What won the race: Overtaking Tyler Bruening on a lap-19 restart, pole-starting Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., led the rest of Wednesday's 40-lap World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series debut at Highland Speedway for a $10,000 victory. Shirley captured the Beat the Heat 40 by 1.198 seconds over seventh-starting Bobby Pierce, securing his second Outlaws win of the season and the ninth of his career in front of a record-setting Highland crowd.

Quotable: “I definitely feel like we’re getting better, that’s for sure,” Shirley said. “I’m just not 100 percent where I need to be in the main race, you know. I feel like Bobby and them guys definitely got an edge on us, (Ricky) Thornton (Jr.) and guys like that, they know where to be better than I do, but we’re trying. Racing is definitely awesome, this one’s for my wife, she just went into treatment Monday,” added Shirley, whose wife Shannon has battled persistent health issues.

Key notes: Shirley's first WoO victory paid $12,000 in June's WoO stop at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. ... Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., who grabbed second from Tyler Bruening on lap 38, said he "got lucky with them cautions," noting that he was lined up on the outside for each of the race's four restarts. ... Bruening, of Decorah, Iowa, led the opening 18 laps from outside the front row before Shirley slid by him on the bottom and Pierce relegated him to third. Bruening said "this is a win in our book" after nabbing his first podium finish of the season. ... Jason Feger, winner of June's $10,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals event at Highland, gained five spots and finished ninth. ... Third-starting Dennis Erb Jr. slipped to 10th in his debut aboard a new Barry Wright Race Car; he previously drove Barry Wright cars for the second half of the 2014 second and first half of 2015 with a single victory. He used a last-lap pass on Cade Dillard to win the first heat race. ... The feature was slowed by four cautions, the final coming on lap 23 when hometown racer and fifth-running Mike Harrison slowed with a flat left-rear. He opted not to change the tire and called a night. ... The third stoppage came on lap 19 after Rodney Melvin spun following contact from Nick Hoffman as they battled for 12th. ... Clay Stuckey retired after slowing from 18th on lap 12. ... After wrecking his first Infinity Chassis at Cedar Lake Speedway, Tristan Chamberlain debuted a new car and finished 16th after spinning for a lap-seven yellow flag. ... The race lasted 22 minutes, with 21 competitors running at the checkers.

On the move: Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, started 12th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Thomason Express, Hoker Trucking, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphics, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Motorsports, East Central Coin, Cheers and Integra Shocks.

Points chase: After Highland: 1. Brandon Sheppard (4,430); 2. Nick Hoffman (4,384); 3. Bobby Pierce (4,358); 4. Cade Dillard (4,238); 5. Kyle Bronson (4,234); 6. Ryan Gustin (4,216); 7. Brian Shirley (4,126); 8. Tyler Bruening (4,124); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,092). 10. Dustin Sorensen (4,024).

Current weather: Overcast, 75°F

Car count: 33

Fast qualifier: Cade Dillard

Time: 13.043 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Dennis Erb Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Bruening, Brian Shirley

Consolation race winners: Shannon Babb, Tristan Chamberlain

Provisional starters: Max McLaughlin, Brent Larson, Todd Rehg

Next series race: August 15, Spoon River Speedway (Banner, IL) $10,000