The northernmost portion of the schedule awaits the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision this week.
The first two legs of the Northern Swing at 141 Speedway and Ogilvie Raceway are in the books, with plenty more racing left on the road to next weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway. Another Minnesota staple is coming up on Wednesday, June 24, when the Series returns to I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls for a $12,000-to-win program.
From there, it’s off to Grand Forks, ND for the annual trip to River Cities Speedway on Friday, June 26, which pays $15,000 to the winner. After a travel day on Saturday, the tour will return to Minot, ND, on Sunday, June 28, for a $20,000-to-win show at one of the premier facilities in dirt track racing.
Joining the World of Outlaws will be the WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds and Street Stocks at I-94, Modifieds and Street Stocks at River Cities and Modifieds at Nodak.
Here are this week’s top storylines:
TURNING POINT?: Nick Hoffman got his season rolling again with finishes of third at 141 and second at Ogilvie. But when you’re battling Bobby Pierce for a championship, sometimes a pair of solid podium finishes still isn’t enough to gain ground.
Thanks to Pierce’s wins at both tracks, the gap back to Hoffman has grown to 55 points. The remainder of the northern swing will be crucial if Hoffman intends on keeping the title fight close for the rest of the year. If the No. 9 can’t win races and close in on Pierce up north – a region he’s called one of his favorites in the country to race in – the task will only get harder once the Series travels to some of Pierce’s best tracks later in the year.
It’s been three years since the World of Outlaws last raced at I-94, but Pierce won on that night while Hoffman finished eighth. Hoffman had the upper hand at River Cities last year when he won ahead of Pierce in sixth, while they both finished on the podium last year at Nodak.
MIDSEASON SHAKE UP: It had been a rough start to the Northern Swing for Drake Troutman, as he was a DNF at both 141 and Ogilvie due to mechanical issues. Then on Wednesday, news broke that Troutman and G.R. Smith Motorsports have gone their separate ways.
Troutman isn’t giving up on his full-time World of Outlaws bid and is working to find a ride for the rest of the tour’s stint up north. As it stands, Troutman is holding down the fifth spot in the point standings with four podium finishes to his credit. While Victory Lane has eluded him, he has been in contention to win several races, and his 99 laps led in Features this year are the most of anyone without a win.
The 21-year-old Pennsylvanian should be a frontrunner in whichever car he ends up in this week – he’s never raced at I-94, but he finished in the top five at both River Cities and Nodak in 2025.
ON THE RISE: It’s no secret that Ethan Dotson wasn’t satisfied with how he started his second full-time World of Outlaws campaign. He’s still working toward the ultimate goal of being a regular winner on tour, but he has been making significant gains as of late.
Following a stretch of eight races without a top five, Dotson strung three of them together on both nights at West Virginia Motor Speedway and at 141. He was in position to grab another one at Ogilvie with his sixth-starting spot before dropping back in the Feature and finishing 18th.
Nevertheless, Dotson is rolling north with a renewed sense of confidence, and his points position reflects that. He was briefly up to sixth, but Ryan Gustin’s third-place run at Ogilvie was enough to retake that position going into I-94. A spot in the top five is still within reach for Dotson, with 43 points separating him from Troutman in fifth.
BATTLING BACK: Early in the year, it looked like Daulton Wilson was going to leave every other candidate for this season’s MD3 Rookie of the Year Award in the dust. But Trey Mills has had something to say about that.
Wilson and his Big Frog/Viper Motorsports crew had several strong runs in the opening months of the season, but have struggled as of late, with Wilson’s last top 10 coming eight races ago at Marion Center Raceway. Meanwhile, Mills has finished in the top 10 four times since then and brought the gap down to 68 points with plenty of racing left.
The rookie battle isn’t the only one Mills has to worry about, as he’s tied for ninth in the overall points with Dennis Erb Jr., who has also been hitting his stride with finishes of sixth or better in three of his last four starts.
OFF TRACK EXCITEMENT: This week’s itinerary in the upper Midwest goes far beyond the racetrack.
Fans in Grand Forks will get an early opportunity to meet one of the Outlaws, as Ethan Dotson will have his ASD Motorsports No. 74X machine at Rumors Sports Bar & Grill on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Dotson will be on hand meeting fans, as will the team’s merchandise trailer.
Then, at Nodak on Sunday, race day will begin with a free pulled pork feed from 2-4 p.m. The food will be available in the pits, but fans with a grandstand ticket will be welcome to stop by and enjoy a meal with the race teams.
