www.farmercityraceway.net

track phone....309-928-9110 race days
Marcy Spear Photography (track photographer) 217-737-5076 click here for email
an additional source for track photos.... [email protected]
videos/dvds available....email: [email protected]
click here for official results/points from www.speednetdirect.com
Farmer City Track Records....click here
2001 ARCHIVES    2002 ARCHIVES    2003 ARCHIVES    2004 ARCHIVES    2005 ARCHIVES    2006 ARCHIVES    2007 ARCHIVES
Thanks to all for your support of Circles of Hope

scroll down for current stories/results from Racenut with a little help from his friends....thanks DeeDee

Location Changed for Farmer City Raceway Banquet March 14

The Farmer City Raceway Banquet will be March 14, 2009 at Breaker’s Hall located at 211 E. Adams St. in Clinton, IL. Cocktails at 6:00, dinner at 6:30, with awards and entertainment to follow. Cost is $15 at the door.

The 2008 racing season has come to a close at the Farmer City Raceway. Banquet information will be posted soon. Lincoln Speedway will be hosting their season finale on Friday, October 10th and Saturday, October 11th. For more information visit www.lincolnspeedway.org.

Tonight's races have been cancelled. 

Congratulations to 2008 track champions: so far:
Late Models....Eric Smith
Modifieds....Jeff Leka
Sportsmen....Joel Funk
Street Stock....Jim Quinn leads Terry Miller by only 12 points
Hornets....Joe Reed leads David Reed by only 33 points

KidModz added to Farmer City Raceway this Friday August 15

Farmer City Raceway
Farmer City, IL
August 8, 2008

By Racenut with help from DeeDee

Beautiful weather brought out thirty of the Midwest Stars of UMP Late Model racing to Farmer City Friday night. If you are a real race fan, this was one night you will be sorry you missed. Jason Feger turned in fast time at 12.667 seconds. Feger also won his heat going away, turning laps in the 12.5 second range. A distant second was Daren Friedman, followed by Richie Hedrick, and Ryan Unzicker. The second heat went to Steve Sheppard Jr over Frank Heckenast Jr, Brandon Sheppard, and Rich Bell. The third heat went to Kevin Weaver over Joe Harlan, Scott Bull, and Kyle Logue. The fourth and final heat started out with Eric Smith and UMP National Points leader Dennis Erb, Jr battling it out for the first half. Finally, Erb Jr got the advantage going on for the win over Smith, Donny Walden, and Don Cisco.

The semi feature went to Terry Babb over Matt Taylor.

The feature event started out with Jason Feger and Steve Sheppard Jr on the front row. It took two laps for Sheppard Jr to get in front of Feger. From that point on, the duo, with Dennis Erb Jr in tow, while surviving three cautions, decided to run almost the entire race two and three cars wide. Sheppard led almost all the laps, but there were times when the lead trio were three wide, swapping grooves and running positions several times a lap. The few folks in the grandstands that were not standing before the white flag, all stood up and the whole place was cheering as they came down for the checkers. There was a backmarker turning sideways right in front of them, and Sheppard Jr had to do some maneuvering to avoid a crash at the checkers. When Sheppard Jr steered to avoid the car in front of him, Feger also had to change his line a bit, as he was right next to Sheppard. And, Erb Jr was right on their tails trying to make one last ditch effort for the win. Final top five was Steve Sheppard Jr, Jason Feger, Dennis Erb Jr, Kevin Weaver and Frank Heckenast Jr.
official finish:

5S Steve Sheppard Jr
25 Jason Feger
28 Dennis Erb Jr
B12 Kevin Weaver
99 Frank Heckenast Jr
89 Daren Friedman
B5 Brandon Sheppard
Z Joe Harlan
9 Eric Smith
0 Richie Hedrick
30 Mike Glasscock
88 Terry Babb
7 Kyle Logue
1W Donny Walden
24 Ryan Unzicker
10x Scott Schmitt
21 Rich Bell
DC3 Don Cisco
dnf
83 Scott Bull
3L Matt Taylor

Eighteen of the twenty starters finished on the lead lap, there were three cautions, and the late model feature was finished at 10:20 pm

In the Modified division, Mckay Wenger turned in fast time of the twenty six cars present. Wenger then won his heat over Chad Evans, Jeff Leka and Denny Schwartz. The seond heat went to Ben Hulse over Jay Ledford, Justin DeLong and Dean Rhodens. This was an exciting race, as Hulse and Ledford race most of the race side by side. The third heat went to Cory Schwengel over Justin McCoy, Chad Osterhoff and Darcey Wey. The semi feature went to Jeff Curl over Danny O'Dell.
The feature started out with Mckay Wenger on the pole and the early lead. Even though Jeff Leka started seventh, about half way through the event, he got around Wenger and sailed off in the distance to yet another feature win. Rounding out the top seven, within three car lengths of each other, were Chad Osterhoff, Mckay Wenger, Chad Evans, Cory Schwengel, Justin DeLong, and Denny Schwartz. Leka is not only the current UMP modified track points leader and multi-time defending champion, but is also leading the UMP National points as well.

The sportsmen heat went to Jason Unzicker over Joel Funk. In the feature, however, Funk would get around Unzicker and park himself in victory lane. The points leader Funk was followed by Unzicker and Chris Anderson.

The street stock heats went to Jim Quinn over a hard charging Chris Tackett, but the race in this one was for second and at one point there were five cars racing for second. The second heat went to Terry Miller over Josh Griffith. The feature went to Terry Miller with Chris Tackett second.

The hornet heats went to UMP National points leader Joe Reed over David Reed, and to Matt Maier over Larry Hawk. And once again the feature went to Joe Reed followed closely by David Reed.

There were 102 cars in the pits.

Friday July 18 night was a benefit night for Circles of Hope, a foundation devoted to helping children of racing families who have challenging health issues. There were several raffle items including a ride in the track's two seater which was donated by Joe Reed. The ride was won by Mrs Rocky Griffin of Bloomington. Chuck Flynn from muddbossvideo also donated a stingray orange county choppers bicycle that went to David Ellison of Urbana, who also won the tracks 50/50 drawing. Several drivers willingly came to the grandstand to have kids throw pies in their faces. Thanks to Chad Evans, Chris Burton, David Reed, Joe Reed and Steve Brandt Sr as the kids (and others) ended up as messy as the drivers. Thanks go out to all that helped with this benefit, Lois, Roger, Sherrie, Dean, Steve, and others, including the track promoters TruSpeed, and Mike the announcer for all the extra hard work.

ILLINI 100 DVD STILL AVAILABLE....
drop an email to [email protected]
or if you see Racenut at Farmer City, I can get you a copy!!!

Farmer City Raceway

Farmer City IL

July 18, 2008

 

Points leaders in all five classes win feature events under full moon at Farmer City Raceway Friday July 18.

