I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park has helped mold some of the best national and regional Late Model drivers in the country, and at the end of June, it’ll see them face off for two straight nights.
The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision and DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models will meet for the fifth and sixth time at I-55 during the St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff, June 20-21 – which also features the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.
It’ll be the first June event along the 57-race schedule for the World of Outlaws and serve as the 11th and 12th races on the Summer Nationals’ 31-race journey in 34 days.
The two premier dirt Late Model series met for the first time at I-55 in 2017, but they’ve been visiting the track for over 20 years.
For the Summer Nationals, their history with the famed 1/3-mile dirt track goes back to 1989. During the fourth season of the Series, the Summer Nationals visited I-55 for the first time on July 19 and saw Mike Wallace – brother of Rusty and Kenny Wallace – score the victory.
Since then, in the 23 times the Summer Nationals Late Models have visited I-55, there have been 14 different winners – including five different winners in the last six Summer Nationals events there: Tyler Erb (2024), Stormy Scott (2023), Dennis Erb Jr. (2022 x2), Bobby Pierce (2021), and Brandon Sheppard (2020).
Billy Moyer, the six-time Summer Nationals champion and three-time World of Outlaws champion, holds the most wins at I-55 with the Summer Nationals with five and was the first driver to win at I-55 with the World of Outlaws in 2005.
There have been 11 World of Outlaws Late Model races held at I-55 between 2005 and 2022, and seven different winners in that span. 2022 World of Outlaws champion Dennis Erb Jr. holds the most wins at the track with the Series (three) and won the last two Series events there.
The World of Outlaws’ last four races at I-55 pitted the national stars against the Summer Nationals regulars. Brandon Sheppard won the first two events in 2017 and 2018 before Erb Jr. swept the doubleheader in 2022.
They won as World of Outlaws drivers, but Summer Nationals paved their way to the national ranks.
Erb Jr.’s Super Late Model career was built on the Summer Nationals Hell Tour. He first started racing with the tour in 2002 and went on to win three straight titles with the Series from 2007 to 2009. That success propelled him to the national ranks and in 2022 became the fourth Summer Nationals champion to also win at World of Outlaws title.
Like Erb, Sheppard learned the grind and built experience at various Midwest tracks to prepare for a jump to the national ranks with Rocket1 Racing. He won his lone Summer Nationals title in 2013 and then went on to become one of the most successful Super Late Model drivers in the national ranks. He earned his fifth World of Outlaws Late Model title in 2024, becoming the winningest champion in Series history and is also the winningest driver in Series history with 87 victories.
They’re part of a long list of drivers who cut their teeth on the Hell Tour such as fellow World of Outlaws competitors Ashton Winger (2023 Summer Nationals champion), Brian Shirley (four-time Summer Nationals champion) and Nick Hoffman (five-time DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals champion). Of them, Shirley already has three wins at I-55, although none with the World of Outlaws, and Hoffman has two in a UMP Modified.
Both series will again bring the best national and regional Super Late Model drivers to the St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff, but will it be a World of Outlaws full-timer taking the checkered flags again, or will a Summer Nationals regular score an upset?
To find out, you can get your tickets now online and save $5 by using code ERBJR28 at worldofoutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action from both nights at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park live on DIRTVision.
World of Outlaws v.s. Summer Nationals Winners at I-55:
2022 – Dennis Erb Jr. x2
2018 – Brandon Sheppard
2017 – Brandon Sheppard
World of Outlaws Winners at I-55:
2022 – Dennis Erb Jr. x2
2018 – Brandon Sheppard
2017 – Brandon Sheppard
2013 – Josh Richards
2012 – Dennis Erb Jr.
2011 – Josh Richards
2010 – Shannon Babb
2008 – Shane Clanton
2007 – Clint Smith
2005 – Billy Moyer
Summer Nationals Winners at I-55:
2024 – Tyler Erb
2023 – Stormy Scott
2022 – Dennis Erb Jr. x2
2021 – Bobby Pierce
2020 – Brandon Sheppard
2018 – Brandon Sheppard
2017 – Brandon Sheppard
2014 – Brian Birkhofer
2012 – Billy Moyer
2011 – Billy Moyer
2010 – Billy Moyer
2007 – Mike Marlar
2005 – Randy Korte
2002 – Shannon Babb
2001 – Billy Moyer
2000 – Ed Dixon
1999 – Billy Moyer
1998 – Ed Dixon
1997 – Ed Dixon
1996 – John Gill
1991 – Billy Moyer
1990 – Scott Bloomquist
1989 – Mike Wallace
