From All of Us at TDN- Merry Christmas

 

We just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone who makes what we love happen!

Whether you're a driver, owner, promoter, concession worker, ticket taker, pit steward, scorer, crew member, track prep guru, Sunday morning cleaning crew member, media member, you help make it happen! Thank you for everything you do!

 And if you're a fan who put up your hard earned money to help support the show, you're just as big a part of the picture. Whether you're a sprint, late model, big block modified, e-modified, stock, 4 cylinder, limited late model, hornet, hobby stock, or a micro sprint fan, it matters not! You're a part of DIRT NATION, and we want to say Merry Christmas and hope you have a safe, happy holiday season!

Racing is a family affair, there is no doubt, and if you are mentioned in the above paragraphs, you're part of OUR family, and we want our family to have a wonderful day and season!

Please drive safely, drive sober, and take a day to indulge in family, food, gifts, and happiness!!

So from all of us here at The DIRT Network to our extended DIRT family....

MERRY CHRISTMAS DIRT NATION!!!

The Great Dirt Survey Results Part 1- Where Are You From And What Do You Like?

The results are in. Our first annual "Great Dirt Survey" has been completed.  We'd like to thank everyone who participated back in October, and we will now release the results in three parts for brevity's sake. We thought you'd appreciate not having to spend hours at a time glancing and comparing results. Also, it gives us an opportunity to give a little insight into what the results mean, one survey question at a time.  But before we unveil the first set of responses, a little background is in order...

Why did we do it?

Okay, it's a fair question. First of all absolutely nobody asked us to! And that cannot be understated here.  This was something that we created with absolutely no pressure from any sanctioning body, series, track, or parts manufacturer. They had no idea we were undertaking it.  It's important to know that, because what you are reading is real, raw and unadulterated, with no influence whatsoever.

To be frank, we hadn't ever seen a general type survey of the industry before. And since we strive to serve different dirt racing fans from all over the country, no matter what type of car they like most or whatever area they enjoy racing in, we thought that perhaps we might be able to reach the one of the largest cross sections of fans that like a little bit of everything that races on dirt.  We wanted to know things. We were curious.  To understand the dirt fan and their behavior. To see how many were from where and what was important to them.  We did it to see if we could unearth any information that could be used by others in the industry to help guide their decisions going forward. It's our job at TDN, to be servants of the sport, and this is just another way that we choose to do so.

About the Survey

This was our first attempt, and we were delighted with the participation. Thank you to all of you who spread the word on social media about what we were doing.  The first time doing anything with this kind of size and scope is a learning experience, and it taught us a few things. Things that we can use going forward to help make "The Great Dirt Survey" even more targeted next year. So the information you'll be looking at this year will seem somewhat general. But it's interesting stuff to say the least.

What it will mean going forward ?

It means that potentially, we could serve promoters or tracks in a new way by sending their specific fans a targeted survey. To find out things that they'd tell you anonymously, without the negative social media feedback which to be fair, isn't really constructive criticism, it's mostly noise and not measurable.  Promoters could develop a new concession menu, find out what specials their fan base is most interested in seeing, while seeing how close they're coming to the mark with customer service. They could also send a targeted one that we help develop to drivers to find out how they perceive your operation, but will not say in person.  It could potentially help national series to find markets to take their show into places they've never been, with more of a grip on what kind of crowd to expect.  To be honest, the possibilities are ENDLESS.


So with that all said, we'll now unveil the first part of our survey. So, where are you all from, and what do you like to watch most?  Here we go!

Total Number of Responses= 351

Q1: What State are you from?

We had responses from 39 states and three different provinces in Canada. We won't list total count state by state here as it kind of coincides with our next question which gives more detail. However, nearly half of all entries were received from Pennsylvania and Ohio with New York and Canada strongly in the mix. Responses that stood out outside of those areas were from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Iowa which received double digit or near double digit entries.  As far as the scope goes, we had entries from Utah, Washington State, Colorado, Connecticut, California, Texas, Manitoba and Florida. So quite literally, all four corners and the midwest of the United States are represented here.

What it means: 

Basically, that this survey information will reflect population, and places that have the most dirt racing available.

Q2: What Geography Do You Watch The Most Racing In?

Some folks like to travel, most will tend to stay in their geography. We'll talk about travel to special events a little later. But here is a better way to explain the survey mix by geography.

1. Mid Atlantic - 105 Respondents (30 %)
2. Ohio Valley -  73 Respondents (21%)
3. Southeast - 50 Respondents (14%)
4. Northeast- 37 Respondents (11%)
5. Upper Midwest- 22 Respondents (6 %)
6. Central Midwest- 21 Respondents (5.9%)
7. Canada- 18 Respondents (5.1%)
8. California and West Coast- 7 Respondents (2%)
9. Southwestern US-5 Respondents (1%)
10. Pacific Northwest or Did Not Respond- 11 - (.03%)

What it Means: 

Basically, the same answer as question 1. What we have here is a representation with fairly good reach that is reflected by population in terms of numbers. The midwest make a smaller overall percentage than we know could be represented here.  It's a work in progress and points out that in 2017, greater emphasis needs to be placed on extracting a larger sample size. We will make this a point of our approach next year using more social media outlets from the midwest to encourage a greater sample. This was a learning moment. At the same time, the data should still reflect a fairly accurate account of it's intent.

