WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Making First Georgia Stop of 2025 with Swainsboro Return
SWAINSBORO, GA (March 18, 2025) – The springtime portion of the season is officially underway, and the second of back-to-back weekends in the southeast is next on the docket.
The World of Outlaws Late Models are set to roar into Swainsboro Raceway for the first time in 13 years for the two-night Battle at the Crossroads on Friday and Saturday, March 21-22.
Action kicks off on Friday with a 35-lap, $12,000-to-win, Feature before a 50-lap, $15,000-to-win, main event wraps up the weekend on Saturday.
The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet will be joined by 602 Late Models and Street Stocks on Friday while Saturday’s program will include Factory Stocks and Crown Vics.
Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:
BOBBY’S BACK: Most drivers wouldn’t call a top five and three top 10s through five races a bad start to a World of Outlaws season, but most drivers aren’t Bobby Pierce.
This season was the first time since 2014 in which Pierce attended Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals and didn’t win at least once. The Oakwood, IL driver didn’t let that stat get to him though. He entered the Tennessee Tipoff on a mission to prove he was still at the top of the list of championship favorites.
In his debut at Smoky Mountain Speedway, Pierce led all 35 laps of the Feature on his way to his first Outlaw win of the season and the Series points lead. The “Smooth Operator” now has his sights set on Swainsboro, another southeastern track Pierce has yet to visit in his Late Model career.
FINDING HIS GROOVE: Twelve points behind Pierce in the standings is Nick Hoffman, who has also been hitting his stride lately with back-to-back podium finishes.
“The Thrill From Mooresville” had a fast car throughout the season-opening events at Volusia Speedway Park, but a streak of attrition and bad luck caused him to finish lower than he started in the first three World of Outlaws races of the year. He capped off DIRTcar Nationals on a high note with a third-place run before finishing in the same spot four weeks later at Smoky Mountain to establish a new career-best at the track.
Much like the driver he’s chasing in the points, Hoffman will also be making his first Swainsboro laps this weekend. If he can park the NOS Energy Drink No. 9 in Victory Lane, it would be his first Late Model win in Georgia and first in any vehicle in the state since a DIRTcar UMP Modified score at Boyd’s Speedway in 2021.
HOME STATE HEROES: The first of three stops in the “Peach State” in 2025 is set to give several drivers the chance to defend their home turf against the best dirt Late Model drivers in the nation.
Thomson, GA’s Cody Overton enters the weekend as the highest Georgia driver in the Series standings in sixth. His first chance to battle the Outlaws in his home state as a full-timer will come an hour from home at a track that was instrumental to his development as a driver.
Overton has already picked up two Super Late Model wins this year at two other Georgia tracks in Screven Motor Speedway and Senoia Raceway and would love nothing more than to add a World of Outlaws win at home to that total.
Overton won’t be the only Georgia Outlaw that fans have to cheer for this weekend, as Hampton, GA’s Ashton Winger is set to return to a track he’s had plenty of speed at in the past. Winger finds himself on a seven-race top 10 streak at Swainsboro between the Spring Nationals Series and the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series – including a Hunt the Front win in 2023 – and will be looking for more of the same with the Outlaws this weekend.
Cedartown, GA’s Austin Smith will continue his maiden season on the World of Outlaws trail with his first Series appearance in his home state since a pair of races at Screven in 2016. It’s been a decade since Smith last competed at Swainsboro, as he finished 10th with the Southern Nationals in 2015 in his most recent start at the 3/8-mile oval.
REBOUND TIME: Ryan Gustin found himself atop the points table for the first time leaving Volusia, but despite being one of a handful of drivers with a prior win on the reconfigured 3/8-mile track, the Todd Cooney Motorsports team struggled to find their footing last weekend.
After transferring in through a Landa Pressure Washers Last Chance Showdown, Gustin’s 19th-place Feature finish knocked him down to fourth in the standings, 32 points behind Pierce. On the same note as every other driver in the top five, Gustin will also be making his first Swainsboro starts this weekend.
Only one driver in the field this weekend has a perfect record at Swainsboro – Dennis Erb Jr. In his only start at the track, Erb took the checkered flag in 2013. The 2022 Series champion has yet to crack the top 10 in Outlaw competition this year and is aiming to start his climb up from 18th in the standings this weekend.
His fellow Illinois native, Brian Shirley, has only cracked into the top 10 once with the Outlaws in 2025 on the opening night of the season at DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals. “Squirrel” will be looking to turn things around in his first Swainsboro start since 2010 when he finished ninth in the track’s annual Turkey 100.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: A lot has changed since the last time the Outlaws took the green at Swainsboro on May 5, 2012.
