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
Is Dale McDowell as good now as he has ever been?
Richard: While Ricky Thornton Jr., Bobby Pierce and Hudson O’Neal have gotten most of the headlines in 2023, just take a look at the numbers Dale McDowell has posted this season. In far fewer starts than those three drivers have made, the Shane McDowell Racing veteran has scored nine feature wins so far. Even though I haven’t run the numbers it would seem as if the No. 17m Team Zero Race Cars winning percentage has to be among the best in the country.
And it isn’t like they are seeking out so-called “cherry picking” easy-to-win $5,000 events. McDowell has won a $100,000 race, a $50,000 race, a $21,000 race as well as six others that have doled out $10,000 or more. All in all, it’s been a very good season to date.
The chemistry between the two brothers is obviously as good now as it has ever been.
Dale McDowell
They have clearly shown that a team can be successful running a carefully thought out pick-and-choose schedule. And with the big events coming up, there could be even more monster paydays ahead. And consider that McDowell has proven himself to be quite good at Eldora Speedway which still has the World 100 and the Dirt Track World Championship to run.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if McDowell proved to be a fly in the ointment in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship-deciding finale on that legendary Rossberg, Ohio track?
Michael: I was a bit surprised McDowell went to Batesville as he usually stays a few hours within home to race except Eldora and Volusia. Him winning there is not much of a surprise. He’s very good on the slick tracks and Batesville is definitely that for the Topless 100.
The thing about Dale and Shane is they race where and when they want, they show up, and usually aren’t in the middle of any drama. You can routinely see him in the pits holding court with some veteran drivers and some of the younger drivers. People in NASCAR used to call Jeff Burton “The Mayor”. I think McDowell is the mayor of Dirt Late Model racing.
How is it that dirt racers can remain competitive well into their 50s?
Richard: This is something I have thought about several times before. NASCAR drivers, Formula 1 pilots, and IndyCar aces don’t hold out nearly as long as Dirt Late Model and Sprint Car stars.
As mentioned above, Dale McDowell has won some of the biggest races held this season at the age of 57. Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer remained competitive well into their 50s. Steve Kinser was still winning past the half-century mark. Jimmy Owens has scored several wins this season after turning 50.
I believe one reason for the longevity of dirt racers is the fact that they still need the money. They are racing for a living at older ages where successful NASCAR drivers are independently wealthy by the time they reach 40. I’m sure the desire is heightened by the fact that the money is still needed to pay the bills. However, with the lucrative races now being held, that might change for dirt racers in the near future.
I also believe that experience is more helpful to a dirt driver than a NASCAR or IndyCar driver. Learning how to read a track surface and understanding how it will change throughout the night is often times a skill only gained from years spent at the track which gives the more seasoned guys an advantage. Furthermore, knowing what adjustments the car will need as the night plays out is essential and learned over time.
But success late in life for a racer is still not a universal thing. Before his motorcycle accident, Bloomquist once told me that he felt like one of his keys to success was his keen eyesight. Also, keeping one’s self in good racing shape to prevent “falling out of the seat” is a necessity so there is no guarantee that a driver will continue to perform well after 50.
I don’t think there is an exact formula but Dale McDowell seems to have something figured out.
Michael: I think a lot of that is Dirt Late Model drivers just love to race. As long as they can find sponsors or a car owner to drive for, they will continue to do it.
You did touch on one thing. While the top Dirt Late Model drivers can earn pretty good money, they don’t have a retirement plan, unless they get one on their own. They also don’t have a health plan when they’re not driving for someone. Many drivers continue to race because they don’t want to get a regular job in their 50’s and need the money. It’s not the easiest career path to choose. I hope drivers like Overton, Thornton, and Davenport are being smart with the money they do make.
Did Jonathan Davenport’s SRX win at Lucas Oil Speedway prove anything beyond the fact that he is a great driver?
Jonathan Davenport
Richard: We already knew that Jonathan Davenport is one of the best dirt racers to ever strap in a race car, but yes, I think it did prove that those who make their living on dirt can hold their own with the best drivers from other forms of motorsports. Naturally, it helped that the race was held on a track that the 2015 Show-me 100 and four-time Diamond Nationals winner is quite familiar with. Still, there were some very talented stars in that race and ‘The Fast 49’ was able to beat them to the checkered flag in his first outing with that series.
A win for a Dirt Late Model regular in a race such as that might open the door for more chances for Davenport and others in the future.
Michael: I think his win introduced himself to a different audience that might not have known who he was before the race. An ESPN audience on a Thursday night probably had some viewers that had not seen him race before. I hope it does open the door for other Dirt Late Model drivers, and even Sprint Car drivers, to get an opportunity in SRX or maybe a truck race.
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