Column: WoO Late Models Return To Wisconsin For Duel $25K Paydays At Dairyland Showdown

Column By: MATT SKIPPER / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – FOUNTAIN CITY, WI – Mississippi Thunder Speedway is back to kick off May racing for the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models with a Dairyland Showdown doubleheader.

Now a two-day event (May 3-4) after Mother Nature canceled Thursday’s race, Friday and Saturday’s events will see drivers duel in 50-lap Features for a $25,000 payday each night.

Local division Modifieds will share the track with the “Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet” to round out the twin days of racing.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the track on race day, with grandstand gates opening at 3 p.m. CT.

Here are the top storylines to look out for this weekend:

Sprint to Thunder: Prior to joining the World of Outlaws Late Models at Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Brandon Sheppard will make his World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series debut at Jacksonville Speedway on Wednesday, May 1 – a chance for him to have a little fun before returning to his day job.

Sheppard holds the title for most Series wins all-time at Mississippi Thunder with two points wins and one preliminary Feature win.

When Sheppard won his fourth Series title in 2021, he was leading the points visiting Mississippi Thunder and won his first race of the season. With the same circumstances appearing in 2024, does the trend continue?

Double Duty Bobby: Reigning World of Outlaws champion Bobby Pierce enters Mississippi Thunder Speedway poised to claim his second win at the track in two years.

The Oakwood, IL driver hopes to leave the weekend as both a Series winner and Modified winner as he will strap into Jimmy Mars’ UMP Modified for the Modified portion of the Dairyland Showdown.

The “Smooth Operator” has recorded wins in a UMP Modified, but this will be his first time piloting one at Mississippi Thunder Speedway.

He’s the most recent Feature points winner with the Series, having won at Farmer City Raceway – now sitting eighth in points, 122 points back from the lead.

Thunderous History: With Ryan Gustin, Chris Madden and Cade Dillard looking for their first World of Outlaws CASE Late Models win in 2024, Mississippi Thunder may present a good opportunity as all three have found success there.

Madden won with the Series at Mississippi Thunder in 2021.

Before racing with the Series, Gustin recorded five wins with USMTS at Mississippi Thunder. “The Reaper” also enters with momentum from winning his first race with the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series aboard his Todd Cooney Motorsports Infinity Chassis.

Dillard won his first race at Mississippi Thunder last season after a wheel-to-wheel battle with Brent Larson in the closing laps.

Mad Max’s Momentum: Max McLaughlin has finally arrived. The MD3 Rookie of the Year contender caught a giant wave with his first win at the Talladega Short Track in a rain-shortened Feature.

The Mooresville, NC native has expressed that the dirt Late Model has been his biggest challenge to drive and is eager to keep improving after each outing.

McLaughlin and team owner GR Smith are hoping to show that the Talladega win was not a fluke as they continue their maiden season together.

The One That Got Away: Brent Larson and Tyler Bruening, who have both seen wins at Mississippi Thunder slip away, look for redemption this weekend as they each hope to attain their first career Series win.

Larson led last year’s prelim Feature until he and Cade Dillard collided and sent the #B1 into the wall. The Wisconsin track is one of two sites where Larson scored his Series-high Feature finish of second place.

The same can be said for Bruening, who missed out on the inaugural Feature win at Mississippi Thunder after starting from the pole. The driver of the Skyline Motorsports #16 sits fifth in the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models standings – 82 points back of Sheppard.