Fast Talk presented by MD3 and Five Star Bodies
Fast Talk: Evaluating Ebert's Topless 100 win
With Dan Ebert capturing Batesville’s Topless 100 for his biggest career victory, our roundtable discusses that and more in our weekly feature presented by MD3 and Five Star Race Cars Bodies (edited for clarity and length):
Discuss Dan Ebert’s Topless 100 victory.
Kevin Kovac, DirtonDirt senior writer: Sure, Ebert caught some breaks to win the Topless 100, including an early flat tire, help moving forward from others’ later misfortune. But he was also due for some things to go his way — and for his perseverance as a Lucas Oil Series traveler since the start of the 2025 season to be rewarded. While Ebert is 38 and a standout in other motorsports disciplines, he’s a newcomer to Super Late Model racing and jumping right out on a national tour has tested his resolve. Last week’s mechanical breakdown that triggered the massive North-South 100 was an especially trying moment for the Minnesota driver. But he’s pressed on, he’s flashed increasingly stout speed this summer, and Saturday he ran the race of his Super Late Model life. Perhaps he didn’t expect his first Super Late Model victory to come in a crown jewel event, but he got it done. Ebert is a smart, talented racer, and now, as a full-fledged winner, he’s turned a corner and will be running up front more often.
Todd Turner, DirtonDirt managing editor: I’m not retroactively predicting Elbert’s victory, but I do specifically remember his excitement about his strong run at Batesville last season, so it makes sense that’s the site of his first Lucas Oil triumph. Always engaging to see a new winner and Ebert’s a good guy who always has kept his chin up despite taking his lumps against national touring competition. They say the second one comes easier, so it’ll be interesting to witness the Minnesotan's continued progression.
Aaron Clay, DirtonDirt weekend editor: Wow, another surprise winner in as many national touring crown jewel events. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily classify Josh Rice’s Sunoco North-South 100 win as an upset with him winning 14 specials in the last five years at his home track of Florence Speedway, but Dan Ebert’s Topless 100 triumph certainly feels like David slaying Goliath. I would guess Vegas would have Ebert’s odds of winning Saturday’s Topless finale at 75-to-1 or higher. Ebert has shown speed recently and let’s face it, he survived Batesville’s tire-eating track surface, for the biggest Late Model victory of his career.
Bryan Ault, DirtonDirt contributor: First, it’s always nice to see new drivers in victory lane. Second, it could be easy to chalk up Dan Ebert’s victory as a matter of luck given all the flat tires from fellow competitors, but he's been running well over the summer and his first national touring win is overdue. As Kevin noted in his instant analysis, the win has to be a huge lift to Ebert’s confidence after causing that gigantic frontstretch pileup during the North-South last weekend. Along with Ebert setting fast time at Eldora’s Dream, he's flashed plenty of speed over the past few weeks. He managed to put a great night together Saturday at Batesville, pocketing $50,000 in one of our sport’s more challenging events.
Flat tire and pit-stop races: Yay or nay?
Turner: Eh, I’m good for about one of these a year. Back when I was based in the Carolinas, it tended to be Cherokee Speedway’s Blue-Gray 100. The pit strategy and intrigue (along with Barry Wright often walking as close to the track as possible in turn four to study right-rear tires under caution) could be compelling, but like the rubber, it wears off quickly. I understand it’s an official’s nightmare keeping track of it all, but it seemed like a few of those caution periods at Batesville were overly accommodating. I guess the courtesy laps reset every time another tire-flattened driver entered the pits?
Clay: It will always be a “nay” for me. Obviously, there’s extenuating circumstances and it seems everyone tried to make the best of a difficult situation at Saturday’s Topless 100, but it simply wasn't a good show. Ideally, series officials could hold off on throwing cautions for every flat tire, but I think we all get it — the series needs to take care of its regulars. Even if a driver could safely tiptoe to the infield under green, officials would hear an earful from any competitor who was “taken out of contention” because a caution wasn’t thrown.
