DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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NASCAR back on the dirt at Bristol, which dirt drivers are competing at Bristol | Daily 4-13-2022

On the show today we are talking NASCAR on the Bristol dirt, including what dirt drivers to watch and more. Let's go!

Today is Wednesday, April 13th, two thousand and twenty two. Welcome into DIRTRACKR Daily. I'm Justin Fiedler.

We'll have other things to talk about on the Thursday and Friday shows, but I didn't want to gloss over the fact that NASCAR is back on dirt this week with the Cup cars and Truck Series at Bristol. If you tune in regularly, you know that my day job is in NASCAR, but if you don't tune in regularly, hey, my day job is in NASCAR. So you won't hear any hate from me about these races this weekend, because I don't actually think NASCAR on dirt is bad. I know there have been comments from Kyle Busch and Richard Petty that NASCAR racing on dirt is setting the sport back, but that's BS. I like that NASCAR races on all sorts of tracks, including the usual ovals, different road courses, and now dirt is back in the mix. I don't love that they've taken away a paved race at Bristol to do this, because I do think there are other, actual dirt tracks that would be great for this event, but I understand why they did it. This is year two of the NASCAR dirt race at Bristol, and there were definitely problems last year, but I think they've learned and the racing should be better this weekend. The 2021 version was certainly not helped by the fact that there was a big rain delay, including for the trucks, and that a lot of the Cup race was run during the day with sun beaming down on the surface. This year, both races are at night, and with a better forecast coming up, we shouldn't see so many of the issues we had last year, including the mud covered trucks, and the eventual rubbered up surface for the Cup cars. Clearly 250 laps on a dirt surface is going to be a difficult ask for track prep, but again with a year of experience and learning, things should be better on Sunday night.

For both series we'll get practice sessions, and then heat races that are set by random draw. Those heats will then set the field for the main races on Saturday and Sunday nights. Last year we saw some dirt ringers in both races, but there is much less of that this season. No dirt guys are in the Cup field, and only Buddy Kofoid, Mike Marlar, and Jessica Friesen are in the truck race. There are obviously plenty of NASCAR regulars with dirt experience, but those three are the only outsiders coming in. Friesen and Marlar have run NASCAR events in the past, and I'm excited to see Kofoid get a shot with Kyle Busch Motorsports. We saw Logan Seavey do well in this same situation a few years ago, and Kofoid could surprise some folks who don't know who he is. Funding is always a problem, but this could be a chance for Buddy to get some much needed exposure if he wants to go this direction in the future. I'd obviously like to see him continue in sprint cars because I'm a selfish dirt fan, but I certainly wouldn't be upset if he got chances on the pavement side. He's one of the most talented young drivers in the country right now, regardless of car type.

For you hardcore types, remember that you are going to see and hear some uninformed and naive stuff this weekend, from regular NASCAR fans, the broadcasters, and on social media. They are going to say dumb stuff about dirt racing, but don't let it make you angry. It's not on purpose, they just aren't educated like you are. NASCAR racing on dirt is a positive for the dirt community. It exposes that fan base to racing on this surface, and guys like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell make it much easier for fans to migrate back and forth. This is what we want. So let's be welcoming and helpful where we can to help bridge the gap between the pavement crowd and the dirt community. There is always room for more. Think of it like this. If you had a buddy that was a NASCAR fan, but they asked you to take them to your local track or a big show like with the Outlaws, would you say no? Of course you wouldn't. You'd go get a beer, grab some pit passes, and walk them around and teach them. You'd explain the format and point out who they should be watching and talk through how the track changes from the start of the night to the end. Let's treat everyone like that this weekend.

In this same vein, I had a YouTube question from TAGAMING yesterday asking about a potential NASCAR dirt series in the future. They said something like the Outlaws or Lucas, not sure about car type, 23 races ending in November just like the Cup Series. It could possibly be a chance for dirt drivers to move towards NASCAR. They wanted to know my thoughts and if I'd be down to watch. Here's what I'll say. I don't think NASCAR is going this direction any time soon. They are pretty focused on their core series, and while they have added some dirt races, I don't know that they are super interested in competing on the the dirt side all the time. No matter which direction they might decide to go, either open wheel or fendered, there is just so much competition right now around the country. I don't know how additive a NASCAR owned series would be, and they'd end up competing for tracks and events. And I honestly don't know that it's needed for those drivers that are interested in going that way from the dirt world. Plenty have crossed over, including the aforementioned Bell and Larson, and those in charge of driver development are clearly keeping an eye on the top drivers on the dirt side. You've seen that recently with Justin Marks and Trackhouse doing some backing of Brent Crews. The biggest issue for any driver wanting to climb the ranks will always be finding funding to do so, and that problem isn't unique to NASCAR or dirt. It's true of any motorsports around the world. That is a much bigger hurdle for moving up then getting exposure is. I also think there are enough dirt people sprinkled through NASCAR as management people, owners, drivers, crew guys, that they will keep the door open. Besides Bell and Larson, I'm thinking of Tony Stewart, and Chase Briscoe, and Stewart Friesen, and the countless others through the ranks. My DIRTRACKR Conversations guest from a week ago was crew chief Jeremy Bullins, who grew up going to dirt late model races, is fielding a car for Tyler Courtney at Eldora, but is a Daytona 500 winning crew chief at Penske. So I'm not sure a NASCAR dirt series is necessary, and if they decided to start one, it would be an uphill battle against the likes of World Racing Group, and Lucas, and USAC, and all the other players in the game. Thanks for the question.

So now it's your turn. Give me your thoughts on the Bristol weekend ahead. Are you going to tune in? Is this a race you'd attend in the future, or maybe you're going this weekend? Let me know where you are with NASCAR on dirt.

On the dirt racing podcast front, Winged Nation talked tires with Brent Marks and Neil Cowman. LoudPedal has Gio Scelzi, Forward Bite has Zack Mitchell, Passing Points has Cap Henry, and there are new episodes of Open Red Credentials Denied, the Dirt Reporters, and the Dirt Nerds. To see the full list of shows and episodes, head over to dirtrackr.com/podcasts.

There are two shows on the streaming schedule today. DIRTVision has micros from Millbridge and there is FloRacing 24/7. To see the full daily streaming schedule with links to watch, visit dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.

That's it for the show today, have a good Wednesday. If you have thoughts about the topics on today's show, leave them in the comments below or tweet at me.

Thanks everybody for tuning in, I'll see you tomorrow for more DIRTRACKR Daily!