Dirt on Dirt - Terbo draws Friday's Wild West Shootout pole

January 16

Central Arizona Raceway,

Casa Grande, AZ

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

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden and track reports (last updated January 16, 9:14 pm)

Terbo draws Friday's Wild West Shootout pole

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Live video Heat highlights Related story Race history

Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com

Hudson O'Neal topped Friday's 41-car field in time trials.

Key notes: Dillon McCowan staved off contact from Cade Dillard as they raced towards the finish line in the second heat race, sending Dillard spinning nearly head-first into the frontstretch wall before Amelia Eisenschenk slammed into him broadside. Eston Whisler nipped Dillard at the line by 0.042 of a second for fourth, leaving Dillard in fifth and Eisenschenk in sixth. ... 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 the Jan. 10 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 the Jan. 11 second round, worth $10,000, adding to his runner-up finish in Saturday’s opener where he collected more than $22,000 aboard Kevin Rumley’s No. 6 Longhorn. … Ethan Dotson led the final eight laps in winning Wednesday’s $10,000 third round, notching the biggest victory of his young career. … 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 has a runner up and third-place finish in his last two starts. … Watch live on FloRacing.

Who to watch: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., who continues to chase his first victory of the 2026 season.

Points chase: Before Friday: 1. Hudson O’Neal (225); T2. Ethan Dotson (216); T2. Ryan Gustin (216); T4. Bobby Pierce (207); T4. Garrett Alberson (207).

Current weather: Clear, 63°F

Car count: 41

Fast qualifier: Hudson O'Neal

Time: 14.988 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Erb

Heat race winners: Hudson O'Neal, Tyler Erb, Ryan Gustin, Garrett Alberson

Next series race: Jan. 17, 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 Friday’s 20th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts fourth round, highlighted by a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for unsanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Heat race recap

Hudson O’Neal led all eight laps from the pole, winning the first heat race by 1.390 seconds over Bobby Pierce, who trailed him the entire way. Tim Ward and Justin Duty held serve in finishing third and fourth, punching their ticket into Friday night’s 30-lap main event. … Polesitter Tyler Erb held off Dustin Sorensen on a one-lap restart to win heat two by 0.711 of a second. Dillon McCowan staved off contact from Cade Dillard as they raced towards the finish line, sending Dillard spinning nearly head-first into the frontstretch wall before Amelia Eisenschenk slammed into him broadside. Eston Whisler nipped Dillard at the line by 0.042 of a second for the fourth and final transfer spot into the $10,000-to-win feature, leaving Dillard in fifth and Eisenschenk in sixth. The night’s first caution flew on the final lap when R.C. Whitwell slowed from fifth; he did not continue and was credited with eighth. Eli Ross slowed after completing the first lap and pulled off. … Third-starting Ryan Gustin muscled by Jonathan Davenport on the sixth lap and paced the final three circuits to win the third heat by 0.428 of a second over Davenport, who led laps 2-5 before settling for second. Fifth-starting Mike Marlar finished third with polesitter and early leader Drake Troutman hanging on for fourth. The race’s lone stoppage came on the opening lap when Laela Eisenschenk spun sideways in turn three, collecting Chance Mann; they continued with Eisenschenk placing 10th and Mann in 11th. … Third-starting Garrett Alberson used a last-corner, last-lap pass around race-long leader Ethan Dotson, nipping Dotson at the checkers by 0.104 of a second to win the fourth and final heat race. Brandon Sheppard challenged Clay Stuckey for third momentarily before eventually slipping back and holding off pressure in the closing laps from Daniel Adam to finish fourth; Adam settled for fifth. … The four prelims combined to last for nearly 15 minutes of on-track action.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat finish: Hudson O'Neal, Bobby Pierce, Tim Ward, Justin Duty, Bricen James, Kyle Beard, Kylan Garner, Jake Timm, Richard Papenhausen, Steve Stultz.

Second heat finish: Tyler Erb, Dustin Sorensen, Dillon McCowan, Eston Whisler, Cade Dillard, Amelia Eisenschenk, Cole Schill, R.C. Whitwell, Austin Kuehl, Eli Ross.

Third heat finish: Ryan Gustin, Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Drake Troutman, Jake O'Neil, Tim Isenberg, Tim Lance, Sammy Mars, Gunner Frank, Laela Eisenschenk, Chance Mann.

Fourth heat finish: Garrett Alberson, Ethan Dotson, Clay Stuckey, Brandon Sheppard, Daniel Adam, Terry Phillips, Chase Junghans, Terry Carter, Matt Gilbertson, John Cornell.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Hudson O’Neal (6), Martinsville, Ind., 14.988
2. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.122
3. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.180
4. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.200
5. Tim Ward (4tw), Mesa, Ariz., 15.277
6. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 15.320
7. Justin Duty (15D), Molalla, Ore., 15.344
8. Eli Ross (66), Muskogee, Okla., 15.393
9. Bricen James (13), Albany, Ore., 15.433
10. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.444
11. Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 15.456
12. Amelia Eisenschenk (1x), Fargo, N.D., 15.560
13. Jake Timm (49T), Winona, Minn., 15.678
14. Eston Whisler (82), Otis, Ore., 15.724
15. Richard Papenhausen (4p), Chico, Calif., 15.836
16. Austin Kuhel (11x), Cave Creek, Ariz., 15.867
17. Kylan Garner (128), Neosho, Mo., 16.171
18. R.C. Whitwell (96), Tucson, Ariz., 16.215
19. Steve Stultz (78s), Peoria, Ariz., 16.289
20. Cole Schill (15*), Hawley, Minn., 17.323
Group B
1. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.100
2. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.126
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.240
4. Clay Stuckey (15s), Shreveport, La., 15.252
5. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.263
6. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.274
7. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 15.276
8. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.298
9. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.396
10. Daniel Adam (75A), Peru, Ill., 15.469
11. Sammy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 15.518
12. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.555
13. Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis., 15.580
14. Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., 15.814
15. Laela Eisenschenk (15), Fargo, N.D., 15.954
16. Terry Carter (6T), Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, 15.988
17. Gunner Frank (21F), Montrose, Iowa, 16.002
18. Matt Gilbertson (0G), Montevideo, Minn., 16.008
19. Chance Mann (88), Newport, Ark., 16.155
20. John Cornell (28c), Phoenix, Ariz., 16.352
21. Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill., 16.352

Friday’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)