Dirt on Dirt - Bailes repels Gustin to win second WoO prelim

May 24

Ultimate Motorsports Park,

Elkin, NC

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (Ultimate Showdown second semifeature) - $4,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated May 25, 7:57 am)

Bailes repels Gustin to win second WoO prelim

Ultimate Showdown second semifeature

Ross Bailes
Ryan Gustin
Ben Watkins
Benji Hicks
Brian Shirley
David McCoy
Brent Robinson
Dennis Erb Jr.
Brent Larson
Michael Leach
Max McLaughlin
Dustin Mitchell
Parker Martin
Jeff Parsons
Luke Morey
Dustin Walker
Evan Koehler
Caleb Fulp
Jordan Koehler
Payton Freeman

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Ross Bailes celebrates a $4,000 victory in Friday's second semifeature.

What won the race: Staving off late-race pressure from Ryan Gustin, pole-starting Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., led all 25 laps to win Friday's second World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series semifeature at Ultimate Motorsports Park. Bailes collected $4,000 for his second WoO victory of any kind — his first since scoring a $10,000 full-field triumph at Cherokee Speedway on May 3, 2019 — and his second win of the season at the Elkin, N.C., half-mile after topping April's $7,500 Ultimate tour stop.

Quotable: “It definitely helped us qualifying (where we did). I was able to get the jump and able to keep pace being out front,” Bailes said. “I just gotta thank (track owner) Bobby (Koehler). They really did some work to this track and it’s much smoother than it was the last time we were here. Hopefully it will be racy (on Saturday). We’ve been good on the long runs here, so we’re really looking forward to tomorrow night.”

Key notes: The second-starting Gustin repelled challenges from Ben Watkins on the lap-nine restart before pressuring Bailes in the closing laps and ultimately finishing 0.486 of a second back. ... Watkins settled for third. ... Brian Shirley and David McCoy traded the fifth spot in the late stages with Shirley prevailing to round out the top five. ... The race's lone caution flag flew when fifth-running Jordan Koehler slowed on lap eight. He was unable to continue. ... The race lasted nine minutes with 16 competitors completing the distance.

On the move: David McCoy of Franklin, N.C., started 12th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Bailes’s Joey Malone-owned Longhorn by Wesley Page Chassis carries sponsorship from Fred Caldwell Chevrolet, Mid-Atlantic Roofing Supply, Bailes Construction, Wakefield Logging, WP Racing Shocks, Bobby Taylor Oil Company, VP Racing Fuels, Indocil Art and ShopBM23.com.

Points chase: Before Ultimate Motorsports Park: 1. Nick Hoffman (1,926); 2. Brandon Sheppard (1,922); 3. Cade Dillard (1,876); 4. Chris Madden (1,866); 5. Kyle Bronson (1,844); 6. Tyler Bruening (1,818); 7. Bobby Pierce (1,814); 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (1,788); 9. Ryan Gustin (1,754); 10. Dustin Sorensen (1,724); T11. Cody Overton (1,694); T11. Brian Shirley (1,694).

Current weather: Clear, 77°F

Car count: 40

Fast qualifier: Ross Bailes

Time: 15.112 seconds

Polesitter: Ross Bailes

Next series race: May 25, Ultimate Motorsports Park (Elkin, NC) $35,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

ELKIN, N.C. (May 24) — Updates and results from Friday’s Ultimate Late Model Showdown opener featuring a 25-lap, $4,000-to-win semifeature for World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Staving off late-race pressure from Ryan Gustin, pole-starting Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., led all 25 laps to win Friday's second World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series semifeature at Ultimate Motorsports Park. Bailes collected $4,000 for his second WoO victory of any kind — his first since scoring a $10,000 full-field triumph at Cherokee Speedway on May 3, 2019 — and his second win of the season at the Elkin, N.C., half-mile after topping April's $7,500 Ultimate tour event.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Ross Bailes, Ryan Gustin
Row 2: Ben Watkins, Benji Hicks
Row 3: Brent Robinson, Jordan Koehler
Row 4: Brent Larson, Michael Leach
Row 5: Dustin Mitchell, Brian Shirley
Row 6: Parker Martin, David McCoy
Row 7: Dennis Erb Jr., Payton Freeman
Row 8: Luke Morey, Jeff Parsons
Row 9: Evan Koehler, Caleb Fulp
Row 10: Dustin Walker, Max McLaughlin

Time trials

Group B
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Ross Bailes (87), Clover, S.C., 15.112
2. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.163
3. Ben Watkins (16w), Rock Hill, S.C., 15.214
4. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.263
5. Brent Robinson (3), Smithfield, Va., 15.361
6. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.456
7. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.545
8. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.587
9. Dustin Mitchell (D8), Pine Level, N.C., 15.625
10. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.627
11. Parker Martin (6jr), MIlledgeville, Ga., 15.656
12. David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 15.669
13. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.671
14. Payton Freeman (F1), Commerce, Ga., 15.694
15. Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., 15.717
16. Jeff Parsons (P1), Union Grove, N.C., 15.926
17. Evan Koehler (L114), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.112
18. Caleb Fulp (4), Danbury, N.C., 16.299
19. Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 16.536
20. Max McLaughlin (22*), Mooresville, N.C., no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
1 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Registration opens
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Late Model hot laps
- 602 Crate hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Hornet hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- 602 Crate group qualifying (2 laps)
- Hornet group qualifying (2 laps)
Feature events
- First Late Model semifeature (25 laps)
- Second Late Model semifeature (25 laps)
- Hornets (15 laps)
- 602 Crates (20 laps)