News Director 
Column By: MATT SKIPPER / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – CONCORD, NC – Some of the toughest dirt Late Model racers come from the Ohio and Pennsylvania region, right where the stars of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series is headed this week.
The green flag waves on this tour beginning Thursday, May 16, with $10,000-to-win event at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, OH before crossing into the Keystone State for $15,000-to-win races at Bedford Speedway (May 17) and Marion Center Raceway (May 18), and the $10,000-to-win event at Path Valley Speedway on Sunday, May 19.
In all, there will be more than $230,000 up for grabs over the course of the four days.
Here are the top storylines to look out for this weekend:
Ryan’s Win Gust: Marshalltown, IA driver Ryan Gustin’s tenure with Todd Cooney Racing in the first quarter of 2024 culminated in his first Dairyland Showdown crown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway after a tight battle with defending series champion Bobby Pierce that went down to the final lap.
Gustin’s sixth career World of Outlaws CASE Late Models win moved him up to eighth in the standings — motivating “The Reaper” to continue climbing his way up the standings aboard his No.19R Infinity Chassis by Wells Motorsports.
Marion Center Raceway allows him the opportunity to claim back-to-back wins as the 0.25-mile track was the site of Gustin’s first of three Series Feature wins in 2023.
Shepp’s Steady Lead: In a similar position to Gustin, current World of Outlaws CASE Late Models points leader Brandon Sheppard has progressively shown improved pace from his No.B5 Longhorn Factory Team Late Model.
While the New Berlin, IL driver has yet to win a Feature race with the Series in 2024, he is the only driver to finish inside the top-10 in all eight points races through the season, including a podium at Mississippi Thunder Speedway on Friday night.
Sheppard has a solid track record with Series debuts at racetracks — winning 15 out of his record-standing 83 Feature wins in maiden races.
Charge & Thrill: Nick Hoffman has continued to prove that he and Tye Twarog Racing are ready to challenge for his first World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series title in his second full-time season as a Late Model pilot.
On the first night at Mississippi Thunder Speedway, the Mooresville, NC driver led the final 45 circuits of the 50-lap Feature to claim his third win of 2024 — the most of all drivers to date.
Through eight races in 2024, “The Thrill from Mooresville” passed his rookie numbers in wins with three, total laps led with 85, and holds a tie in podium finishes with five total.
New-Look Three: The Ohio-Pennsylvania swing has two new tracks to test World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series drivers, and one track returning for the first time since 2009.
Raceway 7’s first appearance with the Series is not the first time an Outlaw conquered the 0.437-mile track. In 2019, Brandon, FL driver Kyle Bronson claimed a Feature win in his #40B Super Late Model at the Conneaut, OH venue.
Bedford Speedway’s Billy Winn Classic is the first time the Series has raced at the track since 2009, with winners at the track including Chub Frank, Steve Francis and Tim Fuller. Nick Hoffman took home a Feature win in 2021 by piloting a DIRTcar UMP Modified.
Path Valley Speedway — known for its history in Pennsylvania Sprint Car racing — has the traveling band of Late Models invading the Spring Run, PA track for its first national dirt Late Model event. The track creates a new page in the notebook for drivers as no previous Outlaw has won at the 0.25-mile bullring.
