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Fast Talk: Evaluating the Cook-MasterSbilt pairing
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. Staffer Andy Savary sits in for Joshua today (edited for clarity and length):
Todd Turner: With competition winding down, let’s first discuss some off-track issues before getting into the most recent results, starting with MasterSbilt Race Cars naming Ray Cook to drive the team’s house car. As it turns out, the Crothersville, Ind., chassis builder found its new driver in North Carolina, which is where former driver Don O’Neal is heading to join Clint Bowyer Racing.
A long-time MasterSbilt loyalist, Cook was the natural choice to replace O’Neal, but I think we all wondered if it could work considering the Brasstown, N.C., resident’s promotional duties with the Spring Nationals and Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals, not to mention managing Tri-County Racetrack along with family and church commitments.
Cook’s super-busy schedule will likely be busier than ever, but I’m glad to see him return to national touring racing with the best opportunity of his career. What should we expect from this pairing?
Michael Rigsby: First of all congratulations to Ray, who I think we can all agree is one of, if not the nicest guys, in Dirt Late Model racing. He deserves an opportunity like this, and I know after trading a few messages with him, he's very excited. I think it'll be a hit — why wouldn't it? Ray has shown in the right rides, he's capable of going out and winning big races and performing at a high level. He already knows those cars backwards and forwards, and I expect a top five in Lucas Oil points next season.
TT: Ray ran mostly a regional schedule this season, relatively sporadically, but he was rolling there for a month or two with few finishes outside the top three. It'll be fun to have him mixing it up with the Lucas Oil guys again.
Andy Savary: I see no reason that this match won't be a successful one. Every on-track piece seemingly fits together perfectly. Like you mentioned, Todd, it was really only the off-track things Ray has on his plate that made you wonder if this was possible. Ray is one of the best long-distance drivers in this sport and he has fared well in points chases in the past. Both Ray and the MasterSbilt camp are familiar with the Lucas Oil schedule, as well, so I think it'll be a hit.
TT: Next, let’s review the developments, at least schedule-wise, of a 2014 season that will see, for the first time, three national Dirt Late Model tours as the second-year National Dirt Racing League joins the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
While the Lucas Oil schedule has long been announced — and remains recognizable with many of Dirt Late Model racing’s biggest-purse events — complete schedules from WoO and NDRL should be released soon. NDRL had just a handful of 2013 races, but along with January non-points events in Tucson, Ariz., and El Paso, Texas, 2014 races have been announced at Virginia Motor Speedway, Ohio’s Atomic Speedway, Batesville (Ark.) Motor Speedway and, most notably, East Alabama Motor Speedway, where the National 100 will be sanctioned for the first time in its 40-year history.
WoO’s 2014 slate will include eight Georgia-Florida Speedweeks races at three tracks, the two richest races in Illinois at Fairbury and Farmer City and the $50,000-to-win USA Nationals at Wisconsin’s Cedar Lake Speedway, among other major events.
Is this a case of the more the merrier? How do you all see things shaking out?
AS: The current racing schedule is already undeniably busy and it seems to be trending busier and busier each year. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It depends who you ask. On paper, the overall 2014 landscape seems like a lot to me, but at the same time, I can understand everyone's of point of views — and I guess the only way to find out if it will be successful is to give it a try.
MR: I'm holding any judgement on 2014 until the 2013 calendar officially ends! On the surface it seems like a lot of racing, but like I said, until the calendar actually turns to 2014, it's hard to say how any of it will shake down just yet.
TT: California native Tyler Reddick, 17, who has competed nationally in Dirt Late Models while racing out of DuQuoin, Ill., the past five seasons, appears to be taking the next step in his career with the announcement he’ll run 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events for Brad Keselowski Racing next season. The list of Dirt Late Model drivers who have successfully made the big-time asphalt jump is short — Hall of Famer Jeff Purvis, most notably, while three-time WoO champ Josh Richards is among those who couldn’t make it stick (at least thus far in the 25-year-old's career). How do you see the NASCAR prospects of Reddick, a two-time World 100 starter and the youngest winner in Lucas Oil Series history?
AS: One of the biggest things Reddick has on his side is age. Being that he is only 17, he has the time and ability to make this work. With that said, this can also be a “What have you done for me lately?" industry where immediate success is expected. It's seems he has fallen into a good situation and I hope he gets a fair shake to show what he's got. I wish him the best and hope he knows that he always has a home on dirt.
MR: I think all of us who followed Tyler's career knew that asphalt racing was going to come knocking at some point — it was just a matter of when. I'm happy for him, and really think he's got a shot to make it stick. What I hope selfishly, as all dirt track fans do when our guys leave, is that we'll still see him from time to time behind the wheel of a Dirt Late Model. Don't leave us high and drive Tyler!
TT: Let’s wrap up by taking a look at weekend results. Alabama driver Josh Putnam notched a career-high $10,000 after a race-long duel with Skylar Marlar at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., Casey Roberts capped his second straight Ultimate Super Late Model Series title with a $10,000 victory at County Line Raceway in Elm City, N.C., and Georgian Jake Knowles claimed the Southern All Star-sanctioned Gobbler at Cleveland.
All nice victories, but I can’t help but notice that Roberts keeps churning out victories (seven with Ultimate this year) and titles each season. He hasn’t really notched that victory that put him in the national conversation, but his consistency with seven touring titles over eight seasons is pretty solid.
MR: Overall that was a really good mid-November weekend. Different tracks, different winners, and like you said Todd, a guy in Casey Roberts who continues to win races each and ever year. He's a guy that I'm not sure gets the national respect he deserves, as a driver who I think could step out of his region and win races. (He's had some memorable Eldora heat race runs too).
Can we also say: What a race at Duck River! (again!). That place delivers each and every time out. Kudos to Bob and Cathy Harris for the improvements they're making there, and the job they're doing.
AS: Roberts has quietly worked his way to the top tier of the purely regional racers. He doesn't dabble on the national circuits as much as some people might like, but when he's finding this level of success around home, it's also hard to blame him for doing something that is working and financially makes sense. On top of his Ultimate victory and title, he also won his heat and was running second when Mother Nature interrupted Sunday's Blue-Gray 100, which will now be made up next Sunday. Could he have another win on the way?
And as Michael said, Duck River continuously proves to be one of the raciest tracks in the country. If you haven't checked out the Deep Fried 75 highlights, do it!
