‘NEEDED IT’: Brandon Overton Scores $50K, 20th World of Outlaws Win
After Bobby Pierce suffered a broke wheel, Overton ran away with the race to win the inaugural Alabama Gang 100 at the Talladega Short Track

EASTABOGA, AL (April 23, 2023) – Brandon Overton paused as he sat on the door on his Late Model before climbing to the roof to celebrate a $50,000 win.

He needed it.

Not the money. Not the trophy. Not the confetti bath. The pause. The win.

It took every ounce of his energy to show up to the inaugural Alabama Gang 100 at the Talladega Short Track with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models. He questioned even going.

Continuous struggles haunted his mental enthusiasm, spinning questions of doubt.

But minutes before climbing from his #76 machine, that vile cloud in his head dissipated when he inherited the lead with 18 laps to go. Race leader Bobby Pierce suffered a broken wheel and brake failure, taking him out of the race. That opened the door for Overton to inherit the lead and run away with a needed win.

“I saw real quick how mental [this sport] is,” Overton said. “You get in your feelings and in your head, and you start doubting everything you ever done. It feels good to get it back on your side and I just want to thank my crew. They’ve been busting their butt and it’s been miserable the last couple of weeks.”

The Evans, GA driver was strong all weekend, winning one of three Prelim Features Friday night, locking himself into Saturday’s main event and then finished second to Tanner English in the CASE Construction Equipment Dash to start on the outside pole for the 60-lap Feature.

When the green flag flew for the main event, the record crowd at the Talladega Short Track were treated to a barn burner brawl.

English jumped to the early with Overton hanging on to his tail. The early portion of the Feature was hindered by multiple cautions with Overton and Kyle Bronson taking shots at the lead but having them halted by a yellow flag.

When the race found its rhythm, you could throw a blanket over the top four competitors for most of the race. English led, but was given little breathing room with Overton, Bronson and Bobby Pierce keeping him in their crosshairs.

At the halfway point of the race, English found himself in lap traffic, but navigated through the slower cars with ease, putting about a two car-length gap between he and Overton – who was also trying to keep Bronson behind him.

And while Overton and Bronson argued over second, Pierce was on a charge, finding himself in fourth at that point after starting 14th.

Ripping the top of the track, Pierce timed his moves, pulling back the hammer on the entrance into the turn and squeezing the trigger by the exit to rocket around the outside of everyone he came across. In doing so, he made quick work of getting by Bronson, Overton and English to steal the lead with 18 laps to go.

However, his moment of glory was short lived. After a brief caution and another full speed trip around the track, Pierce suffered the part failures and saw his night come to an end.

His misfortune became Overton’s chance for solace. With the lead in hand, Overton used every ounce of confidence he had in himself and his car, pulling ahead by half a straightaway when the race resumed.

At the checkered flag, Overton had a 2.6 second lead over second-place Tanner English.

“I hate it for [Pierce],” Overton said. “He took one away from me earlier in the year, shit, what goes around comes around.

“Like I said, hats off to him, he was giving it hell up there on the top.”

While English fell a spot short from the victory after starting on the pole, the runner-up result is still the best points finish for he and his Viper Motorsports team, so far, this season.

“I was way too tight to run the top like they were,” English said. “They could sail it off in there and still turn. I would go in there and kind of skate and shove up the racetrack. I could kill them [in Turns 3 and 4] I think. I don’t know. I was pretty good over here the whole race on the bottom, but he rolled up there on the top and got some momentum going.

“People don’t know how hard we’re working in there. Especially when we’re dealing with an ill-handling race car. I’d put it up there with just about anything. It’s tough for sure. We’re working hard. I know [Overton] was probably doing the same thing and he was a little tight, too. I don’t know, we got to give congratulations to Brandon and just have to thank everybody on my team.”

In the closing laps of the race, Ryan Gustin continued his sneaky climb from 11th, finding his way into third with four laps to go and settled there for his first podium of the season.

“I knew we were pretty good at the drop of the green,” Gustin said. “I don’t know, it just seemed watching Overton he was a little bit higher, but I missed it down here on the bottom one time and I felt like I was in crumbs.

