Story By: BEN SHELTON / BOB CULLEN RACING – CHILTON, WI – Brian Shirley collected his second win of the 2024 season last Friday night at Farmer City Raceway with his Bob Cullen Racing / Thomason Express No. 3s J&J Ventures & Gaming/ Hoker Trucking / Longhorn Race Car / Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model.
Shirley led all but the first two laps on his way to a $5,000 triumph with the Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS).
“We saw an opening there early and got to the lead and got the win. (I) just can’t thank all my guys enough,” Shirley said. “All the people, I know I don’t remember everybody that I should, but I gotta thank my wife, my kids and my Dad for letting me do this. We’ve got some truly amazing supporters here with Bob Cullen Racing, and they make all this possible. Everybody that helps us, thank you very much.”
Staying close to home over the course of last weekend, Brian Shirley made the quick trip to Sycamore Speedway (Maple Park, Ill.) on Thursday night for the rescheduled DIRTcar Summer Nationals event.
Winning the last three Hell Tour events at the track, Shirley stopped the clock quickest in his group and took the checkered flag in his heat race. Starting third in the $6,000-to-win main event, Brian raced to as high as the second position in the feature before ultimately crossing the finish line in 4th in the 30-lap affair.
Joining the MARS Late Model Series the following night, Brian set quick-time among 35 entries at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway before racing to a heat race victory. Zipping by Shannon Babb for the lead on lap 3, Shirley cruised to a $5,000 victory over Babb and Ryan Unzicker.
The triumph was the second of the season.
Brian Shirley continued his busy racing slate at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway on Monday afternoon for the first of two nights with the XR Super Series.
Finishing third in his heat race, Shirley started 10th in the $15,000-to-win main event but made one lap and pulled off early. He was scored 20th.
The following night’s event at the ¼-mile oval was lost after heavy rain showers blasted the facility.
As 65 Super Late Models descended upon Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway on Wednesday afternoon, Shirley laid down the second-fastest lap in his group before earning a spot in the Castrol FloRacing Night in America main event with a runner-up heat race finish. Starting ninth with $20,000 on the line, Brian made up four spots to score a Top-5 finish in fifth.
Shirley now turns his attention to the 34th annual Prairie Dirt Classic, which will be held this Friday and Saturday at Fairbury Speedway. The weekend includes $5,000-to-win qualifiers on Friday evening followed by a main event on Saturday that posts a $50,000 prize plus $50,000 in lap leader money.