BROWNSTOWN, Ind. — As the calendar turns to October, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series is preparing for its final Midwest stop of the season.
The series kicks off the weekend with its triumphant return to Brownstown Speedway for the first time since 2007 on Friday, Oct. 6, for the Hoosier Dirt Classic—an event co-sanctioned with the Valvoline Iron-Man Series. Drivers will battle in a 40-lap Feature paying $10,000-to-win.
Then, on Saturday, Oct. 7, the World of Outlaws return to Fairbury Speedway for the FALS Frenzy. $15,000 is on the line in a 50-lap battle.
Here’s a look at the storylines to watch this weekend:
One Step Closer
After another win last Saturday, Bobby Pierce continues to close in on securing the 2023 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models title. The Oakwood, Ill. driver has 12 series victories this season and 32 overall. He also has a 146-point lead over Chris Madden, entering two tracks where he’s found past success.
Pierce won at Brownstown earlier this season with the Northern All-Stars and scored wins in the track’s Jackson 100 and with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals. The “Smooth Operator” also has four wins at Fairbury this season, including a second in the Prairie Dirt Classic.
If Pierce wins the final seven races in the 2023 season, he will break the single-season wins record set by Brandon Sheppard and Josh Richards (18).
Beware of the Champions
While Pierce is closer to securing the 2023 championship, a pair of former champions know what it takes to reach victory lane at Brownstown and Fairbury.
Defending series champion Dennis Erb Jr. won the Series’ only appearance at Brownstown in 2007 and scored two DIRTcar Summer Nationals wins.
Sheppard is another champion who’s succeeded at Brownstown, winning the Indiana Ice Breaker twice.
Both drivers have been successful in the Prairie Dirt Classic. Sheppard won the event three times, while Erb was victorious in 2004.
Point Battles
After last weekend’s Outlaw Invasion at Atomic, there’s a log jam between spots four through nine in the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models standings—separated by only 62 points.
After finishing outside the top 10 twice at Atomic, Brian Shirley, Kyle Bronson, Nick Hoffman, Dennis Erb Jr., and Tanner English gained on Ryan Gustin for the fourth spot.
Hoffman and Shirley made the most significant strides last weekend, each earning third-place finishes to stay within striking distance of the No. 19R.
As the drivers continue to battle for positions, there’s a $32,000 difference between fourth and ninth. The driver who finishes fourth wins $75,000, while the driver who finishes ninth gets $43,000.
Iron-Man
For the first time in Series history, a World of Outlaws CASE Late Models race will be co-sanctioned with the Valvoline Iron-Man Series at Brownstown.
Josh Rice enters the event as the points leader on the Northern Series after winning seven events in the 2023 season. Austin Lay and Rod Conley enter the weekend second and third in points.
The World of Outlaws Germfree Rookie of the Year leader, Hoffman earned an Iron-Man Series win at Atomic in July.
Roll The Dice
A driver with momentum to watch as the series returns to Fairbury this weekend is Jason Feger.
The 2023 DIRTcar Late Model National Champion scored two victories last weekend at the DIRTcar Fall Nationals at Lincoln Speedway. He also has three wins at the Illinois bullring this season.
The Bloomington, Ill. driver has proven he can win against the best on quarter-mile tracks, winning a World of Outlaws feature last season on the opening night of the Quad Cities 150 at Davenport Speedway.