Nick Hoffman Wins at Norman County; Takes Home $15,000

Nick Hoffman competing at Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN (Photo: Emily Schwanke | World Racing Group)

ADA, Minn. — After having their Friday night scheduled race canceled due to inclement weather, the World of Outlaws late models went to Norman County Raceway to take part in a 50-lap, $15,000-to-win race.

There was no track record at Norman County to break, so that meant that whoever got the quick time of the night would be the new track record holder. That special someone was none other than Kyle Bronson who clocked a 15.363 second lap. That speed would work in his favor because he shared the front row with Nick Hoffman to kick off the race.

Bronson, following the schedule of being quicker than everyone else so far, shot out front. Hoffman was coming up quick though, but not for long because Ryan Gustin took over second going into Turn 2. This started a battle between the two of them.

On Lap 5, Gustin got tired of battling with Hoffman and went after Bronson. Gustin went low while Bronson stuck with the high line. Gustin’s attempts didn’t work and each man stayed in their respective positions. A few spots back, Brandon Sheppard and Max McLaughlin went at it for sixth. Sheppard stole it from Max and then Max slidejobbed him to reclaim the sixth place spot.

Leader Bronson started seeing the rear ends of the lap cars on Lap 9, and Bobby Pierce was working on Gustin by going to the bottom heading into Turn 3. Bronson started weaving his way through traffic with Gustin right behind him as they both rode the high line.

The first caution of the night came out on Lap 14 due to Dustin Walker spinning in Turn 2. On the restart, Pierce got by Gustin for second and was gunning for the lead, hard. Pierce went low in Turn 3 and stuck his nose ahead of Bronson in an attempt to close the door on the leader, but Bronson said no and got back out in front of Pierce.

Gustin did not like being passed by Pierce without having a chance, so he went after him…but to no avail. Pierce managed to stay ahead of Gustin and continue to slowly close the gap between him and Bronson to get up close enough again to go for the lead.

On Lap 21, Pierce got next to Bronson again and each man stuck to their own lane with Bronson just a little bit better on the high side. Gustin watched this and decided to go even higher than Bronson to try and pass them both. Just as he was about to put that plan into motion, Bronson’s right rear tire exploded, causing him to slow on the front straight and ending his night.

Kyle Bronson competing at Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN (Photo: Emily Schwanke | World Racing Group)

The restart saw a good battle for the top spots, but three cars went around in Turns 1 and 2, bringing out another caution. This restart proved to be better, but not better for Gustin because he lost second to Devin Moran for a little bit before snagging it back from him.

It seemed being in the lead was a bad thing for this race, because Pierce went over the berm in Turns 1 and 2 due to a broken rod in his engine, ending his night and any chances of winning. Gustin, now in the lead, had to worry about Hoffman as well because the “Thrill from Mooresville” was going after Moran for second and wasn’t letting up. Nor was Sheppard, who was also after Hoffman. 

The pole position curse continued with Gustin. Gustin turned his wheel to go into Turn 1 and just couldn’t. Following Pierce’s footsteps, Gustin went over the berm and into the pits, ending his night and chance of winning as well.

Lap 31 saw Cade Dillard and McLaughlin battle for fourth. Dillard, who was in the spot originally, managed to keep it, but McLaughlin did not let up and the two of them kept battling. Eventually, McLaughlin fell away from Dillard and got into it with Brent Larson. They swapped spots a lot, but McLaughlin proved to have the better strategy and ended up keeping sixth.

Up ahead, Hoffman was trying to reel in Moran. And with lap traffic coming into the picture on Lap 41, Hoffman saw his opportunity. He got side-by-side with Moran coming out of Turn 2, and claimed the lead from him on the back stretch.

Moran, now in second, was a target for Sheppard. The next time around the track, Sheppard pulled away from Moran on the back straight, taking over second place. Moran was not giving up easily though, and battled with Sheppard for a couple laps. After going all over the track, Moran found his groove on the bottom and was able to get by Sheppard for second place on Lap 48.

With one lap left to go, Cody Overton slowed in Turns 3 and 4, drawing yet another caution. This made it so that the 50-lap race was now a 51-lap race. On the restart, Moran looked to the inside of Hoffman, but Hoffman said no and kept the lead. 

“I felt like at the beginning I was pacing myself and doing that for my tires saved my ass,” said Hoffman about his win. “Thank you to everyone for this car and I just went back to my notes and I had confidence that I could beat these guys.”