Wild West Shootout starts Saturday night at Vado
Photo by Mike Ruefer
VADO, N.M. — The 19th annual Wild West Shootout returns to FK Rod Ends Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park for the fourth straight season, taking place at the state-of-the-art facility located just off of I-10 between Las Cruces, N.M., and El Paso, Texas.
Penske Racing Shocks returns to sponsor the Penske 25-to-25 with this year’s edition receiving more than a $34,000 purse increase for Jan. 4’s opener.
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., returns to defend his title after winning four races en route to his second miniseries championship (2024, ’17).
Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., won last year’s $10,000 opener, while Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif., took advantage of Pierce’s late-race flat tire to score the $25,000 top prize in the finale.
Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., has captured three of his four career Wild West Shootout triumphs at Vado, including 2022’s $25,000 finale, as he chases his third career miniseries points title (2022, ’18).
Race formats include time trials, heat races and consolations preceding each night’s feature; both the Jan. 4 opener and Jan. 12 finale are slated to be 50-lap main events.
Points are awarded nightly, with the driver earning the most points across all six races receiving a $3,000 bonus (an additional $7,000 will be distributed among the top 10 in points).
Practices are scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3 and 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7; the cost is $250 per car (no pit passes required).
Miniseries website: wildwestshootout.net
WATCH: FLORacing.com
Wild West Shootout Schedule
(All times listed are Mountain Time; subject to change)
Friday, Jan. 3
3 p.m. - Pits open
6-9 p.m. - Practice
Saturday, Jan. 4
Noon - Pits open
2 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 or 10 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (12 laps)
- Late Models (12 laps)
- Late Model dash (8 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (50 laps)
- X-mods (25 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Sunday, Jan. 5
1 p.m. - Pits open
2 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 or 10 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (12 laps)
- Late Models (12 laps)
- Late Model dash (8 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (40 laps)
- X-mods (25 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Tuesday, Jan. 7
3 p.m. - Pits open
5-9 p.m. - Practice
Wednesday, Jan. 8
2 p.m. - Pits open
3:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
6 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 or 10 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (10 laps)
- Late Models (10 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (30 laps)
- X-mods (20 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Friday, Jan. 10
2 p.m. - Pits open
3:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
6 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 or 10 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (10 laps)
- Late Models (10 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (30 laps)
- X-mods (20 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Saturday, Jan. 11
1 p.m. - Pits open
2 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 or 10 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (12 laps)
- Late Models (12 laps)
- Late Model dash (8 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (40 laps)
- X-mods (25 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
Sunday, Jan. 12
1 p.m. - Pits open
2:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 or 10 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (12 laps)
- Late Models (12 laps)
Feature races
- Late Models (50 laps)
- X-mods (25 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
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