World of Outlaws Storming Through the Heartland With Stops at Highland, Spoon River, Maquoketa
Photo by Emily Schwanke
CONCORD, N.C.—Summer may be winding down, but not before one more busy four-race week in the Midwest for the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision.
Action begins with the $12,000-to-win Beat the Heat 40 at Highland Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Then, it’s a 2.5-hour trip north to Lewistown, IL, for the first World of Outlaws race at Spoon River Speedway on Thursday, Aug. 14, which pays another $12,000 to the winner of the 40-lap Feature.
The second half of the swing takes the Series to Iowa for the only time in 2025, with Maquoketa Speedway hosting the two-night Hawkeye 100 on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15-16. A 40-lap, $12,000-to-win, contest starts things off on Friday before the stakes are raised in Saturday’s 60-lap, $20,000-to-win, finale.
The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet will be joined by DIRTcar UMP Modifieds at Highland and Spoon River, while IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars and Sport Mods will round out the card at Maquoketa.
Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:
CROWN JEWEL KINGS: The last three weekends have seen the dirt Late Model world converge for some of the sport’s biggest events, and all three ended with an Outlaw in Victory Lane.
Brian Shirley is still riding high after the biggest win of his career at the Prairie Dirt Classic, and he’s set to race in front of his home-state fans for the first time since then. “Squirrel” holds the honor of being the only driver to win a World of Outlaws race at any of the tracks on this week’s agenda, as he swept the inaugural visits to Highland and Maquoketa last year. Shirley knows his way around Spoon River as well – he won a DIRTcar Summer Nationals stop there in 2019 to go along with a flurry of top fives in national and regional competition.
One week after Shirley’s dream night, it was Ryan Gustin’s turn to win his first crown jewel at Cedar Lake Speedway in the USA Nationals. And like Shirley, Gustin will get to celebrate with his “Hawkeye State” fans when the tour arrives at Maquoketa this weekend.
Gustin has done everything but win in his last few trips to the bullring. “The Reaper” has garnered five top fives in six starts over the past two years, including two in last year’s Hawkeye 100. It’s a slightly different story in the “Land of Lincoln” though, as Gustin will be looking to improve on career bests of sixth at Highland and seventh at Spoon River.
Then last weekend, Bobby Pierce maintained his dominance at Florence Speedway with his fourth North-South 100 win and his third in a row, becoming the first driver to reach either milestone. With 25 wins in the bag this year, Pierce plans on taking a few more steps this week toward hitting the 30-win mark for the third-consecutive season.
Five of Pierce’s seven World of Outlaws victories this season have come at tracks he had never previously won at with the Series, and any wins this week would add to that list. That’s not to say he struggles at any of the three facilities – he’s been to Victory Lane in regional action at all of them and ran top five with the World of Outlaws last year at Highland and Maquoketa.
CLOSING IN: Pierce may be in the middle of another dream season, but there’s still plenty of work left to do to cap it off with a second World of Outlaws championship.
Nick Hoffman has been his closest challenger for most of the season, and the No. 9 team took a massive bite out of Pierce’s points lead at Cedar Lake. A pair of top fives for Hoffman on the same weekend that Pierce failed to finish in the top 10 saw the margin go from 118 points entering the weekend down to 74.
Hoffman has found plenty of success at Highland and Spoon River behind the wheel of a Modified, but he’s yet to find the same pace on the Late Model side with best finishes of 14th at Highland and ninth at Spoon River. While he had never been to Maquoketa prior to last year, Hoffman was a quick learner, driving from seventh to second in the Saturday program.
THE RACE IS ON: The battle at the top is far from the only intriguing points race going on as the countdown continues to World of Outlaws World Finals.
Tim McCreadie, Drake Troutman and Dennis Erb Jr. currently occupy spots four through six with 58 points between them. Erb has been the most consistent of the three as of late with six podiums in his last 11 starts, while McCreadie’s Thursday win at Cedar Lake has the Briggs Transport team firing on all cylinders headed into the final months of the season.
The past month hasn’t gone to plan for Troutman, with his most recent top five coming back at Sharon Speedway on July 11. The upcoming schedule will take him to plenty of uncertain territory, as he’s never been to Highland or Maquoketa and hasn’t fared well at Spoon River, with a best result of 18th in three Late Model starts there. However, Troutman spent the off weekend hoisting the trophy with the Modified Mafia Tour at Wythe Raceway in Virginia, which could serve as the morale boost he needs to get his MD3 Rookie of the Year bid back on track.
MOVING ON UP: If the World of Outlaws had a “Most Improved” award for the 2025 season, Tanner English would be among the favorites.
After leaving the Ohio-Pennsylvania swing in May sitting 12th in the standings with a trailer full of blown engines and damaged equipment, the Coltman Farms Racing team took advantage of the break in the schedule to refresh their inventory ahead of the summer stretch. That effort has paid off since with eight top 10s in the last 13 races, launching English up to eighth in points leaving Cedar Lake.