Nodak’s cornhole tournament is back in 2026 immediately following the Redraw, when four random fans will be paired with a Heat Race-winning driver. The winning driver and fan will each take home $500.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Wednesday, June 24, at I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 26, at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND
Sunday, June 28, at Nodak Speedway in Minot, ND
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (4470 points)
2. Nick Hoffman (-55)
3. Tyler Erb (-246)
4. Tim McCreadie (-338)
5. Drake Troutman (-373)
6. Ryan Gustin (-403)
7. Ethan Dotson (-416)
8. Daulton Wilson (-502)
9. Trey Mills (-570)
10. Dennis Erb Jr. (-570)
FEATURE WINNERS (11):
Bobby Pierce – 12
Nick Hoffman – 6
Tyler Erb – 2
Tim McCreadie – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Ryan Gustin – 1
Chris Madden – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Mason Zeigler – 1
Mike Marlar – 1
FEATURE TOP FIVES (25):
Nick Hoffman – 25
Bobby Pierce – 23
Tyler Erb – 15
Tim McCreadie – 10
Drake Troutman – 10
Ryan Gustin – 9
Brandon Sheppard – 8
Hudson O’Neal – 7
Daulton Wilson – 7
Ethan Dotson – 7
Chris Madden – 5
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 5
Jonathan Davenport – 4
Dennis Erb Jr. – 3
Mason Zeigler – 2
Dustin Sorensen – 2
Dale McDowell – 2
Brandon Overton – 2
Trey Mills – 2
Ashton Winger – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Max Blair – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Josh Rice – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
FEATURE LAPS LED (21):
Bobby Pierce – 321
Nick Hoffman – 202
Tyler Erb – 99
Drake Troutman – 99
Brandon Sheppard – 81
Ryan Gustin – 73
Chris Madden – 73
Hudson O’Neal – 68
Daulton Wilson – 66
Jonathan Davenport – 57
Tim McCreadie – 46
Garrett Alberson – 46
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 41
Mike Marlar – 39
Mason Zeigler – 24
Ashton Winger – 22
Ethan Dotson – 12
Brandon Overton – 12
Michael Leach – 10
Sam Seawright – 5
Dale McDowell – 4
BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (19):
Nick Hoffman – 6
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 3
Drake Troutman – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Chris Madden – 2
Daulton Wilson – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Hudson O’Neal – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1
SIMPSON QUICK TIME AWARDS (16):
Nick Hoffman – 7
Chris Madden – 5
Tim McCreadie – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Tyler Erb – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Ross Robinson – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
HEAT RACE WINS (38):
Nick Hoffman – 17
Bobby Pierce – 14
Tyler Erb – 10
Ryan Gustin – 7
Chris Madden – 7
Drake Troutman – 7
Brandon Sheppard – 6
Hudson O’Neal – 6
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 5
Tim McCreadie – 4
Daulton Wilson – 4
Jonathan Davenport – 4
Brandon Overton – 4
Mason Zeigler – 3
Tristan Chamberlain – 3
Ethan Dotson – 2
Dennis Erb Jr. – 2
Dustin Sorensen – 2
Trey Mills – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Jared Miley – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Dale McDowell – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Josh Rice – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Donald McIntosh – 1
Blair Nothdurft – 1
Logan Zarin – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Austin Smith – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Dallon Murty – 1
Devin Moran – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Lane Snook – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (36):
Ethan Dotson – 4
Dallon Murty – 4
Daulton Wilson – 3
Dennis Erb Jr. – 3
Josh Rice – 3
Logan Zarin – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Ryan Gustin – 2
Drake Troutman – 2
Dustin Sorensen – 2
Trey Mills – 2
Tristan Chamberlain – 2
Carson Ferguson – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Cory Hedgecock – 1
Jake Timm – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Michael Leach – 1
Luke Morey – 1
Chris Ferguson – 1
Dalton Cook – 1
Shane Clanton – 1
Michael Page – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Derrick Stewart – 1
Chad Simpson – 1
Chris Simpson – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Gordy Gundaker – 1
Nick Davis – 1
Dylan Yoder – 1
Lincoln Smith – 1
2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL (Practice)
Thursday, Jan. 22 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Chris Madden (1)
Friday, Jan. 23 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Hudson O’Neal (1)
Saturday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tim McCreadie (1)
Thursday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (1)
Friday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Thursday, Feb. 19 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL (Practice)
Friday, Feb. 20 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Bobby Pierce (1)
Saturday, Feb. 21 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Nick Hoffman (3)
Friday, March 13 / Volunteer Speedway / Bulls Gap, TN / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, March 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (2)
Thursday, March 19 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS (Practice)
Friday, March 20 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Bobby Pierce (3)
Saturday, March 21 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Hudson O’Neal (2)
Friday, March 27 / East Alabama Motor Speedway / Phenix City, AL / Nick Hoffman (4)
Saturday, March 28 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA / Bobby Pierce (4)
Thursday, April 9 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, April 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (2)
Saturday, April 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Bobby Pierce (5)
Tuesday, April 28 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA / Bobby Pierce (6)
Thursday, April 30 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Bobby Pierce (7)
Friday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Nick Hoffman (5)
Saturday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Ryan Gustin (1)
Wednesday, May 13 / Georgetown Speedway / Georgetown, DE / Bobby Pierce (8)
Thursday, May 14 / Selinsgrove Speedway / Selinsgrove, PA / Tim McCreadie (2)
Sunday, May 17 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA / Mason Zeigler (1)
Wednesday, May 27 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA / Bobby Pierce (9)
Thursday, May 28 / Wayne County Speedway / Orrville, OH / Ricky Thornton Jr. (1)
Friday, May 29 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH / Tyler Erb (1)
Saturday, May 30 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH / Nick Hoffman (6)
Friday, June 12 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV / Bobby Pierce (10)
Saturday, June 13 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV / Tyler Erb (2)
Saturday, June 20 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI / Bobby Pierce (11)
Monday, June 22 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Bobby Pierce (12)
Wednesday, June 24 / I-94 emr Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Sunday, June 28 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Tuesday, June 30 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Thursday, July 2 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Wednesday, July 8 / Stateline Speedway / Busti, NY
Friday, July 10 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 24 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Thursday, July 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Thursday, Aug. 20 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA (Practice)
Friday, Aug. 21 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 22 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Wednesday, Aug. 26 / Southern Iowa Speedway / Oskaloosa, IA
Friday, Aug, 28 / Adams County Speedway / Corning, IA
Saturday, Aug. 29 / Shelby County Speedway / Harlan, IA
Friday, Sept. 25 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, Sept. 26 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Friday, Oct. 2 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 3 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Friday, Oct. 23 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Saturday, Oct. 24 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Wednesday, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC