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Fast Talk: Shamrock and Pelican impress
Here’s the latest edition of Fast Talk, a DirtonDirt.com feature appearing each Monday and sponsored by Out-Pace Racing Products. Staffers Michael Rigsby, Todd Turner and Joshua Joiner gather weekly for a roundtable discussion about who’s hot, who’s not and other issues regarding Dirt Late Model racing (edited for clarity and length):
Todd Turner: With the national tours still catching their breath after Speedweeks, some noteworthy regional events took center stage and produced some pretty compelling action. We’ll take a look at some of the races and winners, starting with Randy Weaver’s Shamrock victory in Southern All Star action at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway.
Nearly everyone left saying it was the best race they’d seen at the third-mile oval in a while after Weaver outdueled Billy Ogle Jr. in a back-and-forth battle, with runner-up Mike Marlar and early leader Dale McDowell right in the mix. I’ve always felt Cleveland’s inside walls made the track seemed confining for good racing, but the surface was prepared perfectly. Watching the video, could either of you keep count of all the slide-job passes among the top five?
Joshua Joiner: I totally lost count after five or six. That was without a doubt one of the better races I've seen in a while, at least from watching the video. I'm sure it was even better watching in person, not knowing how it was going to play out. Would've been nice to get a caution there late to see if Marlar had anything for Weaver. They way he moved up without any cautions was impressive. Either way, it was definitely a great race, and it looks like Weaver has picked up right where he left off last season. He could be in for another big year in 2013.
Michael Rigsby: I remember a Shamrock a few years ago that Billy Moyer popped in and win, that I thought was the best Cleveland race I've ever seen — until this week. “Wow!" was my reaction after watching it. It was a race that reminds you why you love Dirt Late Model racing. After the event, Mike Marlar pointed out that "we don't have many races like that in our sport anymore,” and to some degree he's right. Not to mention the Pelican 100 was great as well. Overall a good weekend for Dirt Late Model racing.
TT: Let’s look closer at Weaver, the Crossville, Tenn., driver who hasn’t finished outside the top three in four starts this season. He’s been racing closer to home the past few seasons, but the Outlaw Race Parts team has done it right in building a strong foundation with plans to race more broadly this year. Though he’s always been a little under the radar, Weaver is really a guy that’s capable of winning just about any race, isn’t he? After all, the Shamrock field was stacked with Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden and Jonathan Davenport not even in the mix.
MR: Lost in the mix of Weaver, Ogle and McDowell battling it out was how much Owens, Bloomquist, Davenport and Madden all "struggled" at a place all of them are really good. I'm not sure anyone would have predicted a Weaver-Ogle slide job battle as the way the night would end.
As for Randy, yes, he's a classic under-the-radar guy that probably deserves more credit than he's ever gotten. Doug and the guys at Outlaw are smart racers, have put together a smart operation, and Randy is taking advantage of the opportunity. Not to mention, he's funny as hell. If you ever get the opportunity, stop and talk to Randy Weaver for five minutes and it'll be hard to keep a straight face.
JJ: He's definitely someone you have to keep an eye on no matter where he's racing. As I said just a second ago, he had a great year in 2012 and appears to be headed for even bigger and better things this year by the way he's started the season. One thing I found interesting was what you pointed out in your race story from Cleveland, Todd. With Weaver, Marlar and Ogle in the top three, that was the first time home-state drivers swept the top three spots at the Shamrock since 2004. I just wondering how many people would've guessed that at a race where Jimmy Owens and Scott Bloomquist were competing, the top three finishers would've all been from Tennessee— but Owens and Bloomquist wouldn't be among them.
TT: Let me just say this: ArkLaTex Speedway looks like my kind of racing. I need to get to the Pelican 100 someday because if it’s anything like the video showed of Bub McCool’s $10,000 victory at the Vivian, La., oval, that’s something I’ve gotta see in person.
To me it was reminiscent of vintage Brownstown and West Plains racing with a smooth, slick surface and every groove capable of bringing someone to the front. I realize some fans like the higher-speed, hooked-up tracks, but can’t we all agree that competition doesn’t get much better than ArkLaTex produced?
MR: I thought exactly same thing, Todd. It looks just like vintage Brownstown used to. There were many times in that race I thought Bub might be dead in the water, but he kept rallying back, in part because the racetrack was just so good, he was able to climb back up top, and use that groove to get around everyone. That's two straight Pelican 100's that are great races. Yes, it needs to be added to everyone's bucket lists.
JJ: I've been impressed with ArkLaTex every time I've watched video from there. I'm with you, Todd; I definitely want to make it down there for a race sometime soon. The great racing there during the Pelican 100 in recent years has helped put that place on the map with Late Model fans and drivers. I expect to only see that event continue to grow as more and more people add ArkLaTex to their list of must-see racetracks.
TT: At Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway, reigning UMP DIRTcar weekly and Summernationals champ Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., launched his season with a runner-up finish in the weekend opener and a $5,000 victory in the Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic finale. He’s continuing a string of solid performances since last year’s Summernationals that have elevated his status in the sport.
Also noteworthy at Clarksville was Virginian Walker Arthur outrunning Shirley in the opener. We talked about his hot streak at the end of last season and he has also made big strides from becoming merely a driver who travels a lot to someone capable of winning a lot.
MR: Add Clarksville to the list of “Wow, I can't believe Walker Arthur turned up there" tracks. I'm not sure anyone has improved as much as Arthur the past few seasons, and it's showing. Travel pays off if you can manage it. As for Shirley, I think it's clear he's one of the 20 best drivers in the country right now. It'll be interesting to see how the spring develops for him. Will anyone be shocked if he either NDRL's Paducah or I-55 events in late March?
JJ: Both Shirley and Arthur are likely headed for solid seasons in 2013. Shirley is out to prove that 2012 was no fluke and his performances over the weekend was a strong start down that road. He'll not only be a force at regional events in the Midwest, but I expect him to also have some strong runs in some even bigger events this year. As for Arthur, he's definitely one of the better up-and-coming drivers right now. His strong runs last year got his name out there, and now he could be poised for a big-time breakout year this season. He's definitely one to keep an eye on throughout the year.
TT: Let’s peek ahead to this weekend at Volunteer Speedway’s Spring Thaw, the opening two events for the Ray Cook-promoted Spring Nationals. We talked about this new series — a complement to Cook’s Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals in July — when it was announced during trade-show season, but let’s delve into it a bit more.
The 10 Spring Nationals events stretch over nine tracks in four states and link tracks not typically on the same regional tour — all the way from Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky., down to Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga. It’s an interesting idea to have a series that a driver can tackle without committing to months and months of travel as it stretches over just eight weeks. And I think Cook carries cachet with racers for his experience as a racer himself. How do you all see it?
MR: I did a VideoCast interview with Ray this week, and we discussed almost everything you're saying Todd, and it really is the truth. I was immediately intrigued by this tour because it was just “different.” The tracks, the layout, incorporating Volunteer’s Spring Thaw into the mix, Ponderosa, 201 Speedway ... there’s just a lot of neat stuff about it. And yes, racers trust Ray, and that makes a huge difference. I think car counts will be excellent this first weekend, and on down the line. He's onto something here.
JJ: I've liked the Spring Nationals series since Cook first told me about it at PRI in December. And from the talk about it at races over the past few weeks, it seems like there are quite a few drivers who are considering running it, at least the first few races to see where they stack up. I definitely think drivers are drawn to races that Cook promotes just because they know he's one of the nicest guys in the sport and everyone knows they can trust him. His Southern Nationals tour has turned into a summer tradition in the South, and I don't see why the Spring Nationals won't find similar success.
