Dirt on Dirt - RaceWire

November 1

The Dirt Track at Charlotte,

Concord, NC

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (World Finals Time Trials)

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated November 2, 7:25 am)

Bloomquist, Overton top Charlotte time trials

$\"Race$

presented by

Photo slideshow Related story Race history

Zach Yost

Charlotte’s crowded pit area for World Finals time trials.

Key notes: All three World Racing Group series converge on the Dirt Track at Charlotte for the 17th annual World Finals. … Action begins with Wednesday’s hot laps and time trials, determining the starting order for Thursday and Friday’s heat races with 35-lap, $15,000-to-win split-field semifeatures being contested nightly; points accumulate throughout the week and set the lineup for Saturday’s heat races, which precede consolations and the 50-lap, $25,000-to-win season finale. … Bobby Pierce leads all drivers with 14 full-field World of Outlaws victories this season and enters with a 156-point advantage over Chris Madden; Pierce will clinch his first career series championship by simply making a qualifying lap on Wednesday and will become the fifth straight Illinois driver to win the WoO title, joining Brandon Sheppard (2019-’21) and Dennis Erb Jr. (2022). … Madden, of Gray Court, S.C., has two Charlotte triumphs after winning the 2016 finale and adding 2019’s $12,000 opener. … Jonathan Davenport is a six-time feature winner there and topped the World Finals finale on three separate occasions (2015, ’21 and ’22). … Jimmy Owens leads all drivers with seven career wins at Charlotte, six coming on the final night (2009, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’14 and ’19). … Getting a head start on 2024, Mike Marlar will be making his debut aboard a Greg Bruening-owned Longhorn Chassis and will serve as Tyler Bruening’s teammate. … Sprint cars contest an identical schedule and payout, while modifieds compete for $10,000-to-win on Thursday and Friday before its $15,000-to-win finale. … Pits open at 11 a.m. daily; grandstands open at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, then 2:30 on Thursday and Friday before opening at 2 for Saturday’s finale; on-track activity begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, then 4 on Thursday and Friday, with Saturday’s action getting underway at 3. … Watch each night live on DIRTVision.

Who to watch: Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., eyes his third straight World of Outlaws World Finals victory and his seventh overall triumph at Charlotte.

Points chase: Before Charlotte Wednesday: 1. Bobby Pierce (5,338); 2. Chris Madden (5,182); 3. Brandon Sheppard (5,128); 4. Kyle Bronson (5,022); 5. Ryan Gustin (5,014); T6. Nick Hoffman (5,012); T6. Brian Shirley (5,012); 8. Tanner English (4,984); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,980); 10. Shane Clanton (4,778).

Current weather: Clear, 39°F

Car count: 74

Fast qualifier: Brandon Overton

Time: 15.091 seconds

Next series race: November 2, Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC) $15,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From series and staff reports

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 1) — Updates and results from Wednesday’s opener of the 17th annual World Finals, featuring time trial sessions for World of Outlaws-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Time trials recap

Scott Bloomquist is back. Back to the top of the leaderboard with the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series alongside Brandon Overton, the drivers topping Low-E Insulation Qualifying Night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Bloomquist, the 59-year-old Hall of Famer from Mooresburg, Tenn., laid down a lap of 15.648 seconds in Wednesday’s second time trial session, earning him the Simpson Race Products Quick Time Award and putting him on the pole for Friday's first heat race.

“It makes me feel pretty good, really,” Bloomquist said.

It’s been tough sledding for the former World of Outlaws champion this year with multiple health issues sidelining him virtually the entire season. Last month, Bloomquist made public his plans to return to the seat for the first time since early January, piloting a Team Zero Race Car owned by former Florida racer Devin Jones.

In only their second race weekend together, against a deep roster of the nation’s best Dirt Late Model racers, Bloomquist sent an early, strong message to the 73 other competitors that he's still capable of contending.

“I’m absolutely sure we’re going to be able to contend – I’ve never had a doubt,” Bloomquist said. “I go to a race to win it. I felt like we came here and did everything we could do to win this race.”

The driver who last won at Charlotte in 2018 is battling his latest injury of a painful left foot after crushing it in a shop accident.

“Beautiful thing about right now I that I don’t have to use it much because you hardly lift at all,” Bloomquist said. “What braking there you do is very light.

“My biggest issue is I’ve got the broken toes, and then back from the toes is still broken. I’m going to put something in my shoe tomorrow where I can’t bend my toes at all, because if I have to bend them with the brake pedal the entire feature, I’m sure they’re going to be all swollen again, and most of the swelling has gone away. So far, I haven’t had to take any pain pills, and I feel pretty comfortable looking forward to it.”

Overton, of Evans, Ga., earned a heat race pole position for Thursday's race program with his 15.091-second lap in the opening time trial session.

“We need a good run — for my team and all our supporters,” Overton said. “It ain’t no secret we haven’t done as good as we have the last couple years, so to end it off strong here would be nice for all of us.”

Other notes from time trials:

• Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., topped his qualifying group for Thursday's action with a 15.117-second lap. The 2018 WooO champion is making his debut with Iowa-based Skyline Motorsports.

• Hall of Famer Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., is on the pole for a Friday heat after a lap of 15.696 seconds. He's looking his first WoO victory since February 2022.

• By taking the green flag in time trials, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., mathematically clinched the 2023 WoO championship in his first season on national tour’s full-time roster. He qualified 12th and 14th in his time-trial groups for Thursday and Friday action.

• Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., also locked up the tour's Germfree Rookie of the Year Award. He’ll have a front-row starting spot for Thursday and Friday heat races. — Jordan DeLucia

Time trials for Thursday's program

Driver (car no.), hometown
Group A

Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.117
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.139
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.190
Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 15.295
Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.301
Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.311
Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.336
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.374
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.382
Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky., 15.392
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.403
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.407
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.431
Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 15.482
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.495
John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 15.505
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.509
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.516
Matt Cosner (66c), Ridgeley, W.Va., 15.537
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.554
Bryan Bernheisel (119), Jonestown, Pa., 15.559
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.601
Mike Lupfer (06), Shermansdale, Pa., 15.605
Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.650
Logan Roberson (89), Waynesboro, Va., 15.695
David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 15.709
Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 15.716
Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.835
Freddie Carpenter (C4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.881
Ross Bailes (5B), Clover, S.C., 15.913
Haiden Cowan (214), Rincon, Ga., 15.917
Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.972
Dan Stone (2), Thompson, Pa., 15.991
G.R. Smith (22), Cornelius, N.C., 16.046
Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 16.225
Jack Harmon (12R), York Town, Va., 18.087
Cody Overton (15K), Evans, Ga., 15.970 (disqualified; light at scales)

Group B

Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.091
Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.431
Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.491
Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.495
Spencer Hughes (19M), Meridian, Miss., 15.507
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.573
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.665
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.687
Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 15.691
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.726
Carson Ferguson (00), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.768
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.769
Gavin Cowan (19), Rincon, Ga., 15.771
Robby Hensley (21H), Walton, Ky., 15.794
Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 15.818
Ben Watkins (16), Kershaw, S.C., 15.929
Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 15.942
Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.951
Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 15.961
Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 15.976
Austin Kirkpatrick (11), Harrisburg, N.C., 15.992
John Price (4P), Mill Spring, N.C., 15.996
Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 16.043
David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., 16.050
Keith Jackson (11), Martinsburg, Va., 16.075
Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, Ga., 16.163
Dalton Jacobs (7), Reidsville, N.C., 16.166
Todd Cooney (30) Des Moines, Iowa, 16.179
John Eller (5), Oxford, N.C., 16.312
Anthony Sanders (421), Spartanburg, S.C., 16.391
Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 16.396
Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 16.590
Colin Knaub (20K), York, Pa., 16.752
Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 17.024
Chuck Lepsch (1L), Johnstown, Pa., 17.218
Joey Leavell (12), Waynesboro, Va., no time
Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 16.294 (disqualified; light at scales)

Time trials for Friday's program

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

Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.648
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.741
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.766
Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 15.785
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.799
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.832
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.898
Cody Overton (15K), Evans, Ga., 15.925
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.944
Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.949
Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.957
Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.999
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.022
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.100
Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.110
Bryan Bernheisel (119), Jonestown, Pa., 16.145
Robby Hensley (21H), Walton, Ky., 16.178
Logan Roberson (89), Waynesboro, Va., 16.190
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 16.202
Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 16.230
Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 16.263
Freddie Carpenter (C4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.312
Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.380
Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 16.487
Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 16.493
John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 16.510
David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., 16.517
Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.548
Gavin Cowan (19), Rincon, Ga., 16.566
Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 16.747
Mike Lupfer (06), Shermansdale, Pa., 16.815
Chuckie Lepsch (1L), Johnstown, Pa., 16.854
Colin Knaub (20K), York, Pa., 16.869
Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 17.017
John Eller (5), Oxford, N.C., no time
Joe Leavell (12), Waynesboro, Va., no time
Keith Jackson (11), Martinsburg, Va., no time

Group B

Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.696
Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.858
Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 15.925
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.963
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.982
Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.997
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.019
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 16.028
Carson Ferguson (00), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.042
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.054
Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.068
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.078
Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 16.103
Spencer Hughes (19M), Meridian, Miss., 16.109
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.135
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 16.141
Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 16.152
Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 16.299
Matt Cosner (66), Ridgeley, W.Va., 16.357
Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 16.379
Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky., 16.402
Austin Kirkpatrick (11), Harrisburg, N.C., 16.462
David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 16.501
Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 16.519
Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 16.520
John Price (4P), Mill Spring, N.C., 16.531
Ben Watkins (16), Kershaw, S.C., 16.593
Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.593
Anthony Sanders (421), Spartanburg, S.C., 16.801
Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 16.804
G.R. Smith (22), Cornelius, N.C., 16.858
Todd Cooney (30) Des Moines, Iowa, 17.000
Dan Stone (2), Thompson, Pa., 17.019
Ross Bailes (B5), Clover, S.C., 17.039
Jack Harmon (12R), York Town, Va., 17.154
Haiden Cowan (214), Rincon, Ga., 17.254
Dalton Jacobs (7), Reidsville, N.C., no time

Wednesday’s schedule

(All times local)
9 a.m. - Pit pass sales begin
11 a.m. - Pits open
Noon - Fan Fest, souvenir/display areas open (midway)
1:30 p.m. - Live music (midway)
3:30 p.m. - Race Day Live radio show (Sage Fruit stage)
3:30 p.m. - Grandstands open, ticket sales begin
4:45 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
5 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model qualifying (Thursday’s entrants)
- Modified qualifying (Thursday’s entrants)
- Sprint Car hot laps
- Sprint car qualifying (Thursday’s entrants)
- Late Model qualifying (Friday’s entrants)
- Modified qualifying (Friday’s entrants)
- Sprint car qualifying (Friday’s entrants)