First World of Outlaws Trophy in Hand, Dotson Ready to Continue Rise to Stardom
EASTABOGA, AL (April 24, 2025) – When Ethan Dotson took the checkers at Farmer City Raceway to become a winner with the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision, it was more than the latest line on his resume – it was the culmination of his life’s work.
“Since I was a little kid, I’ve been dreaming of being able to have the opportunity, being able to succeed at the highest level of the sport that I wanted,” Dotson said. “I never really liked NASCAR or wanted any part of that; I just love dirt racing. Growing up racing Modifieds, I just loved Super Late Models. Watching them and just dreaming of one day being able to drive one, and then one day being able to race Outlaw races. Then being able to win with some of the best, I’m just super lucky.”
Hitting the road with the World of Outlaws and winning races has always been the end goal for Dotson, but a few phone calls a year ago turned that dream into a realistic possibility. Last May, Dotson was tabbed as the new driver for ASD Motorsports, giving him everything he needed to go toe-to-toe with the best Late Model drivers in the nation.
“I was kind of wandering around looking for a ride and I saw on the internet that Wil [Herrington] had left here,” Dotson said. “I didn’t really know these guys at all. I got Tyler [Breshears]’ number and I got a hold of him and then he gave me John [Henderson]’s number. I called him and we chatted back and forth a little bit. Came up and checked out the shop and we talked a little bit more. It was just a good fit. Got along good and had the same goals and stuff, so it just worked out.”
When Dotson and ASD signed up for their first full season as Outlaws in 2025, they didn’t intend on merely sticking their toe in the water. Dotson knew he had the equipment and the ability to be a perennial contender, and a pair of top fives to start the season at Volusia Speedway Park let the rest of the world know it too.
From that point forward, it was only a matter of time until the Bakersfield, CA native removed his name from the list of potential first-time World of Outlaws winners. With that monkey off his back, Dotson is ready to move into the category of Series stalwarts who know how to win and are in contention to do so on any given night.
“It definitely helped,” Dotson said. “I expect a lot of myself, and I expect that every race. So, to be running up front and winning races, it’s what I need to keep doing.”
However, Dotson isn’t the only freshman off to a hot start in the opening stages of the season. Drake Troutman and Team22 Motorsports have rattled off four top fives in the first 10 races to put themselves fourth in the standings, one spot ahead of Dotson.
The two early favorites for the MD3 Rookie of the Year Award have been on mirroring career trajectories as young Modified stars who have recently graduated to the Late Model ranks. They’ve crossed paths plenty of times, and when Dotson took the win at Farmer City, Troutman was one of the first to offer his congratulations.
For Dotson, there’s no one he’d rather spend this season and beyond battling at the pinnacle of dirt Late Model racing.
“He’s like my little brother,” Dotson said. “We raced Modifieds whenever I was racing for Longhorn, and the last couple years we grew really close. He’s like a little brother to me and one of my best friends. People take it different than I see it. Obviously, I want to win and I want to beat him, but at the same time, if he beats me, I’m just as happy for him. It’s kind of a win-win for me, if I don’t get to win, my best friend gets to win.”
The fight for top rookie honors picks back up this weekend in the Alabama Gang 100 at Talladega Short Track, a place Dotson has already created plenty of good memories at in his short Late Model career. He won two of his six starts at the track with the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series, and he’ll look to put that expertise to good use in his World of Outlaws debut on the Alabama red clay.
“Usually the top gets good, it kind of gets a little sketchy around the top and it’s a lot of fun,” Dotson said. “But I went there a couple weeks ago, and it was completely different than how it normally is. So, it’ll be interesting to see this weekend to see if it’s more like how it’s been or if it’s how it was earlier this month. I kind of don’t know, and then we go in here with this new tire; I haven’t gotten to run it yet. Just a lot of unknowns, but we’ll try to do our deal, win us a race and run up front.”
The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision resumes with the Alabama Gang 100 at Talladega Short Track, Friday-Saturday, April 25-26. For tickets, click here.
If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.
EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/
TRACK INFO: https://www.
FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.
The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series Presented by DIRTVision is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners. Official partners include, Real American Beer (Official Beer), 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