With the full moon shining down, it was an eerie night, as the feature winners in all five classes are the current points leaders. In the Late Model class, Scott Schmitt turned in fast time of the 23 cars at 12.781 seconds. Schmitt would also put on quite a performance in the first heat by passing Daren Friedman at the checkered flag for the win. Derek Chandler and Jimmy Dehm followed them to the line. The second heat was another exciting race as Donny Walden and Scott Bull raced the entire distance side by side, with Walden holding off Bull for the win, followed by Bill Gianetti and Joe Harlan. The third heat was a Dennis Erb Jr show, leaving no doubt why he is the defending National UMP Champ and two time UMP Summernationals Champ. Erb took off at the green and never looked back as he took the win over Eric Smith, Tim Lance and Richie Hedrick.

The semi feature went to Mike Provenzano over Cody Watters, Rocky Griffin and Jimmy Felker Jr.

Come feature time, with Scott Schmitt and Donny Walden on the front row, last week's winner Walden took off to an immediate lead. Erb, Schmitt, Friedman, Smith and Bull were battling for second place. Halfway through the feature, Walden got caught up lapping a car, and after a quick bump to the wall, retired for the evening. This put Eric Smith in the lead, but he had to fight Dennis Erb Jr for the position, as the duo swapped the lead a few times. Eventually, Smith would pull away a bit, and after surviving a couple more cautions, would lead Erb Jr to the checkers. The duo was followed by Tim Lance, Scott Schmitt and Derek Chandler.

final rundown:

9 Eric Smith (second night in new car)(first repeat winner in 2008 for late models)

28 Dennis Erb Jr (hot off UMP Summernationals championship)

48 Tim Lance

10s Scott Schmitt

35 Derek Chandler

0 Richie Hedrick

99J Jimmy Dehm

43 Jimmy Felker Jr

95 Aaron Ricketts

74 Russ Adams

30 Mike Glasscock

dnf

Daren Friedman

83 Scott Bull

1W Donny Walden

38 Cody Watters

1G Rocky Griffin

M27 Mike Provenzano

17G Bill Gianetti

22 Chris Dick

Z Joe Harlan

This night was also a benefit night for Circles of Hope, a foundation devoted to helping children of racing families who have challenging health issues. There were several raffle items including a ride in the track's two seater which was donated by Joe Reed. The ride was won by Mrs Rocky Griffin of Bloomington. Chuck Flynn from muddbossvideos also donated a stingray orange county choppers bicycle that went to David Ellison of Urbana, who also won the tracks 50/50 drawing. Several drivers willingly came to the grandstand to have kids throw pies in their faces. Thanks to Chad Evans, Chris Burton, David Reed, Joe Reed and Steve Brandt Sr as the kids (and others) ended up as messy as the drivers. Thanks go out to all that helped with this benefit, Lois, Roger, Sherrie, Dean, Steve, and others, including the track promoters TruSpeed, and Mike the announcer for all the extra hard work.

In the modified class, Denny Schwartz set fast time of the 23 cars present. The first heat went to Danny Schwartz over Denny Schwartz and Mckay Wenger. The second heat went to Rob Fuqua over Jeff Leka and Cory Schwengel. The third heat went to Jeb Friedman over Chad Osterhoff and Jeff Curl. Derrick Doerr won the semi feature over Josh Beebe. The feature event was an exciting race, as Danny Schwartz and Rob Fuqua put on a show with Denny Schwartz, Jeff Leka and Jeb Friedman all trying to get to the front. Midway through the feature, Fuqua and Danny Schwartz seemed to have settled for first and second, but Jeff Leka went by both of them and went on to yet another feature win, this time over Danny Schwartz, Cory Schwengel, Jeb Friedman, Mckay Wenger and Chad Evans. The rest of the top twelve were Chad Osterhoff, Kevin Hastings, Jeff Curl, Kelly Simmons, Derrick Doerr, and Justin Delong. The website MidwestDirtTrackFacts.com had put up a $50 hard charger award in conjunction with Circles of Hope, which was won by Chad Evans.

The hornet feature was an exciting barn-burner as Joe Reed took the checkers after starting third. Second went to Bob Zbinden over Eric Wilson, Larry Hawk, Matt Musgrave, John Jones, Jim Wilson, Cook Crawford, Kyle Henegar and Stacy Whitehouse. Henegar unofficially won the MidwestDirtTrackFacts.com hard charger award after starting 18th and working his way to ninth.

The street stock feature once again went to Terry Miller over Jim Quinn and Greg Rubenacker, Jonah Buyno, Chris Tackett, Hugh Johns, Bob Simmons, Steve Brandt Sr, Scott Thrasher and Greg Brewer. Miller and Bob Simmons had earlier won the exciting heats.

The sportsman feature went to Joel Funk over Gary Turpin, Billy Nail and Jason Unzicker. Heats went to John Barnard and Joel Funk.

Bobby Pierce beat Justin Leka and Kyle Hammer to the checkers in the KidModz feature.

Friday July 18
is Circles of Hope night at
Farmer City Raceway

Pennies for Circles of Hope

Bring pennies on July 18th

We will have containers, Vote for your favorite class
(hornets, StreetStocks, mods, Late Models, Sportsmen etc.)
by putting pennies in containers with your favorite class on it.

Before the features pennies will be weighed,
the class that weighs the most wins.

Pennies will be for Circles of Hope

We will be raffling off a kids bicycle, maybe two
and some other items

We will also be raffling off a ride in the two-seater late model (must be 18 to win) courtesy of Joe Reed

There will also be a “Pie-in-the-Face” contest

Hornets- $50 Hard-Charger award with Circles of Hope Decal

 

What other surprises will there be?

Circles of Hope is a foundation devoted to helping
children of racing families who have challenging health issues.

 

Congrats to Steve Maisel and FC Recap
July 16, 2008
Report by DeeDee

It was 5:30 and 89 degrees when I got to the track for the Quinn's Towing Street Stock special. There was a light crowd on hand to watch the races tonight and Jeff Leka said it best when he thanked the fans that were there and pointed out that those that weren't there missed a great night of racing.

Here is a lengthy recap, sorry for the misspelled names as I am sure there are some. 21 modifieds, 18 Street Stocks and 20 Hornets made it to the track to race tonight. Check www.farmercityraceway.net for official results but here is what I got and I got a lot. First up was modified qualifying and here are the top five:

Chad Evans 14.499, Jeff Leka 14.634, Jeb Friedman 14.648, Jim Ransom 14.652, and Kent Robinson 14.742.

