Column: WoO Late Models Start Road To World Finals With Final Visit To Illinois & Iowa For ’24

Column By: MATT SKIPPER / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – HIGHLAND, IL – The race towards the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models championship marks a final trip to the Land of Lincoln and Hawkeye State in 2024.

Visiting two states synonymous with dirt racing lore, the Series regulars will race four nights at three new dirt tracks in the form of Highland Speedway, Spoon River Speedway, and Maquoketa Speedway.

Illinois racetrack Highland Speedway begins the week with drivers chasing a $10,000 payday in the Beat The Heat 40 on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Staying inside the Prairie State on Thursday, Aug. 15, Spoon River welcomes the World of Outlaws for a showdown worth $10,000 to lick the stamp on the travel to Illinois in 2024.

Completing the week of racing in the Midwest, the Series travels two hours north toward Iowa for two nights of racing at Maquoketa Speedway for the Hawkeye 100. Friday’s 40-lap Feature is a $10,000 winner’s purse, while Saturday’s 60-lap finale is worth $20,000 for the event’s champion.

It all starts a 10-race journey to the championship finale weekend at the World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 6-9.

In addition to the racing on the track at Maquoketa, there will be off-track activities for fans to enjoy on Saturday, including a car show from 9 AM-3 PM, a kids zone from 12 PM-4 PM, the Hoker Trucking Toys for Tots donation drive, a driver autograph session at 4:30 PM, and a cornhole tournament starting at 12:30 PM.

Here are the top storylines to look out for:

Three Fresh Facilities: The three tracks featured with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in mid-August are new for the Series, but familiar to those in the Illinois and Iowa region.

Highland Speedway, located in southern Illinois, is a staple of the Summer Nationals, with familiar Outlaw winners including Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, and Dennis Erb Jr.

Spoon River Speedway, similar to Highland, is a familiar sight to drivers of the Summer Nationals schedule, with winners including the Illinois Outlaw posse of Pierce, Brian Shirley, Erb Jr, and Sheppard.

Iowa’s Maquoketa Speedway is a wild card for multiple Series regulars, with two nights to learn and adapt to the 3/8-mile racetrack. Pierce won at the track in the Nippy 50 prelim Feature in March. Ryan Gustin, Shirley, and Sheppard picked up podium finishes while MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Cody Overton finished inside the top five.

Summer of Smooth: Before the Heartland Grand Tour, Bobby Pierce managed only two Feature wins amidst a struggle to capture confidence and momentum.

Entering the midpoint of August, the Oakwood, IL drive stepped up in a big way by adding nine wins, including a streak of six consecutive Series victories to tie Billy Moyer and Darrell Lanigan as the only drivers to match the feat.

The improved performance of the reigning Series champion has him 76 points behind Brandon Sheppard and Nick Hoffman, which sets him up for a chance at back-to-back World of Outlaws titles.

Wide Open Title Chase: The battle for the 2024 Series championship split into a three-way battle after a tumultuous weekend at the USA Nationals added vulnerability to Brandon Sheppard and Nick Hoffman.

Sheppard, of New Berlin, IL, has led the Series points since June, but his hunt for a record-breaking fifth Series championship has him working harder to maintain the gap to Hoffman and Pierce. He holds a 26-point gap over Hoffman entering the Illinois-Iowa swing.

Hoffman, of Mooresville, NC, has not visited World of Outlaws Victory Lane since June. However, his two highlight showings at the NAPA Gopher 50 and Prairie Dirt Classic have kept the NOS Energy Drink No. 9 title hopes alive in his second season with the “Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.”

Home-State Favorites: Illinois and Iowa natives racing with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models look towards racetracks in their backyards to capitalize on their 2024 campaigns.

Marshalltown, IA driver Ryan Gustin won the second Feature of the Friday doubleheader at Cedar Lake Speedway for his third victory in the 2024 season. The gasser of the No.19R Todd Cooney Racing machine matched his career-best season in wins and a career-best 13 top-five finishes.

Chatham, IL driver Brian Shirley clicked the light switch since he switched chassis in the middle of the 2024 season with seven top-fives, 12 top-10 finishes, and his eighth career Series win at River Cities Speedway. Shirley’s best runs at the three debuting tracks include a Spoon River win with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, a Hell Tour top five at Highland Speedway, and a top-10 in the Nippy 50 at Maquoketa in March.