As the Dirt Late Model schedule begins to draw toward its conclusion, it is almost as interesting finding out who will be driving for a new team or running a different chassis the next season as it is seeing who will win the remaining big races and secure the season-long championships. The annual event known as “silly season” is always filled with news, some expected and some surprising, with fans and competitors alike checking websites and social media postings regularly about this time of the season for the latest information and/or gossip.
Here is what we known so far:
Brandon Sheppard
Brandon Sheppard will drive the Longhorn Chassis house car in 2024 with a familiar figure serving as his crew chief
It has been known for some time now that the label of “house car” for Longhorn Chassis was moving from Tim McCreadie’s Paylor Motorsports team to the Sheppard Riggs Racing operation with four-time World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series champion Brandon Sheppard behind the wheel. But another piece of information regarding that team was confirmed over this past weekend at the Dirt Track World Championship at Eldora Speedway.
Veteran crew chief Randall Edwards will serve as the team leader for Sheppard going forward. The pair worked together several years ago when both were employed by Best Performance Motorsports winning the Dirt Track World Championship back in 2016 when that race was still held at the Portsmouth Raceway Park. The New Berlin, Illinois driver won the 2023 DTWC driving for Kevin Rumley(with assistance from Edwards) but will spend next season in his regular ride.
Edwards has worked with drivers such as Josh Richards(winning a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship in 2017 for Best), Tyler Erb, and most recently, Garrett Smith.
Mike Marlar will no longer drive for Ronnie Delk’s team
Mike Marlar
One of the more successful driver/car owner pairings of recent years will no longer be together following their last race at Eldora Speedway this past weekend. Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tennessee won the 2018 World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series championship and a number of big races while driving for Ronnie Delk. But that team will be scaling back going forward. The separation was an amicable one.
A number of rumors regarding Marlar’s future abound but nothing is known for certain yet.
Spencer Hughes set to compete for JCM Motorsports
Just a short time ago, it was announced that Wil Herrington would no longer serve as the driver for Alabama-based JCM Motorsports. It has also recently become known that PCC Motorsports, which has raced for the last couple of seasons on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with driver Spencer Hughes, will be scaling back its operations in the future leaving that driver looking for another opportunity.
After two years of steering cars for PCC, Hughes of Meridian, Mississippi essentially became a free agent and has since agreed to become the pilot for JCM. The pairing’s first appearance together will come this weekend in the National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway.
Hughes finished 9th and 12th in the LOLMDS standings over the past two seasons with PCC.
Spencer Hughes will drive for JCM Motorsports
Viper Motorsports switching to BMF Race Cars
Viper Motorsports, who has recently fielded Longhorn Chassis cars for Tanner English on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, recently let it be known via their Facebook account that they will switch to BMF Race Cars going forward.
BMF Race Cars are produced by Loudon, Tennessee driver Cory Hedgecock and his family’s organization. Hedgecock has scored a number of impressive wins in those cars this season including A World of Outlaws win at 411 Motor Speedway back in April as well as a $28,000 triumph in a Crate Racin’ USA feature at All-Tech Raceway.
English currently sits 8th in the WoO Late Models standings with the events at The Dirt Track at Charlotte still remaining on the schedule.
Ryan Gustin
Ryan Gustin to drive for Todd Cooney Racing in 2024
A pair of Iowa natives who are World of Outlaws regulars will be joining forces next season when Ryan Gustin takes a seat in a ride owned by fellow competitor Todd Cooney. Gustin has, over the past three years, driven Rocket Chassis cars for team owner Dave Steine.
Todd Cooney Racing will operate as a two-car organization with both drivers steering Longhorn Chassis machines on the WoO circuit. This is Cooney’s first season as a regular with that series.
Gustin currently ranks fifth in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series standings with three feature wins while Cooney stands 14th overall with that series.
*This post will be updated as other news becomes available*
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