Dirt on Dirt - Rain postpones Alabama Gang feature to Sept. 15

April 20

Talladega Short Track,

Eastaboga, AL

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (Alabama Gang 100) - $35,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated April 21, 6:02 am)

Rain postpones Alabama Gang feature to Sept. 15

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Photo slideshow Heat highlights

Zack Washington/Simple Moments Photography

Teams load up and head out after rain hit just before the 75-lap main event.

Key notes: Rain hit at 8:30 p.m. local time, just before the 75-lap feature was scheduled to hit the track, washing out the second annual Alabama Gang 100. Using the date graciously offered by Rome Speedway track owners, World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series officials have postponed the $35,000-to-win feature until Sunday, Sept. 15. … Dylan Knowles of Lanett, Ala., and Max McLaughlin of Mooresville, N.C., each scored flag-to-flag victories in Friday’s $4,000 semifeatures. Brandon Overton, Ricky Thornton Jr., Trey Mills and Sam Seawright will join Knowles and McLaughlin in the first three starting rows. … Overton, of Evans, Ga., topped last year’s inaugural Alabama Gang, collecting more than $54,000. … Tanner English of Benton, Ky., is making his debut this weekend aboard a Coltman Farms Racing Longhorn Chassis. … Watch live on DIRTVision.

Who to watch: Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., chases his second straight Alabama Gang victory after topping last year’s inaugural event and earning more than $54,000.

Points chase: Before Talladega: 1. Brandon Sheppard (1,142); 2. Chris Madden (1,118); 3. Nick Hoffman (1,108); 4. Cade Dillard (1,106); 5. Tyler Bruening (1,060); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (1,050); 7. Kyle Bronson (1,044); 8. Bobby Pierce (1,020); 9. Brian Shirley (1,008); 10. Ryan Gustin (1,000); 11. Cody Overton (990); 12. Dustin Sorensen (972).

Current weather: Overcast, 64°F

Car count: 44

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 13.578 seconds

Polesitter: Trey Mills

Heat race winners: Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar, Cade Dillard, Bobby Pierce

Consolation race winners: Tanner English, Ashton Winger

Provisional starters: Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton, Brent Larson, Daniel Hilsabeck

Next series race: April 26, Arrowhead Speedway (Colcord, OK) $15,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

EASTABOGA, Ala. (April 20) — Updates and results from Saturday’s Alabama Gang finale, featuring a 75-lap, $35,000-to-win feature for World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Postponement

Rain hit at 8:30 p.m. local time, just before the 75-lap feature was scheduled to hit the track, washing out the second annual Alabama Gang 100. Using the date graciously offered by Rome Speedway track owners, World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series officials have postponed the $35,000-to-win feature until Sunday, Sept. 15.

Feature lineup

(75 laps)

Row 1: Trey Mills, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Max McLaughlin, Sam Seawright
Row 3: Dylan Knowles, Brandon Overton
Row 4: Brandon Sheppard, Cade Dillard
Row 5: Mike Marlar, Bobby Pierce
Row 6: Dustin Sorensen, Kyle Larson
Row 7: Brian Shirley, Kyle Bronson
Row 8: Chris Madden, Ryan Gustin
Row 9: Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens
Row 10: Tanner English, Ashton Winger
Row 11: Nick Hoffman, Tyler Bruening
Row 12: Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton
Row 13: Brent Larson, Daniel Hilsabeck

Consolation results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Tanner English, Nick Hoffman, Tyler Millwood, Michael Page, Spencer Hughes, Brent Larson, Matthew Brocato, Cruz Skinner, Justin Hammett. Scratched: Parker Martin, Todd Cooney, Drake Troutman, Dennis Erb Jr.

Second consolation: Ashton Winger, Tyler Bruening, Cody Overton, T.J. Brittain, Oakley Johns, Daniel Hilsabeck, Chris Ferguson, Dillon Tidmore, David McCoy, Billy Denby. Scratched: J.R. Moseley, Dustin Walker, Tristan Chamberlain.

Heat race recap

Brandon Sheppard led all eight laps from the pole to win the first heat race by 1.289 seconds over sixth-starting Dustin Sorensen. Chris Madden started and finished third, grabbing the final transfer spot into Saturday’s 75-lap main event. The first caution flew on lap two when Dennis Erb Jr. spun trying to avoid contact with Drake Troutman while battling for third, collecting Parker Martin; Erb was unable to continue and finished 10th. Troutman slowed on the ensuing restart before pulling off and was credited with ninth. … Pole-starting Mike Marlar repelled an opening lap challenge from Brian Shirley and sped to win heat two by 1.034 seconds. Dale McDowell finished third, earning the final transfer position. … Second-starting Cade Dillard led green-to-checkered to win heat three by 1.793 seconds over pole-starting Kyle Larson. Larson repelled a late-race challenge from Ryan Gustin, who rounded-out the podium. … Bobby Pierce survived a late-race restart to lead the entire distance of the fourth and final heat, winning by 0.647 of a second over third-starting Kyle Bronson. Bronson used the late restart to pass Jimmy Owens, who settled for third. The race’s lone caution flew on the final lap when Oakley Johns and Daniel Hilsabeck spun while battling for fifth, collecting J.R. Moseley; all drivers continued, with Johns finishing sixth, Hilsabeck placing seventh and Moseley taking eighth.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Brandon Sheppard, Dustin Sorensen, Chris Madden, Tyler Millwood, Spencer Hughes, Matthew Brocato, Cruz Skinner, Parker Martin, Drake Troutman, Dennis Erb Jr.

Second heat: Mike Marlar, Brian Shirley, Dale McDowell, Nick Hoffman, Tanner English, Michael Page, Brent Larson, Todd Cooney, Justin Hammett.

Third heat: Cade Dillard, Kyle Larson, Ryan Gustin, Ashton Winger, Tyler Bruening, Dillon Tidmore, Chris Ferguson, David McCoy, Billy Denby, Tristan Chamberlain.

Fourth heat: Bobby Pierce, Kyle Bronson, Jimmy Owens, T.J. Brittain, Cody Overton, Oakley Johns, Daniel Hilsabeck, J.R. Moseley, Dustin Walker.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 13.578
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.773
3. Drake Troutman (7), Hyndman, Pa., 13.841
4. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 13.992
5. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 14.032
6. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.042
7. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.097
8. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.143
9. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 14.144
10. Michael Page (18x), Douglasville, Ga., 14.169
11. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 14.304
12. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.340
13. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 14.375
14. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.493
15. Parker Martin (6jr), Milledgeville, Ga., 14.659
16. Todd Cooney (30), Des Moines, Iowa, 14.738
17. Matthew Brocato (78), Muscle Shoals, Ala., 14.854
18. Justin Hammett (17), Zebulon, Ga., 15.150
19. Cruz Skinner (11), Oxford, Ala., no time
Group B
1. Kyle Larson (6), Elk Grove, Calif., 13.738
2. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 13.833
3. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 13.964
4. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.069
5. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.079
6. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.115
7. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 14.154
8. Cody Overton (97c), Evans, Ga., 14.156
9. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 14.226
10. J.R. Moseley (99), Columbus, Ga., 14.383
11. Dillon Tidmore (38), Gadsden, Ala., 14.405
12. Oakley Johns (c6), Hohenwald, Tenn., 14.419
13. Chris Ferguson (22F), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.507
14. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.575
15. David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 14.660
16. T.J. Brittain (05), Centre, Ala., 14.937
17. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.063
18. Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 15.092
19. Billy Denby (45), Tullahoma, Tenn., 15.556

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
4 p.m. - Drivers’ registration begins
4:30 p.m. - Drivers' autograph session
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Sprint car hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model hot laps (locked-in cars)
Opening ceremonies/WoO redraw
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Sprint car heats (10 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (75 laps)
- Sprint cars (30 laps)