Fast Talk presented by MD3 and Five Star Bodies
Fast Talk: Recapping busy week at PRI show
With a flurry of developments related (or not) to the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, our roundtable digs for the weekly feature presented by MD3 and Five Star Race Cars Bodies (edited for clarity and length):
In a newsy week for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, react to its reinstitution of a “traditional points format”?
Kevin Kovac, DirtonDirt senior writer: I’m all for the return to normalcy. I’ve never been a fan of the playoffs format to determine a motorsports series champion; this isn’t a stick-and-ball sport, so the driver who’s most consistently successful for an entire season — as rated by accumulated points — should win the title. The vagaries of luck are too pronounced over a small sample size (especially one race but still the same idea with a handful), so give me a championship battle that goes for a whole season and sometimes will go down to the wire and sometimes won’t.
Todd Turner, DirtonDirt managing editor: Alas, I guess I’m a traditionalist, so good news for me. I also think the playoff-style system ramped up the hype for late-season events, especially compared to a runaway points season. The series did promise, however, some late-season bonuses that will continue to bring a higher profile to those final weekends. I’m interested in hearing about those bonuses and hoping they’re relatively straightforward and convoluted, as some tours are prone to.
Kyle McFadden, DirtonDirt staff reporter: Rightfully so, this was among the most popular piece of news to come out of PRI. Playoffs, as we’ve said often, are designed for stick-and-ball sports — not motorsports. There are simply too many uncontrollable variables in dirt racing for a playoff format to be effective, from freak tire and mechanical failures ruining otherwise terrific seasons to non-playoff competitors running their own races and potentially impacting outcomes. I’m sure Lucas Oil officials have also noticed the continued pushback against NASCAR’s playoff format and the renewed appreciation for full-season points systems. Dirt racing won’t need gimmicks as long as it thrives on superstars and race-to-race storylines, which are best cultivated through a traditional points format. Simply put, let the best driver win.
Richard Allen, Motorsports Report: To be honest, it doesn’t really matter that much to me how a series picks its champion. I have always been one who values the individual races for their own sake. The points will work out however they work out. That said, I am not a driver or a team owner which means I don’t have anything invested nor do I gain anything from the outcome. But from the series point of view, I can see why they wanted a change due to the fact that many of the paying customers voiced opposition to the Chase format. Obviously, a driver who had a big lead erased would be in favor of the traditional format while someone in the top-4 of the standings but too far behind to catch up over the course of the final few races might be in favor of a playoff. Of course, there is a lot of money on the line and it is the sponsors and those who foot the bill for the payouts whose opinion matters most.
What about the tour’s acquisition by FloSports (which is, we should say, the parent of DirtonDirt)?
Turner: With Lucas Oil staying on as the title sponsor, it’s almost as if the companies are merely swapping roles and continuing a partnership that’s been undoubtedly successful. For now, it sounds like business as usual, but I’ll be interested to see if Flo’s media-focused bent will eventually bring a different flair to the series. If it’s the same old, same old, what’s the fun in that?
McFadden: I’m a little biased, but there’s no denying FloSports has an all-star lineup of Dirt Late Model personalities who’ve been deeply entrenched in the sport for years. When you factor in the growing partnership between the two entities, the transition should be seamless. It’s especially significant that the entire Lucas Oil Series staff, led by touring director Rick Schwallie, are returning. With the right people in place and the stability FloSports provides both financially and from a media standpoint, there’s no reason to think the Lucas Oil Series won’t continue to grow in stature.
Allen: Without trying to sound like I know what I am talking about in regard to business matters, this seems like a move that just made sense. There is obvious synergy between these two entities creating a high degree of potential upside from the move. Not that it wasn’t happening already but FloSports will have even greater ability to promote the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events for their broadcasts. I was glad to see that Lucas Oil will remain in place as the series sponsor and very happy to hear that the announcing team of Essex, Shelton and Jarrett will continue to work together. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference in having a series actually promoted by a streaming entity rather than simply featured by a streaming entity.
Kovac: I’d label it not surprising, because why wouldn’t a streaming company want to lock in its rights to a major series by purchasing it? As long the company has a solid plan and the best interests of the sport at heart — and I believe FloSports does considering there’s no shortage of passionate Dirt Late Model people with the firm starting with DirtonDirt founder Michael Rigsby — it should certainly work. What’s notable is that the entire Lucas Oil Series staff led by director Rick Schwallie will remain in place, so it seems that it will be business as usual for the national tour, albeit with the possibility of even more attention coming to the series with Flo’s media resources.
Amid driver/team news last week, what most piqued your interest?
McFadden: Daulton Wilson taking his partnership with Viper-Big Frog Motorsports full-time was surprising, but it also makes sense. Reading between the lines, the Fayetteville, N.C., driver spoke late this season as if he and the No. 58v team were working toward a full-time program in 2026, especially when I chatted with him at Charlotte. Shawn Martin’s Viper Motorsports team is no stranger to national touring, even if the Big Frog operation hasn’t run a full-time schedule in some time. With Cory Hedgecock moving to Billy Hicks Racing, it’s fair to wonder if some of the Viper support tied to the No. 23 program could shift toward Wilson on a full-time basis. I could see Wilson competing for the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series title in 2026 if he doesn’t pursue a national tour.
Allen: The pairing of driver Chris Madden and Wells Motorsports in the Infinity Chassis by Wells is one that intrigues me. After competing on a part-time basis in 2025, Madden will be racing more often this coming season. At the same time, the team itself will once again be back on the road more often than last year as well. Madden has proven himself to be one of the top talents behind the wheel of a Dirt Late Model and the Wells team won their fair share of big races when Brandon Overton drove that car. As with all driver-team combinations, the key to success will be how well the team bonds together on a week-by-week basis. If they mesh well together, this could be a dangerous partnership for the competition.
Kovac: Coltman Farm Racing’s announcement that Tanner English won’t return with the team in 2026 was surprising. I thought the combination would continue to improve with another year together, but I figured that would be the case as well with Zack Mitchell, who had a strong ’25 season with Coltman but also won’t be back. The team will have a decidedly new look with Donald McIntosh now on board for a national tour run as owner Brett Coltman looks to base all his equipment out of his shop in Georgia, which ultimately prompted English to bow out from the seat. I imagine there are plenty of drivers dialing up Coltman who are willing to relocate to Georgia to take an attractive ride.
Turner: Following up Kevin’s thoughts about English and Mitchell, the revolving door at the Coltman Farms Racing team is beginning (or already has) seemed like a lack of continuity. No one wouldn't argue that Brett Coltman hasn’t made considerable investments in sponsorships and operating his own two-car team, but the list of in-house drivers who have had lengthy stints is short (or arguably non-existent). Will Donald McIntosh, and a potential second driver to be named later, be around longer?
Regarding recently released schedules for 2026, did anything catch your eye?
Allen: It doesn’t look like promoter Ray Cook will be spending a lot of time at home in 2026 based on the very busy sets of schedules he has released for all his Schaeffer Oil-sponsored tours (Southern All Stars, Spring Nationals and Southern Nationals). And coincidently, that could be the same for me as well due to those schedules. Several years ago, I was going to 50-60 races each season based on the number of events I could drive to and from without having to stay overnight in a hotel, but that hasn’t been the case more recently because there haven't been as many races in my region. It looks like that could be changing (weather permitting), and I'm glad for the change.
McFadden: I’m glad to see Jim Bernheisel’s Appalachian Mountain Speedweek heading to quarter-mile gem Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa. Bernheisel’s Fall Clash miniseries, which unfortunately won’t return in 2026, put on an entertaining first-ever Late Model feature there in September, even if it didn’t draw the car count you’d hope for (13 cars). Hopefully the summertime minitour can attract a full field next year. It’s also disappointing not to see Hagerstown Speedway on the Appalachian Speedweek schedule. It just doesn’t feel right that a track long dubbed “The Late Model Capital of the World” isn’t part of the Northeast’s premier Late Model miniseries.
Kovac: Nothing really spectacular strikes me, but I did note a couple things: Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway isn’t listed on the Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals schedule after hosting the summer tour’s opener for the last four years (the series will kick off instead at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va.), and there are some interesting additions to the DIRTcar Summer Nationals slate with the Dubuque, Iowa, and Camden, Tenn., tracks set to run first-ever Hell Tour events and Iowa’s West Liberty, Kentucky’s Windy Hollow and Missouri’s Poplar Bluff returning after long absences. That makes 31 tracks for the ’26 Summer Nationals, which seems to be growing larger.
Turner: I’m impressed by the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series. With single-year race director Ernie Leftwich’s departure (to revive Midwest LateModel Racing Association), I wouldn’t have been surprised to see a more modest schedule for the Arkansas-based circuit. Instead, 20 of 26 races carry purses of $10,000 or more — the highest percentage in series history — and seven tracks on the tour are first-time tracks. It’s a worthy schedule, especially considering next-door neighbor MLRA is hunting races along with Trenton Berry’s new Missouri-based Super Late Model circuit.
We all know Santa drives the sleigh, but envision how gift-delivering would change if it was driven by Tyler Erb? Dale McDowell? Bobby Pierce? Or a driver of your choice.
Kovac: I imagine drivers like Dale McDowell, Jonathan Davenport and Billy Moyer (“Mr. Smooth”) would work best at the reins of Santa’s sleigh; their steady, veteran hands would ensure the most efficient routes would be taken and deliveries made. I’d say Erb and Pierce would make the Christmas Eve trip a bit more eventful and exciting with their aggressive styles, which would likely include some nifty sliding stops on the rooftops of homes and a few scratches on the sleigh. But I bet Erb and Pierce would hand out some cooler presents to the kids with their younger sensibilities.
Allen: A lot of neighborhoods, like mine, form a loop in which there are houses on the inside of the loop as well as on the outside. With that being the case, Dale McDowell could hug the inside line to deliver packages to the inner loop while Bobby Pierce could drop off the presents on the outside of the loop. Twice as fast but probably not as quiet and stealth-like as Santa.
McFadden: Given Dale McDowell’s highly personable nature, I’m not sure he could complete a far-flung gift-giving assignment on Christmas night. The odds of him getting swept up in too many conversations during his middle-of-the-night travels would be far too high. Anyone who knows McDowell understands he’s usually one of the last drivers to leave the pit area because he makes everyone feel welcome and genuinely enjoys talking with people. That probably wouldn’t bode well for him as a late-running Santa.
Turner: First off, it’s a good thing there’s only one Santa and one sleigh, otherwise the rash of retaliations we’ve had this season might spark a duel that ends up with damage to multiple toys. I’ll go with Tyler Bruening as my driver, less so for his ample racing skills than for that healthy beard that — with a little white powder — could give Santa a run for his money. The No. 16 sleigh would be a success, no doubt.
Editor’s note: Fast Talk goes on its annual two-week holiday break. We’ll tentatively plan to return Jan. 5. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our readers!
