September 28
Rocket Raceway Park,
Petty, TX
Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (Texas Torpedo 50) - $15,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated September 29, 9:01 am)
Shirley secures $15,000 Outlaws debut at Rocket
Texas Torpedo 50
- Brian Shirley
- Cade Dillard
- Tristan Chamberlain
- Kyle Bronson
- Dustin Sorensen
- Nick Hoffman
- Bobby Pierce
- Dennis Erb Jr.
- Ethan Dotson
- Brandon Sheppard
- Max McLaughlin
- Tyler Bruening
- Morgan Bagley
- Brent Larson
- B.J. Robinson
- Brian Rickman
- Spencer Hughes
- Clay Stuckey
- Dean Carpenter
- Ryan Gustin
- Dustin Walker
- Timothy Culp
- Cody Overton
- Shane Hebert
Emily Schwanke/woolms.com
Brian Shirley waves to the Texas crowd after his WoO victory.
What won the race: Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., stuck to the low line and led all 50 laps from the pole to win the $15,000 top prize in Saturday's World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series debut at Rocket Raceway Park. The 43-year-old captured the inaugural Texas Torpedo 50 by 5.604 seconds over Cade Dillard for his fifth Outlaws victory of the season and 12th of his career.
Quotable: “It was huge being able to pick your line," Shirley said. "I could tell, I was reading the numbers up here on the restarts, and it was in my mind. I was playing to see if anybody would get a good restart on the top. Everybody I noticed on the restarts, the bottom line always went well. All in all, it was huge to (draw the pole) and make up for last night. I was so embarrassed for my car owner ... I let them down on a respectable finish.”
Key notes: Shirley has won four of the last seven WoO events going back to Aug. 14 at Highland (Ill.) Speedway. ... Third-starting Cade Dillard was one of a few drivers committed to the high line, but he was unable to cut into Shirley's lead and finished a distant runner-up. ... Tristan Chamberlain tiptoed around the bottom to regain third on the lap-17 restart and secured his best career series finish after starting 17th. ... Ninth-starting Kyle Bronson finished fourth after slipping underneath Nick Hoffman on lap 18. ... Dustin Sorensen followed Bronson and finished fifth, notching his second top-five result in as many nights after placing third in Friday's weekend opener at Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La. ... Second-starting Dennis Erb Jr. faded to eighth. ... Brandon Sheppard rebounded to place 10th after slowing to draw the race's first caution on lap three. Sheppard reached 10th on lap 34 while racing without a right-front fender, which was removed by his crew after it was damaged in the early incident. ... Tyler Bruening recovered to finish 12th after pitting from 13th on lap eight and dropping as low as 23rd. ... Ryan Gustin, Friday's $15,000 winner at Boothill, initially slowed with a flat left-rear on lap nine, causing the second stoppage after contact with Ethan Dotson while battling for sixth. Gustin changed the tire, but could only work his way back to 19th before slowing to bring out the third yellow flag on lap 16; he lost a lap before returning to the track and was credited with 20th. ... Dustin Walker spun on lap 17 to cause the fourth and final slowdown. ... The 50-lapper lasted 23 minutes, with 17 drivers completing the distance. ... Shane Hebert was the race's only retiree.
On the move: Tristan Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., started 17th and finished third.
Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Thomason Express, Hoker Trucking, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphics, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Motorsports, East Central Coin, Cheers and Integra Shocks.
Points chase: After Rocket: 1. Brandon Sheppard (5,348); 2. Bobby Pierce (5,304); 3. Nick Hoffman (5,298); 4. Ryan Gustin (5,158); 5. Kyle Bronson (5,142); 6. Cade Dillard (5,120); 7. Brian Shirley (5,096); 8. Tyler Bruening (5,018); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,926); 10. Dustin Sorensen (4,912).
Current weather: Clear, 73°F
Car count: 32
Fast qualifier: Tyler Bruening
Time: 13.507 seconds
Polesitter: Brian Shirley
Heat race winners: Ryan Gustin, Brian Shirley, Cade Dillard, Dennis Erb Jr.
Consolation race winners: Tristan Chamberlain, Morgan Bagley
Provisional starters: Dustin Walker, Clay Stuckey
Next series race: November 7, The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC) $15,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.