The Benton, KY native has plenty of reasons for optimism headed into the week, particularly the Illinois portion. English is a former Summer Nationals winner at Highland and Spoon River, putting him in the same category as Pierce and Erb as the only current Outlaws with Hell Tour wins at both tracks. His only Maquoketa experience comes from this year’s MARS Late Model Championship season opener in March when he finished sixth on Friday in his first night at the track.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Highland Speedway in Highland, IL
Thursday, Aug. 14, at Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 15-16, at Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, IA
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (4078 points)
2. Nick Hoffman (-74)
3. Ryan Gustin (-126)
4. Tim McCreadie (-252)
5. Drake Troutman (-304)
6. Dennis Erb Jr. (-310)
7. Brian Shirley (-372)
8. Tanner English (-412)
9. Cody Overton (-432)
10. Ethan Dotson (-464)
FEATURE WINNERS (13):
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 7
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 4
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 4
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 4
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (33):
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 21
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 12
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 11
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 9
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 7
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 6
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 5
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 4
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 4
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 4
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 4
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 4
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 3
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 3
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 3
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 3
Jake Timm – Winona, MN – 3
Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 3
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2
Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – 2
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 2
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 2
Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 2
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
Garrett Smith – Madison, GA – 1
Zack Mitchell – Enoree, SC – 1
Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 1
Aaron Marrant – Richmond, MO – 1
Mike Harrison – Highland, IL – 1
Chris Simpson – Oxford, IA – 1
Jared Miley – Pittsburgh, PA – 1
LANDA PRESSURE WASHERS LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (34):
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 5
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 4
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 3
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 3
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 3
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 3
Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 2
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 2
Shannon Babb – Moweaqua, IL – 2
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 2
Jake Timm – Winona, MN – 2
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 2
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 2
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1
Jackson Hise – Ocala, FL – 1
Trey Mills – St. Augustine, FL – 1
Austin Smith – Cedartown, GA – 1
Mckay Wenger – Fairbury, IL – 1
Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 1
Gregg Satterlee – Indiana, PA – 1
Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 1
Kayden Clatt – Edina, MO – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – 1
Derrick Stewart – Ainsworth, IA – 1
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 1
Jared Miley – Pittsburgh, PA – 1
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 1
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 1
PODIUM FINISHERS (26):
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 16
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 10
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 9
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 6
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 5
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 5
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 5
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 5
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 3
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 2
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 2
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 2
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1
Zack Mitchell – Enoree, SC – 1
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 1
Mike Harrison – Highland, IL – 1
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 1
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 1
FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGERS (17):
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 3
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 3
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 3
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 3
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 2
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 2
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 2
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1
Jake Timm – Winona, MN – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Brent Larson – Lake Elmo, MN – 1
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 1
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS QUICK TIMES (14):
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 5
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 4
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 3
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 3
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 1
Tanner English – Benton, KY – 1
Tyler Millwood – Kingston, GA – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 1
BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (18):
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 4
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 3
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 3
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 3
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 2
Cade Dillard – Robeline, LA – 2
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 1
Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – 1
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 1
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 1
Mike Harrison – Highland, IL – 1
Tyler Bruening – Marshalltown, IA – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
FEATURE LAP LEADERS (23):
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 348
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 211
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 141
Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – 96
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 95
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 78
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 69
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 55
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 50
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 41
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 30
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 29
Ashton Winger – Hampton, GA – 27
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 22
Mike Harrison – Highland, IL – 21
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 18
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 15
Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 13
Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 12
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 11
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 8
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 6
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 2
2025 WORLD OF OUTLAWS REAL AMERICAN BEER LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE & WINNERS
Friday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Ryan Gustin (1)
Saturday, Jan. 25 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Garrett Alberson (1)
Thursday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Garrett Alberson (2)
Friday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Devin Moran (1)
Saturday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Jonathan Davenport (1)
Friday, Mar. 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (1)
Friday, Mar. 21 / Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA / Bobby Pierce (2)
Saturday, Mar. 22 / Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA / Ryan Gustin (2)
Thursday, Apr. 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, Apr. 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Ethan Dotson (1)
Saturday, Apr. 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Saturday, Apr. 26 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Bobby Pierce (3)
Friday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Tyler Erb (1)
Saturday, May 3 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Nick Hoffman (1)
Thursday, May 15 / Raceway 7 / Conneaut, OH / Tim McCreadie (1)
Saturday, May 17 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA / Bobby Pierce (4)
Sunday, May 18 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA / Tim McCreadie (2)
Friday, June 20 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Bobby Pierce (5)
Saturday, June 21 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO / Drake Troutman (1)
Friday, June 27 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, June 28 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN / Nick Hoffman (3)
Sunday, June 29 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND / Tim McCreadie (3)
Thursday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN / Bobby Pierce (6)
Friday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN / Nick Hoffman (4)
Friday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Bobby Pierce (7)
Saturday, July 12 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, July 26 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL / Brian Shirley (1)
Monday, July 28 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Ryan Gustin (3)
Thursday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Tim McCreadie (4)
Saturday, Aug. 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Ryan Gustin (4)
Wednesday, Aug. 13 / Highland Speedway / Highland, IL
Thursday, Aug. 14 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL
Friday, Aug. 15 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 16 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Friday, Aug. 22 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Saturday, Aug. 23 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Friday, Sept. 12 / Needmore Speedway / Norman Park, GA
Saturday, Sept. 13 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA
Friday, Sept. 26 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
Saturday, Sept. 27 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
Friday, Oct. 3 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS
Saturday, Oct. 4 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS
Friday, Oct. 10 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 11 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Wednesday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 8 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
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