Central Arizona Raceway
Fast Facts: 20th annual Wild West Shootout
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt weekend editor
Dates: $25,000-to-win Super Late Model programs Jan. 10 and Jan. 18 bookending $10,000-to-win features Jan. 11, 14, 16-17
Track: Central Arizona Raceway (3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval)
Location: Casa Grande, Ariz.
Purse: Total Super Late Model purse of more than $400,000
Event sponsors: Title sponsor Rio Grande Waste Services, presenting sponsor O’Reilly Auto Parts along with FK Rod Ends, Low Voltage Solutions, Malvern Bank, Black Diamond Race Cars, Hoker Trucking, Shocker Hitch, Penske Racing Shocks, Merry’s Home Furnishings, Shaw Trucking, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, AM-1 Roofing, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Border Tire, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Swift Springs, Dirt Pro Grading & Padwork, Contractors & Developers Bonding, Whisler Construction, Shocks by Hammer, Midwest Sheet Metal, Speedway Motors, Day Motor Sports, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Pro Power Engines, Beaver Stripes, Arizona Differential, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Don Frank Floors, Toste Construction, Winning Edge Carburetion, The Joie of Seating, Needmore Speedway and DirtDraft.com
Sanction: None for Super Late Models
Streaming: Live on FloRacing
Other divisions: Modifieds ($1,000-, $2,000- and $3,000-to-win programs), X-mods ($500- and $1,000-to-win programs) and stock cars ($1,000-to-win on Jan. 18)
2025 winners: Bobby Pierce (4) and Garrett Alberson (1)
Former miniseries champions: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill. (2017, ’24-’25); Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga. (2016, ’21, ’23); Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn. (2018, ’22); Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill. (2019-‘20); Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas (2015).
Winningest series drivers (complete history): Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill. (16); Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark. (13); Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. (10); Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga. (9); Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill. (6); Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis. (5).
Tickets: Single-day general admission $37. Six-day adult reserved are $189; pit passes: $45 daily. Advanced tickets available at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/37594/central-arizona-raceway
Miniseries website: wildwestshootout.net
Wild West Shootout office phone: (520) 664-2074
Track phone: (520) 754-0407
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 miniseries began at the Casa Grande in January 2001 with a victory for Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo, Calif. … This season, Rio Grande Waste Services is offering a $500 lap leader bonus during the event’s $25,000-to-win shows, meaning a driver could earn as much as $50,000 if they lead every lap en route to victory. … 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. … Ricky Thornton Jr. of nearby Chandler, Ariz., will be piloting a Longhorn Chassis fielded by Adam Family Motorsports. Thornton is also entered in the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals and may not compete in the entire six-race Wild West Shootout. Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., will join Thornton in also competing in both national-level events. … Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., is expected to compete aboard Kevin Rumley’s No. 6 Rumley Engineering Longhorn entry. … Pryor Baird (Jan. 10) and Clayton Anderson (Jan. 18) concerts follow Saturday’s events. … Barrel-racing exhibitions are also among off-track festivities. … Modifieds and X-mods are on the undercard nightly while IMCA stock cars join the action for Sunday, Jan. 18’s finale. … Pits open at 11 a.m. for Jan. 10’s opener and 1 p.m. each day after. Grandstands open at 3 p.m. daily with hot laps at 3:30. … Practice sessions will be held Friday, Jan. 9 (6-9 p.m.) and Tuesday, Jan. 13 (5-9 p.m.).
Late Model purses
Jan. 10 and 18
1. $25,000
2. $10,000
3. $5,000
4. $3,000
5. $2,500
6. $2,000
7. $1,750
8. $1,600
9. $1,500
10. $1,400
11. $1,300
12. $1,200
13. $1,100
14. $1,050
15-24. $1,000
($100 for non-qualifiers)
Jan. 11, 14, 16-17
1. $10,000
2. $5,000
3. $2,500
4. $1,750
5. $1,500
6. $1,250
7. $1,000
8. $900
9. $850
10. $800
11. $750
12. $725
13. $700
14. $650
15-24. $600
($100 for non-qualifiers)
Event schedule
(All times local; subject to change)
Friday, Jan. 9
11 a.m. - Pits open
6 p.m. - Practice begins
9 p.m. - Practice concludes
Saturday, Jan. 10
11 a.m. - Pits open
2 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 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 (50 laps)
X-mods (25 laps)
Modifieds (25 laps)
Postrace concert featuring Pryor Baird
Sunday, Jan. 11
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)
Tuesday, Jan. 13
3 p.m. - Pits open
5 p.m. - Practice begins
9 p.m. - Practice concludes
Wednesday, Jan. 14
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)
Friday, Jan. 16
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)
Saturday, Jan. 17
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)
Postrace concert featuring Clayton Anderson
Sunday, Jan. 18
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
Stock car hot laps
Opening ceremonies
X-mod heats (8 laps)
Modified heats (8 laps)
Late Model heats (8 laps)
Stock car heats (8 laps)
Consolations
X-mods (10 laps)
Modifieds (10 laps)
Late Models (12 laps)
Feature events
Late Models (50 laps)
X-mods (25 laps)
Modifieds (25 laps)
Stock cars (20 laps)
Camping
Reserved spots with electrical and water hookups; free spots with no hookups. Message camping@wildwestshootout.net for more details.
