Pierce dominant in World of Outlaws victory

June 25, 2024 | by Matt Skipper

It cannot be denied any longer, Bobby Pierce is back in championship form.

The Oakwood, Ill. driver took full command of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models Feature race at the Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway to pick up his fourth win of the season.

Beginning the night with a win in Heat 2, Pierce had to immediately get to work at the drop of the Gorsuch Performance green flag after drawing the sixth-place pill in the Feature Redraw.

Using his familiar line of riding next to the cushion, Pierce jumped to second by the fourth lap to challenge New Berlin, Ill. driver Brandon Sheppard for the Feature lead.

With the two drivers crossing lanes to solidify their place at the top, Pierce cleared Sheppard on lap 10 as the two drivers distanced themselves from the rest of the field around the half-mile track.

A late caution for Robeline, La. driver Cade Dillard’s mechanical failure required the “Smooth Operator” to perform a flawless restart behind a stout field of talented dirt Late Models behind him.

Pierce did just that, driving away to a three-second lead as he took the 22nd World of Outlaws CASE Late Models checkered flag of his career, passing Newport, Tenn. driver Jimmy Owens in all-time wins with the Series at the Webster City, Iowa track.

“It was an awesome race track,” Pierce said. “Top to bottom, the place was racey. When we race on these big race tracks, for it to be a big track and for it to be super racey was pretty incredible. When I drew that six pill, I really thought that took out our chance of winning. A lot of times, it’s single file and you can’t pass with air and all the other things. It was a good track, and I’m glad to get the win tonight.”

That final restart saw Sheppard and Mooresville, N.C. driver Max McLaughlin get mixed up through Turns 1 and 2, allowing Chatham, Ill. driver Brian Shirley to drive down the bottom of the track to secure his first podium with the Series in 2024.

“On that restart, I stayed on the right part of the race track,” Shirley said. “The (22*) and (Sheppard) got crossed up so it let me get by the both of them. We just had to get up on the wheel, hit our marks right, and bring it home.

“We’re excited though. We’re just trying to build on this new car and try to make the right moves each night because it’s not easy to make the right decisions every night. So, we’re gonna take some baby steps because it’s not easy to make the right decisions every night. We’ll take the time it requires to understand the car and keep trying to do the right things and hopefully, the wins will come.”

Sheppard rallied to finish with a third-place at Hamilton County. He had a good car, but a late takeoff on the final restart cost the current Series points leader the second-place finish he was driving towards.

“I had a good car the whole race,” Sheppard said. “Even at the end, I had a good car, just chose the wrong line. I let the 22* get to the bottom and I had to slide to the top and Shirley got by me. So, that was my bonehead mistake by choosing the wrong line. But, I had been taking off on the bottom so good all night that I didn’t think the top was gonna be the place to go. Bobby turned down and I had to turn down with him and didn’t get the start I wanted. It is what it is, we had a solid car again tonight and we just gotta keep it going and try to stay consistent.”

Decorah, Iowa native Tyler Bruening finished fourth, and McLaughlin finished fifth to move his way up to second in the MD3 Rookie of the Year points.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway
Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown

WORLD OF OUTLAWS CASE LATE MODELS

Qualifying:
1. 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla., 17.503
2. 32 Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill., 17.507
3. 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill., 17.539
4. 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., 17.565
5. 25 Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, 17.580
6. 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa, 17.642
7. B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill., 17.658
8. 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, 17.708
9. B1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn., 17.720
10. 9 Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C., 17.728
11. 21 Billy Moyer Sr, Batesville, Ark., 17.759
12. 43 Derrick Stewart, Ainsworth, Iowa, 17.763
13. 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill., 17.773
14. 22* Max McLaughlin, Mooresville, N.C., 17.925
15. 11 Jon Kirby, Russellville, Ark., 17.927
16. 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., 18.016
17. 76 Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D., 18.033
18. 32B Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 18.056
19. 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind., 18.148
20. 22 Charlie McKenna, Ames, Iowa, 18.309
21. 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo., 19.005
22. 35 Parker Foster, Winona, Minn., 19.298
DNS – 53 Andrew Kosiski, Lavista, Neb.
DNS – 97JR Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.

Heat #1:
1. (1) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
2. (3) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
3. (2) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
4. (4) 9 Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
5. (5) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
6. (6) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
7. (8) 35 Parker Foster, Winona, Minn.
8. (7) 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 32 Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2. (3) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
3. (2) 25 Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, Iowa
4. (5) 22* Max McLaughlin, Mooresville, N.C.
5. (4) 21 Billy Moyer Sr., Batesville, Ark.
6. (6) 76 Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D.
7. (7) 22 Charlie McKenna, Ames, Iowa
8. (8) 53 Andrew Kosiski, Lavista, Neb.

Heat #3:
1. (1) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
2. (2) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
3. (6) 32B Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif.
4. (3) B1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
5. (8) 97JR Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
6. (5) 11 Jon Kirby, Russellville, Ark.
7. (7) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.
8. (4) 43 Derrick Stewart, Ainsworth, Iowa

Feature:
1. (6) 32 Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2. (4) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
3. (2) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
4. (5) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
5. (11) 22* Max McLaughlin, Mooresville, N.C.
6. (10) 9 Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
7. (3) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
8. (13) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
9. (1) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
10. (16) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
11. (9) 32B Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif.
12. (22) 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind.
13. (17) 76 Blair Nothdurft, Renner, S.D.
14. (8) 25 Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, Iowa
15. (19) 35 Parker Foster, Winona, Minn.
16. (18) 11 Jon Kirby, Russellville, Ark.
17. (7) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
18. (14) 21 Billy Moyer Sr., Batesville, Ark.
19. (24) 43 Derrick Stewart, Ainsworth, Iowa
20. (20) 22 Charlie McKenna, Ames, Iowa
21. (12) B1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
22. (15) 97JR Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
23. (21) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.
24. (23) 53 Andrew Kosiski, Lavista, Neb.

Dirt King Simulator Hottest Hot Lap: Hoffman
Simpson Quick Time Award: Bronson
Bilstein Pole Award: Bronson
Fox Factory Hard Charger Award: Chamberlain