July 16, 2025 | By Lucas Oil Late Model Series PR

Pierce wins Kosiski Family 53 at Shelby County Speedway

HARLAN, Iowa—Bobby Pierce won a thrilling Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FlorRacing event on Tuesday night at Shelby County Speedway, as he led the final 14 laps of the Kosiski Family 53, earning $25,053 for his second Series win of the year.

Pierce, who started seventh, passed Ricky Thornton Jr. on lap 39 and then went on to win by 1.249 seconds over fellow Illini driver Brandon Sheppard, who finished second after starting in 12th. Thornton, who started sixth, led three laps and rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. Hudson O’Neal, who had to take a provisional starting from the 23rd spot, finished fourth, with Jonathan Davenport, who led the first 36 laps, coming home in fifth.

Pierce went to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 26th time in his career, surviving a three-wide race for the lead to claim the victory as the Oakwood, Illinois, racer was making his first career start at the Western Iowa facility.

“First off, I’ve got to say thank you to Shelby County Speedway — it’s an awesome race track. Thank you to all the fans for coming out tonight and packing this place. I kind of had to make some of the holes myself with the sliders; those were just death sliders there. I knew I had to make them check-up. We just had to get something going; we needed a consistent line of cars running the top. I was waiting on Brandon (Overton) to make another move like he did before— that one caution he started sliding Thornton, so that let me get in the mix, but someone had to start it, so I just started throwing the bombs.”

“What an awesome race, JD and I were pushing hard, and I let Thornton get in there. I thought, man, I don’t want to get him in the mix; you know, it was another car to race. It’s very tough to keep your composure sometimes. You had Dennis Erb on the bottom, and if you messed around up there too much, he was getting a good line down there. Watching the videos from last year taught me a lot about where to run.”

Sheppard, who won Saturday night's race at Lucas Oil Speedway, continued his mid-season surge in Rocket1 and earned $10,000 for finishing second.

“I knew he (Pierce) was going to be good, so I kind of followed him throughout and watched the lines he was running, using that to judge my own performance. He was really impressive, so congratulations to Bobby and Ricky. Thanks to all the fans for coming out; we appreciate all of you. Man, track prep tonight was on point—that thing was racy. Last year, it was pretty bottom-dominant, but they learned from that and fine-tuned it perfectly for the feature.”

Thornton, who now resides back in Iowa, was aiming for his 11th series win of 2025 and is now just 25 points behind Davenport heading to Huset’s Speedway on Thursday night.

“Man, I felt like I had a lot of fun last night, but tonight was actually more fun. Anytime you can race JD and Bobby like that and throw sliders like that, knowing they aren't going to run you over, it’s pretty awesome. Of course, it sucks not to win a race like that, but Bobby was really good, and Shepp was really good as well. I feel like I need a little more to get a bit better, but we’re improving on these small bullrings, so hopefully we’ll go to Huset’s and be really good. Hats off to everyone here — the whole city came together and helped us with gift cards and stuff like that. Hopefully we come back for a 2 or 3-day show.”

The winner’s Bobby Pierce Racing, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Toyota of Danville, Carnaghi Towing and Repair, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint and Body Shop, Fast 1 Speed Shop. Leka Tree Service, Fast Shafts, Floyd’s Waste Systems, Duromax Racing Oil, VP Fuels, and Bert by Budda.

Completing the top ten were Brandon Overton, Garrett Alberson, Dennis Erb Jr., Devin Moran, and Carson Ferguson.


Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Kosiski Family 53
Shelby County Speedway – Harlan, IA

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Hudson O’Neal | 13.400 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport | 13.494 seconds

Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[5]; 4. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 5. 74X-Ethan Dotson[6]; 6. 93L-Cory Lawler[7]; 7. 53-Andrew Kosiski[10]; 8. 24L-Bill Leighton[8]; 9. 62-Justin Zeitner[9]; 10. 71-Hudson O'Neal[1]

Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[1]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[5]; 4. 38T-Dylan Thornton[2]; 5. 18-Jesse Sobbing[7]; 6. 04-Tad Pospisil[6]; 7. 19R-Ryan Gustin[3]; 8. 35D-Dylan Sillman[9]; 9. 6J-Jake Neal[8]

Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 3. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 4. 18D-Daulton Wilson[4]; 5. 43-Derrick Stewart[5]; 6. 19M-Spencer Hughes[6]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[7]; 8. 17SS-Brenden Smith[10]; 9. 80-Allan Hopp[8]; 10. 17SR-Brody Smith[9]

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[1]; 2. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[4]; 4. 16-Tyler Bruening[2]; 5. 22*-Drake Troutman[5]; 6. 15M-Shane DeMey[6]; 7. 10-Junior Coover[9]; 8. 07-Ben Sukup[8]; 9. 50-Kayden Clatt[3]

Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 74X-Ethan Dotson[1]; 2. 18-Jesse Sobbing[2]; 3. 19R-Ryan Gustin[6]; 4. 62-Justin Zeitner[9]; 5. 24L-Bill Leighton[7]; 6. 04-Tad Pospisil[4]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 8. 6J-Jake Neal[10]; 9. 53-Andrew Kosiski[5]; 10. 35D-Dylan Sillman[8]; 11. 71-Hudson O'Neal[11]

UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 43-Derrick Stewart[1]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 3. 15M-Shane DeMey[4]; 4. 17SS-Brenden Smith[7]; 5. 50-Kayden Clatt[10]; 6. 19M-Spencer Hughes[3]; 7. 80-Allan Hopp[9]; 8. 17SR-Brody Smith[11]; 9. 10-Junior Coover[6]; 10. 22*-Drake Troutman[2]; 11. 07-Ben Sukup[8]


