Story By: BEN SHELTON / BOB CULLEN RACING – CHILTON, WI – Brian Shirley got the monkey off his back with his first win of the season on Sunday evening, which came in World of Outlaws (WoO) CASE Late Model Series action at River Cities Speedway with his Bob Cullen Racing / Thomason Express No. 3s J&J Ventures & Gaming/ Hoker Trucking / Longhorn Race Car / Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model.
While Shirley led flag-to-flag for the victory he had to fend off a hard-charging Devin Moran late in the event to secure the $12,000 victory. In four events last week, Shirley banked four Top-5 finishes.
“(I’m) very happy that I got a sponsor and a team owner that believes in me more than probably I believe in myself,” Shirley said. “It’s just been one of them roller coaster years. I’m a little emotional because (my team) put(s) in so much work. Glad to see it payoff, glad to be with the people that I have around me.”
Following the World of Outlaw Case Late Model Series further North, Brian Shirley made the haul to Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway on Monday afternoon for the $10,000-to-win Storm Shield Shootout.
With 27 Late Models registered for competition, Shirley started third in the 40-lap feature and managed a Top-5 finish in fifth.
With a quick turnaround to Hamilton County Speedway (Webster City, Iowa) on Tuesday, Brian redrew the fourth-starting position after recording a heat race victory. With another $10,000 payday up for grabs, Shirley raced his way to a podium finish in second behind Bobby Pierce.
After an off-day on Wednesday, the team rolled into I-94 Speedway (Fergus Falls, Minn.) on Thursday before rain showers washed out the evening.
The following night at River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, N.D.) was also rained out and postponed to Sunday, June 30.
Finally dodging the rain at Norman County Raceway (Ada, Minn.) on Saturday, Shirley finished third in his heat race and started ninth in the $15,000-to-win feature. With 50 laps to work with, Brian slowly raced his way inside the Top-5 to finish fourth.
Checked in at River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, N.D.) on Sunday for the make-up event, Brian clicked off a heat race victory and pulled the pole position for the 40-lap main event. Holding off Devin Moran, Shirley broke his winless streak and collected the $12,000 victory by leading flag-to-flag in the feature.
Shirley is currently ninth in the series point standings.
Another busy week of competition now awaits the Bob Cullen Racing team and includes six races in six days. The upcoming slate for Shirley is as follows:
Monday, July 1: XR Super Series – Proctor (Minn.) Speedway
Tuesday, July 2: XR Super Series – Gondik Law Speedway (Superior, Wisc.)
Wednesday, July 3: XR Super Series – Ogilvie (Minn.) Speedway
Friday, July 4 – Saturday, July 6: WoO – Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, Minn.)