EASTABOGA, Ala. — Bobby Pierce could have been born and raised within the cornfields of Illinois, however he’s fallen in love with the southeast.
In his debut at Smoky Mountain Speedway in March, he got here, noticed and conquered. Swainsboro Raceway was extra of the identical one week later, as Pierce collected a win and a podium in his first journey to that facility.
And in his third journey to Talladega Brief Observe, the “Clean Operator” mastered the “Hornet’s Nest” for his third win of the yr with the World of Outlaws Actual American Beer Late Mannequin Collection introduced by DIRTVision.
“I actually regarded ahead to coming right here,” Pierce stated. “Particularly with $50,000, that’s some huge cash. I felt assured, I really feel like we’ve obtained a very good automotive proper now nearly wherever we go. In all probability wouldn’t have thought that earlier than Smoky Mountain and Swainsboro, however we received these races and it was like ‘man, we’ve obtained a extremely good automotive, I’ve simply obtained to drive it.”
The 2023 World of Outlaws champion began the 100-lap contest from the within of row two, staring behind Bilstein Pole Award winner Cory Hedgecock and Jimmy Owens. Hedgecock pulled out to the early lead whereas Pierce made fast work of Owens within the opening circuits to seize second.
After sizing up Hedgecock for a dozen laps, Pierce went to the underside of Turns 3 and 4 whereas Hedgecock rode the cushion and took excessive spot within the subsequent set of corners. Pierce anticipated passing to develop into tougher because the race progressed, which made it all of the extra essential to get out entrance as quickly as potential.
“It was solely a matter of time till the underside obtained actually good,” Pierce stated. “I noticed Dennis Erb form of draw back from me on the underside there. It was form of my race to lose at that time. After that, the one fear was if that center did get cleaned up for a second and permit somebody to roll across the exterior.”
A flurry of yellows within the center portion of the race created loads of shuffling for second on again, as Owens obtained by Hedgecock for second on Lap 23 earlier than shedding the spot to Zack Mitchell simply previous midway. Pierce wasn’t bothered by any of it although, as he nailed restart after restart to maintain the lead.
When it appeared as if Pierce had the trophy within the bag coming to the white flag, Cody Overton minimize a tire to arrange a green-white-checkered sprint to the end.
With Mitchell behind him looking for the largest win of his profession, Pierce put collectively two extra flawless laps to take house the $50,000 payday.
The Alabama Gang 100 is Pierce’s newest addition to his assortment of long-distance victories that additionally consists of wins within the Prairie Dust Traditional, USA Nationals, the World 100 and extra prior to now yr alone.
“Expertise went a good distance with that,” Pierce stated. “Operating extra completely different tracks and extra long-distance races and working up entrance in these races. Getting that have has been good, studying to, once you’re within the lead, set the tempo, not pushing too arduous. Like after I was in second tonight, I actually needed to get the lead, so I used to be form of pushing arduous at that second to get the lead.
“As soon as I obtained it, each warning that may come out, I might need to construct the lead a bit bit after which form of journey.”
Whereas Mitchell was unable to capitalize on his probability to pounce on Pierce with two to go, the southeastern stalwart was thrilled to finish up on the rostrum.
“I obtained by Jimmy on the restart and obtained to second and felt it form of latching up,” Mitchell stated. “It’s what it’s. I form of needed to leap as much as the highest simply to see there one time to attempt to see if I might go round him, however Jimmy should have been too near me.”
One week after a season-best end of second in Spring Nationals competitors at Tazewell Speedway, Owens stored the momentum rolling with a third-place effort.
“That final restart, Zack snuck by us on the underside there,” Owens stated. “Actually, I simply wanted to decide on the underside lane, however it’s form of arduous to once you’re working second, selecting the highest. Then we might roll the highest facet via 3 and 4, however on that final little bit Zack beat us, it obtained a bit crummy up there and we simply fell again into third. Simply glad to come back house with a very good third-place end.”
Jadon Body got here house fourth to determine a brand new World of Outlaws profession greatest whereas Mike Marlar accomplished the highest 5.
The end:
Bobby Pierce, Zack Mitchell, Jimmy Owens, Jadon Body, Mike Marlar, Cory Hedgecock, Tim McCreadie, Nick Hoffman, Tyler Millwood, Trey Mills, Sam Seawright, Ryan Gustin, Max Blair, Drake Troutman, Ashton Winger, Brian Shirley, Tristan Chamberlain, Tanner English, Dennis Erb Jr., Cody Overton, Ethan Dotson, Ryan Wilson, Josh Putnam, Michael Web page, Cade Dillard, Jake Timm.
