3STRAIGHT: Brian Shirley Wins Hawkeye 100 Finale at Maquoketa Speedway

“Squirrel” held off championship contenders Brandon Sheppard and Nick Hoffman for his fourth World of Outlaws Feature win of 2024

MAQUOKETA, IA (August 17, 2024) – Brian Shirley brought out the broom after performing a clean sweep of the IL-IA swing with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models.

The Chatham, IL driver had to work through 60 laps of racing at Maquoketa Speedway to score his 11th career Series Feature win in the Hawkeye 100.

Rolling off from third place at the drop of the Gorsuch Performance green flag, Shirley had to battle fellow Illinois drivers Brandon Sheppard, of New Berlin, IL, and Bobby Pierce, of Oakwood, IL, for second place while MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Cody Overton led the early circuits around the 3/8-mile racetrack.

Shirley made the bottom lane work while Sheppard could roll around the high line to match Shirley’s speed down the straightaways. Pierce made both lanes of the track work to his liking as the three drivers hounded Overton.

The Evans, GA native tried everything he could to fend off the leaders, but Shirley struck first as he got to the bottom of Overton to muscle his way to the lead with lap traffic in clear view of the leaders.

Shirley continued to make the bottom lane work while Pierce got by Sheppard and Overton around the high side to challenge the Bob Cullen Racing No. 3S.

Pierce mounted a charge towards the lead with Shirley stuck with lap traffic in his racing line. When the two drivers found clean air, the “Smooth Operator” and “Squirrel” raced side-by-side for multiple laps for the lead in the Feature.

Pierce cleared Shirley for the lead with 27 laps to go with a run down the back straightaway. From there, Pierce had to manage his gaps and keep the competition behind him with the laps ticking down.

Suddenly, disaster struck Pierce as a flat right rear tire sent him over the cushion in Turn 2 and shattered his hopes of winning his 12th Series Feature win of 2024.

Shirley inherited the lead once more on the final restart of the Feature, with Sheppard restarting in second place and Mooresville, NC driver Nick Hoffman making his way to the last podium position to race against his season-long adversary in the World of Outlaws championship fight.

Hoffman and Sheppard racing against each other side-by-side gave Shirley an open window to create space between the two drivers to win his fourth World of Outlaws CASE Late Models win of the season.

“I feel like we’re making better decisions throughout the night,” Shirley said. “I also do feel like we can do a better job. Bobby’s the man. You can put a stamp on it, he’s the best driver in the country. Are we taking a step forward and competing with him is pretty cool. We had a really good car tonight, things fell our way and we got the win.

“We had a really good balance on the car. Bobby and I were on different tire compounds so that allowed him to get more wheelspin. I had to be easy and not overspin the wheels while he could race harder. But it was going to come down to the lapped cars and cautions that worked in our favor, so I could definitely keep up with him.”

Hoffman got clear of Sheppard with two laps remaining to finish in second place. The result from Saturday’s Feature gave “The Thrill from Mooresville” second place in the Series points standings - 64 points back from Sheppard with nine races to go in the season.

“Today was a long and grueling day for me,” Hoffman said. “I only have one crew guy and Adam worked his tail off. I have to give a lot of credit to Dennis Erb Jr and Heather Lyne for how they’ve done it over the years, so it’s been like a one man band over here. It was what we needed. I haven’t been this good since Fairbury and I’ve been a little down in dumps. I felt like the car was pretty good. For tonight to go our way for once and end up with P2 is pretty good.

“At the beginning, I felt pretty worried because I was down to 11th. It was a long race, so I started picking off guys through the middle of the racetrack and make speed, then Bobby had the flat tire so I had to race with Sheppard pretty hard. It was fun, ‘Sheppy’ is as clean as they come, always leaving me a lane and he never runs over you, so I really appreciate that.”

Sheppard finished third to cap off an important points night for the No.B5 Longhorn Factory Team Late Model to hold Hoffman and Pierce at bay with nine races remaining in the 2024 season.

“It was tough racing out there when you’re running for points,” Sheppard said. “I think we had a solid car, we could up front, but we definitely have some work to improve. We’re a night and day better than what we were on Friday, we just still gotta get better. We’re missing that little bit and I’m sure it’s me trying to figure it out and find that balance that fits me. This place was a lot different than most tracks we go to. I’m super proud of my guys, but we’re working on where we need to be.”

Marshalltown, IA driver Ryan Gustin finished fourth after working up the field from a flat tire he suffered at the halfway mark of the Feature, and Oxford, IA driver Chris Simpson completed the night’s round of top five finishers.

RECAP NOTES:

Dirt King Simulator Hottest Hot Lap: Chad Simpson

Simpson Quick Time Award: Bobby Pierce

Heat Race Winners: Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard, Cody Overton

Last Chance Showdown Winners: Jason Feger, Dennis Erb Jr

Bilstein Pole Award: Cody Overton

Fox Factory Hard Charger Award: Tyler Bruening (+7)

Up Next: The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models return to Ohio for the final time of the 2024 season at Atomic Speedway for the Fireball 50 on Friday-Saturday, August 23-24.

For more information about the upcoming events in the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season, CLICK HERE.      

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season on DIRTVision – through your computer or mobile device.

TESTAMENT OF HEART: Brian Shirley Wins First Night of Hawkeye 100 at Maquoketa Speedway

Shirley led all 40 laps for his third Feature win of the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season

MAQUOKETA, IA (August 16, 2024) – Brian Shirley has proven himself to be one of the toughest dirt Late Model drivers to defeat in the second half of the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season.

The Chatham, IL driver earned a special opening Feature win at Maquoketa Speedway with a heavy heart on his chest after fellow dirt Late Model champion, Scott Bloomquist passed away on Friday and his wife, Shannon, entered treatment for an illness on Monday.

“Truthfully, with the sad news about Scott and what’s been going on with my wife is hard. She’s had an illness for a little while now, it’s been tough and some don’t understand the heartache that we go through. It tugs on the heartstrings a little bit. Family is most important, but (Friday) shows you’re here one day and gone the next. So, that tells the tale of my emotions and how tough it’s been. I’m thankful for all the good glory to God because today is a testament of heart.”

Shirley began the night with a Heat race win, then rolled off for the 40 Lap, $10,000-to-win Feature from the outside lane of the front row.

On the opening lap of the race, Shirley used his momentum on the outside to pick up speed off of Turn 2 to pass by Decorah, IA driver Tyler Bruening for the lead.

Shirley’s lead was assisted by Bruening being marred in a battle with Oakwood, IL driver Bobby Pierce and Marshalltown, IA driver Ryan Gustin for second place.

Shirley had to fend off the three drivers through restarts that gave the field a chance to pounce on the No.3S Bob Cullen Racing Late Model with Gustin running the high line while Pierce ran the bottom line and slowly drifting up to the middle around the track.

When lapped cars became a factor late in the race, Shirley had to get creative with his ways of slicing through the traffic to keep Pierce and Gustin away from getting a chance to pass him.

Bruening came into the picture late and challenged the three drivers by waiting to make a move when a mistake by either driver was exposed.

Pierce got into a tight battle with the two for the lead and lost momentum to give Bruening an open chance to cross under the reigning Series champion for a podium spot.

Though Gustin continued to chase down Shirley, he was no match as “Squirrel” crossed the finish line to win his third race of the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season - the most he’s done since 2016.

“This was something really cool,” Shirley said. “A lot of guys are really good in our sport like Brandon (Sheppard), Bobby (Pierce), Josh (Richards), Darrell (Lanigan), even Scott (Bloomquist) have gone back to back on Feature wins. To put ourselves in a little bit of a different category from everyone else is really cool. 

Gustin finished second to Shirley for his 12th top-10 finish in the last 13 races - a streak that began at River Cities Speedway in June.

“I definitely think we had a shot there,” Gustin said. “I think we had a shot had the lapped car had not moved him up and he was right in my lane. It is what it is, we have a really fast racecar right now. I mean, we’ve shown a lot of speed, just really looking for these wins. It’s been an extremely tough day here for everybody. I was pretty close to Scott for the last five years, and it definitely hurts.”

Bruening wound up with a third-place result to earn his second consecutive podium finish - a new  Series feat for the driver of the Skyline Motorsports No.16 Longhorn Chassis.

“This sport is a lot of fun when you’re running good and the car is good. You don’t come in all distraught and destroyed and getting run into. This is such a huge confidence booster. We’ve had the car to run in the top five all year, we just got tangled up in silly stuff or early wrecks. You gotta put a whole night together. When that happens, you gotta have a little luck too. We’re starting to get that stuff to come our way. It’s never too late to get a win so we’re gonna keep digging.”

Pierce went on to finish fourth. With his performance, along with issues hampering Mooresville, NC driver Nick Hoffman throughout the Feature, the “Smooth Operator” passed Hoffman in the standings to claim second place in the Series title fight. He sits 58 points back of New Berlin, IL driver Brandon Sheppard with 10 races to go until the season finale at World of Outlaws World Finals.

Robeline, LA driver Cade Dillard finished fifth on Friday night to create his mark in the points standings by overtaking Brandon, FL driver Kyle Bronson for fourth place.

RECAP NOTES:

Dirt King Simulator Hottest Hot Lap: Chad Simpson

Simpson Quick Time Award: Cody Overton

Heat Race Winners: Tyler Bruening, Ryan Gustin, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley

Last Chance Showdown Winners: Cody Laney, Dustin Sorensen

Bilstein Pole Award: Tyler Bruening

Fox Factory Hard Charger Award: Shannon Babb (+12)

Up Next: The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models battle in the final 2024 Series race in Iowa for the first Hawkeye 100 event victory at Maquoketa Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 17. 

In addition to the racing on the track at Maquoketa, there will be off-track activities for fans to enjoy on Saturday, including a car show from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., a kids zone from 12 p.m.-4 p.m., the Hoker Trucking Toys for Tots donation drive, a driver autograph session at 4:30 p.m., and a cornhole tournament starting at 12:30 p.m. 

Get tickets for Maquoketa Speedway HERE

For more information about the upcoming events in the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season, CLICK HERE.      

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season on DIRTVision - through your computer or mobile device.