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Bobby Pierce Wins Night #2 at the Late Model Nationals!

Bobby Pierce Wins Night #2 at the Late Model Nationals!
Kelly Shryock Takes Dirt Crown Stock Car Feature
by Bill Wright

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (September 20, 2024) – Bobby Pierce, who cinched the high point total for the week Thursday, added a feature victory on Friday on Night #2 of the Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals Presented by Your Life Iowa. The Oakwood, Illinois native’s win was his second at Knoxville and earned him $7,000. His 498-point total on Thursday has earned him the pole position for Saturday’s $50,000 to win finale (full lineups below). Kelly Shryock, who picked up two Harris Clash Modified wins at Knoxville in 1997 and 2000, earned a third career win here with his triumph in the Dirt Crown Stock Car feature.

The 25-lap Late Model non-stop main event saw Daulton Wilson lead lap one before Pierce took over on the second circuit. Devin Moran rode third, and Max Blair took over the fourth spot. Moran gained second from Wilson on lap five, and Blair followed him into third on lap seven. Wilson briefly battled back by, but Blair shot from fourth to second on lap nine, as Brandon Sheppard entered the top five, after starting ninth.

Pierce built a huge lead on the cushion, building a 3.9 second margin by lap ten. Sheppard advanced from fifth to third in a three-car battle as Pierce approached lapped traffic.

Blair reeled in the leader as the bottom of the track built rubber. When Pierce went high to deal with a lapper, Blair cruised by into the lead on lap 17. Entering turn one, Blair slipped out of the groove and Pierce pounced on the mistake slipping by to lead lap 18. Sheppard followed him into second.

From there Pierce led the field the rest of the way, finishing ahead of Sheppard, Blair, Moran and Wilson. Daniel Hilsabeck, Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Smith, Hudson O’Neal and Garrett Alberson rounded out the top ten. Blair and Alberson set quick time in their respective groups. Brian Shirley, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans and Mike Marlar won the heats. Drake Troutman and Justin Zeitner won the B mains.

“We were lucky to get back by Max there,” said Pierce in Victory Lane. “It took rubber there. It is what it is. I was a little tight…even on the top the car was laying over a bit. I couldn’t get around there the way I wanted to. (Blair) shoved off the rubber. At that time, it was really patchy. It was either slick, or tacky. I think he got the lead, and sometimes when you get the lead, you don’t know how hard to charge the next corner. I think he got a little hot and shoved. I was luckily in the right spot at the right time.”

“I definitely thought I had a shot,” said Sheppard of his run from ninth. “We had a really good car…a lot better than yesterday. I couldn’t even make it around yesterday. The guys went to work today and gave me a pretty good piece. I think we have a really good car here (for Saturday). I’m really looking forward to it.”

“(Pierce) moved up on that lapped car and I knew it was rubbered pretty good,” said Blair. “I thought, ‘Man, I think I just won this race.’ I kind of drove into one a little easier than I should have, and I got tight and pushed straight out of the rubber. I gave that one away, it really sucks. You don’t get too many opportunities like that at a place like this. Overall, we qualified really well and were really good in the feature. Hopefully, we can put another one together tomorrow.”

The 20-lap Dirt Crown Stock Car feature began with Jesse Dennis leading Jordan Grabouski and Austin Brauner early. A caution two laps in for Damon Murty and Mark Leiting slowed things. Brauner snatched second on the restart, and Kelly Shryock entered the top five after falling back to seventh early.

Shryock gained third on lap five, second on lap six, and got by Dennis for the lead, using the low side on lap seven. One final caution for debris slowed things on lap twelve. Shryock cruised from there, with Brauner in tow. The battle for third was a good one, but in the end, Grabouski grabbed that spot. Jake Masters would come on late for fourth, ahead of Johnny Spaw. Tanner Allen, Jeff Ware, Kyle Vanover, Dustin Vis and Jim Horejsi completed the top ten. Masters was the quick timer on the night, and Grabouski, Shryock and Tyler Frye won heats.

“This stage is awfully big here,” said Shryock in Victory Lane. “Anytime you can stand on this stage, it’s pretty darn cool, for sure. We kind of fell back there, back to seventh or eighth. The groove was on the bottom, and that’s kind of where this hot rod really shines. We thank Knoxville for letting us be here. These stock cars put on a hell of a race, and I’m just really excited to be able to drive it.”

Join us Saturday, September 21 for the $50,000 finale of the Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals! For more information on the Knoxville Raceway, visit us online at www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com or on Facebook.

