DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Bobby Pierce snookered Brandon Overton in high speed dirt late model chess match | Daily 2-17-2023
On this final show of the week we'll dive into last night's chess match between Brandon Overton and Bobby Pierce, talk other Thursday results, and the future for 360 sprint cars. Let's go!
It's Friday, February 17th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.
An aspect of racing of any kind that I feel like doesn't get talked about enough is the constant game of high speed chess that is happening. Decisions are being made all the time by these drivers, and they are incredibly conscious of what those decisions are. We see guys going around a track quickly, and it feels like there isn't time for that kind of thing. You'd almost assume they are just reacting moment to moment. But in reality, for the good ones, things slow down dramatically with experience, and they are able to process information very quickly and make decisions like they are sitting down at a desk. After the race at Volusia last night, the overwhelming story is Bobby Pierce making a last lap move on Brandon Overton to score the victory, but what you really saw was two drivers trying to outsmart one another. Pierce was able to close on Overton late, who was trapped in behind the tail end cars of Frank Heckenast Jr. and Johnny Scott. Pierce showed Overton the high side one time in three and four, and it opened up the doubt for the driver of the 76. What Overton didn't know, was Pierce was actually much better on the bottom where Overton already was. But that one little move got Overton off the bottom in the closing stages to try and defend, and it ended up being his undoing. Into turn one on the final lap, Overton pushed high, and Pierce drove by him on the bottom, which was the race winning move. Afterwards, a dejected Overton told Hannah Newhouse on DIRTVision quote "I just made a shitty move." In hindsight, which is always 20/20, Overton should have stayed on the bottom, as it would have been very difficult for Pierce to get enough momentum going to get by. But a combination of the lap cars that were slowing Overton's progress, and Pierce having the advantage as the aggressor, ended up being the difference. When you're tuned into these races, I really hope you guys are spotting these things, because it's these types of battles that make races like we saw last night super interesting beyond just a last lap pass for a win. And Overton's comments afterwards gave us just enough of a clue as to what went on in his own mind. He got snookered and he knew it. Great stuff last night from two super talented racers. Behind the top two, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, and Hudson O'Neal completed the top five. With this first of three Outlaw nights complete at DIRTcar Nationals, Chris Madden maintains the series points lead, with Kyle Bronson and Brian Shirley in tow. Through these opening three race nights, McCreadie is the only driver with three top fives, and he and Ricky Thornton Jr. are the only two with three top tens.
The night's Super DIRTcar Series feature had a similar ending, with a last lap pass for the win. Demetrios Drellos had the race in hand, leading by more than three seconds at one point, but somehow, Mat Williamson ran him down from what felt like Jacksonville. Money Mat took the lead down the backstretch on the white flag lap and scored the victory, with Drellos settling for second, and Larry Wight charging late to third. Two more nights remain of DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia, and with what we've seen so far this week, don't sleep on tonight and tomorrow. The track has been super racy, and the WRG crew has been putting on some really well run shows. If you aren't near Volusia the next two days, watch live all weekend on DIRTVision.
At Bubba Raceway Park last night for the USAC sprint car opener, we had a fantastic battle late for the win between Brady Bacon and Emerson Axsom through lap traffic. Bacon ended up coming out on top for the win, and passing Jack Hewitt for third all time in series wins. The race was almost over before it had really gotten started though for the Macho Man. On lap two, while battling with Thomas Meseraull, we saw a rare Bacon mistake, with him losing the rear of the car in turn four. He ended up collecting Jake Swanson and Jadon Rogers in the aftermath, but contact actually allowed Bacon to keep rolling, and he didn't end up having to restart from the rear. It was super fortunate, and kept him in the game for the victory. Post race, he almost looked a little sheepish over the whole thing. Axsom and CJ Leary were also on the podium, while Robert Ballou rebounded from a tough opening to the night to go 22nd to 10th and earn hard charger. Two more race nights remain at Bubba for USAC, and I'd keep an eye on Axsom. I think with the speed he's show out of the gate through these first three nights, he could easily get a win before Florida is over.
If you are a winged sprint car fan, a full weekend of 360 action kicked off last night at East Bay. Cole Macedo ended up going the distance for the win, topping Mark Smith and Davie Franek. Aaron Reutzel started up front with Macedo, but had a bit of pinball night, climbing the rear tire of Tim Shaffer at one point, and then tangling with Smith and ending his night in the outside wall down the back straightaway. As expected, quite a few guys who ran with the All Stars earlier in the week stuck around, and the field even grew. Looked like around 52 cars on the property. They'll do it all over again tonight and Saturday on the clay by the bay.
And since we are talking about 360 sprint cars here, I did want to briefly talk about that division today. There seems to be growing chatter here and there about the future for 360 racing, and it's something to pay attention to in the coming years. I think, and I could be wrong I guess, but 360 racing is supposed to be both a stepping stone to 410s and a cheaper option for those that want to compete at a higher level of sprint car racing. The problem though, is the rising costs of everything, including those engines, has meant that 360 racing is basically the same cost as 410 stuff. And the kicker is the prize money is much lower for those competitors. So you are spending around the same to make quite a bit less. What's interesting though, is it hasn't really equated to more teams saying screw it, we're going 410 racing instead. The division seems to still be pretty damn healthy, especially in places like California. Knoxville also has a nice 360 show weekly, and the ASCS often draws solid fields. There is clearly a need for the lower division of sprint car racing, as a place for young drivers to find their footing, and others to remain competitive while not needing to get their heads kicked in against series like the Outlaws or All Stars. But it makes you wonder how long it can continue like this, before maybe some rule changes are necessary to control the costs.
It's a pretty busy streaming weekend across the services. DIRTVision has DIRTcar Nationals through Saturday, FloRacing will have more USAC from Bubba and 360s from East Bay, plus several shows from down under. There is also scattered other racing across Speed Sport and RacinDirt, plus the debut of the new Hunt the Front service. To see the full daily streaming schedule with links to watch, visit dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
Enjoy the dirt racing weekend, we'll see you guys back here on Monday!