Tri-State Legends Cup: Uniting Weekly Racers Across Neighboring States in 2024

Introducing the Tri-State Legends Cup — where drivers from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana will earn points at every dirt Legends Car event in the Tri-state area.

The Tri-State Legends Cup emerges as a challenge for weekly racers, offering a platform to compete for points against peers across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. This series aims to redefine the racing landscape by fostering spirited competition and camaraderie among drivers and series in neighboring states. Recognizing the evolving landscape of "weekly racing," we hope to bring the Legends division into the spotlight. Featuring a near-universal ruleset, and an enthusiastic cast of drivers, this division provides tracks with an affordable yet exciting option to host races that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Undergoing an exciting rebranding, The Tri-State Legends Cup will transform into a simplified regional points chase, racing across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, with some selected special events. In its inaugural 2021 season, the young phenom Nicholas Byrd triumphed over veteran Steve Duderstadt. Adam Hudson fought off Tyler Scott and Casey Ulm to win the 2022 championship & the thrilling saga continued in 2023, as "Jumpin" Joe Warning secured the championship in a fierce battle against Evan Kennemore.

The 2024 Tri-State Legends Cup will see drivers earning points at several track's including MRP Raceway Park, Brushcreek Motorsports Complex, Atomic Speedway, Florence Speedway, Lake Cumberland Speedway, Ponderosa Speedway, and several more tracks to be announced soon.

Full details on the Tri-State Legends Cup will be available soon.

Andrew Smith crowned Davidson Motorsports King Of Compacts 𝐗𝐈𝐕 Champion

The King Of Compacts 𝐗𝐈𝐕 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 / 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

Florence Speedway Oct 6th-7th, 2023

Davidson Motorsports King Of Compacts (40 Laps): 

1. 62-Andrew Smith [1] - Brooklet, Georgia 

2. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr [27] - Dry Ridge, Kentucky

3. 54D-Brandon Dalton [2] - Bowling Green, Kentucky 

4. 4M-Eddie McGrew [16] - Travelers Rest, South Carolina 

5. 48-Newman Presnell [24] - Pickens, South Carolina 

6. 18C-Reid Christensen [20] - Springfield, Georgia 

7. 11JR-Chris Hillman Jr [12] - Mooresville, Indiana 

8. 10-Isaac Gipson [9] - Tuscumbia, Alabama 

9. 1-Josh Adkins [10] - Cumming, Georgia

10. 72-Walker Windham [4] - Lake City, Florida

11. 51M-Kevin McCoy [18] - Independence, Kentucky 

12. 6PAC-Chris Wise [11] - Thurman, Ohio 

13. 4A-Dennis Adkins [19] - Portland, Ohio 

14. 126-Randy Wise [13] - Thurman, Ohio 

15. 23JR-Corbin Dalton [15] - Burlington, Kentucky 

16. 28-Lee Hutchinson [26] - Prattville, Alabama

17. G1-Jerry Gibson Jr [25] - Crittenden, Kentucky 

18. X-Shannon Barnhill [14] - Gastonia, North Carolina

19. 18-Lucas Walters [28] - Covington, Kentucky 

20. 23-Austin Maples [21] - Morristown, Tennessee 

21. 74L-Joey Laws [8] - Hillsboro, Missouri 

22. 77C-Gage Cropper [23] - Flemingsburg, Kentucky 

23. 99-Joseph Thompson [22] - Ellabell, Georgia

24. 88K-Joey Kelly [7] - Salem, South Carolina  

25. 11-Blayne Ellis [6] - Evansville, Indiana

26. 65-John Windham [5] - Lake City, Florida

27. 86-Michael Trotter [3] - Monroe, Georgia

28. 114-Josh Frantz [17] - Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania

𝐋𝐚𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 - Brandon Dalton (7) 1-7, Andrew Smith (33) 7-40

𝟕𝟎 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 (𝟏𝟑) 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬:  Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia 

(𝟏𝟏) 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀-𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧. 

𝐊𝐎𝐂 𝐗𝐈𝐕 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

Jason Waters Tuning Fast Time Award ($𝟏𝟎𝟎) - #62- Andrew Smith 19.474

𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 Complete Grounds Maintenance LLC.  ($𝟏𝟎𝟎) - Hunter Hollis - Haughton, Louisiana  (823 Miles)

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐌 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 SBR Performance  ($𝟏𝟎𝟎) - Lucas Walters - Covington, Kentucky (13th) 20.040

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐌 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 Bentley Lawn Design ($𝟐𝟎𝟎)- Kevin McCoy (11th) 

𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐌 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐎'𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠  ($𝟏𝟎𝟎) - Corbin Dalton (15th)

𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐎𝐂 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 The Backyard Grill ($𝟓𝟎) - Brandon Dalton 

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐊𝐎𝐂 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 C&C Towing ($𝟐𝟎𝟎) - Corbin Dalton (4/08 - 15.5)

Valdus Racing Shirts 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 ($𝟏𝟎𝟎) - Brandon Gibson Jr. (+25)

𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐌 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐎𝐂 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 Kacen Hydraulic Repairs  ($𝟏𝟎𝟎) - Chaz Dawson

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 Stewart’s Wrecker Service  ($𝟐𝟎𝟎) - Kevin McCoy 

𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 "𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜" 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫 - #35 Cale Deese

𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 "𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥" 𝐔𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫 - #74 Richard Ashby 

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬: Andrew Smith, Brandon Dalton, Michael Trotter, Walker Windham, John Windham, Blayne Ellis

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝟏: 1. 62-Andrew Smith[1]; 2. 88K-Joey Kelly[2]; 3. 126-Randy Wise[4]; 4. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr[8]; 5. 5R-Wayne Risner[6]; 6. 18-Lucas Walters[3]; 7. 15M-Michael Freimuth[11]; 8. 56-Kaleb Casey[7]; 9. 7H-Hunter Hollis[9]; 10. 94-Justin Stephens[5]; 11. 36F-Zack Frantz[10]; 12. (DNS) 33M-Zach West

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝟐:  1. 54D-Brandon Dalton[1]; 2. 74L-Joey Laws[6]; 3. X-Shannon Barnhill[2]; 4. 48-Newman Presnell[4]; 5. 99-Joseph Thompson[5]; 6. 4-kevin Ashby[7]; 7. 0N-Owen Cosman[8]; 8. 00-Lavin Crain[3]; 9. J47-Joe Pflum[10]; 10. 8-Robert Binder[11]; 11. 22S-Michael Stacy[9]; 12. (DNS) 47R-Dylan Iffland

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝟑:  1. 86-Michael Trotter[3]; 2. 10-Isaac Gipson[4]; 3. 23JR-Corbin Dalton[5]; 4. 23-Austin Maples[6]; 5. 4A-Dennis Adkins[2]; 6. G1-Jerry Gibson Jr[8]; 7. 34S-Brandon Stephens[12]; 8. 10L-Cameron Tinnell[11]; 9. 00E-Ryan Eversole[7]; 10. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr[1]; 11. 21-Richie Frye[10]; 12. (DNS) 7D-David Smoot

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝟒:  1. 72-Walker Windham[2]; 2. 01-Josh Adkins[5]; 3. 4M-Eddie McGrew[1]; 4. 28-Lee Hutchinson[3]; 5. 18C-Reid Christensen[6]; 6. 74-Bruce Denman[4]; 7. 95-Jacob Bright[7]; 8. 34-Christopher Meyer[8]; 9. 75JR-Frankie King[9]; 10. 916-Samuel Regitz[10]; 11. 74-Richard Ashby[11]; 12. (DNS) 41H-Matthew Hafer

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝟓:  1. 65-John Windham[1]; 2. 6PAC-Chris Wise[2]; 3. 114-Josh Frantz[4]; 4. 77C-Gage Cropper[3]; 5. 12-Joshua Wood[8]; 6. 42C-Chaz Dawson Jr[6]; 7. C19-Patrick Willbarger[7]; 8. 83-Jesse Ramirez[9]; 9. 30W-Jacob Wilhoite[11]; 10. 88-Larry Patton[5]; 11. (DNS) 711-Kenneth Long Jr

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝟔:  1. 11-Blayne Ellis[1]; 2. 11JR-Chris Hillman Jr[2]; 3. 51M-Kevin McCoy[5]; 4. 11H-Jamie Harper[3]; 5. 4-Kevin McKenzie[4]; 6. 95K-Jacob Todd[6]; 7. W0-Wayne Walker[9]; 8. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[10]; 9. 47M-Cordell Moore[8]; 10. 17H-Paige Hutson[11]; 11. (DNS) 35-Cale Deese

𝐁 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝟏: 1. 4A-Dennis Adkins[3]; 2. 77C-Gage Cropper[2]; 3. 34S-Brandon Stephens[6]; 4. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr[1]; 5. 42C-Chaz Dawson Jr[5]; 6. 83-Jesse Ramirez[8]; 7. 21-Richie Frye[12]; 8. 18-Lucas Walters[4]; 9. (DNS) 56-Kaleb Casey; 10. (DNS) 00E-Ryan Eversole; 11. (DNS) 94-Justin Stephens; 12. (DNS) 88-Larry Patton; 13. (DNS) 33M-Zach West

𝐁 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝟐: 1. 18C-Reid Christensen[3]; 2. 48-Newman Presnell[1]; 3. 95K-Jacob Todd[5]; 4. 95-Jacob Bright[6]; 5. 11H-Jamie Harper[2]; 6. 75JR-Frankie King[9]; 7. 4-kevin Ashby[4]; 8. 00-Lavin Crain[7]; 9. 8-Robert Binder[10]; 10. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[8]; 11. 74-Richard Ashby[12]; 12. 17H-Paige Hutson[11]

𝐁 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝟑: 1. 23-Austin Maples[1]; 2. G1-Jerry Gibson Jr[3]; 3. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr[9]; 4. 12-Joshua Wood[2]; 5. 65X-Wayne Risner[13]; 6. 15M-Michael Freimuth[4]; 7. C19-Patrick Willbarger[5]; 8. 36F-Zack Frantz[10]; 9. 10L-Cameron Tinnell[6]; 10. 7D-David Smoot[12]; 11. 7H-Hunter Hollis[7]; 12. (DNS) 30W-Jacob Wilhoite; 13. (DNS) 711-Kenneth Long Jr

𝐁 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝟒: 1. 99-Joseph Thompson[2]; 2. 28-Lee Hutchinson[1]; 3. 4-Kevin McKenzie[3]; 4. 0N-Owen Cosman[5]; 5. 34-Christopher Meyer[7]; 6. 74-Bruce Denman[4]; 7. 22S-Michael Stacy[11]; 8. W0-Wayne Walker[6]; 9. 916-Samuel Regitz[10]; 10. (DNS) J47-Joe Pflum; 11. (DNS) 47M-Cordell Moore; 12. (DNS) 35-Cale Deese; 13. (DNS) 41H-Matthew Hafer

𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞: (12 Laps): 1. 95K-Jacob Todd[2]; 2. 34-Christopher Meyer[12]; 3. 12-Joshua Wood[3]; 4. 74-Bruce Denman[16]; 5. C19-Patrick Willbarger[15]; 6. 75JR-Frankie King[14]; 7. 4-kevin Ashby[18]; 8. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr[5]; 9. 83-Jesse Ramirez[13]; 10. 22S-Michael Stacy[20]; 11. 916-Samuel Regitz; 12. 21-Richie Frye[17]; 13. 34S-Brandon Stephens[1]; 14. 36F-Zack Frantz[19]; 15. 15M-Michael Freimuth[11]; 16. (DNS) 4-Kevin McKenzie; 17. (DNS) 95-Jacob Bright; 18. (DNS) 65X-Wayne Risner; 19. (DNS) 0N-Owen Cosman; 20. (DNS) 42C-Chaz Dawson Jr; 21. (DNS) 11H-Jamie Harper

𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 1. 62-Andrew Smith, 00:19.474[7]; 2. 54D-Brandon Dalton, 00:19.645[25]; 3. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr, 00:19.672[19]; 4. 4M-Eddie McGrew, 00:19.691[11]; 5. 65-John Windham, 00:19.713[16]; 6. 11-Blayne Ellis, 00:19.816[27]; 7. 88K-Joey Kelly, 00:19.848[62]; 8. X-Shannon Barnhill, 00:19.899[68]; 9. 4A-Dennis Adkins, 00:19.964[47]; 10. 72-Walker Windham, 00:19.999[44]; 11. 6PAC-Chris Wise, 00:20.000[61]; 12. 11JR-Chris Hillman Jr, 00:20.037[59]; 13. 18-Lucas Walters, 00:20.040[67]; 14. 00-Lavin Crain, 00:20.041[6]; 15. 86-Michael Trotter, 00:20.049[29]; 16. 28-Lee Hutchinson, 00:20.059[5]; 17. 77C-Gage Cropper, 00:20.098[41]; 18. 11H-Jamie Harper, 00:20.125[52]; 19. 126-Randy Wise, 00:20.175[49]; 20. 48-Newman Presnell, 00:20.187[50]; 21. 10-Isaac Gipson, 00:20.207[55]; 22. 74-Bruce Denman, 00:20.217[31]; 23. 114-Josh Frantz, 00:20.229[4]; 24. 4-Kevin McKenzie, 00:20.231[20]; 25. 94-Justin Stephens, 00:20.283[60]; 26. 99-Joseph Thompson, 00:20.284[69]; 27. 23JR-Corbin Dalton, 00:20.285[30]; 28. 01-Josh Adkins, 00:20.300[37]; 29. 88-Larry Patton, 00:20.304[22]; 30. 51M-Kevin McCoy, 00:20.308[39]; 31. 5R-Wayne Risner, 00:20.309[40]; 32. 74L-Joey Laws, 00:20.315[15]; 33. 23-Austin Maples, 00:20.380[18]; 34. 18C-Reid Christensen, 00:20.425[23]; 35. 42C-Chaz Dawson Jr, 00:20.433[43]; 36. 95K-Jacob Todd, 00:20.498[13]; 37. 56-Kaleb Casey, 00:20.542[35]; 38. 4-kevin Ashby, 00:20.597[63]; 39. 00E-Ryan Eversole, 00:20.600[34]; 40. 95-Jacob Bright, 00:20.600[64]; 41. C19-Patrick Willbarger, 00:20.615[10]; 42. 35-Cale Deese, 00:20.631[65]; 43. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr, 00:20.679[2]; 44. 0N-Owen Cosman, 00:20.697[38]; 45. G1-Jerry Gibson Jr, 00:20.723[14]; 46. 34-Christopher Meyer, 00:20.742[66]; 47. 12-Joshua Wood, 00:20.748[33]; 48. 47M-Cordell Moore, 00:20.762[9]; 49. 7H-Hunter Hollis, 00:20.764[57]; 50. 22S-Michael Stacy, 00:20.864[8]; 51. 7D-David Smoot, 00:20.924[24]; 52. 75JR-Frankie King, 00:20.939[17]; 53. 83-Jesse Ramirez, 00:20.971[1]; 54. W0-Wayne Walker, 00:20.972[32]; 55. 36F-Zack Frantz, 00:21.001[45]; 56. J47-Joe Pflum, 00:21.135[56]; 57. 21-Richie Frye, 00:21.162[28]; 58. 916-Samuel Regitz, 00:21.223[54]; 59. 711-Kenneth Long Jr, 00:21.338[12]; 60. 55G-Brandon Greenlee, 00:21.374[36]; 61. 15M-Michael Freimuth, 00:21.428[42]; 62. 8-Robert Binder, 00:21.664[51]; 63. 10L-Cameron Tinnell, 00:21.952[53]; 64. 74-Richard Ashby, 00:22.455[46]; 65. 30W-Jacob Wilhoite, 00:22.732; 66. 17H-Paige Hutson, 00:24.773[26]; 67. 33M-Zach West, 01:04.139[48]; 68. (DNS) 47R-Dylan Iffland; 69. (DNS) 34S-Brandon Stephens; 70. (DNS) 41H-Matthew Hafer

𝐊𝐎𝐂 𝐗𝐈𝐕 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬:

Florence Speedway

Davidson Motorsports

SewInsane Embroidery

Eric Arnett Photography

Bentley Lawn Design

Karma Electric

Diamond Cut Lawn Care

Silvis Motorsports

SBR Performance

SCDRA

Kelcar Motorsports Media

Slingin Dirt Media

R&H Photography

G FAB

Gibby's Plumbing LLC

FloRacing

G Customs Powder Coating

Calvert Racing Engines

Wade Davis Construction

Metalworking Group

Hawk Wildlife Control

Brad Morris Electric

AirMax Heating and Cooling

Chasin' Checkers on Youtube

A-Team Motorsports

Gorilla Race Technology

TDJ Oilfield Services, LLC.

Deese Racing Enterprises

FunkAway

O'Brien Brothers Racing

C&C Towing

Stewart’s Wrecker Service 

The Backyard Grill

Kacen Hydraulic Repairs

Cincinnati, Ohio Sports Icons Painting

In this vibrant and dynamic masterpiece, the Cincinnati sports landscape comes to life as iconic figures from various disciplines converge on a canvas that celebrates the city's rich athletic heritage. The focal point of the painting is a gathering of legends, each immortalized in their respective sports, against the backdrop of the iconic Skyline Chili, a cherished symbol of Cincinnati's culinary and cultural identity.  

At the forefront, the dynamic duo of Ken Griffey Sr. and Barry Larkin captures the essence of baseball excellence. Griffey Sr., a Cincinnati Reds legend, exudes leadership and wisdom, while Larkin, with his unmistakable stance, represents the epitome of skill and dedication. Their presence pays homage to the Reds' storied history and the indelible mark they left on the baseball world. 

Flanking them on either side are two electrifying athletes who brought flair and excitement to Cincinnati sports. Chad Johnson, the charismatic wide receiver known for his flamboyant celebrations and unmatched skills on the football field, stands tall with his signature smile. On the opposite side, Joe Burrow, the quarterback sensation, exudes confidence and determination, a symbol of the city's hopes and dreams for a new era of football greatness. 

Woven into the tapestry of this Cincinnati sports montage are the Pflum brothers, Jack and Joe, renowned race car drivers who left an indelible mark on the world of motorsports. The last name Pflum is synonymous the fast-paced nature of their chosen sport and the city's love for high-octane competition. 

Completing the ensemble is the controversial yet undeniably legendary figure, Pete Rose. Clad in his baseball uniform, Rose stands with a gritty determination, embodying the hustle and perseverance that earned him the nickname "Charlie Hustle." His inclusion represents not only his personal accomplishments but also the resilience and tenacity of Cincinnati athletes. 

The backdrop of the iconic Skyline Chili, with its distinctive skyline logo, adds a touch of local flavor to the composition. The chili's warm hues complement the vibrancy of the athletes, creating a harmonious blend of sports and culture that defines Cincinnati's unique identity. 

This Cincinnati sports legends painting is more than just a visual spectacle; it's a testament to the city's enduring spirit, a celebration of triumphs, and a nod to the athletes who have etched their names into the annals of sporting history, forever remembered in the hearts of the Cincinnati faithful.

Christopher Meyer Sets Sights on Battle for the Belt Glory at Moler Raceway Park

Newfast Motorsports: Returning as Official Sponsor for the 4th Annual Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt

The Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt, one of the most thrilling racing events in the Cincinnati region, is proud to announce the sponsorship of Newfast Motorsports, a prominent force in the racing industry based in Massillon, Ohio. Newfast Motorsports will be supporting this highly anticipated event, set to take place on Friday night, July 28th, at Moler Raceway Park, a 1/4 mile dirt oval located just 20 minutes east of Cincinnati.

Led by owner Wayne Newbury, Newfast Motorsports has established itself as a respected name in the dirt racing community, known for its exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and versatile capabilities. With a rich background in the sport, Newbury brings his extensive knowledge and racing prowess to the table. Not only has he been a driving force behind Newfast Motorsports for over two decades, but he also actively competes in the Sport Compact division, demonstrating his strong dedication to the sport.

Whether it's building powerful Super Late Models or fine-tuning the performance of Sport Compacts, Newfast Motorsports showcases its versatility and expertise in every endeavor.

Newfast Motorsports in victory lane with Chaz Dawson (📸 Wayne County Speedway )

In addition to their sponsorship of the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt, Newfast Motorsports actively supports FWD racing through its partnership with various tracks and events. They are proud sponsors of organizations such as SCDRA (Sport Compact Dirt Racing Association) and SCDRA Northeast, playing a crucial role in the growth and success of grassroots racing while providing more opportunities for talented racers to showcase their skills.

With over 25 years of experience in the racing industry Newfast Motorsports, commitment to the racing community, and their passion for motorsports makes them an ideal partner for the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt. The support from Newfast Motorsports adds a new level of prestige to the event and ensures an unforgettable night of racing action.

Follow Newfast Motorsports on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/NewfastMotorsports.  

Check out this 2020 interview with Wayne Newbury from our friends at Dirt Track Weekly

2023 Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt - Now Slingin Dirt Media Approved

We are pleased to announce that Slingin Dirt Media, a renowned podcast dedicated to interviews with the movers and shakers of dirt racing, has joined as a sponsor for the upcoming Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt at Moler Raceway Park on Friday night, July 28th. 

Led by accomplished racer turned World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series official Dj Smallwood, Slingin Dirt Media is a renowned podcast dedicated to providing insightful interviews with some of the biggest names in dirt racing. With a focus on capturing the stories and experiences of both local Cincinnati legends and national heroes, their podcast offers fans an in-depth look into the world of dirt racing

With their vast knowledge and passion for the sport, Slingin Dirt Media is a natural fit for the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt. Their sponsorship not only demonstrates their commitment to promoting local dirt racing but also their desire to showcase the talented drivers and captivating stories that make this event so special. 

    

The history of the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt is filled with remarkable champions, and Slingin Dirt Media is proud to be associated with this prestigious event. Previous winners, including inaugural champion Doug Gall, 2021 winner Chris Wise, and defending champion Brandon Gibson Jr., have left their mark on the competition. The 2022 edition witnessed Gibson's thrilling late-race pass on leader Michael Freimuth, solidifying his place in the event's history. 

With Slingin Dirt Media's support, the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt promises to deliver another spectacular evening of Front-Wheel-Drive racing action. The combination of top-notch drivers, fierce competition, and passionate fans will make this event a must-attend event for all Sport Compact enthusiasts. Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday night, July 28th, as Moler Raceway Park becomes the battleground for the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt. 

      

We extend our sincere appreciation to Slingin Dirt Media for their sponsorship and their dedication to promoting and preserving the excitement of dirt racing. Together, we look forward to an unforgettable night of racing at Moler Raceway Park, where legends will be made and the spirit of grassroots racing will shine. 

For more information about Slingin Dirt Media and their podcast, visit their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@slingindirtmedia2671 or you can follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/slingindirtmedia

Silvis Motorsports: Proud Sponsors of the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt at Moler Raceway Park

We are thrilled to announce that Silvis Motorsports has joined forces as a sponsor for the highly anticipated 2023 Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt! 

Silvis Motorsports is excited to sponsor and support this event because they have a genuine appreciation for the Sport Compact division and the dedicated racers who compete in it. They greatly respect the passion, talent, and hard work displayed by these grassroots racers. By sponsoring the event, Silvis Motorsports aims to contribute to the growth and success of the Sport Compact division and show their support for the drivers who make this form of racing so thrilling. 

Led by the talented Danny Silvis, who has transitioned from a Sport Compact to driving a Super Late Model for the 2023 season, Silvis Motorsports is ready to make its mark on the dirt racing scene. Danny's rookie season in the Dirt Late Model division promises to be an exciting journey filled with valuable learning experiences, as he hones his skills and embraces the thrill of competition at Moler Raceway Park, Mudlick Valley Raceway, and other local venues.

Not to be overlooked, Kris Martin, Silvis Motorsports' second driver, is embarking on his rookie campaign in the Compact division. With a passion for racing and a hunger for success, Kris is set to challenge the competition and make a name for himself on the track. Kris has shown impressive progress in his early racing career, securing one top-ten finish in his first five starts, with his highest finish being an impressive 8th position.

Silvis Motorsports is also proud to support Kristie Silvis, wife of Danny, who occasionally competes in Enduro events. In 2022, Kristie showcased her skills and determination by finishing 3rd at Moler Raceway Park's 3-Hour Enduro event. 

As Silvis Motorsports joins the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt as an official sponsor, their support adds an extra level of excitement and intensity to this prestigious event. We extend our warmest appreciation to Silvis Motorsports for their partnership and commitment to the Battle for the Belt. Stay tuned for updates and mark your calendars for July 28th, 2023 for the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle for the Belt at Moler Raceway Park.

Jimison Lawn Care Named Sponsor of 2023 Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt at MRP Raceway Park

The DRC is proud to announce that Jimison Lawn Care has come on board as a sponsor of the 2023 Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt at Moler Raceway Park in Williamsburg, Ohio. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday Night, July 28th, 2023.

The Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt is one of the Cincinnati area's most prestigious events, and it has been previously won by Doug Gall, Chris Wise, and Brandon Gibson Jr. With Jimison Lawn Care's support, this year's race promises to be another exciting installment.

Jimison Lawn Care is a reliable and professional company that offers basic lawn care services for residential and commercial properties, as well as many other services to keep your lawn looking its best. They service the rural Southern Ohio area, including Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Highland Counties. Contact them today to discuss your outdoor beautification needs.

Thank you, Jimison Lawn Care, for your support of the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Battle For The Belt. We look forward to seeing you at Moler Raceway Park on July 28th!

CHRIS WISE CLAIMS $1,000 GRAND PRIZE AT COMPACT CLASSIC, PRESENTED BY DAVIDSON MOTORSPORTS

Thurman, Ohio's Chris Wise took home the $1,000 top prize in Saturday night's Compact Classic Presented by Davidson Motorsports at Florence Speedway. 29 Cars were on hand with Darrell Newman, Kyle Ashcraft, and Chris Wise winning heat races. The event served as a tune-up for the highly anticipated $10,000 to win the 13th Annual King of Compacts Presented by Davidson Motorsports September 29th - Oct 1st. 

A Feature 1 ($1000 to win 20 Laps): 

1. 6PAC-Chris Wise[4]; - Thurman, Ohio 

 2. 23D-Justin Dalton[5]; Burlington, Kentucky

3. 54-Brandon Dalton[6]; Bowling Green, Kentucky 

4. 51M-Kevin McCoy[13]; Independence, Kentucky

5. 132X-Brandon Gibson Sr[17]; Dry Ridge, Kentucky 

6. 31S-Kenny Stewart[10]; Hebron, Kentucky

7. 0N-Ryan Eversole[11]; Burlington, Kentucky 

8. 34-Christopher Meyer[20]; Wallingford, Kentucky

9. 77C-Gage Cropper[12]; Flemingsburg, Kentucky

10. 55A-Kyle Ashcraft[2]; Burlington, Kentucky 

11. 98P-Tyler Phipps[21]; Demossville, Kentucky 

12. 95K-Jacob Todd[14]; Cincinnati, Ohio

13. 47J-Jack Pflum[7]; Cincinnati, Ohio

14. 77G-Brian Gilardi[23]; Cincinnati, Ohio

15. 23JR-Corbin Dalton[16]; Burlington, Kentucky

16. 3D-Cayden Dezarn[19]; Owenton, Kentucky

17. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[24]; Erlanger, Kentucky 

18. A66-Brett Abbott[22]; Florence, Kentucky

19. 7N-Conard Newman[9]; Frankfort, Ohio

20. 27-Darrell Newman[1]; Frankfort, Ohio

21. 15M-Michael Freimuth[3]; Taylor Mill, Kentucky 

22. 47G-Jerry Gibson III[8]; Crittenden, Kentucky 

23. 44B-Troy Bellomo[18]; Cincinnati, Ohio

24. 41H-Matthew Hafer[15] Burlington, Kentucky 

B Feature 1 (8 Laps): 1. 34-Christopher Meyer[1]; 2. 98P-Tyler Phipps[4]; 3. A66-Brett Abbott[6]; 4. 77G-Brian Gilardi[3]; 5. 3-Josh Henderson[8]; 6. 7M-Jesse McHone[2]; 7. 119-Daniel Faulkner Jr[5]; 8. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr[7]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 27-Darrell Newman[5]; 2. 23D-Justin Dalton[4]; 3. 0N-Ryan Eversole[2]; 4. 54-Brandon Dalton[10]; 5. 77C-Gage Cropper[8]; 6. 23JR-Corbin Dalton[7]; 7. 34-Christopher Meyer[1]; 8. 98P-Tyler Phipps[6]; 9. A66-Brett Abbott[3]; 10. 3-Josh Henderson[9]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 55A-Kyle Ashcraft[2]; 2. 47J-Jack Pflum[3]; 3. 31S-Kenny Stewart[5]; 4. 7N-Conard Newman[9]; 5. 41H-Matthew Hafer[4]; 6. 132X-Brandon Gibson Sr[6]; 7. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[10]; 8. 7M-Jesse McHone[7]; 9. 38B-Josh Blevins[8]; 10. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr[1]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 6PAC-Chris Wise[1]; 2. 15M-Michael Freimuth[5]; 3. 47G-Jerry Gibson III[6]; 4. 95K-Jacob Todd[3]; 5. 51M-Kevin McCoy[8]; 6. 44B-Troy Bellomo[4]; 7. 3D-Cayden Dezarn[9]; 8. 77G-Brian Gilardi[7]; 9. 119-Daniel Faulkner Jr[2]

📸 Eric Arnett Photography

DJ MOSES DECLARED DIAMOND CUT LAWN CARE UNITED STATES CHAMPION

 

Prior to the running of the 2022 Battle for the Belt Feature at MRP raceway park, Jerry E Jewell from Diamond Cut Lawn Care collected & drew names from the kids in attendance. DJ Moses was selected as the winner and declared United States Champion and was brought to victory lane to get his photo taken with the 2022 Battle for the Belt Champion Brandon Gibson Jr.

Thanks again to Diamond Cut Lawn Care for all they do for local racing, and for making this young man's night.

BRANDON GIBSON JR WINS THE 2022 DIAMOND CUT BATTLE FOR THE BELT

Brandon Gibson Jr. got by the 15M of Michael Freimuth in the closing laps to win the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Care Battle for the Belt at MRP raceway park on July 29th, 2022. Heat Winners were: Michael Freimuth, Justin Dalton, Brandon Gibson Jr, Bubba Gibson & Jack Pflum. Brett Abbott won the $300 to win B-Feature for top non-transfers. 42 drivers from five states attempted to qualify for the $1,000 to-win event.

Battle for the Belt Finish ($1,000 to win 25 Laps):

1. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr[3]; Dry Ridge, KY

2. 15M-Michael Freimuth[1]; Taylor Mill, KY

3. 47J-Jack Pflum[5]; Cincinnati, OH

4. 6PAC-Chris Wise[11]; Thurman, OH

5. 23-Justin Dalton[2]; Burlington, KY

6. 31S-Kenny Stewart[7]; Hebron, KY

7. 32-Devin Puckett[10]; Georgetown, OH

8. 75K-Austin King[6]; Wallingford, KY

9. 75JR-Frankie King[18]; Wallingford, KY

10. 964-Jamie Harper[16]; Portsmouth, OH

11. 34M-Chris Meyer[21]; Wallingford, KY

12. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr[12]; Wallingford, KY

13. 35-Cordell Moore[13]; Versailles, IN

14. 13F-Evan Doebrich[15]; Cincinnati, OH

15. 15D-Kyle Day[14]; Mount Orab, OH

16. C19-Patrick Willbarger[9]; Ravenswood, WV

17. (DNF) 6-Randy Wise[8]; Wilkesville, OH

18. (DNF) 23JR-Corbin Dalton[17]; Burlington, KY

19. (DNF) 98-Tyler Phipps[22]; Demossville, KY

20. (DNF) 95K-Jacob Todd[20]; Cincinnati, OH

21. (DNF) 47-Jerry Gibson III[4]; Crittenden, Kentucky

22. (DNF) 41H-Matthew Hafer[19] Burlington, KY

A Feature 2 (15 Laps): 1. A66-Brett Abbott[1]; 2. 83X-Seth Rager[5]; 3. 02JR-Patrick Alcorn[11]; 4. 03P-Gavan Palmer[9]; 5. 3H-Josh Henderson[7]; 6. 99-Adam Miller[20]; 7. 1K-Dustin Keaton[2]; 8. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[15]; 9. 9R-Logan Reinhardt[4]; 10. 38V-Ashley VanWinkle[14]; 11. 24W-Will Breving[3]; 12. 911D-Tony Dunn Jr[6]

B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. 964-Jamie Harper[4]; 2. 23JR-Corbin Dalton[1]; 3. 75JR-Frankie King[2]; 4. 41H-Matthew Hafer[8]; 5. 95K-Jacob Todd[3]; 6. A66-Brett Abbott[7]; 7. 98-Tyler Phipps[6]; 8. 1K-Dustin Keaton[5]; 9. 24W-Will Breving[9]; 10. 9R-Logan Reinhardt[11]; 11. 83X-Seth Rager[12]; 12. 911D-Tony Dunn Jr[13]; 13. 3H-Josh Henderson[18]; 14. 1-Ayden Tumbleson[17]; 15. (DNF) 03P-Gavan Palmer[15]; 16. (DNF) 18-Jay Orr[16]; 17. (DNF) 02JR-Patrick Alcorn[10]; 18. (DNF) 99-Adam Miller; 19. (DNF) 33M-Zach West[19]

C Feature 1 (8 Laps): 1. 18-Jay Orr[1]; 2. 1-Ayden Tumbleson[6]; 3. 3H-Josh Henderson[2]; 4. 33M-Zach West[10]; 5. 38V-Ashley VanWinkle[5]; 6. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[11]; 7. (DNF) 79-Anthony Torres[3]; 8. (DNF) 369-Matt Starkey[8]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 15M-Michael Freimuth[2]; 2. 75K-Austin King[1]; 3. 6PAC-Chris Wise[4]; 4. 23JR-Corbin Dalton[6]; 5. 98-Tyler Phipps[5]; 6. 9R-Logan Reinhardt[7]; 7. 18-Jay Orr[3]; 8. 1-Ayden Tumbleson[8]; 9. 55G-Brandon Greenlee[9]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 23-Justin Dalton[3]; 2. 31S-Kenny Stewart[4]; 3. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr[2]; 4. 75JR-Frankie king[5]; 5. A66-Brett Abbott[8]; 6. 83X-Seth Rager[7]; 7. 3H-Josh Henderson[9]; 8. 77B-Paul Breving[6]; 9. (DNS) 34M-Chris Meyer

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr[2]; 2. 6-Randy Wise[4]; 3. 35-Cordell Moore[1]; 4. 95K-Jacob Todd[3]; 5. 41H-Matthew Hafer[8]; 6. 911D-Tony Dunn Jr[6]; 7. 79-Anthony Torres[7]; 8. (DNF) 369-Matt Starkey[5]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 47-Jerry Gibson III[4]; 2. C19-Patrick Willbarger[2]; 3. 15D-Kyle Day[1]; 4. 964-Jamie Harper[3]; 5. 24W-Will Breving[5]; 6. (DNF) 28P-Nathan pennington[8]; 7. (DNF) 43S-Danny Silvis[6]; 8. (DNF) 99-Adam Miller[7]

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 47J-Jack Pflum[2]; 2. 32-Devin Puckett[3]; 3. 13F-Evan Doebrich[7]; 4. 1K-Dustin Keaton[4]; 5. 02JR-Patrick Alcorn[6]; 6. 03P-Gavan Palmer[5]; 7. 38V-Ashley VanWinkle[8]; 8. (DNF) 33M-Zach West[1]

Qualifying 1 (3 Laps): 1. 6PAC-Chris Wise, 00:16.308[32]; 2. 31S-Kenny Stewart, 00:16.516[25]; 3. 6-Randy Wise, 00:16.566[15]; 4. 47-Jerry Gibson III, 00:16.626[22]; 5. 1K-Dustin Keaton, 00:16.672[38]; 6. 18-Jay Orr, 00:16.748[41]; 7. 23-Justin Dalton, 00:16.762[34]; 8. 95K-Jacob Todd, 00:16.775[36]; 9. 964-Jamie Harper, 00:16.799[39]; 10. 32-Devin Puckett, 00:16.834[40]; 11. 15M-Michael Freimuth, 00:16.966[7]; 12. 17D-Dustin Puckett Jr, 00:16.989[27]; 13. 132-Brandon Gibson Jr, 00:17.036[2]; 14. C19-Patrick Willbarger, 00:17.058[28]; 15. 47J-Jack Pflum, 00:17.073[10]; 16. 75K-Austin King, 00:17.087[26]; 17. 34M-Chris Meyer, 00:17.134[20]; 18. 35-Cordell Moore, 00:17.160[23]; 19. 15D-Kyle Day, 00:17.219[31]; 20. 33M-Zach West, 00:17.263[30]; 21. 98-Tyler Phipps, 00:17.302[21]; 22. 75JR-Frankie king, 00:17.308[17]; 23. 369-Matt Starkey, 00:17.418[19]; 24. 24W-Will Breving, 00:17.421[16]; 25. 03P-Gavan Palmer, 00:17.429[11]; 26. 23JR-Corbin Dalton, 00:17.533[9]; 27. 77B-Paul Breving, 00:17.652[18]; 28. 911D-Tony Dunn Jr, 00:17.683[29]; 29. 43S-Danny Silvis, 00:17.830[6]; 30. 02JR-Patrick Alcorn, 00:17.834; 31. 9R-Logan Reinhardt, 00:17.871[3]; 32. 83X-Seth Rager, 00:17.878[13]; 33. 79-Anthony Torres, 00:17.885[8]; 34. 99-Adam Miller, 00:17.995[33]; 35. 13F-Evan Doebrich, 00:18.363[5]; 36. 1-Ayden Tumbleson, 00:18.366[14]; 37. A66-Brett Abbott, 00:18.379[4]; 38. 41H-Matthew Hafer, 00:18.518[1]; 39. 28P-Nathan Pennington, 00:19.150[37]; 40. 38V-Ashley VanWinkle, 00:19.265[12]; 41. 55G-Brandon Greenlee, 00:19.903[35]; 42. 3H-Josh Henderson, 00:33.402[24]

The Mid Ohio Valley Front Wheel Drive Championship is here!

The Mid Ohio Valley Front Wheel Drive Championship Presented by Sycamore Home Inspection of Marietta is here! The five-race mini-series will take place at premier facilities across the Mid-Ohio Valley region with an emphasis on the MOV racer's best interest. All events are scheduled within close proximity of one another, while not stepping on the toes of the national Sport Compact events. 

The inaugural MOV FWD Championship Presented by Sycamore Home Inspection of Marietta champion will walk away with $1,000 for their efforts, while second will receive $500, with $250 guaranteed for third. The 2022 season will kick off Saturday, May 7th at Tyler County Speedway with a $700 to win feature event. It's also Ladies Night at Tyler Speedway, so make sure you bring a date, as all ladies will get 1/2 off general admission.

Mid-Ohio Valley FWD Championship Presented by Sycamore Home Inspection Schedule: 

- May 7th - Tyler County - $700 

- May 27th - Ohio Valley Speedway - Washington, WV - $500 

- June 3-4th - West Virginia Motor Speedway - $500 w/ Lucas Oil 50k show 

- June 25th - Skyline Speedway - Stewart, Ohio - $1000 - MOV vs DRC 

-Aug 26st - Ohio Valley Speedway - Washington, WV - $700 

 Point Distribution: 30-28-27-26-25-24-23-22-21-20-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-10

WE VS ME - 12/6/21 - Toby Hallett

If you are a race fan, this past weekend certainly stood out on the calendar with potential, and for December one that most were looking forward to. The 5th  Gateway Dirt Nationals inside the Dome at Americas Center in St Louis, Missouri, and for those who follow pavement the 54th Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. 

These two events couldn’t be farther apart in the racing world even if one was raced on Mars. There is almost zero connection between the two events, this parallels their connection in the racing world. I’ve been a fan of both for so long now I didn’t even know this existed or didn’t care to see it, maybe that makes me part of the problem as well?

The Gateway Dirt Nationals are the WWE of the racing world, wild personalities driving on a surface that lends itself to flipping a fellow competitor more than it does to actually racing for wins in the Late Model division and it certainly gets people engaged in the social media world. The modified races resemble Rally Cross in part due to the hard-ass sidewall tire and horsepower they are now racing with and then there are the midgets. When you throw out 80 invitations for a 10k to win race and only 20 show up for the event it's not hard to understand why the promoters have decided they will not be on the card for 2022 but seems likely that is subject to change. They put on the best show of the weekend, but you could understand why they are scheduled to go away.  This place brings out the hate, but it also brings out the one thing both need to survive and grow, engagement. Tyler Carpenter once again took home the dirt late model portion of the event and will now have an opportunity to race for Niece Motorsports at Knoxville in a Camping World Truck Series ride. Tyler was also fined for wearing Hey Dudes shoes instead of racing shoes on his prelim night, a small penalty to pay for some free swag I guess, or the #42 Hey Dudes truck in June. See how this works?

Sunday at 5 Flags Speedway it was the complete opposite, Dereck Thorn fresh off his 3rd consecutive pole of the Snowball Derby ran off and hid for 287 laps of the 300 lapper. A race he wouldn’t win, determined mostly by a caution run rule that brings out a caution for tires for every 75 consecutive green flag laps. Chandler Smith was able to run him up the track on the restart and ran away with the victory. There wasn’t any screaming into the mic after the race from either driver, in fact, it was pretty damn mundane for what went down. Chandler had no problem telling the world why he did it, and Thorn acknowledged it sucked for him. 4 hours later Ricky Brooks made it official and now we all move on. Smith already has a Camping World Truck Series ride, and now a Snowball Derby win but does that propel him to something bigger? A few social posts about the tech process and a few discussing moving a guy for a win is all that trickled across the social platforms.

Pavement short track racing has a major problem, it's not a new problem at all, but when you have a superstar in Bubba Pollard opening his weekend comments by openly telling the press if he wins he is going dirt racing full time. Retiring legend Rich Bickle openly questioning why they are still racing for peanuts compared to the dirt world and a decline of money influx since the 90’s it makes you wonder why this is happening. Without speaking in certainties, the Snowball Derby is a successful one when you judge it without opening the books, sold-out crowds, pits full of racecars, and a pay per view partnership (including a renewal for 2 more years) with Racing America, so why does this race pay less to win than a mid-tier Dirt Late Model event?

Drivers from all over this country and Canada come to 5 Flags every year and say it, they need bigger purses. Admittedly this is based on the Southeast pavement scene I am most familiar with. I haven’t gone searching for driver quotes about the lack of big money purses from the Midwest or East/West Coast races but I’m sure they are there. The Southern Super Series has a 15 race schedule for next year with increased purse money and bonuses and that’s a damn good start! You have to start somewhere and the promoters know that but still have trouble implementing it. 

Matt Weaver of Racing America works his ass off, he has to. There is no long list of pavement journalists ready to tell the stories of the 4-hour tech line, no one else there to ask what it feels like leading 287 laps and getting moved for the biggest race win of the year. I can’t imagine being one of the few champions of a sport and single-handedly trying to give the fans and drivers (not at an event) the story. The dirt racing world doesn’t have that problem, hell they have built personalities that tell the stories sometimes over the top and are ridiculous, but they have plenty of talent to help support those drivers and fans.

Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH will once again hold The Eldora Million for dirt late models in June of 2022, over 1.9 million dollars in purse money is already posted for that race plus the Dream the same week. FOUR DAYS OF RACING,  you could race a pavement late model 365 days next year you won’t even get close to racing for 1.9 million dollars in posted purses.

Walk in the Dome or turn on the subscription-based FloRacing via FloSports and you immediately get your answer. Corporate sponsorships adorn banners, are prominently placed on the graphics packages and hit every commercial spot. Flo has the appearance of a real partner to these promoters. The influx of money is right there for the world to see. Dirt racing purses on a national level are thriving and it’s in part thanks to the strong media presence surrounding them. That comes with consequences though, there are no less than 4 companies vying for your subscription or PPV money on a nightly basis in the Summer. Four companies with record money purses in 2022 all trying to be the premier streaming platform for Dirt Super Late Models all while local racing (including Dirt Super Late Models) struggle mightily to survive on life support. There is not much of a trickle-down effort with any of these companies, it’s a race to get the fan support not a race to see who can help all of dirt racing survive.

Why was a company like FloSports attractive to NASCAR when negotiating the NASCAR Roots programming? It's much likely deeper seeded than I am willing to dig up but it’s certainly conceivable the Race Team Alliance would have loved to have that programming on their newly rebranded platform Racing America. 

Pavement short track racing has a “we” problem, dirt track racing has a “me” problem and even if they switched sides I’m no longer convinced anything would change.

HWFG - 11/28/21 - Toby Hallett

 

Life sometimes takes the long way around to get you right back to where you always wanted to be, this is one of those cases. There have been many stops along the way that kept me engaged with the sport of auto racing but admittedly I haven’t been around it as much as I would like the past few years. Maybe that was a needed break, maybe that was the right amount of distance to keep focused on the silly things life brings you outside of the track, but one thing is for certain, I’M BACK.

I’m sure a lot of you don’t know who I am and are wondering who the hell is this guy so allow me to give you a bit of a back story. I have been involved in just about every aspect of racing since 1990. I joined a street stock crew while in junior high and progressed to crew chief on UMP Mods and Late Models in Illinois. I was able to get behind the wheel or a crate late model in the late 2000s and even had a stint in the famed CJ Rayburn entry. Moving away from driving I was able to help promote a couple of tracks in Central Illinois and then moved on to work for a major racing safety device company for 5 years. I was able to do some writing as well along the way and to me, it was the most satisfying part of my racing career. We moved from Central Illinois to Northwest Florida in 2019 and now it's time to get back to what I really enjoy.

No this isn’t some sort of announcement about returning to drive, returning to crew, or anything like that, I am back to sitting down at a computer to let the world see how I see auto racing, in written form. A few folks have encouraged me to get back to writing over the last couple of years, but I really just didn’t have the motivation. It’s been tough watching things unfold on the track from afar over the last couple of years and one thing I’ve noticed is there just aren’t enough people telling the stories of short track racing.

Maybe telling the stories of short track racing sets the wrong tone of what I will provide weekly thanks to Jody Shannon and www.thedrc.net, you will be getting my unfiltered thoughts of events and drivers and not some rainbows and unicorns version of journalism. You see, one of my favorite people on planet Earth, Robin Miller passed away earlier this year and I knew after watching how he carried himself even in his final days that I wanted to return to writing. We all still miss you, Robin. 

There is a chance the world doesn’t need a grassroots writer, with everyone doing their best to kill local late model racing (spoiler alert, it's dead) but here I am, ready to give my opinion on all things racing. This will be a weekly column dedicated to anything and everything auto racing. Anything from Stephen Nasse getting ripped off by officials at the upcoming Snowball Derby to the “Gorilla” Dave Smoot bringing an "illegal car" to the King of Compacts and everything in between. So sit down, strap in and enjoy the ride. Follow me on the Twitter machine @tobyhallettDRC for more info.

7th Annual King of Compacts at Moler Raceway Park

8-26-16 - Williamsburg, OH - A field of 55 DRC.net Crazy Compacts signed in to challenge to become the “King of Compacts” at Moler Raceway Park. With the field separated into 6 heat races, the racers would have to race into feature events using the passing points format. Jerry Gibson III would win heat race #1 while Brad Miller would take the checkers in heat #2. In the 3rd heat, it was Kevin Stamper taking the win while Jessica Gibson was victorious in heat #4. The final two heats would see Brad Hoskins and Kyle Willoughby taking the wins. The top 8 cars in passing points would take part in the Alsip Masonry Dash event that would set the lineup for the first 4 rows of the feature event. In the Dash, it was Stamper from his 4th starting spot taking the win and the extra cash. There would be 2 B-Mains to round out the field and it was Kyle Eversole taking the win in B-main #1 while Adam Wheeler would win the second B-main event. 

The 30 lap feature event would see Chris Shelton Jr out front at the green and he would lead the first 6 laps despite lots of pressure from Stamper. The feature event would be slowed numerous times for relatively minor issues early in the event. Lap 7 would see Jerry Gibson III climb to the top spot from his 10th starting position. A wild accident on lap 22 would see David Smith flip in turn #3 bringing the field to a stop. 

On the restart, many of the top contenders would fall by the wayside and the leader Jerry Gibson III would begin slowing due to an overheating engine. Lap 26 would see Kyle Willoughby of Dry Ridge, KY take over the top spot and set sail to collect his first feature win in the biggest compact event in the region. In victory lane, the Willoughby Tree Service, AutoMasters, Finn Fabrication machine would not only get the trophy but he was also officially “crowned” King Kyle II” by last year’s winner Chris Shelton Sr. While in victory lane he would also receive the unofficial drink of the “King of Compacts” a bottle of Crown Royal as well as $500 bonus put up by the Hensley Family and the folks at Kentucky Auto Service. Chris Shelton Jr would come home in the second position with Jerry Gibson III, Blake Gibson, and Brandon Stephens completing the top five spots. In the “Jester 12” event for non-qualifiers, it was Bryson Clark of North Vernon, Ind taking the win.

Story by: Mike Goins

Photo Credit: Steve Alcorn

6th Annual DRC.net King of Compacts Held at Moler Raceway Park

6th Annual DRC.net King of Compacts Held at Moler Raceway Park

6th Annual DRC.net King of Compacts Held at Moler Raceway Park 8-21-15 Williamsburg, Ohio - The 6th annual event featuring the front-wheel-drive compact competitors would see a strong field of cars on hand to battle it out for the opportunity to be Crowned King. In heat #1 it was Dry Ridge, Ky's Blake Gibson taking the win over Villa Hills driver Kevin Pennick. In heat race #2 it was Kettering, Ohio's Nic Barrett with the win over “King Bubba”(Jerry Gibson III). The 3rd and final heat would see Chris Shelton Sr. of Maysville Ky take the win over Tony Reed of Florence,Ky. The top 6 cars in passing points would move on to the $200 to win Alsip Masonry dash event which would also set the order for the first 3 rows of the feature. The starting order of the dash was done by a blind draw on the front stretch immediately before the race and it was Tony Reed and Nic Barrett starting in row #1 of the dash. Reed would jump to the lead at the green flag with Chris Shelton Sr. in close pursuit. An accident on lap 3 would claim Blake Gibson as a victim and would end his evening. On the restart, it was Reed the leader but high point man and 6th place starter King Bubba up to 2nd position with Bloomington, Indiana's Greg Garrison charging to 3rd. With two laps remaining Garrison would take the lead and go on to claim the winning money and the pole position of the 20 lap feature event. 

At the drop of the green flag it was Garrison out front with “King Bubba” in pursuit. On lap #4 Gibson would make contact with Garrison spinning in the front stretch wall. Gibson was put on the tail and Garrison's night was over. On the restart, it was Tony Reed the leader with Chris Shelton Sr. in close pursuit. The top two would stay nose to tail throughout most of the features. Following a lap #14 caution for the stopped machine of Carson Freeman the battle up front became more intense. On the restart, the top cars would race side by side until a lap #17 caution for Zach Bandstutter. Shelton would take control of the top spot on the restart. As the green flag waved for the 3 lap shootout it was Nic Barrett taking over the second position and putting pressure on the leader but to no avail, as Chris Shelton Sr. would go on to claim the win in the prestigious event put on by TheDRC.net crew. In addition to $1,000 in winnings, Shelton would also claim a 5ft trophy courtesy of Diamond Cut Lawn Care, A set of jack stands from Taterbuilt, a new George Foreman Grill, as well as the most prestigious item of all the Crown and the Title of King Chris VI. Barrett would come home in 2nd position with Reed, Bill Gibson, Ryan Eversole (who started 18th) completing the top 5 running order. 

Story by: Mike Goins 

Photo Credit: Steve Alcorn

5th Annual King Of Compacts A Success At MRP

5th Annual King Of Compacts A Success At MRP

The annual www.thedrc.net night at the races was one of the most anticipated nights on the racing schedule for 2014 and it didn’t disappoint those in attendance. With 38 front-wheel-drive compacts in attendance and the use of passing points in the heat races, there was lots of action to take in. In heat race #1 it was Crittenden, Ky’s Jerry “Rooster” Gibson Jr jumping to the lead early and cruising to the victory while Jeffersonville, Ohio’s Brad Miller would charge forward from his 7th starting spot to claim the win in heat #2. Heat #3 would see Burlington, Ky’s Ryan Eversole take the win while Bloomington, Indiana’s Greg Garrison would take the checkers in heat #4. In the Alsip Masonry Dash for the top six in heat race points, it was the “Rooster” taking the win and the $200. B-mains were won by Kevin Penick and Rex Smith Jr. while Drew Thiel won the Diamond Cut Lawn Care “Best of the Rest” race for nonqualifiers. In the feature event not only was $1,000 on the line for the winner but lead lap money for every lap as well as the prestige and honor of being known as a “King”. 

At the drop of the green flag, it was the “Rooster” jumping out front with TJ Dalton in pursuit. The Dillard Media Caution flag would wave on lap #3 as TJ Dalton would get into turn 2 wall and slow. On the restart, it was still Gibson Jr out front with Eversole and Garrison in tow. Lap 8 would see a brief red flag as Dustin Pucket Jr. would roll over on the front stretch and would attempt to drive away. Following the red flag, it was much of the same as the Endurance Motorsports G1 machine would be on cruise control and set sail for the checkered flag only to be derailed by a last-lap caution as Clyde Pack lost a wheel in turn #4 and would come to a stop in a dangerous spot. On the restart, Jerry Gibson Jr would go on to claim the title of “King Rooster” and become the fifth different winner in the prestigious event. Eversole would claim second with Garrison, Billy Gibson, and Richard Dalton completing the top five spots.

Story by: Mike Goins

Photo Credit: Steve Alcorn

Racing's biggest threat: The very people who love it the most

The million-dollar question, “What's wrong with racing today?”. Cost is an obvious issue and an even easier answer. Some think greedy promoters, and overpowering series are a problem. They may be, they may not be. The truth is, we are the problem. The kind of people that love racing so passionately we would give anything to be at the track instead of being elsewhere. We spend our last dime to see a big race, have hundreds of dollars in apparel of drivers and events, and fight with others about weekend plans because we are definitely going to be at the races regardless of what they say.

Why? The age of communication, and the lack of willpower to bite our tongues instead of putting a racetrack or a racer on blast for the world to see because of our great passion. I'm 100% guilty of this myself over previous years, but I came to the conclusion that my internet tirades were pointless. I was going back the next week, so all I was doing was hurting the sport and the track that I love so dearly. Two weeks ago I was at a local track, not my home track, and not a track I frequent very often. They did the most bizarre, and disrespectful thing to the driver I was there supporting. It was awful and extremely unprofessional. I would have loved nothing more than to come home, get on Facebook and tell everybody that could see just how terrible it was. What would it have done for me? I wasn't going back, I knew the driver probably wasn't going back. What would I have to gain by trying to make them suffer?

We are the problem. If we could all collectively settle ourselves just long enough to take a breath and think, “Is this really the right thing to do? Is it going to do me any good at all?”, racing wouldn't be suffering quite as bad as it is. Are we 100 percent of the problem, lord no. But as we all watch the sport we love, that we've spent our lives following dwindle off to nothing, all we can do is hurt it with harsh and quick reactions. Fans, Drivers, Pit Crew Members, and even track staff are included. Every little nook and cranny of rules, procedures, or policies that tracks have to end up giving somebody the wrong end of the stick, eventually.

The absolute second it does, we blow up the internet like the world is going to end. And then we turn around, drive right back down that same road to the same racetrack we swore was the worst place in the country. And even go as far as to say “Well I'm going but I hope they don't have anybody there”. How backward is that? You want to go and pay your hard-earned money to watch nobody race, have none of your friends there from over the years to socialize with? Sounds insane, doesn't it? But it's truthfully a weekly occurrence all over the country.

The worst part? 90 percent of it isn't of anything that's relatively important. We take a rainout policy that we didn't like and we act like a driver just got flipped over on purpose, and the promoter just looked on and started laughing at the guy as he was crawling from his destroyed car. It's madness. A rule that's been in place all season long, that everybody's been going by all year long bites the wrong guy, and the driver and all of the drivers fans just brutalize the track publicly. Whatever happened to just going elsewhere? Taking your business elsewhere is point enough without blowing up the internet with your negative thoughts.

“What's wrong with racing?” I AM. But I won't be anymore, will you?

-Caring and loving fan of dirt racing.

This article was sent to us by an anonymous race fan who asked to have their identity concealed. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, The DRC. 

DRC King of Compact Night a Success at MRP

With lots of extra money on the line and the prestige of winning the DRC.net King of Compact race, there were many cars on hand trying to claim the crown. At the start of the night, there were 33 total cars and 3 previous Kings on hand to do battle. Starting with 4 heat races at the beginning of the night the action would be tight and furious to not only make it into the feature but to place in the top two positions and qualify for the $200 winner take all Alsip Masonry Dash for Cash event prior to the A-main event. Heat #1 was won by Kyle Purdy of Maysville, Ky. In heat race #2 it was Lucas Jackson of North, Vernon Indiana taking the win from his seventh starting position showing he was a guy to be watched. In the third heat race, it was Mt Orab, Ohio’s Clyde Pack taking the checkered flag while Bradley Miller of Jeff, Ohio winning heat race #4. In the dash event, it was Lucas Jackson taking the win and the $200 bonus over Purdy, Austin Burton, and Miller. The last chance races were won by Ryan Eversole and Keegan Cox. The cars not transferring to the A-main event ran a Diamond Cut Lawn Care “Best of the Rest” race and it was Kevin Stamper winning that event. 

In the feature it was a 24-car starting field and Jackson would lead the first four laps and take the extra lap money provided to the lap leaders but it was Purdy who would make the pass stick and lead beginning on lap #5. The first caution would wave on lap 12 as Colin Green would get sideways and make contact with Matt Murrell sending the Sardinia, Ohio driver over onto his side for the second time this season. On the restart, it was again Purdy out front but past Kings Jerry Gibson III and Rex Smith Jr were the guys on the move as they went from their 13th and 15th starting positions to fifth and sixth on the restart. Once the white flag waved things got exciting as Jackson would make contact with Purdy in Turn #1 and take the lead as the two cars headed down the backstretch. As they came off of turn #4 Purdy repaid the contact and actually passed Jackson who would spin across the line in the second spot. In victory lane, it was Kyle Purdy being presented his crown by last year's King, Willie Butler. In addition to the $1,000 prize for first place and the jeweled crown, Purdy would take home over $300 in bonus money that the DRC.net had also raised. Jackson would get the second spot followed by Miller, Burton, and Smith.

Story by: Mike Goins
Photo Credit: Steve Alcorn

DRC King of the Crazy Compacts Night at MRP a Rousing Success

DRC King of the Crazy Compacts Night at MRP a Rousing Success 

8-24-12 - DRC King of the Compacts Night at Moler Raceway Park and there were lots of activities going on at the speedway. In addition to reduced admission for the fans it was DARF night at the ¼ mile speed plant as well as an Autograph session on the front stretch and Racers Feeding Families Food Drive along with Racers in Christ bringing their bounce house and lots of fun for the kids. Everything was a huge success and thanks to everyone who participated in all the special activities this night. The DRC would join with several sponsors for lots of giveaways and additional money in all classes. The food drive set a new record as racers and fans contributed enormously to help those in need locally. The evening got started with the featured class of the night and that was the Crazy Compacts and the DRC King of the Compact race paying $1,000 plus a new Bell Racing Helmet to the winner. 

With 31 cars on hand, the drivers were going to have to race their way into the feature event and that started with 4 preliminary heat races. Winning the heats were Tommy Cox of Jeffersonville, Ohio, Rex Smith Jr of Bainbridge, Ohio, Bryson Clark of North Vernon, Indiana, and Willie Butler. In the last chance event, it was AJ Clark while Josh “Hacksaw” Shaw won the “Cheaters” race. In the feature event, there were 23 cars taking the green flag and the racing was fast and furious all the way through the field. For the first few laps it was Justin Dalton out front with Cox and Clark right there with him. Lap #5 would see a scary incident as Kyle Purdy flipped several times in turn four. On the restart it looked as though Clark would take the win as he led the next 14 laps with only Rex Smith and Willie Butler in pursuit. On the white flag lap Willie Butler would get underneath Clark going into turn #1 and as they raced down the backstretch the crowd was on its feet to see what would happen. As they exited turn 4 and headed to the checkers it would be Willie Butler claiming not only the $1,000 but all of the Royalty that would come along with winning the “King of the Compact” race. Clark would come home second with Smith, Dana Moore, and AJ Clark rounding out the top five spots.

Story By: Mike Goins 

Photo Credit: Steve Alcorn