Next up to qualify were the street stocks, last year on Quinn's Towing night Jim Quinn had the fast time with a 15.690. Here is a look at tonight's times:

1) M41 Steve Maisel 16.024 from the St Louis area
2) 9 Terry Miller 16.162
3) 95 Steve Ewing 16.165
4) 8 David Hurst 16.368 (I believe he is from Indiana)
5) 0 Chris Tackett 16.395
6) 82 Jim Quinn 16.436
7) 24 Lee Hall from Indiana 16.440
8) 00 Greg Brewer 16.519
9) 97 Josh Griffith 16.554
10) 78 Greg Rubenacker 16.654
11) 49 Jonah Buyno (SP) from Indiana 16.802
12) 21 Troy Dodson 16.811
13) 7 Brandon Houser 17.052
14) 19 Scott Thrasher 17.147
15) 25 Greg Osman 17.223
16) 47 Hugh Johnson 17.306
17) 22E Ricky Hoffman 17.340
18) 33 Doug Burbaum 17.368

Modified Heat 1
59 Chad Evans and 4 Jeb Friedman on the front row. Friedman takes off in the lead and by lap 4 Evans and Friedman are side-by-side, then on lap 5 the caution comes out after Chad Evans has some sort of problem and then had to head to the back? Race restarts and Friedman and Ken Robinson battle for the lead, they switch the lead back and forth and on the last lap Robinson passes Friedman to win followed by Justin DeLong, and Jeff Curl.

Modified Heat 2
3L Leka and 24 Jim Ransom start on front row and take off at the start and no one else does causing a complete restart. On the restart, two cars spin in 2 causing another restart. Leka takes off and leads the first four laps, at lap five there is a caution for a spin on the front stretch. With two to go Leka leads by like 4 car lengths. The race in this one was for 3rd. At the line, Leka wins followed by Ransom, Jamey Henson and then Jeremy Nichols.

Street Stock Heat 1:
Line Up
41 95
0 24
97 49
7 25
22E

At the start Ewing and Maisel take off, two laps in there is a caution when the a car spins in 4. At the restart it is 95 41 24 0 97 49 28 22 7. The 95 and 41 take off a again and the 95 and 41 have a sizable lead over the 24. Then the scary event of the night happens when the leaders take the white flag on the front stretch while the 22 car spins on the back stretch. One car had no where to go and crashed hard in the 22E car. Ricky Hoffman was assisted from the 22 car and able to walk to the ambulance with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. The ambulance did leave the track, I'm praying for a speedy recovery for Ricky and I hope the injury is not serious. A total of three cars left the track after this incident. The race restarts with one lap to go and Steve Ewing went onto win followed by the 41 of Steve Maisel, 24 Hall, 0 Tackett, and 49 Buyno.

SS heat 2
Line up
9 8
82 00
76R 21
19 47
33
Race Starts and 9 Miller and 8 Hurst take off for the lead. 8 Hurst leads the first lap and every lap there after to cross the finish line first in this caution free race. He was followed by Terry Miller, Jim Quinn, Greg Rubenacker, Greg Brewer, Troy Dodson, Hugh Johson, Scott Thraser and Doug Burbaum.

Hornet Heat 1
4J Damin Jones wins followed by 47 Willson, 64 Crawford, and T75 Taylor.

Hornet Heat 2
22 Joe Reed wins followed by David Reed, Larry Hawk and Matt Corey.

Grain trucks heat and feature winner Frannie D-ick

Modified Feature - This race was awesome to watch and I don't usually watch the mods so that is saying something. Jeff Leka and Ken Robenson raced and side by side and swaped the lead back and fourth and when the checkered flag flew Jeff Leka won followed by Ken Robinson, Jim Ransom, Jeb Friedman and Jeremy Nichols. I believe there where 3 cautions in this one.

Street Stock Feature. The Quinn's Towing $300 to win Street Stock Feature really was the best race of the night it was awesome to watch. There were cars racing up high, down low, and in the middle and the race ran caution free! Steve Ewing took off in the lead and he and Steve Maisel battled for the lead while Jim Quinn and Terry Miller had their own battle going for 3rd. It got really exciting when they got into lap traffic. Maisel eventually passed Ewing and then was nearly taken out by a lapped car on the last lap! However, he raced onto victory and took home the Quinn's Towing $300! Steve Ewing finished 2nd, followed by Jim Quinn 3rd, Terry Miller 4th. David Hurst 5th, Chris Tackett 6th, Lee Hall, Johna Buyno, Greg Rubanacker, Hugh Johnson, and Greg Brewer 10th. Let me repeat, this was a great race to watch.

The hornet feature was also a great race between the top 3 cars. Damin Jones and Joe Reed took off for the lead and did a lot of racing side-by-side, then David Reed not only caught up with them he went onto pass them and it got real interesting when they got into lapped traffic. In the end, 5 David Reed wins followed by 4j Jones and 22 Reed.

Racenut, you wanted a race report and here it is. Thanks to Farmer City Raceway and Quinn's Towing for putting on the street stock special. It really was a great night at the track! Congrats again to all the winners and I hope Ricky Hoffman gets to feeling much better super quick! See you Friday, when my race report will be no where near this long.

__________________
http://www.freewebs.com/jimquinn82racing/

Young Gun Donny Walden takes career first Late Model feature win in convincing style at Farmer City Raceway!

Joel Funk winner of the $500 Sportsmen Special	Donny Walden, winner of the Late Model feature	Announcer Mike talks with Donny Walden after his first career feature win	Kyle Taylor returns his Hornet to Victory Lane after taking a couple of seasons away from the drivers seat	Chad Evans winner of the Modified feature	Mike Pickering, winner of the Street Stock feature

Photos by Rocky Ragusa....click on photo to enlarge

Farmer City Raceway
Farmer City IL
July 4, 2008

By Racenut
www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com

Daren Friedman wins feature July 4, 2008

Chad Osterhoff	Daren Friedman	David Reed	Jaret Lueck	Terry Miller

photos courtesy of Rocky Ragusa....click on photo to enlarge....


With a huge fireworks show waiting, Daren Friedman held off Eric Smith and Justin Allgaier for the win at Farmer City Raceway Friday night. The evening started off with 25 drivers taking time trials, and Joe Harlan taking fast time at 12.619 seconds. The first heat went to Scott Bull over Joe Harlan, Matt Taylor and Justin Shaw. The second heat went to Daren Friedman over Donny Walden, Justin Allgaier and Rich Bell. The third heat went to Eric Smith over Aaron Ricketts, Scott Schmitt and Jayme Zidar. The semi feature went to Chris Dick over Derek Fisher. Come feature time, it was Scott Bull and Daren Friedman on the front row. Bull jumped to the immediate lead, but the yellow flew, and on the restart, Daren Friedman came out in the lead. Several more yellows and several cars missing, the race finally got underway with Friedman holding off Bull, a hard charging Justin Allgaier, Matt Taylor and Eric Smith. Midway through the race, Matt Taylor got airborne in turn two, with a very rough landing. The emergency crew eventually cut the roof off the car and with the help of a neck/back brace, got Matt out of the race car and took him to the hospital for observation. He was alert and conscious, and the ride in the ambulance was just a precaution. Once the race got back underway, Friedman managed to hold off Eric Smith for the win, with Allgaier second, Schmitt third, Mike Mataragas, Scott Bull and Joe Harlan rounding out the top five.

Update on Matt Taylor: He Is At Home Resting Now. He Has A Strained Back.
Everything Came Back Negative. He Will Have To Rest For Awhile.

