Search
Close this search box.
World of Outlaws FALS Frenzy
Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, Illinois
Saturday, October 07, 2023
Race Recap  

ALL TOO WELL: Bobby Pierce Scores 14th Series Win of 2023 at Fairbury’s FALS Frenzy

Bobby Pierce’s return to Fairbury Speedway on Saturday night could be equated to Taylor Swift’s lyrics of “the air was cold, but something about it felt like home.”

Aside from being in his home state, there’s something about Fairbury that’s like home for the Oakwood, IL native. He picked up his 14th win of the 2023 World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model season during the FALS Frenzy and his 16th win overall at the Illinois bullring – also his second in less than a month there.

The victory comes after his Friday night win at Brownstown Speedway. And like the race at Brownstown, Pierce started on the outside pole for the Feature.

However, this time he started alongside his closest championship competitor, Chris Madden, for the 50-lap matchup.

When the Feature commenced Madden pulled ahead and Pierce found himself having to duel with fellow-Illinois native Brian Shirley for second. The two battled side-by-side for a couple laps before Pierce slid up the track in Turn 2, allowing Shirley to charge ahead.

Perfecting his line around the bottom, Shirley snuck underneath Madden a lap later and edged ahead of him for the lead on Lap 5. The two dueled for a few laps with Madden high and Shirley low, before “Smokey” reclaimed full command of the lead.

Having seen the low line work, Madden switch to the bottom, putting a car length between he and Shirley.

Pierce was not running the bottom. Much like the track, there’s something about the high side that’s like home for him.

Using the momentum built off the high side of Turn 2, Pierce threw his #32 underneath Madden going into Turn 3 to take the lead for split second on Lap 9. Madden dove back underneath him and the two drag raced down the front straightaway. Through the next corner, Madden pulled ahead, but Pierce wasn’t giving up on his high side hustle.

On Lap 14, again, using his torpedo launch off Turn 2, he found an opening to the outside of Madden, who was also to the outside of Shirley, down the backstretch and powered by the two with an exciting three-wide pass.

Pierce never surrendered the lead once he was clear of the two leaders, but a late-race caution provoked some nerves for the “Smooth Operator.” While he was leading, Germfree Rookie of the Year contender Nick Hoffman – another Fairbury expert – was on the move behind him, getting to second on Lap 45.

“It was a little nerve-racking,” Pierce said. “You never know when a caution will come out and if someone has saved more tire than you. You go into Turn 1 to make a good corner with that gap to second place, and I pushed going into Turn 1 and I saw (Hoffman’s) nose, but I had a good exit off of (Turn) 2 and took care of it.

“The car was great, but the most nerve-racking part was going through lap traffic and a couple times I got pinched and I couldn’t get around. It was a great racetrack, so you had a car on the bottom, middle and top and it was kinda hard on some guys but that made for an exciting race there for a little bit. Shirley, Madden and me were all side-by-side and it made for a great race. I knew that Madden was trying to not let me or Shirley by, so he had to protect both lines at once. But it made for a fun race and I’m glad to get the win.”

Hoffman ended up in the runner-up spot, his fifth podium finish this year. He tapped into his Modified experience – which earned his 10 wins at Fairbury – to help make it happen.

“The Modified experience was that we raced after the Late Models normally,” Hoffman said. “I’m glad the track was not worked on before we raced, so that the track would slow down, and we could race around each other more. Nine times out of 10 this place gets fast, and you have to ride around the top and a little bit of moisture on the bottom, but the top would prevail. It did that a little bit tonight, but you could make speed through the middle and the bottom. Bobby was so good, and he’s been like that the entire year. This helps us carry momentum into (Senoia Raceway), but we weren’t quite as good as Bobby was tonight.”

Madden was able to recover to finish third, a result that still left him with a smile.

“It was a great race,” Madden said. “They did a phenomenal job giving us a good place to race here. We had to make a few adjustments there and we’re still building the notebook and we definitely went too far with a few things and definitely learned a lot tonight, so we’ll keep working at it and we’ll get a win here soon.”

Three-time Prairie Dirt Classic champion Brandon Sheppard came home in fourth, and Brandon, FL’s Kyle Bronson withstood the competition to finish fifth.

Brent Larson earned the Fox Factory Hard Charger Award, going from 22nd to 13th.

Pierce now has a 156-point lead over Madden before going to tracks that don’t feel like home to him in the south. Only five races remain on the 2023 schedule for him to try and claim his first World of Outlaws title in his first year with the Series at the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 1-4).

NEXT RACE: The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models head to Senoia Raceway for the Billy Clanton Classic on Saturday, Oct. 14, and then Rome Speedway for the World of Outlaws ARP Southeast Showdown on Sunday, Oct. 15.

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

 

CASE Late Model Feature (50 Laps): 1. 32-Bobby Pierce[2]; 2. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 3. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 4. B5-Brandon Sheppard[10]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[9]; 6. 3S-Brian Shirley[3]; 7. 16-Tyler Bruening[13]; 8. 24-Ryan Unzicker[7]; 9. 96V-Tanner English[15]; 10. 32S-Chris Simpson[11]; 11. 97-Cade Dillard[17]; 12. 19R-Ryan Gustin[8]; 13. B1-Brent Larson[22]; 14. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[12]; 15. 11-Gordy Gundaker[20]; 16. 99-Mckay Wenger[21]; 17. 25-Shane Clanton[18]; 18. 30-Todd Cooney[16]; 19. 14W-Dustin Walker[23]; 20. 25F-Jason Feger[4]; 21. 14G-Trevor Gundaker[24]; 22. 89-Mike Spatola[6]; 23. 8L-Jeffrey Ledford[19]; 24. B12-Kevin Weaver[14]

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+132Bobby Pierce 500.00037Running150$15,000
25+39Nick Hoffman 50-1.131Running146$7,000
31-244Chris Madden 50-1.94613Running144$4,000
410+6B5Brandon Sheppard 50-3.036Running142$3,500
59+440BKyle Bronson 50-3.539Running140$3,200
63-33SBrian Shirley 50-3.632Running138$3,000
713+616Tyler Bruening 50-4.304Running136$2,700
87-124Ryan Unzicker 50-5.653Running134$2,500
915+696VTanner English 50-6.150Running132$2,300
1011+132SChris Simpson 50-7.037Running130$2,200
1117+697Cade Dillard 50-7.136Running128$2,100
128-419RRyan Gustin 50-7.274Running126$2,000
1322+9B1Brent Larson 50-7.978Running124$1,700
1412-228Dennis Erb Jr49-1 LapsRunning122$1,600
1520+511Gordy Gundaker 49-1 LapsRunning120$1,400
1621+599Mckay Wenger 49-1 LapsRunning118$1,300
1718+125Shane Clanton 49-1 LapsRunning116$1,200
1816-230Todd Cooney 49-1 LapsRunning114$1,200
1923+414WDustin Walker 48-2 LapsRunning112$1,200
204-1625FJason Feger 42-8 LapsDNF110$1,200
2124+314GTrevor Gundaker 38-12 LapsDNF108$1,200
226-1689Mike Spatola 37-13 LapsDNF106$1,200
2319-48LJeffrey Ledford 26-24 LapsDNF104$1,200
2414-10B12Kevin Weaver 25-25 LapsDNF104$1,200
FOX Factory Hard Charger: Brent Larson
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11097Cade Dillard 100.00010Running0$0
24+28LJeffrey Ledford 10-2.755Running0$0
36+399Mckay Wenger 10-4.953Running0$0
43-114GTrevor Gundaker 10-5.543Running100$110
55028MSam Mars 10-6.399Running100$110
62-421BRich Bell 10-6.637Running100$110
79+29ZRobin Huffmen 10-8.483Running100$110
88014WDustin Walker 10-9.981Running0$0
97-233HBilly Hough 10-11.607Running100$110
Last Chance Showdown 2 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
14+325Shane Clanton 100.0002Running0$0
21-111Gordy Gundaker 10-0.3548Running0$0
330B1Brent Larson 10-2.367Running0$0
42-21MMike Mataragas 10-2.410Running100$110
55033Mike Harrison 10-2.531Running100$110
68+215Justin Duty 10-5.441Running100$110
76-118Shannon Babb 10-6.035Running100$110
87-13Dale Markham 10-7.561Running100$110
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11044Chris Madden 80.0008Running
24+289Mike Spatola 8-1.560Running
32-140BKyle Bronson 8-1.832Running
45+116Tyler Bruening 8-2.201Running
53-297Cade Dillard 8-2.614Running
66014GTrevor Gundaker 8-3.272Running
78+128MSam Mars 8-3.759Running
89+133HBilly Hough 8-4.841Running
97-29ZRobin Huffmen 8-5.255Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11025FJason Feger 90.0009Running
23+124Ryan Unzicker 9-0.681Running
32-132SChris Simpson 9-0.752Running
44096VTanner English 9-1.567Running
56+121BRich Bell 9-1.839Running
65-18LJeffrey Ledford 9-2.379Running
77099Mckay Wenger 9-2.935Running
88014WDustin Walker 9-3.570Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+132Bobby Pierce 80.0008Running
21-19Nick Hoffman 8-1.391Running
330B5Brandon Sheppard 8-2.533Running
440B12Kevin Weaver 8-3.350Running
56+111Gordy Gundaker 8-4.824Running
68+2B1Brent Larson 8-5.395Running
75-233Mike Harrison 8-6.350Running
87-13Dale Markham 8-8.663Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+13SBrian Shirley 80.0008Running
21-119RRyan Gustin 8-0.567Running
33028Dennis Erb Jr8-1.425Running
44030Todd Cooney 8-4.385Running
5501MMike Mataragas 8-4.507Running
66025Shane Clanton 8-4.609Running
78+118Shannon Babb 8-4.986Running
87-115Justin Duty 8-8.071Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1344Chris Madden Gray Court, SC12.4750.000
2525FJason Feger Bloomington, IL12.646-0.171
3940BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL12.666-0.191
4832SChris Simpson Oxford, IA12.672-0.197
51397Cade Dillard Robeline, LA12.674-0.199
6624Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL12.676-0.201
7489Mike Spatola Manhattan, IL12.794-0.319
81296VTanner English Benton, KY12.797-0.322
91416Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA12.816-0.341
10178LJeffrey Ledford Pontiac, IL12.824-0.349
11114GTrevor Gundaker St. Charles, MO12.837-0.362
12221BRich Bell Sheffield, IL12.999-0.524
13109ZRobin Huffmen Clinton, IL13.070-0.595
14799Mckay Wenger Fairbury, IL13.096-0.621
151628MSam Mars Menomonie, WI13.235-0.760
161114WDustin Walker Polk, MO13.341-0.866
171533HBilly Hough Thomasboro, IL13.853-1.378
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
129Nick Hoffman Mooresville, NC12.5320.000
2819RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA12.570-0.038
3932Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL12.608-0.076
4133SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL12.642-0.110
514B5Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL12.706-0.174
61528Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL12.755-0.223
76B12Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL12.792-0.260
81030Todd Cooney Des Moines, IA12.812-0.280
9433Mike Harrison Highland, IL12.866-0.334
1071MMike Mataragas Dekalb, IL12.886-0.354
111211Gordy Gundaker St. Charles, MO12.931-0.399
12325Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA12.987-0.455
13113Dale Markham Maple Park, IL12.996-0.464
14115Justin Duty Mulino, OR13.058-0.526
1516B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN13.087-0.555
16518Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL13.107-0.575
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
131B5Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL12.4120.000
22632Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL12.565-0.153
32519RRyan Gustin Marshalltown, IA12.661-0.249
4303SBrian Shirley Chatham, IL12.685-0.273
53228Dennis Erb JrCarpentersville, IL12.763-0.351
61397Cade Dillard Robeline, LA12.811-0.399
7199Nick Hoffman Mooresville, NC12.811-0.399
81815Justin Duty Mulino, OR12.813-0.401
933B1Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN12.833-0.421
10178LJeffrey Ledford Pontiac, IL12.842-0.430
112133Mike Harrison Highland, IL12.867-0.455
122730Todd Cooney Des Moines, IA12.894-0.482
13624Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL12.900-0.488
14283Dale Markham Maple Park, IL12.928-0.516
15241MMike Mataragas Dekalb, IL12.930-0.518
161416Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA12.933-0.521
172025Shane Clanton Zebulon, GA12.957-0.545
1823B12Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL13.016-0.604
192911Gordy Gundaker St. Charles, MO13.019-0.607
201296VTanner English Benton, KY13.028-0.616
21489Mike Spatola Manhattan, IL13.121-0.709
221628MSam Mars Menomonie, WI13.131-0.719
23344Chris Madden Gray Court, SC13.134-0.722
24940BKyle Bronson Brandon, FL13.380-0.968
25525FJason Feger Bloomington, IL13.390-0.978
261533HBilly Hough Thomasboro, IL13.425-1.013
27109ZRobin Huffmen Clinton, IL13.476-1.064
28221BRich Bell Sheffield, IL13.521-1.109
29799Mckay Wenger Fairbury, IL13.630-1.218
30114GTrevor Gundaker St. Charles, MO13.727-1.315
312218Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL13.837-1.425
32832SChris Simpson Oxford, IA14.022-1.610
331114WDustin Walker Polk, MO14.130-1.718
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws FALS Frenzy
Saturday, October 07, 2023
Fairbury Speedway
600 South Third Street
Fairbury, Illinois 61739 

Event Description
The Prairie Dirt Classic wasn't enough as the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models head back to Fairbury Speedway in October for the FALS Showdown.

Series Racing
MARS, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Pro Late Models, World of Outlaws Late Model Series, DIRTcar Late Models

To Win Amount
$15,000.00

Ticket Options  
Grandstand Type
Bleachers - No backs

Reserved Seating
Back stretch: sections A through I; front stretch: sections R, S, T, U.

Handicapped Seating Location
In front of main covered grandstands on front stretch and a few select handicap spots on the first row of bleachers. Please email [email protected] to request accessible seating at least one week in advance.

Pit Age Requirement
No Age limit - All minor's require proper waiver

Pit Gate Location
3rd Street entrance

Parking Cost
Free

Handicapped Parking Location
Near the main front grandstands

Camping Availability
non-electric, offsite, onsite

Camping Cost
Available day of race only

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$15,000.00

Reserved Seating
Back stretch: sections A through I; front stretch: sections R, S, T, U.

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers - No backs

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are not allowed

Handicapped Seating
In front of main covered grandstands on front stretch and a few select handicap spots on the first row of bleachers. Please email [email protected] to request accessible seating at least one week in advance.

Handicapped Parking
Near the main front grandstands

Pit Age Limit
No Age limit - All minor's require proper waiver

Pit Gate Location
3rd Street entrance

Personal Coolers
They are allowed on the grounds, but NOT in the bleachers or grandstands.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available to purchase at the track. Only FALS purchased cans and alcohol allowed in the bleachers or grandstands. Alcohol is prohibited in the pit area until the races are over for the evening.

Smoking Policy
No smoking or vaping in the bleachers or grandstands at any time.

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
non-electric, offsite, onsite

Camping Cost
Available day of race only

Track Info  

Fairbury Speedway
600 South Third Street
Fairbury, Illinois 61739 

Track Phone
(815) 692-3222

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Type
0.250; Semi-banked

Late Model Track Record
12.143 seconds by Kyle Strickler on 9/15/20

Closest Airport
Bloomington, IL (BMI / KBMI) Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal

Other Airport
Champaign, IL (CMI / KCMI) University of Illinois Willard Airport

Pit Gate Location
3rd Street entrance

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

Tire Rules
Left Front Tire: Hoosier (Open)
Left Rear & Right Front Tire: Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4 **Grooving & Siping will be allowed**

Which Schedule Would You like to Print?

2022_CASE_LMS_LOGO.png

Which Schedule Would You like to Add to Your Calendar

2022_CASE_LMS_LOGO