BOONE, Iowa — Bobby Pierce led the final 70 laps of the Hawkeye 100 Saturday night at Boone Speedway to bank a $30,000 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series triumph.
It was his second win of the season and second World of Outlaws win of his career. Both of his wins in 2021 were in races lasting more than 50 laps. The other came at Farmer City Raceway in the 75-Lap Illini 100 finale.
Pierce started fifth in the series’ first three-wide start, he caught everyone’s attention after a lap-21 caution. Pierce charged through the field off the restart, moving from fourth to first in eight laps to take the lead for good.
Before that restart, he knew he had to make his move based off what the track was doing.
“I felt just a bit of rubber off [turn two], and I knew right then I had to go for it because sooner or later it was going to latch down,” Pierce said. “I don’t know what it was, but all of a sudden the car just lit up.”
Even though Pierce seized the opportunity, he knew there was a long way to go. It didn’t bother the Prairie State driver who’s had success in long distance events.
“I’ve always liked the longer races, it gives me time to figure out the racetrack,” Pierce said. “There’s something about the 100-lap races because it gives me time to work.”
Another driver who used restarts to his advantage was second place finisher Shannon Babb.
Babb had the challenge of trying to rush toward the front, while making sure he still had something at the end.
“I found the middle was working really well for me in [turn three and four], but I knew I had to get [to the front] as quick as I could,” Babb said. “I was just trying to do as well as I could without tearing my tires up.”
Finishing off an all-Illinois podium was three-time and defending champion Brandon Sheppard. It’s his fifth top-five finish of the season and series-leading 10th top-10.
“Putting some consistent finishes together for us is what it’s going to take to start getting some wins,” Sheppard said. “We’re just going to keep plugging away because we’re really close.”
Billy Moyer finished fourth and Ricky Weiss crossed the line fifth.
The finish:
Feature (100 Laps)-1. 32-Bobby Pierce [5][$30,000]; 2. 18B-Shannon Babb [2][$15,000]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard [4][$7,000]; 4. 21-Billy Moyer [1][$6,000]; 5. 7-Ricky Weiss [8][$5,000]; 6. 44-Chris Madden [11][$4,500]; 7. 19G-Richie Gustin [7][$4,000]; 8. 11-Gordy Gundaker [10][$3,500]; 9. 36-Logan Martin [12][$3,000]; 10. 99JR-Frank Heckenast [9][$2,500]; 11. 19R-Ryan Gustin [14][$2,300]; 12. 16-Tyler Bruening [13][$2,200]; 13. 97-Cade Dillard [6][$2,100]; 14. 99B-Boom Briggs [16][$2,000]; 15. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck [17][$1,800]; 16. B1-Brent Larson [20][$1,700]; 17. 43-Jeremy Grady [19][$1,600]; 18. 3W-Brennon Willard [23][$1,550]; 19. 8-Kyle Strickler [3][$1,500]; 20. 28-Dennis Erb [21][$1,500]; 21. 55C-Chad Mahder [22][$1,500]; 22. 29-Spencer Diercks [15][$1,500]; 23. 18-Chase Junghans [18][$1,500] Hard Charger: 44-Chris Madden[+5]