Column By: MARTY CZEKALA / RPW – BUSTI, NY – Nick Hoffman took a risk in the offseason by selling most of his UMP Modified equipment to race in a super late model with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Models.
That risk paid off as he scored his first career Outlaw win in 25 starts at Stateline Tuesday.
“It’s unbelievable,” Hoffman told RPW. “Doing this whole tour this year, I was hoping to get one at some point. If you get that one, momentum is going your way.”
Hoffman started on the outside pole next to Gordy Gundaker. After a dead even fight at the line to complete lap one, Hoffman would clear for the lead and hold it. The middle groove would be necessary for Hoffman off the start and on Delaware Double File restarts.
“I knew if I could stay alongside him down the back straight, he might be able to come up and circle,” Hoffman said. “I was able to clear of him on the second lap, and that’s what kind of won the race.”
Fan favorite Max Blair would not let him off the hook easily throughout long runs. While devouring lapped traffic, Blair would chip down the lead Hoffman had. The longest run of the feature had Hoffman lead by as much as two seconds and closed to about a half second before the final caution.
“The biggest thing is to stay underneath the lappers and hopes they don’t spin down the racetrack,” Hoffman said. “It started to rubber a little bit toward the end. I couldn’t do anything stupid as far as miss the rubber so he could drive by. They were getting dicey a couple times.”
After the restart, Hoffman and Blair would finally reach lapped traffic. Blair would cut down Hoffman’s lead again before Bobby Pierce attacked Blair for the runner-up spot, allowing Hoffman to cruise away with the win.
“This track just fits my style,” Hoffman explained. “You have to be really easy on the throttle and make momentum speed. It got to the point where I knew to make the right adjustments. Marion Center was my biggest test of super slick and what I needed to do to the racecar. Kind of applied most to it tonight.”
“I gave it one last effort at the end, but not enough racetrack left,” Blair said. “If it stays green on lap 25, maybe there’s enough racetrack to do it. We are happy with second. Cannot thank all the fans enough for coming out and supporting this deal.”
The win for Hoffman came in his first-ever trip to New York. He prepared for Stateline by watching many videos and seeing its characteristics, claiming it was one of the tightest places he has been with the Late Models.
Hoffman becomes the 101st different winner in World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Models history.
42 cars checked in tonight, with some of the locals running well. Chub Frank finished fifth in the feature after starting seventh. The earlier Outlaw winner at Stateline, Dave Hess Jr., moved up three positions in the feature to finish 10th.
Boom Briggs was the race’s hard charger, taking a track provisional after flipping in qualifying. He rebounded to finish 16th after starting last.
After the feature, Chris Madden extends his points lead to 22 points over Ryan Gustin.
The Outlaw Late Models will head to Sharon Speedway for the Battle of the Border from Thursday to Saturday.
World of Outlaws Late Models Stateline Showdown (40 Laps)
9 Nick Hoffman (19:24), 2. 111 Max Blair (1.138s), 3. 32 Bobby Pierce (1.749s), 4. 11 Gordy Gundaker (5.409s), 5. 1* Chub Frank (5.409s), 6. 44 Chris Madden (6.469s), 7. 96V Tanner English (7.477s), 8. 40B Kyle Bronson (8.179s), 9. 97 Cade Dillard (8.494s), 10. 44H Dave Hess Jr. (9.431s), 11. 3S Brian Shirley (9.772s), 12. B5 Brandon Sheppard (10.418s), 13. 19R Ryan Gustin (10.455s), 14. 25 Shane Clanton (11.282s), 15. B1 Brent Larson (12.403s), 16. 99B Boom Briggs (13.382s), 17. 30 Todd Cooney (14.105s), 18. 36 Logan Martin (14.591s), 19. 9K Mike Knight (15.818s), 20. 28 Dennis Erb Jr. (16.331s), 21. 1ST Johnny Scott (16.747s), 22. 76 Steve Kania (18.829s), 23. 14W Dustin Walker (-1L), 24. 9S Breyton Santee (-16L)
Fastest Lap: 9 Hoffman 17.476s
Heat winners: 32 Pierce, 11 Gundaker, 111 Blair, 9 Hoffman