Search
Close this search box.
World of Outlaws Gopher 50
Deer Creek Speedway | Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 05, 2024
Race Recap  

WIPED CLEAN: Brandon Sheppard Leads All 30 Laps to Capture Friday Night Gopher 50 Feature 

B-Shepp recovered from a flat tire from the Feature race earlier in the afternoon to win $7,000 at Deer Creek Speedway 

 

Brandon Sheppard didn’t miss a beat in the second NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 Feature on Friday at Deer Creek Speedway. 

Bouncing back from the Feature race earlier in the day that saw the New Berlin, IL driver finish 17th after suffering a flat right-rear tire, Sheppard led flag-to-flag to win his third World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models Feature race of the season at Deer Creek Speedway. 

Beginning the Feature from the front of the field after drawing the Bilstein Pole Award, Sheppard took command of the race from the drop of the Gorsuch Performance green flag. However, he couldn’t run away from the competition. 

Ryan Gustin, who won the first Feature of the night, hounded the No. B5 Dude Wipes Longhorn Factory Team Late Model throughout the duration of the 30-lap race. 

Once Sheppard caught the back of the field, the slower cars created a new obstacle for the leader every lap and opened the door for Gustin, and third-place Bobby Pierce, to pounce. 

Pierce ripped the high line with a clear lane in front of him while Sheppard and Gustin had to find creative ways to slide by the slower cars using both the high and low lanes. 

But once Sheppard cleared the minefield of traffic, he was able to run away and score the win while Gustin and Pierce were trapped in the pack. 

“It was definitely tricky,” Sheppard said. “We had to figure out how to maneuver through (the traffic). Sometimes, when you’re leading and you’re in a bad spot, you don’t know which line to take or what will be faster for you, what’s slower and where you can pass them at. I had to make my best guesses and keep the speed up. 

“I knew if I broke momentum, it was going to kill me, so I needed to keep momentum and keep rolling so they didn’t get a big run on me… This team has never given up on me and I’ve never given up on them, they never quit trying to be better, so we’ll keep plugging away and see what we can do.” 

Brandon Sheppard wins at Deer Creek Speedway
Brandon Sheppard crosses the checkered flags at Deer Creek Speedway (Emily Schwanke Photo)

Pierce finished his charge by throwing a haymaker at Gustin on the final lap and claiming second by the checkered flag. 

“We were terrible at the beginning and came up there at the end,” Pierce said. “Definitely wish we could have had more laps, but I’m pretty happy to come home with second. It gives us a good spot for tomorrow, we’ll have to see what they do to the track. The longer the race is, the better I’m getting to be.” 

Gustin took the final step on the podium after a day that saw him edge out Nick Hoffman by 0.009 seconds to win Thursday’s makeup Feature race. 

“This was a great day for us,” Gustin said. “I felt like we were in contention in that last (Feature), we weren’t as good as (Sheppard) was, he zigged and I zagged through the lapped traffic, and it all worked out for him. Then Bobby got us there at the end when we got held up behind a lapped car. That’s how it goes, though. Hopefully, we can take home $50,000 tomorrow night.” 

Finishing fourth was New Waverly, TX driver Tyler Erb, and Brandon, FL driver Kyle Bronson completed the top five finishers of the night. 

Here are the top-16 drivers locked into Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale Feature: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Shannon Babb, Tyler Bruening, Dennis Erb Jr, Kyle Bronson, Tyler Erb, Tyler Stevens, Cade Dillard, Chad Simpson, Chase Junghans, Brian Shirley, Brent Larson and Jake Timm

RECAP NOTES: 

Dirt King Simulator Hottest Hot Lap: Kyle Bronson 

Simpson Quick Time Award: Ryan Gustin 

Heat Race Winners: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Bruening, Kyle Bronson 

Last Chance Showdown Winner: Blair Nothdurft 

Bilstein Pole Award: Brandon Sheppard 

Fox Factory Hard Charger Award: Nick Hoffman 

Up Next: The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models finish the NAPA Gopher 50 weekend at Deer Creek Speedway with Saturday’s $50,000 finale Feature on the line. The top-16 locked in through points will compete in two Dash races to set the starting lineup, while the rest of the field will battle in the Last Chance Showdown. Those that do not transfer will compete in a $3,000-to-win non-qualifiers Feature. 

For more information about Saturday night’s program and the full 2024 Series schedule, CLICK HERE. 

If you can’t make it to Deer Creek Speedway, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision. 

CASE Late Model Feature (30 Laps): 1. B5-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[5]; 3. 19R-Ryan Gustin[3]; 4. 1-Tyler Erb[10]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[4]; 6. 9-Nick Hoffman[13]; 7. 16-Tyler Bruening[2]; 8. 97-Cade Dillard[7]; 9. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[6]; 10. 18C-Chase Junghans[16]; 11. 3S-Brian Shirley[8]; 12. 19-Dustin Sorensen[19]; 13. 22*-Max McLaughlin[9]; 14. 76-Blair Nothdurft[17]; 15. 11H-Lance Hofer[12]; 16. 49-Jake Timm[14]; 17. 97JR-Cody Overton[11]; 18. B1-Brent Larson[18]; 19. 55C-Chad Mahder[22]; 20. 21-Billy Moyer Sr[15]; 21. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[23]; 22. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[21]; 23. 43-Derrick Stewart[20]; 24. 14W-Dustin Walker[24] 

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
110B5Brandon Sheppard 300.00030Running150$7,000
25+332Bobby Pierce 30-0.416Running146$3,500
33019RRyan Gustin 30-0.759Running144$3,000
410+61Tyler Erb 30-2.646Running142$2,500
54-140BKyle Bronson 30-2.762Running140$2,300
613+79Nick Hoffman 30-4.106Running138$2,100
72-516Tyler Bruening 30-4.977Running136$2,000
87-197Cade Dillard 30-6.980Running134$1,900
96-328Dennis Erb Jr30-7.291Running132$1,800
1016+618CChase Junghans 30-9.440Running130$1,700
118-33SBrian Shirley 30-10.274Running128$1,600
1219+719Dustin Sorensen 30-11.739Running126$1,500
139-422*Max McLaughlin 30-11.795Running124$1,400
1417+376Blair Nothdurft 30-12.308Running122$1,300
1512-311HLance Hofer 30-13.192Running120$1,200
1614-249Jake Timm 30-14.132Running118$1,100
1711-697JRCody Overton 30-14.987Running116$1,000
18180B1Brent Larson 30-15.908Running114$900
1922+355CChad Mahder 30-16.379Running112$850
2015-521Billy Moyer Sr29-1 LapsRunning110$850
2123+220TCTristan Chamberlain 29-1 LapsRunning108$0
2221-199JRFrank Heckenast Jr29-1 LapsRunning106$850
2320-343Derrick Stewart 29-1 LapsRunning104$850
2424014WDustin Walker 29-1 LapsRunning104$0
FOX Factory Hard Charger: Nick Hoffman
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11019RRyan Gustin 00.000Running
22032Bobby Pierce 0-1.785Running
33022*Max McLaughlin 0-2.878Running
4409Nick Hoffman 0-3.216Running
550B1Brent Larson 0-4.347Running
66019Dustin Sorensen 0-6.050Running
77055CChad Mahder 0-6.548Running
88019JJustin Green 0-6.548Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
110B5Brandon Sheppard 00.000Running
22097Cade Dillard 0-0.677Running
34+197JRCody Overton 0-1.238Running
45+121Billy Moyer Sr0-1.653Running
57+214WDustin Walker 0-2.300Running
66020TCTristan Chamberlain 0-2.690Running
73-42Tyler Stevens 0198.431Running
88025Chad Simpson 0198.431Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11016Tyler Bruening 00.000Running
2203SBrian Shirley 0-0.473Running
3301Tyler Erb 0-1.818Running
45+149Jake Timm 0-2.042Running
57+276Blair Nothdurft 0-2.666Running
64-299JRFrank Heckenast Jr0-3.134Running
76-129Keith Hammett 0-4.322Running
88042Johnathan Huston 0-5.209Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+140BKyle Bronson 00.000Running
23+128Dennis Erb Jr0-1.074Running
34+111HLance Hofer 0-1.760Running
41-318CChase Junghans 0-2.719Running
57+243Derrick Stewart 0-3.483Running
66018Shannon Babb 0-3.829Running
75-277Jordan Yaggy 0-4.790Running
88035Parker Foster 0-7.137Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1119RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA13.9060.000
27B5Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL13.927-0.021
31032Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL14.114-0.208
41697Cade Dillard Robeline, LA14.161-0.255
5322*Max McLaughlin , 14.167-0.261
6132Tyler Stevens Paragould, AR14.167-0.261
769Nick Hoffman Mooresville, NC14.180-0.274
81597JRCody Overton Evans, GA14.253-0.347
95B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN14.255-0.349
101221Billy Moyer SrBatesville, AR14.303-0.397
11919Dustin Sorensen Rochester, MN14.319-0.413
121120TCTristan Chamberlain Richmond, IN14.376-0.470
13855CChad Mahder Bloomer, WI14.424-0.518
14414WDustin Walker Polk, MO15.756-1.850
15219JJustin Green Sheboygan Falls, WI15.756-1.850
161425Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA15.756-1.850
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1716Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA14.2870.000
2418CChase Junghans Manhattan, KS14.330-0.043
3113SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL14.386-0.099
4840BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL14.403-0.116
521Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX14.444-0.157
6628Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL14.473-0.186
71499JRFrank Heckenast JrFrankfort, IL14.551-0.264
8311HLance Hofer Cochrane, WI14.572-0.285
91349Jake Timm Winona, MN14.588-0.301
101077Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN14.601-0.314
11129Keith Hammett Brookland, AR14.631-0.344
121218Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL14.687-0.400
131576Blair Nothdurft Renner, SD14.745-0.458
141643Derrick Stewart Ainsworth, IA14.836-0.549
15942Johnathan Huston Columbus Junction, IA15.375-1.088
16535Parker Foster Winona, MN15.714-1.427
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
12440BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL14.1530.000
22949Jake Timm Winona, MN14.207-0.054
3273SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL14.233-0.080
41032Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL14.265-0.112
5132Tyler Stevens Paragould, AR14.335-0.182
62018CChase Junghans Manhattan, KS14.378-0.225
72316Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA14.397-0.244
81425Chad Simpson Mt. Vernon, IA14.464-0.311
91597JRCody Overton Evans, GA14.485-0.332
102677Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN14.536-0.383
113243Derrick Stewart Ainsworth, IA14.564-0.411
123176Blair Nothdurft Renner, SD14.575-0.422
132818Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL14.596-0.443
143099JRFrank Heckenast JrFrankfort, IL14.603-0.450
151221Billy Moyer SrBatesville, AR14.626-0.473
162228Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL14.635-0.482
17181Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX14.658-0.505
18919Dustin Sorensen Rochester, MN14.703-0.550
191697Cade Dillard Robeline, LA14.728-0.575
201120TCTristan Chamberlain Richmond, IN14.766-0.613
211729Keith Hammett Brookland, AR14.819-0.666
221911HLance Hofer Cochrane, WI14.853-0.700
237B5Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL14.917-0.764
24322*Max McLaughlin , 15.050-0.897
25119RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA15.051-0.898
262542Johnathan Huston Columbus Junction, IA15.178-1.025
27855CChad Mahder Bloomer, WI15.231-1.078
2869Nick Hoffman Mooresville, NC15.439-1.286
292135Parker Foster Winona, MN15.618-1.465
305B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN15.848-1.695
31414WDustin Walker Polk, MO15.848-1.695
32219JJustin Green Sheboygan Falls, WI15.848-1.695
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws Gopher 50

Thursday, July 4th to Saturday, July 6th

Deer Creek Speedway

25262 Highway 63

Spring Valley, MN, 55975

Event Description
The World of Outlaws celebrate Independence Day Weekend in Minnesota for the Gopher 50, July 4-6! Saturday night's Feature will pay $50,000-to-win.
Series Racing
World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Event Schedule

Pit Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Grandstand Gates Open: 3:00 PM
Hot Laps: 6:30 PM
With Racing to Follow

*All times Central

Event Hashtag
#Gopher50
Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(877) 327-7223
Options And Prices

Adult General Admission: $40
Kids General Admission (12 & Under): $15

Grandstand Type
Bleachers
Family Section Location
N/A
Handicapped Seating Location
North Grandstands
Pit Pass Price

Adult Pit Pass: $50
Student Pit Pass (6-15): $25

Pit Age Requirement
none
Pit Gate Location
south side of track
Parking Cost
free
Handicapped Parking Location
Front Gate
Camping Availability
electric hookup, onsite, sanitary facility, showers, waste services
Camping Cost
$30
Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$7,000.00
Type of Grandstand
Bleachers
Stadium Seating
ok to bring in
Handicapped Seating
North Grandstands
Handicapped Parking
Front Gate
Pit Age Limit
none
Pit Gate Location
south side of track
Personal Coolers
no
ATMs
1
Alcohol Sales
no alcohol
Smoking Policy
no
Family Section
N/A
Parking Cost
free
Camping Availability
electric hookup, onsite, sanitary facility, showers, waste services
Camping Cost
$30
Track Info  

Deer Creek Speedway

25262 Highway 63

Spring Valley, MN, 55975

Track Phone
(507) 754-6107
Ticket Phone
(877) 327-7223
Track Size
0.375
Closest Airport
Rochester
Other Airport
Minneapolis
Pit Gate Location
south side of track
Track Map
Competitor Info  
Tire Rules
Left Front Tire: Open (Hoosier Only)
Left Rear & Right Front Tire: Hoosier (90) W30, (90) NLMT3
Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) W30, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4
**Grooving & Siping will be allowed**

Which Schedule Would You like to Print?

WoO_MLM_NAV_HEADER_OVAL