CONCORD, N.C. — As the World of Outlaws World Finals kicked off Wednesday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, there were plenty of familiar faces in new places.
Some drivers were debuting in rides they will occupy next season, while others simply joined new teams to get both to the finish line of a long season.
Daison Pursley was aboard the Buch Motorsports No. 13, which he will wheel next season, while Justin Peck, who previously drove the No. 13 made his first run aboard the familiar Rudeen Racing No. 26 sprint car.
Cory Eliason, who drove for Ridge & Sons Racing this season, is aboard Troy Renfro’s No. 2ks to conclude the season this weekend, while Pennsylvania ace Justin Whittall, who won the recent Dirt Jersey season finale at Bridgeport Speedway in his own car, is driving John Stehman’s No. 23 during the World Finals.
ASCS National Tour winner is getting a tryout in the Dutcher Motorsports No. 17gp this weekend, while Tim Shaffer has hopped aboard a Bill Rose entry.
• A pair of USAC sprint car stars are wheeling two very different race cars during the World Finals.
C.J. Leary has returned to Alex Bowman Racing to wheel the No. 55 winged sprint, while USAC sprint car champion Logan Seavey is walking the lower pit area competing in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series portion of the program.
• Late model standout Ricky Thornton Jr. is doing double duty this weekend.
In addition to piloting his familiar No. 20rt late model for Koehler Motorsports, while also making his World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series debut handling Bernie Stuebgen’s re-badged No. 20rt sprint car.
Thornton has micro sprint experience and ran a pair of winged sprint car races for Stuebgen earlier this fall.
• Late model veteran Jonathan Davenport is aboard Kevin Rumley’s familiar No. 6 this weekend.
Davenport, however, says he has no plans to leave the Double L Motorsports team for which he’s driven for several seasons and will finish the season with the team at the Gateway Dirt Nationals.
• Brandon Overton, who recently wrapped up the Hunt The Front Dirt Series title, has signed with Riggs Motorsports and the Longhorn Factory Team for next season.
Overton, who is not competing during the World Finals, will team with veteran mechanic Anthony Burroughs.
• There are 45 sprint cars, 47 big-block modifieds and 66 late models competing during the World Finals.
• With features for all three classes on tap on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, all three championships are at play.
The closest title race is in the Super DIRTcar Series, where 10-time champion Matt Sheppard leads Mat Williamson by only 15 markers.
Brandon Sheppard leads Bobby Pierce, who has won 37 late model features this season by 44 points.
David Gravel, who was fast qualifier for Thursday and Friday night, leads Carson Macedo by 74 points.