What won the race: Taking advantage when Brian Shirley slipped coming off turn two on the 26th lap, second-starting Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., seized command and paced the remaining circuit to win Thursday night's 40-lap World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series debut at Spoon River Speedway. Pierce beat Jason Feger to the checkers by 2.009 seconds for his eighth WoO victory this season and the 39th of his career, moving him into a tie with Chris Madden for sixth on the tour's all-time win list.

Quotable: "I love this racetrack when it’s like that," Pierce said. "I grew up racing here a lot and that’s the old Spoon River right there. There was a little bit on top but you had to really hang your tire off the edge to get it, but it was there, and then you had the moisture line around the bottom. That was an awesome Illinois track there ... love it.”

Key notes: Pierce picked up his first WoO victory since July 11's weekend opener at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, also worth $12,000. ... It was his 26th overall triumph this season. ... The fifth-starting Feger powered by Shirley for second on lap 33 but never challenged Pierce in the late stages. Shirley led laps 5-25 before settling for third. ... Shannon Babb worked his way as high as third in the early going before rounding out the top five. ... Dennis Erb Jr. led the opening four laps from the pole before eventually fading to sixth. It was his second night on a brand-new Rocket XR2 chassis. ... Ryan Gustin recovered to finish 12th after pitting under the race's first caution on lap nine. ... The lap-nine yellow flew when Brent Larson spun entering turn one, collecting Roben Huffman and Jason Wagner. All three retired. ... Cody Overton spun on the ensuing restart and then pulled off with heavy nose damage. ... Tanner English, winner of Wednesday's $12,000 series visit to Highland (Ill.) Speedway, slowed from fifth to draw the third stoppage on lap 18. He retired with rear end issues. ... Frank Heckenast Jr. slowed from 16th on lap 32 and did a half-spin while attempting to leave the track, triggering the fourth and final slowdown. He did not continue and was credited with 18th. ... The main event lasted 26 minutes, with 17 starters completing 40 laps.

On the move: Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., started 14th and finished fourth aboard his backup car after engine issues in qualifying.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After Spoon River: 1. Bobby Pierce (4,370); 2. Nick Hoffman (4,280); 3. Ryan Gustin (4,188); 4. Tim McCreadie (4,072); 5. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,044); 6. Drake Troutman (4,026); 7. Brian Shirley (3,972); 8. Tanner English (3,926); 9. Cody Overton (3,890); 10. Ethan Dotson (3,858); 11. Dustin Sorensen (3,776); 12. Jake Timm (3,624).

Current weather: Clear, 82°F

Car count: 25

Fast qualifier: Ethan Dotson

Time: 13.354 seconds

Polesitter: Dennis Erb Jr.

Heat race winners: Ethan Dotson, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley

Next series race: August 16, Maquoketa Speedway (Maquoketa, IA) $20,000