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Tri-City Outlaw Showdown
Tri-City Speedway | Granite City, Illinois
Friday, June 02, 2023
Race Recap  

A MATTER OF INCHES: Kyle Bronson Outduels Brian Shirley for Tri-City Speedway Victory

A battle between best friends ended with Kyle Bronson standing tall Friday night at Tri-City Speedway 

After trading the lead three times in the final four laps, the Brandon, FL driver beat Brian Shirley to the checkered flag by 0.057 seconds to earn his first World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models win of 2023.  

Bronson, the pole sitter, went unchallenged in the lead through the race’s first 30 laps. Then, the first of three challengers tried to wrestle it away.   

Germfree Rookie of the Year contender Nick Hoffman was the first to step up on Lap 33, using the inside lane to close on Bronson in Turns 3 and 4.  

The Florida competitor took the lane away, staving off Hoffman’s challenge as they drove into Turns 1 and 2 and pulled away. 

But that’s when his next challenger arrived. His best friend, Brian Shirley 

 As Bronson reached traffic, Shirley closed in, seeing an opportunity present itself.  

With Bronson on the outside, and Shirley on the bottom, the Chatham, IL driver made his move with four laps to go.  

Shirley thundered underneath Bronson in Turn 2 as Bronson got caught behind the lap car of Todd Cooney. 

As they entered Turn 3, Shirley slid up the racetrack, leaving the bottom open. That’s when Bronson dove to the inside, pulling his Rocket Chassis almost even with Shirley, as the #3S led the lap.  

Bronson retook the lead in Turn 1 on Lap 38, muscling Shirley up the racetrack and allowing both Hoffman and Bobby Pierce close in behind them. 

Shirley and Bronson switched lanes again as they entered Turns 3 and 4, allowing Shirley to dive to the bottom as Bronson retook the lead on the top with two laps to go. 

The two waged war again in Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 39, with Shirley getting the advantage as they roared down the backstretch. 

Shirley led the field through the first corner again the next lap as Bronson went to the cushion, and Pierce tried to nose ahead of Shirley on the bottom. But it was Bronson’s decision that paid off. He pulled even with Shirley as they entered Turn 3, while Pierce was left to watch the battle in front of him. 

From there, Bronson went through the middle of the corner, pinching Shirley on the bottom so he couldn’t get the momentum he needed – the winning move. Bronson powered off the corner to beat Shirley by 0.057 seconds to earn the $12,000 prize—his third career World of Outlaws triumph and first not at Volusia Speedway Park. 

Kyle Bronson and Brian Shirley
Kyle Bronson embraces with Brian Shirley in Victory Lane/Jacy Norgaard photo

Bronson said he was thrilled to battle with Shirley for the win, knowing the two would leave it all on the track without wrecking each other. 

“It’s so nice to race with one of my best friends like that, just knowing he ain’t going to wreck you,” Bronson said. “We held each other tight a couple of times. He slid up in front of me. I held him tight so he couldn’t slide me back. It was just a hell of a race.” 

While Bronson came out on top, his win wasn’t without a scare. He said he felt a vibration in the car as the laps wound down. 

“I felt like I was extremely good for the first 35 laps, and then I got an extremely bad vibration, and I could hardly drive the car,” Bronson said. “I started backing off the car because I was scared I was going to sling a driveshaft or break a transmission or something.  

“Then, next thing I know, [Shirley] is driving by me, and I had to pick the pace up. At that point, I said, ‘The hell with it. I ain’t points racing anymore. I’m trying to go for a win here.’ I threw all caution to the wind in the final five laps, and it worked out for us.” 

Shirley, who earned his second top five of the season, said Bronson kept him running the line he needed to at the end. 

“I felt like if I didn’t get Kyle on the start, I was going to have a hard time beating him,” Shirley said. “He runs good around here, and good on the cushion, so I knew it was going to be tough to get around him. I didn’t realize that the track was going to come back to me where we could get under him a little bit.  

“Those last couple of laps, he was just smart enough to block me to where I couldn’t hit my line to where I needed to hit to fully get by him.” 

Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Nick Hoffman, Bobby Pierce
Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Nick Hoffman, and Bobby Pierce battle for the lead at Tri-City Speedway/Jacy Norgaard photo

Pierce crossed the line third, his second podium of the weekend.  

The Oakwood, IL driver had a chance to win after receiving damage in a Lap 4 caution involving Kyle Larson and former Series champion Billy Moyer. He fell back as far as ninth before driving back to the podium. 

“It was pretty crazy how far back we came and being right on them guys,” Pierce said. “Larson got the wall right in front of me, and I just piled right into him. Nine times out of 10, that’s taking you out of the race with how hard we hit.” 

For the second straight night, Pierce gained points on Chris Madden, who finished 13th.  

The “Smooth Operator” is now 30 points behind the Gray Court, SC driver. 

After challenging for the lead in the final 10 laps, Hoffman fell back to fourth. 

The Mooresville, NC driver said Bronson’s ability to protect the lead kept him from making the pass for the win. 

“About halfway through, my stuff was running decently hot, and I was kind of just setting a decent pace,” Hoffman said. “But with about 10 to go, I said screw it. I said I’m going to go for it.  

“I tracked those guys down and from a pretty long way. I got to racing with them, got clear of [Shirley], and ran Bronson down and showed him a nose. He was able to protect into [Turn] 3, and that was kind of the difference I felt like in the race.” 

Shane Clanton, the 2015 Series champion, rounded out the top five. 

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models finish their Midwest tripleheader weekend with a trip to Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY, on Saturday, June 3, for the USA World 50. 

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online on with the DIRTVision App.

CASE Construction Equipment Feature (40 Laps): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[2]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[7]; 4. 9-Nick Hoffman[4]; 5. 25-Shane Clanton[6]; 6. 11-Gordy Gundaker[15]; 7. 97-Cade Dillard[3]; 8. 19R-Ryan Gustin[17]; 9. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[10]; 10. B5-Brandon Sheppard[18]; 11. 18B-Shannon Babb[8]; 12. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[9]; 13. 44-Chris Madden[11]; 14. 1ST-Johnny Scott[20]; 15. 33-Mike Harrison[12]; 16. 31-Kye Blight[21]; 17. 30-Todd Cooney[24]; 18. 36-Logan Martin[16]; 19. 14W-Dustin Walker[26]; 20. B1-Brent Larson[22]; 21. 14G-Trevor Gundaker[19]; 22. 82-Billy Laycock[25]; 23. 25F-Jason Feger[14]; 24. 96V-Tanner English[23]; 25. 6-Kyle Larson[5]; 26. 21-Billy Moyer Sr[13] Fox Factory Hard Charger: Gordy Gundaker [+9]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11040BKyle Bronson 400.00038Running150$12,000
2203SBrian Shirley 40-0.0572Running146$6,000
37+432Bobby Pierce 40-0.432Running144$4,000
4409Nick Hoffman 40-0.742Running142$3,250
56+125Shane Clanton 40-2.893Running140$3,000
615+911Gordy Gundaker 40-4.284Running138$2,750
73-497Cade Dillard 40-10.607Running136$2,500
817+919RRyan Gustin 40-11.769Running134$2,300
910+199JRFrank Heckenast Jr40-12.600Running132$2,200
1018+8B5Brandon Sheppard 40-13.478Running130$2,100
118-318BShannon Babb 40-14.061Running128$2,000
129-328Dennis Erb Jr40-14.577Running126$1,800
1311-244Chris Madden 40-14.985Running124$1,600
1420+61STJohnny Scott 40-15.500Running122$1,500
1512-333Mike Harrison 40-16.309Running120$1,300
1621+531Kye Blight 39-1 LapsRunning118$1,200
1724+730Todd Cooney 38-2 LapsRunning116$1,100
1816-236Logan Martin 28-12 LapsRunning114$1,000
1926+714WDustin Walker 28-12 LapsRunning112$110
2022+2B1Brent Larson 22-18 LapsDNF110$1,000
2119-214GTrevor Gundaker 21-19 LapsDNF108$1,000
2225+382Billy Laycock 14-26 LapsDNF106$1,000
2314-925FJason Feger 11-29 LapsDNF104$1,000
2423-196VTanner English 7-33 LapsDNF104$1,000
255-206Kyle Larson 4-36 LapsDNF104$1,000
2613-1321Billy Moyer Sr4-36 LapsDNF104$1,000
FOX Factory Hard Charger: Gordy Gundaker
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11019RRyan Gustin 100.00010Running0$0
25+314GTrevor Gundaker 10-1.443Running0$0
33031Kye Blight 10-2.019Running0$0
44082Billy Laycock 10-4.872Running0$0
52-310Daryn Klein 10-5.273Running100$125
69+332FDerek Fetter 9-1 LapsRunning100$125
76-196VTanner English 1-9 LapsRunning0$0
87-138Thomas Hunziker 1-9 LapsRunning100$125
98-181JJack Riggs 0-10 LapsDNS100$0
Last Chance Showdown 2 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
110B5Brandon Sheppard 100.000Running0$0
2201STJohnny Scott 10-1.852Running0$0
34+1B1Brent Larson 10-4.123Running0$0
43-130Todd Cooney 10-4.661Running0$0
55014WDustin Walker 10-7.206Running0$0
68+214RReid Millard 9-1 LapsRunning100$125
76-13Brennon Willard 0-10 LapsDNF100$125
87-111HJeff Herzog 0-10 LapsDNS100$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11097Cade Dillard 80.0008Running
24+225Shane Clanton 8-2.261Running
32-128Dennis Erb Jr8-3.981Running
43-121Billy Moyer Sr8-5.868Running
55019RRyan Gustin 8-6.886Running
66031Kye Blight 8-10.195Running
77014GTrevor Gundaker 8-10.514Running
88038Thomas Hunziker 8-14.619Running
99032FDerek Fetter 8-15.217Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+140BKyle Bronson 80.0007Running
23+132Bobby Pierce 8-0.941Running
31-244Chris Madden 8-2.5461Running
44011Gordy Gundaker 8-3.224Running
55010Daryn Klein 8-4.027Running
68+282Billy Laycock 8-7.283Running
77096VTanner English 8-7.896Running
86-281JJack Riggs 3-5 LapsRunning
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1103SBrian Shirley 80.0008Running
23+118BShannon Babb 8-1.439Running
32-199JRFrank Heckenast Jr8-1.931Running
45+125FJason Feger 8-3.308Running
54-1B5Brandon Sheppard 8-3.703Running
67+130Todd Cooney 8-5.044Running
78+114WDustin Walker 8-9.058Running
86-211HJeff Herzog 2-6 LapsRunning
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1109Nick Hoffman 80.0008Running
2206Kyle Larson 8-0.581Running
34+133Mike Harrison 8-3.723Running
43-136Logan Martin 8-3.862Running
5501STJohnny Scott 8-4.432Running
660B1Brent Larson 8-7.453Running
7703Brennon Willard 8-8.832Running
88014RReid Millard 7-1 LapsRunning
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1197Cade Dillard Robeline, LA14.7830.000
21244Chris Madden Gray Court, SC14.908-0.125
3828Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL14.913-0.130
4440BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL14.918-0.135
5221Billy Moyer SrBatesville, AR14.974-0.191
61032Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL14.978-0.195
7325Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA15.063-0.280
8711Gordy Gundaker St. Charles, MO15.213-0.430
91119RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA15.243-0.460
101510Daryn Klein Trenton, IL15.317-0.534
111331Kye Blight Katanning, WAU15.353-0.570
12581JJack Riggs NOLENSVILLE, TN15.360-0.577
13914GTrevor Gundaker St. Charles, MO15.449-0.666
14696VTanner English Benton, KY15.497-0.714
151738Thomas Hunziker Bend, OR15.546-0.763
161682Billy Laycock Marine, IL15.594-0.811
171432FDerek Fetter Troy, MO15.769-0.986
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1163SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL14.8790.000
269Nick Hoffman Mooresville, NC14.911-0.032
31399JRFrank Heckenast JrFrankfort, IL14.961-0.082
4146Kyle Larson Elk Grove, CA14.968-0.089
5918BShannon Babb Moweaqua, IL14.980-0.101
6436Logan Martin West Plains, MO15.046-0.167
712B5Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL15.084-0.205
8733Mike Harrison Highland, IL15.106-0.227
9125FJason Feger Bloomington, IL15.199-0.320
10111STJohnny Scott Las Cruces, NM15.199-0.320
11511HJeff Herzog Festus, MO15.340-0.461
1215B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN15.500-0.621
13830Todd Cooney Des Moines, IA15.588-0.709
14103Brennon Willard Lebanon, MO15.772-0.893
15314WDustin Walker Polk, MO15.803-0.924
16214RReid Millard Jefferson City, MO16.346-1.467
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1316Kyle Larson Elk Grove, CA15.0160.000
23099JRFrank Heckenast JrFrankfort, IL15.189-0.173
32618BShannon Babb Moweaqua, IL15.340-0.324
4281STJohnny Scott Las Cruces, NM15.405-0.389
5239Nick Hoffman Mooresville, NC15.446-0.430
6333SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL15.504-0.488
72136Logan Martin West Plains, MO15.703-0.687
81825FJason Feger Bloomington, IL15.739-0.723
929B5Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL15.791-0.775
1032B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN15.849-0.833
112433Mike Harrison Highland, IL15.852-0.836
121119RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA15.877-0.861
132530Todd Cooney Des Moines, IA15.940-0.924
14440BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL15.981-0.965
15696VTanner English Benton, KY16.038-1.022
161331Kye Blight Katanning, WAU16.146-1.130
172014WDustin Walker Polk, MO16.238-1.222
181032Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL16.277-1.261
19325Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA16.305-1.289
202211HJeff Herzog Festus, MO16.316-1.300
211510Daryn Klein Trenton, IL16.319-1.303
22221Billy Moyer SrBatesville, AR16.411-1.395
23197Cade Dillard Robeline, LA16.518-1.502
24711Gordy Gundaker St. Charles, MO16.576-1.560
251682Billy Laycock Marine, IL16.667-1.651
26828Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL16.678-1.662
271244Chris Madden Gray Court, SC16.755-1.739
28581JJack Riggs NOLENSVILLE, TN16.856-1.840
291432FDerek Fetter Troy, MO16.956-1.940
301738Thomas Hunziker Bend, OR17.123-2.107
311914RReid Millard Jefferson City, MO17.134-2.118
32273Brennon Willard Lebanon, MO22.781-7.765
33914GTrevor Gundaker St. Charles, MO22.781-7.765
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Tri-City Outlaw Showdown
Friday, June 02, 2023
Tri-City Speedway
5100 Nameoki Rd
Granite City, Illinois 62040 

