Shirley triumphs in Texas Torpedo 50

September 28, 2024 | by Matt Skipper

Brian Shirley performed a clinic with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models in the debut visit by the series to the Rocket Raceway Park in Paris, Texas.

The Chatham, Ill., native drove a flawless race in the Texas Torpedo 50 while championship implications ensued through the 50 laps around the 1/3-mile facility.

Shirley began the night with a win in his heat race, then drew the Bilstein Pole Award to start the night from the front of the field.

Shirley jumped out to the lead with Robeline, La., driver Cade Dillard following behind in second place.

On the second lap of the feature, series points leader Brandon Sheppard suffered major body damage on the right front of his No. B5 that forced him to visit the Fast 1 Hot Pit for repairs.

On the restart, Shirley and Dillard found their footing on the bottom line while the field attempted to use the high line with little effect.

Amid the chaos across the field, MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Tristan Chamberlain flew through the packs of cars on the bottom that took him to third place.

Shirley continued to set the pace as he approached the challenge of getting by lapped traffic ahead of the No. 3S Bob Cullen Racing Late Model.

As Dillard cut the gap to Shirley with lapped traffic in the way, 'Squirrel' had to put his nickname to use by making ground through the middle of the racetrack in turns 1 and 2, then cut down to the bottom in turns 3 and 4 after completing the pass on each of the lapped cars.

While Dillard and Chamberlain fought for second, Shirley inflated the distance from the competition as he crossed the finish line to complete a perfect feature in the series return to the Lone Star State.

“Truthfully, finding the middle line was the biggest thing. They were running the preferred bottom line. I knew if I was going to put some distance between me and Cade, I had to try it, and it all worked out," Shirley said. "At the end of the day, winning races is the most important thing. Right now, after the hole we dug in when we left (Volusia), winning these races makes these long hauls and tough nights makes up for it.”

Dillard finished second in a throwback car to his family’s first racecar. With his result, Dillard completed the weekend near his home with twin top-five finishes.

“I felt like when we were both using the bottom on the long run, I could drive to him,” Dillard said. “When he washed up, I did so too. I tried to stay on the bottom, but once we got to lapped traffic, you had to move out and he could drive through the middle much better than I could. But, we tried hard. He’s been good here lately, and I’m just happy to be up on the podium at this point.”

Chamberlain finished third for his first career podium and top-five finish with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models. It’s a major stepping stone for the 17-year-old driver before he ends his rookie campaign in 2024.

“I think a big part of the success was in the Last Chance Showdown,” Chamberlain said. “Knowing that it was really slick. I don’t think those that only raced in the Heat knew how slick it was. That first lap, they all went and slid up the racetrack and I was able to pass by a bunch of those guys. I think that’s where I gained the most of my positions.

“I’m real excited for 2025. The speed is there. It’s about putting it all together to have a good night. The biggest thing is that it’s hard to get up through the field when you’re so far back. The pacing is never in the back of the field as it is at the front of the field. Once you get behind, it’s hard to come back from it. This is huge, and it’s awesome to have this kind of run.”

Brandon, Fla., driver Kyle Bronson finished fourth and Rochester, Minn.'s Dustin Sorensen finished fifth to extend his MD3 Rookie of the Year points lead entering the final three races of the 2024 season.

Sheppard salvaged his night to finish in the top-10 to continue leading the points standings. Oakwood, Ill., driver Bobby Pierce is second with the lead cut to 44 points, and Mooresville, N.C., driver Nick Hoffman is 50 points back in third place.

In Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series action, Tracy Denby Jr. of Vidor, Texas, topped a 50-car field of Coston & Son Ready Mix USRA Limited Mods while Lee McCullough of Combine, Texas, captured the checkers in the By-Line Surveying USRA Factory Stock main event.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Rocket Raceway Park, Petty, Texas
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODELS

Sea Foam Group "A" Qualifying:
1. 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa, 13.507
2. 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill., 13.567
3. 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, 13.718
4. 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., 13.737
5. 97JR Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga., 13.857
6. 74X Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 13.892
7. 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla., 14.014
8. 19M Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Miss., 14.028
9. 1B B.J. Robinson, Bossier City, La., 14.066
10. 17 Jarret Stuckey, Shreveport, La., 14.201
11. B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill., 14.375
12. 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo., 14.425
13. 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind., 14.440
14. 1 Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas, 14.484
15. 6R Robbie Stuart, Deridder, La., 14.523
16. 1G Tony Lindsey, Keithville, La., 14.542

Sea Foam Group "B" Qualifying:
1. 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., 13.629
2. 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill., 13.712
3. 22* Max McLaughlin, Mooresville, N.C., 13.715
4. 90 Brian Rickman, Columbus, Miss., 13.864
5. 32 Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill., 13.889
6. 9 Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C., 13.971
7. 9H Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., 13.988
8. B1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.261
9. 14M Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, 14.340
10. 53M Jason Miles, Nacogdoches, Texas, 14.353
11. 15 Clayton Stuckey, Shreveport, La., 14.418
12. 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark., 14.455
13. C8 Timothy Culp, Prattsville, Ark., 14.510
14. 51 Dean Carpenter, Coldwater, Miss., 14.533
15. 7DD Austin Theiss, Brenham, Texas, 14.552
16. 88 Chance Mann, Newport, Ark., 14.795

Heat #1:
1. (2) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
2. (1) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
3. (4) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
4. (3) 97JR Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
5. (5) 1B B.J. Robinson, Bossier City, La.
6. (7) 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind.
7. (6) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
8. (8) 6R Robbie Stuart, Deridder, La.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
2. (2) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
3. (3) 74X Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
4. (4) 19M Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Miss.
5. (5) 17 Jarret Stuckey, Shreveport, La.
6. (7) 1 Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
7. (8) 1G Tony Lindsey, Keithville, La.
8. (6) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.

Heat #3:
1. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (2) 22* Max McLaughlin, Mooresville, N.C.
3. (3) 32 Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
4. (4) 9H Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
5. (5) 14M Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas
6. (7) C8 Timothy Culp, Prattsville, Ark.
7. (6) 15 Clayton Stuckey, Shreveport, La.
8. (8) 7DD Austin Theiss, Brenham, Texas

Heat #4:
1. (1) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
2. (3) 9 Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
3. (4) B1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
4. (2) 90 Brian Rickman, Columbus, Miss.
5. (5) 53M Jason Miles, Nacogdoches, Texas
6. (7) 51 Dean Carpenter, Coldwater, Miss.
7. (6) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
8. (8) 88 Chance Mann, Newport, Ark.

Last Chance Showdown #1:
1. (3) 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind.
2. (1) 1B B.J. Robinson, Bossier City, La.
3. (5) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
4. (4) 1 Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
5. (2) 17 Jarret Stuckey, Shreveport, La.
6. (6) 1G Tony Lindsey, Keithville, La.
7. (7) 6R Robbie Stuart, Deridder, La.
8. (8) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.

Last Chance Showdown #2:
1. (1) 14M Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas
2. (3) C8 Timothy Culp, Prattsville, Ark.
3. (4) 51 Dean Carpenter, Coldwater, Miss.
4. (5) 15 Clayton Stuckey, Shreveport, La.
5. (6) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
6. (7) 7DD Austin Theiss, Brenham, Texas
7. (8) 88 Chance Mann, Newport, Ark.
8. (2) 53M Jason Miles, Nacogdoches, Texas

Feature:
1. (1) 3S Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
2. (3) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (17) 20TC Tristan Chamberlain, Richmond, Ind.
4. (9) 40B Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
5. (8) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
6. (7) 9 Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
7. (10) 32 Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
8. (2) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
9. (11) 74X Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
10. (21) B5 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
11. (5) 22* Max McLaughlin, Mooresville, N.C.
12. (6) 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa
13. (18) 14M Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas
14. (12) B1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
15. (19) 1B B.J. Robinson, Bossier City, La.
16. (16) 90 Brian Rickman, Columbus, Miss.
17. (15) 19M Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Miss.
18. (24) 15 Clayton Stuckey, Shreveport, La.
19. (22) 51 Dean Carpenter, Coldwater, Miss.
20. (4) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
21. (23) 14W Dustin Walker, Polk, Mo.
22. (20) C8 Timothy Culp, Prattsville, Ark.
23. (13) 97JR Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
24. (14) 9H Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.

COSTON & SON READY MIX USRA LIMITED MODS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 15 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas
2. (4) 1J Payton Johannesen, Gun Barrel City, Texas
3. (5) 99 Jeremy Haddox, Ruston, La.
4. (3) 14H Barry Hornbeck, Longview, Texas
5. (7) 18 Chace Hebert, Lafayette, La.
6. (1) 17B Dawson Bradford, Flower Mound, Texas
7. (10) 68 Brandon Watson, Denison, Texas
8. (9) 25W Hunter Welch, Olustee, Okla.
9. (6) 21J Wally Beaty, Forney, Texas
10. (8) 55 Chris Crowston, Mt. Pleasant, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (1) 56 Steven Ashcraft, Forney, Texas
2. (3) 5X Landon Capps, Anna, Texas
3. (4) 12K Colton Keel, Anna, Texas
4. (9) 81B Casey Burkham, Combine, Texas
5. (8) 2JT Justin Vaughan, Dallas, Texas
6. (5) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
7. (6) A04 Austin Brownlee, Ardmore, Okla.
8. (2) 73 Donnie Mitchell, Detroit, Texas
9. (7) 7N Nakeia Norris, Commerce, Texas
DNS - 7X Cary Bartoo, McKinney, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (6) 29J Jonathan Powers, Iowa Park, Texas
2. (2) 29R Matthew Riskey, Commerce, Texas
3. (3) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
4. (1) 49 Shannon Hartline, Ivanhoe, Texas
5. (4) 00X Michael Grubbs, Plano, Texas
6. (9) 72B Austin Dotson, Anna, Texas
7. (8) 529 Aaron Arden, Athens, Texas
8. (10) 17X Tyler Cook, Lubbock, Texas
9. (7) 33 Pepper Kuykendall, Venus, Texas
10. (5) D7 T.J. Frazier, Omaha, Texas

Heat #4:
1. (1) 23 Coty Tupper, Blanchard, La.
2. (3) 17 Tommy Davis Jr., Wills Point, Texas
3. (9) 11 Eric Luttrell, Kaufman, Texas
4. (6) F5 Skeet Amason, New Boston, Texas
5. (5) 3 Bobby Kellogg, Longview, Texas
6. (10) 18C Tim Clonch, Quinlan, Texas
7. (8) 12MB John Miller, McKinney, Texas
8. (4) 28G Gary Gutierrez, Frisco, Texas
9. (2) 5S Shannon Swilley, Elysian Fields, La.
10. (7) 24B Aaron Booth, Cooper, Texas

Heat #5:
1. (1) 79 Tyler Parker, Flint, Texas
2. (5) 31 Mason Martin, Kaufman, Texas
3. (8) 00B Britton Moore, Texarkana, Ark.
4. (7) 3B Brandon Pinson, Wichita Falls, Texas
5. (3) P6 Maguire Poole, Trenton, Texas
6. (6) 41JR Seth McMackin, Lone Oak, Texas
7. (2) 43 Kayden Petty, Red Rock, Texas
8. (4) 29 Billie Potts, Denison, Texas
DNS - 22S Stetson Swilley, Marshall, La.

"B" Feature #1:
1. (1) 81B Casey Burkham, Combine, Texas
2. (5) 14H Barry Hornbeck, Longview, Texas
3. (2) 3B Brandon Pinson, Wichita Falls, Texas
4. (9) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
5. (6) 72B Austin Dotson, Anna, Texas
6. (14) 33 Pepper Kuykendall, Venus, Texas
7. (8) 68 Brandon Watson, Denison, Texas
8. (11) A04 Austin Brownlee, Ardmore, Okla.
9. (13) 5S Shannon Swilley, Elysian Fields, La.
10. (10) 41JR Seth McMackin, Lone Oak, Texas
11. (12) 25W Hunter Welch, Olustee, Okla.
12. (15) D7 T.J. Frazier, Omaha, Texas
13. (16) 55 Chris Crowston, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
14. (4) 2JT Justin Vaughan, Dallas, Texas
15. (3) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
16. (7) 00X Michael Grubbs, Plano, Texas
DNS - 12MB John Miller, McKinney, Texas
DNS - 28G Gary Gutierrez, Frisco, Texas
DNS - 22S Stetson Swilley, Marshall, La.

"B" Feature #2:
1. (1) 99 Jeremy Haddox, Ruston, La.
2. (2) 12K Colton Keel, Anna, Texas
3. (9) 18C Tim Clonch, Quinlan, Texas
4. (5) 18 Chace Hebert, Lafayette, La.
5. (4) 49 Shannon Hartline, Ivanhoe, Texas
6. (15) 21J Wally Beaty, Forney, Texas
7. (8) 17B Dawson Bradford, Flower Mound, Texas
8. (7) 3 Bobby Kellogg, Longview, Texas
9. (12) 17X Tyler Cook, Lubbock, Texas
10. (14) 29 Billie Potts, Denison, Texas
11. (11) 43 Kayden Petty, Red Rock, Texas
12. (6) P6 Maguire Poole, Trenton, Texas
13. (13) 73 Donnie Mitchell, Detroit, Texas
14. (10) 529 Aaron Arden, Athens, Texas
15. (16) 7N Nakeia Norris, Commerce, Texas
16. (3) F5 Skeet Amason, New Boston, Texas
DNS - 24B Aaron Booth, Cooper, Texas
DNS - 7X Cary Bartoo, McKinney, Texas

"A" Feature:
1. (2) 15 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas
2. (3) 11 Eric Luttrell, Kaufman, Texas
3. (7) 23 Coty Tupper, Blanchard, La.
4. (12) 29R Matthew Riskey, Commerce, Texas
5. (16) 12K Colton Keel, Anna, Texas
6. (10) 5X Landon Capps, Anna, Texas
7. (4) 00B Britton Moore, Texarkana, Ark.
8. (5) 31 Mason Martin, Kaufman, Texas
9. (11) 17 Tommy Davis Jr., Wills Point, Texas
10. (14) 99 Jeremy Haddox, Ruston, La.
11. (22) 49 Shannon Hartline, Ivanhoe, Texas
12. (8) 79 Tyler Parker, Flint, Texas
13. (20) 18 Chace Hebert, Lafayette, La.
14. (6) 56 Steven Ashcraft, Forney, Texas
15. (9) 1J Payton Johannesen, Gun Barrel City, Texas
16. (24) 21J Wally Beaty, Forney, Texas
17. (15) 14H Barry Hornbeck, Longview, Texas
18. (17) 3B Brandon Pinson, Wichita Falls, Texas
19. (23) 33 Pepper Kuykendall, Venus, Texas
20. (13) 81B Casey Burkham, Combine, Texas
21. (1) 29J Jonathan Powers, Iowa Park, Texas
22. (18) 18C Tim Clonch, Quinlan, Texas
23. (21) 72B Austin Dotson, Anna, Texas
24. (19) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas

BY-LINE SURVEYING USRA FACTORY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 22M Taten Perkins, Oakdale, La.
2. (7) 38DD Rodney White, Ector, Texas
3. (6) 5V Billy White, Powderly, Texas
4. (3) 13P Wyatt Payne, Powderly, Texas
5. (5) 69X Michael Smith, Paris, Texas
6. (4) 3G Grant Ratcliff, Howe, Texas
7. (8) 00 Joseph Miramontez, Forney, Texas
8. (1) 4A Claytan Alford, Wichita Falls, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (1) 7G Scottie Gipson, Lewisville, Texas
2. (2) 7X Daylon Briscoe, Paris, Texas
3. (7) 38 Deaon Redmon, Paris, Texas
4. (3) 12 Jared Brown, Paris, Texas
5. (5) 0 Shawn Graham, Shreveport, La.
6. (4) 1P Martin Poole, Trenton, Texas
7. (8) 11CTG Clyde Ikeler, Wichita Falls, Texas
8. (6) 4D Dario Lopez Jr., Rowlett, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (4) 3M Lee McCullough, Combine, Texas
2. (2) 2H Marty Hicks, Powderly, Texas
3. (3) 94 Brandon Bettis, Detroit, Texas
4. (6) 92T Terrell Evans, Cache, Okla.
5. (7) 2CC Ross Malone II, Powderly, Texas
6. (5) 9C Cole Cook, Vivian, La.
7. (8) 67 Matt Owings, Longview, Texas
8. (1) 02 Derick Harris, Farmersville, Texas

Feature:
1. (1) 3M Lee McCullough, Combine, Texas
2. (3) 22M Taten Perkins, Oakdale, La.
3. (2) 38DD Rodney White, Ector, Texas
4. (7) 7X Daylon Briscoe, Paris, Texas
5. (5) 38 Deaon Redmon, Paris, Texas
6. (10) 92T Terrell Evans, Cache, Okla.
7. (4) 7G Scottie Gipson, Lewisville, Texas
8. (15) 0 Shawn Graham, Shreveport, La.
9. (13) 2CC Ross Malone II, Powderly, Texas
10. (6) 5V Billy White, Powderly, Texas
11. (17) 1P Martin Poole, Trenton, Texas
12. (14) 69X Michael Smith, Paris, Texas
13. (19) 00 Joseph Miramontez, Forney, Texas
14. (20) 11CTG Clyde Ikeler, Wichita Falls, Texas
15. (16) 3G Grant Ratcliff, Howe, Texas
16. (8) 2H Marty Hicks, Powderly, Texas
17. (24) 4D Dario Lopez Jr., Rowlett, Texas
18. (22) 4A Claytan Alford, Wichita Falls, Texas
19. (12) 12 Jared Brown, Paris, Texas
20. (18) 9C Cole Cook, Vivian, La.
21. (21) 67 Matt Owings, Longview, Texas
22. (23) 02 Derick Harris, Farmersville, Texas
23. (9) 94 Brandon Bettis, Detroit, Texas
24. (11) 13P Wyatt Payne, Powderly, Texas