World Of Outlaws Late Model Drivers To Face Tough Local Field In Back-To-Back Races
Story By: JORDAN DELUCIA / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – CONCORD, NC – The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series is gearing up for back-to-back events this weekend in Ohio, on Friday at Muskingum County Speedway and Saturday at Wayne County Speedway.
And who better to make some noise in the Buckeye State than one of the most experienced veterans on the circuit, three-time champion Darrell Lanigan.
Through the first 11 Series races of 2019, Lanigan has garnered a solid five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s, and he’s been closing in on Victory Lane. New for 2019 is his team’s latest-and-greatest Club 29 chassis — a car they’re still trying to fine-tune.
“When bringing out a new car, you’ve got to search to see what the car likes and what issues you can find,” Lanigan said. “Muskingum and Wayne County are decent tracks for us and, if the weather holds up, hopefully we can pick up a win out there.”
The “Bluegrass Bandit” is no stranger to Victory Lane at either facility, as he scored wins at Muskingum County in 2010and at Wayne County in 2012. Last year, Lanigan drove to a second-place showing in his only visit to Muskingum County. His experience should pay off with the Outlaws this weekend.
Last Friday night, Lanigan and his team made the trip North from their shop in Union, KY to Farmer City Raceway for the annual “Farmer City 74” event, where Lanigan made an impressive run from 18th to finish third behind Kent Robinson and Allen Weisser.
“I was definitely very pleased,” Lanigan said. “Hopefully some of that will translate over to this weekend.”
Of course, what would a visit to Northeastern Ohio be without some stiff competition for the Outlaws to race against?
Wayne County weekly racer Doug Drown will bring his Ely Road Reel Co., ABR Farms, 89 Homes, Wooster Glass #12 into Orrville this weekend, looking to do what Barry Wright Race Cars house pilot Ross Bailes did just a few weeks agoat the Cherokee Speedway – beat the Outlaws at their own game.
“This race is definitely one to circle because it’s the best-of-the-best coming into your home track and you can try to see how you match up against them,” Drown said. “I know they don’t race here every week, but they race on plenty of tracks of comparable size that they know how to get around.”
And he’s right. So far this season, three races have taken place on a 3/8-mile. Interestingly enough, it’s the only size that Series point leader Brandon Sheppard has not won on this year.
Ironically, Sheppard was the man who took the lead away from Drown (who drove around 2013 winner Dave Hess and led several laps) in last year’s Morton Buildings Feature at Wayne County.
“Unfortunately, I had a flat after I took the lead, and then it finally went down and that’s when I got into the wall,” Drown said. “So, we didn’t have the whole 50 laps to put on a show but I think we could’ve had a top-three last year, for sure. Hopefully, we can get out there and redeem ourselves this year.”
Redemption might just be in the cards for Drown’s 2019 campaign, as he returned to weekly competition at Wayne County in a family-owned Black Diamond chassis that he said he’s much more comfortable in, after switching from a Longhorn chassis in 2018 and a Swartz chassis in 2017. So far, he’s picked up a win and a runner-up in local action, and is looking to cash in on that momentum to become the Series’ second first-time winner of the 2019 season.
“Our lap times, lately, have been really quick, even on a slicker track,” Drown said. “Last year, the track was a lot faster. But, [track promoter Jason Flory] has done a phenomenal job of keeping the track smooth and racy.”
“I think we’ll be pretty good,” Drown continued. “I like our chances to run up front, and I’d be disappointed if we didn’t get a top-five.”