Pierce was a 15-year-old fresh face trying to win his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals race. Tristan Chamberlain was getting ready to start kindergarten. One thing that hasn’t changed? Chris Madden still has a knack for winning World of Outlaws races, especially in the southeast.
“Smokey” has spent more than a decade as the most recent Series winner at Swainsboro, but will have a pack of more than two dozen Outlaws looking to take that crown. One of them is Tim McCreadie, who finished fourth that night and won the first World of Outlaws event at Swainsboro two years prior in 2010. He and Darrell Lanigan are the only two drivers to finish top five in all three Swainsboro races in World of Outlaws history, and if McCreadie can keep that streak alive, it would mark his first top five since Sunshine Nationals.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday-Saturday, March 21-22 at Swainsboro Raceway in Swainsboro, GA
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (870 points)
2. Nick Hoffman (-12)
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (-26)
4. Ryan Gustin (-32)
5. Max Blair (-42)
6. Cody Overton (-48)
7. Brandon Sheppard (-48)
8. Ethan Dotson (-56)
9. Brandon Overton (-62)
10. Drake Troutman (-62)
FEATURE WINNERS (5):
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 1
HEAT RACE WINNERS (15):
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 5
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 4
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 4
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 3
Garrett Alberson — Las Cruces, NM – 3
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 3
Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – 2
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 2
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
LANDA PRESSURE WASHERS LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (13):
Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 3
Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 2
Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2
Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – 1
Dustin Sorensen – Rochester, MN – 1
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 1
Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1
Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 1
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
PODIUM FINISHERS (10):
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 5
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 2
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGERS (6):
Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 1
Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – Carpentersville, IL – 1
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 1
Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1
SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS QUICK TIMES (3):
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 3
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 2
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 1
BILSTEIN POLE AWARD (4):
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 2
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 1
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 1
FEATURE LAP LEADERS (9):
Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 44
Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – 41
Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – 39
Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – 35
Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – 19
Ricky Thornton Jr. – Chandler, AZ – 18
Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 17
Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – 16
Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 11
2025 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODELS SCHEDULE & WINNERS
Friday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Ryan Gustin (1)
Saturday, Jan. 25 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Garrett Alberson (1)
Thursday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Garrett Alberson (2)
Friday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Devin Moran (1)
Saturday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Jonathan Davenport (1)
Friday, Mar. 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (1)
Friday, Mar. 21 / Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA
Saturday, Mar. 22 / Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA
Friday, Apr. 4 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH
Saturday, Apr. 5 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH
Thursday, Apr. 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, Apr. 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL
Saturday, Apr. 12 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL
Friday, Apr. 25 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Saturday, Apr. 26 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL
Thursday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Friday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Saturday, May 3 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI
Thursday, May 15 / Raceway 7 / Conneaut, OH
Friday, May 16 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Saturday, May 17 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA
Sunday, May 18 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA
Friday, June 20 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, June 21 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Monday, June 23 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA
Thursday, June 26 / I-94 EMR Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN
Friday, June 27 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND
Saturday, June 28 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN
Sunday, June 29 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND
Thursday, July 3 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 4 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Saturday, July 5 / Deer Creek Speedway / Spring Valley, MN
Friday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Saturday, July 12 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH
Friday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 26 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL
Monday, July 28 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI
Thursday, July 31 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Friday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Saturday, Aug. 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI
Wednesday, Aug. 13 / Highland Speedway / Highland, IL
Thursday, Aug. 14 / Spoon River Speedway / Lewistown, IL
Friday, Aug. 15 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Saturday, Aug. 16 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA
Friday, Aug. 22 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Saturday, Aug. 23 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Friday, Sept. 12 / Needmore Speedway / Norman Park, GA
Saturday, Sept. 13 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA
Friday, Sept. 26 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
Saturday, Sept. 27 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL
Friday, Oct. 3 / Humboldt Speedway / Humboldt, KS
Saturday, Oct. 4 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS
Friday, Oct. 10 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 11 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Wednesday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 8 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/
TRACK INFO: https://www.swainsbororaceway.
FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners. Official partners include, DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Racing Electronics (Official Radio Supplier), Simpson Performance Products (Preferred Safety Gear Partner), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel). Also supported by : AMKUS, Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bilstein, Capital Race Cars, Coltman Farms, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Dave Warren Powersports, Dirt King Simulators, Evolve Transporters, FAST 1 Speed Shop, FIREBULL, Fox Factory (Hard Charger Award), Gorsuch Performance, Infinity Chassis, Integra Racing Shocks, Intercomp, Jarrett Rifles, Keyser Manufacturing, Landa Pressure Washers, Lifeline USA, Longhorn Chassis, MD3, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Reliable Painting, Rocket Chassis, STAKT Products, Swift Springs, WELD Racing, and Wieland (Exclusive Racing Aluminum).
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: Spence Smithback, World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR