Dirt on Dirt - Streaking Pierce rules opener at USA Nationals

August 2

Cedar Lake Speedway,

New Richmond, WI

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (USA Nationals first prelim) - $6,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 3, 7:24 am)

Streaking Pierce rules opener at USA Nationals

USA Nationals first prelim

Bobby Pierce
Tim McCreadie
Kyle Bronson
Nick Hoffman
Jonathan Davenport
Brandon Sheppard
Jason Feger
Ryan Gustin
Hudson O'Neal
Brent Larson
Garrett Smith
Shannon Babb
Cade Dillard
Dennis Erb Jr.
Tyler Erb
Dustin Sorensen
Ethan Dotson
Max McLaughlin
Chad Mahder
Ricky Weiss
Tristan Chamberlain
Brian Shirley
Tyler Bruening
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Cody Overton

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Bobby Pierce with Friday's $6,000 USA Nationals first-round winnings.

What won the race: Stretching his World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series winning streak to a record-tying six in a row, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., powered around polesitter Tim McCreadie on the second lap and never looked back in Friday's 25-lap USA Nationals opening round daytime prelim. McCreadie finished 1.840 seconds behind Pierce, who pocketed $6,000.

Quotable: "The hot weather today was hard in the car, especially sitting on the racetrack there," Pierce told pit reporter Hannah Newhouse in victory lane. "Awesome race car. I can't thank Low Voltage Solutions enough for getting the idea of putting this wrap on. The car looks great. So excited to win with them being here, too, the Bugg family. What a race."

Key notes: Pierce notched his 28th full-field victory on the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series, tying him for 10th all-time with Steve Francis. Pierce's sixth straight full-field WoO victory also ties the modern series record held by Darrell Lanigan (2012). ... Pierce is running a special wrap this weekend that supports Megan’s Mission Foundation, bringing awareness to children’s cancer research. Megan Bugg was diagnosed with stage-four Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) when she was 13 and fought the cancer for seven-plus years before passing away at age 20 on March 9, 2022. According to Pierce, Bugg’s foundation that the Illinois driver is supporting has raised more than $2 million. … Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., still seeking his first win with Mark Richards and the Rocket Chassis house car team, led the opening lap but couldn’t stave off the red-ho Pierce, who took the lead for good on the second lap. … Four cautions slowed Friday’s daytime feature: Lap 12 for Cade Dillard, who lost a right-rear tire running 14th. … lap 15 for a four-car collision triggered by fourth-running Max McLaughlin when he slipped off the turn two cushion and tagged fifth-running Brian Shirley. Seventh-running Tyler Bruening and 10th-running Ricky Thornton Jr. were also collected; the lap-15 restart for a spinning Tyler Erb after contact from Garrett Smith; and lap 21 for debris off Ricky Weiss’ race machine. … On the hunt for his second career USA Nationals victory, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., started 16th and finished sixth. … Among non-qualifiers: Kye Blight, Scott Bloomquist, Bob Gardner, Chase Junghans, Sammy Mars, and Mike Marlar. … Friday’s doubleheader 25-lap, $6,000-to-win prelims set the stage for Saturday’s 37th annual USA Nationals after Thursday’s first-round action washed out from steady rain showers Wednesday night into the following morning.

On the move: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., started 16th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Megan's Mission Foundation, Rio Grande Waste Services, Hoker Trucking, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After Cedar Lake Friday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (4,184); 2. Nick Hoffman (4,136); 3. Bobby Pierce (4,062); 4. Cade Dillard (3,962); 5. Kyle Bronson (3,954); 6. Ryan Gustin (3,936); 7. Tyler Bruening (3,858): 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (3,854); 9. Brian Shirley (3,846); 10. Dustin Sorensen (3,754).

Current weather: Clear, 88°F

Car count: 48

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 14.757 seconds

Polesitter: Tim McCreadie

Heat race winners: Tim McCreadie, Tyler Bruening, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, Max McLaughlin, Nick Hoffman

Consolation race winners: Ethan Dotson, Tyler Erb

Next series race: August 3, Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI) $50,000

Editor's note: Corrects how preliminary points lock in Saturday's drivers.

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. — Live updates and results from Thursday’s 37th annual USA Nationals opener featuring a 25-lap, $6,000-to-win feature for the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (results unofficial):

Feature

Stretching his World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series winning streak to a record-tying six in a row, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., powered around polesitter Tim McCreadie on the second lap and never looked back in Friday's 25-lap USA Nationals opening round daytime prelim. McCreadie finished 1.840 seconds behind Pierce, who pocketed $6,000..

Feature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Tim McCreadie, Bobby Pierce
Row 2: McLaughlin, Shirley
Row 3: Hoffman, Bruening
Row 4: Jonathan Davenport, Kyle Bronson
Row 5: Brent Larson, Ryan Gustin
Row 6: Cade Dillard, Jason Feger
Row 7: Garrett Smith, Ricky Weiss
Row 8: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Sheppard
Row 9: Hudson O’Neal, Dustin Sorensen
Row 10: Ethan Dotson, Tyler Erb
Row 11: Chad Mahder, Shannon Babb
Row 12: Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton
Row 13: Tristan Chamberlain

Consolation results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First B-main: Ethan Dotson, Chad Mahder, Jordan Yaggy, Scott Bloomquist, Aaron Marrant, Mike Spatola, Bob Gardner, Nick Anvelink, Gordy Gundaker, Lance Hofer, Mitch McGrath, Thomas Hunziker, Joe Chalmers, Parker Foster, James Giossi.

Second B-main: Tyler Erb, Shannon Babb, Cody Overton, Mike Marlar, Dennis Erb Jr., Kye Blight, Paul Parker, Lance Matthees, Jeff Roth, Tristan Chamberlain, Chase Junghans, Trevor Gundaker, Sammy Mars, Dustin Walker, Tim Isenberg.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Smith, James Giossi, Jordan Yaggy, Thomas Hunziker, Mike Spatola, Gordy Gundaker.

Second heat: Tyler Bruening, Brent Larson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Nick Anvelink, Chad Mahder, Scott Bloomquist, Aaron Marrant, Mitch McGrath.

Third heat: Bobby Pierce, Cade Dillard, Hudson O'Neal, Ethan Dotson, Bob Gardner, Lance Hofer, Parker Foster, Joe Chalmers.

Fourth heat: Brian Shirley, Kyle Bronson, RIcky Weiss, Tyler Erb, Dennis Erb Jr., Chase Junghans, Sammy Mars, Jeff Roth.

Fifth heat: Max McLaughlin, Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard, Cody Overton, Mike Marlar, Trevor Gundaker, Dustin Walker, Tim Isenberg.

Sixth heat: Nick Hoffman, Jason Feger, Dustin Sorensen, Shannon Babb, Tristan Chamberlain, Paul Parker, Kye Blight, Lance Matthees.

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown
Group A
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.757
Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.949
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.966
Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 14.985
Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.010
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.118
James Giossi (11), Hudson, Wis., 15.159
Nick Anvelink (15), Bonduel, Wis., 15.174
Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.221
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.256
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.266
Jordan Yaggy (77), Rochester, Minn., 15.317
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.326
Lance Hofer (11), Fountain City, Wis., 15.379
Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 15.464
Chad Mahder (33c), Bloomer, Wis., 15.465
Bob Gardner (4G), Washington, Ill., 15.469
Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 15.483
Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 15.532
Parker Foster (35), Winona, Minn., 15.542
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.566
Aaron Marrant (1x), Richmond, Mo., 15.592
Joe Chalmers (1*), South Yunderup, Western Australia, 15.704
Group B
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.788
Max McLaughlin (22*), Mooresville, N.C., 14.927
Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.023
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.029
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.124
Dustin Sorenson (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.125
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.172
Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.215
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.221
Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 15.272
Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 15.293
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 15.303
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.318
Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis., 15.340
Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 15.360
Jeff Roth (14R), Bentonville, Ark., 15.375
Trevor Gundaker (11T), St. Charles, Mo., 15.419
Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.450
Sammy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 15.468
Mike Marlar (57), Winfield, Tenn., 15.487
Kye Blight (31aus), Bunbury, W. Australia, 15.507
Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.649
Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 15.652
Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 15.814

Program postponed

Thursday's opening round was postponed because of wet, spongy track conditions from heavy rain the previous night and morning. The postponement sets up a doubleheader on Friday with a drivers' meeting at 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. hot laps for the opening program. Friday's second round of action will run as scheduled with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. The preliminary programs each conclude with $6,000-to-win features with performances from the prelims locking in 16 drivers for Saturday's $50,000-to-win main event.

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast served in both restaurants
9 a.m. - Pits open
Noon - Grandstands open
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
1:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolations (10 laps) 
Intermission/track prep
- Super Late Model feature (25 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (25 laps)
Pits and grandstands cleared
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolations (10 laps)
 Intermission/track prep
- Super Late Model feature (25 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (25 laps)
- Super Late Models Fans Fund dash (12 laps)
Postrace party in the Cedar Lake Arena