DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Reacting to the laughable David Gravel / World of Outlaws flak | Daily 11-12-2023
We've got our first committed full time Outlaw team for 2024, and we'll talk about the reaction. Plus the Williams Grove bridge is gone, two sprint car teams solidify their driver plans for next season, and more. Let's go!
It's Sunday, November 12th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.
It's been often talked about and rumored, but the move finally happened. At Williams Grove yesterday the bridge across the backstretch was officially removed and trucked away. It will now be part of the collection with the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing in nearby York Springs, Pennsylvania. The end of this bridge seems to have caused a bit of mixed reaction, but love it or hate it, supposedly it will be replaced with a new bridge soon. Talk is pointing to a taller, wider, and longer version of the backstretch bridge being installed in the near future. I don't know what the timeline is, but I'll be sure to share when the install begins.
Into some sprint car news... I'm sure you've seen the news by now, but jumping back to Thursday night, sprint car driver David Gravel was back with a new livestream on his YouTube channel and revealed his 2024 plans. I'll link to it below in the video description if you want to watch it. In a not unexpected move, Gravel and the Big Game Motorsports 2 team will remain full time with the World of Outlaws for next year. Earlier in the week, Huset's Speedway announced an expanded slate of races on the Outlaw schedule for 2024, and that seemed to be a big indicator for Gravel. If you aren't aware, Gravel's Big Game Motorsports team owner is Tod Quiring, who also owns Huset's and the Jackson Motorplex. Quiring and crew chief Cody Jacobs went after Gravel a few years ago because they wanted to win the big races and an Outlaw title, and that focus will not change with the expansion of High Limit. So the moment, that gives us one full time team confirmed on each side, with Brad Sweet and the KKR 49 going High Limit, and Gravel and the 2 going Outlaws. There are lots of pretty easy assumptions to make from there, and we've talked about a few of them already like Zeb Wise and the Rudeen 26. Gravel also shared that he will return to the Chili Bowl in January, again racing for Dave Estep and RMS Racing, who he's competed with in Tulsa before.
What was wild about the Gravel announcement, was the ridiculous reaction and criticism from some in the aftermath. Talking about how the Outlaw championship will have an asterisk now, and a bunch of other insane comments. But no, there won't be an asterisk next to whoever wins the title next season. And either title, High Limit or the Outlaws. Regardless of your own opinion on the situation, the World of Outlaws is still the biggest game in town. Full stop. Most races, biggest point fund, highest paying package for travelers, and all the crown jewels still Outlaw shows. Those things can't be debated. And that didn't suddenly change with the advent of the High Limit series, who has yet to even run a single race as a national series. Brad Sweet winning five Outlaw championships and then deciding to leave isn't David Gravel's fault or his problem. You can only race against whoever shows up on a nightly basis. And to be clear, Gravel will still be up against Brad Sweet plenty next year, as you can be sure the NAPA 49 will still run a sizeable slate of Outlaw races. When the sprint car community decides to split itself in half, if someone is then going to say the Outlaw title has an asterisk, then they also have to admit the High Limit series would as well. Because if they are going to criticize Gravel and say he's staying because Sweet left, then don't they also have to criticize Sweet for leaving so as to make his own situation easier and not race against competition as difficult in a sandbox of his own creation? Does anyone say that Lucas and Outlaw titles on the late model side have asterisks because those guys are split? No, of course they don't. So we shouldn't do it here either. Folks rail against the Outlaws and say they want sprint car teams to have more freedom, but then criticize a driver like Gravel when he and his owner decide to freely choose to stay with the Outlaws. Clearly there are compelling enough reasons for teams to continue signing on year after year. As more announcements come in, I don't think we should attack teams for going either direction, or not choosing a side at all. Brad's going High Limit, that makes sense. Gravel is staying Outlaws. A lot of reasons for that. Certain guys like to pick their own schedule, like we've seen Brent Marks, and Anthony Macri, and Rico Abreu do in the past. That's what freedom looks like. Choosing what's best for your own organization. Some will like the added tow and purse money and the bigger point fund and be okay with trading the exclusivity. Others will decide they want to try the new thing, because they like the lack of restrictions and the idea of a new approach. Both are okay. And neither will come with asterisks and qualifiers attached.
If you want some further thoughts from a driver on High Limit vs. the Outlaws for next season, check out the most recent edition of The Slider email newsletter featuring an interview with Gio Scelzi. Writer Jordan Wilman asked Gio specifically about their plans for 2024. You can see that piece and sign up to get future issues of The Slider right to your inbox at dirtrackr.com/theslider.
Besides the David Gravel news, there have been some other sprint car driver moves in recent days. Back on Thursday TKS Motorsports announced that Chase Randall will continue with the team in 2024, chasing a 410 track championship at Knoxville and competing where possible with the World of Outlaws and High Limit. Randall was the 2023 360 sprint car champion at Knoxville, and split time between rides this past season, which included his family car and the TKS ride. His four victories in 410 competition all came in weekly action at Huset's Speedway.
Also, the Kreitz Motorsports 69K will continue with a pair of drivers for next year. Don Kreitz plans to run 40 to 45 races, with Logan Wagner in the car at Port Royal shows, and Justin Henderson continuing in the seat at races elsewhere like Williams Grove and Lincoln. Wagner and Henderson have been two of several drivers to fill the 69K since the departure of driver Lance Dewease earlier in 2023. Henderson finished 17th at BAPS in the season finale last night, and had a best finish of 10th at World Finals, making the main event all three nights.
And speaking of that BAPS show, the big $25,000 payday went to Danny Dietrich, who drove up from seventh to score the victory. He topped Aaron Bollinger, who went 16th to second, and polesitter Troy Wagaman who finished third.
In POWRi competition with their winged 410 sprint car series, Sam Hafertepe picked up the night one win Friday at Tri-State Speedway topping the Ridge teammates in Cory Eliason and Aaron Reutzel. Reutzel went two spots better on Saturday, grabbing the win and $12,000, with the podium finishers the same. Hafertepe was second and Eliason third. The POWRi winged season ends tonight at Tulsa Speedway with a $7000 to win race. Ayrton Gennetten appears to be on his way to the series championship.
Out in California, the USAC CRA non wing season ended on Saturday night at the Perris Auto Speedway. CJ Leary the winner over Brody Roa and Tommy Malcolm. Roa was crowned the USAC CRA champion for 2023.
And in some weekend late model action, Logan Roberson was a $10,000 crate winner at Natural Bridge in Virginia, topping Will Roland and Cory Hedgecock.
Alright, that's it for the show today. Don't forget the Short Track Super Series is in action later on with the Hard Clay Finale at Orange County Fair. It's on the streaming schedule over at dirtrackr.com/watchtonight.
Hope you have a great Sunday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow.