The arrival of fall means the last leg of the season goes green this weekend.
Nine races remain for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in 2026 on the road to Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals. The first two will take the Series to the Midwest for the last time this year for a doubleheader at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.
The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet have raced at the Pevely, MO facility 13 times in the past, but it’s been more than a decade since the last September visit in 2013. This weekend’s King of the Arch begins with a 40-lap, $12,000-to-win, clash on Friday, Sept. 25, ahead of a signature 55-lapper at I-55 for $20,000 on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The World of Outlaws will be joined by the MARS Modified Championship powered by Summit Racing Equipment on both nights.
Here are this week’s top storylines:
GOT HIS GLOBE: No matter what Nick Hoffman does with the rest of his dirt Late Model career, he’ll forever hold one elusive title – World 100 champion.
For the Belleville, IL native, there’s no better place for him to make his first World of Outlaws start since the biggest night of his career than at one of his home tracks. Pevely was one of several St. Louis-area tracks where Hoffman grew up watching his dad, Darrell, race, before returning years later as a driver himself.
Hoffman still has a mathematical chance at delivering Tye Twarog a championship in his final season in his No. 9 car, but he’ll need Pierce to have issues down the stretch. Hoffman trails points leader Bobby Pierce by 112 markers, meaning he would need to beat Pierce by about seven positions per night to close the gap.
Even if a championship doesn’t come to fruition this year, Hoffman is still determined to win as many more races as he can before his time with Twarog ends in November. If he can earn one this weekend, it would be his first Late Model win at Pevely to go along with his pair of DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals triumphs.
CLOSING IN: Pierce’s game plan for the fall is simple – if he keeps doing what he’s been doing all season, a third World of Outlaws title will be his.
A record-breaking 20 wins and a 3.58 average finish have made the No. 32 the class of the field once again in 2026, and he still has nine races left to continue rewriting the record books. Nothing is a given in Late Model racing, though, as proven by Pierce’s expired engine at Eldora Speedway that left him failing to qualify for the World 100 for the first time in his career.
The “Smooth Operator” collected plenty of local and regional wins at I-55 early in his career before adding a World of Outlaws victory to the tally last year.
HEARTACHE MEDICATION: Ryan Gustin is heading to Pevely on a mission to bounce back from the one that got away.
After starting on the pole and leading the first 88 laps of the World 100, a broken driveshaft ended the Marshalltown, IA native’s chances of a career-defining victory. That heartbreak was the latest chapter of what’s largely been a frustrating 2026 season that has only yielded one World of Outlaws win through 45 races, Gustin’s lowest total in five years.
There’s still time to turn things around and finish on a high note, particularly next weekend at Boothill Speedway, where Gustin won in each of the last two years. The “Reaper” had speed at Pevely in 2025 as well, finishing third on Friday and sixth on Saturday, and won a MARS Late Model Championship race there in 2015.
PEVELY PROWESS: Only one current full-time Outlaw has more than one I-55 win to their name, and that title belongs to Dennis Erb Jr.
The Carpentersville, IL native has been making regular trips to Pevely for almost 30 years and scored wins at the regional level in both Northern Allstars and MARS competition. Erb went to Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws first in 2012 before pulling off a weekend sweep in 2022 on his way to the championship. That makes Pevely one of only two tracks where Erb owns more than one World of Outlaws win, the other being Volusia Speedway Park.
Erb was having his best night of the season last time out at Shelby County Speedway, as he led his first laps of 2026 before a blown engine ended his chance at his first win of the year. He enters Pevely ninth in the standings, 19 points behind Trey Mills in the battle for eighth.
WINNING WAYS: The World of Outlaws roster didn’t slow down in the three weekends between Series races, and several of them have collected the trophy at tracks across the country.
In total, seven different Outlaws have won nine races since the tour left Shelby County on Aug. 29. Hoffman’s World 100 triumph tops the list, although it wasn’t his only Eldora win of the week. He also won one of the split-field Features at the Baltes Classic on Sept. 6, and the other one was topped by Tristan Chamberlain for the 19-year-old’s biggest win to date.
