After a month’s wait, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models are shifting into high gear, set to travel over 1,600 miles through six states in about a week’s time.
The June leg of the Heartland Grand Tour begins at Summertown, TN’s Thunderhill Raceway on Thursday, June 20, and ends at Ada, MN’s Norman County Raceway on Saturday, June 29.
Along the way, the Series has visits planned at Ponderosa Speedway (Friday, June 21), Brownstown Speedway (Saturday, June 22), Independence Motor Speedway (Monday, June 24), Hamilton County Speedway (Tuesday, June 25), I-94 EMR Speedway (Thursday, June 27), and River Cities Speedway (Friday, June 28).
Of those, the races at Thunderhill, Hamilton County, and Norman County will be debut events on the World of Outlaws schedule.
Advanced tickets for I-94 are $5 off when you make your purchase HERE. For more information about each event, CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every World of Outlaws Late Model race live on DIRTVision.
Here are the top storylines to look out for in the Heartland Grand Tour:
Hoffman’s Heat – Taking the 2024 season by storm, Mooresville, NC driver Nick Hoffman has emerged as an early title contender with a Series-leading three Feature wins, so far, putting him four points ahead of four-time Series champion Brandon Sheppard for the points lead.
During his off time from the tour, Hoffman returned to his stomping grounds in a UMP Modified and won at Virginia Motor Speedway.
“The Thrill from Mooresville” enters a swing similar to his days of racing the Summer Nationals – a tour in which he won five Summit Modified titles – one in 2016 and then a four-peat from 2019-2022.
Off-Week Winners – The competitors of the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models did not rest long during their time away with Dustin Sorensen and Cade Dillard achieving milestone wins in June.
Dillard, of Robeline, LA, picked up the biggest paying win of his racing career by dominating The Big Deal Modified event at Mississippi Thunder Raceway to score the monumental $100,001 check from the 100-lap Feature.
MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Dustin Sorensen won three Late Model races in June. Two with the Dirt Kings Late Model Tour at Mississippi Thunder and Winneshiek Raceway, then a win on Friday during “The Masters” at Cedar Lake Speedway.
Horns Up – New Berlin, IL driver Brandon Sheppard enters the Heartland Grand Tour only four points back from retaking the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models points lead at tracks that favor the pilot of the No. B5 Sheppard Riggs Racing Longhorn Factory Team machine.
Sheppard boasts a strong track record at the tracks on the swing, with Feature wins at River Cities (2019-2020) and Independence (2019), alongside podium finishes at Ponderosa and I-94.
Though the four-time Series champion seeks his first win of 2024, Sheppard leads the Series in top-10 finishes with 11, and an average finish of 5.77 leading into the June events.
Smooth Climbing – An immense points recovery in the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season has Oakwood, IL driver Bobby Pierce motivated to score more high marks in the Heartland Grand Tour.
The reigning Series champion has two points wins on the season from the Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway, a debut win at Path Valley Speedway, and a prelim Feature win at Ultimate Motorsports & RV Park. The “Smooth Operator” took home a podium finish at the 30th Dirt Late Model Dream in his time away from the Series.
Pierce said he looks forward to returning to Brownstown and I-94, where he picked up wins last year.
Read more: Bobby Pierce Regains Confidence as he Prepares to Tackle 11 Races in 17 Days
From Hell to Heart – In preparation for the Heartland Grand Tour, several Outlaws took time with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models to get their cars race-ready for the grueling stretch ahead.
Former Summer Nationals champions Dennis Erb Jr, Brian Shirley, and Bobby Pierce took on the opening week. Erb earned a podium at Peoria Speedway, Shirley finished sixth at Fairbury Speedway, and Pierce took eighth place at Peoria.
MD3 Rookie of the Year contenders Max McLaughlin, Cody Overton, and Daniel Hilsabeck also tried their hands on the first week of the Hell Tour. Overton finished with two top-10 finishes at Tri-City Speedway and Fairbury, McLaughlin finished a high of 11th at Peoria, and Hilsabeck got a top-20 result at a new track for him in Peoria.
