Tanner Holmes joins the Dirt Parlor to talk about his incredible rise in sprint car racing and the breakout season that has established him as one of the sport's hottest young drivers. At just 22 years old, Tanner has made the jump to the national level with the Tom Buch 13 team, competing against some of the biggest names and toughest teams in sprint car racing. He shares how his first national win helped build his confidence and how experience, consistency, and better decision-making have transformed his performance.

Tanner also takes us behind the scenes of his journey from Oregon and a family-run racing operation to competing on the national stage. He discusses the challenges of traveling to nearly 100 races, learning new tracks across the country, racing at places like Volusia, Eldora, Port Royal, the Grove, and Tulare, and adapting to the speed and intensity of national sprint car competition. Tanner explains how having a committed crew chief and team gave him the freedom to make mistakes, learn, develop, and ultimately turn early-season struggles into podiums, top-five finishes, and wins.

The conversation also dives into the story behind Tanner's 18T, how the opportunity with the Tom Buch team came together through an unexpected Facebook message, and the mental challenges of not knowing where the next racing opportunity will come from. Tanner shares valuable advice for young racers about staying hungry, controlling what you can control, continuing to knock on doors, and believing in your path even when the outcome is uncertain. He also explains why educating fans through social media has become such an important part of his role in growing and showcasing sprint car racing.

🔥 Shoutout to Our Sponsors: A huge thank you to Hoker Trucking, Nutrien, Millard Parker-Millard Family Chapels, Checkered Customs, Dave Warren Powersports, Dirt Crew Chief, Hotrod Septic Treatment, Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging and FK Rod Ends for their support. Your commitment fuels the passion, competition, and community that make dirt racing great!

Logan Seavey joins the Dirt Parlor Podcast to break down an absolutely wild weekend at Eldora Speedway, where he climbed behind the wheel of four different race cars during the Four Crown weekend. From sprint cars and midgets to the Silver Crown and winged sprint car, Logan explains the challenge of constantly switching between cars, adjusting his driving style, managing different setups, and keeping up with an intense schedule.

Logan also takes us through his journey as a racer, from growing up as a first-generation racer in California to racing Outlaws, developing his skills on iRacing, and eventually getting opportunities with Keith Kunz Motorsports and other top teams. He explains how racing online with some of the best drivers in the world helped improve his race craft and how those connections eventually helped open the door to professional dirt racing.

Beyond the racetrack, Logan talks about how much his life has changed since becoming a dad, traveling with his family, the growth of dirt racing, increasing viewership, sponsorship opportunities, and the importance of connecting with young fans at the track. He also looks ahead to the rest of his 2026 season, including USAC Sprint Car races, the Western swing, and Turkey Night Grand Prix. This is a great conversation about dirt racing, career growth, family, and what it takes to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

🔥 Shoutout to Our Sponsors: A huge thank you to Hoker Trucking, Nutrien, Millard Parker-Millard Family Chapels, Checkered Customs, Dave Warren Powersports, Dirt Crew Chief, Hotrod Septic Treatment, Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging and FK Rod Ends for their support. Your commitment fuels the passion, competition, and community that make dirt racing great!

Steve Francis, the World of Outlaws Series Director and longtime dirt racing veteran, joins Don Martin and Gordy Gundaker on the Dirt Parlor Podcast for an in-depth conversation about the evolution of dirt late model racing. Known by many longtime fans as the "Kentucky Colonel," Francis shares his perspective on moving from behind the wheel to the series director role and the challenge of balancing the needs of racers, promoters, tracks, and series staff.

The conversation dives deep into how technology has transformed dirt late model racing over the last decade. Francis discusses horsepower, restrictors, shock technology, body technology, side force, aerodynamics, and how modern race cars have changed the way drivers approach the track. He also explains why some of the technological advances cannot simply be reversed and why every new rule can create new opportunities for engineers to find an advantage.

Francis, Martin, and Gundaker also discuss the rising cost of dirt racing, the shrinking number of weekly late model racers, the growth of national touring series, race schedules, speed weeks, tire competition, and the balance between national and regional racing. They debate whether the sport has reached a point where there can be too many races and too many competing series while also recognizing the growth, money, professionalism, and popularity at the top levels of dirt racing. It's a revealing conversation about where dirt racing has been, where it is today, and the challenges facing its future.

🔥 Shoutout to Our Sponsors: A huge thank you to Hoker Trucking, Nutrien, Millard Parker-Millard Family Chapels, Checkered Customs, Dave Warren Powersports, Dirt Crew Chief, Hotrod Septic Treatment, Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging and FK Rod Ends for their support. Your commitment fuels the passion, competition, and community that make dirt racing great!