Other recent wins ahead of the King of the Arch include Pierce’s $20,000 Cotton Pickin’ 100 score at Magnolia Motor Speedway, Ryan Gustin’s Weiner Nationals triumph at Moberly Motorsports Park, a Labor Day weekend sweep at Portsmouth Raceway Park for Tyler Erb, a home-state win for Tim McCreadie at Outlaw Speedway and a Northern Allstars win for Trey Mills in his Brownstown Speedway debut.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26, at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely, MO
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Pierce (6489 points)
2. Nick Hoffman (-112)
3. Tyler Erb (-347)
4. Tim McCreadie (-419)
5. Ryan Gustin (-419)
6. Ethan Dotson (-641)
7. Daulton Wilson (-724)
8. Trey Mills (-820)
9. Dennis Erb Jr. (-839)
10. Dustin Sorensen (-932)
FEATURE WINNERS (13):
Bobby Pierce – 20
Nick Hoffman – 6
Tyler Erb – 4
Brandon Sheppard – 3
Hudson O’Neal – 3
Tim McCreadie – 2
Ryan Gustin – 1
Ethan Dotson – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Chris Madden – 1
Mason Zeigler – 1
Mike Marlar – 1
FEATURE TOP FIVES (31):
Nick Hoffman – 36
Bobby Pierce – 34
Tyler Erb – 22
Tim McCreadie – 17
Brandon Sheppard – 13
Ryan Gustin – 13
Hudson O’Neal – 12
Ethan Dotson – 11
Daulton Wilson – 10
Drake Troutman – 10
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 6
Jonathan Davenport – 6
Chris Madden – 5
Dennis Erb Jr. – 5
Dustin Sorensen – 4
Mason Zeigler – 2
Dale McDowell – 2
Brandon Overton – 2
Trey Mills – 2
Ashton Winger – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Max Blair – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
Josh Rice – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Zack Mitchell – 1
Devin Moran – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Justin Duty – 1
Dave Hess Jr. – 1
FEATURE LAPS LED (26):
Bobby Pierce – 630
Nick Hoffman – 308
Tyler Erb – 144
Daulton Wilson – 142
Brandon Sheppard – 118
Drake Troutman – 99
Hudson O’Neal – 95
Ryan Gustin – 73
Chris Madden – 73
Trey Mills – 63
Tim McCreadie – 59
Jonathan Davenport – 57
Garrett Alberson – 46
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 41
Mike Marlar – 39
Mason Zeigler – 24
Ethan Dotson – 23
Ashton Winger – 22
Dan Ebert – 14
Dallon Murty – 14
Brandon Overton – 12
Michael Leach – 10
Dustin Sorensen – 9
Dennis Erb Jr. – 5
Sam Seawright – 5
Dale McDowell – 4
BILSTEIN POLE AWARDS (24):
Nick Hoffman – 8
Daulton Wilson – 4
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 3
Drake Troutman – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Tyler Erb – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Tim McCreadie – 2
Ethan Dotson – 2
Chris Madden – 2
Dallon Murty – 2
Brandon Sheppard – 1
Ryan Gustin – 1
Jonathan Davenport – 1
Dennis Erb Jr. – 1
Dustin Sorensen – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Trey Mills – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Tristan Chamberlain – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Michael Leach – 1
SIMPSON QUICK TIME AWARDS (20):
Nick Hoffman – 10
Chris Madden – 5
Bobby Pierce – 3
Tyler Erb – 3
Brandon Sheppard – 3
Hudson O’Neal – 3
Tim McCreadie – 3
Michael Leach – 3
Jonathan Davenport – 2
Ethan Dotson – 1
Daulton Wilson – 1
Drake Troutman – 1
Brandon Overton – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Boom Briggs – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Ross Robinson – 1
Sam Seawright – 1
Jason Feger – 1
Tanner English – 1
HEAT RACE WINS (44):
Nick Hoffman – 25
Bobby Pierce – 21
Tyler Erb – 12
Brandon Sheppard – 11
Hudson O’Neal – 9
Ryan Gustin – 9
Chris Madden – 8
Daulton Wilson – 7
Drake Troutman – 7
Tim McCreadie – 6
Ethan Dotson – 6
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 6
Dustin Sorensen – 5
Jonathan Davenport – 4
Dennis Erb Jr. – 4
Brandon Overton – 4
Mason Zeigler – 3
Trey Mills – 3
Tristan Chamberlain – 3
Devin Moran – 2
Dan Ebert – 2
Sam Seawright – 2
Michael Leach – 2
Dallon Murty – 2
Jason Feger – 2
Jared Miley – 2
Mike Marlar – 1
Dale McDowell – 1
Ashton Winger – 1
Brent Larson – 1
Josh Rice – 1
Garrett Alberson – 1
Zack Mitchell – 1
Justin Duty – 1
Dave Hess Jr. – 1
Donald McIntosh – 1
Blair Nothdurft – 1
Logan Zarin – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Austin Smith – 1
Sam Mars – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Lane Snook – 1
Tanner English – 1
Jake O’Neil – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (44):
Ethan Dotson – 4
Dennis Erb Jr. – 4
Dallon Murty – 4
Ryan Gustin – 3
Daulton Wilson – 3
Trey Mills – 3
Josh Rice – 3
Logan Zarin – 3
Tristan Chamberlain – 3
Dustin Sorensen – 3
Bobby Pierce – 2
Nick Hoffman – 2
Hudson O’Neal – 2
Drake Troutman – 2
Brent Larson – 2
Boom Briggs – 2
Carson Ferguson – 2
Jason Feger – 2
Tim McCreadie – 1
Ricky Thornton Jr. – 1
Brian Shirley – 1
Clay Stuckey – 1
Cory Hedgecock – 1
Jake Timm – 1
Cody Overton – 1
Kyle Bronson – 1
Dan Ebert – 1
Michael Leach – 1
Luke Morey – 1
Chris Ferguson – 1
Dalton Cook – 1
Shane Clanton – 1
Michael Page – 1
Derrick Stewart – 1
Chad Simpson – 1
Chris Simpson – 1
Dylan Thornton – 1
Gordy Gundaker – 1
Nick Davis – 1
Dylan Yoder – 1
Lincoln Smith – 1
Wesley McCray – 1
Tanner English – 1
Billy Moyer – 1
2026 WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES PRESENTED BY DIRTVISION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL (Practice)
Thursday, Jan. 22 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Chris Madden (1)
Friday, Jan. 23 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Hudson O’Neal (1)
Saturday, Jan. 24 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tim McCreadie (1)
Thursday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (1)
Friday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Nick Hoffman (2)
Saturday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
Thursday, Feb. 19 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL (Practice)
Friday, Feb. 20 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Bobby Pierce (1)
Saturday, Feb. 21 / Hendry County Motorsports Park / Clewiston, FL / Nick Hoffman (3)
Friday, March 13 / Volunteer Speedway / Bulls Gap, TN / Mike Marlar (1)
Saturday, March 14 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Bobby Pierce (2)
Thursday, March 19 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS (Practice)
Friday, March 20 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Bobby Pierce (3)
Saturday, March 21 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Hudson O’Neal (2)
Friday, March 27 / East Alabama Motor Speedway / Phenix City, AL / Nick Hoffman (4)
Saturday, March 28 / Senoia Raceway / Senoia, GA / Bobby Pierce (4)
Thursday, April 9 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL (Practice)
Friday, April 10 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Brandon Sheppard (2)
Saturday, April 11 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, IL / Bobby Pierce (5)
Tuesday, April 28 / Independence Motor Speedway / Independence, IA / Bobby Pierce (6)
Thursday, April 30 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Bobby Pierce (7)
Friday, May 1 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Nick Hoffman (5)
Saturday, May 2 / Mississippi Thunder Speedway / Fountain City, WI / Ryan Gustin (1)
Wednesday, May 13 / Georgetown Speedway / Georgetown, DE / Bobby Pierce (8)
Thursday, May 14 / Selinsgrove Speedway / Selinsgrove, PA / Tim McCreadie (2)
Sunday, May 17 / Bedford Speedway / Bedford, PA / Mason Zeigler (1)
Wednesday, May 27 / Marion Center Raceway / Marion Center, PA / Bobby Pierce (9)
Thursday, May 28 / Wayne County Speedway / Orrville, OH / Ricky Thornton Jr. (1)
Friday, May 29 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH / Tyler Erb (1)
Saturday, May 30 / Mansfield Speedway / Mansfield, OH / Nick Hoffman (6)
Friday, June 12 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV / Bobby Pierce (10)
Saturday, June 13 / West Virginia Motor Speedway / Mineral Wells, WV / Tyler Erb (2)
Saturday, June 20 / 141 Speedway / Maribel, WI / Bobby Pierce (11)
Monday, June 22 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Bobby Pierce (12)
Wednesday, June 24 / I-94 emr Speedway / Fergus Falls, MN / Bobby Pierce (13)
Friday, June 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Bobby Pierce (14)
Sunday, June 28 / Nodak Speedway / Minot, ND / Bobby Pierce (15)
Tuesday, June 30 / Norman County Raceway / Ada, MN / Bobby Pierce (16)
Wednesday, July 8 / Stateline Speedway / Busti, NY / Daulton Wilson (1)
Saturday, July 11 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Bobby Pierce (17)
Saturday, July 25 / Fairbury Speedway / Fairbury, IL / Brandon Sheppard (3)
Thursday, July 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Tyler Erb (3)
Saturday, Aug. 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Bobby Pierce (18)
Thursday, Aug. 20 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA (Practice)
Friday, Aug. 21 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA / Huson O’Neal (3)
Saturday, Aug. 22 / Maquoketa Speedway / Maquoketa, IA / Bobby Pierce (19)
Wednesday, Aug. 26 / Southern Iowa Speedway / Oskaloosa, IA / Tyler Erb (4)
Friday, Aug, 28 / Adams County Speedway / Corning, IA / Bobby Pierce (20)
Saturday, Aug. 29 / Shelby County Speedway / Harlan, IA / Ethan Dotson (1)
Friday, Sept. 25 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Saturday, Sept. 26 / I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park / Pevely, MO
Friday, Oct. 2 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Saturday, Oct. 3 / Boothill Speedway / Greenwood, LA
Friday, Oct. 23 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Saturday, Oct. 24 / Modoc Speedway / Modoc, SC
Wednesday, Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Thursday, Nov. 5 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Friday, Nov. 6 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
Saturday, Nov. 7 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, NC
This article was republished with permission from the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. The original article can be found here: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/top-five-storylines-illinois-nick-hoffman-leads-charge-into-outlaws-i-55-fall-visit/
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