Curious which drivers you should keep an eye on at each World of Outlaws Late Model Series event? Series Announcer Ruben Mireles will bring you his five drivers to watch each week.
This week: World of Outlaws Grand Forks Showdown at River Cities Speedway on June 27
RUBEN’S FIVE:
Brian Shirley
Why: It hasn’t been the fastest start to the year for Brian Shirley, but it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. Shirley finished third on Saturday’s finale at I-55, matching his season-best finish so far. Let’s not forget Shirley won four of the last seven races before Charlotte, and he also won River Cities a year ago. If you take away Shirley’s Friday finish from I-55, his last five races have been third, sixth, fourth, third, and fourth. This team may be quiet now, but just like the past, once Shirley starts to make his presence felt in the top five, he starts winning! Now’s the perfect time for the Bob Cullen Racing No. 3s to start getting heated!
Ryan Gustin
Why: “The Reaper” won at River Cities two years ago, and with two wins on the year already, never count out Gustin at an “elbows up” joint like River Cities, where he won with the Outlaws in 2023. The last four finishes for Gustin under Outlaws competition are sixth, third, fourth, and third. Gustin has set himself up throughout race nights, winning his Heat Races. Pierce may lead the 2025 Heat Race win category at 14 Heat wins, but Gustin is second with nine Heat Race wins out of all the Outlaws. When Gustin gets in the redraw this team produces spectacular results. Gustin could become the sixth repeat winner with the Series at River Cities.
Tyler Peterson
Why: While WISSOTA Late Models are around 150 to 200 less horsepower, River Cities Speedway becomes an equalizer. This bullring has produced 12 different winners in 17 races. Peterson entered the WISSOTA Late Model scene in 2023 and has gone back-to-back as the WISSOTA Late Model national champion. Peterson comes into the weekend more prepared than ever to face the Outlaws and if we could witness a local defeat the Outlaws for the first time at River Cities it could be the reigning two-time WISSOTA national champion.
Dustin Strand
Why: Six-time River Cities Speedway track champion Dustin Strand is putting a Vic Hill under the hood of his No. 71 Late Model. Not to mention Dustin is a five-time NLRA champion. Strand has nothing to prove locally and would love nothing more than to earn his first career World of Outlaws victory. He has 12 Feature starts with the Series and earned his best finish of fifth back in 2020 at River Cities. With full power under the hood now, Strand could shock the world.
Drake Troutman
Why: I did pick Troutman on my I-55 five to watch and he did it! While all these tracks are new for Troutman, he’s made so many starts this season it really doesn’t matter if he’s been to a track or not. The current MD3 Rookie of the Year point leader has big momentum as the most recent winner on the tour. We all know momentum is a major key to success in our sport, and right now that Team 22, Inc. team is one to watch!
You can follow these drivers and more all weekend by getting your tickets in advance or at the gate.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live – with Ruben Mireles – on DIRTVision.
UP NEXT:World of Outlaws Norman County Showdown at Norman County Raceway on Saturday, June 28