DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Throwback for Jac Haudenschild, World of Outlaws at Bristol | DIRTRACKR Daily 4/23/21
It is Friday, April 23rd, two thousand and twenty one and you are tuned into DIRTRACKR Daily. I'm Justin Fiedler.
We've got a jam packed show today, including recaps of last night's racing, what to expect for the weekend, and more. Let's jump right in.
We got to finally see sprint cars on the Bristol highbanks last night with the track open for practice in advance of this weekend's two race nights for the World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series. Donny Schatz was quickest on the night, lapping Bristol in a time of 14.210, averaging 133mph. Nobody really knew what to expect, but it sounded like by the time the night was over, drivers were pleased with the track preparation and were feeling more comfortable racing on the big half mile. In a piece for Sprint Car and Midget, Kyle McFadden outlined some of the changes teams had made to their cars to handle the track, including beefed up parts and bigger fuel tanks. He also noted two more drivers who dropped out of the event, including Justin Peck and Kerry Madsen. But through the first night, things seemed to go pretty well I think. Obviously things will be different tonight when they are actually racing, and from the comments made by several drivers, guys are hoping the track widens out to allow for better racing. As for the big blocks, Mike Gular was quickest in practice with a lap of 17.361. Stewart Friesen, Marc Johnson, Matt Sheppard, and Max McLaughlin all also paced individual sessions.
Looking at the next two nights for the Outlaws, Brad Sweet enters the weekend with a big lead in the standings, 92 points currently, and you know he's going to keep pushing to extend that margin. He is favored for the two races by the dirtrackr.com analytics prediction formula and has a good track record on 1/2 mile tracks. Over the previous three years plus, his average 1/2 mile track finish is 6.25 and he has 12 wins. Trailing him in win chances from the formula are David Gravel and Carson Macedo. Donny Schatz leads all drivers in 1/2 mile average finish at 5.33 and 1/2 mile wins with 20, but he's finished outside the top ten in five straight races and hasn't won since Williams Grove last October. That team needs to get back going in the right direction before we can start worrying again about them getting win 300. Another driver who does well on 1/2 mile tracks is Logan Schuchart. 9 of his 19 wins over the last 213 Outlaw races have come on 1/2 mile tracks, but he's coming off two rough nights in Indiana, where he finished 22nd at Kokomo and 19th at Haubstadt. A strong field of cars is on the property at Bristol, and we are about to see something that hasn't happened in 20 years. If you can't be at Bristol, find your way to DIRTVision. This will definitely be one to watch.
Before action got underway yesterday at Bristol, we did get treated to a very cool announcement and unveiling. For his final season, driving for Rico Abreu, Jac Haudenschild will pilot the number 22 sprint car with Pennzoil as the sponsor, which is a throwback to the number 22 he drove for Jack Elden in the 1990s. It's a great looking race car and a really cool way to close out a fantastic sprint car career for the Wild Child. Kudos to Rico and Frank Bolter for putting all the parts together to make it happen.
One thing I wanted to talk about today briefly has been watching the dirt world respond to visiting Bristol Motor Speedway for the first time. Because of my NASCAR life, I've been going to Bristol twice a year for probably pretty close to 15 years. It's my favorite track on the NASCAR circuit for various reasons, but after so many trips, you lose a little perspective on just how incredible of a facility it is. But I've been transported back to the beginning a bit watching drivers and fans and officials and mechanics enter that place for their first trip in recent weeks. It's been really fun seeing their social media posts about the banking, and the grandstands, and the floating big screens, and the noise. There is no track on earth like Bristol, and regardless of what you think of the racing and how the events have gone, I'm glad the dirt racing community has gotten the opportunity to experience that place.
The USAC National Sprint Cars kicked off a four race weekend in Pennsylvania last night with a stop at Grandview Speedway. Brady Bacon entered the night as the series points leader, and was the one to watch having won his previous three starts at Grandview. And unfortunately for his competitors, that streak was extended. From his third starting position, he ran down leader Kevin Thomas Jr. near half way and took the lead in lap traffic with 19 laps to go. He went unchallenged the rest of the way to get his fourth straight win at the track and second win of 2021. KTJ was second, Robert Ballou hard charged from 13th to finish third, Tanner Thorson was fourth, and Jake Swanson finished fifth. The win for Bacon and a 13th for Justin Grant, sees Bacon's points lead extend to 49 now with six race nights complete. Chris Windom extended his top ten streak to 21 straight races with a 10th place result. Windom and Bacon are the only two drivers to finish top ten in all six races so far in 2021. The rest of the USAC sprint car weekend looks like this: tonight they head to Big Diamond Speedway for their first appearance since 2012, Saturday it's off to BAPS Motor Speedway where Robert Ballou was the most recent winner in 2018, and the weekend closes out Sunday at Path Valley Speedway where the series will be making it's first appearance. A quick note about Path Valley, that race will only be available to watch on FloRacing on-demand once the race is complete. Internet issues at the track won't allow a live stream to happen. Looking at the next three nights, it's going to be difficult to bet against Bacon. He hasn't finished worse than 5th in his last nine starts, which includes three wins and four second place finishes. KTJ has also been very strong to start this season, with two wins already. I'd also keep an eye on Tanner Thorson who has three straight top eight finishes, and Robert Ballou. If Ballou can find a way to start a little higher in these features, he could be dangerous. He has three hard charger awards and leads the series in feature plus minus. If you can't attend the races in Pennsylvania this weekend, watch them on FloRacing.
Last night was round number two of the FloRacing Night in America Late Model Series with the competitors taking on Atomic Speedway in Ohio for $22,000 to win. 28 cars signed in for the mid week show, and come feature time it was some familiar names starting up front. Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Tim McCreadie, and Brandon Overton made up the front two rows. Moran was quickly to the lead at the start, and he was strong out front for most of the feature. As we approached ten to go, Davenport actually took the lead from him down the backstretch, but a caution for a slowing Tyler Erb handed the lead back to Moran on the restart. Over the final 12 laps, Moran was able to drive away to the $22,000 score, with Davenport finishing second, Bobby Pierce third, Hudson O'Neal fourth, and Boom Briggs in fifth. The opening night win paired with the second place run last night sees Davenport maintain the series points lead over Moran and Tyler Erb. The Flo Night in America late models go quiet now until May 12th when they visit Browstown Speedway for $10,000 to win.
Last night's Atomic show was supposed to lead into a busy weekend for the Lucas late models and World of Outlaws late models, but we've lost two of those shows already...
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series was supposed to be in action tonight and tomorrow night in Illinois, but the two shows, at Tri-City Speedway and Macon Speedway, have been cancelled because of wet weather. They will not be rescheduled. The series is next in action on April 30th at Ponderosa Speedway and May 1st at Florence Speedway, both in Kentucky. Tim McCreadie is currently the series points leader by 40 over Hudson O'Neal. Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, and Kyle Bronson round out the top five. For more info on the rainout, visit lucasdirt.com.
So with Lucas cancelled, that leaves us with the two $10,000 to win World of Outlaws Late Model Series shows this weekend, Friday at Richmond in Kentucky, and Saturday at Brushcreek in Ohio. I'd imagine those fields will be boosted a bit by the Lucas cancellation and the fact that 28 guys raced at Atomic last night who are already in the neighborhood. Brandon Sheppard enters the Outlaw weekend as the points leader over Kyle Strickler, Chris Madden, Kyle Bronson, and Tyler Bruening, but the Rocket house car has yet to win an Outlaw show in 2021. BShepp's best finish is third, which he's done twice, at Farmer City and at Bristol. Friday's trip to Richmond will be the first ever for the World of Outlaws at the Kentucky race track, and the series hasn't been at Brushcreek since 2006. It will be the Outlaws' debut on Brushcreek's 3/10 mile configuration however. This could be a good weekend for Sheppy to get that first win, as he has two 3/10 mile wins in recent years, and is favored by the analytics prediction formula for both nights. Behind Sheppard, Kyle Strickler has struggled mightily since Volusia, and needs a good weekend to turn things around. The driver I do really like to possibly challenge for the championship this season is Chris Madden. He's already got a win with the Outlaws in 2021, has three straight top six finishes, and is up to third in the points only 60 behind the lead. As of today, we are probably down to 11 full time teams. Shane Clanton has said he's going to follow Lucas, but teammate Tyler Bruening is sticking with the Outlaws. With Lanigan and Bloomquist out, and Bronson probably going Lucas, that leaves Sheppard, Strickler, Madden, Bruening, Weiss, Erb Jr., Dillard, Gustin, Briggs, Larson, and Spencer. With Strickler's slide and Weiss and Dillard struggling, Madden looks really good right now as that challenger for the Rocket 1. If you can't be at the track this weekend, DIRTVision will have live streaming coverage with your fast pass.
Another series that has had their racing affected by rain this weekend is POWRi. Tonight's Mid-State Nationals at Valley Speedway featuring midgets and WAR sprint cars has been moved to Sunday. So now POWRi will be at Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday and Valley on Sunday. Buddy Kofoid is currently the POWRi midget points leader, while Mario Clouser is atop the WAR standings. You can watch both nights live on MAVTV Plus.
Other weekend open wheel action includes the usual weekly shows at places like Attica, Williams Grove, Lernerville, Ocean, Fremont, Knoxville, Lincoln, Port Royal, and Wayne County. The IRA Sprint Cars will make their season debut at Beaver Dam in Wisconsin, and the USCS sprint cars are at the Talladega Short Track. To see the full weekend open wheel schedule, checkout the calendar at TJSlideways.com.
Other late model races to check out this weekend include the Carolina Clash at Lavonia and Travelers Rest, Spring Nationals at Tri-County and Mountain View, Florida Late Models at All-Tech, Fastrak at Tyler County, and the Iron-Man North series at the completely re-done West Virginia Motor Speedway. To see a full list of weekend late model action, visit dirtondirt.com.
There are 20 shows on the streaming schedule today across DIRTVision, FloRacing, Speed Sport, RacinDirt, and more. The list includes the Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series at Bristol, the World of Outlaws Late Models at Richmond, USAC at Big Diamond, weekly action from Albany-Saratoga, Williams Grove, Attica, Ocean, Lernerville, and more. To see the full daily streaming schedule with links to watch, visit dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
That's it for the show today, hope everyone has a good Friday and a good weekend. If you have thoughts about the topics on today's show, leave them in the comments below or tweet at me.
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