Rock Gault Memorial
Cherokee Speedway | Gaffney, SC
Friday, March 25, 2022
Race Recap  

DOWNTOWN DREAM: Brown Scores First Career World of Outlaws Win at Cherokee

March is known for magical upsets, especially in College Basketball. Michael Brown decided to bring that magic to the racetrack Friday night at Cherokee Speedway.

The Lancaster, SC driver seized an opportunity in traffic, muscling under Ryan Gustin and holding on for his first World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series win.

Brown’s triumph was a moment he dreamed of that finally became a reality, bringing his home state fans to their feet.

“I’ve always dreamed of doing this,” Brown said. “It’s a surreal moment. I got to thank everybody that’s behind me to get me here. It’s awesome and I’m damn sure going to enjoy it.”

“Downtown” celebrated as though a weight came off his shoulders in Victory Lane. He quickly climbed to the roof of his car, checkered flag in hand, fist-pumping the air with authority as confetti blew through the Carolina sky.

Brown’s knowledge of Cherokee’s red clay surface played a role in earning that celebration. After Gustin moved past Max Blair in traffic, Brown saw an opening on the inside where he dove under “The Reaper” to take the lead in Turn 2.

The South Carolinian wasn’t challenged again, adding $10,000 to his bank account. While the victory is Brown’s first World of Outlaws triumph, it’s his second career Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series win, his first coming in December 2020 at Lavonia Speedway.

Brown’s win continues a year of celebration in 2022. It’s his first trip to Victory Lane since adding a new chapter to his life.

“The first race as a dad to get a win, it’s pretty badass,” Brown said.

While Brown celebrated the thrill of victory for the first time, he snatched it away from “The Reaper.”

Ryan Gustin crossed the line second, his first top-five of 2022. Once again, a World of Outlaws Victory Lane trip eluded the Marshalltown, IA driver who led a few laps before Brown snuck underneath him.

Despite letting the win slip away, Gustin is confident in his chances to find Victory Lane before the weekend is over.

“I slipped up a little bit and let him get under me,” Gustin said. “Anytime you can run good on the first night always boosts the confidence up heading into the final night.”

Pole-sitter Max Blair, the rookie of the race, finished third.  It’s the Centerville, PA driver’s second consecutive top-five.

Max Blair and Ryan Gustin
Ryan Gustin and Max Blair Rounded out the podium at Cherokee Speedway/Jacy Norgaard photo

Blair also extended his lead in the battle for Rookie of the Year—20 points ahead of Tanner English, who finished eighth. He felt his lack of experience on a red clay surface hurt his chances of finding World of Outlaws Victory Lane for the fourth time.

“This isn’t something I’ve raced on much,” Blair said. “I just didn’t really know what to do with those lap cars and obviously made the wrong choice.”

Dennis Erb Jr. finished fourth, his third top-five of the season. The Carpentersville, IL driver leads the World of Outlaws points standings after seven races—18 points ahead of defending champion Brandon Sheppard, who finished sixth.

Erb stated he was happy to keep his consistency rolling in the early part of the season.

“To move up a couple of spots and finish fourth is a good night for us,” Erb said. “I was hoping we could get a few more spots, but we just fell in line, and that was about all we had.”

Daulton Wilson, from Fayetteville, NC, rounded out the top five.

In one of the oddest Feature finishes of the season for the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series regulars, the chase for the 2021-22 Series crown tightened by a single point.

Points leader Ben Watkins took a 16-point advantage into the Feature, lining up 12th on the starting grid – directly behind the man chasing him down for the title, Ross Bailes. The two held their general positions in the pack through the first half of the race; Bailes riding 8th and Watkins in 9th just after halfway. That’s when things got interesting.

Under caution with 28 laps complete, Bailes suddenly ducked down pit road for what eventually became an extended stop. The crew found a loose axle cap with the rear axle coming out and were forced to repair it, forcing them down a lap to the field once Bailes returned to the track.

Back inside the top-10, Watkins had moved up to seventh and looked promising to bag the solid finish and vital championship points. But with three laps remaining, the rear-end gave out on his Sandwood Racing #16W as he slowed down the backstretch and pulled off the track in Turn 4.

Watkins was scored as a DNF in 22nd position, Bailes one lap down in 21st. That one spot in the finishing order equates to a single-point difference in the standings, putting Bailes only 15 points back of Watkins with one race left to decide the champion.

The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models and Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series return to Cherokee Speedway on Saturday, March 26, for night two of the Rock Gault Memorial. For Tickets:CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online on with the DIRTVision App.

CASE Construction Feature (40 Laps): 1. 24D-Michael Brown[3]; 2. 19R-Ryan Gustin[2]; 3. 111V-Max Blair[1]; 4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[6]; 5. 18D-Daulton Wilson[8]; 6. 1-Brandon Sheppard[4]; 7. 88-Trent Ivey[9]; 8. 81E-Tanner English[11]; 9. 1R-Josh Richards[18]; 10. 20H-Bryson Harper[14]; 11. 11H-Spencer Hughes[15]; 12. 99B-Boom Briggs[17]; 13. B1-Brent Larson[23]; 14. 71-Hudson O’Neal[21]; 15. 45-Kyle Hammer[19]; 16. 421-Anthony Sanders[25]; 17. 1D-Brent Dixon[16]; 18. 16-Tyler Bruening[7]; 19. 11-Gordy Gundaker[22]; 20. 18E-Ethan Wilson[26]; 21. 79-Ross Bailes[10]; 22. 16W-Ben Watkins[12]; 23. 42-Cla Knight[20]; 24. 57-Zack Mitchell[5]; 25. 121-Pearson Williams[13]; 26. 93-Carson Ferguson[24] FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGER:Brent Larson [+10]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+224DMichael Brown 400.00021Running150$10,000
22019RRyan Gustin 40-0.6965Running146$6,000
31-2111VMax Blair 40-1.60114Running144$3,500
46+228Dennis Erb Jr40-2.158Running142$2,800
58+318DDaulton Wilson 40-16.251Running140$2,500
64-21Brandon Sheppard 40-4.953Running138$2,300
79+288Trent Ivey 40-25.472Running136$2,200
811+381ETanner English 40-7.696Running134$2,100
918+91RJosh Richards 40-28.977Running132$2,050
1014+420HBryson Harper 40-30.486Running130$2,000
1115+411HSpencer Hughes 40-11.190Running128$1,600
1217+599BBoom Briggs 40-39.180Running126$1,400
1323+10B1Brent Larson 40-12.205Running124$1,200
1421+771Hudson O'Neal 404.031Running122$1,100
1519+445Kyle Hammer 4020.761Running120$1,050
1625+9421Anthony Sanders 40-13.979Running118$1,000
1716-11DBrent Dixon 40-14.832Running116$1,000
187-1116Tyler Bruening 401.978Running114$1,000
1922+311Gordy Gundaker 40-15.644Running112$1,000
2026+618EEthan Wilson 40-4.701Running110$1,000
2112-916WBen Watkins 36-4 LapsRunning108$1,000
2210-1279Ross Bailes 36-4 LapsRunning106$1,000
2320-342Cla Knight 36-4 LapsRunning104$1,000
245-1957Zack Mitchell 26-14 LapsDNF102$1,000
2513-12121Pearson Williams 21-19 LapsDNF102$1,000
2624-293Carson Ferguson 19-21 LapsDNF102$1,000
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11099BBoom Briggs 00.000Running0$0
23+145Kyle Hammer 0-1.985Running0$0
36+371Hudson O'Neal 013.580Running0$0
49+5421Anthony Sanders 041.527Running0$0
54-1118Matt Henderson 041.736Running90$110
65-197CCody Overton 07.210Running90$110
78+12FDennis Franklin 06.832Running90$110
87-15Corey Gordon 089.619Running90$110
911+242SDoug Sanders 05.436Running90$110
1012+207Brian Ledbetter 020.305Running90$110
1110-110Earl Shirey Jr 02.407Running90$110
122-1093Carson Ferguson 066.772Running0$0
Last Chance Showdown 2 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1101RJosh Richards 00.000Running0$0
22042Cla Knight 0-19.254Running0$0
35+211Gordy Gundaker 0-20.232Running0$0
46+2B1Brent Larson 0-21.044Running0$0
53-211DDavid Duke 0-5.404Running90$110
68+22XJohn Henderson 0-22.800Running90$110
710+393LCory Lawler 0-24.437Running90$110
84-418EEthan Wilson 0261.277Running0$0
912+303David Yandle 0261.277Running90$110
1011+169*Carder Miller 0261.277DNS90$0
119-2F1Payton Freeman 0261.277DNS90$0
127-554David Breazeale 0261.277DNS90$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1101Brandon Sheppard 100.00010Running
23+128Dennis Erb Jr10-5.607Running
32-188Trent Ivey 10-6.744Running
440121Pearson Williams 10-7.318Running
57+299BBoom Briggs 10-8.613Running
65-145Kyle Hammer 10-9.669Running
78+197CCody Overton 10-12.936Running
86-25Corey Gordon 10-13.309Running
990421Anthony Sanders 10-13.826Running
1010042SDoug Sanders 10-15.934Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11024DMichael Brown 100.00010Running
22057Zack Mitchell 10-1.351Running
33079Ross Bailes 10-5.505Running
45+120HBryson Harper 10-7.162Running
57+293Carson Ferguson 10-8.128Running
64-2118Matt Henderson 10-9.844Running
76-171Hudson O'Neal 10-10.905Running
89+12FDennis Franklin 10-12.747Running
910+110Earl Shirey Jr 10-15.430Running
108-207Brian Ledbetter 0-10 LapsDNF
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
110111VMax Blair 100.00010Running
23+116Tyler Bruening 10-0.931Running
35+281ETanner English 10-3.582Running
42-211HSpencer Hughes 10-4.645Running
59+41RJosh Richards 10-5.374Running
64-211DDavid Duke 10-5.790Running
78+111Gordy Gundaker 10-9.330Running
810+254David Breazeale 10-10.046Running
96-3F1Payton Freeman 9-1 LapsRunning
107-369*Carder Miller 0-10 LapsDNS
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11019RRyan Gustin 100.00010Running
22018DDaulton Wilson 10-2.712Running
33016WBen Watkins 10-3.463Running
4401DBrent Dixon 10-4.966Running
55042Cla Knight 10-5.667Running
66018EEthan Wilson 1087.216Running
78+1B1Brent Larson 10-6.951Running
89+12XJohn Henderson 10-7.722Running
97-293LCory Lawler 10-12.341Running
1010003David Yandle 4-6 LapsDNF
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
131Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL14.8770.000
2624DMichael Brown Lancaster, SC14.899-0.022
31488Trent Ivey Union, SC14.944-0.067
42057Zack Mitchell Enoree, SC15.029-0.152
5528Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL15.031-0.154
6779Ross Bailes Clover, SC15.097-0.220
712121Pearson Williams Dublin, GA15.099-0.222
89118Matt Henderson Loudon, TN15.139-0.262
91345Kyle Hammer Clinton, IL15.143-0.266
101520HBryson Harper Forrest City, NC15.231-0.354
11175Corey Gordon Charlotte, NC15.273-0.396
121871Hudson O'Neal Martinsville, IN15.282-0.405
13499BBoom Briggs Bear Lake, PA15.294-0.417
141193Carson Ferguson Concord, NC15.346-0.469
151097CCody Overton Evans, GA15.406-0.529
16207Brian Ledbetter Stanley, NC15.424-0.547
1719421Anthony Sanders Spartanburg, SC15.483-0.606
1882FDennis Franklin Gaffney, SC15.529-0.652
191642SDoug Sanders McAdenville, NC15.637-0.760
20110Earl Shirey Jr Swansea, SC15.835-0.958
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
11111VMax Blair Centerville, PA14.9400.000
21819RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA14.950-0.010
3611HSpencer Hughes Meridian, MS15.078-0.138
41518DDaulton Wilson Fayetteville, NC15.091-0.151
5816Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA15.104-0.164
6716WBen Watkins Lancaster, SC15.128-0.188
71011DDavid Duke Sumter, SC15.175-0.235
891DBrent Dixon Elberton, GA15.181-0.241
91381ETanner English Benton, KY15.255-0.315
101742Cla Knight North Augusta, SC15.312-0.372
1114F1Payton Freeman Commerce, GA15.361-0.421
12418EEthan Wilson Fayetteville, NC15.419-0.479
131669*Carder Miller Salem, VA15.433-0.493
14393LCory Lawler Hanover, PA15.530-0.590
151211Gordy Gundaker St. Charles, MO15.546-0.606
1620B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN15.567-0.627
1751RJosh Richards Shinnston, WV15.695-0.755
18192XJohn Henderson Aiken, SC15.757-0.817
191154David Breazeale Four Corners, MS15.850-0.910
20203David Yandle Monroe, SC16.167-1.227
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Rock Gault Memorial
March 25, 2022 to March 26, 2022
Cherokee Speedway
153 Speedway Rd
Gaffney, SC 

Event Description
“The Place Your Mama Warned You About” returns to the schedule in March for the second annual Rock Gault Memorial. The two-night weekend will see the World of Outlaws take on the Southeast Super Late Model stars of the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series for a shot at the $20,000 grand prize on Saturday, March 26.

Series Racing
Xtreme DIRTcar Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Series

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Feature Laps Length
40

Event Schedule
FRIDAY:
2 PM Pit Gates open
4 PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30 PM Drivers Meeting
7 PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
8 PM Opening Ceremonies

SATURDAY:
2 PM Pit Gates open
4 PM Grandstand Gates open
6 PM Drivers Meeting
6:30 PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
7 PM Opening Ceremonies
*All times Eastern

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(864) 489-1969

Options And Prices
2-Day GA: $55
Single Day GA: $30
Single Day GA (12 and under): FREE


Discounts
None

Grandstand Type
Concrete

Family Section Location
Flagstand to turn 4

Handicapped Seating Location
Top Row of frontstrech

Pit Pass Price
2-Day: $75; Single Day: $40

Pit Age Requirement
NO age restriction for pits. 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian.

Pit Gate Location
Turn 1 side of the facility

Handicapped Parking Location
25 spots up in front parking

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
free

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Type of Grandstand
Concrete

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are allowed

Handicapped Seating
Top Row of frontstrech

Handicapped Parking
25 spots up in front parking

Pit Age Limit
NO age restriction for pits. 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian.

Pit Gate Location
Turn 1 side of the facility

Personal Coolers
Yes, Coolers are permitted

Credit Card Use
Concessions, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Yes - No glass bottles

Smoking Policy
No

Family Section
Flagstand to turn 4

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
free

Track Info  

Cherokee Speedway
153 Speedway Rd
Gaffney, SC 

Track Phone
(864) 489-1969

Ticket Phone
(864) 489-1969

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size & Type
0.375;

Late Model Track Record
14.411 seconds by Daulton Wilson on 11/2/21

Late Model Track Record
14.411 seconds by Daulton Wilson on 11/2/21

Closest Airport
Greenville/Spartanburg

Other Airport
Charlotte

Pit Gate Location
Turn 1 side of the facility

Track Map
Competitor Info  
Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Competitor Info
(Hoosier 1350) (American Racer 48) (4) corners
(Hoosier 70) (American Racer 56) Right Rear Option
*You MUST Qualify, Heat Race, and LCS on the same tires. You can change 2 tires for the Feature.

Which Schedule Would You like to Add to Your Calendar

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