THE SUMMER OF MONEY: Crown Jewels, Big Paydays Highlight Summer Swing for World of Outlaws Late Models
CONCORD, NC – July 10, 2023– Temperatures across the country aren’t the only thing going up this summer.
From July to Labor Day weekend, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series will see some of its biggest payouts of the year for eight straight events – totaling over $1 million in combined purses during the “Summer of Money” span.
Those eight events will pay at least $15,000 to win for their main event – two paying $50,000 to win – and at least $1,200 to start. First up will be the doubleheader weekend at Ponderosa Speedway, July 14, and Brownstown Speedway, July 15 – each paying $15,000 to win.
Three events during the “Summer of Money” will boast a more than $200,000 purse with two of them at nearly $300,000. The two biggest are the Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway, July 28-29, and USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway, Aug. 3-5 – both paying $50,000 to win and $3,000 to start. And like last year, the Prairie Dirt Classic will also pay $500 for every lap led, allowing one driver to do what Brandon Sheppard did and walk away with a $100,000 payday.
Joining the more than $200,000 purse club is the My Place Hotels Quad Cities 150 at Davenport Speedway, Aug. 24-26, paying $30,000-to-win for its Saturday finale.
In between the Prairie Dirt Classic and USA Nationals is the $15,000-to-win growing marquee event at Boone Speedway – the Hawkeye 50 on Monday, Aug. 1. After Davenport, the Series will venture to Mississippi Thunder Speedway (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) and Deer Creek Speedway (Sept. 2), which will each feature a $20,000-to-win main event.
The start money continues to impress at each event with Boone paying $1,200 to start, Deer Creek and Mississippi Thunder’s finale paying $1,600 to start, and Davenport’s finale paying $2,500 to start.
That money helps teams big and small like Germfree Labs Rookie of the Year contender Todd Cooney, who’s enduring the grind of the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season for the first time.
“For a team like us that’s been struggling most of the year, we have a lot of learning to do,” Cooney said. “So, it takes a lot of money to get the parts we need. There’s a lot of trial and error. You’re trying this and trying that. So, we’ve got a lot of money going out every week to try and get better. So, extra money coming in helps a lot.”
Shane Clanton, the 2015 Series champion, of Zebulon, GA, agreed with Cooney’s thoughts, knowing how important that money through the field is to help teams get to each event.
“It feels good,” Clanton said. “It helps us get up and down the road… [When] they add a little bit throughout the whole field that’s good for everybody.”
He’s also eyeing the big paydays too as he’s yet to win either crown jewel.
“I want to get PDC and Cedar Lake both,” Clanton said. “I’ve been close at both of them and just haven’t gotten the checkered flag yet. So, hopefully, we get the chance this year to be competitive and get it.”
Both Cedar Lake and Fairbury have two of the toughest fields dirt Late Model drivers will see in 2023. Sheppard, of New Berlin, IL, is the only full-time World of Outlaws competitor who’s won both.
The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models kick off the “Summer of Money” on Friday, July 14, at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY, before heading to Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN, on Saturday, July 15.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
July 14 – Ponderosa Speedway – $15,000 to win
July 15 – Brownstown Speedway – $15,000 to win
July 28 – Fairbury Speedway – $5,000 to win (Prelim Features)
July 29 – Fairbury Speedway – $50,000 to win (Plus lap money)
Aug. 1 – Boone Speedway – $15,000 to win
Aug. 3 – Cedar Lake Speedway – $6,000 to win
Aug. 4 – Cedar Lake Speedway – $6,000 to win
Aug. 5 – Cedar Lake Speedway – $50,000 to win
Aug. 24 – Davenport Speedway – $10,000 to win
Aug. 25 – Davenport Speedway – $10,000 to win
Aug. 26 – Davenport Speedway – $30,000 to win
Aug. 31 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway – $10,000 to win
Sept. 1 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway – $20,000 to win
Sept. 2 – Deer Creek Speedway – $20,000 to win
If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model race live on DIRTVision.
The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Simpson Performance Products (Preferred Safety Gear Partner), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Fox Factory (Hard Charger Award), Low-E Insulation, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Swift Springs, and Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Capital Race Cars, FIREBULL, Germfree, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Reliable Painting, Rocket Chassis, and Sea Foam.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Sources: Mike Warren, World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR