Curious which drivers you should keep an eye on at each World of Outlaws Late Model Series event? Series Announcer Ruben Mireles will bring you his five drivers to watch each week.
This week: Ed Gressel Tribute at 81 Speedway, Oct. 4
RUBEN’S FIVE:
Dennis Erb Jr.: In yesterday’s edition of my “Five to Watch,” I mentioned Dennis Erb Jr. was due for a Series win in 2025. The 2022 champion prevailed and earned career win number 15 with the Series. The last two World of Outlaws victories for Dennis came in the state of Kansas. Dennis won at 81 Speedway back in 2023, making him the defending winner at the track and a big threat to possibly clean sweep the weekend now!
Tanner English: The Coltman Farms Racing team brought Donnie Birdwell on board as a crew chief in late August and have had three total nights under World of Outlaws competition, earning fourth-, 11th-, and ninth-place finishes. Not to mention, they won a MARS Feature in September. This team is in a tight points battle, currently sitting in eighth by two points over Cody Overton, who drives for Birdwell’s ex-team, and only 12 points ahead of Ethan Dotson, who sits in 10th. Tanner finished third at 81 Speedway back in 2023 when he drove for Viper. With an upward trajectory for this team and everything clicking well in the pit area, we can see a late October push from this team!
Ryan Gustin: The Ed Gressel Tribute holds a lot of sentimental value to Gustin because Ed Gressel was a big contributor to his racing career. The throwback wrap says it all and Gustin would love nothing more than to win in front of the Gressel family who will be in attendance tonight. Gustin will be pulling double-duty driving a USRA Modified which will give him a slight advantage on keeping up with how the track changes throughout the night. Gustin has seven big Modified wins between USMTS and NCRA at 81 Speedway. Tonight, could be the night Gustin matches his season career best with 5 wins on a season.
Ethan Dotson: It’s been a while since we talked about Ethan Dotson, but since the departure of crew chief RC Whitwell after Cedar Lake and the return of Tyler Breashears, Dotson has averaged a finishing position of 7.8! This team is clicking all the right buttons and coming off back-to-back top fives. The ASD Motorsports team have something special brewing during an important points battle. They currently sit 10th but only trail Tanner English who’s in eighth by 12 points. This team continues to gel well and a second win on the season is not out of the equation!
Brian Shirley: I wanted to pick Hoffman as my final pick, but if I must narrow it down to five drivers, I need to include Brian Shirley! Shirley continued his top five streak to seven straight top fives. Shirley also finished sixth here in 2023 and this team is always lethal late in the year. They currently sit fifth in the standings but only by two points over Dennis Erb Jr., and 36 points over seventh in points Drake Troutman. That’s a $40,000 difference in points fund money that would be huge for this team. They know what’s up for grabs and this team is also clicking the right buttons.
You can follow these drivers and more all weekend by getting your tickets in advance or at the gate.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live – with Ruben Mireles – on DIRTVision.
UP NEXT: World of Outlaws Bayou Classic at Boothill Speedway on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 10-11