World of Outlaws Independence Late Model Showdown

Bobby Pierce’s meteoric rise through the record books reached another major milestone on Tuesday night.

The two-time champion of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision won for the sixth time in 2026 and the second time at Independence Motor Speedway. The win was also the 48th of his career with the Series, tying him with 2015 champion Shane Clanton for fourth on the all-time wins list.

The midweek clash was the Nick Hoffman show for most of the night, as “The Thrill From Mooresville” topped Hot Laps, Qualifying and his Heat Race before drawing the Bilstein Pole Award and leading the opening circuits. But a caution for a slowing Tyler Bruening gave Pierce the chance to pounce, and he took full advantage by diving to the bottom of Turn 1 on the restart and sliding up in front of Hoffman.

Once he was able to control the pace, Pierce remained strong around the cushion as the race wore on. Lap traffic looked to be Hoffman’s best chance of taking the lead back, but each time Pierce got close to the tail of the field, a caution put him back in clean air. At the end of 40 laps, Pierce was out front by a half-straightaway to score the victory and retake the points lead by four markers over Hoffman.

“I noticed [Hoffman] slipped just a little bit in Turn 1 on top,” Pierce recalled from his race-winning restart. “I had a good run coming off of [Turn] 4 on the restart. There was a lot of moisture down on the bottom of [Turn] 1 still, was able to get some grip down there and slingshot ahead of him. I was expecting to see him on my inside going into Turn 3, but luckily I pulled away down the backstretch. From then on, it was just hit my marks laps after lap on those restarts. Tried to get through lap traffic as best I could, but luckily I didn’t have to mess with that too much because the cautions kept coming out.”

Behind Pierce, the race was on for second when Tyler Erb ran down Hoffman. The duo was side-by-side at the white flag with Erb on the bottom and Hoffman up top, and Erb found enough grip down low to clear Hoffman exiting Turn 2 and hold him off for the final set of corners. His runner-up result was his best finish since finishing second in January at Volusia Speedway Park and his first podium since that night.

Fourth went to Drake Troutman, while Trey Mills finished in a career-best fifth for the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision will travel north for three nights at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in the Dairyland Showdown, Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2. Get your tickets in advance by clicking here.

Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.

RACE NOTES:

Nick Hoffman set the Dirt King Simulators Fastest Hot Lap.

Nick Hoffman won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Nick Hoffman won Heat 1.

Jonathan Davenport won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Dallon Murty won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Bobby Pierce won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Ethan Dotson and Dustin Sorensen won the Last Chance Showdowns.

Nick Hoffman won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Eli Johnson won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Tyler Erb was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Nick Hoffman was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Garrett Alberson was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Jonathan Davenport was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Dustin Sorensen was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Cade Dillard was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Justin Duty was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Brent Larson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Blair Nothdurft was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 2. 1-Tyler Erb[8]; 3. 9-Nick Hoffman[1]; 4. 22*-Drake Troutman[9]; 5. 14-Trey Mills[7]; 6. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 7. 49-Jonathan Davenport[3]; 8. 74X-Ethan Dotson[17]; 9. 19-Dustin Sorensen[18]; 10. 97-Cade Dillard[5]; 11. 15D-Justin Duty[11]; 12. B1-Brent Larson[19]; 13. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[14]; 14. 76-Blair Nothdurft[10]; 15. 55E-Eli Johnson[25]; 16. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 17. 43-Derrick Stewart[15]; 18. 9M-Tim McCreadie[16]; 19. 25-Chad Simpson[21]; 20. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[23]; 21. 19R-Ryan Gustin[13]; 22. 58V-Daulton Wilson[20]; 23. 1Z-Logan Zarin[24]; 24. 32S-Chris Simpson[12]; 25. 16-Tyler Bruening[22]