HARTFORD, Ohio — The World of Outlaws Actual American Beer Late Mannequin Collection introduced by DIRTVision enters its fourth straight week of racing with a doubleheader in jap Ohio.
Sharon Speedway has hosted the sequence 16 instances since its revitalization in 2004 and has been on the calendar yearly since 2021.
This yr’s Battle on the Border will begin with a 40-lap, $12,000-to-win characteristic on Friday night time earlier than wrapping up with a $15,000-to-win 50-lapper on Saturday.
THE RACE IS ON
When the World of Outlaws rolled into I-55 Federated Auto Components Raceway Park in June to start out the Midwest swing, Nick Hoffman trailed Bobby Pierce by 102 factors within the standings. Three weeks later, the hole is minimize in half.
Following Hoffman’s win on Friday at Deer Creek Speedway and Pierce’s DNF, due to the huge pileup on the frontstretch, solely 50 factors separate the highest two headed to Sharon.
The historical past books present that the Hartford, Ohio, facility could possibly be a spot the place the momentum swings again in Pierce’s favor. The “Easy Operator” swept the weekend in 2024 and has completed off the rostrum as soon as in 5 World of Outlaws begins at Sharon. In the meantime, Hoffman has by no means completed higher than fifth in 5 sequence begins, however he did win a DIRTcar UMP Modified race on the observe with the Renegades of Grime Tour in 2022.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
Whereas Hoffman has been the highest canine on tour over the previous 5 races, his closest challenger in that timeframe has been Dennis Erb Jr.
The Carpentersville, In poor health., native’s three podiums since River Cities Speedway on June 27 are greater than everybody, apart from the No. 9. He’ll look to maintain his sizzling streak rolling at Sharon with expertise on his aspect, as Erb’s 9 World of Outlaws begins at Sharon have him tied with Brent Larson for probably the most of any present full-timer.
If Erb desires this to be the weekend he will get his first sequence win in two years, he’ll have to take a step ahead from his previous showings in Hartford.
Solely two of these 9 begins have resulted in high fives, though he began on the pole of the Saturday characteristic final yr earlier than fading to sixth.
BACK UP FRONT
After going by means of a dry spell in April and Could, Ryan Gustin has reasserted himself as a nightly frontrunner over the previous few weeks.
He hasn’t completed outdoors the highest 10 in 9 races, and that stretch has included 4 podiums and 6 high fives.
Gustin got here agonizingly near his first World of Outlaws victory since March on Thursday at Deer Creek, as he swapped the lead with Pierce lap after lap earlier than popping out on the shedding finish.
The “Reaper” has 112 factors to make as much as Pierce to get again into the championship dialog, and that quest continues at one in all his greatest stops on tour.
He completed second in his Sharon debut after which went on to gather two wins (2022 and 2023) and 6 podiums in eight begins.
THREE-WAY BATTLE
This yr’s MD3 Rookie of the 12 months class continues to show why they’re one of the aggressive in sequence historical past, with all three members able to successful when issues go their method.
Ethan Dotson was the primary to interrupt by means of together with his triumph at Farmer Metropolis Raceway in April. Drake Troutman had a number of close to misses early within the season earlier than lastly taking the checkers at Pevely for his first World of Outlaws rating.
And after spending the opening portion of the yr getting the hold of full-time tremendous late mannequin racing, Jake Timm could possibly be subsequent in line for a win – he was making redraws and operating within the high 10 most of the time in the course of the Midwest swing.
Troutman may have the higher hand going into this weekend as the one one of many three with prior World of Outlaws begins at Sharon. The Hyndman, Pa., driver secured his first sequence pole on the opening night time of the 2023 Battle on the Border and held his personal towards Chris Madden and Pierce within the opening laps of the race.
Troutman’s night time got here to an early finish when he obtained caught up in a crash 13 laps in, however he’ll be again trying to end the job this weekend.
