Delaware Diamond Clash

One of the most exclusive clubs in dirt Late Model racing has a new member.

Brandon Sheppard, Josh Richards and Darrell Lanigan are more than some of the best drivers in the history of the sport – they’re also the only ones to eclipse the 50-win mark with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision. Until Wednesday night.

In his first trip to Georgetown Speedway, Bobby Pierce won the Visit Delaware 51 to make his 50th visit to World of Outlaws Victory Lane. With his first Series win coming a little over five years ago in 2021 at Farmer City Raceway, the milestone is the continuation of Pierce’s meteoric ascent through the record books.

The No. 32 team’s night at Georgetown became one to remember long before the checkered flag flew. They experienced engine trouble in Hot Laps, forcing them to pull out the backup car with minutes to spare before Qualifying. Unfazed by the chaos, Pierce went straight to the top of the chart to claim the Simpson Quick Time Award.

A Heat Race win put Pierce in the fourth starting spot come Feature time, which started with regional favorite Mason Zeigler leading the way early. Upon getting to second, Pierce couldn’t find a way around Zeigler for the lead, but Drake Troutman could.

Once Troutman cleared the top two, Pierce followed him through around Zeigler and began putting the pressure on the World of Outlaws sophomore. Troutman held his own until Lap 22, when he found himself in a sandwich between Pierce and the slower car of Jamie Lathroum. Desperate to put a car between himself and Pierce, Troutman made a last-ditch move to the inside entering Turn 3 and made contact, sending Lathroum spinning and cutting the right-rear tire on Troutman’s car.

Troutman’s misfortune handed the lead to Pierce, and he remained in control the rest of the way. His closest rival in the championship fight, Nick Hoffman, remained on his tail to the end, and a few late cautions brought Ryan Gustin into the mix as well. But neither of them could keep Pierce away from his historic triumph.

“It was a lot of fun, Nick and Ryan, they were driving a heck of a race,” Pierce said. “Thanks for racing me really clean. I thought Gustin had me there for a second. I knew that top side of Turn 3 was there if I had to use it. I just had to cowboy up and kind of get a good corner. When Gustin was ahead of me, I got around there pretty good and was able to slide him back in Turn 1. Fun race, fun racetrack, really nice facility too.”

Gustin backed up his Dairyland Showdown victory with a runner-up at Georgetown, while Hoffman finished third to extend his World of Outlaws top-five streak to 12. Tyler Erb was fourth ahead of Troutman, who drove from the back after the tire change to complete the top five.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision continues the northeast swing on Thursday, May 14, with the Sand Hill Showdown at Selinsgrove Speedway. More information can be found 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.

Bobby Pierce won the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Bobby Pierce won Heat 1.

Tristan Chamberlain won STAKT Products Heat 2.

Mason Zeigler won Keyser Manufacturing Heat 3.

Tyler Erb won Jarrett Rifles Heat 4.

Nick Davis won the Last Chance Showdown.

Tristan Chamberlain won the Bilstein Pole Award.

Rick Eckert won the FOX Factory Hard Charger Award.

Trey Mills won the MD3 Rookie of the Race Award.

Ryan Gustin was the WELD Racing Second-Place Finisher.

Nick Hoffman was the WIX Filters Third-Place Finisher.

Tyler Erb was the ARP Fourth-Place Finisher.

Drake Troutman was the MSD Fifth-Place Finisher.

Trey Mills was the Swift Springs Sixth-Place Finisher.

Tim McCreadie was the Penske Racing Shocks Seventh-Place Finisher.

Ethan Dotson was VP Racing Fuels Eighth-Place Finisher.

Willie Milliken was the Lifeline Ninth-Place Finisher.

Rick Eckert was the COMP Cams 10th-Place Finisher.

Dennis Erb Jr. was the Quarter Master 11th-Place Finisher.

Ross Robinson was the Cometic Gaskets 12th-Place Finisher.

Brent Larson was the Quarter Master 13th-Place Finisher.

Logan Zarin was the ARP 14th-Place Finisher.

Daulton Wilson was the Arizona Sport Shirts 18th-Place Finisher.

Feature (51 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin[10]; 3. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 4. 1-Tyler Erb[3]; 5. 22*-Drake Troutman[6]; 6. 14-Trey Mills[7]; 7. 9M-Tim McCreadie[12]; 8. 74X-Ethan Dotson[15]; 9. 1M-Willie Milliken[8]; 10. 24-Rick Eckert[20]; 11. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[16]; 12. 7-Ross Robinson[14]; 13. B1-Brent Larson[23]; 14. 1Z-Logan Zarin[11]; 15. 19-Dustin Sorensen[13]; 16. 11-Trevor Collins[21]; 17. 92-Nick Davis[17]; 18. 58V-Daulton Wilson[9]; 19. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[2]; 20. 55E-Eli Johnson[24]; 21. 55L-Donald Lingo Jr[19]; 22. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[1]; 23. 55-Jamie Lathroum[18]; 24. 4S-Danny Snyder[22]