Pat Miller Photo

Q3: What Divisions Interest You The Most? (Pick 3)

We asked fans to pick three types of cars that interest them the most from the following list:

• 410 Sprints
• Super Late Models
• IMCA/UMP/E Modifieds
• North East Modifieds (Big Block Style)
• 360 Sprints
• Crate Late Models
• Wingless Sprints
• Wingless Midgets
• Stocks (Pure and Open)
• Mini Stocks/4 Cylinders
• North East Sportsman (Big Block Appearance)

Pat Miller Photo

Here were the responses we gathered:

1. Super Late Models- 256 Respondents (73%)

2. 410 Sprints- 232 Respondents (66%)

3. IMCA/UMP/Emod- 120 Respondents (34%)

4. Wingless Sprints- 114 Respondents (32%)

5. Crate Late Models- 92 Respondents (26%)

6. 360 Sprints (ASCS and Central PA)- 80 Respondents (23%)

7. North East Modifieds (Big Block Style)- 78 Respondents (22%)

8. Wingless Midgets- 55 Respondents (16%)

9. Stocks (Pure and Open)- 45 Respondents (13%)

10. North East Sportsman- 15 Respondents (4%)

11. Mini Stocks- 11 Respondents (3%)

What it Means?

Okay, here's our best guess. Fans were asked to pick three, so obviously many fans picked both Super Late Model and 410 Sprints. Having said that, Super Late Models are more common than Sprints in many areas of the country. So the fact that there were a few more check marks for them shouldn't come as such a surprise.  Neither should the fact that IMCA/UMP/Emods had more check marks than North East Modifieds as they're much more accessible to greater parts of the population. Perhaps what was the most surprising, was the performance of Wingless Sprints, given the fact that nearly half of the survey came from about four states, and only one of them features the division on a regular basis, the annual USAC tour appearance not withstanding. The performance of the North East Modfieds was somewhat unexpected given the demographics which featured a sizable number from New York and Eastern Canada. Though it's fairly obvious that if our demographics indicated a higher NY number, they'd be in the hunt with Super Lates and 410 Sprints more easily.  Super Dirt Week is among the top money makers as far as events go for World Racing Group, but it is a regional taste with a passionate fan base. Is there room for growth to other geographies? It's hard to say, but the question will be made a priority in our 2017 survey which will delve further into that territory as well as room for growth for Wingless Sprints. 

Q4: What National Series Interests You the Most? 

We asked fans to select three national series that interest them the most from the following list: One series was placed here with a dual purpose, to see how much familiarity there was among our fan base.  ASCoC Sprints/USMTS Modifieds/Lucas Oil ASCS and SDS Modifieds appear here and are not completely considered national tours, but run across more state lines than a typical regional series, or in the case of SDS, offer a purse that is greater than a regional one for full engine capacities and horsepower requirements. Basically, if the travel is beyond regional, and the series has a platinum level or full time drivers who travel to all shows, it is for our intents and purposes considered national.

• All Star Sprints (ASCoC)
• Lucas Oil Late Model Series
• World of Outlaw Sprints
• Super DIRTCar Series
• World of Outlaw Late Models
• USAC Sprints
• USMTS Modifieds
• USAC Midgets
• King of the West Series (Sprints)
• Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints

Here's the Responses We Gathered:

1. Lucas Oil Late Model Series- 212 Respondents (60%)
2. World of Outlaw Sprints- 200 Respondents (57%)
3. World of Outlaw Late Models- 199 Respondents (57%)
4. All Star (ASCoC) Sprints- 151 Respondents (43%)
5. USAC Sprints- 100 Respondents (28%)
6. Super DIRTCar Series- 90 Respondents (26%)
7. USMTS Modifieds- 57 Respondents (16%)
8. USAC Midgets- 35 Respondents (9.6%)
9. Lucas ASCS Sprints- 34 Respondents (9.6%)
10. King of the West Sprints- 7 Respondents *Test

What it Means? 

We were kind of surprised in the fact that World of Outlaw Sprints were not the top choice here, but it is close between the top three relatively speaking. And is not an accurate picture of what a fan spends per race to attend or what they buy. It's simply a question of what fans are interested in, and in our sample, Lucas Oil Late Model Series was the winner here.  Remember this, demand is based on what a customer is willing to spend, and that includes track owners and promoters who put up sanction fees.  This was simply a gauge of interest. Plain and simple, with interesting results.

Q5: What National Events Do You Make It a Point To Attend Every Year? 

So what races do you make it a point to never miss? We made a list and asked people to pick two of them. Here's the choices that were presented:

• World Finals at Charlotte
• Chili Bowl
• Kings Royal
• Knoxville Nationals
• World 100
• Dream 100
• Super Dirt Week
• Four Crown Nationals
• North/South 100
• Prairie Dirt Classic
• USA Late Model Nationals-Cedar Lake
• DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia
• IMCA Supernationals
• National Open at Williams Grove
• Dirt Track World Championships
• Wild West Shootout
• Topless 100

Here's the Responses We Gathered: 

1. World Finals at Charlotte- 106 Respondents (30%)

2. Word 100- 85 Respondents (28%)

3. King's Royal- 71 Respondents (20%)

4. National Open at Williams Grove- 59 Respondents (17%)

5. Knoxville Nationals- 56 Respondents (16%)

6. Dream 100- 54 Respondents (15%)

7. Four Crown Nationals- 45 Respondents (13%)

8. Super DIRT Week- 37 Respondents (11%)

9. Dirt Track World Championships- 29 Respondents (8%)

9. DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia- 29 Respondents (8%)

10. North/South 100- 25 Respondents (7%)

11. Chili Bowl- 23 Respondents (6.5%)

12. IMCA Supernationals- 12 Respondents (3%)

13. Prairie Dirt Classic- 11 Respondents (3%)

14. Wild West Shootout- 9 Respondents (2.5%)

14. USA Nationals at Cedar Lake - 9 Respondents (2.5%)

15. Topless 100 - 5 Respondents (1%)

What it Means?

It means if most folks were told they could only pick two events a year out of our sample group, that they're going to any one of the top three to five events.  One thing that the results do tend to re confirm, is that the World 100 seems to be a more coveted race in the eyes of the fans than the Dream which typically pays much more to win. No real surprises here as all races are fairly reachable from where the greater part of our results came from.   And also, it appears about one out of 3 of the fan base at TDN will be at the World Finals come November!  See you there! 

Q6: Which National Event That You Have Never Attended, Would You Most Like To Attend?

Now we ask everyone if they had their choice of events to go they'd never gone before, where would they go? Only one choice was allowed here from the following possibilities: 

• Knoxville Nationals
• World Finals
• Chili Bowl
• Prairie Dirt Classic
• King's Royal
• World 100 
• Dream 100
• Four Crown Nationals
• Super DIRT Week
• DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia
• National Open at Williams Grove
• Topless 100
• Wild West Shootout
• IMCA Supernationals
• World 100
• Dream 100
• USA Nationals at Cedar Lake

Here's The Responses We Gathered: 

1. Chili Bowl- 90 Respondents (26%)

2. Knoxville Nationals- 75 Respondents (21%)

3. World 100- 37 Respondents (10.5%)

4. World Finals- 32- Respondents (9%)

5. Prairie Dirt Classic- 25 Respondents (7%)

6. Dream 100- 21 Respondents (6%)

7. IMCA Supernationals- 13 Respondents (4%)
8. King's Royal- 11 Respondents (3%)
9. Super DIRT Week- 10 Respondents (2.8%)
10. DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia - 10 Respondents (2.8%)
11. Four Crown Nationals- 10 Respondents (2.8%)
12. National Open at Williams Grove- 6 Respondents (1.7%)
13. USA Nationals at Cedar Lake- 6 Respondents (1.7%)
14. Topless 100 - 3 Respondents (1%)
15. Wild West Shootout- 2 Respondents (.05%)

What it Means? 

Okay, talk about transcending all divisions. The Chili Bowl is the most sought after event among folks that have never been there. This coming from a sample audience that had a fairly decent percentage of traditional Late Model fans, or fans of all dirt racing.  We're betting it's the latter. But either way, it's not really even that close.  The rest of the results look fairly normal, with the exception of the Prairie Dirt Classic which is progressing from the "best kept secret in dirt racing" to bonafide must see event, outpacing the Dream 100.  These basically suggest that the Chili Bowl has moved from novelty, to respected event, to a must have ticket, it's the top of the proverbial "bucket list"

Q7: How Much Are You Willing To Pay To See Your Favorite National Touring Series Event? 

Not much explanation needed here. We asked how much you were willing to fork over to see that one event that was a must see.

Here were the price ranges listed:

• $50
• $45
• $40
• $35
• $30
• $25

And here's what you had to say:

1. $40- 126 Respondents (36%)

2, $35- 72 Respondents (22%)

3. $50- 66 Respondents (18%)

4. $30- 41 Respondents (12%)

5. $45- 30 Respondents (9%)

6. $25- 16 Respondents (5%)

What it Means?

Most folks are fairly reasonable with breaking out two, crisp 20 dollar bills for a national tour event as the most selected choice here.  Why $45 didn't fair better than $50 is anybody's guess.  We've seen prices at the $50 level for national events and some of you may have even paid more. Remember that ticket price is what the promoter/owner can charge that they can get the highest crowd for while making sure that their bottom line is met. Are prices headed higher in 2017? We're not totally sure, but without a doubt, prices for a top national event are in line if not better than can be found for any of the four major sports unless you like to sit so far away that it almost makes no sense to be in the crowd in the first place. Thankfully, almost every seat in dirt racing offers a much better view than a cheap seat at a baseball game relatively speaking! And you can bring your own snacks too in most cases! 

Okay, this part is done and serves as an introduction to how the rest of the survey will be presented. In part two we'll delve into the home track or weekly operation, discussing how you like your track, what kind of surface to you like, how are the concessions, and how the customer service goes.  Part three will finish with a glimpse into the future of the sport and the role social media has to play in the industry and your thoughts and feelings on it! Stay tuned. 

Madden's Move Makes Sense

It's about time. Not just because the Outlaws could use more competitive balance, and not just to see one more new face on the tour.  It's time for Chris Madden to tour on a national level for a few good reasons in 2017.

Daylon Barr Photo

The 41 year old Super Late Model pilot from Gray Court, SC has become a fixture on the various regional tours over the last 20 years near his base of operations.  You see the press releases that hit your email box, check the standings, and know that he's doing his thing, making a living week in and week out.  And then, you see him at Eldora twice a year where's he's always in the hunt and at a few more crown jewels perhaps, and the World Finals. And that's what makes his recent announcement intriguing. Because quite honestly, we could use to see more of him in different parts of the country.  It's about time.

Madden has already taken a couple of high profile World of Outlaw Late Model races in his career to date.  He cashed a $25,000 winners check at Virginia Motor Speedway in 2010 and has taken two wins at the Dirt Track at Charlotte, most recently at this year's World Finals where he bested perhaps one of the most stacked fields in his career, Eldora fields not withstanding.  His record against top competition speaks for itself over the years, and he's a member of a small club of drivers that have wins not only with the Outlaws, but with Lucas Oil and the ill fated NDRL series as well. He's accumulated over 200 career feature wins, several regional titles and even though he's been more of a regional racer, picking and choosing He'll be an instant favorite for a top three finish in the standings by the time all is said and done in 2017 and has a reasonable title chance. It's the right series for Madden to go on tour with, and at the right time.

Daylon Barr Photo

But aside from joining a tour he brings instant credibility to, there are more reasons why this move made sense.

