10 Things we Learned About Sprint Cars from This Past Week 7-4 through 7-10

Happy November folks. A tad warm out for this time of year. Maybe AL Gore is right about global warming. I hope all the kids had a great Halloween and got lots and lots of candy. Soon we’ll be stuffing Turkey, wrapping presents,telling your drunk uncle to shut up about politics at Christmas dinner and silly season will be starting before you know it. Wait, what’s that ? Look at the calendar? Oh my goodness.. its still July.

Silly season doesn’t stop. Rumors flying left ,right and center. Crew shake ups. A new team forms. Drivers moving teams. Drivers rumor to be moving. This is stuff that usually takes place over a month. This is all since last week. But we still learned something about Sprint Cars this week so let’s get it. Here are 10 Things We’ve Learned About Sprint Cars for the Week of July 4-10th.

1. Shuttlesworth, Stuebgen , it doesn’t matter. Macri by a mile.

It’s Anthony Macri’s world and we are just living in it. After news broke that Macri and Jim Shuttlesworth parted ways in the middle of last week. Macri announced that Bernie Stuebgen of Indy Race Parts would come in to help out this past weekend. Macri proved it doesn’t matter who is turning the wrenches on the 39m. He is that damn good. A weekend sweep at both Williams Grove from the 8th starting spot and Lincoln from outside pole. Both are his 3rd wins at each track this year bringing him up to 16 wins this season. 1-6. And we’re only in July folks. 20 wins is definitely not out of the question. But 25 or 30 ? Not too far out of the realm of possibility either. But the question is who will turn wrenches this week in Ohio for the Kings Royal.

Hasn’t been said if Stuebgen will help out the 39m. But I would assume the Indy Race Parts car will be fighting for the over $300,000 that’s on the line this coming week. I’m sure that announcement will be coming out very soon

2.New Teams form mid-season. Sorta.

John Stehman has had quite the last 2 years or so. Giving Pat Cannon his return to Sprint Car racing and even getting a win in May 2021 at Cumberland Maryland. But when Stehman and Cannon parted ways back in April the 23 became a part time team. Running mostly URC shows here and there. There were massive rumors floating around back in April when Cannon was out of the 23 that what happened last week would. Sure enough it did. But I don’t think anyone thought it would be so soon nor the way it went down. Stehman and the Shuttlesworth’s Jim and Chris formed Shuttlesworth Stehman Motorsports this past week. With Devon Borden leaving the Hefner 27 for the SSM 23.

A very nice start to for the team first night out at Selinsgrove for the 360 National Open fighting for the lead from the 5th starting spot in the closing laps. Ultimately settling for 3rd behind Jason Shultz and Blane Heimbauch. Hearing their 410 debut as a team could come as early as this weekend. Stehmans 360 program has been decent in the time I’ve seen them race. Very interesting to see how the 410 goes with Shuttlesworth on wrenches and Borden behind the wheel. The kid has talent. Absolutely no one is saying he does. The best thing for him is to have a guy like Jim Shuttlesworth on the team to reel him in a little bit. Borden will get everything and then some out of a car. Sometimes that needs to be tamed. This is going to be a very interesting rest of the summer.

3. The 27 car isn’t done. We hope.

I know this list is called the 10 things we Learned About Sprint Cars. But we don’t know one thing. Who is going to be running the Heffner 27 car ? Names have been thrown all out over the last week. The one everyone says it’s going to be Briggs Danner. But I don’t think that’s going to happen quite yet. Especially with the way their season is going in the 5g. Technically a teammate to the 27 car since Mike Heffner purchased it. But they have a lot going for them in the 5g especially on the wingless side with going to attempt Indiana Sprint Week coming up. Not saying it’s out of the question. But right now probably not.

Another name that came up has been Cory Eliason since get was let go of the Rudeen 26 in favor of Zeb Wise. Not a terrible fit at all. To have Cory come run some races. Very good talent and a wheelman. But I wouldn’t be shocked too if the 27 sat this weekend and had someone in it for the Outlaws. Would definitely love to see Heffner give a young driver an opportunity like he did with Borden.

4.Silly season isn’t just for PA.

Back a few weeks, Zeb Wise was announced as a 2nd driver for Kevin Rudeens 26 car at Skagit Speedway Dirt Cup. Finishing 8th, 23rd and 18th in the 3 nights. Must of been good enough for Rudeen. He and Eilason parted and it was announced Zeb would take over the 26 for the rest of the season with the All Stars.

A good opportunity for Zeb and not in his own equipment. He has a few wins so far this year. So this could be a fun pairing. Eliason on the other hand. No idea what he will be doing yet for the rest of the year. He ran at Knoxville last Saturday night in the Indy Race Parts 71 finishing 2nd to Gio Scelzi. Could be a home for Cory for the Kings Royal and beyond till 2023 comes around anyways.

5. Robbie Kendall getting some opportunities.

Good to see Robbie Kendall get a chance to run someone else’s stuff. Robbie was in the Westbrook 1w on Friday night at the Grove. A solid 2nd place run for the New Freedom driver. Always a tough driver down at Lincoln in his 55 car. Hopefully they can have some nice runs coming up to make this a weekly thing at the Grove.

6.Clinton County is a hidden gem.

URC made their debut at Clinton County on Friday night. Folks if you aren’t going to Knoxville in August. I highly highly recommend going to Clinton County for the 410 show on August 13th. The place is so bad ass. It’s a tight ⅓ mile that gets a New York slick in Pennsylvania. Minimum dust and 3 lanes of racing. A few things with the track that can make it a little rough. But it adds character. But most importantly. It did not eat tires.

The URC feature was won by Chuck Hebing from Ontario,NY in a heck of a battle with Ryan Smith,Jason Shultz and Josh Weller. Really hope we can get a URC date again in 2023 or even a date to make up for a race we lost in 2022 so far. Fantastic facility with great people working hard to make it a great place on Friday Nights.

7. Jason Shultz owns Selinsgrove in 360s.

Another Saturday night. Another win at Selinsgrove for Jason Shultz. He wins the Mach 1 Chassis 360 National Open on Saturday night for the first time. Every URC race there this year has been won by either Shultz or Mark Smith. It was Shultz 3rd win in the 4 360 races held at Selinsgrove in 2022. Clinching him the 360 track title. After a 3rd Place run on Friday. Tho Saturday was a non URC points night. He’s getting close to getting that 2nd straight URC championship.

8.Schuerenberg should have had 2 All Stars wins this weekend.

All Stars made their way back east with a trip to Ransomville and Stateline this weekend for a pair in the Empire State after Larson won the Don Martin Silver Cup on Wednesday at Lernerville. The weekend was all but dominated by Hunter Schuerenberg and should of had back to back wins. But a meddling cut tire cost him the $12,000 pay day at Ransomville. But a win Saturday night at Stateline will make you forget about that stupid tire quickly.

9. PPM – The law firm thats in the right place at the right time.

The benefactor to Schuerenberg misfortune on Friday was Parker Price-Miller. PPM scored his second All Star win at Ransomville. PPM is putting together a solid year in the McGhee 11 car with 3 wins in total and 4th in All Star Points with “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney out on top.

10. Lucky 7 for Macedo. Sweet stays consistent.

Carson Macedo scored win number 7 on the year at Wilmot on Saturday night. I’m dominating fashion. Definitely trying to put that big Ole DNF in the rearview mirror from Cedar Lake. But if he’s going to have a chance. He needs Brad Sweet to have a terrible week this week.

Outlaws are at Attica on Tuesday for the Doty and then 4 straight nights at Eldora. A track that has seen some success from Sweet over the years. But we’re coming into a stretch of races that may swing this points fight into the challenger’s hands. After Eldora it’s PA swing #2. PA has not been good to Brad and with only 60 points separating the top 4. Who all just so happen to be good in PA outside of Sweet of late. The Big Cat could be in Big Trouble in two weeks time.

Honorable Mentions

11.Did you see the USAC East Coast finish ?

Shocker. The USAC East Coast feature came down to Alex Bright and Briggs Danner. But it was a dog fight for the win on Friday night at the Grove. With Bright holding off Danner for the win and a season. Sweep at the Grove. Wingless racing had been fantastic at the grove this year.

It was really nice to see both Bright and Danner throw wings on Saturday night. Bright went to Port with the 410 with an 11th place finish. Danner took the 360 to Selinsgrove and ran 15th. Not terrible for two guys who should do more winged racing. But I’m being biased. These two are the future of wingless racing in PA. I’m sure they will both have a fight in Indiana Sprint Week coming up in a couple of weeks. Expect some good results out of them in Hoosierland.