GRAND FORKS — Nick Hoffman started on the pole, but didn’t lead the first lap. Eventually, he slipped back to third.
It wasn’t conducive to a start needed to win a World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature.
But Hoffman didn’t give up, eventually figuring out a way to regain the lead. And he did so in convincing fashion with 13 laps to go as the Mooresville, N.C., driver dominated the final laps to win Friday night’s WoO LMS 40-lap feature at River Cities Speedway.
It was his second WoO LMS win of the season and he pocketed $12,000 for the win.
“I would have felt like a real dummy if I drove backward from the pole,” said Hoffman. “When I fell back to third I felt like I gave up the race right there. But I felt like I had a pretty good car from the top of the green. It was just a matter of getting myself in a good position.”
With 13 laps to go, Hoffman made his move from third. He slid leader Ashton Winger going into Turn 3 and made the slide job stick coming out of Turn 4.
From there, Hoffman sailed to the checkered flag, beating second-place Dennis Erb Jr. by 1.517 seconds. Winger, with a heavily damaged car, finished third, while Drake Troutman and Brian Shirley, last year’s winner at RCS, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Hoffman also had the fastest lap of the race at 12.158 seconds, coming on Lap 29.
It was an aggresive race, with challenging track conditions.
“That was about as elbows-up as I ‘m going to get,” said Hoffman. “It was choppy for sure. To say that race didn’t wear me out, I’d be lying to you.”
Hoffman said the track raced well, however.
“It was a good track, demanding,” said Hoffman. “At least it was wide enough where we could race. On these bullrings, the track has got to be spread out where we can move around and race.”
Hoffman turned in his fastest laps after he got the lead.
“Once I got to make laps by myself, I felt like I was really flying,” he said.
The WoO LMS field included 31 cars. The top local finisher was Tyler Peterson, who finished 18th. Dustin Strand finished 20th.
Shirley had the top qualifying time at 12.011 seconds.
The WoO LMS will race at the Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., on Saturday night and at the Nodak Speedway in Minot on Sunday night.
Hoffman became the 13th different driver to win a WoO LMS feature at RCS in 18 years.
Two other divisions complemented the Outlaws.
Austin Hunter led from start to finish in taking the 20-lap Midwest modified feature. Jamie Dietzler finished second while Frank Veert was third. Luke Johnson, who started 12th finished fourth while Jory Berg, who started 10th, ended in fifth. Hunter won by 1.466 seconds.
Cole Greseth captured the 20-lap street feature. Trey Hess was second, 1.577 seconds off the pace. John Halvorson, Jordan Johnson and Chris Dudley rounded out the top five.
River Cities Speedway
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Feature — 1. Nick Hoffman, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Ashton Winger, 4. Drake Troutman, 5, Brian Shirley, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Ryan Gustin, 8. Tyler Bruening, 9. Ethan Dotson, 10. Jake Timm, 11. Brent Larson, 12. Tanner English, 13. Tim McCreadie, 14, Michael Leach, 15. Don Shaw, 16. Tristan Chamerlain, 17. Cody Overton, 18. Tyler Peterson, 19. Dustin Sorensen, 20. Dustin Strand, 21. Blair Nothdurft, 22. Sam Mars, 23. Cole Schill, 24. Shane Edginton
