Dirt on Dirt - Last-lap pass lifts Gustin to $7,000 prelim victory

July 5

Deer Creek Speedway,

Spring Valley, MN

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 first Friday prelim) - $7,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 6, 3:25 pm)

Last-lap pass lifts Gustin to $7,000 prelim victory

NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 first Friday prelim

Ryan Gustin
Nick Hoffman
Bobby Pierce
Dennis Erb Jr.
Chad Simpson
Shannon Babb
Tyler Bruening
Tyler Erb
Tyler Stevens
Brent Larson
Jake Timm
Cade Dillard
Brian Shirley
Chad Mahder
Chase Junghans
Kyle Bronson
Brandon Sheppard
Billy Moyer
Max McLaughlin
Blair Nothdurft
Cody Overton
Tristan Chamberlain
Dustin Sorensen
Keith Hammett

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Photo slideshow Feature highlights Video recap Related story Race history

Emily Schwanke

Ryan Gustin waves the checkers at Deer Creek Speedway.

What won the race: Executing a perfect last-lap slide job in turn three, fourth-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, overcame Nick Hoffman's attempted crossover move to win Friday's first NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 prelim by 0.009 of a second at Deer Creek Speedway. Gustin's $7,000 payday marks his second World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series victory of the season and the seventh of his career.

Quotable: “Me and Nick (Hoffman) were both trying to kinda hit that grip strip down below the cushion there, it just kept fading and fading,” Gustin said. “Once I seen Bobby (Pierce) slide by me, I knew he was gonna be right on the top, so I figured that (last-lap slider) was my only shot and it worked out. I love this place, this is probably one of the places that I got almost more laps around than anybody.”

Key notes: Sixth-starting Hoffman ripped around the outside to lead 20 laps (10-29) before Gustin edged him at the line by inches. Hoffman forced a tie atop the series standings prior to finishing sixth in Friday's second prelim. ... It's the second straight Gopher 50 photo finish after Bobby Pierce narrowly beat Hudson O'Neal by 0.002 of a second to win last year's $50,000 finale in Lucas Oil Series competition. ... Fifth-starting Pierce moved into third on lap 25 and rounded out the podium. ... Chad Simpson improved seven spots, grabbing fifth on the final lap. ... Tyler Stevens led the opening nine laps from the pole before slipping to finish ninth in his series debut. ... Cade Dillard rebounded to 12th after tangling with Chad Mahder and spinning to draw the race's first caution on lap two. Dillard also appeared to squeeze Dustin Sorensen into the turn-four wall on the 26th circuit, ending Sorensen's race. Mahder recovered to finish 14th. ... Brandon Sheppard slowed from 13th with a flat right-rear to cause the race's third and final stoppage on lap 27. He could only work his way back up to 17th after changing the tire. ... The first 30-lap prelim, rain-postponed from Thursday, lasted 15 minutes, with 21 drivers completing the distance.

On the move: Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, started 20th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Todd Cooney-owned Infinity by Wells Chassis is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Alan’s Seamless Gutters, Karl Auto Group, May Properties, Murty Farms, Mark Hambelton Ford, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, FK Rod Ends, Swift Springs, VP Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Dynamic Drivelines and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After Deer Creek Friday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (3,204); 2. Nick Hoffman (3,192); 3. Cade Dillard (3,058); 4. Bobby Pierce (3,046); 5. Kyle Bronson (3,020); 6. Tyler Bruening (2,986); 7. Ryan Gustin (2,974); 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,968); 9. Brian Shirley (2,922); 10. Dustin Sorensen (2,860); 11. Max McLaughlin (2,820); 12. Brent Larson (2,774).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 72°F

Car count: 31

Fast qualifier: Ryan Gustin

Time: 15.646 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Stevens

Heat race winners: Ryan Gustin, Dennis Erb Jr., Shannon Babb, Tyler Stevens

Consolation race winners: Billy Moyer

Provisional starters: Max McLaughlin, Tristan Chamberlain

Next series race: July 6, Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, MN) $50,000

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

From staff reports

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (July 5) — Live updates and results from Friday’s first 30-lap, $7,000-to-win preliminary feature for the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series-sanctioned NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway (results unofficial):

Feature

Executing a perfect last-lap slide job in turn three, fourth-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, overcame Nick Hoffman's attempted crossover move to win Friday's first NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 prelim by 0.009 of a second at Deer Creek Speedway. Gustin's $7,000 payday marks his second World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series victory of the season and the seventh of his career.

Sixth-starting Hoffman ripped around the outside to lead 20 laps (10-29) before Gustin edged him at the line by inches. Hoffman has now forced a tie atop the series standings entering Friday's regularly scheduled program. It's the second straight Gopher 50 photo finish after Bobby Pierce narrowly beat Hudson O'Neal by 0.002 of a second to win last year's $50,000 finale in Lucas Oil Series competition.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Tyler Stevens, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 2: Shannon Babb, Ryan Gustin
Row 3: Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman
Row 4: Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Bruening
Row 5: Jake Timm, Chase Junghans
Row 6: Cade Dillard, Chad Simpson
Row 7: Chad Mahder, Kyle Bronson
Row 8: Dustin Sorensen, Brent Larson
Row 9: Billy Moyer, Brian Shirley
Row 10: Blair Nothdurft, Tyler Erb
Row 11: Cody Overton, Keith Hammett
Row 12: Max McLaughlin, Tristan Chamberlain

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top six transfer)

Finish: Billy Moyer, Brian Shirley, Blair Nothdurft, Tyler Erb, Cody Overton, Keith Hammett, Max McLaughlin, Derrick Stewart, Jordan Yaggy, Johnathan Huston, Tristan Chamberlain, Parker Foster, Dustin Walker, Lance Hofer. Scratched: Justin Green

Heat race recap

Pole-starting Ryan Gustin led all eight laps and repelled a last-lap charge by Nick Hoffman to win heat race one by 0.310 of a second. Jake Timm started and finished third, with sixth-starting Chad Mahder grabbing the fourth and final transfer spot into Thursday’s rain-postponed first prelim. … Third-starting Dennis Erb Jr. completed a last-lap pass to steal heat two by 0.114 of a second over race-long leader Tyler Bruening. … Cade Dillard and Dustin Sorensen both remained in the top four, punching their ticket into the 30-lap qualifying feature. … Pole-starting Shannon Babb scored a flag-to-flag victory by 2.014 seconds over Brandon Sheppard to win heat three. Chase Junghans and Kyle Bronson held serve and grabbed the final two transfer positions. … Tyler Stevens dominated the fourth and final heat race in his series debut, leading the entire distance and winning by 1.642 seconds over Bobby Pierce. Sixth-starting Chad Simpson finished third, with Brent Larson rounding out the top-four finishers.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Ryan Gustin, Nick Hoffman, Jake Timm, Chad Mahder, Billy Moyer, Blair Nothdurft, Keith Hammett, Jordan Yaggy.

Second heat: Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Bruening, Cade Dillard, Dustin Sorensen, Lance Hofer, Derrick Stewart, Max McLaughlin, Tristan Chamberlain.

Third heat: Shannon Babb, Brandon Sheppard, Chase Junghans, Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Tyler Erb, Johnathan Huston. Scratched: Justin Green

Fourth heat: Tyler Stevens, Bobby Pierce, Chad Simpson, Brent Larson, Cody Overton, Parker Foster, Dustin Walker.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.646
2. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.711
3. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.774
4. Dustin Sorenson (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.953
5. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.020
6. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.082
7. Blair Nothdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 16.085
8. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 16.138
9. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 16.180
10. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, La., 16.331
11. Chad Mahder (55c), Eau Claire, Wis., 16.364
12. Lance Hofer (11H), Fountain City, Wis., 16.377
13. Jordan Yaggy (77), Rochester, Minn., 16.410
14. Max McLaughlin (22*), Mooresville, N.C., 16.506
15. Keith Hammett (29), Brookland, Ark., 16.555
16. Tristan Chamberlain (20TC), Richmond, Ind., 16.671
Group B
1. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 16.384
2. Tyler Stevens (2), Searcy, Ark., 16.425
3. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 16.542
4. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.556
5. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.570
6. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.652
7. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.661
8. Cody Overton (97jr), Evans, Ga., 16.687
9. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 16.792
10. Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 16.833
11. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 16.868
12. Chad Simpson (25), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 17.071
13. Johnathan Huston (42H), Columbus Junction, Iowa, 17.194
14. Parker Foster (35), Winona, Minn., 17.220
15. Justin Green (19J), Sheboygan Falls, Wis., no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
10:30 a.m. - All gates open
Noon - Drivers’ meeting
12:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
WoO redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
All grounds cleared and secured
5 p.m. - Gates reopen
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
WoO redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Fireworks show and Dylan Scott concert