QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — Bobby Pierce has been here before and gone home empty-handed. And after winning his second Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout features in as many nights, the Oakwood, Ill., driver is determined to cash in on a lucrative bonus courtesy the Keyser Quarter-Million Challenge at the Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout.
The 22-year-old Pierce led all but Wednesday's first lap at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway, fighting off a last-lap challenge from Brandon Overton for a $5,000 midweek victory in the second of six races on the miniseries at the third-mile oval near Phoenix.
With four more victories, Pierce would grab a whopping $250,000, while three more victories pays $100,000, two more pays $25,000 and just one more guarantees him $10,000 above and beyond purse money.
“It’s definitely a little bit more pressure, but I’m a lot more relaxed to know that we’ve got a good car. Hopefully everything stays together … man, this is awesome,” Pierce said after his 30-lap victory gave him victories in the first two miniseries races for the second time in three seasons. “I love this track. It’s just the perfect shape and it just fits me really well and this Rocket Chassis was doing really good tonight.”
The other 40 or so drivers in the pits — including the same four drivers who joined Pierce in the top-five in the opener: Overton, Scott Bloomquist, Cade Dillard and Brandon Sheppard — will do their best to deny Pierce a bonus starting with Friday evening’s main event. A Saturday doubleheader and Sunday finale, which pays a series-high $14,000 to the winner, wraps up the miniseries that saw the opening Sunday’s event fall to rain.
Pierce’s previous opportunity at a Wild West Shootout bonus was doomed by Mother Nature in 2017 when the last two events rained out after Pierce won three of the first four features. (That season, the three-victory bonus of $10,000 wasn’t available).
“It’s always fun to come to Arizona,” said Pierce, who started outside the front row. “This year we’re real competitive, so heck, I can’t wait to get to the next one. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Overton, the Evans, Ga., driver who ran second the final 22 laps, dove under Pierce entering turn one on the final lap but fell short to second for a runner-up finish while Bloomquist, of Mooresburg, Tenn., picked up two spots on the 25th lap to finish third. Dillard, of Robeline, La., advanced seven positions for his second straight fourth-place finish and Sheppard, of New Berlin, Ill., rounded out the top five in the caution-free event.
Polesitter Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., who led the first lap, fell out of the third spot on the 26th lap and settled for sixth.
Pierce built a comfortable lead of more than two seconds early in the race, but once Overton got into second, he continued to cut into Pierce’s lead, reducing it to 1.2 seconds at halfway, cutting it to less than a half-second with eight laps remaining, and drawing close enough for a last-ditch effort after seeing the white flag.
Pierce wasn’t sure it was Overton, asking in victory lane if Bloomquist had finished second after getting a brief glance at his closest pursuer.
“Brandon tried to slide me, showed his nose at me, and luckily we made a good (turns) three and four,” Pierce said. “I want to win and just have it be a little more comfortable. So we’ve gotta work on that.”
Overton said he “needed a little more” and wondered if he showed his hand too soon on the last lap.
“I probably should’ve waited until I got down here to (turn) four to slide him, but that hole was right there where I kind of needed to slide him at, and I didn’t want to hit him and knock us both out,” said Overton, who was making his second starter of Joey Coulter’s Rum Runner Racing. “All in all, ran fifth last time we raced, and to come back and run second, the car’s 100 times better than it was to begin with, so that’s a good sign. Like I said, just keep going. … maybe we’ll get one more here before too long.
“Everybody knows the first one’s the hardest one to get. It ain’t no big deal. I’m tickled to death just to be driving for these guys. I can’t thank the Coulters enough.”
Bloomquist switched grooves to reach the podium late in the race, but he wondered after the race whether his tire-cutting technique was working at a track he raced on for just the second time.
“We just tried to make the bottom work there for a while, and it just wasn’t happening,” he said. “So we got on top and we ran some good lap times there at the end on top … just a little too late. Just have to keep plugging at it.”
Twenty of 24 starters were running at the finish with 15 drivers completing 30 laps.
The third round of miniseries is scheduled for Friday with hot laps scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST. Late Models chase a $5,000-to-win purse with USRA modifieds and X-mods on the undercard. Pierce is well aware another victory brings a $10,000 bonus.
“Now a race for me” he said, “it’s not $5,000-to-win, it’s $15,000-to-win.”
Notes: Pierce notched his fifth career miniseries victory. … Terry Casey of New London, Wis., climbed into a race car for the first time in eight years but failed to make the feature field. He and fellow Wisconsin driver Steve Isenberg are sharing rides in the No. 942 car. … Alabama driver Billy Franklin broke a transmission and rear end while running in a transfer spot in a consolation race; the team plans to buy replacements or pull out the backup car Friday. … Attendance was the largest for a Wednesday night crowd in Wild West Shootout history. …Cole Searing repeated with an X-mod victory while Ricky Thornton Jr. won the USRA modified main. … Midweek practice has been moved to Thursday night; teams can practice for $200 per car and grandstand admission is free.
Preliminary results and notes:
Late Model consolation results
First consolation (top four transfer): Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Justin Duty, Cole Schill, Blair Nothdurft, John Cornell, Steve Stultz, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Dean Moore, Thomas Hunziker, Terry Carter, Billy Franklin.
Second consolation (top four transfer): Terry Phillips, Kyle Beard, Mike Maresca, Scott Ward, Kolby Vandenbergh, Jason Papich, Rob Mayea, Lyndon Bolt, Rece Vaught, Darren Coffell, Rick Ortega, Richard Wallace, Don Shaw.
Late Model consolation lineups
(12 laps; top four transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Garrett Alberson, Billy Franklin
Row 2: Earl Pearson Jr., Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Justin Duty, Steve Stultz
Row 4: Dean Moore, Carlos Ahumada Jr.
Row 5: Blair Nothdurft, Terry Carter
Row 6: Cole Schill, Thomas Hunziker
Row 7: Steve Isenberg, Jake Gallardo
Row 8: John Cornell
Second consolation
Row 1: Kyle Beard, Terry Phillips
Row 2: Don Shaw, Jason Papich
Row 3: Mike Maresca, Kolby Vandenbergh
Row 4: Scott Ward, Lyndon Bolt
Row 5: Rece Vaught, Darren Coffell
Row 6: Rob Mayea, Rick Ortega
Row 7: Dennis Souza, Richard Wallace
Fourth heat
Polesitter Joey Moriarty failed to Arizona a home-state heat winner as Chase Junghans made a lap-six slide job to win the eight-lapper. Moriarty settled for second while sixth-starting Cody Laney, piloting Pete Van Iderstine's No. 32B, finished third. Tony Toste slipped two spots but got the final transfer spot. Terry Phillips got up to second early but slipped back to finish fifth. A first-lap caution appeared when Lyndon Bolt spun in turn two, collecting Rick Ortega.
Finish (top four transfer): Chase Junghans, Joey Moriarty, Cody Laney, Tony Toste, Terry Phillips, Jason Papich, Kolby Vandenbergh, Lyndon Bolt, Darren Coffell, Rick Ortega, Richard Wallace.
Third heat
Bobby Pierce won a front-row battle of No. 32s, surviving a mid-race slip in turn four for a victory over runner-up Chris Simpson. Cade Dillard was a close fourth while R.C. Whitwell got the final transfer spots by stealing the fourth spot from Billy Franklin with two laps remaining. Thomas Hunziker spun mid-race but the race avoided a caution.
Finish (top four transfer): Bobby Pierce, Chris Simpson, Cade Dillard, R.C. Whitwell, Billy Franklin, Ricky Thornton Jr., Steve Stultz, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Terry Carter, Thomas Hunziker.
Second heat
Polesitter Scott Bloomquist repelled Brandon Overton's first-lap charge and raced to victory in the second heat. Overton finished a solid second while Ricky Weiss was a close third and Jimmy Mars got the final transfer spot.
Finish (top four transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Brandon Overton, Ricky Weiss, Jimmy Mars, Kyle Beard, Don Shaw, Mike Maresca, Scott Ward, Rece Vaught, Rob Mayea, Dennis Souza.
First heat
Fast qualifier Hudson O'Neal cruised to victory from his pole position to win the first eight-lap heat. Fellow front-row starter Pat Doar finished second with virtually everyone running high while Brandon Sheppard and Stormy Scott to the other two transfer spots. Black Diamond house car team drivers Garrett Alberson and Earl Pearson Jr. finished fifth and sixth.
Finish (top four transfer): Hudson O'Neal, Pat Doar, Brandon Sheppard, Stormy Scott, Garrett Alberson, Earl Pearson Jr., Justin Duty, Dean Moore, Blair Nothdurft, Cole Schill, Terry Casey, John Cornell.
Pre-race setup
Following Sunday’s rainout, the second round of the Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout is set for Wednesday evening at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway with a $5,000-to-win Super Late Model purse highlighting a program that includes modified and X-mods.
Hot laps are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST with heat races shortly before 7 p.m.
After capturing Saturday’s opener of the six-race miniseries, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., will continue his pursuit of the Keyser Quarter-Million Bonus that pays $250,000 to any Super Late Model driver sweeping the Jan. 5-13 action.
Late Model entries will be split into four groups for time trials with officials employing combination hot-lap/time trials to set the lineups for four heat races. Drivers start straightup by time.
The top four finishers in each of four heat races transfer to the 40-lap main event with the winners redrawing for the first two rows of the feature lineup. Two consolation races will transfer four drivers apiece to the 24-car field for the main event.
Wednesday’s event is the second of six races over the next nine days at the third-mile oval southeast of Phoenix. Action continues Friday and then Saturday with a doubleheader (hot laps at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.) including a makeup of the rainout. Sunday’s finale includes a $14,000-to-win Super Late Model feature.
Time trials (unofficial)
(Heat lineups straightup by times)
Driver (car no.), hometown
First group
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.495
Pat Doar (11), New Richmond, Wis., 14.656
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 14.668
Stormy Scott (2), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.731
Garrett Alberson (1G), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.770
Earl Pearson Jr. (1), Jacksonville, Fla., 14.890
Justin Duty (15D), Mulino, Ore., 15.102
Dean Moore (14m), Grand Junction, Colo., 15.410
Cole Schill (44), Horace, N.D., 15.494
Blair Nothdurft (76), Sioux Falls, S.D., 15.660
Terry Casey (942), New London, Wis., 15.674
John Cornell (28), Phoenix, Ariz., 15.826
Second group
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 14.552
Brandon Overton (2), Evans, Ga., 14.570
Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 14.583
Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 14.625
Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 14.729
Don Shaw (42S), Ham Lake, Minn., 14.922
Rece Vaught (20v), Aurora, Neb., 15.244
Scott Ward (37), Watertown, S.D., 15.419
Rob Mayea (37), Bend, Ore., 15.434
Mike Maresca (7mm), Potsdam, N.Y., 15.522
Dennis Souza (83), Pescadero, Calif., 17.207
Third group
Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 14.820
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 14.820
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 14.838
Ricky Thornton Jr. (6rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.949
Billy Franklin (17), Calera, Ala., 15.006
R.C. Whitwell (96), Tucson, Ariz., 15.257
Jake Gallardo (G17), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.640
Terry Carter (6T), Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, 16.003
Carlos Ahumada Jr. (54), El Paso, Texas, 16.200
Steve Stultz (78), Peoria, Ariz., 16.272
Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 16.408
Fourth group
Joey Moriarty (51), Phoenix, Ariz., 14.705
Tony Toste (91T), Pismo Beach, Calif., 14.817
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 14.877
Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., 15.010
Jason Papich (91P), Nipomo, Calif., 15.165
Cody Laney (32B), Torrance, Calif., 15.182
Kolby Vandenbergh (15), Ashland, Ill., 15.550
Lyndon Bolt (3x), Rapid City, S.D., 15.579
Richard Wallace (7w), Gold Coast, Ore., 16.199
Darren Coffell (46), Bend, Ore., 16.222
Rick Ortega (24), Las Cruces, N.M., 16.306
Wednesday's schedule
(All times Mountain)
4:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5:30 p.m - Hot laps
X-mods
Modifieds
Late Models (combo hot laps/time trials)
6:50 p.m. - National anthem
6:55 p.m. - Heat races
X-mods (6 laps)
Modifieds (8 laps)
Late Models (8 laps)
B-mains
X-mods (10 laps)
Modifieds (12 laps)
Late Models (12 laps)
Features
X-mods (20 laps)
Modifieds (25 laps)
Late Models (30 laps)
