Episode 79: The Justin Owen Memorial, full time STARS, and driver's on their ownIn this episode:We reflect on a historic non-wing sprint car race from 2018Discuss the current driver roster and championship contenders for the All-Star CircuitExplore the advantages of "drivers on their own" schedules, focusing on Jonathan Davenport's strategyRecap the Justin Owen Memorial’sRico Abreu’s strugglesAnalyze safety memos regarding wheel covers from World of Outlaws at Knoxville and EldoraCover recent race outcomes at I-55, Cedar County, and other tracksPreview upcoming events, from high-limit sprint racing to USAC midget series, across national and regional tracksShare insights on tire policies and safety concerns in elite dirt racingTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome and episode overview00:36 - Dirt racing history: Gas City Speedway 201801:31 - All-Star roster updates and predictions for 202603:05 - Who will be the 2026 All-Star champion?03:43 - Drivers on their own: Jonathan Davenport’s schedule & earnings05:09 - Track promoter discussions on race payments06:02 - The concept of "pick and choose" schedules in dirt racing09:21 - Justin Owen Memorial recap11:00 - Rico Abreu’s recent performance challenges12:14 - Donny Schatz and TSR struggles14:07 - Safety regulations: Wheel covers at Knoxville & Eldora16:13 - Recent race highlights: I-55, USCS, USAC, and more17:32 - Highlights from I-55 World of Outlaws race19:00 - The tire rule debate and costs in racing21:25 - Racing series schedule previews for upcoming weeks22:34 - USAC and late model race results from April27:37 - Notable races: Northern All-Stars, Paragon, Lincoln Speedway32:00 - Race highlights from Molar Raceway, Volunteer's late models, and USAC34:39 - Upcoming major dirt track events across the country37:34 - Closing thoughts & upcoming racing opportunities

Dirt Court Jesters Podcast: Behind the rock screen with AFCS Sprint Series Director, Duane Hancock

AFCS Series Director Duane Hancock recaps the 2025 AFCS season, shares his insights into the current state and future of dirt track racing, sponsorship, safety innovations, the challenges facing short track series, and talks about what 2026 looks like for AFCS.

Timestamps:

00:01 - Introduction and guest background

00:23 - Highlights from the past racing season

03:16 - The importance of the Chili Bowl for AFCS and marketing

03:44 - Outdoor race attendance and sponsorship questions

04:44 - PRI's role in racing exposure and networking

05:23 - Meeting drivers and teams at events

05:53 - Safety innovations and seat technology

06:13 - The ongoing quest for improved safety measures

06:44 - The challenges of testing safety equipment

07:11 - The importance of safety councils and driver input

07:44 - Sponsorship strategies and community building

08:06 - The personal aspects of racing relationships

08:44 - Regional race series' impact on team finances

09:10 - The driver-fan relationship and investment

10:53 - The increasing awareness of back injuries

11:24 - Industry discussions on safety seat designs

11:52 - The concept of anchoring seat belts to seats

12:21 - The physics of crashes and safety considerations

12:51 - Danny Dietrich’s safety philosophy

16:12 - The need for widely adopted safety standards

16:41 - Industry testing, safety councils, and regulatory ideas

17:08 - The financial hurdles in safety equipment innovation

17:51 - The high costs of safety innovations and research

18:02 - The importance of industry collaboration

18:44 - Tire topic discussion: Hoosier vs. American Racer

19:24 - Tire costs and series support

19:52 - The impact of tire costs on team participation

20:20 - The relationship between tire prices and small team survival

20:47 - Industry profit margins and sports funding

21:17 - The rising cost of tires and fuels

23:25 - The importance of affordable tires for the sport

23:54 - The broader issue of rising costs across racing

24:10 - Strategies to support small teams and local racing

24:36 - Tire bonus programs and team support

25:04 - How tire costs influence team decisions

26:42 - The trend toward regional racing and team strategies

27:12 - The effect on team motivation and race choices

27:37 - The regionalization of dirt racing and its implications

28:07 - How local race pay helps sustain racing communities

28:35 - The balancing act of regional vs. national racing

29:04 - Impact on race car numbers and team participation

29:17 - How economic factors influence race selections

29:32 - Multiple series running simultaneously creates both challenges and opportunities

30:01 - Series race options and their effects on car counts

30:16 - Collaboration and scheduling conflicts

30:46 - Planning for a balanced racing season

31:15 - Industry trends and format saturation

31:49 - The importance of cooperation among tracks and series

32:21 - AFCS financial stability and support

32:46 - Series payout increases and incentives

33:12 - The sustainability of regional racing efforts

33:49 - The significance of fan base and community support

34:56 - The impact of racing season logistics on local communities

35:23 - The 2026 schedule preview and race locations

36:33 - Recap of the upcoming season’s key events

37:39 - The importance of sponsorship partnerships

38:43 - Lessons learned from the 4-race mini-series

39:43 - Financial and strategic planning for future seasons

40:48 - The total money paid out by AFCS over eight years

41:17 - The growth of bonus money and series support

42:42 - Plans for the 2026 season and special events

44:08 - The financial strength of AFCS and continued growth

44:53 - The role of sponsors and community support

45:36 - Challenges faced with sponsorship turnover

46:57 - The importance of community, family atmosphere, and driver relationships

49:00 - Final thoughts on the upcoming season and industry outlook

In Episode 78, Sheldon's off to a good start, the Concrete King suffers a setback, & are tracks and series missing the boat

Summary

In this episode of the Dirt Court Jesters Podcast, Josh and EJ cover the latest in dirt track racing across the US, discussing recent race results, series updates, safety concerns, and the importance of social media in the sport.

Key Topics

Updates on tracks and series decisions, including IMCA and RaceSaver Sprint cars

Kevin Thomas Jr.'s new partnership with the Purple Heart Foundation

Tanner Thorson's decision to focus on high limit series

Sheldon Hottenshield's strong start in the World of Outlaws

Safety concerns following recent crashes and driver injuries

The growth of social media use by tracks and series

Recap of recent races across various series and venues

Chapters

00:00

Welcome

01:00

Updates from 35 Raceway

03:09

Kevin Thomas Jr. and the Purple Heart Foundation

04:12

Tanner Thorson's Strategic Decisions

06:59

Sheldon Haudenschild's Strong Start

09:53

Safety Concerns in Dirt Racing

12:13

The Importance of Social Media for Tracks

15:27

Race Recaps and Upcoming Events