DIALING LONG DISTANCE: Pierce nets $30K with Hawkeye 100 Victory

When the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models run long distance events, you can count on Bobby Pierce to be knocking on the door to Victory Lane.

The “Smooth Operator “led the final 70 Laps of the Hawkeye 100, cashing in on a $30,000 payday. It’s his second win of the season, and second World of Outlaws win of his career. Both of his wins in 2021 were in races lasting more than 50 Laps. The other came at Farmer City Raceway in the 75-Lap Illini 100 finale.

While the Oakwood, IL driver started fifth in the Series first-ever three wide start, he caught everyone’s attention after a Lap 21 caution. Pierce charged through the field off the restart, moving from fourth to first in eight laps to take the lead for good.

Before that restart, he knew he had to make his move based off what the track was doing.

“I felt just a bit of rubber off [Turn 2], and I knew right then I had to go for it because sooner or later it was going to latch down,” Pierce said. “I don’t know what it was, but all of a sudden the car just lit up.”

Even though Pierce seized the opportunity, he knew there was a long way to go. It didn’t bother the Prairie State driver who’s had success in long distance events.

“I’ve always liked the longer races, it gives me time to figure out the racetrack,” Pierce said. “There’s something about the 100-Lap races because it gives me time to work.”

Another driver who used restarts to his advantage was second place finisher Shannon Babb. The Moweaqua, IL driver nosed out ahead during a four-wide battle and gained the position he’d never relinquish.

Babb had the challenge of trying to rush toward the front, while making sure he still had something at the end.

“I found the middle was working really well for me in [Turn 3 and 4], but I knew I had to get [to the front] as quick as I could,” Babb said. “I was just trying to do as well as I could without tearing my tires up.”

Finishing off an all-Illinois podium was three-time and defending champion Brandon Sheppard. It’s his fifth top-five finish of the season, and Series leading 10th top-10. The New Berlin, IL driver was happy with another consistent finish.

“Putting some consistent finishes together for us is what it’s going to take to start getting some wins,” Sheppard said. “We’re just going to keep plugging away because we’re really close.”

Billy Moyer finished fourth, and Ricky Weiss crossed the line fifth.

Weiss was involved in an incident with early race leader Kyle Strickler. Contact in Turn 2 sent Strickler around and damaged the right front of Weiss’s car. Despite the top-five finish, Weiss felt he had a car that could’ve won the race before the contact.

“It felt like back in the old days, when I could go where other people couldn’t,” Weiss said.

“After I made the contact, I didn’t know if something was rubbing on the tire, but the car just kept creeping down on the right front. I knew at that point I wasn’t going to pass another car.”

Strickler was also frustrated, after an exciting battle with Billy Moyer for the lead in the first few Laps. It looked like the “High Side Tickler’s” bad luck was coming to an end before the contact with Weiss.

“Knowing how to run this race track I think hurt me in the end,” Strickler said. “Running that diamond line here put me in harm’s way, and [Weiss] didn’t expect me to come down across the racetrack.

“I think if we could’ve stayed up there, we would’ve had a top-five car for sure,” Strickler said.

UP NEXT: The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet visit Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, WI. May 7-8 for the Dairyland Showdown. One driver could walk away with $40,000 if he can win on both nights.

Morton Buildings Feature (100 Laps)-1. 32-Bobby Pierce [5][$30,000]; 2. 18B-Shannon Babb [2][$15,000]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard [4][$7,000]; 4. 21-Billy Moyer [1][$6,000]; 5. 7-Ricky Weiss [8][$5,000]; 6. 44-Chris Madden [11][$4,500]; 7. 19G-Richie Gustin [7][$4,000]; 8. 11-Gordy Gundaker [10][$3,500]; 9. 36-Logan Martin [12][$3,000]; 10. 99JR-Frank Heckenast [9][$2,500]; 11. 19R-Ryan Gustin [14][$2,300]; 12. 16-Tyler Bruening [13][$2,200]; 13. 97-Cade Dillard [6][$2,100]; 14. 99B-Boom Briggs [16][$2,000]; 15. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck [17][$1,800]; 16. B1-Brent Larson [20][$1,700]; 17. 43-Jeremy Grady [19][$1,600]; 18. 3W-Brennon Willard [23][$1,550]; 19. 8-Kyle Strickler [3][$1,500]; 20. 28-Dennis Erb [21][$1,500]; 21. 55C-Chad Mahder [22][$1,500]; 22. 29-Spencer Diercks [15][$1,500]; 23. 18-Chase Junghans [18][$1,500] Hard Charger: 44-Chris Madden[+5]

Qualifying –1. 21-Billy Moyer, 14.577; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard, 14.608; 3. 97-Cade Dillard, 14.629; 4. 32-Bobby Pierce, 14.639; 5. 99JR-Frank Heckenast, 14.648; 6. 44-Chris Madden, 14.698; 7. 19R-Ryan Gustin, 14.793; 8. 16-Tyler Bruening, 14.843; 9. 99B-Boom Briggs, 14.919; 10. 18B-Shannon Babb, 14.982; 11. 28-Dennis Erb, 15.033; 12. 29-Spencer Diercks, 15.035; 13. 11-Gordy Gundaker, 15.095; 14. 32S-Chris Simpson, 15.117; 15. 55C-Chad Mahder, 15.232; 16. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck, 15.39; 17. 36-Logan Martin, 15.455; 18. 19G-Richie Gustin, 15.471; 19. 7-Ricky Weiss, 15.488; 20. 8-Kyle Strickler, 15.51; 21. 43-Jeremy Grady, 15.514; 22. B1-Brent Larson, 15.812; 23. 18-Chase Junghans, 15.915; 24. 3W-Brennon Willard, 15.972

Drydene Heat #1 (10 Laps) – Top 8 Transfer-1. 18B-Shannon Babb [3]; 2. 21-Billy Moyer [1]; 3. 19G-Richie Gustin [7]; 4. 11-Gordy Gundaker [5]; 5. 16-Tyler Bruening [2]; 6. 99B-Boom Briggs [4]; 7. 43-Jeremy Grady [8]; 8. 55C-Chad Mahder [6]

Drydene Heat #2 (10 Laps) – Top 8 Transfer-1. 97-Cade Dillard [1]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce [3]; 3. 7-Ricky Weiss [6]; 4. 44-Chris Madden [4]; 5. 19R-Ryan Gustin [2]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck [7]; 7. B1-Brent Larson [8]; 8. 32S-Chris Simpson [5]

Drydene Heat #3 (10 Laps) – Top 8 Transfer-1. 8-Kyle Strickler [6]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard [2]; 3. 99JR-Frank Heckenast [1]; 4. 36-Logan Martin [4]; 5. 29-Spencer Diercks [3]; 6. 18-Chase Junghans [7]; 7. 28-Dennis Erb [5]; 8. 3W-Brennon Willard [8]

[Read More]

Hawkeye 100
Saturday, May 01, 2021
Boone Speedway
1481 223rd Pl
Boone, Iowa 50036 

Event Description
Friday two "Twin Hawk" $3,000 to win, $300 to start feature events and Saturday "The Hawkeye 100" paying $30,000 to win, $1,500 to start

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Support Divisions
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars

To Win Amount
$30,000.00

Event Schedule
Friday, April 30, 2021
Pit Gates Open - 4:00pm
Grandstands Open - 5:00pm
Drivers Meeting - 6:00pm
Hot Laps - 6:30pm
ORDER OF EVENTS:
1 IMCA Sport Mods Hot Laps
2 IMCA Modified Hot Laps
3 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models Hot Laps
4 IMCA Stock Car Hot Laps
5 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Qualifying - 3 Cars/ 2 Laps
6 Opening Ceremonies
7 IMCA Sport Mods Heats - 8 Laps
8 IMCA Modified Heats - 8 Laps
9 IMCA Stock Car Heats - 8 Laps
10 IMCA Sport Mods LCS - 10 Laps (If needed)
11 IMCA Modified LCS - 10 Laps (If needed)
12 IMCA Stock Car LCS - 10 Laps (If needed)
13 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model - "TWIN HAWK" #1 - 25 Laps
14 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model - "TWIN HAWK" #2 - 25 Laps
15 IMCA Sport Modified Feature - 20 Laps
16 IMCA Modified Feature - 20 Laps
17 IMCA Stock Cars Feature - 20 Laps

Saturday, May 1, 2021
Pit Gates Open - 3:00pm
Grandstands Open - 4:00pm
Drivers Meeting - 5:00pm
Hot Laps - 5:30pm
ORDER OF EVENTS:
1 IMCA Sport Mods Hot Laps
2 IMCA Modified Hot Laps
3 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models Hot Laps
4 IMCA Stock Car Hot Laps
5 Opening Ceremonies
6 IMCA Sport Mods Heats - 8 Laps
7 IMCA Modified Heats - 8 Laps
8 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Heats - 10 Laps
9 IMCA Stock Car Heats - 8 Laps
10 IMCA Sport Mods LCS - 10 Laps (If needed)
11 IMCA Modified LCS - 10 Laps (If needed)
12 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Redraw
13 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Last Chance Showdowns - 12 Laps
14 IMCA Stock Car LCS - 10 Laps (If needed)
15 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model - HAWKEYE 100
16 IMCA Sport Modified - HAWKEYE 20
17 IMCA Modified - HAWKEYE 30
18 IMCA Stock Cars - HAWKEYE 20
*All times Central

Options And Prices
Reserved 2-Day Package - $65
General Admission 2-Day Package - $60
Reserved Friday - $34 ($1 more day of event)
Reserved Saturday - $39 ($1 more day of event)
General Admission Friday - $29 ($1 more day of event)
General Admission Saturday - $39 ($1 more day of event)
General Admission Children (12 and under) - FREE
VIP Front stretch Seating - $85 (2-day Package)

Discounts
None

Grandstand Type
Bleachers - No Back on the seats

Reserved Seating
Row 10 and Above

Handicapped Seating Location
Front row of the GA section

Pit Pass Price
2-Day $75/ Friday only $40/ Saturday only $45

Pit Age Requirement
None

Pit Gate Location
Located on the East end of the track

Parking Cost
Free

Handicapped Parking Location
Adjacent to the main entrance

Camping Availability
onsite

Camping Cost
VIP $150/ Self-Contained $50

Support Divisions
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars

To Win Amount
$30,000.00

Reserved Seating
Row 10 and Above

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers - No Back on the seats

Stadium Seating
NO stadium seats, only seat cushions allowed

Handicapped Seating
Front row of the GA section

Handicapped Parking
Adjacent to the main entrance

Pit Age Limit
None

Pit Gate Location
Located on the East end of the track

Personal Coolers
Coolers are NOT permitted

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
No outside food or drink including alcohol can be brought in.
Alcohol is available for sale on site

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the facility

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
onsite

Camping Cost
VIP $150/ Self-Contained $50

Boone Speedway
1481 223rd Pl
Boone, Iowa 50036 

Track Phone
(515) 432-1795

Track Type
0.250; high-banked dirt oval

Late Model Track Record
14.577 by Billy Moyer on 4/30/21

Pit Gate Location
Located on the East end of the track

Track Map

Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Competitor Info
~Friday Night Format~
• Overall Qualifying
• Qualifying will line you up for (2) two Twin Hawk features paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start. 25 Laps
• Fastest Qualifier 1st in Twin Hawk 1, 2nd fastest qualifier 1st in Twin Hawk 2 etc.
• Points will be given for Qualifying and the Twin Hawk feature finishes. Points you receive from Friday night will line you up for your heat races on Saturday night.

Friday Night Points
Pos Qualifying Qual. Features
1 100 200
2 95 197
3 92 194
4 89 192
5 87 190
6 85 188
7 83 186
8 81 184
9 79 182
10 77 180
11 75 178
12 74 174
13 73 172
14 72 170
15 71 168
16 70 166
17 69 164
18 68 162
19 67 160
20 66 158
21 65 156
22 64 154
23 63 152
24 62 150
25 61
26 60
27 59
28 58
29 57
30 56
31 55
32 54
33 53
34 52
35 51
36 50
37 49
38 48
39 47
40 46
41 45
42 44
43 43
44 42
45 41
46 40
47 39
48 38

~Saturday Night Format~
• (3) three Heats
• Top 2 redraw
• Top 6 transfer
• (2) two Last Chance Showdowns top 3 transfer
• Feature will start 3 wide
• Line ups for LCS’s and Hawkeye 100 listed below

**Event Format is Subject to change based on car count.**
Last Chance Showdown 1 Lineup (12-Laps)
(Top 3 Transfer to Hawkeye 100)
1 Heat 1 – 7th Place 2 Heat 3 – 7th Place
3 Heat 2 – 8th Place. 4 Heat 1 – 9th Place
5 Heat 3 – 9th Place 6 Heat 2 – 10th Place
7 Heat 1 – 11th Place 8 Heat 3 – 11th Place
9 Heat 2 – 12th Place 10 Heat 1 – 13th Place
11 Heat 3 – 13th Place 12 Heat 2 – 14th Place
13 Heat 1 – 15th Place 14 Heat 3 – 15th Place
15 Heat 2 – 16th Place

Last Chance Showdown 2 Lineup (12-Laps)
(Top 3 Transfer to Hawkeye 100)
1 Heat 2 – 7th Place 2 Heat 1 – 8th Place
3 Heat 3 – 8th Place 4 Heat 2 – 9th Place
5 Heat 1 – 10th Place 6 Heat 3 – 10th Place
7 Heat 2 – 11th Place 8 Heat 1 – 12th Place
9 Heat 3 – 12th Place 10 Heat 2 – 13th Place
11 Heat 1 – 14th Place 12 Heat 3 – 14th Place
13 Heat 2 – 15th Place 14 Heat 1 – 16th Place
15 Heat 3 – 16th Place

Hawkeye 100 Lineup
Top 2 from each heat will Redraw 1st – 6th
1 Redraw 2 Redraw 3 Redraw
4 Redraw 5 Redraw 6 Redraw
7 Heat 1 – 3rd Place 8 Heat 2 – 3rd Place 9 Heat 3 – 3rd Place
10 Heat 1 – 4th Place 11 Heat 2 – 4th Place 12 Heat 3 – 4th Place
13 Heat 1 – 5th Place 14 Heat 2 – 5th Place 15 Heat 3 – 5th Place
16 Heat 1 – 6th Place 17 Heat 2 – 6th Place 18 Heat 3 – 6th Place
19 LCS 1 – Winner 20 LCS 2 – Winner 21 LCS1 – 2nd Place
22 LCS 2 – 2nd Place 23 LCS 1– 3rd Place 24 LCS 2 – 3rd Place
25 WoO Points Provisional 26 WoO Points Provisional

Tire Rules:
ALL FOUR (4) CORNERS: (Hoosier 20, 30)
RIGHT REAR OPTION: (Hoosier 40)
GROOVING AND SIPING IS ALLOWED