Dirt on Dirt - RaceWire

January 14

Central Arizona Raceway,

Casa Grande, AZ

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

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, Aaron Clay and track reports (last updated January 12, 12:48 am)

presented by

Live video Related story Race history

Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com

The pits have been packed at Central Arizona Raceway.

Key notes: 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. won Saturday’s opener, earning more than $38,000, including $13,000 in lap-leader bonus money courtesy of Rio Grande Waste Services. Thornton is racing the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., with a possibility that he could return for Jan. 18’s $25,000-to-win finale. … Hudson O’Neal led the final 30 laps to win Sunday’s $10,000 second round, adding to his runner-up finish in Saturday’s opener where he collected more than $22,000 aboard Kevin Rumley’s No. 6 Longhorn. … 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 led 10 laps and finished third Sunday after struggling to finish 13th in Saturday’s opener. … Jonathan Davenport changed engines and Brandon Sheppard utilized a backup car after engine woes in Saturday’s opener; Sheppard’s team plans to complete a motor swap before Wednesday’s third round. … Modifieds and X-mods are on the undercard nightly while IMCA stock cars join the action for the Jan. 18 finale. … Pits open at 1 p.m. and grandstands open at 3 p.m. daily with hot laps at 3:30. … A practice session will take place Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 5-9 p.m.

Who to watch: Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., chases his second straight Wild West Shootout miniseries victory.

Points chase: Before Wednesday: 1. Hudson O’Neal (168); 2. Mike Marlar (153); 3. Garrett Alberson (141); 4. Ryan Gustin (138); 5. Ethan Dotson (129).

Next series race: Jan. 16, 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 Wednesday’s 20th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts third round, highlighted by a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for unsanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Alphabetical driver roster

Driver (car no.), hometown
Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill.
Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M.
Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark.
Ashlee Buck (8B), Roswell, N.M.
Terry Carter (6T), Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga.
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La.
Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif.
Justin Duty (15D), Molalla, Ore.
Amelia Eisenschenk (1), Fargo, N.D.
Laela Eisenschenk (15), Fargo, N.D.
Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas
Gunner Frank (21F), Montrose, Iowa
Kylan Garner (128), Neosho, Mo.
Peyton George (0G), Rapid City, S.D.
Mike Greseth (11), Harwood, N.D.
Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa
Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis.
Bricen James (13), Albany, Ore.
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan.
Austin Kuehl (11x) Cave Creek, Ariz.
Chance Mann (88), Newport, Ark.
Shawn Mann (87), Newport, Ark.
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn.
Sammy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis.
Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo.
Billy Moyer (48), Batesville, Ark.
Hudson O’Neal (6), Martinsville, Ind.
Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz.
Richard Papenhausen (4p), Chico, Calif.
Tyler Peterson (1tpo), Hickson, N.D.
Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo.
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill.
Paul Rios (19rt), Tucson, Ariz.
Eli Ross (66), Muskogee, Okla.
Cole Schill (15*), Hawley, Minn.
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill.
Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn.
Clay Stuckey (15s), Shreveport, La.
Steve Stultz (78s), Peoria, Ariz.
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz.
Jake Timm (49T), Winona, Minn.
Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa.
Tim Ward (4tw), Mesa, Ariz.
Eston Whisler (82), Otis, Ore.
Ian Whisler (28), Otis, Ore.
Jimmy Whisler (28w), Otis, Ore.
R.C. Whitwell (96), Tucson, Ariz.
Brad Williams (23), Tucson, Ariz.

Wednesday’s schedule

(All times local)
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)
Feature events
- Late Models (30 laps)
- X-mods (20 laps)
-  Modifieds (25 laps)