Written by Jacob Hord, @HordRaceWatcher
Double Kings Royals: Eldora Speedway could not hold the 34th annual King’s Royal event due to covid, so in typical Eldora fashion, they’re holding two in 2021. Did we mention that both are paying $175k to win as well? Minor detail. Starting Wednesday, July 14th, the World of Outlaws race four straight nights at Eldora, with the 2021 King’s Royal taking place on Thursday, and the 2020 makeup on Saturday. If someone can sweep all four nights, that’s $370k in winnings. It’s sure to be quite the event with the nation’s top drivers, and fans that will be eager to get back to The Big E.
All Star Speedweek: After throwing a Speedweek together last year, the schedule looks a little more normal this year. It was a tough showing for the All Stars last year, as Aaron Reutzel was the only All Star to find himself in victory lane during Speedweek. In fact, California had the most wins with Kyle Larson winning three events, and Buddy Kofoid and Rico Abreu each claiming one win as well. Cap Henry also won twice, and Cale Conley won his first All Star feature during the week as well. Festivities kick off Friday, June 11th in Attica, followed by Fremont on Saturday, an off-day Sunday, Wayne County Monday, Sharon Tuesday, #WaynesfieldWednesday, Muskigum on Thursday, Limaland on Friday and wrapping up in Portsmouth Saturday for the $15,554 to win Dean Knittel Memorial. It’s one of the most anticipated weeks in all of Sprint Car racing and it shouldn’t disappoint, especially with at least 12-15 guys that can win any given night with the All Stars this year.
Other Big Shows: The season starts March 19th in Attica, and there’s a FAST/BOSS doubleheader March 27 at Waynesfield. The All Stars kick off their season April 2nd and 3rd at Attica Raceway Park for the Core and Main Spring Nationals, and visit Sharon Speedway for the first time May 1st. Also on May 1st is a FAST/BOSS doubleheader at Fremont Speedway. A week later the Outlaws and USAC Sprints make their debut in Ohio for the annual #LetsRaceTwo weekend at Eldora. 410 Sprints come roaring back to life for the first time since 2016 at Millstream Speedway Sunday, May 9th. The inaugural Kistler Engines Classic brings the Outlaws to Attica Friday May 21, and the Outlaws will visit Sharon the next day. Memorial Day weekend is highlighted by two FAST/BOSS doubleheaders at Fremont and Waynesfield the 29th and 30th. As mentioned before, Ohio Sprint Speedweek kicks off June 11th and runs through the 19th. July Fourth weekend is enhanced with another FAST/BOSS doubleheader at Waynesfiled the 3rd, Attica the 2nd, and Wayne County Sunday the 4th. The All Stars go to Sharon again July 11th, kicking off a big stretch that includes the Brad Doty Classic and double King’s Royals at Eldora. Things pick back up the 14th of August with Fremont having the FAST/BOSS doubleheader and Waynesfield doing the same the following Saturday. Labor Day Weekend is another big weekend with the All Stars coming to Attica that Friday and Saturday. That Sunday brings us as FAST/BOSS doubleheader at Waynesfield and the Pete Jacobs Memorial at Wayne County. September and October start to slow down, but the 18th of September brings us another FAST/BOSS doubleheader at Fremont as well as the Four Crown Nationals the following weekend at Eldora. The Jim and Joanne Ford Classic highlight October with the All Stars on the 8th and 9th. Millstream wraps up the 410 season on October 24th.
Top Dogs: There isn’t a way around it. The top two guys in 2020, to no one’s surprise, were Cap Henry and Cole Duncan. Cap got the nod as the OhioDirtTrackStats driver of the year though by a close nine points over Duncan. The two combined for 22 wins, 37 top fives, and 46 top tens in the 2020 season. I don’t see much that will stop them, either. They can win anywhere, with Cap winning at Attica, Fremont, and Wayne County, with Duncan finding victory lane at Atomic, Fremont, Portsmouth, and Sharon. Henry took it to the All Stars last year, picking up three wins against them. Expect these two to be up front all year long in the Buckeye State in 2021 as well. When they roll into the pits, the field gets put on notice. Keep an eye on Cale Conley as well. He came in third in the 2020 standings after a quietly successful year, featuring two wins, 17 top fives and 23 top tens.
Drivers to watch: Without a doubt, Trey Jacobs is my driver to watch in the 2021 season. Yes, it’s true I said the same thing last year, and he made me look like I knew what I was talking about. Although he didn’t pick up a win in 2020, he did lead lots of laps at Attica, amassing eight top five finishes and 21 top tens. Trey branched out and ran the AFCS series, while filling in some Saturday’s at his home track, Wayne County. If Trey and crew chief Bonzai Bruns can continue to improve like they did last year, the wins will come, and he will be a contender for Championships and Ohio Driver of the year.
Cole Macedo will be returning to Ohio for a second year, this time behind the wheel of the newly-formed Ray Brooks Racing No. 18. With limited 410 starts before last year, Macedo had a lot to learn in the Buckeye State. He was piloting the Jay Kiser Racing machine, but they could just never get their feet under them. I expect Macedo will have a better year this year, and that’s no disrespect to Kiser. Sometimes, things just don’t work out. Macedo has a good relationship with the Linder family crew, who will be turning the wrenches for him. Don’t be surprised if Macedo finds himself on the top of the podium this year.
Coming off of his rookie 410 year, Tyler Street made strides in his learning that should continue on in 2021. Street added and is bringing back experienced crew member Jimmy Fitzwater, and Street had good momentum last year until sending a piston rod into orbit one night. He found victory lane once with the OVSCA at Ohio Valley Speedway, and it sounds like he’ll be running the OVSCA series in 2021. He’ll get better with each lap on track, more top fives and top tens are easily attainable for Street.
Nate Dussel and DJ Foos, at times, had a no good, very bad, bad luck season in their respective cars. Although, they did battle to the very last lap for the Fremont title, with Dussesl winning by a nose. Each picked up two wins at Fremont, and had very similar top five and top ten finishes. If they can get the gremlins out of the way, they’ll find victory lane a lot more in 2021.
410 Rookie: To my knowledge, Kyle Capodice is confirmed as one of, if not the only 410 rookie in Ohio this year. Capodice has paid his dues in the go kart and 305 ranks, and has what he needs to go 410 racing this year. Always a contender in the 305’s, Capodice will have some learning and adjusting to do this year. Every lap he makes will be important, but his 305 experience will serve him well. I’d expect he’ll stay around the Attica/Fremont area for the bulk of his schedule. The Northwest Ohio 410 locals are as tough as anywhere in the country, but Capodice has what it takes to be getting solid finishes by the end of his rookie season.
305’s: 2020 was the Paul Weaver show in the Attica/Fremont 305 division. Weaver picked up a staggering 15 wins enroute to his “Triple Crown” (Attica, Fremont, and AFCS) year. Weaver asserted himself as a top 305 driver in the country again, and I’d expect more of the same in 2021. Beware of guys like Jamie Miller and Matt Foos, though. Miller has a lot of wins in the Ryan French Racing No. 26 and if Foos proved he can still win after a couple year hiatus by winning at Fremont twice in 2020. There are lots of others that can play spoiler, too. Alvin Roepke parked it twice last year, Seth Schneider, Steve Rando also found victory lane, and you can’t count out guys like Mike Keegan, Luke Griffith, Brandon Moore, or Zeth Sabo, either. The future stars of our sport are on display and they rarely disappoint.
Reopening: One of the biggest offseason storylines was that Millstream seems to have new life again. Promoter Scott Warner has taken on the lease of the historic half-mile outside of Findlay and have a schedule put together featuring 410’s, 360’s, 305’s, nonwing, late models, modifieds, compacts, and the Detroit Iron class. All shows are on Millstream’s typical Sunday evening. Although previous attempts to bring the speedway back to life have fallen short, Warner and his crew have me feeling the most optimistic since the speedway shut down in 2016. If ran well, Millstream will be a very nice addition to the Ohio schedule, and would give racers and fans a perfect chance to get three races in a weekend.
2020 410 Stat Leaders
Wins:
- Cap Henry- 12
- Cole Duncan- 10
- Dean Jacobs, Kyle Larson- 4
Top Fives:
- Cole Duncan- 19
- Cap Henry- 18
- Cale Conley- 17
Top Tens:
- Cap Henry- 24
- Cale Conley- 23
- Cole Duncan- 22
2020 Champions:
AFCS 410: Cap Henry
AFCS 305: Paul Weaver
Atomic 410: Cole Duncan
Attica 410: Cap Henry
Attica 305: Paul Weaver
BOSS Series: Dallas Hewitt
FAST Series: Tyler Gunn
Fremont 410: Nate Dussel
Fremont 305: Paul Weaver
Wayne County 410: Dean Jacobs