20th Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Presented by Your Life Iowa

Time Trial Group One (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 111, Max Blair, Centerville, PA (1), 18.355; 2. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA (11), 18.374; 3. 49, Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA (14), 18.472; 4. 99, Devin Moran, Dresden, OH (18), 18.477; 5. 30, Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA (7), 18.507; 6. 18D, Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, NC (19), 18.513; 7. B5, Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL (5), 18.605; 8. 20RT, Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, AZ (15), 18.608; 9. 71, Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, IN (12), 18.614; 10. 93F, Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, NC (13), 18.617; 11. 3S, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL (10), 18.630; 12. 1, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY (17), 18.673; 13. 7T, Drake Troutman, Hyndman, PA (8), 18.715; 14. 32, Chris Simpson, Marion, IA (4), 18.830; 15. 1T, Tyler Erb, Houston, TX (3), 19.319; 16. 6, Clay Harris, Jupiter, FL (9), 19.447; 17. 42, Johnathan Huston, Columbus Junction, IA (6), 20.160; 18. 6H, Al Humphrey, Giltner, NE (2), 20.162; 19. 45D, Dan Battaglia, Gretna, NE (16), 22.003

Time Trial Group Two (Qualifying Order), 2 laps: 1. 58, Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, NM (3), 18.523; 2. 10S, Garrett Smith, Madison, GA (17), 19.109; 3. 22, Daniel Hilsabeck, Earlham, IA (5), 19.153; 4. 32P, Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL (13), 19.185; 5. 7, Ross Robinson, Georgetown, DE (9), 19.191; 6. 8M, Dillon McGowen, Urbana, MO (12), 19.195; 7. 20, Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN (1), 19.215; 8. 76, Blair Nothdurft, Renner, SD (6), 19.255; 9. 99B, Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA (4), 19.270; 10. 157, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN (11), 19.592; 11. 18, Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS (7), 19.618; 12. 17SS, Brenden Smith, Dade City, FL (2), 19.711; 13. 25, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA (16), 19.844; 14. 1X, Aaron Marrant, Orrick, MO (10), 19.858; 15. 62, Justin Zeitner, Malvern, IA (14), 20.177; 16. 35D, Dylan Sillman, Alvo, NE (8), 20.434; 17. 51, Matt Furman, Iowa City, IA (15), 20.564; 18. 93, Cory Lawler, Hanover, PA (18), 20.579; 19. 10, Junior Coover, Norfolk, NE (19), 21.585

Heat one (started), 12 Laps, 4:01.0: 1. Brian Shirley (1); 2. Brandon Sheppard (3); 3. Jonathan Davenport (5); 4. Hudson O'Neal (2); 5. Max Blair (6) / 6. Drake Troutman (7); 7. Ryan Gustin (4); 8. Tyler Erb (8); 9. Johnathan Huston (9); 10. Dan Battaglia (10)

Heat two (started), 12 Laps, 4:06.0: 1. Tim McCreadie (1); 2. Daulton Wilson (4); 3. Devin Moran (5); 4. Chris Simpson (7); 5. Carson Ferguson (2) / 6. Tyler Bruening (6); 7. Ricky Thornton Jr. (3); 8. Clay Harris (8); 9. Al Humphrey (9)

Heat three (started), 12 Laps, NT: 1. Chase Junghans (1); 2. Chad Simpson (7); 3. Garrett Alberson (6); 4. Ross Robinson (4); 5. Daniel Hilsabeck (5) / 6. Justin Zeitner (8); 7. Matt Furman (9); 8. Junior Coover (10); 9. Boom Briggs (2); 10. Jimmy Owens (3)

Heat four (started), 12 Laps, 4:23.0: 1. Mike Marlar (2); 2. Dillon McGowen (4); 3. Garrett Smith (6); 4. Brenden Smith (1); 5. Bobby Pierce (5) / 6. Blair Nothdurft (3); 7. Aaron Marrant (7); 8. Dylan Sillman (8); 9. Cory Lawler (9)

B main one (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Drake Troutman (1); 2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4) / 3. Tyler Bruening (2); 4. Ryan Gustin (3); 5. Tyler Erb (5); 6. Clay Harris (6); 7. Al Humphrey (8); 8. Johnathan Huston (7) DNS - 9. Dan Battaglia

B main two (started), 10 Laps, NT: 1. Justin Zeitner (1); 2. Matt Furman (3) / 3. Blair Nothdurft (2); 4. Dylan Sillman (6); 5. Aaron Marrant (4); 6. Cory Lawler (8); 7. Junior Coover (5); 8. Boom Briggs (7); 9. Jimmy Owens (9)

A main (started), 25 Laps, 8:37.0: 1. Bobby Pierce (2); 2. Brandon Sheppard (9); 3. Max Blair (7); 4. Devin Moran (3); 5. Daulton Wilson (1); 6. Daniel Hilsabeck (4); 7. Jonathan Davenport (5); 8. Garrett Smith (6); 9. Hudson O'Neal (11); 10. Garrett Alberson (8); 11. Brian Shirley (14); 12. Ross Robinson (10); 13. Chase Junghans (15); 14. Mike Marlar (13); 15. Tim McCreadie (16); 16. Carson Ferguson (12); 17. Drake Troutman (20); 18. Ricky Thornton Jr. (22); 19. Chad Simpson (19); 20. Chris Simpson (18); 21. Justin Zeitner (21); 22. Brenden Smith (17); 23. Matt Furman (23); 24. Dillon McGowen (24). Lap Leaders: Wilson 1, Pierce 2-16, Blair 17, Pierce 18-25. Hard-charger: Sheppard.

