DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript

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Scott Bloomquist missing the Dream, Hunt the Front series issues big penalty | Daily 6-8-2023

The 29th Dirt Late Model Dream starts tonight, and although the entry list is big, there is one notable absence. We'll talk about that, plus Hunt the Front issues big penalties, and Hunter Schuerenberg is looking for a ride. Let's go!

It's Thursday, June 8th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.

It's a crown jewel weekend with the 29th Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora getting started tonight. Three nights of racing with Saturday night's big show paying $129,000 to the winner. Thursday and Friday are full programs of split field action, ending in twin 25 lap features that will pay $12,000 to win each. Results through the first two nights will setup Saturday's heat race starting lineups. As of last night, we are at 89 cars pre-entered, but the track did share there are some teams on the property who did not pre-register for the Dream, so it sounds like maybe we could be into the 90's for car count. I'm certainly not going to go through the entire list, but it's obviously stuffed with all the best dirt late model teams from the two national tours, and a ton of the best local and regional guys as well. One driver who is notably absent is Scott Bloomquist. It will be the first time in the event's history that Bloomer will not compete. He's been battling health issues with numbness in his right leg and foot forcing him to withdraw from racing at Volusia way back in February. He was planning on having back surgery in the spring, but has not competed since then. Bloomer has eight Dirt Late Model Dream wins in his career, with the last coming in 2018. He hasn't won a big time late model show though since September of 2020, when he won a World of Outlaws race at Thunder Mountain Speedway. At his best or not, it certainly won't be the same at Eldora with Bloomquist not racing. Remember too, this week is the first time the signal stick ban is in effect at Eldora. Obviously teams will still find ways to communicate with their drivers, it just won't be with sticks. Going back through recent history, Brandon Overton has won three straight Dreams, including last year, and the double Dreams we had in 2021. There was no Dream winner in 2020, and Brandon Sheppard won the event in 2019. Overton also won the 51st World 100, and the only other driver to win a big event at Eldora in the previous few seasons is Jonathan Davenport, who bagged the 50th World 100, the Eldora Million, and the 52nd World 100. Those two lead all drivers in recent average finish, with Overton at 3.5 and Davenport at 4.3. Other drivers with prelim wins include Gregg Satterlee, Bobby Pierce, Dale McDowell, Johnny Scott, Tim McCreadie, Chris Ferguson, Chris Madden, and Hudson O'Neal. Neither driver is coming into Eldora as hot as they've been in past seasons, but it's going to be tough to pick against them. Davenport looked resurgent winning two of three nights at Wheatland, and Overton has been consistent, hanging around in third in the Lucas standings. Ricky Thornton Jr. has been scalding hot as of late, but his past results at Eldora are mixed, with just four top fives in 11 starts going back the last few years. One driver I would not count out is Bobby Pierce. He knows how to get around Eldora, and has been very good with that Longhorn in 2023. Don't forget, if you're setting those Dirt Draft lineups for the weekend or doing other fantasy or picks, I've got Eldora special event results, plus both national tours over in the database at dirtrackr.com/analytics. The work is all done for you, you just have to click through it all. Drop me a comment and let me know who you are putting money on this weekend. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 local time tonight, and you can watch live on FloRacing if you are not headed for Rossburg.

One late model news item from yesterday that is probably having a very small impact on the Dream entry list was the Hunt the Front series announcing they have suspended Garrett Smith and his owner slash father Scot Smith. Scot and and any cars owned by him are suspended from the series indefinitely, with HTF also dropping a $3000 fine on him. He cannot apply for reinstatement until a year from the incident date. Garrett Smith has been suspended for 90 days from any Hunt the Front events. On top of that, because this series is DIRTcar sanctioned, these penalties also apply to any DIRTcar or WRG events, which would mean the Dream, as it is DIRTcar sanctioned. According to a release from the series, Scot Smith was warned at Cochran about his actions following an incident where he entered another team's pit area to confront a crew member. Scot was then later upset about Garrett being sent to the rear in the feature, and both verbally and physically assaulted a series official and attempted to tear down their victory lane banner. Smith won the Dirt Track World Championship in 2022, but has struggled this season. They had initially planned on running with Lucas full time, but we haven't seen them on the road since Farmer City back a few weeks ago.

Speaking of Lucas, they won't be making up the Historic 100 at West Virginia Motor Speedway that was postoned over the weekend because of rain. Fans with Saturday tickets will be refunded, and the 25 teams that were scheduled to start the feature will be paid $1000 each for their participation. Lucas is back June 16th and 17th at Smoky Mountain Speedway.

In motorsports, it's never too early to start silly season, and with Ohio Sprint Speedweek bearing down on the All Star teams, one car will have a new driver coming up. Vermeer Motorsports announced last night that they had quote "mutually agreed to part ways" with driver Hunter Schuerenberg. They currently sit fourth in the All Star owner standings, 126 points behind Tyler Courtney and the Clauson Marshall team. Through the opening 17 races, Schuerenberg had a win, five top fives, and nine top tens, and most recently was 10th and 12th at Dodge County and Plymouth. The team had been a tick off their 2022 pace, in terms of average finish, but they had been victim to some bad luck and getting involved in incidents. They had also planned on running full time with High Limit, but dropped off after the Wayne County race after tearing up some equipment during the All Stars' recent northeast swing. In three High Limit starts, Schuerenberg had finishes of 14th, 17th, and 24th. And not that this should be shocking, but thanks to some social media reaction last night, it appears as though this decision might not be as mutual as the team's release lets on. Casey Shuman posted that Schuerenberg had just received a new shipment of fresh merch yesterday to restock his trailer after his motorhome and merch trailer caught fire back in early April. I doubt you load up on new merch in advance of speedweek if you are ready to leave your current ride. Going forward, with Schuerenberg out, the Vermeer 55 will also be looking for a crew chief I'd assume, since Clinton Boyles who had been crew chiefing the car is Hunter's brother in law. Speedweek is set to start tomorrow night at Attica, and there were rumors that Buddy Kofoid might be the target for Vermeer. As of just a few minutes ago, the team did announce Kofoid as their new driver starting tomorrow night. That would mean Kofoid would not continue racing Indiana Midget Week where he is the current week long points leader after last night's race at Gas City. It would also mean that Bernie Stuebgen's Indy Race Parts 71 is without a driver again, as Buddy had been driving that after getting bounced from the Crouch 11. Nothing in the release about a crew chief, or schedule. I'm assuming they'll continue full time with the All Stars and fill in other races as they had been with Schuerenberg in the seat.

That Gas City show last night was won by Logan Seavey, who bounced back from late ignition issues while leading during the previous race at Circle City. Seavey and polesitter Emerson Axsom traded the lead officially five times during the 30 lapper, with Seavey eventually ripping the top late to lead at the white flag and drive on to the victory. It wasn't easy though for him, as the car was missing a shock late and was a handful to drive. It was the first national midget win for Seavey since Turkey Night in 2021, and the first ever national midget win for Abacus Racing. Axsom settled for second with Chase McDermand third. Weeklong and series points leader Jacob Denney didn't have a great night, finishing down in 19th after starting second. It was Denney's first series finish outside the top eight all season, and although he lost the midget week points lead to Kofoid, he still leads the national standings with Jade Avedisian up to second. Tonight, Midget Week is headed for Lincoln Park, where Denney was the winner one year ago. Tanner Thorson won there in 2021, and has four straight top tens going right now. If you can't get there, FloRacing has live coverage.

That's it for today, make sure to stop by dirtrackr.com/watchtonight to see today's streaming schedule.

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