WHEN AND WHERE
Thunderhill Raceway Park in Summertown, TN
Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY
Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN
Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA
Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, IA
I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN
River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND
Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN
ABOUT THE TRACK
Thunderhill Raceway Park is a 0.333-mile high-banked, red clay oval
Ponderosa Speedway is a 0.375-mile oval
Brownstown Speedway is a 0.25-mile oval
Independence Motor Speedway is a 0.375-mile oval
Hamilton County Speedway is a 0.5-mile semi-banked oval
I-94 EMR Speedway is a 0.375-mile oval
River Cities Speedway is a 0.25-mile oval
Norman County Raceway is a 0.375-mile oval
TRACK RECORDS
Ponderosa Speedway – 12.186 by Tim McCreadie on 4/30/2021
Brownstown Speedway – 12.509 by Josh Richards on 3/20/2021
Independence Motor Speedway – 13.865 by Chad Simpson on 8/5/2013
I-94 EMR Speedway – 16.850 by Don Shaw
River Cities Speedway – 11.255 by Joey Pederson on 9/9/2018
ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Series
X – Twitter.com/WoOLateModels – @WoOLateModels
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOLateModels – @woolatemodels
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month
AROUND THE TURN
The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models celebrate Independence Day Weekend for the first time in five years at Deer Creek Speedway for the NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50, July 4-6 – featuring fireworks on Thursday, a Dylan Scott concert on Friday and the $50,000-to-win finale on Saturday. For more info and tickets, CLICK HERE.
FEATURE WINNERS (6 Drivers)
Rank- Driver- Hometown-Wins
- Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 3
- Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 2
- Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 2
- Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2
- Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
- Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (19 Drivers)
Rank- Driver- Hometown-Wins
- Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 5
- Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 5
- Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 4
- Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 3
- Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 3
- Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 3
- Dale McDowell – Chickamauga, GA – 2
- Ricky Thornton Jr – Martinsville, IN – 2
- Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1
- Cody Overton – Evans, GA – 1
- Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – 1
- Tyler Emory – King George, VA – 1
- Shannon Babb – Moweaqua – IL -1
- Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – 1
- Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
- Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 1
- Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 1
- Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
- Garrett Smith – Eatonton, GA – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (17 Drivers)
Rank- Driver- Hometown-Wins
- Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 3
- Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 3
- Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – 2
- Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 2
- Dave Hess Jr – Waterford, PA – 1
- Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 1
- Jake Timm – Winona, MN – 1
- Gregg Satterlee – Indiana, PA – 1
- Logan Zarin – Hookstown, PA – 1
- Jordan Yaggy – Rochester, MN – 1
- Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
- Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
- Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – 1
- Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
- Chase Junghans – Manhattan, KS – 1
- Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – 1
- Tripp Gerrald – Versailles, KY – 1
PODIUM FINISHES (12 Drivers)
Rank – Driver – Hometown – Podiums
- Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 7
- Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 6
- Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 4
- Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 3
- Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 3
- Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2
- 4. Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
- Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 2
- Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
- Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – 1
- Ricky Thornton Jr – Martinsville, IN – 1
- Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGER (7 Drivers)
Rank – Driver – Hometown – H.C.
- Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2
- Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 2
- Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 2
- Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1
- Brent Larson – Lake Elmo, MN – 1
- Jake Timm – Winona, MN -1
- Ricky Thornton Jr – Martinsville, IN – 1
SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS QUICK TIMES (8 Drivers)
Rank – Driver – Hometown – QTs
- Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 3
- Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 2
- Cody Overton, Evans, GA – 1
- Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
- Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 1
- Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 1
- Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
- Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1
BILSTEIN REDRAW POLE AWARD (8 Drivers)
Rank – Driver – Hometown – Poles
- Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 4
- Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 1
- Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
- Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1
- Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 1
- Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 1
- Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1
- Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
CASE FEATURE LAP LEADERS (12 Drivers)
Rank – Driver – Hometown – Laps Led
- Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 87
- Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 84
- Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 47
- Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 67
- Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 45
- Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 29
- Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 28
- Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – 26
- Ricky Thornton Jr – Martinsville, IN – 16
- Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 15
- Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 6
- Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 5
2024 World of Outlaws Late Model Schedule & Winners
- Friday, Jan. 19/Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL/Devin Moran
- Saturday, Jan. 20/Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL/Hudson O’Neal
- Thursday, Feb. 15 /Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL/Nick Hoffman
- Friday, Jan. 19/Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL/Devin Moran (2)
- Friday, Apr. 12/Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL/Nick Hoffman (2)
- Saturday, Apr. 13/Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL/Bobby Pierce
- Friday, May 3/Mississippi Thunder Speedway/Nick Hoffman (3)
- Friday, May 4/Mississippi Thunder Speedway/Ryan Gustin
- Thursday, May 16/Raceway 7/Chris Madden
- Saturday, May 18/Marion Center Raceway/Chris Madden (2)
- Sunday, May 19/Path Valley Speedway/Bobby Pierce