There is a new World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion at the Shawano Speedway.
Georgia resident Shane Clanton rolled into victory lane after a close race that went down to the wire. Only three seconds separated the top three finishers in the 50-lap feature.
Earl Pearson Jr. of Florida finished second, followed by Jimmy Mars of Wisconsin in third. Navarino native and current Elk Mound resident A.J. Diemel placed fourth.
Defending champion Darrell Lanigan, a three-time winner of the Sun Drop Shootout, took ninth.
Clanton, who led the Outlaws points standings entering the race, led the entire race, which was dotted with four yellow flags, on laps 14, 21 (two) and 26.
“It was really good. At the beginning, we were just biding our time,” said Clanton, who won $10,000 of the approximately $60,000 purse.
It was Clanton’s ninth win of the Outlaw season and raised his earnings to $144,200. His win also increased his points lead over West Virginia driver Josh Richards, who finished fifth and has won four features on the series.
Clanton said the half-mile speedway was a stark contrast to the usual Outlaws races, most of which are on run 1/4-mile tracks.
“It is great change, when you can go two, three wide,” he said. “It is a great race. It is so big and slippery, it makes it so you have to finesse it a little bit.”
Another Georgia driver, Brandon Overton, was named the Late Model Rookie of the Race. He finished 14th and took home $250.
The Outlaws series was pushed to the front of the night’s program at the speedway due to the possibility of severe weather.
“Outlaws were concerned about impending rain, which initially was predicted for 9:30 p.m.,” Shawano Speedway President Dale Hodkiewicz said.
The rain never came, however, unlike last year when rain forced a late start because of a muddy track.
This year the weather has been so dry, Hodkiewicz said track officials applied 152,000 gallons of water onto the track in a 48-hour period.
“We had a great night,” Hodkiewicz said. “The racing was outstanding. This Late Model run was the best I have seen in five years.”
The Outlaws next move to New Richmond for the U.S. Nationals on Thursday.