He'll be in front of some sets of eyes that he's never been in front of before on the Wild Western portion of the tour, and other areas that haven't seen his presence in years, if ever. It will be great for his sponsors, it will be great to broaden his visibility, boost his merchandise sales and it'll be tremendous for Late Model fans across the board who will get to see him race. It will also help him as a driver, not like he needed that much to begin with, but more seat time at places a driver hasn't had the chance to see that often pays dividends. It helps with setup decisions, tire choices and many other aspects of preparation.

Kevin Praytor Photo

And yet another good reason is that it will finally reward him for what he's been doing all year.  Not that point funds in the regional series aren't nice, but that end of the year award for Madden will be a nice addition to his winnings totals come November. It will be deserved, and it will be a good reward for a true outlaw that will be able to get in front of more eyes, turn more heads, and turn more fans on to his hard and smooth style of driving. There's a lot to be said for picking and choosing, but a nice check at the end of the year makes touring worthwhile too.

So welcome Mr. Madden to the World of Outlaws. I think we can all agree, it's time to show what you can do against the best of the best night in and night out. It's a good bet he's in the hunt by the time late August rolls around, and stays there until the World Finals where he'll have a chance to take home a championship, in front of his home fans and family.

No Fan Left In Cold This Week; Gateway Nationals and Knepper 55 Provide Great Action

Your skin may have been crawling with the first hard dirt racing withdrawal symptoms starting to creep into your mindset lately.  But this week, there's a couple of things coming your way to take the edge off which we can all be grateful for.

Two great events spotlight action this week, and there's no ticket required! You don't even have to get out of your recliner unless you forgot to move the snacks and beer fridge close enough for you to reach them! You can watch the snow fly outside, and be warm and toasty inside with these indoor shows on dirt!

The Inaugural running of the VP Fuels Gateway Dirt Nationals brings intrigue, tons of wow factor, and yes Super Late Models and Modifieds! This event marks the first time since 1982 that the beasts have been indoors. Yes, the show at the old Pontiac Silverdome everybody tries to tell you they were there at, that's the one!

Anyhow, this one's going to take place at The Dome at America's Center right down the road from the famous Golden Arches in St.Louis, Missouri. The Rams used to play there, well they tried to anyway most Sundays. It used to be called the Edward Jones Dome, but the financial company disassociated by terminating the agreement once the Rams left and well, Ed Jones financial management figured to be prudent and suspend the overspending. Who really needs him anyway, we at TDN bet he's never seen a late model before.  Alright enough about Ed. Let's talk about racing.

We know there's a bit of a stigma about indoor racing, especially when it's the first time in a new building, and it consists of cars with 900 horsepower.  But rest assured, early pictures of the track and surface indicate that it's now complete and ready for racing.  Promoter Cody Sommer and his experienced crew have brought in tons of sifted dirt and have all manner of equipment on hand at the ready. There's a lot of expertise here and the surface looks to be a winner.

The track stands at a 1/5 mile standard oval configuration with 10 degree banking. It's not unlike some tracks such as Macon, IL or Belle Claire that have seen some rather big Super Late Model Shows. Expect lots of adjustments in gear ratio and so forth. The racing should be tight, but passes will be there for the taking.

As far as who will be there goes? A better question might be who won't? There's room for 150 Super Late Models and 250 Modifieds and preliminary indications are that both counts are in the hundreds, in fact, in terms of pre-registration, there were tons of each before summer even started.  Pierce, Moyer, O'Neal, Hoffman, Wallace, we can't list them all for you, but the field depth could be perhaps unparalleled for a two division show.

When: Thursday, Friday and Satruday December 15-17; (On track activity begins at 3PM central time each day)

Format: There will be rounds of qualifying on Thursday with Non Qualifier features and Modified heats. On Friday you'll see Super Late Model heats, Modified Consi's, and a $5,000 to win Super Late and Modified main event. The action wraps up on Saturday with qualifying races and the final main events featuring a $10,000 to win Modified main and a $20,000 to win Super Late Model feature.  For a complete day by day breakdown, Click Here

How to Watch: Don't miss the action on DirtOnDirt.com  Here's everything you need to know as Dustin Jarrett and Ben Shelton bring you the action LIVE all three nights!  To order, Click Here

And there are things without fenders too!  It's Chili Bowl Prep time, and what better way to get a sneak peak at the scene than at the Junior Knepper 55 for USAC Midgets! The Southern Illinois Center at DuQuoin, IL once again plays host to the indoor extravaganza, and for the TDN faithful, it'will bring one more chance to play our "Schatz's Shots" before the year is over and done with!

Yes, the World of Outlaw Sprint Car Champion will be in action here, as well as Ricky Stenhouse, Brady Bacon, Joey Saldana, Jason Johnson, Corey Kruseman, Ryan Bernal, Thomas Meseraull and many more stars of the USAC and non fendered world! It's a taste of what to come, and a chance for everyone to shakedown their rides with a big payday on the line as well. 

When: Saturday December 17th at 4:30 PM Central

How to Watch:   Don't miss the action as our good friends at SpeedShiftTV.com have you covered this Saturday. For ordering information, Click Here: 

Easler and Dietz Battle Highlights 1st Annual TDN Night at the Races

It may have been a cold, snowy night outside, but the action on the track was scintillating to say the least Thursday night at Steel City Indoor Karting as area stock drivers Aaron Easler and Tyler Dietz put on a clinic in the fourth and final feature, much to the delight of spectators assembled around the track.  It was a night full of great racing, food, camaraderie, some outstanding door prize giveaways and much more as the inaugural TDN "Night at the Races" took place.

