FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway
Fast Facts: Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: ($5,000-to-win features, along with heats and consolations on Jan. 9, 10, 13, 15 and 16 and $25,000-to-win feature, along with heats and consolations on Jan. 17).
Track: FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway Arizona Speedway, Queen Creek, Ariz. (third-mile high-banked dirt oval)
Purse: Total Late Model purse of more than $205,000.
Primary sponsors: Keyser Manufacturing, O’Reilly Auto Parts, FK Rod Ends, Dirt Track Bank, Black Diamond Race Cars, Shaw Trucking, Schaeffer Oil, SportTruck RV, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Border Tire, Arizona Differential, RHR Racing Swag, Barnett Harley Davidson, Shocks by Hammer, Hoker Trucking, Premier Waste Services, Midwest Sheet Metal, Rodeo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, VP Racing Fuel, Hoosier Racing Tires, Pro Power Engines, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Graphix, Beaver Stripes, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Toste Construction, Sipes Tractor & Transport Service, Screven Motor Speedway and DirtonDirt.com.
Sanction: None for Late Models.
Other divisions: Modifieds ($1,000- and $2,000-to-win programs) and X-mods ($500- and $1,000-to-win programs).
2020 winners: Brian Shirley and Brandon Sheppard; three wins apiece.
Former miniseries champions: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill. (2019-’20); Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn. (2018); Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill. (2017); Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga. (2016); Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas (2015).
Winningest series drivers (complete history): Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark. (13); Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. (10); Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill. (6); Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis. (5); Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill. (4); Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky. (4); John Anderson, Omaha, Neb. (4); Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind. (4); Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba (4); Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill. (3); Pat Doar, New Richmond, Wis. (3); Tim Fuller, Watertown, N.Y. (3); Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky. (3); Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga. (3); Don Shaw, Ham Lake, Minn. (3).
Tickets: Single-day general admission $25 (children 6-12, $10; children 5-and-under, free). Six-day adult general admission $150. Advanced tickets available at wildwestshootout.net.
Pit passes: $40 daily.
Live video: Jan. 9-10, 13, 15-17 shows set for FloRacing.com’s live coverage includes every lap of Super Late Model and modified action, complete with on-screen race lineups and a live timing and scoring feed. The complete miniseries package is available to DirtonDirt.com and FloRacing.com subscribers. The Michael Reiners-produced broadcast will feature Ben Shelton on play-by-play and Dustin Jarrett reporting from the infield and pits.
Miniseries website: wildwestshootout.net
Wild West Shootout office phone: (520) 664-2074
Track phone: (480) 926-6688
Notes: FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway, just outside Phoenix, hosts the miniseries for the fifth time. … Title sponsor Keyser Manufacturing is offering a $250,000 bonus to any driver who can pull off a six-race sweep in the miniseries, with an added incentive of $100,000 going to any driver who can win five of the six features and a $25,000 bonus for capturing four main events. … The first driver to win three of the six events will earn a $10,000 bonus. … Last season Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., grabbed three wins and for the second year in a row never finished outside the top five en route to his second miniseries title. … For the second year the headliners will be known as the Dirt Track Bank Super Late Models presented by Black Diamond Race Cars. … The fast qualifier each night will earn a commemorative check, a mini aluminum Late Model door panel and $100 courtesy of SportTruck RV and Screven Motor Speedway. … Gorsuch Performance Solutions offers $100 each night to the feature polesitter. … Premier Waste Services is backing a $500 nightly bonus to the driver who passes the most cars in each of the six feature events. The driver who passes the most cars combined over the duration of the six races receives $1,000. … There will again be three Pro Power Dashes, giving Super Late Model drivers who fail to qualify for the night’s finale a shot at some extra cash. The 10-lap Pro Power Dashes will be contested on Jan. 9, 10 and 16. Each dash posts a $2,000 purse with the winner receiving $1,000 or the option to forfeit the winner’s purse and start at the tail of the night’s feature. … The Dirt Pro Best in Show competition pays a $1,000 bonus to the Super Late Model driver with the best appearing, Western-themed graphics scheme. … The format includes time trials, eight-lap heat races, 12-lap consolations and a 30-lap feature. The $25,000-to-win finale is 50 laps. ... The Late Model tire rule has been changed for 2021. The new rule: Hoosier 1350 on all four corners with a Hoosier LM40 or WRS-2 right rear option. ... Modifieds will race for $1,000 each day and $2,000 each Sunday. ... There will be scheduled practice session on Friday, Jan. 8 and Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 6-9 p.m. The cost is $200 per car; no pit passes required. … The $150 six-day general admission combo ticket includes a pit-pass upgrade for one night (chosen by the purchaser) as well as a free Wild West Shootout seat cushion.
Late Model purses
Jan. 9, 10, 13, 15, 16
1. $5,000
2. $2,500
3. $1,500
4. $900
5. $800
6. $700
7. $650
8. $600
9. $550
10-24. $500
($100 for non-qualifiers)
Jan. 17
1. $25,000
2. $10,000
3. $5,000
4. $3,000
5. $2,000
6. $1,500
7. $1,250
8. $1,200
9. $1,100
10-24. $1,000
($100 for non-qualifiers)
Event schedule
(All times Mountain)
Friday, Jan. 8
3 p.m.: Pit gate opens
6-9 p.m.: Practice
Saturday, Jan. 9
Noon: Pit gates open
2:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m.: Grandstand gates open
3:30 p.m.: Hot laps
4:55 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
5 p.m.: Competition begins
Sunday, Jan. 10
1 p.m.: Pit gate opens
2:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m.: Grandstand gates open
3:30 p.m.: Hot laps
4:55 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
5 p.m.: Competition begins
Tuesday, Jan. 12
3 p.m.: Pit gate opens
5-9 p.m.: Practice
9 p.m.-midnight: Pit party
Wednesday, Jan. 13
2:30 p.m.: Pit gate opens
4 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
4:30 p.m.: Grandstand gates open
5 p.m.: Hot laps
6:25 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
6:30 p.m.: Competition begins
Friday, Jan. 15
2:30 p.m.: Pit gate opens
4 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
4:30 p.m.: Grandstand gates open
5 p.m.: Hot laps
6:25 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
6:30 p.m.: Competition begins
Saturday, Jan. 16
1 p.m.: Pit gate opens
2:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m.: Grandstand gates open
3:30 p.m.: Hot laps
4:55 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
5 p.m.: Competition begins
Sunday, Jan. 17
1 p.m.: Pit gate opens
2:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m.: Grandstand gates open
3:30 p.m.: Hot laps
4:55 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
5 p.m.: Competition begins
Camping
Free at Arizona Speedway. Spots are first-come, first-served.