Final Rundown:
89 Daren Friedman
9 Eric Smith
1A Justin Allgaier
10s Scott Schmitt
1M Mike Mataragas
83 Scott Bull
18K Eric Kwasigroh
z9 Jayme Zidar
2 Justin Shaw
1G Rocky Griffin
17G Bill Gianetti
dnf
30 Mike Glasscock
22 Chris Dick
3L Matt Taylor
21 Rich Bell
99J Jimmy Dehm
39 Derek Fisher
Z Joe Harlan
1W Donny Walden
95 Aaron Ricketts

In the sportsman class, heat winners were Jason Unzicker and Jaret Lueck. Lueck went on to win the feature with Joel Funk Jr and Rod Rusher right on his tail.

In the modifieds, Lance Dehm and Jeff Curl won the heats, with Chad Osterhoff winning the feature over Chad Evans, followed very closely by Jeb Friedman, Jeremy Nichols, Justin DeLong, Lance Dehm and Randy Huffman.

Street Stock heat winners were Jim Quinn and Terry Miller and Terry Miller also won the feature

David Reed won the hornet feature

The fireworks show was a very good show.
There were 105 cars present and the late model feature was finished at 10:05, even after the delay of getting Mr. Taylor safely out of his car.

Rained Out June 27

Thanks to Erik Grigsby for the following photo links for the Farmer City Summernationals.....
Late Models - http://egphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/5219269_bMzot#316894271_6QNBv
Modifieds and Street Stocks - http://egphotos.smugmug.com/Farmer%20City%20Raceway/540953

Thanks to Rocky Ragusa for the photo album below....click on pic to enlarge

Summernational winner Darren Miller	modified winner Jeff Leka with race fan of the year Cody Griffin	street stock action 9 Terry Miller 82 Jim Quinn battle for 1st	street stock winner Terry Miller

June 20, 2008

Darren Miller becomes first repeat winner on 2008 Summernationals tour, and wins his first ever Farmer City Raceway feature event, worth $10,000!!!

Story by Dan Stewart

www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com

Farmer City Raceway played host to the 2008 version of the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals. This was the twentieth year for Farmer City to host the Summernationals tour, and no other track has held more of the tour races. As one of the lucky few, I personally have been to all twenty of these shows. With fifty late models signed in, the current track record holder Billy Moyer turned in fast time of the evening at 12.846 seconds, about nine tenths of a second off his record set in April of this year. There were five heats with the top three finishers from each heat advancing to the feature. All five heats were a bit of a runaway by the winner, but there was some absolutely great racing going on behind them for second through fifth in each race. The first heat went to Moyer, but the show of the evening was Dennis Erb Jr starting ninth and powerhousing his way to third in the first three laps. Jimmy Mars would finish second, but had Erb Jr beside him most of the race. The second heat went to Brian Birkhofer, with Steve Sheppard Jr holding off Eric Smith for second. The third heat had Darren Miller doing a bit of a runaway with Wes Steidinger and Kyle Logue battling it out for second and third. The third heat went to Brian Shirley by a long way over Scott Bull, who narrowly held off Jeep VanWormer. The fifth and final heat went to Randy Korte, with Brian Diveley side by side at the finish line holding off Jordan Bland. There were two C mains, with the to two advancing to the B main. The first C main went to Patrick Sheltra over Chris Simpson and Dewayne Kiefer. The second C main went to Ryan Unzicker over Rocky Griffin, who ran most of the distance next to Derek Chandler.

The semi feature, B main, was a very good race, with Kevin Weaver outrunning Matt Taylor and Ryan Dauber. These three would advance to the feature. Finishing fourth was Darren Friedman, followed Don O'Neal, Frank Heckenast Jr, Mike Mataragas, Ryan Unzicker and Terry English.

The feature event started out with Randy Korte on the pole next to Darren Miller, the result of a blind draw by the heat winners. The second row had Brian Shirley and Billy Moyer, with the third row being Brian Birkhofer and Jimmy Mars. Needless to say, there was a lot of talent in the starting line up. Thirteen of the twenty one starters had previously visited victory lane at this historic old fairgrounds track. Randy Korte led the first four laps, side by side with Darren Miller. Miller worked his way in front and stayed there to collect the checkers.

Forty Lap, $10,000 to win feature....official results (starting position)

32D Darren Miller(2)
28M Jimmy Mars(6)
3S Brian Shirley(3)
21 Billy Moyer(4)
15B Brian Birkhofer(5)
00 Randy Korte(1)
J1 Wes Steidinger(8)
83 Scott Bull(9)
28E Dennis Erb Jr(11)
55 Jeep VanWormer(14)
5S Steve Sheppard Jr(7)
11D Brian Diveley(10)
B12 Kevin Weaver(16)
9 Eric Smith(12)
7L Kyle Logue(13)
25 Jason Feger(20)
39 laps
12Jordan Bland(15)
1 Will Vaught(19)
DNF
89 Darren Friedman(21)
64 Ryan Dauber(18)
3L Matt Taylor(17)

Time Trials
Fast Time
Group 1....Billy Moyer Jr 12.846
Group 2....Brian Birkhofer 13.102
Group 3....Donny Walden 13.041
Group 4....Brian Shirley 13.171
Group 5....Jordan Bland 13.632

Heat #...top 3 advance to Feature
Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars, Dennis Erb Jr, Ryan Dauber, Tim Lance, Mike Mataragas, Nick Vandenburg, Ryan Unzicker, Travis Wallbaum, Cody Watters
Heat #2
Brian Birkhofer, Steve Sheppard Jr, Eric Smith, Kevin Weaver, Matt Taylor, Will Vaught, George Scheffler, Jimmy Felker Jr, Russ Adams, Toby Hallett
Heat #3
Darren Miller, Wes Steidinger, Kyle Logue, Terry English, Brady Smith, Donny Walden, Patrick Sheltra, Aaron Ricketts, Joe Harlan, Rich Bell
Heat #4
Brian Shirley, Scott Bull, Jeep VanWormer, Darren Friedman, Jason Feger, Jason McBride, Rocky Griffin, Dewayne Kiefer, Roger Brickler, Butch Smith
Heat #5
Randy Korte, Brian Diveley, Jordan Bland, Frank Heckenast Jr, Don O'Neal, Scott Schmitt, Chad Simpson, Derek Chandler, Jimmy Dehm, Brandon Sheppard
C main #1....top 2 advance to B main
Patrick Sheltra, Chris Simpson, Dewayne Kiefer, Joe Harlan, Jimmy Dehm, Jimmy Felker Jr, Nick Vanderburg
C main # 2....
Ryan Unzicker, Rocky Griffin, Derek Chandler, George Sheffler, Aaron Ricketts

Provisionals went to Will Vaught, Jason Feger and Darren Friedman.

Those not making the feature included former winners Don O'Neal and Brady Smith and this year's Higland Speedway winner Terry English

The modified class had 32 cars on hand with Jeff Leka picking up yet another feature win over Denny Schwartz, followed by Gary Cook Jr, Jeb Friedman, Lance Dehm, Chad Osterhoff, Danny Schwartz, Cory Schwengel, and Jay Ledford.