Pat Miller Photo

10 lap qualifying races were used to determine the starting grid for the four, 12 lap feature events. And as the surface warmed, lap times went into the 28 second range by the time the final main event, featuring the fastest drivers on the night took place.

Pat Miller Photo

After lining up in a Formula One style grid start, Easler and Dietz gained separation from the rest of the field and went about the business of trading the lead back and forth, patiently looking for the fastest way around the surface. The two ran nose to tail and side by side at various points.

Behind them, late model pilot Tommy Beck was making a charge forward, but was not able to threaten the leaders as the laps wound down and took the third place on the podium overall on the night. Beck kept a pack of pursuers behind him in the process consisting of  Austin Brezinski, Ryan Moyer, Jeff Compton and Jayme Beck behind him in the 12 lap feature. But out front, Easler found his way around Dietz with a lap 11 pass in the hairpin section and was able to hang on, taking the checkered flag a couple of kart lengths ahead of Dietz at the line.

Pat Miller Photo

In other racing action. Mike Anderson was able to hold off a hard charging Brian Compton who made his way through the field like a man on a mission in the 3rd feature (Bmain). Compton put down the fastest lap of the feature in the process. Area Modified driver Shayne Izzo took the honors in feature 2 (CMain) while Lernerville Pick'Em Champion Phil Swartzlander picked up the win in the first feature of the night (DMain).

Nearly 30 drivers took part in the event and some spectators came out to the enjoy the evening as well as there was Pizza from Fox's Pizza Den, and assorted drinks and snacks to enjoy in the large and spacious Pocono Conference Room reserved for the group as a whole. Everyone in attendance also took part in a door prize raffle, courtesy of our sponsors as R and R Racewear, Keyser/Integra Manufacturing and DirtonDirt.com provided a tremendous amount of hoodies, tshirts, hats and other items for everyone in attendance.

Pat Miller Photo

The night was made possible through John Gongas and his entire staff at Steel City Indoor Karting who did a tremendous job keeping the night rolling along, and accommodating our needs with some amazing customer service. Steel City will be offering leagues in January and have gift cards available for the racing or karting fan in your family.

Their state of the art karts were amazing to drive and very safe and the the facility as a whole is something to see.  Be sure to get some practice time soon as we'll be doing another TDN Night at the Races in 2017 that promises to be even better!

We'd like to take the opportunity to say thank you to all who came out and supported the evening which featured a great mix of area drivers, fans, and family members! We look forward to seeing you next year and had a great time this year!

Haudenschild Weighing Options for 2017

He's still around. And still ready to win..

The author of one of the most legendary careers in Sprint Car racing which spans 42 years and includes over 300 feature victories, still figures he's got a lot yet to do before all is said and done and judging by recent seasons, he's completely right.

Pat Miller Photo

Wooster, OH native Jac Haudenschild will be out and about in 2017, though where and when and driving for whom are still up in the air at this point. He's done just about everything in his career shy of winning a Knoxville Nationals title or a World of Outlaw championship, and all over the world too.  His trophy room contains hardware from the multiple King's Royal and Gold Cup wins, to wingless wins like the Mopar Million at Eldora and even a few Grand Australian Sprint Car trophies to boot. And age 58, still relishes the opportunity to drive at a high level once again.

"Drivers nowadays can race until they're 65 with no problem, Haudenschild said in a recent interview with us at TDN.  "I'm not 60 years old yet and I know I can still run with anybody and still win races."

Dan McFarland Photo

To do so though will take support, and that's something that hasn't come easy for him in recent years, as well as for many other drivers who make a living racing 60 nights a year or more. And even though support hasn't been consistent, when it's been provided, Haudenschild has risen to the occasion, collecting wins and podium finishes for a variety of owners. He can win in different cars, with different crew chiefs and in his own car as well. When he's in another car, he straps in ready to win, needing very little in the way of adjustment time.  But consistent support or ownership situation could take him to an even higher level.

Dan McFarland Photo

"For years I've been in and out of different cars and if you're familiar with them, the car is handling or not handling. You just have to figure out what kind of car you've got and talk it over with your mechanic good.  It all comes down to communicating with your mechanic mostly and we just try to figure stuff out. I wouldn't mind running my own team next year if I could find some help. The ideal thing for me now is run my own car and get a good sponsor behind us and run our own deal. I'd like to run the Outlaws a couple more years if I could, maybe finish out my career with them. You have to have some pretty good backing to do that though. The All Stars would be good too, it's still mostly in Ohio and it's well run.  Picking and choosing, I wouldn't mind doing that either and do all the big races."

In 2016, Haudenschild found victory lane seven times as he saw action with the Leidig Racing #59, the Miller Racing #6 and also the Paul Silver/Abreu Vinyards #57 where he saw some action on the west coast that included podium finishes with the World of Outlaws and some wingless action as well.  It's a journeyman's schedule, but Haudenschild drives at a higher level as his wins came running with the All Stars and OSCS (Ohio Sprint Car Series)

"I started running at those Ohio tracks when I started racing back in 1974.  I raced all those tracks for so many years that I just got comfortable on them. When I first started, we'd race without the wing one night, and with it the next. I think I've raced about all of those Ohio tracks both ways over the years. I've always felt comfortable there, there's a lot of great tracks there."

Haudenschild Racing.com

It was in his native Ohio that Haudenschild earned the nickname "The Wild Child", a name that has stuck with him for years, adding to the legacy that has seen him has his own line around the famed Eldora Speedway surface. "The Haudenschild Line". It refers to the groove that appears mere inches from the wall, the most dangerous way around the speedway. and also the fastest. Haudenschild discovered the need to go up top more often than not, as a necessity to make forward progress in the early stages of his career.

