Bobby Pierce Continues Win Streak at Sharon; Completes Hat-Trick

Bobby Pierce competing at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH (Photo: Emily Schwanke | World Racing Group)

HARTFORD, Ohio — The World of Outlaws late models migrated a little further west to Ohio on Friday night to start their two-day race at Sharon Speedway.

Bobby Pierce and Nick Hoffman were the front row for the 40-lap feature. Upon starting, Ryan Gustin got out in front of everyone to take over the lead, with Hoffman right behind him. Pierce was now in third and was battling for it with Cade Dillard.

Dillard overtook Pierce for third coming down the front straight and into Turn 1, and got by Hoffman for second going down the back chute. They traded paint and positions a couple times after that.

Meanwhile, Kyle Bronson and Pierce went head-to-head for fourth. Side-by-side throughout the corners, and nearly side-by-side down the straights, it seemed like Pierce had the advantage because he was up top, but Bronson just kept holding him off until Pierce successfully performed a slide job on Bronson to claim fourth at the line to start Lap 5.

Pierce, keeping the momentum up needed to pass more cars, did just that with Dillard. Pierce went to the inside of Dillard going down the back stretch and just zoomed right on by him for third. Now, Pierce had his eyes on Hoffman who was in second.

Ryan Gustin competing at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH (Photo: Emily Schwanke | World Racing Group)

It took over ten laps, but Pierce finally got by Hoffman on Lap 18 because lap car Tyler Bruening was in the way. Hoffman could not get by Bruening to keep going on the bottom and Pierce capitalized on that, going up to the top and flying right on by Hoffman for second.

Two laps later, Pierce used lap traffic to his effect once again to get by Gustin for the lead. Gustin had a bunch of lap cars in front of him and once he got past them Pierce went down low and slid up in front of him to take over first place. Gustin tried to cross him over coming out of Turn 2, but could not do it.

On a restart due to two cars spinning, Gustin went from second to fourth as Dillard and Bronson passed him on the high side. Hoffman looked to pass him as well, but could not find the right lane to pass him cleanly.

With two laps to go, Hoffman and Brandon Sheppard fought over who would be in the top five. Hoffman went into Turn 3 high and Sheppard was going to go low, but then changed his mind and went up high as well, following directly behind Hoffman, allowing him to get fifth.

Pierce stayed in first for the remainder of the race and came home ahead of Dillard, Gustin, Bronson and, of course, Hoffman.

“Right before that first caution come out I felt my tires start digging and I tried to keep them warm under the yellow and they got back going again,” Pierce said about his tire wear during the race. “The track finally formed a good cushion up there, but it was a tricky, treacherous cushion to drive; especially in dirty air. Awesome racecar.”