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Episode 395 - Kahne Wins, B-Shepp Dominates and Mother Nature Still Hates Racing

Episode 395 - Kahne Wins, B-Shepp Dominates and Mother Nature Still Hates Racing

Dirt Nerds Podcast May 12, 2026 61 min
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About this episode

Rain and cold forecasts keep interrupting dirt racing schedules, with the hosts blaming “Mother Nature” for repeated delays and cancellations. When events do run, Eldora’s weekend adapts—moving start times and even calling a race early after “too many cautions.” Across classes, they recap sprint-car and late-model results, including Casey Kane’s first World of Outlaws win and B-Shep leading in Lucas Oil points. The episode also covers USAC Silver Crown drama, pit-area penalties, and a packed Ohio weekend preview.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

hot laps

"We got there right for hot laps. Yeah, it was turned out to be a very, very nice crowd and good races."

“Hot laps” are practice laps right before the race where drivers go fast to get comfortable. It helps them learn the track conditions and adjust their driving.

Concept

shootout format

"They did a little different format. They kind of did. Okay, we're doing a shootout format. Yes. Yep."

A “shootout format” means the event is run in shorter, more direct races first, and the results decide who moves on. It’s designed to make the racing more intense and keep things moving.

Concept

B main

"So they said put, I think it started 28 or 29 in the main. There's reason you have a B main sometimes."

A “B main” is like a second-chance race. If you didn’t qualify for the main event directly, you race again to try to earn a spot in the big race.

Concept

cautions

"They ended up calling the race with two laps ago because of too many cautions. But when you get some of these guys..."

“Cautions” are when the race slows down because of a problem on track, like an accident or debris. Everyone has to slow and follow the pace car/officials until it’s safe again.

Concept

Eldora Speedway

"A little bit. But when you get some of these guys that, you know, aren't used to Eldora Speedway and used to much different tracks..."

Eldora Speedway is a dirt track where the racing conditions are unique. If you haven’t raced there before, it can be harder to drive smoothly and avoid mistakes.

Concept

stock cars

"But it was a great stock car race. And actually a car that I sponsored down there this year..."

“Stock cars” here means a particular type of race car that looks like a regular car, but it’s built and modified for racing. They’re talking about a race specifically for that class.

Concept

A main

"I had a real good shot. I went in the A main and would have definitely been second."

The “A main” is the main event race. It’s the one everyone is trying to qualify for after the earlier races.

Concept

midgets

"Luke Hall won the midgets in Evan Taylor, I believe won the mods... What do you think of the midget race? ... those are D2 midgets racing down there."

“Midgets” are small race cars with open wheels that are built for fast, aggressive racing. The hosts are saying Eldora is a bigger track than what these cars usually see.

Concept

mods

"Luke Hall won the midgets... Evan Taylor, I believe won the mods."

“Mods” refers to a class of race cars that have been modified for dirt-track racing. It’s a different category than the midgets or stock cars mentioned nearby.

Term

traffic

"he started running away once they got into traffic and that."

“Traffic” just means other cars on the track that are slower. When you’re leading, passing them at the right time can make you faster or cost you time.

Concept

pavement wing sprint car race

"it was pretty good. I mean, and the D2 is getting like that where you got, you know, it's about like a pavement wing sprint car race."

This is a type of sprint car racing on pavement. The big rear wing helps push the car down onto the track so it can corner harder and faster.

Concept

D2

"I mean, and the D2 is getting like that where you got, you know, it's about like a pavement wing sprint car race."

“D2” sounds like a specific racing class. In this class, some drivers have much better cars and engines, while others are still learning or running cheaper equipment.

Term

best equipment

"you got four or five really, really fast, good cars with all the best equipment, the best engines and you got, you know, 10, 15 mid-pack guys"

“Best equipment” in sprint car racing usually means having top-tier race-prepped components—especially the engine and chassis setup—plus the right parts and tuning for the track. In classes like D2, that equipment gap can show up as big differences in lap times and consistency.

Term

junkyard

"you got some of your guys just learning and slowing and buying the $500 engine from the junkyard and putting it, you know, and so"

A “junkyard” engine is a cheap engine pulled from used vehicles. In racing, using one can make the car slower and harder to keep performing consistently.

Concept

poor man race

"we kind of thought about Florence... I was like, yeah, it's hard to beat Eldora and I wouldn't see poor man race anyways and worked out pretty good, especially with 10 bucks to get in"

A “poor man race” is basically a race where you don’t need the most expensive gear to compete. It’s more accessible, and the field often includes drivers on tighter budgets.

Concept

360 sprints

"Another good job by Eldora. As always, they have been tuning those shows in and August, I got another one with 360 sprints on the card."

“360 sprints” are sprint cars in a specific engine class. The “360” points to the engine size rule, which helps keep the cars more evenly matched.

Topic

Kokomo High Limit series Wing Sprint cars

"The High Limit series was at Kokomo this weekend… supposed to be a two night show. Friday night got rained out… Saturday went on as planned."

They’re talking about a racing event at Kokomo—High Limit series—and how the Wing Sprint car races went. They mention rain canceling Friday and the feature on Saturday.

Car

Wing Sprint cars

"highly anticipated return of Wing Sprint cars coming back. You know, they've been there the last few years and seems to be a decent show…"

Wing Sprint cars are small, fast race cars with a big rear wing. The wing helps push the car down onto the track so it can corner harder.

Concept

purse

"And they changed the purse too because, you know, it's supposed to pay, I forget, 10,000, 15 and that. So they made it, but it ended up paying 20,000 to win…"

The purse is the total prize money for the race. If it changes, the winner’s payout can change too.

Concept

co-sanctioned

"It was 1800 to start then on Saturday. It was co-sanctioned with the All-Star. So, you know, you had some of our guys that we see here in Ohio a lot over there too…"

Co-sanctioned means the race is officially recognized by two different racing groups. So results can affect standings in both groups.

Concept

non-Wing sprint card debut

"I know Jacob Boxall made his 410, I think non-Wing sprint card debut and, uh, Matt Westfall entry up there."

Some sprint cars have a big rear wing that helps them stick to the track. “Non-wing” cars don’t have that wing, so they handle differently and usually feel more “slippery” in the corners. “Debut” just means it was his first race in that setup/category.

Concept

Silver Crown

"Oh, [2209.7s] I'm sorry, USAC, uh, the, uh, national Silver Crown was in action. That's what I meant to say."

“Silver Crown” is the name of a specific USAC dirt-racing series. The cars and race rules are different from sprint cars, so it’s a distinct kind of competition. They’re talking about that series being raced and who won.

Concept

last lap pass

"It's first ever Silver Crown race. Yeah. At a last lap pass over Justin Grant."

A “last lap pass” means someone got by the leader right at the end. On dirt tracks, that’s hard because tires and grip change quickly. It’s usually the moment that decides who wins.

Concept

start finish

"Sorry, coming to the white, uh, it's coming to the white, I guess, or [2248.8s] right at start finish, like you get the white, he took the lead..."

“Start/finish” is the part of the track where the race starts and where you cross the line to end a lap. Saying it happened right at start/finish means the move happened at a very specific location on the track. That’s often where you can set up an overtake.

Concept

crate division

"Uh, it was the crate division. Greg Martin was handed a two minimum year suspension from the 604 racing series..."

“Crate division” means a class where everyone uses a more standardized engine package. It’s meant to keep costs down and make races more about driving than expensive engine upgrades.

Concept

hot pit

"Originally Corey Hedgecock got disqualified because his dad was actually the one, Mr. Martin decided to drive into the hot pit and hit another car..."

The “hot pit” is the busy pit area where cars are actively being worked on during the event. It’s treated like a high-risk zone, so crashes or interference can get you in major trouble.

Concept

kill switch

"Uh, but her Hedgecock's dad ran over to hit the kill switch on the dude's car and they thought he reached in to hit the guy, which was not the case."

A “kill switch” is an emergency button that shuts the car off fast. After a crash, it’s used to make sure the damaged car can’t keep running and create danger.

Concept

non-sanctioned show

"Borers 20th anniversary non-sanctioned show on Thursday, $20,000 to win a $68,500 purse."

“Sanctioned” means the race is officially run under a specific racing organization’s rules. “Non-sanctioned” means it’s not part of that official points/championship system.

Topic

Fremont

"my plan right now is hit all four tomorrow, Fremont, Thursday, Attica and Friday and Saturday Eldora."

Fremont is one of the race locations they’re talking about visiting. It’s part of a busy week of dirt-track racing.

Topic

Attica

"hit all four tomorrow, Fremont, Thursday, Attica and Friday and Saturday Eldora... So does that apply for Attica on Thursday?"

Attica is a race track. They’re debating how the rules/arrangements for certain drivers apply to the Thursday show there.

Topic

Ironman

"So that's Ironman, late models and fast four 10 sprint cars with some modifies."

“Ironman” here is the name of a race event. The hosts are saying it’s part of the schedule with specific classes of cars.

Topic

late models

"So that's Ironman, late models and fast four 10 sprint cars with some modifies."

“Late models” are a type/class of dirt-track race car. The hosts are listing them as part of what’s racing at these events.

Topic

modifies

"So that's Ironman, late models and fast four 10 sprint cars with some modifies."

“Modifies” appears to refer to modified-class dirt cars—vehicles built and tuned under a specific set of rules that allow more changes than stock classes. The transcript doesn’t spell out the exact series definition, but it’s clearly a distinct race class from late models and sprint cars.

Topic

Hewits

"Knoxville, Hewits and Williams Grove without one of their deals."

They’re listing another race track in the same group as Knoxville and Williams Grove. The exact venue name is a bit unclear from the transcript.

Topic

Knoxville

"we know the outlaws going to race four shows, but they can race, you know, Knoxville, Hewits and Williams Grove without one of their deals."

Knoxville is another dirt-track venue. The hosts mention it to explain how other races might work for the same drivers.

Topic

Williams Grove

"Knoxville, Hewits and Williams Grove without one of their deals."

Williams Grove is a dirt-track location. It’s brought up as an example of where certain drivers can race under different circumstances.

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