Daily | Conversations

A packed show today, with plenty to talk about, including confirmation of some big names looking into potential High Limit franchises, we've had another driver change with GR Smith's team, we'll preview the National Open and Pittsburgher 100, and more.

2026 was supposed to be the reunion tour for Ricky Thornton Jr. and crew chief Anthony Burroughs. The pairing had previously had so much success together, but with still six races to go in the Lucas season, Burroughs is out. We'll detail the changes today, plus Anthony Macri is back in a sprint car tonight, so could he really be a factor at the National Open this weekend?

The Knoxville Nationals turned out to be a banner race for Tanner Holmes. While Kyle Larson was getting all the flowers for his fly-in and win performance, Holmes was impressive driving from 11th to fourth to make the big show, then went 24th to 11 to grab hard charger in the biggest sprint car race in the world. That was a serious turning point for Holmes season, and maybe his career, because since then, he's been one of the best sprint car drivers in the country. A deep dive on that today, plus a situation connected to Holmes with High Limit blew up on Sunday, with a crew chief calling out High Limit officiating and admitting his team is pondering it's future.

It's Friday, and there is a bunch of stuff to chat about today, including Carson Macedo's win at Hanford, and why this was an important first and potential turning point for the JJR program. Plus we'll do a full post-mortem on the changes with 17GP sprint car, as they are now onto their third driver of 2026. We'll also talk racing ahead this weekend, Garrett Alberson's return, and that curious black Longhorn that Bobby Pierce raced might be headed back to the track.

A new sprint car design debuted over the weekend at the Hockett McMillin Memorial with High Limit, with the hopes of improving safety for drivers. We'll talk through some of the details today of the car, what they are trying to accomplish, and what it will likely take for this to become something that sticks around. We've also got sprint car racing tonight, with the Outlaws returning to Hanford and more.

Lap confusion leads to a bad beat, Sheldon Haudenschild has had enough, Tanner Thorson is back on top, and a lot more from the last few days in dirt racing. We'll get into all of that and more on this edition of DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Horsepower Hydration. I've also got a big update on this DIRTRACKR project as a whole, so stay tuned until the end of the episode for that.

David Gravel made a rare, unforced error on Monday night at El Paso County, and it's suddenly brought Buddy Kofoid very much into play for the World of Outlaws title conversation as we head into the home stretch. That today, plus a High Limit team makes a driver change to try and save their season, and plenty more.

A Saturday Daily show? Well, why not? It is World 100 and Tuscarora 50 race day, so let's do this. We'll talk Nick Hoffman's new deal with Spire Motorsports, and who might be in line to replace him. Plus the Outlaws penalize a trio of sprint car drivers, and of course we'll talk weekend racing, including some interesting numbers for today's World 100 finale.

A bunch of World 100 stuff for you today, as Eldora Speedway takes center stage this week with their September crown jewel. We'll talk through contenders, chassis and engines, and more. Plus winners from recent days and other events that should have your attention in the coming days.

The World of Outlaws just cancelled a sprint car race six days before it was slated to happen, and a lot of folks are up in arms about it. We'll get into that, plus Rico has the weekend he needed while Trey Starks and Aaron Reutzel became best friends at Skagit. And we'll talk other weekend winners and more.

A public quest for a 1000 horsepower dirt late model engine left one builder feeling slighted, but do you really need that much steam, and how many cars out there are actually pushing those kind of numbers. That today, plus CJB names a second fill-in sprint car driver for the injured Brenham Crouch, and do we continue to edge closer to the brink of a modern sprint car tire war?

We're probably going to hurt some feelings on the show today, but I want to update a gripe I had earlier this summer about sprint car racing. Something happened this weekend on this front that needs to addressed, so buckle up. Plus we'll talk a big win for Rico Abreu, dirt late model stuff between the Outlaws and Lucas, and more.

I've got a few more details to share on that Longhorn chassis that Bobby Pierce drove this weekend. Also, Rico Abreu's title defense looks to be in serious jeopardy as the High Limit west coast swing continues, and there's another driver at risk with that series. We'll also talk a driver and team off tour, Carson Macedo's engine round robin, and more.

A busy show on this Friday, a lot to talk about including several notes from the High Limit show at Santa Maria as they begin their west coast swing. We'll also talk Bobby Pierce vs. Nick Hoffman and why Hoffman probably isn't the guy to tangle with, I'm also wondering why nobody is talking about this black Pierce 32 that showed up this week, and we'll get into weekend action on tap.

Jonathan Davenport and his Lance Landers-owned 49 team made a big decision for 2026, and that was to return to a pick and choose schedule again after chasing the Lucas title for a few years. Just on vibes, it's felt like he hasn't been the same Superman this year, but what do the numbers actually say? We'll dive into that on this edition of DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Horsepower Hydration. We'll also talk two sprint car driver moves this week, and more.

Coming up we'll talk all things Knoxville Nationals as Hard Knox Friday looms for everyone not already locked into the feature or Saturday B-Main. I want to dive into the Ryan Timms situation, and we'll explain what happened during the chaos, and why we saw a crew member faceplant live on DIRTVision. The Kyle Larson scenario that's been discussed ad nauseum has come to fruition, and I've got some thoughts on that. Plus a bunch of other stuff, including the Topless 100 is this weekend, and an update on Garrett Alberson.

It's been a wild few days in sprint car racing, and today we'll dive into this Kyle Larson vs. Ryan Timms situation, and why the flare-up will go away pretty quickly. I've also got some thoughts on the perception of Larson and if maybe we aren't seeing the opinion change on him a bit. Plus I've got a bunch of sprint car notes from Knoxville, including more car changes, and a crew chief situation to point out.

Brent Marks has sold his sprint car team and High Limit franchise to a pair of NASCAR drivers, well, one current driver and one ex driver. The news hit the airwaves on Friday, and on this episode, we'll talk through the relevant details, what it means, and what's next for High Limit's franchise system.

It was chaos and pandemonium at the North South 100, and at the end it was a hometown hero in victory lane. Plus we'll talk 360 Knoxville Nationals and what if anything this win from Ryan Timms means for the the Knoxville Nationals next, the World of Outlaws at Pevely, including yet another big equipment change for a national touring sprint car team, and more.

Guys, I think Rocket chassis is back, and today on the show I'll tell you why I think that. Plus we'll talk North South 100 for the Lucas late models, 360 Knoxville Nationals, the World of Outlaws at Pevely and more.

Blake Anderson has been in the announcer's booth, on tour with the All Stars, and now behind the scenes at Skagit Speedway and he joins the show to talk Knoxville Nationals favorites, the Brad Sweet mystery, whether national tour guys have made the 360 Nationals unwinnable for locals, and why the High Limit vs. Outlaws rivalry is exactly what the sport needs.

An aggressive, opportunistic move racing for a transfer? Or stepping over the line? On this edition of DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Horsepower Hydration I want to go back to last week and talk a bit about this Tanner English vs. Bobby Pierce situation, and if one or both of these guys involved crossed a line.

A packed show for you today, as we'll talk World of Outlaws in PA and the Posse grabbing another win. Plus updates on the Tyler Courtney/Gio Scelzi race car changes stuff we hit on yesterday, a bunch of big dirt late model names are expected to not race this weekend at the USA Nationals, and much more.

A High Limit driver has a new ownership situation, there is an update on Brad Sweet's status for the Knoxville Nationals and maybe beyond, plus we'll talk recent wins for Tyler Courtney and Gio Scelzi and a few tech things to point about their race cars.

Brad Sweet's car has quietly disappeared from the Knoxville Nationals entry list, and nobody is saying why. Plus, Gio Scelzi snapped a 16-month winless streak with a $100,000 payday, Brandon Sheppard won his fourth PDC, and the High Limit championship just got blown wide open.

Devin Moran is jumping into a completely different car for the Prairie Dirt Classic weekend, Tanner Holmes was dominating until one wrong move ended his night, Carson Macedo's numbers are suddenly trending the wrong direction, and Kasey Kahne is bringing his car back.

Brandon Sheppard keeps stacking wins as the Prairie Dirt Classic looms, and a controversial slider at Cochran had an entire crowd booing the winner. Plus, Ryan Newman is about to make his World of Outlaws debut, Carson Macedo made a telling decision with the Ford engine, and a longtime engine builder may be shutting its doors.

Brent Marks went from the bottom of the standings to winning everywhere, a local Ohio driver pulled off one of the most shocking Outlaw wins of the season, and Kyle Larson crashed out of the lead in a way you almost never see. Plus, a health scare hits the Pierce family, a driver gets fined for something that wasn't even a fight, and the national-vs.-local divide is always simmering.

Aaron Reutzel's villain reputation resurfaces after a pointed victory lane comment sparks a fiery response from a rival car owner, and that's not even the wildest incident from the weekend. A controversial last-lap wreck at Port Royal Speedway has fans questioning whether a driver's explanation really adds up, and we've got a few sprint car updates.

Brandon Sheppard just took the Lucas Oil championship lead after 17 straight top tens, and a sprint car driver's recent stats are so good they're hard to believe. Plus, a new chassis brand is about to claim its first major championship, a penalty on a High Limit regular at an Outlaw race sparked conspiracy theories, and Zack Mitchell's debut in the GR Smith car went better than anyone expected.

Two driver changes dropped in the last 24 hours — one looks like a smart pickup that could pay off quickly, and the other has me questioning whether the team pulled the trigger too soon. Plus, a Summer Nationals drought gets snapped after six years, and a last-lap pass for a USAC midget win that you need to see.

I went away on a summer break for a few days and all hell breaks loose while I'm gone. We got people getting DQ'd, fights breaking out, series making last minute track changes, and a sprint car driver in Central PA who is on one of the craziest runs we've seen in a while. We'll cover all of that and more on this edition of DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Horsepower Hydration.

Most top dirt racing drivers have never signed a contract in their careers, and a recent mid-season split is raising serious questions about whether handshake deals can survive at this level. Plus, a 15-year-old out of California is on a trajectory we haven't seen in a long time, and the people noticing include NASCAR champions.

