By STEVEN PETTY
For the seventh time in their history, the World of Outlaw CASE Construction Equipment Late Models visited the New Stateline Speedway Tuesday night, and at the end of the 40-lap event, it was Nick Hoffman winning his first career World of Outlaw Late Model victory.
“It’s been a tough claw but was able to hit my marks tonight and it just worked out,” Hoffman said in victory lane. “I was supposed to race a midget tonight at Millbridge but found out that there was a race here. I’ve never raced in New York, and I’m pumped about the week ahead as Sharon also fits my style.”
Gordy Gundaker and Nick Hoffman led the field to the green flag with Gundaker edging Hoffman, ahead of Blair, Pierce, and Tanner English. Hoffman took the lead away on lap two and started to pull away from the field. Chris Madden passed English to move into the top five on lap three.
Blair pressured Gundaker on lap eight for the runner-up position. The first caution came out on lap 10 for a Dustin Walker spin in turn two.
Following the restart, Max Blair worked around Gundaker to take over second, with his sights on the leader Nick Hoffman, who was continuing to lead.
The leaders hit lapped traffic just after the halfway mark, allowing Blair to reel in Hoffman. Breyton Santee stopped against the turn four wall to bring out the caution on lap 25.
Bobby Pierce got around Gundaker to move into third following the restart, as Hoffman and Blair took off in the top two positions. The leaders encountered lapped traffic again on lap 35, as Blair and Pierce caught Hoffman. Hoffman held off Blair and Pierce to score the win. Gundaker, and Chub Frank completed the top five.
“I was trying to conserve my tires as much as I can, but I wasn’t close enough to make a challenge,” said second place finisher Max Blair. “I’m a little bummed to not win tonight in front of my home fans. Wish more tracks around here would host these types of races. We’ll take a second and roll on down the road.”
Pierce finished third in his first trip to New York for Late Model competition.
“I was going to give it a shot at about five laps in to try the top,” Pierce said. “It was super close racing all night and I had to get back to the bottom after a couple of laps because the bottom was taking rubber. I hit my marks pretty good, but not great. It was enough to get around Madden and then I was able to get around Gordy (Gundaker) a couple laps later.”
NOTES:
It was the seventh all-time appearance by “The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet” to the 1/3rd-mile oval. In the six previous stops, the locals and outlaws each have three victories. Local drivers to win include Dave Hess in 2021, Max Blair in 2019, and Dick Barton back in 2006. John Blankenship won the inaugural visit in 2005, with Series champions Shane Clanton (2013) and Brandon Sheppard (2018) also finding victory lane…
Bobby Pierce set the overall quick time with a 16.675 second lap. Qualifying heat races went to Bobby Pierce, Gordy Gundaker, Max Blair, and Nick Hoffman. Last chance showdowns were won by Dennis Erb Jr and Johnny Scott…
Boom Briggs rolled his 99b in time trials, and raced Andy Boozel’s car the rest of the night. Briggs used the World of Outlaw provisional to start the event, and finished 16th…
42 cars signed in for competition at Stateline…
It was a good night for Hall of Famer and Stateline Speedway owner Jim Scott, who was celebrating his 85th birthday at the track. The standing-room only crowd all gathered for a rendition of “Happy Birthday” during the intermission…
Multi-time Series Champion Brandon Sheppard had an uneventful evening, finishing in 12th…
Entering Statline, Chris Madden had an eight point lead over Ryan Gustin, and 26 ahead of Kyle Bronson. Madden crossed the line in sixth place, while Bronson finished the race in eighth, and Gustin finished in 13th…
The World of Outlaw Late Models will continue their Northeast Swing with three shows beginning on Thursday at the Sharon Speedway.
