DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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Reviewing Flo's Kyle Larson docu-series, plus a track and a streamer trying something different | Daily 5-18-2023

On the show today I've got a review of the new Dirt docu series from FloRacing, Wednesday results, plus a track and a streaming service taking some risks to try and move the needle. Let's go!

It's Thursday, May 18th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.

We've got some racing to talk about today, and I've got a bit of a review for the first episode of the Dirt docu series from FloRacing. But I want to start first with a few newsbits from the last month or so that involve tracks and streaming services trying some different models. Earlier this week, Ohsweken Speedway in Canada announced a season long program where one racer at their banquet will be awarded $500 in cash and $1500 in credit from an apparel company for quote "exceptional social media engagement throughout the season, effectively spreading the word about their racing endeavors" unquote. They will have a panel vote on the award, taking into consideration their creativity, audience reach, storytelling, and positivity. It could be a great opportunity for their racers to help promote themselves and the track, while also vying for a nice reward at season's end. This isn't surprising coming from a track like Oshweken that live streams their weekly shows for free on YouTube. They definitely seem to be a little more forward thinking and not so averse to taking some risks. This program is a version of an idea I've talked about on this show before, finding ways to incentivize the racers to help promote races each week via their own channels. I'll be curious to see how this works out for both sides as the year progresses. In the same vein, a new midwest based streaming service was announced about a month ago called DirtCrownTV, that will cover the Stock Car Crown Summer Series, the Malvern Bank Sprint Cars and Late Model Series, and the Hoker Trucking Series. These guys aren't super breaking the mold, promising to share more revenue with the race tracks. That's been the strategy employed by all the niche streamers as they vie for rights at smaller tracks, and in the wake of bigger services backing away from some deals. But where they are differing a bit from some of the other small players, is they are also promising to pay racers for helping spread the word. When fans sign up and purchase, they can use special referral links that will pay racers $5 for each transaction. Affiliate programs are common for all sorts of other e-commerce situations, but are rare in motorsports. Where this is weird though, is fans can get season passes on top of just buying races individually, and I think the math could get wonky. The service's co-owner Rob Marsh was on a recent episode of the Front Stretch podcast, and his talking about the breakdown of splits seemed murky and unclear, especially without knowing their share with the race tracks. I appreciate them deviating from the norm, but I hope they haven't found a good way to make little to no money on the endeavor. Hat tip to Josh at the Quicktime podcast for the heads up on the DirtCrownTV deal. There are plenty of examples out there of race tracks and industry businesses operating with their heads in the sand and being shortsighted, but I did want to point out some recent examples of folks out there trying to think differently and take some risks. These programs might succeed, or they might fall flat, but hell, at least they're trying.

A busy week of dirt late model racing continued last night at Davenport Speedway in Iowa. The FloRacing Night in America series stopped by for a little $23,000 to win show on a Wednesday. While not a bad race in any way, the usual wide, multiple lane Davenport was not on display last night. The top of the track was there early on, but as the laps ticked by, things became very bottom dominant. Dennis Erb Jr. was able to roll right around the inside tractor tires and take his second series win of 2023. He got to the lead before half way, outdueling Mason Zeigler, and then was unchallenged the rest of the way. It was not a rubber down night, just one where the top didn't stay good enough to make it a viable option later on. Hudson O'Neal went seventh to second and Bobby Pierce was third. Kyle Bronson was the big mover on the evening, going 18th to sixth. Big hat tip to the track and series, as the race was done just after 9PM local time. If you're going to run midweek shows, that's how a program needs to be handled. Get folks out in a reasonable amount of time, with school and jobs still happening the next day. The Flo series has one more race, on May 31st at Florence, before the series goes quiet for the rest of the summer. They return to action later in September at Fairbury. Hudson O'Neal sits atop the standings right now, with Bobby Pierce and Brandon Sheppard in second and third.

I did want to also talk about Mason Zeigler and the wrap he's running right now. Zeigler led the feature early on before fading to eighth at the checkered. If you watched last night, his number 25 almost looks like it's completely blank. Just a black car. But there are actually sponsor decals and his number there, it's just that they are a dark, reflective vinyl. Under certain conditions, like when the light catches it right, or when a photographer uses a flash, the car's details light up. But it is strange. He told the Always Race Day guys his sponsors are cool with it, and that it's just temporary as they get ready to reveal a new look. It's an interesting concept, but it's not doing his sponsors any favors when you can't see them on the broadcasts. If I'm backing a race team, I would not love this look.

At Delaware International on Wednesday night, the Short Track Super Series was in town for a 50 lapper. Billy Pauch Jr. started on the outside front row, grabbed the lead right off the start from Rick Laubach, and never looked back again. He lead all 50 for the $5000 score. Alex Yankowski was second, and Danny Bouc was scored third at the checkered. He doesn't appear in the final rundown though, because he was DQ'd afterwards for not making minimum weight. That promoted Matt Sheppard onto the podium, which was a massive bounceback from him after hitting the turn two wall on lap 14 and spinning out. He was third at the time, and after a trip to the work area had to drive back through the field. There was also a nasty tumble for Ryan Godown just five laps in. I don't know if he caught a rut or something broke, but it looked like he went for the ride all by himself into turn one. We'll see the Short Track Super Series modifieds again in a few weeks at Outlaw Speedway.

Here in North Carolina at Millbridge last night, Cannon McIntosh stayed hot, winning yet again in the non-wing 600 micro feature. He's been super dominant on Wednesday nights so far this season. In the winged micro feature, it was Kyle Busch picking up the victory in his Rowdy Energy sponsored 51. Pretty cool to see Kyle continue to run weekly and find some success.

Alright, I finally got the chance to watch the first episode of the Dirt docu series from FloRacing that follows Kyle Larson. Since this thing debuted on actual television, I feel like I'd suggest watching these episodes the next day on FloRacing, just because they aren't censored on the Flo platform. Especially later in this first show, Justin Grant dropped several f-bombs, and I want to hear that stuff, not beeped out. Overall, I think it's really well done, so kudos to the team at Flo for their work filming and editing this together. For the hard core dirt racing fans, some of the voiceover stuff is a little cheeseball, but I get it, they are trying to educate a bit and appeal to non-dirt fans. I also didn't love that they portray Grant, Tyler Courtney, and Thomas Meseraull as young, up-and-comers. That's not really true in any way. TMez is in his 40s, and Grant is 32. To the wider motorsports fanbase, these guys are lesser known for sure, but they aren't Buddy Kofoid, or Ryan Timms, or Garrett Smith. TMez and Grant are more journeymen, and I think that's a better storyline anyway. That's just a small gripe though, and other than those two things, it's really entertaining, and what I would have hoped for. I like that it's about Larson, but not exclusively. It's like he's the gateway to the sport and all these other guys. If you haven't watched it yet, this opening episode mostly focuses on Larson and Grant at the Chili Bowl during prelim competition. There are definitely some real moments, including issues for Grant that we get to see first hand. If you haven't watched it yet, it's on Flo, but I also saw that it's been posted to the FloRacing YouTube channel. I'll link to it below if you want to watch, and we'll keep talking about this as the series continues.

That's it for the show today. Make sure to stop by dirtrackr.com/watchtonight to see what's on the streaming schedule today. Also, you can support what I'm doing by liking these videos, and subscribing to the show wherever you are, YouTube or the various podcast platforms. Reviews are helpful as well. If you want to go a step further, check out the channel membership program for a few bucks a month, and you can get merch at shop.dirtrackr.com.

Hope you guys have a good Thursday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow.