Dirt on Dirt - B-Shepp's charge blunts Pierce's World Finals win

November 8

The Dirt Track at Charlotte,

Concord, NC

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (World Finals second preliminary) - $15,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden and series reports (last updated November 9, 2:22 am)

B-Shepp's charge blunts Pierce's World Finals win

World Finals second preliminary

Bobby Pierce
Cade Dillard
Mike Marlar
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Kyle Bronson
Brandon Sheppard
Brian Shirley
Jonathan Davenport
Ethan Dotson
Chris Madden
Jimmy Owens
Tanner English
Max Blair
Ryan Gustin
Hudson O'Neal
Dennis Erb Jr.
Tyler Bruening
Tim McCreadie
Ben Watkins
Austin Smith
Brent Larson
Kyle Strickler
Zack Mitchell
Cody Overton
Tristan Chamberlain
Dustin Sorensen
Drake Troutman
Max McLaughlin
Nick Hoffman

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Zach Yost

Bobby Pierce captured his first Charlotte feature victory.

What won the race: Leading the final three laps after overtaking Mike Marlar, sixth-starting Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., captured Friday's World Finals preliminary feature on a virtual must-win night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for a $15,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series payday. Pierce's victory helped his title chances, but points leader Brandon Sheppard's 14th-to-sixth charge limited the damage. Early leader Cade Dillard finished second, 3.276 seconds back, and Marlar settled for third in the 35-lapper.

Quotable: "When I got the lead, I was just hoping I didn't (jump the cushion), but I think the car got better as the race went on. I think my tires probably look great and, just can't thank my crew enough. They gave me a good car," Pierce said. "I was worried drawing that six pill, you know. I got pretty down on myself when (you) start third row, that's tough. This competition is so stout, it's tough to do that."

Key notes: Pierce notched his 13th WoO victory of the season, 31st of his career and first triumph at Charlotte. ... Brandon Sheppard heads into Saturday's finale with a 22-point lead on Bobby Pierce; Sheppard can clinch the title by finishing 10th or better. ... Cade Dillard, who led the first 21 laps, jumped the cushion after Marlar dove under him in turn one and dropped back to third. ... Pierce likewise got under Marlar with three laps remaining and Marlar got too high, allowing Dillard to regain the second spot. ... In a wild moment shortly after the lap-eight restart, fourth-finishing Ricky Thornton Jr. nearly got sideways on the backstretch after contact from his former crew chief Chris Madden. ... Three cautions slowed the action, including one on the seventh lap when title contender Nick Hoffman slowed exiting turn two with a broken rear end, knocking him out of the championship chase (Hoffman entered the feature 26 points behind the points-leading Sheppard). ... Kyle Strickler slowed for a lap-13 flat. ... Outside front-row starter Chris Madden, appeared to briefly lose power on the first lap, scrapping the first start (officials, however, dropped Madden to the second row for the next start). ... Thursday and Friday performances will set heat race lineups for Saturday's action with the finale paying $25,000-to-win.

On the move: Points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., started 14th 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 Charlotte Friday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (5,500); 2. Bobby Pierce (5,478); 3. Nick Hoffman (5,440); 4. Kyle Bronson (5,316); 5. Cade Dillard (5,288); 6. Ryan Gustin (5,284); 7. Brian Shirley (5,238); 8. Tyler Bruening (5,138); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (5,048); 10. Dustin Sorensen (5,020).

Current weather: Clear, 66°F

Car count: 66

Fast qualifier: Bobby Pierce

Time: 14.541 seconds

Polesitter: Cade Dillard

Heat race winners: Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton Jr., Cade Dillard, Chris Madden, Ethan Dotson

Consolation race winners: Hudson O'Neal, Zack Mitchell, Tyler Bruening

Provisional starters: Ryan Gustin, Dustin Sorensen, Brent Larson, Cody Overton, Tristan Chamberlain

Next series race: November 9, The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC) $25,000

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

From staff reports

CONCORD, N.C. — Live updates from Friday’s third preliminary night of the 18th annual World Finals, highlighted by a 35-lap, $15,000-to-win World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series feature (results unofficial):

Feature

Leading the final three laps after overtaking Mike Marlar, sixth-starting Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., captured Friday's World Finals preliminary feature on a virtual must-win night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for a $15,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series payday. Pierce's victory helped his title chances, but points leader Brandon Sheppard's 14th-to-sixth charge limited the damage. Early leader Cade Dillard finished second, 3.276 seconds back, and Marlar settled for third in the 35-lapper.

Feature lineup

Row 1: Cade Dillard, Chris Madden
Row 2: Ricky Thornton Jr., Mike Marlar
Row 3: Ethan Dotson, Bobby Pierce
Row 4: Kyle Bronson, Austin Smith
Row 5: Jonathan Davenport, Nick Hoffman
Row 6: Jimmy Owens, Max Blair
Row 7: Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard
Row 8: Tim McCreadie, Kyle Strickler
Row 9: Tanner English, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 10: Hudson O'Neal, Zack Mitchell
Row 11: Tyler Bruening, Max McLaughlin
Row 12: Ben Watkins, Drake Troutman
Row 13: Ryan Gustin, Dustin Sorensen
Row 14: Brent Larson, Cody Overton
Row 15: Tristan Chamberlain

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First B-main: Hudson O'Neal, Max McLaughlin, Dustin Sorensen, Anthony Sanders, Ross Bailes, Danny Snyder, Payton Freeman, Luke Morey, Trent Ivey, Kale Green, Tyler Wyant, Gavin Cowan, Gray Parton, Benji Hicks. DNS: Dale McDowell, Jordan Koehler.

Second B-main: Zack Mitchell, Ben Watkins, Dillon McCowan, Brent Robinson, Michael Leach, Carson Ferguson, Wil Herrington, Cory Crapser, Evan Koehler, Daniel Adam, Chris Ferguson, Dalton Jacobs, Brian Ledbetter, Kevin Wilson, Tristan Chamberlain, Ethan Wilson.

Third B-main: Tyler Bruening, Drake Troutman, Daulton Wilson, Ryan Gustin, Cody Overton, Logan Seavey, Bryan Bernheisel, Austin Holcombe, Carson Brown, Haiden Cowan, Jamison McBride, Seth Zacharias, Hardy Youmans III, Brent Larson, Dustin Walker, Beckham Malone.

Consolation race lineups

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation
Row 1: Hudson O’Neal, Gavin Cowan
Row 2: Max McLaughlin, Anthony Sanders
Row 3: Luke Morey, Payton Freeman
Row 4: Gray Parton, Dustin Sorensen
Row 5: Danny Snyder, Benji Hicks
Row 6: Ross Bailes, Tyler Wyant
Row 7: Dale McDowell, Kale Green
Row 8: Trent Ivey, Jordan Koehler
Second consolation
Row 1: Zack Mitchell, Dillon McCowan
Row 2: Ben Watkins, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 3: Brent Robinson, Ethan Wilson
Row 4: Michael Leach, Evan Koehler
Row 5: Wil Herrington, Chris Ferguson
Row 6: Carson Ferguson, Daniel Adam
Row 7: Cory Crapser, Dalton Jacobs
Row 8: Kevin Wilson, Brian Ledbetter
Third consolation
Row 1: Tyler Bruening, Ryan Gustin
Row 2: Drake Troutman, Daulton Wilson
Row 3: Logan Seavey, Bryan Bernheisel
Row 4: Jamison McBride, Brent Larson
Row 5: Carson Brown, Cody Overton
Row 6: Hardy Williams III, Austin Holcombe
Row 7: Dustin Walker, Haiden Cowan
Row 8: Beckham Malone, Seth Zacharias

Heat recap

Rebounding from a frustrating opening-night performance, championship contender Bobby Pierce rolled to a flag-to-flag victory in the first heat. … Dale McDowell and Trent Ivey retired from the first heat with one lap remaining. … A red flag was displayed on the opening lap of Heat 2 when Jordan Koehler and Benji Hicks tangled in turn two with Koehler’s cars spinning across Hicks’s nose and barrel-rolling once. Koehler’s car landed on its wheel and he emerged uninjured. … Koehler’s younger brother, Evan, also experienced prelim trouble with an opening-lap spin off turn two in the fourth heat. He continued and finished seventh. … Mike Marlar cruised to the checkered flag in the second heat, beating Jonathan Davenport by 3.678 seconds. … Heat 3 was all about teammates: Koehler Motorsports members Ricky Thornton Jr. and Jimmy Owens finished 1-2 while Coltman Farms racers Tanner English and Zack Mitchell placed third and fourth. … Cade Dillard captured the fourth heat by 1.571 seconds over Austin Smith while WoO title contender Brandon Sheppard avoided a B-main with a third-place finish. … Heat 4 polesitter Dillon McCowan slipped backward on the opening circuit but salvaged a fourth-place finish. … Heat 5 winner Chris Madden crossed the finish line with less than a second edge over both runner-up Nick Hoffman and third-place Kyle Strickler. … A caution flew on lap two of the fifth heat for 12-year-old Beckham Malone, who stopped in turn four with nosepiece damage. … Ethan Dotson claimed the sixth heat by 2.115 seconds over outside polesitter Max Blair, who recovered from a one-row penalty for jumping the start that put him back to fourth. … The Late Model heats ended at 5:15 p.m. with prelims for big-block modifieds and WoO sprint cars to follow.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat finish: Bobby Pierce, Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Hudson O’Neal, Max McLaughlin, Luke Morey, Gray Parton, Danny Snyder, Ross Bailes, Dale McDowell, Trent Ivey.

Second heat finish: Mike Marlar, Jonathan Davenport, Tim McCreadie, Gavin Cowan, Anthony Sanders, Payton Freeman, Dustin Sorensen, Benji Hicks, Tyler Wyant, Kale Green, Jordan Koehler.

Third heat finish: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jimmy Owens, Tanner English, Zack Mitchell, Ben Watkins, Brent Robinson, Michael Leach, Wil Herrington, Carson Ferguson, Cory Crapser, Kevin Wilson.

Fourth heat finish: Cade Dillard, Austin Smith, Brandon Sheppard, Dillon McCowan, Tristan Chamberlain, Ethan Wilson, Evan Koehler, Chris Ferguson, Daniel Adam, Dalton Jacobs, Brian Ledbetter.

Fifth heat finish: Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Strickler, Tyler Bruening, Drake Troutman, Logan Seavey, Jamison McBride, Carson Brown, Hardy Youmans III, Dustin Walker, Beckham Malone.

Sixth heat finish: Ethan Dotson, Max Blair, Dennis Erb Jr., Ryan Gustin, Daulton Wilson, Bryan Bernheisel, Brent Larson, Cody Overton, Austin Holcombe, Haiden Cowan (DNS) Seth Zacharias.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown
1. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 14.541
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.608
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.717
4. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.717
5. Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga. 14.766
6. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 14.774
7. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla.,14.777
8. Tim McCreadie (58v), Watertown, N.Y., 14.777
9. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.791
10. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 14.793
11. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 14.793
12. Ben Watkins (16w), Rock Hill, S.C., 14.803
13. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.833
14. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 14.845
15. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.850
16. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.877
17. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 14.889
18. Wil Herrington (15k), Hawkinsville, Ga., 14.003
19. Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 15.025
20. Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., 15.026
21. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.034
22. Ross Bailes (87), Clover, S.C., 15.035
23. Payton Freeman (F1), Commerce, Ga., 15.055
24. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.085
25. Max McLaughlin (22*), Mooresville, N.C., 15.131
26. Anthony Sanders (421), Spartanburg, S.C., 15.134
27. Brent Robinson (3), Smithfield, Va., 15.150
28. Luke Morey (49), Zeeland, Mich., 15.255
29. Kale Green (4), Pelion, S.C., 15.337
30. Kevin Wilson (618), Stoneville, N.C., 15.550
31. Danny Snyder (4s), Green Lane, Pa.,n15.602
32. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 15.749
33. Cory Crapser (93c), Chippewa Falls, Wis., 16.492
Group B
1. Dillon McCowan (8m), Urbana, Mo., 14.633
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 14.638
3. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 14.727
4. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 14.768
5. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.835
6. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.907
7. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 14.917
8. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 14.918
9. Haiden Cowan (14c), Rincon, Ga., 14.939
10. Austin Smith (11), Rome, Ga., 14.940
11. Drake Troutman (7), Hyndman, Pa., 14.942
12. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.947
13. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.950
14. Jamison McBride (215), Danbury, N.C., 14.952
15. Cody Overton (97jr), Evans, Ga., 14.976
16. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 14.979
17. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 15.027
18. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.042
19. Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 15.048
20. Logan Seavey (51), Sutter, Calif., 15.056
21. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.067
22. Ethan Wilson (15), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.071
23. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 15.092
24. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.136
25. Evan Koehler (L114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.193
26. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 15.255
27. Bryan Bernheisel (119), Jonestown, Pa., 15.284
28. Brian Ledbetter (07), Stanley, N.C., 15.597
29. Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 15.609
30. Austin Holcombe (8a), Elm City, N.C., 16.038
31. Dalton Jacobs (7J), Reidsville, N.C., 16.117
32. Hardy Youmans (42), Hardesville, S.C., 16.755
33. Seth Zacharias (17z), Vestal, N.Y., no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
11 a.m. - Pits open; pit pass sales begin
Noon - Souvenir and display areas open (midway)
Noon-3 p.m. - Race Day Live radio show (Sage Fruit stage)
3 p.m. - Grandstands open; ticket sales begin
3 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Big-block modified time trials (2 laps)
3:45 p.m. - Sprint car motor heat
4 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- Sprint car non-qualifier (8 laps)
- Big-block modified heats (8 laps)
- Sprint car heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Big-block modified consolations (10 laps)
- Sprint car C-main (10 laps)
- Sprint car dash (6 laps)
- Sprint car B-main (12 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Four-wide, three series parade lap
Feature events
- Late Models (35 laps)
- Big-block modified (30 laps)
- Sprint cars (25 laps)