MASON CITY, Iowa — After three nights of action in America’s Heartland, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models keep the Heartland Speedweek rolling with four races in five days.
Reigning series champion Dennis Erb Jr. and Bobby Pierce each picked up a feature win to kick off the speedweek – Pierce and Brandon Sheppard also scored preliminary wins at 81 Speedway.
Next, the series turns its attention to Mason City Motor Speedway, featuring a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win event, on Tuesday, June 27.
Then, the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models return to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND, for the Titan Machinery Showdown on Wednesday, June 28, for another $10,000-to-win, 40-lap affair. Two days later, still in North Dakota, the Series ventures to River Cities Speedway, this time for a $12,000-to-win, 40-lap, showcase.
The inaugural World of Outlaws Heartland Speedweek finishes on Saturday, July 1, returning to I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN, for a 50-lap Feature paying $15,000-to-win.
Here’s a look at the storylines entering this weekend:
A Three-Way Dance
Entering Tuesday’s race at Mason City, the top three drivers in the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models standings are separated by six points.
Chris Madden remains at the top, but Bobby Pierce now trails the Gray Court, SC driver by four points, and Nick Hoffman is only six points behind.
In the two points-paying races over the weekend, Madden finished 14th and ninth, allowing the other two drivers to close in.
Pierce earned a win and fifth in those two races, while Hoffman finished second and fourth.
However, while Pierce and Hoffman closed the gap, Madden has more experience at the upcoming speedweek tracks. “Smokey” finished 10th in his last appearance at River Cities in 2021 and fourth in his lone appearance at I-94 EMR Speedway.
The Reaper Lurks
While Ryan Gustin didn’t find victory lane over the weekend, a fourth at 81 Speedway and a sixth at Off Road Speedway bumped him up to fourth in the standings—50 points behind Madden.
The Marshalltown, Iowa driver has found past success in the Upper Midwest, finishing third at River Cities and fifth at I-94 when the Series visited those tracks in 2021.
While he hasn’t raced at Red River Valley Speedway in a Late Model, he does have a win at the track in USMTS competition in 2011.
He also has two USMTS wins at Mason City, both coming in 2017.
Trending Up
The three former series champions currently racing full-time with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models are starting to gain momentum.
Defending Series champion Dennis Erb Jr. scored his first win of 2023 over the weekend, banking $30,000 at 81 Speedway, four-time Series champion Brandon Sheppard finished second the next night at Off Road, and 2015 Series champion Shane Clanton finished third.
Friday’s race at River Cities could be a prime opportunity for one of them to strike again. Out of the 15 World of Outlaws races held at the track, the three former champions have combined to win five.
Clanton won at River Cities in 2022 and 2017, Erb won in 2021, and Sheppard won in 2020 and 2019. The “Georgia Bulldog” also won at Mason City when the Series visited in 2016.
Mason City Experience
Gustin and Clanton aren’t the only drivers who’ve succeeded at Mason City throughout their career. Cade Dillard, like Gustin, has a USMTS win at the Iowa oval in 2016.
Germfree Rookie of the Year contender Todd Cooney has also found victory lane at the track, winning two IMCA Late Model Features in 2014.
A win for the Des Moines, IA driver this week would be his first career Series victory.