Event Description
The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models make their return to Tri-City Speedway for the 2nd straight season, as part of a big weekend in the St. Louis area.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Late Model Series, DIRTcar Late Models

To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Feature Laps Length
40

Event Schedule
2PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Hot Laps
MOWA Sprint Cars Push for Heat
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Low-E Insulation Qualifying - 2 Laps
MOWA Sprint Car Hot Laps
Opening Ceremonies
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Heat Races - 8 Laps
MOWA Sprint Car Heat Races
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Redraw
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Last Chance Showdowns - 10 Laps
MOWA Sprint Cars Last Chance Showdown (If Needed)
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Feature - 40 Laps
MOWA Sprint Car Feature

**Schedule Subject to Change**
*All times Central

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Options And Prices
Adult Admission: $45
Kids Admission 12 & under: $20
5 & Under: Free
*Every ticket gives you access to grandstands and pits.

Grandstand Type
Bleachers

Reserved Seating
Top 5 rows

Family Section Location
no family section

Handicapped Seating Location
Front rows of grandstansds

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
Free, No open fires

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$12,000.00

Reserved Seating
Top 5 rows

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers

Stadium Seating
On the backstretch

Handicapped Seating
Front rows of grandstansds

Personal Coolers
All coolers are prohibited

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Office, Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Race fans that consume alcohol are encouraged to drink responsibly. All alcohol sales will require a picture ID as proof of age; you must be 21 years of age or older. Tri-City Speedway may refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any person for any reason.

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the grandstands

Family Section
no family section

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
Free, No open fires

Track Info  

Tri-City Speedway
5100 Nameoki Rd
Granite City, Illinois 62040 

Track Phone
(618) 931-7836

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Type
0.375;

Sprint Car Track Record
11.940 seconds by Rico Abreu on 5/31/23

Late Model Track Record
13.904 seconds by Michael Kloos on 8/22/14

Track Map
Competitor Info  
Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Tire Rules
Left Front, Left Rear & Right Front Tire:
Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3, (90) LM20, or (90) LM30

Right Rear Tire:
Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4, (92) LM30, (92) LM40

**Grooving & Siping will be allowed**

Competitor Info
Left Front, Left Rear & Right Front Tire:
Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT2, (90) LM20, or (90) LM30
Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4, (92) LM30, (92) LM40
**Grooving & Siping will be allowed**

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