2/10/2023
Brian Shirley
Shirley 11th in Wieland Winternationals opener at East Bay
Brian Shirley unloaded the Bob Cullen Racing No. 3s Late Model on Monday afternoon at East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, Fla.) as the 1/3-mile oval hosted the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) for six consecutive nights of racing.
In a field of 58 Late Models, Brian’s runner-up finish in his heat race placed him on the sixth row for the $5,000-to-win prelim. Inching forward one spot in the 30-lap affair, Shirley crossed the line in 11th.
For the second round of the Wieland Winternationals on Tuesday, Shirley secured his spot into the show with a consolation victory after missing a transfer spot by one car in his heat. With $5,000 on the line, Brian jumped up six positions to finish 13th.
With the field inflated to 65 cars on Wednesday, Brian followed up a runner-up performance in his heat race with a 12th-place finish in the 40-lap feature.
On Thursday, Shirley grabbed the third-and-final transfer spot in his heat, which positioned him on the seventh row for the $10,000-to-win A-Main. Dropping one spot, Brian recorded a 14th-place outing.
The following night, Brian laid down the third-fastest time in his 31-car group before placing second in his heat. Getting collected in a multi-car tangle while challenging for a top-five run in the feature, Shirley was forced pitside on lap 20. He was credited with a 24th-place outing.
A mixture of wet weather and an unfavorable forecast cancelled Saturday’s Wieland Winternationals finale.
Full results from the weekend are available at www.LucasDirt.com.
Article Credit: Heath Lawson image
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