Key notes: The sun is shining following a late-afternoon rain shower that delayed all on-track action. Track and series officials are working the surface with hopes of beginning hot laps around 9 p.m. local time. Gates now open at 7:15, with a drivers' meeting set for 8:30. ... Deer Creek Speedway hosts World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitors for the three-day NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50, starting with Thursday and Friday’s 30-lap, $7,000-to-win preliminary features. … Drivers will accumulate points on both preliminary nights, with the top-16 point earners locking themselves into Saturday’s 75-lap, $50,000-to-win finale. … Bobby Pierce won twice last year at Deer Creek, including nipping Hudson O’Neal at the line to win last year’s Lucas Oil-sanctioned $50,000 Gopher 50 by 0.002 of a second in a photo finish. Pierce also added last fall’s World of Outlaws payday and is fresh off Wednesday’s $50,000 Minnesota Mega triumph in XR Super Series action at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway. … Chris Madden and Devin Moran each split last year’s openers that paid $5,000-to-win. … Brandon Overton topped 2022’s Gopher 50 finale, worth $50,000. … Off-track entertainment includes Thursday’s firework show, followed by Friday’s concert by county music singer Dylan Scott, before concluding with a drivers’ autograph session prior to Saturday’s 75-lap main event. … Modifieds are on the undercard. … Watch live on DIRTVision.
Who to watch: Bobby Pierce seeks his third straight WoO victory at Deer Creek and his second $50,000 payday.
Points chase: Before Deer Creek Thursday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (2,938); 2. Nick Hoffman (2,908); 3. Cade Dillard (2,798); 4. Kyle Bronson (2,762); 5. Bobby Pierce (2,756); 6. Tyler Bruening (2,714); 7. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,694); 8. Ryan Gustin (2,680); 9. Brian Shirley (2,670); 10. Dustin Sorensen (2,630); 11. Max McLaughlin (2,584); 12. Cody Overton (2,534).
Expected entrants: Among drivers expected to join the top 12 in series points: Tyler Erb, Brandon Overton, Garrett Smith, Chris Simpson, Sammy Mars, Brent Larson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Nick Anvelink, Tristan Chamberlain, Lance Hofer, Jake Timm, Lance Matthees, Jordan Yaggy, Chad Mahder, Dustin Walker and more.
Current weather: Clear, 63°F
Car count: 28
Next series race: July 5, Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, MN) $7,000
From staff reports
SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (July 4) — Live updates from Thursday’s $7,000-to-win preliminary program for the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series-sanctioned NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway (results unofficial):
Thursday schedule
(All times local)
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - Driver registration begins
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
WoO redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Fireworks following last checkered flag