Anthony Macri returned to the seat after nearly three months away and drove like he'd never left, while Mansfield Speedway quietly proved a lot of doubters wrong with a completely transformed track surface. Plus, Bobby Pierce is chasing five wins in a row, the Lucas championship is suddenly razor-thin, and we remember a legendary flagman who was a fixture at Knoxville for over 40 years.

A driver with six championships somehow flew under the radar as a big-race threat — until a $100,000 win last weekend changed the conversation entirely. We make the case for who the most dangerous sprint car driver in the country really is, plus new details on the Troutman-GR Smith split and a loaded weekend of racing ahead.

A top five World of Outlaws late model team just split up mid-season, and the rumblings about this one had been circulating for weeks before it became official. Plus, a fan-favorite sprint car driver may finally be returning to the seat after nearly three months on the sideline, and the old guys in dirt late model racing are reminding everyone they're not done yet.

My biggest gripe across the sport of dirt racing, and really mostly focused on sprint car racing, is something that happens, or actually doesn't happen, at all of the sport's crown jewel events. I don't understand it, I don't like it, it happened this weekend at Huset's, it's already happened previously this year, and as the prestige of the events ramps up this summer, it's going to happen more.

For 2026 late model speedweeks, we saw the World of Outlaws zag on years of cooperation and schedule a race weekend directly against the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series opener. The move drew mixed opinions at the time, and it split cars in Florida and forced teams to make early decisions on what tour they would follow. No more games on signing up for both series, and deciding later in the spring. I assumed this would be the case again for 2027, but something curious happened this week. We'll dive into that today on DIRTRACKR Daily presented by Horsepower Hydration, which also includes big news for Hunt the Front, we'll also talk sprint cars at Huset's and Skagit, and more.

One illegal decision five years ago set off a chain reaction that reshuffled teams, drivers, and crew chiefs across sprint car racing, and the effects are still shaping championships today. We trace the full timeline, connect the dots you might have missed, and look ahead to the richest week in sprint car racing at Huset's.

Bobby Pierce is dominating with a package that almost nobody else in dirt late model racing is running. I dug into who else is on them and why more teams haven't made the switch. Plus, Brent Marks finally won again, a young Outlaw driver is quietly having the best stretch of his career, and there's a concerning development at a well-known Ohio dirt track.

He's been doubted, criticized, and counted out, but last night a polarizing young driver broke through on his birthday — and he did it the hard way from fifth. Meanwhile, the High Limit title race took another wild turn, a late model crossover event has everyone talking, and we've got Indiana Midget Week and weekend previews.

Rico Abreu led every lap at Eagle while most of the High Limit regulars had a night to forget, and the championship standings look completely different this morning. We break down what went wrong for the favorites, why a familiar blue oval logo quietly appeared on a sprint car last night, and what it all means heading into a pivotal stretch.

A single crash may have blown the World of Outlaws championship wide open, and a tiny Pennsylvania race track might be fighting for its survival against complaints from a neighbor. We cover it all, plus talk Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora, High Limit, and more.

Brent Marks suddenly has the speed he's been missing all year. But outside of his sprint car's wrap, have things changed? We've got the answers, plus sprint car crew chief changes, early action at Eldora, and more.

A 13-year-old racer lost control, left the track, and landed upside down in a river — and the photos are unbelievable. Plus, Tanner Thorson did something you almost never see in racing, and Dream week at Eldora is here with 87 cars and one driver chasing history.

Mansfield Speedway's first big weekend drew packed crowds and six-figure paydays — but what happened on the track left drivers fuming and two rival chassis builders grabbing heavy equipment in the middle of the night. We break down the good, the bad, and why this $8 million gamble isn't done yet.

We've joined up with the guys from Knoxville Nights to draft teams of sprint car drivers, but there are rules and some guys can't be taken. It's on you to decide who got the best team. Plus it was just a fun excuse to get together and talk racing.

Huset's Speedway is dangling a $100,000 bounty to lure High Limit drivers away from Super Dirt Cup — but will it actually work when the biggest names are already committed to Skagit? Plus, a Hall of Fame late model driver switches chassis brands, Ryan Gustin makes a surprising move, and Bobby Pierce's Show-Me 100 charge was one for the ages.

A sprint car driver is on an absolute tear that could rewrite the second half of the season, a 46-year-old fill-in keeps defying expectations, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship standings look nothing like anyone predicted. We break down the hottest streak in dirt racing, a temporary ride that's not done yet, and $75,000 on the line at the Show-Me 100.

David Gravel's $2,000 fine from the World of Outlaws reveals a deeper power struggle behind the scenes involving Huset's Speedway, streaming rights, and rival series leverage. Plus, Carson Macedo's title chase math, Spencer Bayston's pressure, sprint car ride changes, and remembering Kyle Busch.

It's a tale of two sprint car seasons: Brent Marks is searching for sponsors and speed after his deal with Fenton fell apart, while Aaron Reutzel can't stop winning and is pulling away in the High Limit championship.