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Column By: MATT SKIPPER / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – SPRING VALLEY, MN – Deer Creek Speedway and the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models are set to bring drivers and fans a massive Independence Day Weekend with the NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50.
The three-day event, July 4-6, will see racing every night with the addition of fireworks on Thursday and a concert by country music artist Dylan Scott on Friday night, all leading to Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale.
Thursday and Friday’s Features will pay $7,000-to-win and set the stage for Saturday, awarding points for Qualifying, Heat Races, Last Chance Showdowns and the Features. The top-16 points earners from the two nights will be locked into Saturday’s Feature. The rest will have to race their way in on Saturday.
Here are the top storylines to look out for:
Sheppard Running Away – Brandon Sheppard has turned up the heat behind the wheel of his No. B5 Sheppard Riggs Racing Longhorn Factory Team Late Model, picking up his first two Series Feature wins of 2024 at Thunderhill Raceway Park and Ponderosa Speedway.
The New Berlin, IL driver’s continuous work toward consistent finishes inside the top five paid off during the seven Feature races in June, only finishing outside the podium two times.
He leads the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models points hunt by 30 markers over Mooresville, NC driver Nick Hoffman entering the Gopher 50, which he has won twice – 2018 and 2019.
Bobby’s Big Return – Deer Creek Speedway was under the reign of Bobby Pierce in 2023 when he won his first Gopher 50 in a photo finish with Hudson O’Neal and then picked up a victory with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models there in the fall.
Pierce swept the Iowa races at Independence Motor Speedway and Hamilton County Speedway in June. However, mechanical issues at Norman County Raceway and River Cities Speedway dropped him to fifth in the Series standings – 182 points back from the lead.
The “Smooth Operator” rolls into Deer Creek Speedway with regained spur after a bounce-back victory at Proctor Speedway on Monday night.
Mad Max Showing Fury – Max McLaughlin enters his Gopher 50 debut as the most improved driver on the World of Outlaws tour, so far, with five straight finishes in the top 10, including his first points-paying podium finish.
The Mooresville, NC driver also won his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals Feature at Adams County Speedway last month.
His performance moved him up to second in the World of Outlaws MD3 Rookie of the Year battle – 46 points behind Rochester, MN driver Dustin Sorensen.
Squirrel’s Return – Chatham, IL native Brian Shirley found the top spot with the World of Outlaws Late Models Sunday night at River Cities Speedway, leading all 40 laps for his first win of the 2024 season.
It had been a tough road for Shirley with the Series until the Heartland Grand Tour saw the Bob Cullen Racing No. 3S finish outside of the top-10 once in the seven races contested through June.
Shirley’s last visit to the Gopher 50 resulted in an eighth-place finish and he picked up a 12th-place finish at the 3/8-mile track with the Series in 2023.