Chris Madden Claims World Finals Finale, Brandon Sheppard Clinches Fifth Championship

Chris Madden competing at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo: Emily Schwanke | World Racing Group)

CONCORD, N.C. — Saturday night marked the completion of the 2024 World of Outlaws Late Models schedule. Unlike their sister series, a champion was still to be determined. Bobby Pierce and Brandon Sheppard both wanted another year of domination to add to their resume, and The Dirt Track at Charlotte gave them one more chance with the World Finals finale.

Ricky Thornton Jr. and Pierce led the 30-car field to the starting zone in Turn 4 to kick off the 50-lap main event. Thornton jumped out to an early lead, but both Pierce and Chris Madden were right on his heels. As they came off of Turn 2, Madden took the bottom lane and successfully slid in front of Pierce for second. 

One lap later, Madden’s bottom-feeding skills worked in his favor, and he was able to pull off yet another slide job, this time on Thornton. During the course of this slider, Madden cut it too short and clipped Thornton’s front end. In an effort to let Madden know that he was upset with this, Thornton got underneath Madden’s back end and shoved up, bending the quarter panel. Thornton then drifted up the track and lost a spot to Pierce.

Now in second, the “Smooth Operator” had his sights set on Madden. They raced side-by-side down the backstretch and throughout Turns 3 and 4, but Madden pulled away to go down the front chute. 

Lap 12 saw some heated action for tenth. Championship competitor Sheppard and Nick Hoffman were side-by-side coming off of the corner to drag race down the front straightaway. As they hit the first turn though, Sheppard kept low and was able to get in front of Hoffman.

Hoffman did not care for this turn of events and decided that he really wanted tenth place back. Three laps later, that is exactly what he did. He pulled a slide job and slid back into tenth with his sights set on everyone in front of him.

On Lap 22, the championship run was pretty much determined when Pierce slowed on the backstretch, drawing a caution. Meanwhile, Sheppard was doing just fine and had no mechanical issues. Pierce was able to get his car fixed and come back out, but the race was nearly half over.

Ten laps later, Thornton had caught up to Madden and he was still mad about the first incident. Coming into the corner, Thornton got under Madden once again and shoved upward. This time, it was Madden who got squirrely and almost lost it, not Thornton. Just as Mike Marlar was entering the top three’s chat, the caution was thrown.

Try as hard as they might, neither Thornton nor Marlar could catch up to Madden for the lead. Jonathan Davenport and Daulton Wilson rounded out the top five.

“It’s very special to win here,” said Madden. “This place is like home and a [special] thank you to everybody who helped put this car together right here.”

With Pierce finishing 17th, Sheppard won the championship for the fifth time in his career. 

The World of Outlaws Late Models kick off their 2025 season at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida, on January 23, 2025.