The world of Outlaws CASE Late Models creates excitement at the Atomic Speedway

CHILLICOTHE – The race for the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models title at the World of Outlaws World Finals makes a key stop at Atomic Speedway to close out August.

The series will make two nights in Chillicothe for the Fireball 50 on Friday and Saturday, August 23 and 24. Racing begins on Friday with 40 laps of the steep, 3/8-mile dirt track for $10,000. The finale on Saturday night will see drivers compete for 50 laps and $15,000 to be crowned the grand winner of the 16th race in series history at the track, dating back to 1989.

Modifieds and 305 Sprint Cars will join the series on Friday, while Sport Mods and the 305 Sprint Cars will make up the program on Saturday.

Here are the key storylines to watch out for:

Squirrel on fire: Brian Shirley had his best week with the World of Outlaws behind the Bob Cullen Racing No. 3S during the Illinois-Iowa tour in mid-August. The Chatham, Illinois native began the week with a win in his home state at the Beat The Heat 40 at Highland Speedway and then won both nights of the Hawkeye 100 weekend at Maquoketa Speedway. “Squirrel” passed Dennis Erb Jr. and Tyler Bruening to move into seventh place in the series point standings with nine races remaining to continue making up ground.

Sparks of the title hunt: The battles among the top five in the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models have made the early battles even more exciting. Driver Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, IL, leads the standings by 64 points over Nick Hoffman and 76 points over Bobby Pierce. Sheppard earned three top-10 finishes and a podium finish in Saturday night's feature race. Hoffman, of Mooresville, NC, finished the weekend with a second-place finish in the Hawkeye 100 but lost ground to Sheppard as the week went on. Pierce, of Oakwood, Illinois, began the week with a podium finish at Highland, but a flat tire on Saturday night thwarted any opportunity to close the gap between him and Sheppard and finish the week.