"I just always felt comfortable running up there and I started out like that. When I first started, a lot of guys just ran the bottom and that was it. So I had to try somewhere else to get to the front which is what I did. I always felt comfortable up there for some reason."

Racing close to home has granted him the opportunity to watch his son Sheldon develop into an extremely competitive driver at an early age. Haudenschild has been helpful, but insists that the student hasn't required much in the way of instruction to this point.

"He started racing when he was three or four years old. I've watched him race all my life, he's always been pretty smooth. And at 16 he was in the Sprint Car and was smooth right off the bat, and ran hard too. I just tell him bits and pieces of what I could, what I knew, and helped him out as much as I could but he just figured out stuff on his own so quick."

Haudenschild admits it's a good bit tougher to find support these days. A tighter economy, less interest in racing from the business world, and a large influx of youth into the sport has made competition for support dollars or rides capable of handling large amounts of touring very tight.

"It's harder now.  It was a little easier to find rides back then. But still, even when I was racing and I started out it was hard to find a World of Outlaw ride or commit to 100 races which was what we always ran back then. It was hard to find somebody back then to help with all 100, so you had to drive for a couple different guys. It's a lot harder today. You've got a lot of young kids out there that started out in quarter midgets and they're coming up through. These kids definitely get good quicker than we used to.  I raced three years and probably didn't race 60 races either one of them. And they do that right off the bat anymore. They definitely get good much faster than we did coming up through the ranks."

Jason Tucker Photo (@RacinJason38 on twitter) 

The Wild Child approaches 2017 as a true wild card. One that would make a young team credible and competitive instantly, or one that could make the right sponsors or partner stand out on a winning car. And he brings 42 years of winning under his belt. It's been a while since we've seen Haudenschild with equal cars and equipment consistently on the stage with national tour drivers week in and week out.  The Sprint Car world should get to experience this again, the younger fans that never got to see him could use more opportunities to do so. And the longtime fans would like to see more of him altogether. Haudenschild has been one of the more popular drivers over the years, and seemingly finds his way into conversation at dirt tracks all over the country when the all time greats are discussed. "Remember that one time that Haud_______" has become a part of many different conversations over the years.  However, he's still here, still ready to win, and hasn't lost the competitive fire or the passion for the sport and has a lot left to give.

 "I've always felt if I was in equal equipment that I could win on any night. I bring a lot of experience and I still feel like I can get those wins on any night."

Potential sponsors or any interested parties can contact Haudenschild Racing for more information on how to become involved in the 2017 season.

Official Haudenschild Racing Website

National Media Sprint Car Poll Top 40 Countdown: Pos. 1-5

After a long season of racing from coast to coast, here are the top 5 winged 410 Sprint Car drivers as voted on by our media panel. This concludes our 2016 "Top 40 Countdown". Thanks to everyone who tuned in to our Weekly Top 25 Rankings over the summer/fall, and the thousands that visited our site over the past week as we counted down the Top 40.

I would like to send a special thank you to the members of our voting panel that our mentioned below. They all graciously donated time each week to fill out their Top 25 ballot. TDN and our readers appreciate it more than you know because without you guys none of this would have been possible.

Point tallies were summed up from our nineteen Weekly Sprint Rankings as voted on by our qualified panel of voters. Our esteemed panel of voters consisted of Blake Anderson, Bobby Gerould, Shawn Miller, Mike Leone, Mike Mallett, Brian Liskai, Tony Bokhoven, Kyle Symons, Anthony Corini, and Tyler Beichner.

1. Donny Schatz [4,732 points]

Hometown: Fargo, ND

Wins: 25

Points: 1st (WoO)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 1st    Low Rank: 1st

Key Wins: Kings Royal, World Finals

2. David Gravel [4,170 points]

Hometown: Watertown, CT

Wins: 9

Points: 3rd (WoO)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 2nd    Low Rank: 10th

Key Wins: Jokers Wild, Silver Cup, Skagit sweep

3. Daryn Pittman [4,090 points]

Hometown: Owosso, OK

Wins: 8

Points: 2nd (WoO)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 2nd    Low Rank: 10th

Key Wins: Knight Before the Kings Royal

4. Greg Hodnett [3,794 points]

Hometown: Spring Grove, PA

Wins: 23

Points: 1st (Williams Grove), 2nd (PA Spdwk)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 2nd    Low Rank: 9th

Key Wins: Wins at 7 different tracks

5. Shane Stewart [3,792 points]

Hometown: Bixby, OK

Wins: 12

Points: 6th (WoO)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 2nd    Low Rank: 10th

Key Wins: Gold Cup, 4-Crown






>> Link to stats for Pos. 6-10
>> Link to stats for Pos. 11-15
>> Link to stats for Pos. 16-20
>> Link to stats for Pos. 21-25
>> Link to stats for Pos. 26-30
>> Link to stats for Pos. 31-35
>> Link to stats for Pos. 36-40


