CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 5, 2015) — Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, N.C., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., were the fleetest of an event record 86 entries as the ninth annual Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals kicked off with Qualifying Night Thursday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The 25-year-old Ferguson continued the best season of his young career with yet another fast-time honor, blasting around The Dirt Track in 14.744 seconds to register the overall quickest lap in the first of two Ohlins Shocks Time Trials rounds for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. His effort earned him the pole position for the fourth of six heat races scheduled for Friday night.

Lanigan, 45, shined in the second round of qualifying, turning a lap of 14.999 seconds to begin his first weekend driving for the Clint Bowyer Racing team in strong fashion. He will start from the pole position in the first of six heat races on Saturday night’s program.

The two qualifying rounds were part of the opening night of the World Finals weekend at Charlotte's 4/10-mile oval. The three-night blockbuster event features season-ending doubleheaders for the WoO, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds.

The results of Thursday’s WoO time trials will be used to determine the heat race lineups for separate $12,000-to-win WoO LMS programs on Friday and Saturday. First-round qualifying times set lineups for Friday night's action and second-round times align Saturday’s preliminaries.

Ferguson’s fast time came despite the apparent handicap of timing at the end of both qualifying rounds because he did not register his car and draw his time-trial positions before the drivers’ meeting. His Longhorn car was in the pits all day, but both Ferguson and his father arrived late due to work commitments and did not arrange to have someone else sign them in.

“It worked out pretty decent though because the times didn’t change (over the course of the session),” said Ferguson. “The first round everybody was kind of running the middle-bottom, and then I went up there and just blasted the top and it wasn’t too rough. Sometimes you just gotta go up there and hope that it works, and fortunately for me, tonight it worked.”

Ferguson nearly met disaster with the same strategy in Round 2, however. He bounced through the cushion and got his car on two wheels, slowing his first lap, though he recovered to time sixth-fastest in his group.

“In the second round, when I went up there (in the outside groove), there had been so me cars up there and it dug some holes,” said Ferguson, who captured his first-ever pair of WoO victories earlier this season. “Going into one and two I hit one and thought I was gonna flip.”

Lanigan, meanwhile, was nearly perfect. After clicking off the second-fastest lap in his group during the Round 1 — giving him a Friday-night heat-race pole — he was the overall fastest in the second round steering a new Club 29 car in his debut weekend with NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer’s team, which he will drive for full-time in 2016.

“The car was extremely good,” said Lanigan, a three-time WoO champion who has two career World Finals wins. “We were just a hair short of fast time in the first round, and then we got it done in the second round. I’m really happy with the piece.

“You had to be real careful. You had to get a good lap, but you couldn’t get up there against that cushion too hard because it would just jerk you into it. I just kind of ran right against it without jumping it. We got lucky and cut a smooth lap.”

Joining Ferguson and Lanigan as pole-position starters in Friday heats after strong qualifying runs in Round 1 were Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C. (group fast-timer), Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn.

Richards was a group quick-qualifier in Round 2, putting him on a Saturday-night heat pole along with Lanigan. Other polesitters will be Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., all-time winningest World Finals driver Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., and Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark.

The Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals continue on Friday and Saturday with gates opening at 3 p.m. and hot laps scheduled to begin at 4 each day. Each program will include a 50-lap A-Main for the WoO Late Models, a 30-lap A-Main for the WoO Sprint Car Series and a 40-lap main event for the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds.

Second round qualifying

Darrell Lanigan started his debut weekend with Clint Bowyer Racing in impressive fashion, registering the overall fastest lap in the second round of qualifying. His circuit of 14.999 seconds topped the first group and put him on the pole position for the first of Saturday night's six heat races.

Other polesitters for Saturday heats will be Randy Weaver, Casey Roberts, Josh Richards (second group fast-timer at 15.145 seconds), Jimmy Owens and Billy Moyer Jr.

