Story By: BEN SHELTON / WILD WEST SHOOTOUT – VADO, NM – Almost all eyes were on Bobby Pierce Sunday evening at the 18th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at FK Rod Ends Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park.
He was pursuing the $100,000 Penske Paydirt Jackpot Bonus in the Dirt Track Bank Super Late Model division presented by Black Diamond Race Cars.
The Illinois racer charged past Mike Marlar to the lead on the 14th circuit of the 50-lap finale and appeared to be on his way to both the $26,000 victory and the accompanying $100,000 bonus for five wins before disaster struck exiting turn four on the 43rd circuit.
Pierce’s right rear tire went flat, forcing him to draw Midwest Sheet Metal Caution in turn one. Surrendering the lead to Kyle Larson, the pilot of the No. 32 ducked into the pits before rejoining the tail of the field. He was able to rebound in the closing laps to a seventh-place finish, which left him short of the bonus but did secure Pierce the $3,000 miniseries championship.
Meanwhile, Larson led the final seven laps to collect the $26,000 victory in the Rio Grande Waste Services 50 presented by Shaw Trucking. The five-figure triumph marked his first ever in the miniseries. He was followed across the finish line by Marlar, Cade Dillard, Garrett Alberson, and Stormy Scott.
“I was just making tons of mistakes behind Bobby (Pierce) trying to run really hard, I was just pushing too hard,” Larson said in Hoker Trucking Victory Lane. “I think our tire selection maybe was better than his, is all. I got up underneath (Pierce) a little bit and I just assumed it was my nose that cut his tire. I hate that for Bobby, either way, I wanted to race it out with him. He obviously had a lot of money on the line tonight, too and if I couldn’t win, it would’ve been cool to see him take home that bonus money. It’s always fun racing him, there’s not many guys that can hustle a Late Model like he can.”
In total 181 different drivers entered at least one event during the six-race series.
Details for the January 2025 Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout at FK Rod Ends Vado Speedway Park will be released in the coming weeks.
18th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts: Round #6
FK Rod Ends Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park
Jan. 14, 2024
Dirt Track Bank Super Late Models presented by Black Diamond Racecars
A Feature 1 (50 Laps): 1. 6-Kyle Larson[4]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[2]; 3. 97-Cade Dillard[1]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[8]; 5. 2S-Stormy Scott[6]; 6. 1-Tyler Erb[12]; 7. 32-Bobby Pierce[3]; 8. E85-Jason Strand[11]; 9. B5-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 10. 19-Dustin Sorensen[9]; 11. 7-Ricky Weiss[7]; 12. 18-Chase Junghans[19]; 13. 18B-Shannon Babb[10]; 14. 86-Kyle Beard[18]; 15. 25-Mikey Kile[15]; 16. 28M-Sam Mars[23]; 17. 14M-Morgan Bagley[17]; 18. 15S-Clayton Stuckey[24]; 19. 7T-Drake Troutman[13]; 20. 14S-Collen Winebarger[16]; 21. 10-Kaden Honeycutt[20]; 22. 13-Bricen James[21]; 23. 49T-Jake Timm[14]; 24. 32B-Cody Laney[22]