“I don’t know if he was that much better, or if there was something up there but it was a good run for us from 11th or wherever to third. We’ll take it for sure.”

Jonathan Davenport finished fourth and, after spinning twice, Chris Madden had the rebound of the night with his fifth-place finish – now with an 18-point lead over Bronson in the championship battle. Wil Herrington won the Fox Factory Hard Charger Award with his charge from 24th to 11th.

After parking in Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws for the 20th time in his career, Overton paused as he sat on the door on his Late Model before climbing to the roof to celebrate his $50,000 win. Then, he stood atop his car with his arms out and checkered flag in hand.

“We needed this,” Overton said. “I wasn’t even going to come here. It took every ounce of energy for me to pull into this gate. So, thank a lot to my good friends, my fiancé. They were keeping us pumped up.

“Like I said, we really, really needed this. We’ll take them any way we can get them.”

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models return to Mississippi Thunder Speedway for the Dairyland Showdown, Thursday-Saturday, May 4-6 – featuring another $50,000-to-win Feature on Saturday.

RESULTS
CASE Construction Equipment Feature (60 Laps): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 96V-Tanner English[1]; 3. 19R-Ryan Gustin[11]; 4. 49-Jonathan Davenport[5]; 5. 44-Chris Madden[13]; 6. 9-Nick Hoffman[15]; 7. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 8. 6-Kyle Larson[8]; 9. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 10. 58-Garrett Alberson[21]; 11. 19M-Wil Herrington[24]; 12. 25-Shane Clanton[16]; 13. 1ST-Johnny Scott[26]; 14. B5-Brandon Sheppard[9]; 15. 11-Gordy Gundaker[6]; 16. 97-Cade Dillard[27]; 17. 111-Max Blair[23]; 18. B1-Brent Larson[25]; 19. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[22]; 20. 11H-Spencer Hughes[17]; 21. 32-Bobby Pierce[14]; 22. 22-Chris Ferguson[10]; 23. 10S-Garrett Smith[20]; 24. 2S-Stormy Scott[18]; 25. 7T-Drake Troutman[7]; 26. 30-Todd Cooney[12]; 27. 93-Carson Ferguson[19]; 28. 99B-Boom Briggs[28]

DEGA TRIPLE: English, Bronson, Overton Score Prelim Wins on Night 1 at Talladega
Tanner English will start on the pole of the CASE Construction Equipment Dash on Saturday

EASTABOGA, AL (April 22, 2023) – The opening night of the Alabama Gang 100 at the Talladega Short Track gave drivers and fans more than they were expecting.

Initially set to showcase two 20-lap, $4,000-to-win, Prelim Features, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and the track agreed to add a third Feature due to more than 60 cars in attendance.

Each Feature gave fans an enticing tease of what’s to come on Saturday for the 60-lap, $50,000-to-win main event.

The top two drivers from each Feature locked themselves into Saturday’s event and placed themselves in the CASE Construction Equipment Dash, which will lineup the top six spots for Saturday's Feature. Tanner English drew the pole for the Dash with Kyle Bronson set to start on his outside, Brian Shirley third, Brandon Overton fourth, Gordy Gundaker fifth and Jonathan Davenport sixth.

Here’s how the three Prelim Features went.

FEATURE #1: Tanner English’s familiarity with red dirt bullrings gave him the confidence he needed to earn a spot in Saturday’s $50,000-to-win Feature at Talladega Short Track.

The Benton, KY driver and reigning World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Rookie of the Year wrestled the lead from Drake Troutman on Lap 2 to win Friday’s first Alabama Gang 100 Qualifier.

Troutman, Friday’s Simpson Racing Products Quick Time Award winner, grabbed the lead at the drop of the green but had English’s Viper Motorsports #96 following off Turn 2.

English snuck underneath Troutman, racing side by side with him to finish Lap 1. The Viper car carried its momentum around Turns 3 and 4, nosing ahead of the Troutman at the flag stand to lead Lap 2.

From there, English pulled away from the 17-year-old driver to grab the evening's first checkered flag, worth $4,000.

English said Talladega reminds him of Clarksville Speedway—one of his home tracks.

“This place reminds me of kind of my home track Clarksville Speedway,” English said. “This red dirt, this small, tight bullring. I’m pretty comfortable here.

“I’m just glad to bust off a good Qualifying lap so I start on the front row, and that’s what it was all about. So, we’re happy.”

Brian Shirley crossed the line second, after he powered past Troutman for the runner-up spot on Lap 5.

Like English, Shirley also locked himself into Saturday's Feature. The Chatham, IL driver found some challenges being in the first 20-lap race on Friday.

“It’s definitely one of those deals where being in that first Feature was a little trickier than the second two, especially the third,” Shirley said. “It was getting to a bit of a sweet spot there where it wasn’t as rough.

“All in all, I’m just glad to do a little better tonight and not have to worry about (Saturday’s) race.”

Troutman finished third, Chris Ferguson was fourth, and Series points leader Chris Madden rounded out the top five.

FEATURE #2: Kyle Bronson proved how well his team can perform on red clay tracks for the second straight night.

After finishing third on Thursday at 411 Motor Speedway, the Brandon, FL driver backed it up by winning Friday’s second 20-lap Feature at Talladega Short Track.

Bronson took control of the race on Lap 1 and never looked back, leading every lap to score the $4,000 prize.

Despite the win, the Sunshine State competitor said he isn’t satisfied but feels he’s on the right track.

“Our car has been really good here,” Bronson said. “Just got to thank all of the guys that have been helping me. Tanner and Josh have been busting their butt. Wayne and Shirlene (Hammond) give me what I need to win the race, and like I said, we just have to do our job and go win the races.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit, but I feel like we’re on the right track. But we’re still not where we need to be yet.”

Jonathan Davenport finished second, also locking himself into Saturday’s Feature.

Rounding out the top five were Bobby Pierce, Spencer Hughes, and Kyle Larson.

FEATURE #3: A pair of restarts in the third 20-lap Feature couldn’t keep Brandon Overton out of Victory Lane Friday at Talladega Short Track.

The Evans, GA driver aced all three green flags to go unchallenged in the battle for $4,000. “Big Sexy” is one step closer to a potential $50,000 payday on Saturday, as he’s guaranteed to start in the first three rows in the Alabama Gang 100 finale.

Overton said he believes his Longhorn by Wells chassis is going in the right direction after struggling over the past few weeks.

“[I feel] a lot better than I have in the past couple of weeks,” Overton said. “The track is definitely different. I’m obviously way better at this Talladega than I am at the normal one.

“I just appreciate the fans coming out, this is really neat. I’ve seen so many people and superstars walking through the pits. So yeah, it’s a fun weekend, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

While Overton led all 20 laps, Gordy Gundaker needed the second and final restart to move into the runner-up spot.

The St. Charles, MO driver got around second-place Garrett Smith on a Lap 6 restart but quickly gave back the spot when he bobbled in Turn 1. However, Gundaker got another chance after the caution flew for Michael Page and Tyler Milwood tangling on Lap 14.

Restarting in third, Gundaker thundered around Smith on the outside of Turn 1 to take the final transfer spot away, holding on to punch his ticket into Saturday’s Feature.

Gundaker is happy to lock into the $50,000-to-win finale, he said.

“The yellows kind of worked out there,” Gundaker said. “I got past [Smith] the first time and then screwed up in (Turn 1), and he got me back. So, I got to retry it.

“I’m just thankful we got the races in. I know it’s been a hectic night, and I’m just thankful to run second and lock ourselves into (Saturday).”

Smith rounded out the podium, Todd Cooney finished fourth, and four-time Series champion Brandon Sheppard rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models return to the Talladega Short Track on Saturday, April 22, for the Alabama Gang 100 finale, boasting a $50,000 to win payday.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:
Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 96V-Tanner English[2]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 3. 7T-Drake Troutman[1]; 4. 22-Chris Ferguson[3]; 5. 44-Chris Madden[7]; 6. 17M-Dale McDowell[6]; 7. 36-Logan Martin[8]; 8. 25-Shane Clanton[10]; 9. 78-Matthew Brocato[5]; 10. 54-David Breazeale[9]; 11. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[13]; 12. 29-Donald McIntosh[11]; 13. B1-Brent Larson[14]; 14. 97-Cade Dillard[15]; 15. 111-Max Blair[17]; 16. 19M-Wil Herrington[21]; 17. 91-Heath Hindman[18]; 18. 16H-Austin Horton[12]; 19. 58C-Tyler Clem[16]; 20. 57-Josh Adkins[19]; 21. 35-Dallas Cooper[20]

Feature 2 (20 Laps): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[2]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[6]; 4. 11H-Spencer Hughes[4]; 5. 6-Kyle Larson[3]; 6. 19R-Ryan Gustin[9]; 7. 12-Ashton Winger[7]; 8. 58-Garrett Alberson[5]; 9. 93-Carson Ferguson[8]; 10. 10-Joseph Joiner[18]; 11. 14M-Morgan Bagley[10]; 12. 1-Jason Hiett[16]; 13. 99B-Boom Briggs[13]; 14. 25B-Mike Benedum[15]; 15. T1-Todd Morrow[20]; 16. 1ST-Johnny Scott[14]; 17. 18L-Trevor Landrum[19]; 18. 25R-Tim Roszell[21]; 19. 16-Sam Seawright[12]; 20. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[11]; 21. 157-Mike Marlar[17]

Feature 3 (20 Laps): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 11-Gordy Gundaker[4]; 3. 10S-Garrett Smith[3]; 4. 30-Todd Cooney[10]; 5. B5-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 6. 2S-Stormy Scott[11]; 7. 9-Nick Hoffman[20]; 8. 38-Dillon Tidmore[7]; 9. 27B-Brad Berry[16]; 10. 27-Jadon Frame[15]; 11. J27-Jay Scott[14]; 12. 4-Ryan Wilson[13]; 13. 7-Jeremy Cropper[19]; 14. 31-Tyler Millwood[6]; 15. 18X-Michael Page[8]; 16. 11K-Austin Kirkpatrick[18]; 17. 66K-Dylan Knowles[2]; 18. 20-Jimmy Owens[9]; 19. 14W-Dustin Walker[17]; 20. 1S-Jeremy Shaw[12]

SEYMOUR, TN – April 20, 2023 – When Cory Hedgecock saw a door to victory open Thursday night at 411 Motor Speedway, he didn’t hesitate to run through.  

The Loudon, TN driver stormed from third to first on a Lap 30 restart, holding on to win the Seymour Showdown—his second World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series triumph. 

Dale McDowell led the first 14 laps of the 40-lap Feature until Mike Marlar powered his Longhorn Chassis past McDowell for the lead in Turn 3 on Lap 15. 

The Winfield, TN driver pulled away from McDowell in lap traffic until the 2018 Series champion slowed with a flat tire.

Marlar’s misfortune led to a caution on Lap 30, handing McDowell back the lead.

That’s when an opportunity for Hedgecock, who was running third, presented itself.

When the green flag fell on the restart, he tried to power around the outside of McDowell and Kyle Bronson but couldn’t get the run he needed.

However, as the three drivers soared into Turns 3 and 4, Hedgecock gained more momentum on the top.

Using that momentum, he powered past Bronson when they reached the flag stand, then quickly dove in front of the #40B to pull even with McDowell in Turn 1. 

That momentum down the front stretch carried him even further as he slid in front of McDowell’s nose by inches in Turn 2 to take the lead on Lap 31—one he wouldn’t relinquish.

From there, he held off Bronson for the final 10 laps to score his second career World of Outlaws CASE Late Models win and a $10,000 payday. 

“Man, I love this place,” Hedgecock said. "This racetrack just treats me so well. We were just struggling with this car early on, just trying to figure out where we needed to be. But honestly, I think right now, I think tire choice helped us there.  

“I think we were one of the very few that did what we did, and that’s why I think we were so fast on that restart.” 

The win is Hedgecock’s first World of Outlaws victory since 2018 – also coming at 411.  

He was worried another chance may not come up if he didn't take it on Lap 31, he said. 

“I got into [McDowell], but I had such a run,” Hedgecock said.  “Dale didn’t fire off good at all on that restart. Bronson was there, and I knew he and I had good cars, and when Marlar fell out, it was like, I think me and Bronson can win the race. And I was like, and it needed to happen now, unfortunately. 

“I hate it. I mean, I love Dale to death, but it was just like I didn’t know what to do with the run, and I took advantage of it. There’s no doubt in my mind he owes me one, and I’ll take it. But I’ll take the win, too.” 

McDowell, who fell to fourth, said he got hit on the left side going into Turn 1. 

“I got hit there on the left side pretty good and ping-ponging around, and it just didn’t work out for us,” McDowell said. “We’ll have to make some changes and go at it again.” 

Bronson ran second until the last few laps when Ricky Thornton Jr. passed him for the spot.  

The Brandon, FL driver said that despite not getting the break he needed on the restart, his tire choice also kept him out of Victory Lane. 

“I think I was a little softer on the left rear tire than them guys,” Bronson said. “I heated it up there toward the end of the race, and I just couldn’t leave the corner like I was the whole race. Knowing what I know now, I wish I would’ve put a harder tire on the left rear, and I felt like I would’ve had a shot at it. 

“Overall, our car is pretty good. To come here and get a third-place finish is not what we wanted, but it’s a tough place for us, so we’re just happy to get out of here and get a solid finish.” 

Bronson is now second in points after his podium finish—10 points behind Chris Madden, who finished eighth.  

For a complete look at the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models points standings, CLICK HERE.  

Thornton, the Fox Factory Hard Charger, finished second after starting 16th.  

The Martinsville, IN driver said his car came to life in the Feature after his setup was off earlier in the night. 

“We tried a couple of things for the Feature, and really I was really good,” Thornton said. “I honestly didn’t want to see that (Lap 30) yellow. Before that last yellow came out, they were so stuck behind lap cars and couldn’t really move around where I could.  

“And who knows, maybe we could’ve gotten one without the yellow. But I’m definitely happy with second for where we started. We showed up pretty bad last year when we came, so to be able to pass as many cars as we did, that’s a successful night." 

Ricky Weiss rounded out the top five. 

Nick Hoffman gained on his competitors in the Germfree Rookie of the Year battle, now leading Johnny Scott by 86 points after 411.  

Cory Hedgecock’s ability to capitalize on an opportunity puts him in his own category at 411 Motor Speedway. He now has more World of Outlaws wins than any other driver at the Seymour, TN, track.   

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models debut at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, for the inaugural Alabama Gang 100 weekend April 21-22, including the season’s first $50,000-to win Feature. 

TICKETS: bit.ly/3zJfaRv

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online on with the DIRTVision App.

CASE Construction Equipment Feature (40 Laps): 1. 23-Cory Hedgecock[6]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[16]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[8]; 4. 17M-Dale McDowell[1]; 5. 7-Ricky Weiss[5]; 6. 83-Jensen Ford[2]; 7. 32-Bobby Pierce[9]; 8. 44-Chris Madden[3]; 9. 11R-Josh Rice[7]; 10. 19R-Ryan Gustin[11]; 11. 96V-Tanner English[14]; 12. 3S-Brian Shirley[10]; 13. 12-Ashton Winger[20]; 14. B5-Brandon Sheppard[18]; 15. 11-Gordy Gundaker[25]; 16. 9-Nick Hoffman[15]; 17. 2S-Stormy Scott[17]; 18. 6JR-Parker Martin[22]; 19. 58-Garrett Alberson[21]; 20. 111-Max Blair[23]; 21. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[24]; 22. 20-Jimmy Owens[12]; 23. 91-Heath Hindman[13]; 24. B1-Brent Larson[26]; 25. 157-Mike Marlar[4]; 26. B00-Josh Henry[19] FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGER: Ricky Thornton Jr. [+14].