DirtonDirt Dispatches
Dispatches: TST next on Dotson's hit list
Ethan Dotson heads to Talladega. (joshjamesartwork.com)
Among the latest notes and quotes from around Dirt Late Model racing the last weekend in April, including World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series action at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., and other specials (look elsewhere for Lucas Oil Series coverage). Also find a listing of live-streaming video from specials around the country:
Brotherly connection
Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., didn’t just achieve a childhood dream with his April 11 World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series victory at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway.
His first national touring victory also made him the first rookie to win on the tour in 2025, beating fellow rookie and traveling mate Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., to the punch. The 19-year-old Troutman and his Team 22 Inc. team is one notch above Dotson in the MD3 Rookie of the Year chase as they sit fourth and fifth in WoO points.
Both drivers are graduates of the modified ranks and for Dotson, there’s no one he’d rather spend this season and beyond battling on Dirt Late Model racing biggest stages.
“He’s like my little brother,” the 26-year-old Dotson said. “We raced modifieds whenever I was racing for Longhorn, and the last couple years we grew really close. He’s like a little brother to me and one of my best friends.
“People take it different than I see it. Obviously, I want to win and I want to beat him, but at the same time, if he beats me, I’m just as happy for him. It’s kind of a win-win for me, if I don’t get to win, my best friend gets to win.”
The fight for top rookie honors picks back up this weekend in the Alabama Gang 100 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., where Dotson has captured two of six Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series starts.
“Usually the top gets good, it kind of gets a little sketchy around the top and it’s a lot of fun,” Dotson said. “But I went there a couple weeks ago, and it was completely different than how it normally is. So it’ll be interesting to see this weekend to see if it’s more like how it’s been or if it’s how it was earlier this month. I kind of don’t know, and then we go in here with this new tire. I haven’t gotten to run it yet. Just a lot of unknowns, but we’ll try to do our deal, win us a race and run up front.” — Spence Smithback
Streaming schedule
Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:
Friday, April 25
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. (DIRTVision)
• Malvern Bank East Series at Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. (Done Right TV)
• United Late Model Racing Association at Monett (Mo.) Motor Speedway (RaceON TV)
• Nutrien Ag Solutions Revival Super Dirt Series at Salina (Kan.) Speedway (Start2Finish TV)
• American Crate Late Model Series at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas (RaceON TV)
Saturday, April 26
• World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. (DIRTVision)
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• MARS Championship Series at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• Jail Breaker Topless Outlaw Series at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Ga. (Mad Speed TV)
• Ultimate Heart of America Series at Richmond (Ky.) Raceway (Pit Row TV)
• RUSH Crate Late Model Series at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pa. (The Cushion)
• Malvern Bank West Series at Off Road Speedway in Norfolk, Neb. (Dirt Crown TV)
• Nutrien Ag Solutions Revival Super Dirt Series at Salina (Kan.) Speedway (Start2Finish TV)
• Burlile Ohio Valley Late Model Dirt Series at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Dirt Rich TV)
• American Crate Late Model Series at Grayson County Speedway in Sherman, Texas (RaceON TV)
• Gulf South Crate Racing Association at Revolution Park in Monroe, La. (RaceON TV)
• Wabam Dirt Kings Tour at Beaver Dam (Wis.) Raceway (FloRacing)
Sunday, April 27
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (FloRacing)
