Dirt on Dirt - RaceWire

July 30

Cedar Lake Speedway,

New Richmond, WI

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (USA Nationals prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated July 31, 12:27 pm)

Terbo tames Cedar Lake for USA Nationals opener

USA Nationals prelim

Tyler Erb
Brandon Sheppard
Hudson O'Neal
Nick Hoffman
Devin Moran
Trey Mills
Jake Timm
Tim McCreadie
Cody Overton
Tanner English
Ryan Gustin
Bobby Pierce
Tyler Bruening
Jake O'Neil
Tristan Chamberlain
Jason Feger
Ethan Dotson
Dennis Erb Jr.
Brian Shirley
Brent Larson
Zack Mitchell
Dan Ebert
Daulton Wilson
Michael Leach
Dustin Sorensen
Dallon Murty

presented by

Photo slideshow Feature highlights Video recap Related story Race history

Todd Boyd/photosbyboyd.smugmug.com

Tyler Erb takes the checkers Thursday at Cedar Lake.

What won the race: Fighting off early challenges from Hudson O'Neal then late pressure from Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led all 30 laps from the pole in winning Thursday's 39th annual USA Nationals prelim at Cedar Lake Speedway. Terbo beat Sheppard by 0.788 of a second for the $10,000 payday, his third World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season and seventh of his career.

Quotable: "I haven’t ran good here since I got police-escorted out (in 2020). I mean, I have ran good here before, just had one bad weekend and I feel like I’ve paid for it every time I’ve came here since," Erb said. "Obviously last week, felt like we had a really good car all week at Fairbury, when it doesn’t work out, it’s really hard for me to just not lose my mind and go postal. I’m working on that and tonight’s just a testament to that."

Key notes: Erb earned his fourth overall feature win of the season, all of them coming since May 22. ... His other two WoO victories were May 29 at Mansfield (Ohio) Speedway and June 13 at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells. ... Sixth-starting Brandon Sheppard, fresh off his fourth Prairie Dirt Classic victory July 25 at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway, took second from Hudson O'Neal on a lap-23 restart, but never seriously challenged Erb in the closing laps. ... O'Neal, who took second on the seventh lap, pressured Erb in the early going before settling for third. ... Ninth-starting Nick Hoffman reclaimed fourth from Devin Moran on lap 25 after Moran briefly held the spot following the lap-23 restart; Moran finished fifth. ... Tanner English, who overcame last-lap contact from Bobby Pierce during the night's first heat race, threw an aggressive slider on Pierce on the final lap to finish ninth, dropping Pierce to 12th at the checkers. ... The USA Nationals prelim was slowed by three cautions, the first coming for Dan Ebert's failed slide job attempt on Ethan Dotson on the eighth lap. Ebert attempted to clear the fifth-running Dotson, but his right-rear quarter panel sent Dotson hard into the turn-four wall and resulting contact sent Ebert spinning; Dotson pitted then gave Ebert a hand signal under caution to express his displeasure. ... Brian Shirley and Dustin Sorensen tangled on the ninth lap as they battled for 12th, sending both drivers spinning in turn four. Shirley soldiered to a 19th-place finish while Sorensen continued until slowing on lap 23 to trigger the final stoppage of the night before retiring. ... The 30-lapper lasted 18 minutes with 23 starters completing the distance. ... Chris Madden, the first group's second fastest qualifier, scratched after discovering engine issues in time trials.

On the move: Trey Mills of St. Augustine, Fla., started 15th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Erb’s winning Best Performance Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by a Scott Bailey Racing Engine and sponsored by Langenfelder Mechanical Contractors, First Class Septic, Roberts Bee Company, Anthony’s Pizza, JRR Trucking, Paul Construction, Curtis & Son Companies, Coles County Speedway, Sani-Weld, Inc., Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Racing Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Behrent’s Performance, Midwest Sheet Metal, Race Ranch and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: After Cedar Lake Thursday: 1. Bobby Pierce (5,635); 2. Nick Hoffman (5,574); 3. Tyler Erb (5,336); 4. Tim McCreadie (5,231); 5. Ryan Gustin (5,162); 6. Ethan Dotson (5,056); 7. Daulton Wilson (4,966); 8. Trey Mills (4,947); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,927); 10. Dustin Sorensen (4,801).

Current weather: Clear, 77°F

Car count: 50

Fast qualifier: Tanner English

Time: 13.439 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Erb

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Ethan Dotson, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb, Jake O'Neil

Consolation race winners: Tanner English, Jason Feger

Provisional starters: Zack Mitchell, Daulton Wilson, Dennis Erb Jr., Brent Larson

Next series race: August 1, Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI) $100,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. — Live updates from Thursday’s 39th annual USA Nationals preliminary night at Cedar Lake Speedway, highlighted by a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for World of Outlaws Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Fighting off early challenges from Hudson O'Neal then late pressure from Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led all 30 laps from the pole in winning Thursday's 39th annual USA Nationals prelim at Cedar Lake Speedway. Terbo beat Sheppard by 0.788 of a second for the $10,000 payday, his third World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season and seventh of his career.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Tyler Erb, Ethan Dotson
Row 2: Jake O’Neil, Devin Moran
Row 3: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Dan Ebert, Brian Shirley
Row 5: Nick Hoffman, Jake Timm
Row 6: Tristan Chamberlain, Cody Overton
Row 7: Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadie
Row 8: Trey Mills, Dustin Sorensen
Row 9: Tyler Bruening, Dallon Murty
Row 10: Tanner English, Jason Feger
Row 11: Michael Leach, Ryan Gustin
Row 12: Zack Mitchell, Daulton Wilson
Row 13: Dennis Erb Jr., Brent Larson

Consolation results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Tanner English, Michael Leach, Dennis Erb Jr., Dexton Koch, J.T. Wasmund, Zack Mitchell, Matthew Larson, Kyle Strickler, Trevor Gundaker, Sammy Mars, Nick Anvelink, Amelia Eisenschenk, Garrett Smith, Eli Johnson, Daniel Adam. Scratched: Chris Madden.

Second consolation: Jason Feger, Ryan Gustin, Shannon Babb, Mitch McGrath, Daulton Wilson, Clay Harris, Brent Larson, Luke Morey, Tim Isenberg, Logan Zarin, Laela Eisenschenk, Ausitn Howes, Gordy Gundaker, Lance Matthees, Joel Collins, Terry Casey.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Dan Ebert, Bobby Pierce, Tanner English, Michael Leach, Zack Mitchell, Sammy Mars, Kyle Strickler, Daniel Adam.

Second heat: Hudson O'Neal, Nick Hoffman, Trey Mills, Dennis Erb Jr., Dexton Koch, Nick Anvelink, Amelia Eisenschenk. Scratched: Chris Madden.

Third heat: Ethan Dotson, Tristan Chamberlain, Tyler Bruening, J.T. Wasmund, Matthew Larson, Trevor Gundaker, Garrett Smith, Eli Johnson.

Fourth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Tim McCreadie, Shannon Babb, Ryan Gustin, Clay Harris, Tim Isenberg, Joel Collins, Terry Casey.

Fifth heat: Tyler Erb, Jake Timm, Dustin Sorensen, Jason Feger, Mitch McGrath, Gordy Gundaker, Laela Eisenschenk, Austin Howes.

Sixth heat: Jake O’Neil, Cody Overton, Dallon Murty, Daulton Wilson, Brent Larson, Logan Zarin, Luke Morey, Lance Matthees.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.439
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.463
3. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.535
4. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.604
5. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 13.638
6. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 13.663
7. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 13.685
8. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 13.693
9. Garrett Smith (10), Madison, Ga., 13.701
10. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 13.759
11. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 13.812
12. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 13.817
13. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 13.849
14. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.868
15. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.903
16. Zack Mitchell (22*), Enoree, S.C., 13.963
17. Dexton Koch (78k), Becker, Minn., 14.014
18. Eli Johnson (55E), Clewiston, Fla., 14.017
19. Sammy Mars (28m), Menomonie, Wis., 14.039
20. Nick Anvelink (15A), Bonduel, Wis., 14.065
21. J.T. Wasmund (51w), Pine Island, Minn., 14.101
22. Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill., 14.129
23. Amelia Eisenschenk (1E), Fargo, N.D., 14.231
24. Trevor Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 14.277
25. Kyle Strickler (8s), Mooresville, N.C., 14.403
Group B
1. Brandon Sheppard (1s), New Berlin, Ill., 13.650
2. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 13.742
3. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 13.774
4. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 13.796
5. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 13.849
6. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 13.853
7. Tim McCreadie (9m), Watertown, N.Y., 13.882
8. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 13.883
9. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 13.883
10. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 13.884
11. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 13.915
12. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.927
13. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 13.939
14. Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 14.075
15. Daulton Wilson (58v), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.089
16. Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis., 14.142
17. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 14.162
18. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 14.210
19. Terry Casey (42), New London, Wis., 14.214
20. Austin Howes (17A), Lewistown, Mo., 14.286
21. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 14.286
22. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.304
23. Laela Eisenschenk (15), Fargo, N.D., 14.323
24. Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 14.351
25. Joel Collins (21x), Princeton, Minn., 15.033

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
1 p.m. - Pits open
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolations (12 laps)
Intermission/WoO redraw
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps) 
Feature events
- Limited Late Models (25 laps)
- Super Late Models (30 laps)
Postrace party (Cedar Lake Arena)