Kosiski Family 53 Feature Finish (53 Laps):

Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 7 - 32 - Bobby Pierce - Oakwood, IL - $25,053
2 - 12 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $10,700
3 - 6 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $7,100
4 - 23 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $4,800
5 - 2 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $4,800
6 - 10 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $3,400
7 - 1 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $3,200
8 - 4 - 28 - Dennis Erb Jr - Carpentersville, IL - $2,300
9 - 5 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $3,200
10 - 11 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $2,800
11 - 14 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - $2,700
12 - 9 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $2,700
13 - 13 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $2,500
14 - 8 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $2,400
15 - 3 - 76N - Blair Nothdurft - Renner, SD - $1,600
16 - 20 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $2,200
17 - 17 - 74X - Ethan Dotson - Bakersfield, CA - $1,500
18 - 16 - 16 - Tyler Bruening - Decorah, IA - $1,500
19 - 24 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - $2,200
20 - 15 - 38T - Dylan Thornton - Orcutt, CA - $1,500
21 - 19 - 18 - Jesse Sobbing - Malvern, IA - $1,500
22 - 22 - 15M - Shane DeMey - Denison, IA - $1,500
23 - 21 - 19R - Ryan Gustin - Marshalltown, IA - $1,500
24 - 18 - 43 - Derrick Stewart - Ainsworth, IA - $1,500


Race Statistics 

Entrants: 38

Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Garrett Alberson

MD3 Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (1-36); Ricky Thornton Jr. (37-39); Bobby Pierce (40-53)

Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Wieland Feature Winner: Bobby Pierce

Margin of Victory: 1.249 seconds

Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Donald McIntosh (Lap 2); Dan Ebert (Lap 8); Derrick Stewart, Spencer Hughes (Lap 14); Dan Ebert (Lap 48); Tyler Bruening, Blair Nothdurft (Lap 49)

Series Provisionals: Hudson O’Neal, Spencer Hughes
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Penske Shocks Top 5: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport
PEM 4th Place Feature: Hudson O’Neal
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Daulton Wilson
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Donald McIntosh
MD3 24th Place Feature: Derrick Stewart
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Hudson O’Neal (Advanced 19 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (36 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport | Lap 1 | 14.240 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Spencer Hughes
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Bob Pierce
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Vic Hill Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Sheppard | 13.310 seconds

Time of Race: 26 minutes, 23 seconds


Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:

Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Pay
1 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - 5700 - $271,700
2 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 5675 - $296,750
3 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 5395 - $163,075
4 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 5320 - $197,249
5 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 5170 - $122,750
6 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 5125 - $160,000
7 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 4960 - $106,000
8 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - 4680 - $87,425
9 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 4455 - $74,125
10 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - 4250 - $59,700
11 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 4170 - $55,725
12 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - 3860 - $53,325
13 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 3810 - $45,100
14 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 3725 - $47,050
15 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 3340 - $33,725


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Sorensen Equipment IMCA Late Models

A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 10-Jack Hearty[5]; 2. 55D-Nick Deal[9]; 3. 83-Jake Bridge[13]; 4. 24X-Micah Brown[3]; 5. 84-Sam Halstead[7]; 6. 76-Zach Zeitner[16]; 7. 30-Curtis Glover[4]; 8. 35-Kale Kosiski[10]; 9. 36-Drew Baker[17]; 10. J2K-Jordan Krug[14]; 11. 6-Landen Rojewski[19]; 12. 21-Brett Hopp[2]; 13. 56C-Cooper Tilley[1]; 14. 8-Aidan Mohr[12]; 15. 41-Robbie Jorgensen[15]; 16. 3C-Mike Collins[18]; 17. 3-Sterling Perkins[20]; 18. 18S-Jesse Sobbing[8]; 19. 7B-Brandon Baker[6]; 20. 78-Logan Cloudt[11]

B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. 76-Zach Zeitner[2]; 2. 36-Drew Baker[4]; 3. 3C-Mike Collins[5]; 4. 6-Landen Rojewski[1]; 5. 3-Sterling Perkins[3]; 6. 21S-Jake Sulley[6]; 7. 3X-Hayden Kenkel[7]; 8. 7-Jenna Johnson[8]; 9. (DNF) J2-Jaymison Coffelt[9]; 10. (DNF) 01-Jarrett Branz[10]; 11. (DNS) 4M-Doug Wilson

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 30-Curtis Glover[2]; 2. 35-Kale Kosiski[6]; 3. 56C-Cooper Tilley[1]; 4. 78-Logan Cloudt[3]; 5. 83-Jake Bridge[7]; 6. 6-Landen Rojewski[9]; 7. 36-Drew Baker[8]; 8. (DNF) 3X-Hayden Kenkel[4]; 9. (DNF) 01-Jarrett Branz[5]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 7B-Brandon Baker[2]; 2. 84-Sam Halstead[5]; 3. 24X-Micah Brown[7]; 4. 21-Brett Hopp[3]; 5. J2K-Jordan Krug[6]; 6. 76-Zach Zeitner[8]; 7. 3C-Mike Collins[9]; 8. 7-Jenna Johnson[4]; 9. (DNF) 4M-Doug Wilson[1]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 18S-Jesse Sobbing[8]; 2. 55D-Nick Deal[3]; 3. 8-Aidan Mohr[6]; 4. 10-Jack Hearty[1]; 5. 41-Robbie Jorgensen[4]; 6. 3-Sterling Perkins[7]; 7. 21S-Jake Sulley[5]; 8. J2-Jaymison Coffelt[2]