Dirt on Dirt - Hoffman tops Gopher prelim after huge pileup

July 4

Deer Creek Speedway,

Spring Valley, MN

Sanction: World of Outlaws Real American Late Model Series (NAPA Gopher State 50 second prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 5, 7:16 pm)

Hoffman tops Gopher prelim after huge pileup

NAPA Gopher State 50 second prelim

Nick Hoffman
Ryan Gustin
Dennis Erb Jr.
Tanner English
Drake Troutman
Jake Timm
Brian Shirley
Jake O'Neil
Michael Leach
Derrick Stewart
Cody Overton
Boom Briggs
Brent Larson
Kyle Bronson
Blair Nothdurft
Tristan Chamberlain
Aaron Marrant
Dustin Sorensen
Tyler Bruening
Bobby Pierce
Tim McCreadie
Chad Simpson
Ethan Dotson
Chris Simpson

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Ethan Dotson was among the victims of the lap-two pileup.

What won the race: Leading all but two laps in a race where his pass for the lead triggered a huge pileup, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., repelled Brian Shirley and then Ryan Gustin to capture Friday's NAPA Gopher 50 prelim at Deer Creek Speedway for a $10,000 payday. The 30-lapper was marred by a massive wreck exiting turn four on the lap-two restart when Hoffman's slide job triggered a Tyler Bruening spin in front of the onrushing field, collecting virtually every top contender and sending Bobby Pierce for a rollover ride. No one was injured but the mess required a 15-minute cleanup and forced drivers running second through ninth out (including Bruening) or to the tail for the restart.

Quotable: "There ain't much I can do to plead my case in in this situation, so there ain't much I can say. I just hate it for all the other guys that got tore up there. It really sucks," Hoffman said of the lap-two pileup triggered by his pass for the lead. "I'll do whatever I can to make it better as far as help them guys try and fix their stuff up."

Key notes: Nick Hoffman notched his 10th career WoO victory, fourth of the season and third in nine days. ... Provisional starter Ryan Gustin finished 0.782 of a second behind as the runner-up. ... Besides the lap-two red flag, two cautions slowed the 30-lapper, the first on the second lap when third-running Chris Simpson's car showed smoke entering turn three and required a push to the pits. ... On the 22d lap, second-running Brian Shirley spun when he tried to get under the lapped car of Tristan Chamberlain (he restarted fourth via the blend rule). ... The feature rolled at 9:50 p.m. and wrapped up about 10:23 p.m. ... WoO drivers toured the grandstands helmet in hand to collect donations for the Ronald McDonald House during intermission. … Bobby Pierce, winner of the previous two Gopher 50s, outdueled Ryan Gustin to win Thursday’s $10,000 opener.

On the move: Runner-up Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, started 23rd.

Winner's sponsors: Hoffman’s Tye Twarog Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from NOS Energy Drink, C&W Trucking, Petroff Towing, Tye Twarog Performance Parts, Lonewolf Petroleum, Haulin’ Haskells, Tri Valley Equipment Sales, Allgaier Performance Parts, Bilstein Shocks, Eibach Springs, Lincoln Smith Racing and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: After Deer Creek Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (3,254); 2. Nick Hoffman (3,204); 3. Ryan Gustin (3,142); 4. Drake Troutman (3,036); 5. Tim McCreadie (3,002); 6. Dennis Erb Jr. (2,978); 7. Brian Shirley (2,922); 8. Ethan Dotson (2,912); 9. Cody Overton (2,904); 10. Tanner English (2,898).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 79°F

Car count: 34

Fast qualifier: Tyler Bruening

Time: 14.877 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Bruening

Heat race winners: Tyler Bruening, Nick Hoffman, Chris Simpson, Tim McCreadie

Consolation race winners: Boom Briggs, Derrick Stewart

Provisional starters: Ryan Gustin, Drake Troutman

Next series race: July 11, Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) $12,000

Editor's note: Corrects 20th- to 24th-place finishers.

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. — Live updates and results from Friday’s NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 prelim, featuring a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for World of Outlaws-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Leading all but two laps in a race where his pass for the lead triggered a huge pileup, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., repelled Brian Shirley and then Ryan Gustin to capture Friday's NAPA Gopher 50 prelim at Deer Creek Speedway for a $10,000 payday. The 30-lapper was marred by a massive wreck exiting turn four on the lap-two restart when Hoffman's slide job triggered a Tyler Bruening spin in front of the onrushing field, collecting virtually every top contender and sending Bobby Pierce for a rollover ride. No one was injured but the mess required a 15-minute cleanup and forced drivers running second through ninth out (including Bruening) or to the tail for the restart.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Tyler Bruening, Nick Hoffman
Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Chris Simpson
Row 3: Dustin Sorensen, Bobby Pierce
Row 4: Jake O'Neil, Chad Simpson
Row 5: Aaron Marrant, Ethan Dotson
Row 6: Jake Timm, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 7: Brent Larson, Brian Shirley
Row 8: Cody Overton, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 9: Boom Briggs, Derrick Stewart
Row 10: Blair Nothdurft, Tanner English
Row 11: Kyle Bronson, Michael Leach
Row 12: Ryan Gustin, Drake Troutman

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Boom Briggs, Blair Nothdurft, Kyle Bronson, Ryan Gustin, Chase Junghans, Drake Troutman, Nick Panitzke, Lance Matthees, Parker Foster.

Second consolation: Derrick Stewart, Tanner English, Michael Leach, Tim Isenberg, Matthew Larson, J.T. Wasmund, Dylan Sillman, Steve Stultz, Justin Green.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Tyler Bruening, Dustin Sorensen, Aaron Marrant, Brent Larson, Blair Nothdurft, Ryan Gustin, Drake Troutman, Lance Matthees, Parker Foster.

Second heat: Nick Hoffman, Chad Simpson, Jake Timm, Cody Overton, Boom Briggs, Kyle Bronson, Chase Junghans, Nick Panitzke.

Third heat: Chris Simpson, Jake O'Neil, Ethan Dotson, Brian Shirley, Michael Leach, Tanner English, J.T. Wasmund, Dylan Sillman, Justin Green.

Fourth heat: Tim McCreadie, Bobby Pierce, Tristan Chamberlain, Dennis Erb Jr., Derrick Stewart, Tim Isenberg, Matthew Larson, Steve Stultz.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time

Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 14.877
Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.047
Blair Nothdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 15.179
Chad Simpson (25), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 15.243
Aaron Marrant (1x), Richmond, Mo., 15.259
Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 15.287
Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.364
Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.455
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.457
Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.492
Cody Overton (2), Evans, Ga., 15.562
Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.605
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.735
Parker Foster (35), Winona, Minn., 15.891
Nick Panitzke (22), Lonsdale, Minn., 15.940
Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 16.213

Group B

Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 15.612
Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 15.623
Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 15.685
Tim Isenburg (9T), Marshfield, Wis., 15.950
Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.980
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.987
Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 16.006
Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.146
Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 16.156
Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 16.173
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 16.177
Steve Stultz (78s), Peoria, Ariz., 16.197
Dylan Sillman (35D), Alvo, Neb., 16.212
Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 16.260
J.T. Wasmund (51w), Pine Island, Minn., 16.270
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.375
Justin Green (19J), Sheboygan Falls, Wis., 16.622

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
Intermission/WoO redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)