Episode 390 - Wrapping Up Speedweeks
About this episode
The hosts catch up after a hectic few weeks, discussing the challenges of starting the racing season amid unpredictable Ohio weather and track cancellations. They highlight the return of the World of Outlaws at Volusia, celebrating Donny Schatz's emotional first win in over a year after personal and professional struggles. Local racing updates include Attica Speedway's uncertain opening and Brownstown's big purse event. They also promote local sponsors like propane.com, the Whistle Stop Bar and Grill, and Sure Shot Taphouse, emphasizing community support and unique local venues. The episode blends racing news, personal stories, and local business shoutouts with a casual, conversational vibe.
This week we return to an in-person podcast! We talk about the final races of Speedweeks in Florida and Georgia. We also talk about the World of Outlaws in Alabama, and more!
crapshoot
"Naturally, Attica's kind of doing the crapshoot every year. You know, it's a crapshoot if you're going to race."
A 'crapshoot' means something where you can't really tell what will happen because it's very unpredictable, like a race where anything can go wrong or right.
In racing and motorsports, a 'crapshoot' refers to an event or situation with unpredictable outcomes, often due to factors like weather, mechanical reliability, or competition level, making results uncertain.
Northern All-Stars
"And Brownstown's supposed to open with the Northern All-Stars paying 10 grand to win. Northern All-Star, late mile."
The Northern All-Stars is a group that organizes dirt track car races where drivers compete for big prizes.
The Northern All-Stars is a regional dirt late model racing series in the United States, known for competitive events and significant prize money, attracting top drivers in the dirt racing community.
late model
"Northern All-Star, late mile. So I haven't looked that far south how that might be effective."
Late model cars are special race cars made just for racing on dirt tracks, built to go fast and handle well.
Late model refers to a class of race cars commonly used in dirt track racing, typically featuring purpose-built chassis and powerful engines designed for high performance on oval dirt tracks.
Lucas Oil
"But that's usually a pretty decent show for an opening. I mean, you know, you got Lucas Oil's off."
Lucas Oil is a company that helps pay for and support car races, especially on dirt tracks.
Lucas Oil is a company that sponsors various motorsports events and racing series, including dirt track racing, known for supporting grassroots racing and professional competitions.
Outlaws
"You got the Outlaws in Tennessee, but that could draw some cars out there."
The Outlaws is a famous group that organizes dirt car races with some of the best drivers.
The Outlaws refers to the World of Outlaws, a premier dirt late model and sprint car racing series in the United States, known for high-level competition and national events.
Volusia
"And didn't they, one night at Volusia, have to make an engine swap or something too and. He made the dash one night before."
Volusia is a famous race track in Florida where many car races happen, especially on dirt surfaces.
Volusia refers to Volusia Speedway Park, a well-known dirt track racing venue in Florida popular for various types of motorsport events including sprint car and late model racing.
engine swap
"And didn't they, one night at Volusia, have to make an engine swap or something too and. He made the dash one night before."
An engine swap means taking out the car's engine and putting in a different one, usually to make the car faster or better. It can be tricky and needs a good mechanic.
An engine swap is the process of replacing a vehicle's original engine with a different one, often to improve performance or reliability. It can be a complex task requiring mechanical expertise and tuning.
305
"But he's in our 305. Hell, he's in the FCS 305."
305 is a kind of race car with a smaller engine that is less powerful but easier to race and cheaper to run.
The '305' refers to a racing class featuring cars with 305 cubic inch engines, a smaller and less powerful category compared to 410 class, often used in sprint car racing to provide a more affordable entry point.
Subaru 360
"...n four 10s. Dabbled in four 10s a little bit, but 360s. He had some 360 ones last year."
The Subaru 360 is a very small and simple car made a long time ago in Japan. It was one of the first cars many people could afford, so it helped lots of families get around. People talk about it because it looks unique and was important in car history.
The Subaru 360 is a microcar produced from 1958 to 1971, notable for being one of Japan's first mass-produced cars. It played a significant role in making car ownership accessible in post-war Japan due to its compact size and affordability. It's often discussed for its quirky design and historical importance in automotive culture.
GOSS
"is GOSS had a thing. Who's going to be your favorite GOSS driver? Who do you want to see win?"
GOSS is a type of car racing where drivers race special fast cars on dirt tracks. It is known for being wild and exciting.
GOSS stands for Global Outlaw Sprint Series, a dirt track racing series featuring sprint cars with a focus on the 'outlaw' style of racing, which emphasizes fewer restrictions and more aggressive competition.
four tens
"...and you come back and win that night, four tens, you get a thousand dollar bonus..."
Four tens means a driver gets a $1,000 bonus if they win four races in a row or do something special in racing.
Four tens is a term used in racing to describe a $1,000 bonus awarded to drivers who win four races in a row or meet a specific winning streak criterion.
handicapping
""Yeah, I mean, basically you're handicapping them for being good, but still. It's attainable though.""
Handicapping means giving some racers a harder start so everyone has a fair chance to win.
In racing, handicapping refers to imposing certain disadvantages on faster or more skilled competitors to level the playing field and make the competition more balanced.
starting position
""It's not like, okay, yeah, you gotta start last and try to win or something. Or, you know, some of those places, like I think Pennsylvania, some of those, you gotta start like 12 or 14th.""
Starting position is where a driver lines up before the race starts. Being closer to the front usually helps you do better.
Starting position in racing is the place on the grid where a driver begins the race. It can greatly affect race strategy and chances of winning, especially if starting far back.
Recaro
"You see, the Reco-Abru reveal, that was a big deal."
Recaro makes special car seats that help keep drivers safe and comfortable, especially in racing.
Recaro is a well-known manufacturer of automotive seats, famous for their racing and performance seats that offer enhanced support and safety.
USAC
"I know USAC going on. Dude, there's all kind of Power Eye and USAC,"
USAC is a group that runs car races, especially on dirt tracks, for different types of small race cars.
USAC stands for United States Auto Club, a sanctioning body that organizes various auto racing events including sprint cars, midgets, and other forms of dirt track racing.
Power Eye
"Dude, there's all kind of Power Eye and USAC, because now you see Extreme Midgets is officially, well, they said they're not going to have a schedule, but now they're going to do Special Mill Bridge and Peevely. Iron Man and Mill Bridge is all they're having. But it's crazy, because Power Eye paid more. They've paid $4,000 or $5,000 to win in the last few years. Now it's down to only a few cars. Some of the Power Eye shows when I got 10 and 12 cars. Now everybody's running Power Eye and USAC."
Power Eye is a group that puts on car races, especially for small fast cars called midgets and sprints.
Power Eye is a racing sanctioning body that organizes events primarily for midget and sprint cars, often competing with USAC for participants and prize money.
Extreme Midgets
"because now you see Extreme Midgets is officially, well, they said they're not going to have a schedule, but now they're going to do Special Mill Bridge and Peevely. Iron Man and Mill Bridge is all they're having."
Extreme Midgets are a type of small race car that go really fast on short race tracks.
Extreme Midgets is a racing series or class focused on midget cars, which are small, high-powered race cars used primarily on short oval dirt or paved tracks.
wing car
"So it sounds like he's still got a wing car too. Sounds like they may do a little bit of wing stuff too."
A wing car is a race car with big wings on top that help it stick to the track better when turning fast.
A wing car is a type of race car equipped with large aerodynamic wings that generate downforce, improving traction and cornering speeds, commonly used in dirt track racing.
pole position
"Second in the AFCS point slash year, started on the pole and ended up eighth."
Pole position means the driver starts the race at the very front because they were the fastest in qualifying. This helps them avoid getting stuck behind other cars when the race begins.
Pole position refers to the first starting spot on the grid in a race, typically awarded to the fastest qualifier. Starting on pole is advantageous because it places the driver at the front, reducing the risk of traffic and incidents at the start.
wheelie
"Guess he pulled some massive wheelies down the straightaway, though it's lost him the lead. Then he pulled another one and all but flipped and put him back to eighth and he stayed there."
A wheelie happens when the front wheels of a vehicle lift up off the ground because of strong acceleration. It looks cool but can make the vehicle harder to control.
A wheelie is when the front wheels of a vehicle lift off the ground during acceleration, often seen in motorcycles and some race cars. While impressive, it can cause loss of control or speed if not managed properly.
Toyota
""He's still a fan. Oh, yeah. Driving his Toyota around. Anyway, hope you all have a great couple of weeks.","
Toyota is a big car company from Japan that makes many different cars people like because they usually last a long time and don't need a lot of repairs.
Toyota is a major Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing reliable and efficient vehicles across various segments worldwide.
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