First group   
Darrell Lanigan (15), Union, Ky., 14.999
Randy Weaver (116), Crossville, Tenn., 15.201
Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 15.215
Brandon Sheppard (B54), New Berlin, Ill., 15.232
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.233
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.319
Rick Eckert (7E), York, Pa., 15.381
Paul Wilmoth Jr. (B1), Clarksburg, W.Va., 15.388
Tim Shaffer (47), Aliquippa, Pa., 15.428
Will Vaught (1G), Crane, Mo., 15.484
Chris Brown (77), Spring, Texas, 15.505
Chase Junghans (18c), Manhattan, Kan., 15.52
Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., 15.536
Willie Milliken (2), Roanoke Rapids, N.C., 15.537
Walker Arthur (87), Forrest, Va., 15.554
Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.571
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.62
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.651
Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 15.661
Matt Westfall (54), Pleasant Hills, Ohio, 15.706
Dustin Mitchell (d8), Princeton, N.C., 15.717
Scott Lewis (99), Henderson, Colo., 15.723
Allen Murray (2M), San Antonio, Texas, 15.774
Mark Parks (89), Forrest, Va., 15.79
Morgan Bagley (14M), Tyler, Texas, 15.811
Kelly Guy (28), Thomson, Ga., 15.814
Earl Pearson Jr. (1), Jacksonville, Fla., 15.863
Austin Hubbard (1A), Seaford, Del., 15.877
Kyle Pierce (281), Statesville, N.C., 15.915
Brian Ligon (4L), Augusta, Ga., 15.966
Dale Hollidge (0), Mechanicsville, Md., 15.982
Kerry King Jr. (KB1), Delmar, Del., 16.012
Jordan Yaggy (77), Rochester, Minn., 16.087
Austin Kirkpatrick (11K), Ocala, Fla., 16.135
Jason Wagner (J12), Morton, Ill., 16.23
Garrett Alberson (F5), Las Cruces, N.M., 16.307
Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 16.379
Bob Gordon (31G), Keyser, W.Va., 16.463
Jim Rasey (6R), Southington, Ohio, 16.619
Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 16.700
Kenny Pettyjohn (11P), Millsboro, Del., 16.740
Dan Shepherd (68), Greeley, Colo., 16.968
John Henderson Jr. (2x), North Augusta, S.C., no time
Second group   
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 15.145
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.150
Billy Moyer Jr. (21Jr), Batesville, Ark., 15.160
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C.,  15.284
Justin Labonte (44L), Trinity, N.C., 15.284
Chris Ferguson (22), Mt. Holly, N.C., 15.316
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.328
Dennis Franklin (2), Gaffney, S.C., 15.347
Don O'Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 15.386
Greg Johnson (88), Bedford, Ind., 15.418
Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.492
Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 15.503
Austin Smith (11s), Cedartown, Ga., 15.511
Chris Simpson (R5), Oxford, Iowa, 15.524
Max Blair (111), Titusville, Pa., 15.558
Pancho Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 15.581
James Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.622
Donny Schatz (15), Fargo, N.D., 15.647
Donald Bradsher (93), Burlington, N.C., 15.68
Nick Latham (31), Winchester, Ohio, 15.684
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.685
Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 15.706
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.814
Dean Bowen (32), Whiteville, N.C., 15.818
Boom Briggs (99b), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.836
Gary Stuhler (1s), Greencastle, Pa., 15.838
Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 15.842
Chad Hollenbeck (4ds), Kingsley, Pa., 15.861
Dale McDowell (17M), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.925
Russell Erwin (22e), Beaverdam, Va., 15.988
Andy Fries (82), Mercersburg, Pa., 16.171
Colton Flinner (75), Allison Park, Pa., 16.238
Dan Stone (21d), Thompson, Pa., 16.24
Tyler Horst (14H), Wayneboro, Pa., 16.247
Greg Clark (39c), Stanley, N.C., 16.259
Jay Sessoms (84), Stanley, N.C., 16.265
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.273
Cody Mahoney (4), Hanover, Ind., 16.392
Reid Millard (14), Jefferson City, Mo., 16.474
Nick Davis (92), Gumboro, Del., 16.507
Jeff Wolfenbarger (28W), Knoxville, Tenn., 17.029
Adam Bowman (77A), Seymour, Ind., no time
Joey Coulter (2c), Charlotte, N.C., no time

First round qualifying

Qualifying at the very end of first round time trials didn't bother Chris Ferguson, who blazed around the 4/10-mile oval in 14.744 seconds to register the overall fastest lap of the evening's opening session. He was the lone driver to break into the 14-second bracket.

Ferguson earned the pole position for Friday night's fourth of six heat races with his qualifying effort. Other heat polesitters will be first-group quick-timer Chris Madden (15.104 seconds), Darrell Lanigan, Steve Francis, Josh Richards and Scott Bloomquist.

Among the drivers who experienced problems during the first round of time trials were Frank Heckenast, who damaged the nose of his car when he clipped an inside marker tire between turns three and four after turning the fourth-fastest lap in Group 1; Earl Pearson Jr., who nearly sheared off the right-front suspension of his car when he hit a hole on the track; and Ross Robinson, who failed to register a time because of mechanical woes that caused him to bounce through the infield.

First group
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.104
Darrell Lanigan (15), Union, Ky., 15.107
Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 15.196
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.308
Austin Smith (11s), Cedartown, Ga., 15.312
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.316
Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 15.364
Brian Ligon (4L), Augusta, Ga., 15.411
Boom Briggs (99b), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.423
Donald Bradsher (93), Burlington, N.C., 15.428
Justin Labonte (44L), Trinity, N.C., 15.434
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.44
Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.46
Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.467
Donny Schatz (15), Fargo, N.D., 15.487
Chris Simpson (R5), Oxford, Iowa, 15.518
Willie Milliken (2), Roanoke Rapids, N.C., 15.548
Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 15.575
Austin Kirkpatrick (11K), Ocala, Fla., 15.6
Dennis Franklin (2), Gaffney, S.C., 15.61
Will Vaught (1G), Crane, Mo., 15.625
Dale McDowell (17M), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.627
Kenny Pettyjohn (11P), Millsboro, Del., 15.627
Matt Westfall (54), Pleasant Hills, Ohio, 15.655
Austin Hubbard (1A), Seaford, Del., 15.658
Tim Shaffer (47), Aliquippa, Pa., 15.66
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.704
Garrett Alberson (F5), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.773
Chris Brown (77), Spring, Texas, 15.781
Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 15.832
Jason Wagner (J12), Morton, Ill., 15.9
Jim Rasey (6R), Southington, Ohio, 15.939
Joey Coulter (2c), Charlotte, N.C., 15.965
Kyle Pierce (281), Statesville, N.C., 16.018
Pancho Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 16.046
Gary Stuhler (1s), Greencastle, Pa., 16.061
Kelly Guy (28), Thomson, Ga., 16.088
Nick Davis (92), Gumboro, Del., 16.286
Adam Bowman (77A), Seymour, Ind., 16.302
Bob Gordon (31G), Keyser, W.Va., 16.369
Earl Pearson Jr. (1), Jacksonville, Fla., 16.399
Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 16.623
Dan Stone (21d), Thompson, Pa., 16.677
Second group   
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.744
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 15.045
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.094
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.119
Randy Weaver (116), Crossville, Tenn., 15.192
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.367
Brandon Sheppard (B54), New Berlin, Ill., 15.417
John Henderson Jr. (2x), North Augusta, S.C., 15.421
Greg Johnson (88), Bedford, Ind., 15.423
Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., 15.432
Mark Parks (89), Forrest, Va., 15.483
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.53
Don O'Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 15.545
Russell Erwin (22e), Beaverdam, Va., 15.566
Billy Moyer Jr. (21Jr), Batesville, Ark., 15.592
James Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.603
Eric Wells (18), Hazard, Ky., 15.633
Rick Eckert (7E), York, Pa., 15.638
Morgan Bagley (14M), Tyler, Texas, 15.651
Dale Hollidge (0), Mechanicsville, Md., 15.669
Paul Wilmoth Jr. (B1), Clarksburg, W.Va., 15.669
Max Blair (111), Titusville, Pa., 15.687
Chad Hollenbeck (4ds), Kingsley, Pa., 15.711
Dean Bowen (32), Whiteville, N.C., 15.805
Chase Junghans (18c), Manhattan, Kan., 15.828
Walker Arthur (87), Forrest, Va., 15.859
Nick Latham (31), Winchester, Ohio, 15.865
Dustin Mitchell (d8), Princeton, N.C., 15.873
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.875
Jay Sessoms (84), Stanley, N.C., 15.991
Allen Murray (2M), San Antonio, Texas, 16.007
Jeff Wolfenbarger (28W), Knoxville, Tenn., 16.008
Kerry King Jr. (KB1), Delmar, Del., 16.122
Cody Mahoney (4), Hanover, Ind., 16.144
Greg Clark (39c), Stanley, N.C., 16.193
Colton Flinner (75), Allison Park, Pa., 16.204
Andy Fries (82), Mercersburg, Pa., 16.221
Jordan Yaggy (77), Rochester, Minn., 16.224
Tyler Horst (14H), Wayneboro, Pa., 16.28
Reid Millard (14), Jefferson City, Mo., 16.848
Dan Shepherd (68), Greeley, Colo., 16.863
Scott Lewis (99), Henderson, Colo., 19.598
Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., N/T

Pre-race notes

A World Finals record field of 86 cars has signed in, topping the previous high-water mark of 82 entrants for the inaugural event in 2007. … The first round of time trials sets Friday night’s heat races while the second round sets up Saturday evening’s heats. … All of Friday’s action — including two rounds of time trials for 59 World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and two sets of heat races for 45 DIRTcar big-block modifieds — is being broadcast as part of DirtonDirt.com’s live pay-per-view coverage of the entire World Finals weekend. … Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., is making his debut with the Clint Bowyer Racing team, driving a new Club 29 Race Car that he had never raced under his own colors. He tested the machine on Tuesday at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn., with his CBR teammate Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who also has a new Club 29 mount that was assembled over the course of four days. … Drivers who are behind the wheel of unfamiliar machines this weekend include Chris Brown of Spring, Texas, who is running a second Sweet-Bloomquist mount as a teammate to Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark.; Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who is competing in a second Best Performance Rocket car alongside Matt Westfall of Pleasant Hills, Ohio; and Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who has his own equipment in the pit area but is racing North Carolinian Scott Autry’s No. 1A. … Kenny Pettyjohn of Millsboro, Del., is a World Finals participant for the first time in a Rocket car fielded by Steve Nutall of Fruitland, Md. Pettyjohn assembled the car for Nutall and drove it in the Delaware State Championship event at Delaware International Speedway two weeks ago. … Childress Motorsports teammates Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, N.M., and Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, are making first-ever appearances at Charlotte. … Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., is making his first WoO start since he was suspended by the organization for a physical altercation with Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., on May 1 at Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, N.C. … Chad Hollenbeck of Kingsley, Pa., rolled a new Black Diamond machine out of his hauler for the weekend’s action. … The rebuild on the K&L Rumley team’s blown toter home motor wasn’t done in time to haul Jonathan Davenport’s trailer and Longhorn race cars to The Dirt Track, so a heavy-duty tow truck was enlisted to get the trailer and equipment to the speedway from the operation’s shop about 70 miles away in Trinity, N.C. The team hopes the toter home will be available to bring the trailer home after the weekend. … Long-hauling Charlotte entrants are Dan Shepherd of Greeley, Colo., and Scott Lewis of Henderson, Colo., who shared Shepherd’s hauler for the 24-hour cross-country trip. Both are making first-ever World Finals starts. … Will Vaught of Crane, Mo., is reprising his 2013 World Finals appearance with Sanford Goddard’s Warrior Chassis house car, which hasn’t seen action since last year’s World Finals when Vic Hill of Morristown, Tenn., served as the machine’s driver. … Sprint Car ace Tim Shaffer of Alipquippa, Pa., is back behind the wheel of the Buck Johnson-owned Club 29 car, which he drove earlier this year before Alex Ferree of Saxonburg, Pa., ran the machine at the World 100 and Dirt Track World Championship. ... Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, N.C., will have to qualify at the end of both time-trial rounds because he didn’t enter his car and draw his qualifying pills before the drivers’ meeting. His car was in the pit area all day but he apparently arrived late due to work commitments and no one from his team registered at the WoO trailer.