Ault: Nay, nay, nay. Count me vehemently opposed. Pit stops are for asphalt races, not short track racing, and especially not for our sport. I realize it’s unavoidable at times which was the case at Batesville, but as a big proponent of shows ending at a good hour, there’s no need to drag it out so long. Constant stoppages make the race harder to watch. Even the caution-plagued North-South 100 had its boring stretches. Hopefully future Batesville events won’t face quite so many flats.
Kovac: In general, I’m certainly “nay” on races that, like Saturday’s Topless 100, are filled with flat tires and pit stops. It’s just no fun to constantly see cars pulling up lame and then heading pitside for tire changes. I’m not totally against a long-distance event that might have tire conservation, or even the possibility of some tire-changing strategy, factor into the outcome. Races like that can provide some intrigue and test drivers’ ability and patience. But seemingly never-ending slowdowns for cut tires rather than just plain worn-out rubber? There’s nothing redeeming to that.
What else struck you about the Topless 100?
Clay: I’m aware this is an unpopular opinion, but I think Dirt Late Models look a bit silly topless. Some guys have a “top” to their rollcage and some guys don’t, while the rollcage only encompasses the area around the driver — a very small portion of the overall deck space. Couple the odd-appearing aesthetics with the fact that Batesville’s track surface doesn’t always lend itself to the best racing (very little side-by-side combined with tire conservation) and Batesville ranks as a bit an an outlier on the crown jewel schedule. I appreciate the Topless 100 event’s uniqueness and 34-year history, but it’s not my favorite.
Kovac: In a race that had just two drivers in the 24-car starting field go the 100-lap distance without pitting for a tire change (whether to replace a flat or just put on fresh rubber), one was no surprise: veteran Dale McDowell, who recovered from an early spin to finish second. But the other was Clay Stuckey, the 22-year-old Louisianan who just might have driven the race of his young career to place fourth. Stuckey’s right-rear tire was bald and ready to blow out at the checkered flag, but he made it, which was a pretty neat sideline story. It’s the best crown jewel finish for the son of longtime crew chief and chassis builder Ronnie Stuckey, and it showed that his development is coming along.
Turner: The absence of Garrett Alberson, who is recovering from facial injuries from the blow to the helmet at the Sunoco North-South 100. The overwhelming generosity of folks supporting the growing Alberson family through the GoFundMe, especially Tom Paulson’s announced donation of a whopping $30,000, is heartwarming. Our best to Garrett obviously, and his injuries are a reminder that these drivers bravely put themselves in harm’s way every lap for the entertainment of us all.
Ault: The discussion about flat tires notwithstanding, it’s too bad Josh Rice couldn’t back up his North-South 100 triumph with a victory at the Topless, especially with his charge from the back of the field. Imagine Rice and the JRR Motorsports team pocketing more than $125,000 in just two weeks; they would be on Cloud Nine. Either way, I’m anxious to see if he can pick up a few more wins in his new Rocket.
Detail another weekend result or recent news item.
Ault: Mike Marlar dominated last weekend, topping it off with a victory at the Butterball Wooldridge Memorial at Richmond Raceway. With Marlar’s victories over the past few weeks, Rice’s success at Florence and Ebert’s victory, are we seeing a midseason Rocket Chassis resurgence? Longhorn has been dominating in recent years, but Mark Richards has to be excited to see so many drivers landing in victory lane, especially with Rice and Marlar making the change over from Longhorn and Brandon Sheppard leading Lucas Oil points.
Clay: Eli Ross certainly seems to have a bright future in Dirt Late Model Racing. The Muskogee, Okla., hotshoe captured another sweep this past weekend, this time on the third-year Revival Super Dirt Series. The teenager now has 11 overall feature wins this season, one on the Comp Cams Series, eight on the Revival tour and four on his home-state Sooner Series (several were co-sanctioned). Granted, Ross isn’t having tremendous success nationally, but he’s shown steady improvement year-over-year since 2023. Don’t be surprised if you see Ross’s name on a major touring series sooner than later.
Turner: Indulge me with a few quick-hitters? How about 12-year-old Callan Hill winning on the Ross Foundation Sooner Late Model Series in Enid, Okla. … Cool to see Eddie Carrier Jr. back in victory lane at Tyler County’s Bud Weigle Memorial. … Also the Pederson family, frequent visitors to victory lane at North Dakota’s River Cities Speedway, celebrated with Kelsi winning her first Late Model feature. … And Dona Marcoullier won at Winston Speedway on the fledgling Move Over Michigan Dirt Late Model Series that plans a few more races this year and a full season next for the Jeff Finley-founded circuit.
Kovac: Chasing the World of Outlaws Late Model Series for the first time this season has been just as difficult and trying as Logan Zarin expected. Success comes in small, personal victories. But what Zarin did Saturday — scoring an unsanctioned $10,000 win at Bradford (Pa.) Speedway — was hard proof that all the hard knocks he’s taking on the road are making him a better driver. He only has one top-10 finish (plus a semifeature victory) in WoO action this year, but running regularly against national competition has raised his performance level to where he can drop in on a regional special and immediately shine. A triumph like Zarin achieved will go a long way in energizing him for the rest of WoO’s season.
Preview the upcoming Iowa Speedweek or other upcoming races.
Kovac: Only this week’s two FloRacing shows at Marshalltown and Mason City and the WoO doubleheader at Maquoketa are officially getting the “Speedweek” treatment with a points fund, but Iowa actually is host to a two-week stretch of national touring competition with the WoO sticking around to visit Southern Iowa, Adams County and Shelby County next week. The Hawkeye State fans are incredibly fortunate this year to have 15 nights of national touring racing — seven for the Lucas Oil Series, six for WoO and two for FloRacing — as Iowa enjoys sort of a renaissance with the Super Late Model division (at least in terms of special shows). The number of events in Iowa makes it clear that the national circuits recognize the quality racetracks in the state.
Ault: The Northern Allstars has a Hoosier State doubleheader on tap this weekend with a Friday stop at Circle City in Indianapolis and a Saturday race at Brownstown Speedway. I’m interested to see if any heavy hitters from the national tours decide to stop in and take a shot at the action. I’ll also be keeping an eye on Jason Jameson, especially after his wild flip at Florence and how he races his new car on both Indiana bullrings.
Clay: An interesting aspect to Iowa Speedweek is the Hawkeye State Great 8 points fund offering a $10,000 total payout, with $2,500 to the driver who earns the most points over all four Iowa events (Tuesday at Marshalltown, Wednesday at Mason City and this weekend at Maquoketa) and the top eight receiving financial compensation (1. $2,500; 2. $1,450; 3. $1,200; 4. $1,100; 5. $1,050; 6. $1,000; 7. $900; 8. $800). This points fund is unique in that it encompasses three tracks and two sanctions (FloRacing Night in America and the World of Outlaws). I think the added money will only increase intensity and lure national-level competitors.
Turner: Iowa is where it's at this week, but the busy upcoming stretch of Ohio-Pennsylvania-West Virginia action caught my attention. With the reopened Portsmouth oval adding $5,000- and $20,000-to-win events on Labor Day weekend, the two days before West Virginia Motor Speedway’s $25,000-to-win Hillbilly 100, that makes for a quite a holiday (WVMS also has a pair of $6,000-to-win preliminary features). Also, Tyler County’s Country Roads weekend is a weekend earlier this year with $5,000- and $20,000-to-win ULMS races (a weekend when national touring drivers are occupied elsewhere). Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., joins the fun with a weeknight $15,000-to-win event Sept. 1. Lots of opportunities for regional drivers to make a name.
