Well, it’s that time of year again. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is set to invade the Shawano Speedway for the sixth consecutive year.
Billy Moyer, a true legend of dirt late model racing, blew away the competition in 2010 with a clean sweep of the night’s events. Moyer set the fast time at 19.63 seconds on the historic half mile, while going on to also win his heat race and leading all 50 laps of the feature event. Moyer and his son, Billy Moyer Jr., are both expected to be at Tuesday night’s event.
Nick Anvelink was the highest finisher among locals in 2010 with a 12th-place finish.
In 2011, Shane “The Kentucky Colonel” Clanton set the fast time at 19.284 seconds. Clanton led the first 25 laps of the feature before Darrell Lanigan took the lead and led the last 25 laps to get the win. Doug Blashe was best among the locals with a 15th-place showing.
Clanton, Lanigan and Francis are all good bets to be back at Shawano this year.
In 2012, New York racer Tim Fuller set the fast time with a lap of 20.151 seconds, but Lanigan returned to victory lane after leading all 50 laps. Anvelink was again the best of the locals with another 12th-place finish.
History was made in 2013 as Rick Eckerdt set the fast time with a new track record lap of 18.883 seconds. Six racers were under 19 seconds a lap in qualifying. During the race, it was Pennsylvania racer Gregg Satterlee winning his first World of Outlaws feature. Ron Berna finished best among the locals with a 21st-place effort.
Satterlee once again has the Shawano race on his schedule.
Last year, it was Moyer Sr. setting a new track record in qualifying with a lap of 18.4 seconds. Eleven racers clocked in at under 19 seconds. Lanigan scored yet another win. Brett Swedberg was the best of the locals with a 21st-place finish.
This year’s Sun Drop Shootout should again be a big event. The running of Shawano’s event just prior to one of the biggest races of the year, at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, ensures that the race is well attended by drivers from all over the nation.
It gives local fans a chance to see the best talent in the nation at their home track.
Aside from the drivers already mentioned, we can expect to see Josh Richards, from West Virginia; Chub Frank, Boom Briggs and Rick Eckert, from Pennsylvania; New York’s Tim McCreadie; Texas ace Morgan Bagley; Eric Wells, of Kentucky; Illinois racers Frank Heckenast, Dennis Erb Jr. and Bobby Pierce; Chase Junghans from Kansas; Brandon Overton, of Georgia; and Minnesota rookie Jordan Yaggy.
I also would expect to see Wisconsin’s Jimmy Mars and possibly former Navarino native and Shawano Speedway track champion A.J. Diemel. Florida racer Earl Pearson Jr. also has this race on his schedule.
Part of the beauty of an event like this is you just never know who will show up.
IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars are also part of what should be a great show.
See you at the speedway.
