Dirt on Dirt - O'Neal, Gustin among Wild West heat winners

January 11

Central Arizona Raceway,

Casa Grande, AZ

Sanction: Unsanctioned Supers (Wild West Shootout) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac and track reports (last updated January 11, 8:55 pm)

O'Neal, Gustin among Wild West heat winners

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Live video Heat highlights Related story Race history

Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com

Mike Marlar topped Sunday's 46-car field in time trials.

Key notes: Tyler Erb and Cade Dillard made contact at the start of the second heat race, sending Dillard spinning and eliminating him with left-front nose damage and a flat left-rear tire. ... Clay Stuckey missed his place in qualifying after his car failed to fire because of a fuel pickup issue; he timed in 11th in Group A after getting his engine to fire. ... Jonathan Davenport changed engines after issues in Friday's opener. ... Brandon Sheppard is aboard a backup car after engine issues in his primary car will force an engine change before Wednesday's third round. ... Central Arizona Raceway returns as host of the six-race Wild West Shootout as the miniseries returns to the Grand Canyon State for the first time since 2021. ... Originally known as Early Thaw, the Southwestern-based event began at Casa Grande in January 2001 and continued there in some form until 2014. … Ricky Thornton Jr. led 26 laps, including the final 10, in winning Saturday’s opener; he earned $38,000, including $13,000 in lap-leader bonus money courtesy of Rio Grande Waste Services. Thornton is traveling to Tulsa, Okla., for the Chili Bowl Nationals with a possibility that he could return for Jan. 18’s $25,000-to-win finale. … Bobby Pierce won four of five events last year at Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park, earning his third miniseries title and becoming the event’s all-time victories leader at 16. Pierce struggled in Saturday’s opener and retired with a handful of laps to go. … Hudson O’Neal led 24 laps (17-40) before giving way to Thornton on a late-race restart and settling for second; he collected $22,000, including $12,000 in lap bonus cash aboard the Rumley Engineering No. 6 Longhorn. … Modifieds and X-mods are on the undercard nightly while IMCA stock cars join the action for the Jan. 18 finale. … A practice session will take place Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 5-9 p.m.

Who to watch: Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who led 24 laps of Saturday’s miniseries opener before settling for second.

Points chase: Before Sunday: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (87); 2. Hudson O’Neal (81); 3. Cade Dillard (78); 4. Ryan Gustin (75); 5. Mike Marlar (72).

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 46

Fast qualifier: Mike Marlar

Time: 14.845 seconds

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Hudson O'Neal, Ryan Gustin, Bobby Pierce

Next series race: Jan. 14, Central Arizona Raceway (Casa Grande, Ariz.) $10,000

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

From staff reports

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Live updates from Sunday’s 20th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts second round, highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for unsanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Heat results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Jake Timm, Jake O'Neil, Clay Stuckey, Gunner Frank, Austin Kuehl, Eston Whisler, Shawn Mann, Peyton George, Paul Rios, Tim Ward.

Second heat: Hudson O'Neal, Tyler Erb, Daniel Adam, Bricen James, Kyle Beard, R.C. Whitwell, Richard Papenhausen, Terry Carter, Brad Williams, Ashlee Buck, Cade Dillard.

Third heat: Ryan Gustin, Drake Troutman, Ethan Dotson, Dustin Sorensen, Billy Moyer, Eli Ross, Tim Isenberg, Kylan Garner, Chase Junghans, Amelia Eisenschenk, Chance Mann.

Fourth heat: Bobby Pierce, Garrett Alberson, Justin Duty, Dillon McCowan, Brandon Sheppard, Sammy Mars, Terry Phillips, Laela Eisenschenk, Ian Whisler, Mike Greseth, Steve Stultz.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.845
2. Hudson O’Neal (6), Martinsville, Ind., 14.913
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.968
4. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.029
5. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 15.127
6. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.167
7. Jake Timm (49T), Winona, Minn., 15.220
8. Daniel Adam (75A), Peru, Ill., 15.280
9. Eston Whisler (82), Otis, Ore., 15.340
10. Bricen James (13), Albany, Ore., 15.359
11. Clay Stuckey (15s), Shreveport, La., 15.442
12. R.C. Whitwell (96), Tucson, Ariz., 15.504
13. Gunner Frank (21F), Montrose, Iowa, 15.516
14. Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 15.563
15. Tim Ward (4tw), Mesa, Ariz., 15.597
16. Richard Papenhausen (4p), Chico, Calif., 15.635
17. Shawn Mann (88), Newport, Ark., 15.927
18. Terry Carter (6T), Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, 15.927
19. Austin Kuehl (11x), Cave Creek, Ariz., 16.143
20. Brad Williams (23), Tucson, Ariz., 16.832
21. Peyton George (0G), Rapid City, S.D., 17.324
22. Ashlee Buck (8B), Roswell, N.M., 17.885
23. Paul Rios (19rt), Tucson, Ariz., 18.684
Group B
1. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.987
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.002
3. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.034
4. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.053
5. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.098
6. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 15.099
7. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.135
8. Justin Duty (15D), Mollala, Ore., 15.213
9. Billy Moyer (48), Batesville, Ark., 15.320
10. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.329
11. Eli Ross (66), Muskogee, Okla., 15.339
12. Sammy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 15.422
13. Amelia Eisenschenk (1x), Fargo, N.D., 15.431
14. Ian Whisler (28w), Otis, Ore., 15.462
15. Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis.
16. Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., 15.589
17. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.655
18. Laela Eisenschenk (15), Fargo, N.D., 15.835
19. Kylan Garner (128), Neosho, Mo., 15.882
20. Steve Stultz (78s), Peoria, Ariz., 16.109
21. Chance Mann (88), Newport, Ark., 16.249
22. Mike Greseth (11), Harwood, N.D., 16,.284
23. Cole Schill (15*), Hawley, Minn., no time
24. Tyler Peterson (1tpo), Hickson, N.D., no time

Sunday’s schedule

1 p.m. - Pits open
2:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- X-mod heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Consolations
- X-mods (10 laps)
- Modifieds (10 laps)
- Late Models (12 laps)
- Late Model dash (8 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (40 laps)
- X-mods (25 laps) 
- Modifieds (25 laps)