Modified heats went to Jeff Leka, Rob Fuqua, Jeb Friedman and Jay Ledford. The semi feature went to Jeff Curl over Danny Schwartz.

The Street Stocks were also in action with 18 cars present. Jim Quinn and Terry Miller won the heat races. Terry Miller held off Jim Quinn for the feature win over Jeremy Nichols, Steve Maisel and Chris Tackett.

The racing program was complete at 10:45 pm with a total of 100 cars on hand.

This Friday, June 20, 2008

UMP DIRTCar Summernationals
$10,000 to win for UMP Late Models
also running Street Stocks and Modifieds

Grandstand: $20, ages 6-12 are $10, 5 and under FREE
Pit passes: $35, ages 4-11 are $15, 3 and under FREE

FARMER CITY RACEWAY RAINED OUT FRIDAY JUNE 6

Farmer City canceled Friday June 6

FARMER CITY RACEWAY RAINED OUT FRIDAY MAY 30

FARMER CITY RACEWAY RAINED OUT FRIDAY MAY 23

Tonight's Races have been rained out. 

This race has not yet been rescheduled.  Next Week will be a Regular Show.

Join us next week as we welcome the Armed Forces.  We will have a Full Show of UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, UMP Sportsman, and UMP Hornets.  The AFCO Kid Modz Racing Series will also be racing will us. Gates Open at 5pm, Hotlaps are at 6pm and Qualifying after Hotlaps.  For more information please call 309.928.9110 or 217.737.7134.

May 2, 2008 Rained out

April 25, 2008
by Racenut
 
For the second week in a row, Farmer City Raceway got rained out on Friday April 25.
This time it was immediately following time trials. Join us next Friday for a full show of
UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, UMP Streetstocks, UMP Sportsmen and UMP Hornets.
AND the KidModz
 

April 18, 2008....Rained out
by Racenut
 
Farmer City Raceway made a valiant attempt to try and beat Mother Nature, but lost the battle shortly after time trials started.
This Sunday April 20 there will be an open practice and an arrive and drive for KidModz from Noon to 4 pm.
Next Friday will be a full show plus the debut of KidModz.
For more information, click on www.farmercityraceway.net or for KidModz, click on www.kidmodz.com
 

The KidModz will have another Arrive and Drive at the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL on Sunday, April 20th from 12pm-4pm. Call and schedule, we will only be able to accommodate so many kids.

Following the Arrive and Drive will be a practice session for those kids who have their cars ready. Then we will have a meeting for all parents and kids who are involved and becoming involved in KidModz to go over rules, details, and questions before our first race on April 25th. **  

The AFCO KidModz Racing Series is proud to announce that its first Arrive & Drive was a big success!  We had 7 kids who drove the Kid Mod around Lincoln Speedway's 1/4 mile. 

The Arrive& Drives allow interested kids a chance to take the Kid Mod for a few laps around the same tracks as professional Modified and Late Model drivers’ race.  The KidModz series officially kicks off its 2008 season at Farmer City Raceway on April 25th. 

 

April 11
brrrrrrrr

LM....Wes Steidinger
Mods....Jeff Leka in the #21s car 
Hornets....Fast Joe Reed
Sportsmen....Terry Worth
Streetstocks....JJ Miller

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Wrapping Up The ‘Illini 100’ At Farmer City Raceway 

CONCORD, NC – April 7, 2008 –  

WHAT A SHOW: A 55-car field teeming with top-notch talent. A record, standing-room-only crowd. A racy, multi-groove track surface. 

And, best of all, a dramatic 100-lap A-Main that will be remembered as one of the best dirt Late Model races of this or any other season. 

Roll all that up, and there’s no doubt that the inaugural ‘Illini 100’ at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway was a smashing success. 

The excitement of the biggest dirt Late Model event ever run in the state of Illinois impressed virtually everyone, including World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular Shannon Babb, a native of nearby Moweaqua, Ill., who grew up racing at the quarter-mile oval. 

“I knew this would be a good place to have a big show, but honestly, I didn’t think it would be that good,” a smiling Babb said after engaging in an A-Main battle for the ages that saw him finish second by scant feet to his racing mentor Billy Moyer. “It was awesome, and hopefully it’ll be a yearly deal now and just get bigger and bigger.” 

That’s the plan for the ‘Illini 100,’ says Farmer City promoter Don Hammer. He was thrilled with the competitor and fan support for the first-time, $20,000-to-win event and envisions the weekend developing into a must-see early-season show on the dirt Late Model calendar. 

GOOD REVIEWS: Hammer and his Farmer City track crew whipped up a racing surface that produced fast speeds (witness Moyer’s new track record lap of 11.973 seconds during Friday’s time trials) and entertaining action with a minimum of roughness. 

“It had a hole or two in the track, but heck, it’s springtime,” said Moyer, who credited Hammer with doing “a good job” on the surface. “Myself, I think every track should have a bump or two. It doesn’t bother me any. It gives you something to do.” 

SMART DECISION: Babb had second thoughts about his tire-compound choice when he rolled onto the track for the pre-race driver introduction. 

So what did he do? He conferred with crewmen Tommy Grecco and Jay Hunt and then changed the left-rear and right-front tires of his Clint Bowyer-owned Rayburn car, giving him three soft 20-compound tires and a hard 40-compound shoe on the right-rear. 

By WoO LMS rules, the tire change on the racetrack forced Babb to the rear of the 24-car field for the start. But he was scheduled to start 19^th, so moving back five spots wasn’t a major problem. 

“I walked out there (for the pre-race festivities) and seen how much traction was left on the bottom,” said Babb. “Right there I thought we should go softer on tires. If you have the same thing as everybody else you’re gonna be equal, so we made the change and it worked real good for us.” 

Babb came close to becoming only the second driver in the WoO LMS’s modern era (2004-present) to win a tour event after starting last. Tim McCreadie holds the last-to-first distinction, accomplishing the rare feat on June 5, 2005, at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.Dak. 

WANTED MORE: Defending WoO LMS champion Steve Francis summed up the ‘Illini 100’ with a couple simple phrases. 

“It was a helluva race,” he said. “That’s about all you can say about it.” 

Francis, who briefly led the race on two occasions, finished third, just a few car lengths behind the lead Moyer/Babb pair. He felt his outcome could have been a little better. 

“We were a little tight getting in to the middle of the corner,” Francis said of his Dale Beitler-owned No. 19. “But what kinda buried us was when Moyer got into us (with a slide-job for second place on lap 82). We lost a lot of ground there. 

“Really, we were lucky to hold on to third, so I was happy with everything. It came down to where we needed track position, and we didn’t have it.” 

WRONG PLACE: Francis was able to survive without losing a position when Moyer’s slide up in front of him on the 82^nd lap forced him to check up, but the chain-reaction jam-up behind him cost WoO LMS regulars Chub Frank and Josh Richards. 

Frank, who was running fourth at the time, slowed to avoid Francis and was hit by Tim McCreadie. The contact bent Frank’s left-side bodywork into his tire, leaving him with a blown tire on lap 88 that relegated him to a 12^th-place finish. 

“I was just trying to keep my car in one piece and get a good finish out of it,” said Frank. “The line I was using wasn’t the fastest, but I ran it because I was trying to stay out of the holes so I wouldn’t tear a left-rear tire off like I saw so many guys doing. 

“We were just hoping for a good points night, but we got caught anyway and got a flat.” 

Richards, meanwhile, ran in the top five for much of the distance. But his ill-fated positioning in the Moyer/Francis aftermath cost him three spots and he only recovered enough to finish sixth. 

The 20-year-old Richards had high hopes for the 100 after timing second-fastest, winning a heat and capturing the 8-lap dash on Friday night, but his Rocket No. 1 was off just a little on Saturday night. He said changing the machine to a four-link from a swing-arm setup just before the A-Main and going too hard with their tire choice hampered his effort. 

NICE RUN: Former Farmer City champ Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., came on late in the ‘Illini 100’ to place fifth – his best finish ever in WoO LMS competition. 

The 25-year-old Steidinger, who finished second in the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national points standings, earned the $500 WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ prize for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn’t won a tour event and wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in the points. He wondered afterward, however, if he could have advanced even further forward from the 17^th starting spot if he hadn’t gone too hard with his tire choice by bolting four 40-compound tires on his Rayburn mount. 

ETCETERA… 

* Darrell Lanigan had to use a provisional to start the A-Main after being unable to recover from a slide back in his heat race, but he persevered through a mid-race pit stop to finish eighth in the 100. He remained one of only two drivers (Moyer is the other) to score a top-10 finish in all four WoO LMS events contested this season. 

* Racing at a track where he cut his teeth and just three days after celebrating his 27^th birthday, Brian Shirley was feeling good about his chances. But after running in the top five early he slipped back and ultimately slowed on lap 62 with a broken j-bar on his Ed Petroff-owned Rayburn. 

* Rick Eckert debuted a new Rayburn car with a seventh-place finish in the 100. He slipped into the top five momentarily in the shakeup that accompanied the Moyer/Francis action on lap 82, but, with his car’s tow knocked out from hitting a rut, he wasn’t able to stay there for the remainder of the distance. 

* Tim Fuller’s hopes were quickly dashed in the 100 when a broken right-rear axle forced him to the infield on lap five. He returned many laps down to collect some extra points. 

* After spending a mid-week day testing his swing-arm car at his sponsor Don Cliburn’s Jackson (Miss.) Speedway (along with Eckert and Fuller), Clint Smith was primed and ready for the ‘Illini 100.’ But he struggled in the A-Main, spinning on the homestretch on lap 26 and finishing one lap down in 14^th. 

* Shane Clanton spent most of the distance as a fringe top-five runner, but he faded to 11^th at the finish after an apparent sealed right-rear tire hampered him in the closing laps. 

NEXT UP: The WoO LMS heads to Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va., on Fri., April 11, for the 50-lap ‘Rumble on the River IV’ and then visits Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., for the 50-lap ‘Showdown in Sarvertown’ on Tues., April 15. 

OUTLAWS INFO: To learn more about the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Moyer Looks To Extend World of Outlaws Late Model Series Win Streak This Weekend At Farmer City Raceway 

Former Tour Champ Among Two Dozen Drivers On Hand For Thursday Night’s ‘Illini 100’ Practice Session  

FARMER CITY, IL – April 3, 2008 – Billy Moyer is shooting for a World of Outlaws Late Model Series hat trick this weekend. 

And the dirt Late Model legend couldn’t pick a better place to go for three straight tour wins than Farmer City Raceway, a quarter-mile bullring that is high on his list of favorite tracks. 

“I love Farmer City,” said Moyer, who began prepping for this weekend’s inaugural ‘Illini 100’ by participating in the oval’s open practice session on Thursday night. “It’s a neat, racy place. You start out (the night) hammer-down on the cushion against the wall and by the (feature) race it’s like an ice cube out there and you’re running everywhere, and that’s what I like. 

“I’m excited about running a big show (at the track).” 

Moyer, 50, of Batesville, Ark., was among a group of more than two dozen early-arriving drivers on hand for Thursday night’s ‘Illini 100’ warmup. Hot laps stretched for over an hour-and-a-half before rain began to fall, ending the session early. 

A WoO LMS A-Main winner at Farmer City in 2006, Moyer was clocked turning some of the fastest practice circuits. He made all his laps behind the wheel of a Victory Circle M1 Chassis that he has raced only once previously this season, in a UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned event that he won on March 14 at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway. 

Moyer also has brought his battle-tested Victory Circle mount – the car he’s driven to seven wins already this season, including the last two WoO LMS events – to Farmer City. He hasn’t ruled out running it in the $20,000-to-win ‘Illini 100,’ which kicks off with time trials and heat races on Friday night (April 4) and concludes with last-chance events and the 100-lap headliner on Saturday night (April 5). 

“I’m still debating which car I want to run,” Moyer said after climbing from his Banner Valley Hauling No. 21 amid raindrops. “This (newer) car felt pretty good and I’m already thinking of things I want to change on it, but that other car – man, I know that one’s good. 

“This race pays $20,000 to win, so I gotta have my best artillery.” 

Moyer certainly has a pair of superb options for the biggest dirt Late Model event ever run in the state of Illinois. The cars he’s developed with the Bakersfield, Calif.-based Victory Circle shop have proven to be hot commodities. 

“This car has been awesome ever since we unloaded it (this year),” said Moyer, who also credits his new Clements engines as a major factor in his ’08 success. “We just keep tweaking it with little things every week. 

“That’s what makes it so much fun for me again. I know the car is good, so it makes me be able to concentrate on tires and stuff, instead of worrying about trying to have the right setup on the car as I have in the past. It’s awesome – it kinda lets me watch the racetrack more and worry about picking the right tires. 

“The phone’s ringing off the hook with people wanting to buy these things,” continued Moyer, who plans a trip to California next week to visit with the Victory Circle gang. “I’m gonna have to draw the line here somewhere because I don’t have the time to do it all. We’re still working on things to make ‘em better, believe it or not.” 

‘ILLINI 100’ PRACTICE NOTES: Joining Moyer with fast times on the stopwatch were such drivers as Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who won last year’s WoO LMS event at Farmer City; Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.; defending WoO LMS champ Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.; and Rick Eckert of York, Pa… 

Eckert looked strong behind the wheel of a brand-new Rayburn car owned by Raye Vest… 

Sweeteners Plus Racing teammates Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., spent time dialing in their mounts. Coffey is driving one of McCreadie’s No. 39 cars with an ‘x’ added to its door… 

A car-destroying flip last Saturday night at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss., didn’t force teenage WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender Joe Isabell home to Pennellville, N.Y. 

Isabell and his JIR Motorsports teammate, Danny Johnson of Phelps, N.Y., were in the pits for Thursday’s hot laps. Isabell was behind the wheel of a Rayburn car that his father, Jeff, purchased on Tuesday from an Illinois team after noticing on the internet that it was for sale. 

The younger Isabell and the JIR crew dropped a motor in their new car and hung a body on it during the week… 

Lisa Shickel of Bloomington, Ill., saw her practice night end in rough fashion. Just as the final hot-lap session was waved off because rain was making the track surface too slick, Shickel slid over the berm between turns one and two and executed a slow rollover. 

Shickel wasn’t injured… 

For more information on the ‘Illini 100,’ visit www.farmercityraceway.net or www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Steidinger Ready For ‘Illini 100’ At Farmer City

DEFENDING HOME TURF: Wes Steidinger is happy that his homestate of Illinois is hosting its biggest dirt Late Model event ever this weekend (April 4-5) – the inaugural ‘Illini 100’ at Farmer City Raceway. 

He’s thrilled that the race is taking place at a quarter-mile bullring where he’s cut his teeth as a racer. 

And he’ll be ecstatic if he can represent the Land of Lincoln by winning the $20,000 top prize on the line in Saturday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series spectacular. 

“It would mean so much if I was able to win it,” said Steidinger, a 25-year-old from Fairbury, Ill., who is a rising star in the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model ranks. 

Coming off a career year that saw him win 20 features at eight different tracks and finish second in the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national points standings, Steidinger has the confidence that he can race toe-to-toe for the ‘Illini 100’ trophy with the top stars of the WoO LMS and the UMP DIRTcar circuit. The site of the show, which is co-sanctioned by UMP DIRTcar, buoys him even more. 

Yes, Steidinger knows how to get around the tough Farmer City fairgrounds oval. He’s turned many laps there, and his list of Farmer City successes is highlighted by the 2006 points title.  

“Our standards are pretty high for this weekend,” said Steidinger, who set the second-fastest time and won a heat race during the 2006 WoO LMS program at Farmer City. “We know we can be competitive, but we’re gonna have to strap in, run as hard as we can and make the right decisions.” 

Steidinger relishes the opportunity to battle the dirt Late Model division’s biggest names at his hometrack in an event that will draw national attention. 

“To have a race like this in our backyard is good for us and all the local racers,” said Steidinger. “We get a chance to run for big money close to home, and we can get some good publicity if we run good. 

“I’m not sure if it’s a realistic goal for us or not, but someday I’d like to be able to run a fulltime series (like the WoO LMS) and running good in big races like this is a step toward that. 

“I just want to say thanks to Don and Bonnie Hammer (Farmer City promoters) for putting this show on,” he added. 

Steidinger, who followed the entire UMP DIRTcar Summernationals for the first time in 2007 and finished third in the points, plans to attempt the grueling month-long tour of the Midwest again this season with his family-operated team. He’s hoping that the new addition that’s soon coming to his operation will help bring an improvement in his Summernationals effort – and perhaps a UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national title as well. 

In a week or two, Steidinger is scheduled to take delivery of a new Victory Circle M1 Chassis. It will put him with a growing brigade of drivers who are looking to the Bakersfield, Calif.-based manufacturer that has seized the headlines thanks to its collaborative effort with dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer, who has been the division’s hottest racer so far this year. 

“We hope that working with someone as knowledgeable as Billy will help us get there (to major-contender status),” said Steidinger, who will continue to campaign his customary Rayburn cars as well this season. “A deal to do something with Billy came up, and it was something we couldn’t pass up. 

“I can’t wait to get in the (Victory Circle) car.” 

For more information on the ‘Illini 100,’ which features time trials, heat races and a dash on Fri., April 4, and B-Mains, a Non-Qualifiers’ Race and the 100-lap A-Main on Sat., April 5, visit www.farmercityraceway.net or www.worldofoutlaws.com.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘At A Glance’: Inaugural ‘Illini 100’ At Farmer City Raceway On April 4-5 

FARMER CITY, IL – April 2, 2008 –  

WHAT: 

* The World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Month of Money’ continues this weekend (April 4-5) at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, where teams will compete in the inaugural ‘Illini 100.’ 

A $20,000 top prize from a purse of nearly $100,000 will be on the line in the blockbuster 100-lap A-Main, which is billed as the biggest dirt Late Model event ever run in the state of Illinois. 

With the venerable Farmer City facility sitting in the heart of UMP DIRTcar Racing country, the ‘Illini 100’ will be co-sanctioned by UMP DIRTcar and pit the expansive weekly sanctioning body’s best drivers against the touring stars of the WoO LMS. 

WHEN: 

* A two-day WoO LMS format will be in effect for the ‘Illini 100,’ with time trials and heat races taking place on Friday night (April 4) and the B-Mains and 100-lap headliner set for Saturday night (April 5). 

Added attractions for the dirt Late Model racers include a special $1,000-to-win Douglas Pontiac-GMC-Dodge Dash for heat winners and two fast-timers on Friday night, and a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers Race on Saturday night that offers Farmer City’s regular weekly UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model purse ($1,000 to win/$150 to start) as well as UMP DIRTcar points. 

An open practice session – with grandstand admission free to the public – is scheduled to kick off the weekend on Thursday (April 3) from 5-9 p.m. 

Farmer City’s other weekly UMP DIRTcar Racing divisions will get a chance to perform in the spotlight during the weekend as well. With Friday night being Farmer City’s regular evening of racing, the track’s UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks will race a weekly show on the April 4 undercard, and then the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds will return on Saturday night for a $1,000-to-win special. 

Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday, with competition to follow. 

A raindate of Sun., April 6, has been reserved for the ‘Illini 100.’ 

If needed, an additional raindate of April 25-26 (with an open practice on April 24) has been announced. 

WHERE: 

* Farmer City Raceway is a high-banked, quarter-mile oval conveniently located on Route 150 just off Exit 159 of Interstate 74, at the Farmer City/Dewitt County Fairgrounds. 

TICKETS: 

* Reserved seats for the ‘Illini 100’ – encompassing the top-10 rows of the covered grandstand and the south bleachers – are on sale until April 3. After that date, all remaining seats will be general admission. 

Two-night weekend pass tickets are $40. Single-night tickets will be $15 for Friday and $30 for Saturday, with ages 6-15 admitted for $5 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. Children 5 and under will receive free admission to the spectator area. 

Two-night adult pit passes are $60. Kids 4-11 will be allowed in the pit area for $15 each day, and children 3 and under will be admitted to the pits free of charge. 

CAMPING, ETC.:  

* Camping on the Farmer City Raceway grounds is free for the weekend (no hookups). The 60 drive-in parking spots around the outside of turns one and two, meanwhile, can be reserved for the weekend at a price of $50. 

MEET THE DRIVERS, EXPERIENCE THE TRACK: 

* Fans will want to arrive early on Saturday because they’ll have an opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the drivers during a special one-hour autograph session in the grandstand area before the start of racing. 

