, then back east to Texas and Kansas. The season again wraps up with two days at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track in October. There are new tracks next year, including I-94 in Minnesota, Shelby County in Iowa, Oklahoma's Arrowhead Speedway, Dacotah Speedway in North Dakota, Big Sky in Montana, Stateline in New York, and Santa Maria in California. Davenport returns after a year away. Gone are Tri-City, 141, Florence, Texarkana 67, Utica-Rome, Bridgeport, and Path Valley. Lernerville gets only one date, a July 21st stop, Kokomo gets expanded, and Port Royal picks up more dates. Port has become to High Limit what Williams Grove is to the World of Outlaws. Port has three dates in May, two more in July, and three in September for a total of eight. That's 12 percent of the schedule at one race track. The removal of that first California trip is certainly one that makes me wonder about the future of tours in California. It used to be two trips for the Outlaws, and that has been pared back to one in recent years. And now High Limit does the same. I think there is a future where the Outlaws maybe don't hit California at all, and High Limit has just the one trip. While Brad Sweet and Kevin Rudeen try and elevate sprint car racing out west with area promoters, I don't think this is a great sign. Overall though, no major surprises, and iterations where necessary. Unlike the Outlaws, High Limit is still trying to figure out what dates and tracks work for them, and where they can go that makes good business sense. If a track you liked that was on the schedule in 2025 is suddenly gone, you can likely assume it wasn't a big money maker. The other note here, there are still four TBAs on the High Limit schedule. They are June 4th and June 7th in the midwest, August 23rd in California, and October 9th before Lakeside. Theories are already going around about what those tracks could be, so more additions are coming here.
The other thing to address here, and some recent additions to the Outlaw schedule show this as well, nothing is changing with the Kings Royal. I've seen a few questions, a few comments here recently about the Kings Royal for 2026. I don't know how these rumors got started, but it seems as though some thought this event would or could flip to High Limit. It is true that the Tony Stewart Racing sprint car team will not be Outlaws next year, and instead go High Limit with Rico Abreu. But in terms of Eldora's relationship with World Racing Group and the World of Outlaws, nothing is changing there. It's a point I brought up back in September when the Rico news was announced. I said then that the event would remain Outlaw sanctioned, and the Kings Royal is now listed on the schedule at worldofoutlaws.com. The Outlaws haven't yet put a full slate of sprint car races out yet for 2026, but my friend TJ Buffenbarger from TJSlideways.com pointed out to me today that more events have been added to that page. High Limit will continue with the Wednesday and Thursday shows for the Joker's Jackpot, the Knight Before and the Kings Royal stay Outlaws Friday and Saturday. There are rumblings of changes for some of Eldora's other sprint car shows, but those seem to be more about actual scheduling and dates, and not about sanctions. Something else to point out as we watch these two series co-exist and compete, this is the second year in a row that High Limit released their schedule during World Finals week. This is a big week on the WRG calendar, and High Limit slipping in here to try and steal just a bit of the spotlight. Little games always being played.
It was less than two weeks ago here that we talked about Longhorn Chassis and Kevin Rumley working towards bringing a new, old shock player back into the dirt late model mix. I'd been told that Rumley has been doing R&D work with Ohlins, and that his six car had both tested on the shocks and potentially even already won on them this year. This is certainly notable given Rumley and Longhorn's longstanding relationship with Bilstein. Rumley though departed his role at Bilstein earlier this year and has been working with Longhorn exclusively since. It's my understanding that Bilstein will continue to be involved, as they have been, but that the Ohlins program will be another option. Given the reaction I've seen, it seems as though some in the industry already knew this was in play, and it's not Ohlins first time in the sport. As I said back on October 23rd, Jimmy Owens was a main guy for Ohlins, winning his 2020 Lucas title on the shocks, and continuing on them into the 2022. In recent days, it's been brought to my attention that the Ohlins project has spread though, and other drivers are already using them. That supposedly includes Tim McCreadie and Mike Marlar. Marlar recently swept the Ironman Night the Stars Came Out event at Atomic Speedway, and it seems pretty clear he was using Ohlins that weekend. A good source alerted me to this, and in a Tyler Carr photo from that weekend, you can see Marlar's Delk 157 with the typical gold of Ohlins inside that left rear. I have photos of Marlar's car from just a few months ago where it's clear he's running Bilsteins. I wouldn't expect every major Longhorn team to make the switch, especially those who continue to have success on the Bilsteins. But it's clear at this point that guys are fast on them and it could be something more teams try and test during the offseason.
