With the racing season waning as we head toward Thanksgiving, our roundtable checks in for the weekly feature presented by MD3 and Five Star Race Cars Bodies (edited for clarity and length):

What’s your reaction to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule?

Kevin Kovac, DirtonDirt senior writer: I understand the talk that the release of the Lucas Oil Series has become increasingly, well, unspectacular for observers who want to be dazzled with surprise by new tracks and unexpected wrinkles. But the very reason the announcement is sort of ho-hum is the national tour’s strength and stability. It’s difficult to find places to add events and tracks when the promoters who already host races clearly do well with their dates and want the series to keep returning. So we see a schedule that largely mirrors last year’s aside from some slight alterations, most notably the relocation of the Silver Dollar Nationals from Huset’s to Shelby County (that should be exciting considering how good last year’s Lucas Oil debut was at the Iowa track and how much the local community supported the event) and the Dirt Track World Championship from Eldora to West Virginia Motor (with Eldora getting its own new doubleheader as part of the season-ending Chase).

Kyle McFadden, DirtonDirt staff reporter: While there’s (unsurprisingly) not much change on the schedule, it’s another solid slate of events for the Lucas Oil Series. I’ve seen a lot of criticism from fans in particular about the series lack of new racetracks and how it’s the “same old schedule” year after year. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! The Lucas Oil series has found a nice balance in their schedule. Many of the tracks on tour are fixtures by now because they deserve to be. If you retain your national touring date, you’re doing something right as a track. I really love the addition of BAPS on the April's Northeastern swing. It’s a sprint car track, yes, but one of the nicest facilities you’ll find. Shelby County getting the Silver Dollar Nationals is a popular move as well.

Aaron Clay, DirtonDirt weekend editor: There were enough changes for me to be excited it. I saw several social media comments expressing a lack of year-over-year change, but I’m excited to see West Virginia Motor Speedway (the new third-mile layout) back hosting the Dirt Track World Championship for the first time since 2010. It’s also exciting to see Iowa gain a couple more dates between the addition of Corning’s Adams County Speedway (July 14) and the July 16-18 Silver Dollar Nationals shifting to Harlan’s Shelby County Speedway. I'm also still elated to see Speedweeks starting a bit later than it has in past seasons.

Bryan Ault, DirtonDirt contributor: I saw several fans on social media eviscerate Lucas Oil when the schedule was released last week, slamming it as a ho-hum season. As someone who grew up on bullrings, I understand the sentiment: I really like quarter-mile ovals with close racing, which it doesn’t have outside of Fairbury and Brownstown and Circle City in Indianapolis, Ind. Both new tracks — BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa., and Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa — are bigger than 3/8-mile. These longer tracks can be great, but they can also produce some schnoozers with a stretched-out field. At the same time, it’s still a solid schedule. The addition of Eldora as part of the final Chase format while sending the Dirt Track World Championship back to West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, W.Va., should definitely mix up the standings and create plenty of storylines.

In light of Thanksgiving, pick a driver who might be particularly thankful this week for a specific turn of events this season (whether in a race, team situation or something else).

McFadden: It’s hard to top Devin Moran in this instance, who probably wouldn’t have become a Lucas Oil champ if Ricky Thornton Jr. didn’t cut down a tire while leading the Friday portion of the Pittsburgher 100. Moran won the Lucas Oil title by virtue of a clean playoff record, and certainly did what we needed to do for the championship laurels. But it didn’t come without some help, that’s including Jonathan Davenport and Hudson O’Neal running into issues, too.

Ault: I’d say Brandon Overton, crew chief Anthony Burroughs and the Longhorn Factory team are all probably thankful this season is coming to an end. With just one Lucas series win, bad breaks, countless setbacks, and frustrations best exemplified by his contact with Bobby Pierce at Senoia recently, Overton is probably eager for a new year and fresh start as anybody in the pits. Hopefully, the group has a better 2026 season, starting off with Speedweeks.

Kovac: Josh Rice will sit down to eat his turkey on Thursday feeling especially thankful — he is, after all, now a full-time Dirt Late Model driver for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old, of course, landed the opportunity he’s dreamed of with his hiring to drive for JRR Motorsports and chase the Lucas Oil Series next season, and he’s already left his longtime job at the DSL logistics company to go to work in the JRR shop in preparation for 2026. It’s a special time for Rice, and Thanksgiving is perfect day for him to reflect on the exciting change in his life.

Clay: Spencer Hughes had his Thanksgiving prayers answered a handful of days early after winning Saturday’s Jambalaya 100 finale at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss. Hughes passed Clay Stuckey, who had led all 98 laps contested over the weekend up to that point, and paced the final two circuits to capture the $7,000 payday at the 3/8-mile oval now owned by standout no-prep drag racer, Kye Kelley. Hughes nabbed his first Super Late Model victory since last June’s Clash at the Mag at Magnolia Speedway in Columbus, Miss. It was his first special event triumph since leaving the No. 19m JCM Motorsports ride earlier this season.

Spotlight a recent result or bit of news.

Clay: Jeremy Steele secured his fourth Crate Racin’ USA 604 Series victory of the season Saturday night at Georgia’s Needmore Speedway, all but locking up his first career touring series title. The York, S.C., driver led flag-to-flag in capturing Needmore’s Early Bird, worth $10,000 and eyes his fourth five-figure payday of the season entering this weekend’s Turkey 100 at Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway — his other $10,000 victories came May 3 at Swainsboro and Oct. 11 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss.

Ault: I’m looking forward to seeing how Trey Mills does in his rookie season on the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series. The St. Augustine, Fla., upstart made plenty of news this season as a winner of the Herald & Review 100, and the Cotton Pickin’ at Magnolia among other successes. I interviewed Mills last summer and he strikes me as someone very mature for his age. With success at such a variety of tracks and experience racing on so many surfaces, I think the time is right for Mills to give the national tour a shot.

Kovac: North Carolina’s Billy Hicks took a few weeks to lock down a new driver after Donald McIntosh decided to depart the No. 79 ride following his Rookie of the Year campaign on the Lucas Oil Series, but Hicks appears to have landed a top-notch driver in Cory Hedgecock. A solid regional racer from Tennessee who has made regular appearances in DirtonDirt’s Top 25 rankings in recent years, the 33-year-old has won on multiple Southeast series, captured a couple World of Outlaws events and showed speed at Eldora. He seems ready to tackle a national tour, and, with an experienced hand like Hicks, he’ll be an interesting addition to the Lucas Oil roster.

McFadden: Following up on Aaron’s earlier comments, Spencer Hughes has looked mighty strong since reuniting with car owner Randy Thompson in the red No. K3 machine. And going into the December, he gives himself a nice boost with Saturday’s Jambalaya 100 victory at Magnolia. Moving forward, I see Hughes reestablishing himself as a favorite to win anywhere he unloads in the southeast. Potential is there to win a nationally touring race in his backyard, too, and perhaps make some noise once Speedweeks rolls around in January.

In a nod Thursday’s meal, is there a Dirt Late Model comparison to some around the table preferring canned cranberry sauce vs. an elegantly prepared cranberry relish?

Ault: I think one would be a preference if drivers and fans like fast surfaces and tracks or the slick and slow variety. For me, slick and slow — with a cushion to lean on around the top — wins, and is the equivalent of a finely-prepared meal. The hammer-down surfaces flash plenty of racing, but when tracks get slower, the racing gets better, especially toward the end of the night when drivers are slow enough to pass.

Clay: This doesn’t necessarily apply to most of today’s Dirt Late Model competitors, but my mind immediately thought of a modest closed trailer compared to a brand-new Peterbilt Motorhome with toter conversion. Obviously, nearly all racers would prefer the stacker toter (elegantly prepared cranberry), but there’s something nostalgic, something that just feels “right” about seeing a guy win out of a humble hauler. One could even argue that canned cranberry sauce more accurately compares to an old, open-air trailer. As the saying goes “races are won on the track, not in a trailer," I'd say cranberry is enjoyed similarly, regardless of its presentation and packaging.

Kovac: I’d say the segment of the Dirt Late Model popular that most enjoys the hardscrabble, rough-around-the-edges bullring tracks that don’t boast many modern amenities might be the people who go for the cranberry sauce right out of the can. They have no need for any frills. Those that would much rather be at newer, cleaner, fancier racetracks with more a big-time look — well, they might be a little more upscale and like some pizzazz with the way they get their taste of cranberry on Thanksgiving.

McFadden: I feel like Tyler Erb is the guy who would just jump straight to the dessert table on Thanksgiving. He probably thinks, who needs the main course? On the more prim and proper side, Nick Hoffman would have the best Thanksgiving plate presentation, I think. His well-spoken, clean-cut nature translates to the Thanksgiving table, you have to think.

Looking ahead to Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals, is there hope to reign in the retaliations and off-color interviews, or should we simply embrace it?

McFadden: This year ought to be interesting when it comes to on-track drama. I don’t know if the invitational-style event will make drivers more compelled to stir ruckus on the track or since it weeds out lots of the lesser-known drivers that less drama will unfold this year? Should any sort of drama come about, I just hope it’s genuine and not forced. The forced stuff can be cringy and just plain dumb, if we’re being honest. Drama is what makes the Gateway Dirt Nationals what it is, so let’s embrace it best we can.

Ault: One of the reasons I’m not a big Dome fan is precisely this. Sometimes I think it’s closer to a demolition derby than an actual race, and the foul language during interviews quickly gets tiresome. Sadly, I think we should probably just embrace it at this point as it’s become part of the show. The size of the oval makes contact and confrontation inevitable. Crashes and chaos, and R-rated interviews, are a norm at the Dome and play a big role behind why it appeals so much to fans. As much as I’d like to see drivers watch their mouths due to it being a family-friendly audience both in the Dome and for everybody watching at home on FloRacing, the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.

Clay: There is no hope in expecting anything short of chaos at the Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals and it needs to be embraced. Multiple delays will be experienced for multi-car melees and the repair of downed catchfence posts, but that’s simply part of the unique event’s charm. What isn’t unique is the passion and aggression exhibited at nearly every quarter-mile bullring across the country and this event isn’t immune — there will almost assuredly be retaliations and expletive-laden interviews as tempers flare and drivers look for a small slice of social media stardom. The Dome isn't for everyone, but it certainly has a place in the industry.

Kovac: Frankly, I think this ship has long ago sailed. The raucous atmosphere created by the Dome’s huge crowd — a party-like feel, really, because so many people gather in a high-profile venue for a unique event — combines with the rough-and-tumble nature of the bullring racing to put the racers in a different frame of mind. They all can’t help but react more demonstrably whenever something happens because those thousands of fans get their adrenaline pumping. And let’s face it, it’s in every driver’s mind that being more outrageous with their words and actions has become part of the show and attracts attention (and probably sells T-shirts).