DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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Sweet recruiting Rico? Plus Kasey Kahne's series choice, Tanner Holmes' plan | Daily 12-4-2023
Kasey Kahne is back to a full time sprint car series, we've got updates on Rico Abreu and Tanner Holmes, more High Limit staff changes, and some non-wing driver moves today. Let's go!
It's Monday, December 4th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.
Before we get started, are you a subscriber yet to our free email newsletter, The Slider? In the last ten days or so, we've sent out an interview with DIRTVision's Chase Raudman, and over the weekend it was another really great piece from Pat Sullivan. And in the next day or two, I've got a fresh read from regular contributor Spence Smithback to send out as well. If you want to subscribe, like I said it's free, you can do so over at dirtrackr.com/theslider. You can also find all of the previous issues there as well.
A bunch of stuff to unpack today, including some announcements, a few interesting social media posts, and some rumors about things to come. First, we'll do the solid stuff. Yesterday came the announcement that Kasey Kahne will indeed go full time High Limit racing in 2024. This one caught me and several industry folks I spoke with yesterday a bit off guard. Of the 10 or so names I've heard talked about as on the High Limit roster, Kahne was not one of them. And for good reason. His main sponsor in recent seasons, Karavan Trailers, is owned by Scott Boyd, who is one of the partners in SLS Promotions, which promotes a sizeable part of the World of Outlaws schedule in the midwest. The thought was that Kahne would be at some of those Outlaw shows and thus not be able to run some of the conflicting High Limit races. But clearly something has changed either with that deal, or it's requirements. Kahne joins his employee and teammate Brad Sweet, and Jacob Allen as the now three confirmed High Limit full timers for 2024. There are still five more drivers that I think are solid to High Limt next season, and from there two or three more who are close or very seriously considering. If you're keeping score at home, it's Outlaws five, High Limit three on the official tally.
One of the drivers we've been talking about here recently that could go full time is Rico Abreu. Remember back to last week, he sent me a message and said he'd announce his plans likely before PRI. After appearing on David Gravel's YouTube livestream last Thursday, Speed Sport posted a story with several of his quotes, and they seem to think he was hinting at a pick and choose schedule. As a side note, I know some call it true Outlaw, but I think that can get confusing, so I'm going to continue to refer to it as pick and choose. But then yesterday afternoon, Rico shared a photo to social media where he is sitting at a bar or restaurant with Brad Sweet, with the caption quote "I've got my poker face on today" unquote. Rico is obviously saavy when it comes to marketing, promotion, and social media, so is this foreshadowing of a move, or is he just trolling us? I'll guess we'll find out.
Another driver I've been asked about a lot in recent weeks is Tanner Holmes. His 2024 plans were unknown following the end of the World of Outlaws season, and his tenure with Shark Racing filling in for Jacob Allen. We know now that Logan Schuchart will return to the Outlaws next season, while Jacob is back to full time sprint car competition, but is instead going High Limit. There was some thought that Shark could campaign a third car for Holmes, and apparently that was discussed, but in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Friday, Tanner revealed he's most likely going to be back in his family's 18T next season. That Shark deal didn't come together, and up to this point, neither has anything else with another team. So the 18T is it, unless something else happens between now and then. It's been a pretty busy slate of outlaw kart action for the Oregon driver through this first part of the offseason, and he did say that he'll be back at the Chili Bowl in January, but we don't know yet the exact details of his midget ride. I'll link to his video below if you want to watch it and haven't yet.
As for a few other things floating around out there. I have heard there are potentially more High Limit staff moves coming, with one already done and another in the works. These moves would be established sprint car people that you likely know from other places joining the High Limit team for 2024. It seems as though the High Limit pitch of less races for the same or more money works on both drivers and teams, and also other employees. When I tweeted about it yesterday, several replies assumed I was referring to announcer Chet Christner, but his name was not among those I had heard about. Chet spent 2023 as the USAC announcer, and he tweeted Saturday that he won't return to that role for next year. The overwhelming sentiment was that he was departing that spot for High Limit, but I don't think I'd hold my breath on that one. Chet is one of the best in the business, and would be a great pickup for High Limit, but my money is on someone else on the mic next year for Kyle and Brad's series. As for what USAC does, I could see a scenario where Drake York is moved from the infield and pit reporting, to the booth. He's had several opportunities to be the main announcer, and has done well in fill-in spots.
Sticking with USAC, we've had a couple of driver moves on that side of things in recent days. First, as expected, it was announced that Jake Swanson will drive the Scott Benic-owned 2B sprint car next season full time on the national series. Swanson moves over after several seasons with Team AZ, and he replaces Logan Seavey, who finished ninth in the championship and had a pair of wins in 2023. At various points in the year, Swanson was in the mix for the title, but faded a bit later in the season and ended up fourth. He told USAC's Richie Murray that he knew in August that he'd be looking for a ride for 2024. Team AZ finished out their season with Daison Pursley in the seat of the 21AZ machine, with that car sweeping the weekend at Cocopah in early November. Also going full time next season will be Jadon Rogers. He's partnering up with Michael Dutcher to drive the 17GP. Rogers was a USAC winner in 2022, when he was previously a full timer, but scaled back in 2023 running just 25 series races. He had five top fives and eight top tens in those appearances. It sounds like there could be a few other moves for sprint car guys coming, including another top five driver on the move.
And if you are curious about Thomas Meseraull's future, he also shared his plans to YouTube in recent days. He went west with his new MF1 chassis powered by the Engler Ford and built by Jon Farrell. Those guys had a brutal trip though, and ended up only racing four of the six nights, suffering some mechanical issues and some crashes. TMez will keep this deal going for 2024, with plans to pick and choose a midget schedule next year, in between winged and non-wing sprint car starts. He mentioned USAC and Xtreme races, and we'll probably see him with the Maverick Winged series in Indiana.
For the modified fans out there, the USMTS released their schedule late yesterday, with 48 races coming for 2024. They'll start in late February at Hunt County Raceway in Texas, and finish at 81 Speedway in late October. The champion will yet again take home a $100,000 check at season's end. This year it was Rodney Sanders earning his fifth career championship thanks to five wins and 27 top tens in 34 races. In all, 17 drivers chased the entire USMTS calendar this season, and there were 18 different winners. One other note in this orbit, RacinDirt's Trenton Berry and Austin Krueger, along with announcer Erick Chesterman, have purchased the USRA American Racer Modified Series from the Staleys, and they will pair it with the new Heartland Modified Tour for next season. The ARMS will continue to race in Texas, Louisiana, and southern Oklahoma, while the next Heartland tour will hit eastern Kansas, western Missouri, and northern Oklahoma.
That's it for the show today. Make sure to stop by dirtrackr.com to see the streaming schedule, and the latest news from around the sport.
Hope you guys have a great Monday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow.