FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. — For the third straight season, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models will begin May on the banks of the Mississippi River with a trip to Mississippi Thunder Speedway.
Three nights of epic dirt late model action await the series at the Dairyland Showdown on May 4-6, boasting an overall weekend purse of $264,000.
On Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5, drivers will battle in split-field, 25-lap, $5,000-to-win Features, accumulating points each night.
Those points will set the Heat Race lineups on Saturday, May 6, as drivers chase down the second $50,000-to-win payday of the season in a 75-lap Feature.
USRA Modifieds will join the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models each night.
The Thunderous Five
Since the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models started racing at Mississippi Thunder in 2021, there’s been five different winners in five races.
Four-time series champion Brandon Sheppard and current points leader Chris Madden scored a win in 2021, while Bobby Pierce, Jonathan Davenport, and 2018 Series champion Mike Marlar earned a victory in 2022.
If the trend of no repeat winners continues this weekend, there could be 10 straight different World of Outlaws winners at the Fountain City, WI oval, with five chances to win this weekend.
Sheppard enters the weekend with momentum after scoring his first win of 2023, and first in a Longhorn chassis.
Keeping Pace With “Smokey”
Madden leads the points standings after six races entering the 2023 edition of the Dairyland Showdown. And this weekend, he returns to a track he’s found success at.
Along with his win, the Gray Court, S.C., driver hasn’t finished outside of the top five at Mississippi Thunder.
“Smokey’s” early season consistency earned him an 18-point lead over Kyle Bronson with three top fives and five top 10s.
Bronson’s consistency has allowed him to keep pace with Madden, earning a top five and four top 10s, including his first podium at 411 Motor Speedway.
However, Mississippi Thunder is uncharted territory for the Brandon, Fla., driver, as he’s never raced at the track in World of Outlaws competition.
A Sense of Familiarity
Ryan Gustin is off to his best World of Outlaws CASE Late Models start of his career, currently tied for third with Brian Shirley — 26 points behind Madden.
“The Reaper” has succeeded in a late model at Mississippi Thunder, as he’s only finished outside the top 10 once in five races. But he’s also succeeded at the track in a modified.
Gustin has five USMTS victories at the track and has more experience there than any other World of Outlaws regular.
Larson Land
Other than the USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway, Mississippi Thunder is the closest the Series races to Brent Larson’s Lake Elmo, Minn., home.
It’s also the site of one of his best career finishes.
He held on for second during the first World of Outlaws Feature at the track in 2021 after Sheppard passed him late in the race.
Larson has a top five and two top 10s in five races at the track.
A win close to home would be his first career series triumph.