Fast Talk presented by MD3 and Five Star Bodies
Fast Talk: Kicking off the '18 season with a bang
Amid putting away our Christmas decorations and recovering from New Year’s Eve revelry, our weekly roundtable sponsored by Out-Pace Racing Products gets an early jump on the 2018 season. Happy New Year! (edited for clarity and length):
Share a reflection of December's Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Michael Rigsby, DirtonDirt.com co-founder and CEO: I think you hit it on the head leading into the event Todd, and it just drove it home while we were there. In such a short amount of time, that event has really become a fabric of Late Model racing. The Dome or Gateway is just a part of who we are now and that's pretty incredible in such a brief period of time. I discussed with Cody briefly afterwards that it really has that "I went to a party and a race broke out" sort of feeling. When the racing gets really good the place explodes, and indoors you just can't recreate that. It's special. And it's been a hell of a lot of fun so far.
Kevin Kovac, DirtonDirt.com senior writer: It was simply further evidence that the event has already become one of the sport’s marquee events. Perhaps there wasn’t a truly spectacular finish to a feature like last year’s titanic preliminary-feature battle, but you can’t count on that happening every year. It’s the atmosphere of the event that dominates for me. As soon as I walked into the Dome’s pit area, you could sense the feeling that something big was going on. Heck, all you had to do was walk through the lobby of a hotel or down a St. Louis street and you could tell how big of a deal the race is — seemingly all the people you spotted were racing folks. That’s my big takeaway from the weekend.
Todd Turner, DirtonDirt.com managing editor: Aren’t we all wondering what would’ve happened in the 40-lap Late Model finale without the lap-28 caution that halted the Bobby Pierce-Tanner English battle? Wow, the race was shaping up for an exciting finish that would’ve been a great test of skill and strategy for both drivers and the charging competition. Not that it ended with a whimper — the English-Tyler Carpenter dustup made sure of that — but the Dome fans would’ve gone crazy if the race was as close on lap 38 as it had been on lap 28.
Alli Collis, DirtonDirt.com staff writer: I said before the event that one of my favorite parts of Gateway was Saturday’s driver introductions. Jason Welshan certainly gave everyone a laugh with his duct tape “Scott Who?” sign. It’s the little things like that that separate the event from all of the others and makes Gateway so much fun. Aside from the racing, one of my favorite parts of the weekend was doing a little sightseeing in St. Louis. If you make the trip next year, I highly recommend a stop at the Gateway Arch and Ballpark Village.
Robert Holman, DirtonDirt.com weekend editor: There were so many moments that I thought, “Wow, this is so much better than the first year.” From the weather — yes weather can effect even an indoor event — to the overall organization, I thought it was all better. Anyone who was there the first time around won’t likely forget the long, long Thursday night. With only one round of qualifying this time, that problem was solved. I think the racing was exciting as well. There was some good drama in several of the preliminary races. I was just super impressed with the positive strides that Cody Sommer and his staff made from Year One to Year Two.
Suggest a change to take the indoor event to the next level?
Kovac: The second annual show was much better in the time department; without a second round of time trials, Thursday’s qualifying program didn’t stretch until the wee hours, and all three nights ended at a reasonable time. What I would like to see, however, is a concrete starting time for Saturday’s featured events established well in advance and published on the tickets and all pre-race publicity. What I’m saying is this: don’t start Saturday’s Late Model last-chance races so early at 3 p.m. and then have a lengthy break before the start of the great driver intros at 8 p.m. I say run the modified last-chance qualifiers at 3, and then let the fans know for certain that at, say, 6:30 the headline program will start: Late Model last-chance races and the Late Model and modified features. That’s a reasonable number of races (and time) to keep the show flowing and perhaps attract some casual fans who expect a show to start at a certain time.
Holman: There are a few tweaks that I’d suggest, but nothing major. I’d like to see the driver intros, which are already pretty cool, moved to a stage perhaps. Maybe add five more laps to the Late Model features because they zip around the fifth-mile oval so fast that it’s over before you know it. Not to make out modified friends mad, but I wondered aloud how street stocks, perhaps NeSmith or IMCA would fare on the track. With the way the show was expedited on Friday and Saturday, I wonder if it would be possible to incorporate them into the program, with maybe a limit of 60 entrants competing on Friday and Saturday only. The show was so good this time that I’m really not sure what you can do to go next level. It almost feels this is about as next level as it gets. You’re indoors in a great facility in December. Not much better than that.
Rigsby: It's the classic Catch-22 for all promoters in that you need the back gate to make it work, but at the same time you'd love to have the best of the best on the track at all times. There are pockets where the action can get slowed down by guys on a fifth-mile who just aren't used to racing on that size track, and you hate to see those brief periods of stalling. But if that's the biggest complaint, I think the event is in good shape. I guess overall I'd just say I wish for less cautions, and as with many programs a swifter flow. But they did make it light years better from last year to this year, so perhaps that next step will be taken as is.
Collis: My biggest complaint after the inaugural event was the length of Thursday’s program — and that was drastically shortened the second time around. The first year’s severely cold weather brought with it many challenges, including keeping the building properly vented, but none of that was an issue this year either. As tough as it is for a promoter, I’d have to agree with Michael on this one. Having the best of the best on the track would certainly limit the number of cautions and keep the action going at all times.
Turner: To cement Gateway as one of the nation’s best Dirt Late Model events, my inclination is to make the modifieds truly a support class by making it an all-star, invitation-only race for 22 modified drivers. One modified feature each of the three nights could showcase the best of that division while giving the higher-profile Late Models center stage. Even better, the modified qualifying races throughout the season at St. Louis-area and other tracks would be great promos for Gateway and exciting races for participating tracks.
Look into your crystal ball and provide a 2018 prediction.
Collis: I’m not counting Josh Richards and Brandon Sheppard out by any means, but I think there’s a chance we might see two different champions on each of the national tours this year. Richards will have former Lucas Oil Series champions Scott Bloomquist and Jonathan Davenport to contend with, along with Tim McCreadie, Jimmy Owens and others. On the World of Outlaws side, Brandon Overton and Mike Marlar are going to make things tough for Sheppard. Maybe we’ll see both points chases come down to the final race in 2018.
Holman: There will be at least eight different winners during the 12 combined nights of racing at East Bay and Volusia during the Florida portion of Georgia-Florida Speedweeks. Heading into the new season, I think the two national tours are as diverse, talented and deep as they’ve ever been. While there are still several drivers capable of ripping off several wins during their trip to the Sunshine State, I think the depth and quality from the top through eighth place, maybe even deeper, will show during the stops at those two Speedweeks mainstays and we’ll see eight different winners in those dozen events.
Kovac: The first thought that popped into my mind was that the World of Outlaws championship race won’t be dominated as thoroughly as Brandon Sheppard dominated it in 2017. I’m not saying B-Shepp is going to be unseated; far from it, I’d say it’s extremely likely he captures a second straight title. I just feel confident in saying that he won’t run away with the crown again. I see Brandon Overton as the driver who keeps things interesting; his Dream Racing team is well-equipped to battle Sheppard and the Rocket Chassis house car operation and Overton is super-pumped to have another shot at chasing the WoO tour, so I see him as a long-term contender. And the competition level overall on the WoO circuit will be higher with Mike Marlar joining the series, Brian Shirley hooking up with G.R. Smith, Chris Madden appearing ready to return teamed with Barry Wright, veterans Shane Clanton and Rick Eckert primed for another run and youngsters Devin Moran and Tyler Erb certain to show improvement from ’17.
Rigsby: Brandon Overton says he will only stay on the World of Outlaws tour if they are in contention and winning. I see no way that he's not in contention and winning, so therefore I think we have our first-ever Brandon vs. Brandon title chase between he and Brandon Sheppard. I'm not sleeping on Mike Marlar, but I really think Overton and Sheppard are about to wage war all year long, and it could (hopefully) come down to the end and they can be provided the same excitement at Charlotte’s WoO finale as we saw in 2017 for the Lucas Oil Series at Portsmouth.
Turner: I’ll go with an interesting mix amid the top five in points for both national tours, starting with how they leave Georgia-Florida Speedweeks. I think the newcomers for each tour (and perhaps drivers who end up on an opposite tour?) will be a key storyline for the WoO and Lucas Oil campaigns.
What’s in store at Arizona's Wild West Shootout.
Holman: I think this could easily be the best year ever for the event. Insiders have known for a while that the Wild West Shootout is a gem. But with the drivers who are expected out West this year, along with the return of the Keyser Manufacturing bonus and additional purse money, as well as the continued DirtonDirt.com pay-per-view video coverage, this could really be a breakout year. If Mother Nature cooperates this year, there’s no reason to think that looking back 10 years from now, we couldn’t be pointing to the 2018 edition of the Wild West Shootout as the one that put it on the map as a bona fide star on the Late Model landscape.
Kovac: I’m certain that all eyes will be on Bobby Pierce’s dual debut driving XR1 Rocket cars for Dunn-Benson Racing, and I’ll be watching that too. There’s undoubtedly a possibility that Pierce will take some time to adjust to his new racing world in Arizona and thus have some off nights — the miniseries is a low-pressure environment to try some ideas, after all — but I think Pierce will slide smoothly into the deal and make headlines in the desert. Another prediction: Chris Simpson reaches victory lane. After running so well throughout last year’s event, it’s time that Simpson breaks through for a win.
Collis: This is arguably one of the best Wild West Shootout fields in the history of the event. Last year’s winner Bobby Pierce is coming back to defend his title, with Arizona stalwarts like Chris Simpson and Terry Phillips expected to be among the field. Throw in World of Outlaws champ Brandon Sheppard and Knoxville Nationals winner Mike Marlar. Then you’ll also have guys like Ryan Gustin, who have had success in Arizona before. Could we see six different winners? It’s definitely a possibility.
Rigsby: Speaking of Mike Marlar and Brandon Sheppard, are they the guys to dethrone Bobby Pierce out West? Last year the 32 car had a stranglehold on all things Arizona, but will it be the same this year? I think people are sleeping on the fact that this is a new team in a new chassis, so as good as Pierce is that won't be totally easy. I think the wealth gets spread a little bit out West this year, and I like Ryan Gustin to crash the party back in that Gressel ride too for at least one night. James Essex will rejoice!
Turner: Let’s hope for a dry, warm respite that’s a relief from the cold snap most of the country is enduring at the turn of the year. The Wild West Shootout as really carved out a great niche in the schedule as a winter wonderland that mixes drivers from the Midwest, West Coast and other locales in the Arizona desert for a great stretch of racing. So I expect more of the same entertainment that snowbirds (and pay-per-view purchasers) have enjoyed in recent years, including last year’s first time event at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway. Nothing like a little pre-Speedweeks action, right?
Who will contend with Bobby Pierce in pursuing multi-victory bonuses?
Collis: With both drivers coming off standout 2017 seasons, Brandon Sheppard and Mike Marlar are the obvious answers to this question. But there’s one other driver I’ll be watching in Arizona: Chris Simpson. He was right up front in last year’s Wild West Shootout, never finishing worse than third. After coming up short last year, I’m sure he’d like to pick up a win or two while he’s out west and will be doing all he can to make it happen.
Rigsby: It has to be Sheppard. This guy was the best driver in America last year and while he will be in his family owned B5 instead of the Rocket House car he proved on the Summernationals that doesn't matter much. Sheppy can pick up two or three wins pretty easily, as I expect he, Pierce, and Marlar to all three bang the cushion to a helluva week of racing.
Kovac: I’d say it’s two drivers who stand alongside Pierce as the most likely to win more than once: Brandon Sheppard and Mike Marlar. Sheppard won’t be in the Rocket Chassis house car, but he’ll have extra motivation to win for his grandfather and father. And Marlar? I imagine the bad luck that forced him to leave Arizona early last year will be behind him and he’ll run up front throughout the miniseries.
Holman: I can’t help but think that Brandon Sheppard and Chris Simpson are the two drivers most likely to either contend for the big bonus or play spoiler in Pierce’s pursuit of a big payday. I expect Mike Marlar to make some noise as well. Simpson was fast every night out there last year, so you’d expect him to break through at some point and Sheppard is more than capable of getting on a roll. Who knows, with Pierce moving to a new team, he may only win a couple, leaving the door open for someone else to grab three or four. I think it will be the most competitive we’ve seen in awhile.
Turner: I can readily come up with contenders — as others have mentioned, Mike Marlar, Brandon Sheppard and Chris Simpson chief among them — but if the track conditions are similar to last season, it seemed to suit the high-flying Pierce more than anyone else. He appeared to be in a class of his own a few nights while hammering the cushion and running a daring line that the competition couldn’t handle. Of course, we’ve got some new variables with Pierce in a new chassis with the Dunn-Benson Rocket and perhaps some fresh competition, but with his three victories last year, Pierce proved he’s a fan of the racetrack.
