Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideDirtRacing.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the dirt racing topics of the day from east Tennessee and beyond.
The latest edition of the Turn 2 Blog is presented by the American All-Star Pro Late Models Presented by PPM Racing Products
Dale McDowell and the Shane McDowell Racing team certainly made the most of their opportunities in the Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals, didn’t they?
Richard: It’s easy to get caught up in the competition aspect of racing and forget that this is a business. Along that line, businesses that make bad decisions don’t hang around for very long. In that regard, Shane McDowell Racing has mastered the art of making the most of their opportunities.
Dale McDowell competed in four Southern Nationals races over the two week period in which the series contested its events and he won three of those. His wins alone were worth over $30,000. But it hasn’t been just over the past two weeks in which the No. 17m operation has maximized its racing endeavors.
McDowell has won eight features so far in 2023 with each victory paying more than $10,000. Those wins include a $100,000 XR Super Series triumph at Volunteer Speedway and the $21,000 Lil Bill Corum Memorial at Tazewell Speedway. Being smart is just as valuable as being fast when it comes to racing.
My younger self would have said that “If I were a Dirt Late Model driver, I would have been at the Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway this past weekend.” Well, over the same period of time, only one driver in that race made more money than McDowell did this weekend(lap leader bonuses aside). Now, I have come to realize that those big shows are great, but the reality is, in terms of setting your team up to make the most money, there are sometimes other ways to go about it.
Of course, McDowell isn’t the only driver to employ this sort of schedule. Locally in out area, Cory Hedgecock and his family-run team provide an example of an operation that makes smart decisions regarding when and where to race.
Based on the results, Dale McDowell and his crew made wise decisions to pick-and-choose their summer races.
Dale McDowell and Shane McDowell Racing know how to maximize their opportunities
Michael: Fans used to accuse Billy Moyer of cherry picking when he was racing full time. He’d opt to race in a $3,000 or $5,000 to win races in lieu of higher paying events. The truth is he was racing for a living and having a better shot of winning a lower purse would trump running in a lower paying position in a $10,000 to win race.
It’s funny that no one really accuses McDowell of cherry picking. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that McDowell is very popular among fans and fellow drivers.
After the last two seasons, I thought more drivers would pick-and-choose where to race instead of following a series after Brandon Overton and Jonathan Davenport won so much money those last two seasons. McDowell is one of the few that is doing it now and winning races along the way.
What were your thoughts regarding the way the Southern Nationals championship battle played out?
Richard: Jimmy Owens is a four-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion and he has won virtually ever major race there is to win. This year because of some reorganization his Koehler Motorsports team had to do, he is not following either of the national tours. The fact that the ‘Newport Nightmare’ has been so successful over such a long period of time might lead one to think that running for a Southern Nationals title might not necessarily light his fire but he seemed genuinely happy to be crowned as the champion on Sunday night at Tazewell Speedway.
On the other hand, the ending of the mini-series could not have been more disappointing for Carson Ferguson. Friday’s feature at North Georgia Speedway seemed to be in the bag as he led 52 of the 53 laps in the race. Unfortunately for him, the one lap he didn’t lead was the most important.
Ferguson was passed by Dale McDowell when a slower car suffered a flat tire leaving the No. 93 car trapped with no where to go.
It only got worse at Tazewell when a poor qualifying effort pinned Ferguson deep in the field on the start causing him to get caught up in an accident not of his own making.
Others to get my attention during the SoNats were Donald McIntosh after he only recently joined the Billy Hicks-owned team, Ricky Weiss and Kenny Collins. Each of those drivers and their teams turned in solid performances over the two-week period.
Jimmy Owens made the most of the Southern Nationals
Michael: The series this year was rather odd. Several rain outs and a cancellation before the series started never really provided any rhythm to the series. And the final race at Tazewell being pushed back a day only added to that.
There were some dramatic races when they did get to race. Not only was the North Georgia race compelling at the end but the races at Screven and Tri County had a lot of intrigue.
Going back to my earlier comment about drivers being accused of cherry picking, I didn’t hear much of that talk around Owens’ run at the title. Of course, it wasn’t easy. He was one flat tire or incident away from not winning it. McIntosh gave it all he could, even after an early spin at Tazewell.
A driver that impressed me was Jordan Koehler. He had a few impressive runs. I think his most impressive was at Tazewell, a track that not every driver takes to.
It seems as if the Kevin Rumley-owned Late Model driven numerous times by NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has turned into somewhat of a Longhorn Chassis R&D car, doesn’t it?
Richard: It certainly does seem that way. Over the past few weeks we have seen Brandon Sheppard and Brandon Overton, both Longhorn regulars, drive that car when in competition away from their regular tours.
Rumley is heavily involved with both the Longhorn and Bilstein Shocks programs and many who use those products are quick to point to him as a provider of good advice. In a recent interview posted to this site, Sheppard did exactly that following his stint in the Rumley machine.
Some misfortune on the preliminary night buried Overton deep in a Last Chance Showdown at the Prairie Dirt Classic this past weekend as he spent time in the Rumley seat leading to him missing the main event.
It will be interesting to see if any other Longhorn pilots find themselves in this car going forward just as it will be interesting to see if/when Larson will make a return to Dirt Late Model racing now that he and Brad Sweet have their High Limit Sprint Car Series up and running.
Kyle Larson in the No. 6 K&L Rumley Chassis
Michael: It certainly seems that way. Tim McCreadie had a stint in that car a few years ago. Mike Marlar has had his turn as well.
One driver we probably won’t be seeing in that ride any time soon is Ricky Thornton Jr. That guy is on some roll. It will be interesting to see who else might end up in that car in the coming weeks. And it will be interesting to see if Overton picks things up even though his weekend didn’t fare too well. Sheppard’s stint seems to have helped him.
Please consider also reading:
McDowell takes SoNats finale at Tazewell; Owens secures championship
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