Remaining Rankings
6.   Brad Sweet [3,693]
7.   Dale Blaney [3,246]
8.   Danny Lasoski [2,701]
9.   Joey Saldana [2,640]
10. Chad Kemenah [2,563]
11. Sheldon Haudenschild [2,200]
12. Kerry Madsen [2,152]
13. Lance Dewease [2,068]
14. Rico Abreu [1,778]
15. Jason Johnson [1,728]
16. Danny Dietrich [1,462]
17. Brian Brown [1,448]
18. Craig Dollansky [1,334]
19. Mark Dobmeier [1,321]
20. Logan Schuchart [1,138]
21. Terry McCarl [1,016]
22. Ian Madsen [885]
23. Stevie Smith [848]
24. Lucas Wolfe [808]
25. Sammy Swindell [743]
26. Brent Marks [621]
27. Dusty Zomer [556]
28. Kyle Larson [394]
29. Tim Kaeding [386]
30. Byron Reed [365]
31. Jamie Veal [306]
32. Danny Holtgraver [302]
33. Kyle Hirst [255]
34. Bill Balog [221]
35. Brian Montieth [163]
36. Bryan Clauson [128]
37. Ryan Smith [114]
38. Christopher Bell [111]
39. Doug Esh [107]
40. Cole Duncan [89]
41. Alan Krimes [88]
42. Parker Price-Miller [84]
43. Tim Shaffer [82]
44. Jac Haudenschild [76]
45. Bud Kaeding [73]
46. Greg Wilson [62]
      Willie Croft [62]
48. Kraig Kinser [57]
49. Cap Henry [53]
50. Justin Henderson [52]
51. Jason Sides [41]
52. Shane Golobic [33]
53. Brady Bacon [32]
54. Dean Jacobs [30]
      Paul McMahan [30]
56. James McFadden [28]
57. Randy Hannagan [25]
58. Chris Andrews [23]
59. Jack Sodeman, Jr [22]
60. Brock Zearfoss [21]
      Aaron Ott [21]
      Sean Becker [21]
63. A.J. Flick [16]
64. Aaron Reutzel [15]
65. Carson Macedo [14]
66. Jason Meyers [13]
67. Brooke Tatnell [12]
      Craig Mintz [12]
69. Dave Blaney [11]
      Jonathan Allard [11]
71. Zach Daum [10]
      Jacob Allen [10]
      Cory Haas [10]
74. Brandon Rahmer [9]
      Cory Eliason [9]
      Jerrod Hull [9]
77. Steve Meyer [8]
78. Steve Buckwalter [6]
      Travis Philo [6]
80. Scott Neitzel [4]
      Danny Mumaw [4]
      Austin Hogue [4]
      Brian Smith [4]
84. Brad Loyet [3]
      Scott Thiel [3]
      Cale Thomas [3]
87. Andy Forsberg [1]
      D.J. Netto [1]
      Danny Smith [1]
      Gerard McIntyre, Jr [1]
      Jeff Swindell [1]
      Jim Siegel [1]
      Lee Jacobs [1]
      Rob Chaney [1]

National Media Sprint Car Poll Top 40 Countdown: Pos. 6-10

Here we are one week later...and it's time to break into the Top 10 drivers in our Winged 410 Sprint Car "Top 40 Countdown". These drivers were a threat to reach victory lane every night they hit the track. Check back tomorrow night to see the Top 5 drivers as voted on by our media members.

Point tallies were summed up from our nineteen Weekly Sprint Rankings as voted on by our qualified panel of voters. Our esteemed panel of voters consisted of Blake Anderson, Bobby Gerould, Shawn Miller, Mike Leone, Mike Mallett, Brian Liskai, Tony Bokhoven, Kyle Symons, Anthony Corini, and Tyler Beichner.

6. Brad Sweet [3,693 points]

Hometown: Grass Valley, CA

Wins: 8

Points: 4th (WoO)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 3rd    Low Rank: 10th

Key Wins: Won 3 of first 4 WoO races

7. Dale Blaney [3,246 points]

Hometown: Hartford, OH

Wins: 8

Points: 2nd (All Stars)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 4th    Low Rank: 14th

Key Wins: 7 ASCoC wins

8. Danny Lasoski [2,701 points]

Hometown: Dover, MO

Wins: 7

Points: 1st (Knoxville & NSL), 2nd (Jackson)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 2nd    Low Rank: 18th

Key Wins: 3 NSL wins, 5 wins at Knoxville

9. Joey Saldana [2,640 points]

Hometown: Brownsburg, IN

Wins: 5

Points: 5th (WoO)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 6th    Low Rank: 15th

Key Wins: Las Vegas, Devil's Bowl

10. Chad Kemenah [2,563 points]

Hometown: Findlay, OH

Wins: 2

Points: 1st (All Stars)

Weeks in Top 25: Nineteen

High Rank: 7th    Low Rank: 17th

Key Wins: Fremont (WoO), 1 ASCoC win






>> Link to stats for Pos. 11-15
>> Link to stats for Pos. 16-20
>> Link to stats for Pos. 21-25
>> Link to stats for Pos. 26-30
>> Link to stats for Pos. 31-35
>> Link to stats for Pos. 36-40


Remaining Rankings
11. Sheldon Haudenschild [2,200]
12. Kerry Madsen [2,152]
13. Lance Dewease [2,068]
14. Rico Abreu [1,778]
15. Jason Johnson [1,728]
16. Danny Dietrich [1,462]
17. Brian Brown [1,448]
18. Craig Dollansky [1,334]
19. Mark Dobmeier [1,321]
20. Logan Schuchart [1,138]
21. Terry McCarl [1,016]
22. Ian Madsen [885]
23. Stevie Smith [848]
24. Lucas Wolfe [808]
25. Sammy Swindell [743]
26. Brent Marks [621]
27. Dusty Zomer [556]
28. Kyle Larson [394]
29. Tim Kaeding [386]
30. Byron Reed [365]
31. Jamie Veal [306]
32. Danny Holtgraver [302]
33. Kyle Hirst [255]
34. Bill Balog [221]
35. Brian Montieth [163]
36. Bryan Clauson [128]
37. Ryan Smith [114]
38. Christopher Bell [111]
39. Doug Esh [107]
40. Cole Duncan [89]
41. Alan Krimes [88]
42. Parker Price-Miller [84]
43. Tim Shaffer [82]
44. Jac Haudenschild [76]
45. Bud Kaeding [73]
46. Greg Wilson [62]
      Willie Croft [62]
48. Kraig Kinser [57]
49. Cap Henry [53]
50. Justin Henderson [52]
51. Jason Sides [41]
52. Shane Golobic [33]
53. Brady Bacon [32]
54. Dean Jacobs [30]
      Paul McMahan [30]
56. James McFadden [28]
57. Randy Hannagan [25]
58. Chris Andrews [23]
59. Jack Sodeman, Jr [22]
60. Brock Zearfoss [21]
      Aaron Ott [21]
      Sean Becker [21]
63. A.J. Flick [16]
64. Aaron Reutzel [15]
65. Carson Macedo [14]
66. Jason Meyers [13]
67. Brooke Tatnell [12]
      Craig Mintz [12]
69. Dave Blaney [11]
      Jonathan Allard [11]
71. Zach Daum [10]
      Jacob Allen [10]
      Cory Haas [10]
74. Brandon Rahmer [9]
      Cory Eliason [9]
      Jerrod Hull [9]
77. Steve Meyer [8]
78. Steve Buckwalter [6]
      Travis Philo [6]
80. Scott Neitzel [4]
      Danny Mumaw [4]
      Austin Hogue [4]
      Brian Smith [4]
84. Brad Loyet [3]
      Scott Thiel [3]
      Cale Thomas [3]
87. Andy Forsberg [1]
      D.J. Netto [1]
      Danny Smith [1]
      Gerard McIntyre, Jr [1]
      Jeff Swindell [1]
      Jim Siegel [1]
      Lee Jacobs [1]
      Rob Chaney [1]

A Few of Our Favorite Things- The 2016 TDN Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday gift giving is just around the corner and if you're like us you might be scrambling to find the perfect present for the beloved dirt track fan in your life. With this simple guide of gift ideas you will be well on your way to making that special someone smile big when they rip off the wrapping paper!

1. Let's face it, whether you're a sprint car or late model fan Eldora Speedway is one of the top places in the country to watch racing. Any fan in your life would love any item you may find on the online store at www.eldoraspeedway.com. It not only has lots of apparel but plenty of items for home and office, all sporting the classic Eldora logo.

2. Both Chix Gear and Princess Racewear are amazing sites for the lovely lady fan in your life. They both offer a wide selection of apparel in lots of colors and sizes. Chixgear has some cute handbags and Princess Racewear offers some really nice jewelry. Each site also offers really cute clothes for the little girl fan too.

3. Have a die hard sprint car fan in the family? Check out www.sprintcarstuff.com. This site is the online store for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. It offers so much for the sprint car fan in your life, from art to books to videos and much much more. Everything is broken down into easy to browse categories and will suck you in looking for the perfect gift.

4.  Not an online shopper? No problem! Make a quick and painless phone call to your local dirt track and find out if they are offering gift certificates or season passes yet. The fan in your life will be ever so grateful to save some of their hard earned money for their favorite concession stand snack or a new driver tee.

5. Why not get your fan a new movie to watch to get them through the off seasons. You can find the DVD copy of We Are Dirt at www.wearedirtmovie.com.


6. Lots of big name drivers apparel is sold at R&R Racewear.  Rico Abreu, Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorson and more. Can coozies, mouse pads, coffee mugs and more also available.

7. Looking for diecasts? Hit up Ebay! You can find lots of hard to find goodies on Ebay when it comes to diecasts. Just make sure you check your wallet before you get your heart set on that Kyle Larson Abreu Vineyards 1k!

8. Everyone loves photos of their favorite drivers at their favorite tracks. See if your local photographer offers prints of their photos online and have fun picking a new frame for that 8x10 of Jac Haudenschild riding the wall at Eldora. Try contacting TDN's very own photographers! Click daylonbarrphoto.smugmug.com and find your favorite photo of Daylon's then contact him at daylonbarr@yahoo.com. Also check out Patrick Miller Photography for one stop shopping. Both of our photographers offer a variety of dirt and asphalt photos.

9. Need a fun off season Friday night game with friends? Try giving the gift of dirt track board game Allen's Dirt the Game. Not only is it fun and easy to play but you can choose sprint cars, late models or modifieds as your game pieces. Go to www.dirt-thegame.com and pick your pieces.

10. Give the gift that keeps giving all year long with a magazine subscription. Www.sprintcarandmidget.com is where you can find one year subscriptions to Sprint Car and Midget magazine. At www.threewidemedia.com you can find subscriptions to Dirt Late Model magazine, Dirt Modified magazine and Flat Out.

11. If your fan friend doesn't already have enough hoodies or tshirts try gottarace.com. Here you can find World of Outlaw and DirtCar apparel, Gotta Race apparel and more.

12. Want that glorious burnt race fuel scent that you remember from all those hot summer nights to last all winter long? Look no further, Race Fuel Candles has you hooked up! They even have Methaol....yes.....Methanol!

13. Let's face it, many of us have a driver in our Christmas list.  Stop right there, there's only one way to go unless that driver happens to be a significant other (if that's the case, you may want to avoid these, or not depending on how deep your relationship is), But in any case, drivers love parts...period! And you can find tons of them at Keyser/Integra and Bicknell Racing Products.  You'll be thanked endlessly by the driver, prepare to be hugged!

14. Got a late model fan on your Christmas list? If they don't already have a Dirt on Dirt.com subscription, just get it for them!  No late model fan should ever be without one!!! You can pay by the month too, and it saves on pay per view purchases!

15. Really want to make your significant other squeal with delight on Christmas morning? Visit the World Racing Group, buy a pair of tickets to 2017 events like the Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devils Bowl Speedway in Texas (April 14-15, 2017) or the Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway (March 31 and April 1,2017) and plan a romantic dirt filled vacation for two!

Merry Shopping and Happy New Year from all of us at TDN!