DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Will Jonathan Davenport make me look like a fool? | Daily 1-13-2023
After a dominating Thursday night feature win, Tanner Thorson just might be the Chili Bowl favorite. We'll talk about that, plus, is Jonathan Davenport about to make me eat my words? Let's go!
It's Friday, January 13th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.
Last night at the Chili Bowl I think Tanner Thorson answered any and all questions about whether or not he was capable of repeating his golden driller success from one year ago. I personally was skeptical about what he could get done, especially after his fall west coast trip with USAC. He did lead some laps and earn a couple of top five finishes back in November, but he also had some not great runs during this debut with his own equipment. But Thursday inside the expo, he had about everything thrown at him, and at the end, he was the winner and is locked into Saturday's main event. His night started with a spin in his heat, but he was able to drive back through the field and win anyway. In the qualifier, he started fifth, and nipped Emerson Axsom late for that win, which put him on the pole for the night's feature, and in the main event he never relinqueshed the lead. The only time Axsom was even close was when Thorson was deep in lap traffic, but there was never even a chance for a move. Thorson's feature performance was the most dominant we've seen so far this week, and I think with Buddy Kofoid buried down the alphabet for Saturday, Thorson has to be now the favorite for the win on Saturday night. He and Axsom join Cannon McIntosh, Shane Golobic, Hank Davis, Spencer Bayston, Rico Abreu, and Mitchel Moles as the locked in drivers. Brady Bacon was also on the podium last night, and he'll be in a B with Tim Buckwalter, Tanner Carrick, Karter Sarff, Chase Johnson, and Ryan Bernal. The pole shuffle format is the same as 2022, and the guys who win the prelim nights have a slight advantage with the draw. Last year, Carrick started the furthest back of any of the winners in sixth. So you can probably assume your top five will be some combination of Thorson, Rico, McIntosh, Davis, and whoever wins tonight. And your winner will come out of that group. I'm calling that now. Going back to 2012, nobody has started further back than fourth and won the Chili Bowl. In 2011, Kevin Swindell started 10th. I have start positions for the features going back to 1995, and 27 of 28 Chili Bowls have been won from the top 10. 22 of those from the first two rows. Knowing those numbers, and seeing the way he raced last night, I'd definitely give the advantage to Thorson headed into tomorrow. On the opposite end of the spectrum last night was CJ Leary. He climbed a RR in his heat race and went for a big ride. It looked like he could have been the alphabet runner, with a 14th to first charge in the C main. But things went sideways again big time in his B. He was battling right around the transfer spot when he got crowded into the frontstretch wall by Taylor Ferns, and again went for a big flip. Alex Bowman's squad will have serious work to do to get that car ready for a Saturday run.
Tonight is the final prelim night and then the alphabet soup starts on Saturday morning. The notables in tonight's field include Bryant Wiedeman, Justin Grant, Kyle Cummins, Andrew Felker, Clinton Boyles, Daryn Pittman, Zeb Wise, Logan Seavey, Chase McDermand, Jason McDougal, Briggs Danner, Hunter Schuerenberg, and Brenham Crouch. JG has won the Friday prelim feature two years in a row, and there is no reason to not view him as the favorite tonight. I think I'll go with Logan Seavey as the other lock in pick. Same schedule today, hot laps at 4, racing at 5 local. The busy Saturday program should start around 9AM central time and then run all day. Opening ceremonies are slated for 6:30PM. If you need a FloRacing subscription to tune in, click the link below in the video description, or the Flo links at dirtrackr.com.
Down in New Mexico, after having Thursday off, the Wild West Shootout at Vado Speedway Park will run tonight through Sunday. The next two nights are two more $10,000 to win shows, and Sunday's finale is $25,000 to win. So far it's been all Jonathan Davenport with three wins in three nights. But we've seen good speed from Bobby Pierce, Kyle Larson, and Brandon Sheppard. I said in advance of this event that I didn't believe the bonus money was really in play. Maybe four wins for $25k could be done, but not that five and six win bonuses. But if Superman can keep up the pace he's been on all week, he might make me eat my words. I still think one of those other guys grabs at least one win before the week is out, but it will be hard to pick against JD over the next three nights. The move back to Arkansas and the crew changes have not slowed that 49 down in any way. It doesn't bode well for the rest of the dirt late model contenders, and those who will be competing with JD all season with Lucas. Besides those I've already mentioned, Ricky Weiss, Mike Marlar, Garrett Alberson, and Cade Dillard have all also showed speed through the first few nights. Also on the card all weekend is more racing for the X-mods and modifieds, so plenty of action to come from Vado. Unfortunately though, as expected, the crowds there have been incredibly light through the first few nights. It's such a shame that a top notch facility like that with a big event isn't doing better. I know that FloRacing and the streaming dollars are probably helping prop that event up, but it's tough to see very little support.
A couple of other late model bits for you today. The World of Outlaws season starts next week at Volusia, and Brian Shirley is coming down with a new Sweet Bloomquist Chassis. It's one he got from Chris Ferguson, who himself is waiting on a new Bloomquist, but there is a possibility we could see Fergy in a Longhorn sometime in 2023. Steve Arpin and the boys are certainly staying busy with all the drivers and teams who seem to want a piece of the action. Also, speaking of Bloomquist, Scott will be at Volusia as well to race, but not with his own team. Big Frog Motorsports announced just today that Bloomer will be in their 58 car for the weekend. Their Facebook post says this will just be for the one event, as Bloomer needed more time to get his own stuff ready for the season. With the Outlaw teams inbound and all these other travelers, we should have an awesome field next week for Volusia.
There is plenty to check out on the streaming services over the next few days, including more from the Chili Bowl, the Wild West Shootout at Vado, racing from down under on Clay Per View and at Western Springs, and more. To see the full daily streaming schedule with links to watch, visit dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
Alright, that's it for the show today. Enjoy the dirt racing weekend. Thanks everyone for tuning in. We'll be back here tomorrow for more DIRTRACKR Daily.