Key notes: Deer Creek Speedway hosts the 46th annual NAPA Auto Parts Gopher State 50, a three-day special for World of Outlaws Real American Late Model Series regulars. … Points will be awarded nightly for time trials, heat races, consolations and features with Thursday-Friday prelims setting the stage for Saturday’s 75-lap, $50,000-to-win finale. … Two-time defending Gopher 50 winner Bobby Pierce outdueled Ryan Gustin to win Thursday’s $10,000 opener. Pierce also added a $20,000 WoO standalone event in the fall of 2023, to go along with his back-to-back $50,000 finale paydays. … Gustin, of Marshalltown, Iowa, won one of last year’s $7,000 prelims. … Dustin Sorensen of Rochester, Minn., won a $5,000 Dirt Kings Tour stop there in Aug. of ’23. … Modifieds are on the undercard, nightly. … Pits open at 2 p.m. and grandstands open at 3, with hot laps at 6:30 each day. … Watch live on DIRTVision.

Who to watch: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., eyes his third straight Gopher 50 finale triumph at Deer Creek.

Points chase: Before Deer Creek Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (3,144); 2. Nick Hoffman (3,054); 3. Ryan Gustin (2,996); 4. Drake Troutman (2,896); 5. Tim McCreadie (2,894); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,834); 7. Ethan Dotson (2,808); 8. Brian Shirley (2,786); 9. Cody Overton (2,776); 10. Tanner English (2,756).

Expected entrants: Among drivers expected to join the top 10 in series standings: Dustin Sorensen, Chad Simpson, Kyle Bronson, Jake Timm, Chase Junghans, Blair Nothdurft, Chris Simpson, Brent Larson, Jake O'Neil, Michael Leach, Tristan Chamberlain, Tyler Bruening, Boom Briggs, Lance Matthees, Tim Isenberg, Dylan Sillman, Derrick Stewart, Aaron Marrant, Matthew Larson and more.

Next series race: July 5, Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, MN) $50,000