Kyle Larson had to fight off challenges for the WoO Late Model win
The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series continued its four-race weekend that will take the tour through three states on Saturday night at the Sharon Speedway. After having to hold back challenges from two different racers, it was NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson who would score the win at the Ohio track. The Longhorn Chassis driver from Elk Grove, California earned $10,000 for the accomplishment in a race shown live by DirtVision.com.
A total of 28 cars were signed in for competition.
Brandon Sheppard was fastest in Group A qualifying with a lap of 16.637 seconds to top Max Blair, Chris Madden, Jared Milley and Ricky Weiss.
Kyle Larson laid down the quick time in Group B qualifying by touring the track in 16.866 seconds to better Tyler Bruening, Dennis Erb Jr., Levi Yetter and Chub Frank.
Brandon Sheppard won the first heat race of the night over Chris Madden, Boom Briggs and Ricky Weiss then Max Blair outran Gregg Satterlee, Jared Miley and Brent Larson in the second preliminary.
Kyle Larson defeated Dennis Erb Jr., Chub Frank and Ryan Gustin in the third heat while Tyler Bruening took the fourth and final heat ahead of Colton Flinner, Levi Yetter and Bob Dorman.
Chad McCleallan was the winner of the lone Last Chance Showdown.
The WoO Late Models redraw set the first four on the starting grid for the main event as Larson, Sheppard, Blair, Bruening, Flinner, Satterlee, Erb and Madden.
At the start of the 40-lap feature it was Larson who shot to the early lead with Sheppard, Blair, Bruening and Flinner trailing. By lap 4 the No. 6 machine had already begun to pull away as Sheppard, Bruening and Blair engaged in a tight battle for positions 2-4.
On the 7th circuit, Flinner looked to pull himself into contention as he passed by Blair to claim fourth. Further ahead, Larson found himself in the midst of slower traffic which allowed Sheppard to close in and challenge for the race lead on lap 8.
In the meantime, Madden showed signs of strength as he worked his way into the top-5 on lap 14. Once clear of traffic, Larson again began to slip away from his pursuers.
However, the action was given a pause on lap 16 when disaster struck Blair as he slowed on track and eventually retired from the race. On the restart, Flinner went on the hunt as he made his way to third by passing Madden and Bruening. However, Bruening would retake that position just after the halfway mark.
Also at halfway, Ryan Gustin, who started from the tail due to a n earlier infraction burst into the top-5 for the first in the event.
Larson again had to contend with slower traffic on lap 26 but a lap 27 caution would offer a reprieve. Unfortunately for Madden, his night would end prematurely for the second time in three nights after suffering a broken axle.
When the race when back to green flag action for the final rime on lap 27, Gustin blasted his way up to second and immediately began to harass Larson. On lap 29, “The Reaper” pulled alongside “Yung Money” on the outside but bobbled soon after and fell back.
Gustin would fight back over the closing laps but would never again be able to get as close. In the end, it was Kyle Larson who claimed the win before leaving the track to make his way to Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.
Feature Finish: 1. Kyle Larson, 2. Ryan Gustin, 3. Brandon Sheppard, 4. Tyler Bruening, 5. Colton Flinner, 6. Boom Briggs, 7. Ricky Weiss, 8. Chub Frank, 9. Dennis Erb Jr., 10. Gregg Satterlee, 11. Brent Larson, 12. Jared Miley, 13. Tyler Dietz, 14. Logan Zarin, 15. Levi Yetter, 16. Chris Madden, 17. Steven Kania, 18. Ryan Missler, 19. Max Blair, 20. Bob Dorman, 21. Doug Drown, 22. Chad McClellan, 23. Logan Jaquay, 24. Andy Boozel
