CONCORD, N.C. — Updates from Thursday’s first preliminary night of the 19th annual World Finals, featuring a 35-lap main event for World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Feature
Winning with a last-ditch pass of Brandon Sheppard exiting turn four, third-starting Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., captured Thursday's World Finals opener for his third career World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series victory. Sheppard led comfortably with a few laps to go, but the leader got too high exiting turn four and O'Neal slipped underneath at the flagstand for a $15,000 payday, his first at the Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Pre-feature notes
Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., drew the pole among heat winners. He’s looking for his first WoO victory since April 22, 2023, at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. … Nick Hoffman was the lone heat winner who is a regular on the WoO circuit. … Bobby Pierce can clinch his second series title in three years by finishing mudpack or better in the 29-car field. … Kyle Strickler broke a valve spring in his engine while transferring through his consolation race, so he’ll tag the tail of the feature while driving R.C. Whitwell’s AK Race Car (Stickler plans to repair his motor and compete in it again Friday). … Brent Larson was listed as taking an emergency provisional, but he loaded up and won’t start the 35-lapper.
Feature lineup
(35 laps)
Row 1: Brandon Overton, Nick Hoffman
Row 2: Hudson O'Neal, Drake Troutman
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport
Row 5: Dale McDowell, Daulton Wilson
Row 6: Mike Marlar, Michael Leach
Row 7: Tyler Erb, Ben Watkins
Row 8: Tim McCreadie, Bobby Pierce
Row 9: Chris Ferguson, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 10: Brian Shirley, Dustin Sorensen
Row 11: Ethan Dotson, Jimmy Owens
Row 12: Kyle Strickler, Cody Overton
Row 13: Ryan Gustin, Tanner English
Row 14: Jake Timm, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 15: Brent Larson
Consolation race results
(10 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation: Brian Shirley, Jimmy Owens, Tanner English, Josh Rice, Zack Mitchell, Braden Jones, Beckham Malone, Jamison McBride, Layton Sullivan, Brock Pinkerous, Kale Green, Freddie Carpenter, Tyler Wyant, Eli Johsnon, Anthony Sanders, Chuckie Lepsch, Brian Ledbetter, Kyle Bryant.
Second consolation: Dustin Sorensen, Kyle Strickler, Ryan Gustin, Jordan Koehler, Clay Stuckey, Brenden Smith, Benji Hicks, Kyle Bronson, Dylan Thornton, Daniel Adams, Devin Moran, Austin Holcombe, Jake Timm, Trent Ivey, Brody Smith, Luke Morey, Kevin Wilson. Scratched: Mike West.
Third consolation: Ethan Dotson, Cody Overton, Gray Parton, Evan Koehler, Tristan Chamberlain, R.C. Whitwell, John Henderson, Donald Bradsher, G.R. Smith, Gavin Cowan, Matthew Larson, Hardy Youmans III, Cory Hedgecock, Austin Smith. Scratched: Larry Blankenship.
Heat race recap
Nick Hoffman won the first heat after overtaking early leader Chris Madden on the fifth lap. ... In the second heat, Jamison McBride lost a front-row starting spot when he jumped the start (handing that spot to Dale McDowell). ... Tyler Wyant spun for an early yellow. ... Drake Troutman led all the way to win the second heat by more than two seconds. ... In the third heat, three bad starts were triggered when Ricky Thornton Jr. got too high in turn one, then Devin Moran climbed polesitter Ryan Gustin's left rear in turn four as the green waved, and finally for Trent Ivey's spin (Gustin, who later said his carb strumbled when he tried to go, got a flat and Moran pitted after jumping the cushion on the third start attempt). ... Thornton came out smelling like a rose, inheriting the pole and leading all the way to win the third heat. ... In a much calmer fourth heat, Brandon Overton led all the way, fighting off a late challenge from Jonathan Davenport. ... In the fifth heat, a second-lap caution dropped when Gavin Cowan slowed after contact with John Henderson and a third-lap caution appeared when G.R. Smith slowed. ... Polesitter Brandon Sheppard led all the way in the fifth heat. ... Hudson O'Neal cruised in the sixth heat. ... Austin Smith got into the wall, costing him a transfer spot and he later slowed for a last-lap yellow. ... Dennis Erb Jr. rallied from eighth for the final transfer spot.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top three transfer)
First heat: Nick Hoffman, Chris Madden, Tyler Erb, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Owens, Josh Rice, Layton Sullivan, Freddie Carpenter, Beckham Malone, Anthony Sanders, Kyle Bryant, Brian Ledbetter.
Second heat: Drake Troutman, Dale McDowell, Tim McCreadie, Tanner English, Jamison McBride, Zack Mitchell, Kale Green, Braden Jones, Eli Johnson, Tyler Wyant, Brock Pinkerous, Chuckie Lepsch.
Third heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Mike Marlar, Chris Ferguson, Dustin Sorensen, Ryan Gustin, Brody Smith, Clay Stuckey, Kevin Wilson, Austin Holcombe, Mike west, Devin Moran, Trent Ivey.
Fourth heat: Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Ben Watkins, Brenden Smith, Daniel Adam, Kyle Strickler, Dylan Thornton, Kyle Bronson, Jordan Koehler, Benji Hicks, Jake Timm, Luke Morey.
Fifth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Daulton Wilson, Bobby Pierce, Ethan Dotson, Evan Koehler, John Henderson, Cory Hedgecock, R.C. Whitwell, Gavin Cowan, Glenn Styres, Hardy Youmans III, G.R. Smith.
Sixth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Michael Leach, Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton, Gray Parton, Tristain Chamberlain, Brent Larson, Donald Bradsher, Matthew Larson, Austin Smith. Scratched: Larry Blankenship.
Thursday’s schedule
(All times local)
11 a.m. - Pits open, pit pass sales begin
Noon - Souvenir and display areas open (midway)
2:30 p.m. - Race Day Live (DIRTVision stage)
3 p.m. - Grandstands open, ticket sales begin
3:30 p.m. - Pre-race show (DIRTVision stage)
4 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, on-track activity
- Sprint car heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Big-block modified heats (8 laps)
WoO redraw
- Sprint car C-main consolation (10 laps)
- Sprint car dash (6 laps)
- Sprint car B-main consolation (12 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Big-block modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Sprint cars (25 laps)
- Late Models (35 laps)
- Big-block modifieds (30 laps)
