Story By: JEREMY PETERS / BOB CULLEN RACING – CHILTON, WI – Brian Shirley capped off a dominant weekend with the World of Outlaws (WoO) Case Late Model Series with a $20,000 payday on Saturday night at Maquoketa (IA) Speedway aboard his Bob Cullen Racing / Thomason Express No. 3s J&J Ventures & Gaming/ Hoker Trucking / Longhorn Race Car / Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model.
After picking up a $10,000 victory in the tour’s debut at Highland (IL) Speedway on Thursday, Shirley swept the two-day Hawkeye 100 at the Iowa oval to increase his 2024 win total to five.
“I feel like we’re making better decisions throughout the night,” Shirley said. “I also do feel like we can do a better job. Bobby’s the man. You can put a stamp on it, he’s the best driver in the country. The fact that we are taking a step forward and competing with him is pretty cool. We had a really good car tonight, things fell our way and we got the win.”
With the World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series headed to his home state of Illinois, Brian Shirley made the short trip to Highland Speedway on Wednesday afternoon to kick off a four-day swing with the series.
Opening the week with 33 Late Models on hand, Shirley qualified second-fastest in his group before picking up the win in his heat race. Redrawing the pole for the 40-lap main event, Brian traded the lead with Tyler Bruening briefly before pulling away from the field on lap 19. Leading the rest of A-Main, Shirley picked up the $10,000 payday and secured his second World of Outlaws victory of the season.
Thursday’s visit to Spoon River Speedway (Banner, Ill.) fell to inclement weather.
Parked at Maquoketa (Iowa) Speedway for the remainder of the trip, Brian Shirley was joined by a 34-car field on Friday night for the Hawkeye 100 opener.
Taking the win in his heat race and redrawing the outside pole, Shirley took the lead from the drop of the green flag and held off challenges from Bobby Pierce and Ryan Gustin to secure his second victory of the week. Shirley led all 40 laps en route to the $10,000 payday.
With $20,000 on the line in Saturday’s finale, Brian once again took the checkered flag in his heat race before redrawing the third-starting spot for the main event. Leading the early portions of the A-Main, Shirley lost the lead briefly until a timely flat tire from Bobby Pierce propelled him back into the lead. He led the final 14 circuits to secure his third victory of the week while completing the weekend sweep.
Shirley jumped up to seventh in the latest WoO series point standings after the highly successful weekend.
Shirley and the Bob Cullen Racing team are now busily preparing for the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series doubleheader at Atomic Speedway (Alma, Ohio) this coming weekend. Friday’s $10,000-to-win Fireball 50 preliminary is followed by Saturday night’s finale which boasts a $15,000 top prize.