What won the race: Narrowly repelling multiple early-race challenges from Devin Moran, pole-starting Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., captured a flag-to-flag triumph in Sunday's Heartland Grand Tour finale at River Cities Speedway. Shirley's $12,000 payday marks his first World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series victory of the season and the eighth of his career.

Quotable: “(I'm) very happy that I got a sponsor and a team owner that believes in me more than probably I believe in myself,” Shirley said. “It’s just been one of them roller coaster years. I’m a little emotional because (my team) put(s) in so much work. Glad to see it payoff, glad to be with the people that I have around me.”

Key notes: It's Shirley's first win of any kind since topping a $12,000 World 100 prelim on Sept. 8, 2023, and his first WoO victory since earning $15,000 last June at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway. ... Second-starting Moran, of Dresden, Ohio, challenged Shirley throughout, coming within fractions of a second of leading lap six before slipping to finish 0.905 of a second back at the line. It was his second straight straight runner-up finish. ... Max McLaughlin placed third, improving his career best full-field series finish. ... Series points leader Brandon Sheppard advanced five positions and finished fourth. ... Sammy Mars, son of Hall of Famer Jimmy Mars, gained four spots and took eighth. ... The race's first caution flag flew on lap three when Dustin Strand and Nick Hoffman tangled while batting for 12th, resulting in Hoffman leaving the racing surface with right-front nose damage. He continued and finished 12th. ... Cade Dillard recovered to 13th after spinning to avoid the incident. ... Bobby Pierce trailed heavy smoke and slowed from seventh on lap 33, appearing to lose an engine for the second consecutive night. It's Pierce's third apparent engine failure of the month after also losing one in June 6's Dream prelim at Eldora when his team mistakenly left the oil cooler cover on. ... Tristan Chamberlain spun from 17th to draw the race's second and final stoppage on lap 38, setting up a two-lap dash to the finish. ... Drawing it's seven-race Summer Sizzler stretch to a close, Sunday's feature lasted 14 minutes, with 14 drivers completing 40 laps and 18 running at the checkers.

On the move: Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., started 17th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Thomason Express, Hoker Trucking, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphics, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Motorsports, East Central Coin, Cheers and Integra Shocks.

Points chase: After River Cities: 1. Brandon Sheppard (2,938); 2. Nick Hoffman (2,908); 3. Cade Dillard (2,798); 4. Kyle Bronson (2,762); 5. Bobby Pierce (2,756); 6. Tyler Bruening (2,714); 7. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,694); 8. Ryan Gustin (2,680); 9. Brian Shirley (2,670); 10. Dustin Sorensen (2,630); 11. Max McLaughlin (2,584); 12. Cody Overton (2,534).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 72°F

Car count: 34

Fast qualifier: Cody Overton

Time: 12.044 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Ryan Gustin, Max McLaughlin, Brian Shirley

Consolation race winners: Kyle Bronson, Tyler Peterson

Provisional starters: Dustin Walker, Ryan Corbett

Next series race: July 4, Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, MN) $7,000