Racing season is back.
The unofficial kickoff to 2022 will take place this Saturday when the fenders face off at Vado Speedway Park in New Mexico for this year’s edition of the Wild West Shootout.
Unsurprisingly, the event that has graced late model racing in January for over a decade will draw a plethora of big names.
Among them is 2021 World of Outlaws late model champion Brandon Sheppard who will attempt to take home the $25,000 check at the end of the week.
Sheppard had less than 10 series wins with the tour during 2021, the first time that had occurred since his first full-time season. He captured the title behind a career-best 43 top 10 finishes.
That’s what can make this event important. Six nights of racing can be extremely valuable, especially if any of these teams can hit on something before their competitors do. A good few nights across the week can really launch a driver’s season and get them started out on a good note.
Over the six nights, we’ll see another edition of the Bobby Pierce – Tyler Erb rivalry as each of the two are slated to race at Vado. There may not be fireworks, but these two will compete hard.
The start of the racing season will also see some new wraps on cars, and Pierce will be one to debut his 2022 scheme.
Bobby Pierce 2022 pic.twitter.com/MqyWGYWavi
— Live Dirt Updates (@LiveDirtUpdates) January 1, 2022
The race will mark the first of the year for Ricky Weiss who will run an open schedule among the top super late model tours in 2022.
Cade Dillard will make his debut with his new CDR Racecars, his self-made car, along with Brooks Strength as his teammate for the week.
2021 Knoxville Late Model Nationals winner Mike Marlar plans to run in the event as well as other Lucas Oil Late Model Series stars Earl Pearson Jr. and last year’s rookie of the year in Ricky Thornton Jr.
World of Outlaws Sprint Car star Donny Schatz was entered to run in the event, but announced he would enter the Chili Bowl Nationals and race in the Tuesday night prelim in Tulsa. Expect Schatz to be there on Night’s 1 and 2 at the most.
NASCAR’s Matt Crafton will pilot a modified car in the race. He typically runs the DIRTCar Nationals and Bristol Dirt Nationals aside from his Truck Series career as well.
MLRA runner-up Garrett Alberson and USMTS champions Dereck Ramirez and Rodney Sanders have confirmed their entries as well.
Other announced entries to the super late model class include Kyle Beard, Clayton Holland, Jason Miles, Don Shaw, and Mason Oberkramer.
The Wild West Shootout will kick off on Saturday at Vado. Fans wanting to watch the action can see it all live on FloRacing with hot laps scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT.
2022 Wild West Schedule
Vado Speedway Park
Sat. Jan. 8 | Night 1 ($5K-to-win SLM, $2K Mods, $1K X-Mods)
Sun. Jan. 9 | Night 2 ($5K SLM, $2K Mods, $1K X-Mods)
Wed. Jan. 12 | Night 3 ($5K SLM, $1K Mods, $500 X-Mods)
Fri. Jan. 14 | Night 4 ($5K SLM, $1K Mods, $500 X-Mods)
Sat. Jan. 15 | Night 5 ($5K SLM, $2K Mods, $1K X-Mods)
Sun. Jan. 16 | Finale ($25K SLM, $2K Mods, $1K X-Mods)