Dirt Crown Stock Car Results

Time Trials (Group Qualifying): 1. 11M, Jake Masters, Graettinger, IA (21), 23.915; 2. 10A, Austin Brauner, Platte Center, NE (4), 23.976; 3. S1, Mark Leiting, Harlan, IA (5), 24.008; 4. 71, David Brandies, Atalissa, IA (7), 24.177; 5. 3, Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA (3), 24.223; 6. 70, Jesse Dennis, Corning, IA (10), 24.230; 7. 12, Reed Payne, Idaho Falls, ID (9), 24.251; 8. 19, Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, NE (14), 24.254; 9. 72H, Miciah Hidlebaugh, Menlo, IA (24), 24.278; 10. 30, Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, NE (23), 24.283; 11. 83, Jeff Ware, Columbus, NE (20), 24.304; 12. 16C, Tyler Frye, Belleville, KS (22), 24.351; 13. 21, Jim Horejsi, Marshall, MN (15), 24.383; 14. 00, Johnny Spaw, Cedar Rapids, IA (1), 24.472; 15. 22, Tanner Allen, Springville, IA (17), 24.572; 16. 14JR, Tyler Barribo, Kearney, NE (12), 24.605; 17. 99D, Damon Murty, Chelsea, IA (19), 24.635; 18. 20V, Dustin Vis, Martelle, IA (6), 24.636; 19. 35, Casey Woken, Altoona, IA (25), 24.679; 20. 3H, Taylor Huss, Fairbury, NE (8), 24.722; 21. 19D, Dustin Reeh, Council Bluffs, IA (13), 24.792; 22. 11, Joseph Cooper, North Platte, NE (2), 24.943; 23. 63C, Austin Carter, Jamestown, KS (18), 25.074; 24. 25A, Andrea McCain, South Haven, MN (16), 25.246; 25. 97M, David Murray Jr., Oberlin, KS (11), NT

Heat one (started), 8 Laps, 3:25.0: 1. Jordan Grabouski (3); 2. Tyler Barribo (1); 3. Jake Masters (6); 4. Casey Woken (7); 5. David Brandies (5); 6. Jim Horejsi (2); 7. Reed Payne (4); 8. Joseph Cooper (8); 9. Andrea McCain (9)

Heat two (started), 8 Laps, 3:23.0: 1. Kelly Shryock (5); 2. Johnny Spaw (2); 3. Damon Murty (1); 4. Austin Brauner (6); 5. Jeff Ware (3); 6. Kyle Vanover (4); 7. Taylor Huss (7); 8. David Murray Jr. (8)

Heat three (started), 8 Laps, 3:24.0: 1. Tyler Frye (3); 2. Dustin Vis (1); 3. Jesse Dennis (5); 4. Tanner Allen (2); 5. Mark Leiting (6); 6. Austin Carter (8); 7. Miciah Hidlebaugh (4); 8. Dustin Reeh (7)

A main (started), 20 Laps, NT: 1. Kelly Shryock (4); 2. Austin Brauner (2); 3. Jordan Grabouski (3); 4. Jake Masters (6); 5. Johnny Spaw (9); 6. Tanner Allen (14); 7. Jeff Ware (13); 8. Kyle Vanover (12); 9. Dustin Vis (11); 10. Jim Horejsi (19); 11. David Brandies (8); 12. Mark Leiting (7); 13. David Murray Jr. (24); 14. Jesse Dennis (1); 15. Damon Murty (15); 16. Austin Carter (20); 17. Dustin Reeh (22); 18. Taylor Huss (21); 19. Joseph Cooper (23); 20. Reed Payne (17); 21. Miciah Hidlebaugh (18); 22. Andrea McCain (25); 23. Tyler Frye (5); 24. Tyler Barribo (10); 25. Casey Woken (16). Lap Leaders: Dennis 1-6, Shryock 7-20. Hard-charger: Murray Jr.

Saturday Lineups

A main

Bobby Pierce 498
Jonathan Davenport 487
Devin Moran 486
Tim McCreadie 485
Hudson O'Neal 484
Max Blair 484
Brandon Sheppard 483
Ryan Gustin 480
Daulton Wilson 479
Dillon McCowan 479
Garrett Smith 478
Garrett Alberson 476
Daniel Hilsabeck 474
Tyler Erb 471
Brian Shirley 467
Ross Robinson 461
Carson Ferguson 460
Mike Marlar 456
Chase Junghans 456
Chad Simpson 451
Chris Simpson 448
Drake Troutman 441
Ricky Thornton Jr. 434
Boom Briggs 434

B main

Tyler Bruening 433
Brenden Smith 427
Jimmy Owens 425
Justin Zeitner 417
Blair Nothdurft 417
Matt Furman 414
Clay Harris 400
Aaron Marrant 398
Dylan Sillman 393
Tim Lance 392
Cory Lawler 382
Junior Coover 381
Jonathan Huston 380
Al Humphrey 380
Dan Battaglia 374
Jeremy Petty 373

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