DIRTRACKR Daily Podcast - Episode Transcript
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I got invited to a late model test; High Limit gets announcer, sixth driver | Daily 12-6-2023
Coming up we'll talk High Limit's new announcer and their sixth driver, plus I snuck into a Brandon Sheppard test, Hunt the Front's new schedule, and a lot more. Let's go!
It's Wednesday, December 6th, I'm Justin Fiedler. This is DIRTRACKR Daily.
We'll kick the show off today with a few dirt late model topics from the last few days. First, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series has gained another full timer for next season, and an addition to the rookie class. Announced yesterday, past USMTS champion Dustin Sorensen has decided to make the leap for 2024. He spent this past year driving the MB Customs house car, taking that ride over from the retiring Jimmy Mars. But along with this move to full time Outlaw competition, Sorensen will be departing that team, and instead going on the road with his dad Mike armed with a couple of Longhorn Chassis. They will get their season started at Vado in January for the Wild West Shootout, before heading to Florida for the first Outlaw races. Sorensen joins Max McLaughlin as an Outlaw rookie for 2024, and a total field that already includes Nick Hoffman, Todd Cooney, Ryan Gustin, Bobby Pierce, and others. If you are keeping score at home, Ricky Thornton Jr. has now shared both national series schedules to his Facebook account.
On the flip side of the Sorensen departure from MB Customs, that team will have Jimmy Mars' son Sam in the seat going forward. They will also head to the Wild West Shootout in January, before running a 40ish race schedule around the midwest next season. The 19 year old Sam was the 2021 WISSOTA Wisconsin late model champion.
If you haven't seen it yet, I spent the afternoon on Tuesday at Millbridge Speedway where Brandon Sheppard was shaking down his car in advance of the Gateway Dirt Nationals coming up next week. It was the first time a super late model had ever been on the track at Millbridge, and a very cool experience to watch BShepp, Randall Edwards, Kevin Rumley, and all their guys work through things. I've shared a few photos on the DIRTRACKR Facebook and Instagram accounts, and there is a three and a half minute behind the scenes video on YouTube with a bunch of footage. Big thanks to Kevin Rumley, Millbridge, Longhorn and everyone involved for letting me come hang out.
Back on Monday, the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series released their schedule for season two of southeastern late model action. They've got 25 races across 15 weekends, with a $150,000 point fund and $50 grand to the champion. They'll go from the middle of March at the Talladega Short Track to early November at East Alabama, and cover a lot of states and tracks. All Saturday races are at least $15k to win and $1000 to start, and there are several much larger paydays in there as well. Josh Putnam was the series champion during the inaugural season, and this schedule is a significant ramping up of both races and available money. I believe they had seven teams run the whole year in 2023, but with the amount of money they've added, I would not be surprised to see more sign on. You can see the full slate over at htfseries.com.
Over in sprint car racing, announcments continue to come quick, and yesterday was filled with plenty. High Limit on Tuesday filled a schedule TBA, hired a series announcer, and added another full time team. The schedule addition was Southern Oklahoma Speedway being added on Friday, April 19th, in between existing dates at Red Dirt Raceway and Salina Highbanks. And the weeks long saga to find the official voice of the series ended yesterday, with the hiring of Chase Raudman to be in the booth for the first full season of national touring action. Raudman moves over from pit reporting on DIRTVision with the World of Outlaws, and becomes the fourth WRG defection to High Limit. This was the other move I was referring to on yesterday's show, and as you might have guessed, it was released just a few minutes after my show was published on Tuesday. I like this decision for Chase, he's done a very nice job on the mic the past few seasons, including both pit reporting and some booth work, along with other content. This will be a significant step up for him that he's no doubt earned. DIRTVision was quick to name his replacement yesterday as well, with Connor Wade taking the pit reporting duties for the World of Outlaws going into next year. Connor is a voice we've heard in a lot of places in recent years, including at the Chili Bowl, on MAVTV, and most recently across various series on DIRTVision. He's very capable and he and Johnny should be able to hit the ground running at Volusia.
As for the driver announcement, Jeremy Elliott reported that Brenham Crouch will be the sixth full timer next season, joining Brad Sweet, Jacob Allen, Kasey Kahne, Zeb Wise, and Cory Eliason. Crouch was the 2023 IRA champion, and made 49 total 410 starts this past year across the country, including appearances with the Outlaws, High Limit, All Stars, and more. At just 18, Crouch is the least experienced driver to make the move so far to High Limit, and he'll face tough fields all season. He told Jeremy that his expectations though are to be competitive and win races. He did acknowledge also the need to continue learning and building team chemistry. Still no word, or real chatter about who could take over the Crouch Motorsports 11 car alongside Brenham. That team has been without a driver since Cory Eliason was released late in the year.
Sprint car driver moves haven't been just limited to national tours this week. Back on Monday, Sandvig Motorsports hired JJ Hickle to drive their number seven cars in 2024 across the midwest. Hickle comes to Sandvig after losing his ride with the Home Pro 50YR team at the end of the season. Brooke Tatnell, Lynton Jeffrey, and Ian Madsen all drove the Sandvig ride at various points in 2023. It's a car you can often find at places like Huset's, Knoxville, Jackson, and it even does a little traveling from time to time.
In Central Pennsylvania, the Zemco car will continue next year with a new driver. After ending the season with Hunter Schuerenberg, Jeremy Elliott reported that John and Pee Wee Zemaitis have hired Chase Dietz to drive the famous 1Z full time Port Royal in 2024. Dietz had three wins in 35 starts in his own car in 2023, mostly around Lincoln Speedway. Running at Port Royal will be a bit of new territory for Dietz who doesn't have a ton of starts there. He does plan though on continuing to campaign his own car in between running for Zemco. Still possibly 35 races at the other area tracks like Williams Grove and BAPS.
And in Indiana, the new Maverick Winged Sprint Series has their full schedule set for the inaugural season. They'll run 12 races from April 12th to October 4th, with stops at Bloomington, Terre Haute, Lincoln Park, Haubstadt, and Red Hill mixed in. In there as well is the previously announced Maverick Mayhem week, with four co-sanctioned IRA shows June 20th through the 23rd. The best way at the moment to keep up with the series is via their Facebook page.
Around the other dirt racing podcasts this week, Passing Points has Zeb Wise, Dirt Tracks and Rib Racks has Wes Irwin, Hoogie's Garage has Rod Henderson and Chet Christner, and there are new episodes of The Dirt Reporters, the Dirt Nerds, Dirt Track Confessions, and Dunewich on Dirt. To see all the shows, all the episodes and discover something new, head over to dirtrackr.com/podcasts.
That's it for the show today. I am heading to PRI in Indy tomorrow for the day, but I do still plan on having a Thursday show. I'll probably record it late tonight and have it ready to post tomorrow with anything that breaks through the day today.
Hope you guys have a great Wednesday out there, we'll see you back here tomorrow.