The National 100 wrapped up last night at East Alabama, with Tyler Erb winning the event for the second year in a row. He took the lead inside 20 to go from Dalton Cook, and held on from there. Dennis Erb Jr. was second and Jimmy Owens third. Brandon Overton fell out of the race early while leading with mechanical issues, and Dalton Cook led a bunch of laps, but caused a few late cautions and finished ninth. A number of drivers in the field last night are expected to race this week at World Finals, including Terbo, Owens, Bronson, Overton, and Dennis Erb Jr. After this week, the two big remaining races that will draw national tour type guys are the Flo series finale at Senoia November 14th and 15, and obviously the Dome in December. There are some scattered regional races still to run, but things will begin to quiet down significantly.
And since I mentioned World Finals, the World Short Track Championship wrapped up last night and the track was still not in amazing shape. It looked much better to start the day, but it did develop ruts and character on both ends. It wasn't as bad as Saturday, but that track crew will have some work to do before Wednesday. Knock on wood, things look pretty good here all week, so hopefully we don't have any more issues.
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At Millbridge Speedway tonight, the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets being their final event of 2025. They'll run tonight and tomorrow as a little appetizer to World Finals proceedings that start Wednesday. If you're in town, you could be at the track seeing racing for the next six nights straight. There will be some special guests on hand racing midgets, including Sheldon Haudenschild and Nick Hoffman. Sheldon will be in a car owned by Stephen Fairfield, and Hoffman I believe will be a Jeff Taylor-owned machine. Sheldon has experience in midgets, but it's been a few years, going back to Chili Bowl. And Hoffman has become a regular at Chili Bowl driving for Taylor, and has had some good runs. Jacob Denney will be crowned series champion as he enters the weekend with a massive 358 point lead on Gavin Miller. Denney has won nearly half the races run this season with Xtreme, 10 of 21 to be exact. He's also got 19 top fives and 21 top tens. Nine drivers have appeared at every race, and 15 have made double digit starts. This will be the final two race nights of a full time career for Chase McDermand. He's sitting fourth in the standings, and will transition to just a car owner role for next year. Millbridge has hosted the Xtreme midgets six times before, with Zach Daum and Karter Sarff winning in 2024. Cannon McIntosh swept the two nights in 2023, and Taylor Reimer and Gavan Boschele split the first two races in 2022. Should be a fun couple of nights on the tight confines of Millbridge, but if you can't get there, watch live on DIRTVision.
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Finally today, I had comments and messages yesterday about the Super DIRTcar Series show from Saturday night at Georgetown, including one from series director Dean Reynolds. Alex Payne won a barn burner over Tim Sears Jr. Payne was over the track in turn two battling for the lead, then ran Sears back down and made a move on him coming to the white flag. It was career win number three for Payne with the SDS, and his second of the season. The Super DIRTcar Series closes out their 2025 season this week at Charlotte, with Mat Williamson on his way to another series championship. He's got 109 points on Alex Yankowksi, and 178 on Payne. Matt Sheppard is currently fourth, and if he finishes there, it will be his worst season result since way back in 2008.
That's the show for today, but stick around all week. A lot of news is likely coming with rides and maybe schedules, so there shouldn't be a lack of things to talk about.
Hope you guys have a great Monday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow!