What won the race: Dominating polesitter Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., recorded his second consecutive World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory in Friday’s 35-lap Battle of the Crossroads opener. The 28-year-old star fended off Ryan Gustin on a restart with four laps remaining to secure the $12,000 top prize by 1.263 seconds in his Swainsboro Raceway debut.

Quotable: “I thought the top was possibly coming on down here (in turns one and two),” Pierce said. “That’s one thing when you’re in the lead you don’t know. I knew the bottom was good, but all it takes is one lap and that top can come in like (it did earlier in three and four). I was a little worried, and Gustin had me worried on the restart too. I just couldn’t get off that corner, and I heard him and almost kind of saw him down there, so it was kind of close but we held on.”

Key notes: Pierce’s second WoO and sixth overall triumph of 2025 marked the second straight week that he’s won a WoO event in his first-ever start at a track, repeating his feat from March 14 at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. … His 33rd WoO victory ties him for eighth with Scott Bloomquist and Tim McCreadie. ... Gustin slipped past Drake Troutman for second on lap 27 but couldn’t mount a serious challenge on Pierce following a lap-31 caution flag. He spent the late stages dealing with left-front damage from clipping an inside marker tire. … Troutman held on to third despite damaging his car’s nose late when he caught an infield tractor tire. … Cory Hedgecock's fourth-place finish was his first WoO top-five since winning in 2023 at Tennessee's 411 Motor Speedway. ... Wil Herrington's fifth-place finish in Bruce Kane's No. 15k was his career-best in WoO action. ... The race was red-flagged on the second lap for a multicar accident that began when Tristan Chamberlain clipped an inside tire marker in turn one and slid across the track. Chamberlain’s car rolled over underneath a sideways Kyle Bronson and came to rest on its side with the right side of Bronson’s car precariously perched on Chamberlain’s roof. No drivers were injured in the wreck that eliminated Chamberlain and Brent Larson (Bronson retired on lap 13). … A lap-31 caution appeared for debris. ... Troutman and former series champ Tim McCreadie competed at Swainsboro after choosing the WoO circuit over runs on the Lucas Oil Series.

On the move: Tour rookie Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., started 23rd and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, 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 Swainsboro Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (1,020); 2. Nick Hoffman (994); 3. Ryan Gustin (984); 4. Max Blair (956); T5. Drake Troutman (952); T5. Cody Overton (952); 7. Ethan Dotson (946); T8. Tim McCreadie (918); T8. Tanner English (918); 10. Brian Shirley (904); T11. Jimmy Owens (892); T11. Kyle Bronson (892).

Current weather: Clear, 55°F

Car count: 42

Fast qualifier: Chris Madden

Time: 15.604 seconds

Polesitter: Bobby Pierce

Heat race winners: Chris Madden, Jimmy Owens, Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman

Consolation race winners: Ashton Winger, Jackson Hise

Provisional starters: Ethan Dotson, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Brent Larson

Next series race: March 22, Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) $15,000