In addition, several lucky fans will have a chance to race around the quarter-mile oval alongside a WoO LMS driver with the debut of the track’s new two-seater dirt Late Model. Details about rides in the two-seater will be available at the speedway. 

FARMER CITY RACEWAY INFO: 

* For more information, visit www.farmercityraceway.net or call 217-737-7134 or 217-828-0078. 

PREVIOUS WoO LMS WINNERS: 

* The ‘Illini 100’ will be the third WoO LMS event contested at Farmer City Raceway. 

Billy Moyer was victorious in the first tour event, on Aug. 14, 2006, while Shannon Babb was triumphant on April 27, 2007. Both races were run over the 50-lap distance. 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:  

* Leading the WoO LMS charge to Farmer City will be the tour’s pair of regulars from central Illinois: Shannon Babb of Moweaqua and Brian Shirley of Chatham. 

Babb will make his first appearance before his home crowd since making an off-season move to the new dirt Late Model team owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup star Clint Bowyer. The 34-year-old standout, whose car still carries his familiar No. 18, won last year’s WoO LMS event at Farmer City. 

Shirley, who will enter the race after celebrating his 27^th birthday on Wednesday, traveled most of the WoO LMS for the first time in 2007 and scored his first career tour victory along the way. One of two series regulars this season under the age of 30, the driver known as ‘Squirrel’ is focused on following the entire schedule in search of the championship. 

Babb enters the ‘Illini 100’ as the hotter central Illinois driver, coming off a third-place finish in the WoO LMS ‘March Through Dixie 100’ on March 29 at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss. Shirley experienced bad luck in that event, finishing 24^th after dropping out early with an overheating engine. 

* No dirt Late Model driver in the country is hotter right now than Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who will arrive at Farmer City having won two straight WoO LMS events and eight races overall in 2008. The three-time WoO LMS champion also leads the tour’s current points standings through three events. 

Moyer, 50, is very excited about bringing his Victory Circle M1 Chassis to the ‘Illini 100.’ 

“I love Farmer City,” said Moyer. “It’s a neat, racy place.” 

* Defending WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., will be looking to erase memories of his subpar outing last week in Mississippi when he hits the track at Farmer City, a bullring where he’s been a contender in both tour visits. 

A uncharacteristically quiet 13^th-place finisher in the ‘March Through Dixie 100’ after being unable to recover from ignition-wire trouble during Friday’s time trials that put his Beitler Motorsports team behind, Francis finished third in the 2006 WoO LMS event at Farmer City and fourth in last year’s A-Main. 

* Rick Eckert of York, Pa., the second-winningest driver on the WoO LMS since 2004 but without a Victory Lane visit since July 8, 2006, at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, has a brand-new Rayburn car that he expects to debut at Farmer City. The Rayburn mount is an addition to his Raye Vest-owned stable that already includes two GRT cars. 

* Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who won all four of his 2007 WoO LMS A-Mains at tracks in the Midwest and finished fifth in the Farmer City event, is hoping a return to the region helps him reclaim his ’07 form. He enters the ‘Illini 100’ ranked ninth in the points standings after a forgettable outing in Mississippi – an unusual position for a driver who never ranked lower than third in the 2007 points race after the season opener. 

* Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., the youngest WoO LMS regular (he turned 20 on March 22), admittedly is more comfortable racing on big tracks than small ovals. But he’s confident about his chances at Farmer City, where he finished third in last year’s WoO LMS A-Main. 

* Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who finished fourth in the 2006 WoO LMS 50 at Farmer City, is off to a solid start on this year’s tour. After a sixth-place run last week in Mississippi (he moved from 10^th to the top-five early before fading slightly), the ‘Bluegrass Bandit’ is tied for third with Eckert in the points standings. 

Lanigan and Moyer are the only drivers who have finished among the top 10 in all three WoO LMS A-Mains run to date. 

* Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., the 2006 WoO LMS champion who is now a Richard Childress Racing Development Driver, is planning to enter the ‘Illini 100’ in his familiar Sweeteners Plus No. 39. He’s finished as high as second at Farmer City, in the 2006 WoO LMS event. 

T-Mac will be joined at Farmer City by his Sweeteners Plus Racing teammate Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., a 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender. 

* Well-known regional drivers with plans to pursue the ‘Illini 100’ trophy include defending UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national champ Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who won the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Summernationals event at Farmer City; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; 2006 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill.; former WoO LMS regular Eric Jacobsen of Sea Cliff Beach, Calif.; and UMP DIRTcar Summernationals regular Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. 

* Farmer City favorites expected to defend their home turf against the invaders include former Farmer City titlist Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.; defending track champion and 2007 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Rookie of the Year Scott Bull of Fairbury, Ill.; Eric Smith of Shirley, Ill.; Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill.; Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill.; and Junior Shickel of Bloomington, Ill. 

LISTEN ON THE INTERNET:  

* Fans who can’t make it to the track can listen to the action live thanks to the DIRT Radio Network. 

To listen to the free audio broadcasts of WoO LMS events, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.  

Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. Those who sign up for a free membership can enjoy advanced features while listening to the races, such as text chat and live scoring via AMB.it. 

WoO LMS INFO: 

* Log on to the WoO LMS website at www.worldofoutlaws.com. 

2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of March 29 - 3 features completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader): 

1. Billy Moyer 2-3-3-$33,300-444 (-0)

2. Josh Richards 1-2-2-$14,800-416 (-28)

3. (tie) Rick Eckert 0-1-2-$8,800-406 (-38)

3. (tie) Darrell Lanigan 0-0-3-$5,800-406 (-38)

5. Chub Frank 0-1-2-$8,450-400 (-44)

6. Steve Francis 0-1-2-$5,400-398 (-46)

7. Eddie Carrier Jr. 0-0-2-$4,750-396 (-48)

8. Shannon Babb 0-2-2-$8,700-390 (-54)

9. Clint Smith 0-1-1-$4,460-378 (-66)

10. John Blankenship 0-0-1-$3,640-368 (-76)

11. Tim Fuller 0-0-0-$3,480-360 (-84)

12. Brian Shirley 0-0-1-$3,600-354 (-90)

13. Shane Clanton 0-1-1-$5,400-350 (-94)

14. Jimmy Owens 0-1-2-$4,300-276 (-168)

15. Darren Miller 0-0-2-$3,600-274 (-170)

16. Rick Briggs 0-0-0-$1,800-268 (-176)

17. (tie) Tim McCreadie 0-0-0-$2,050-254 (-190)

17. (tie) Dan Schlieper 0-0-1-$2,050-254 (-190)

19. Ivedent Lloyd 0-0-0-$1,550-232 (-212)

20. (tie) Joe Isabell 0-0-0-$330-225 (-219)

20. (tie) Danny Johnson 0-0-0-$470-225 (-219)

Two World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stars From Central Illinois Eye This Weekend’s $20,000 ‘Illini 100’ Prize At Farmer City Raceway 

Local Heroes Babb & Shirley Primed For Biggest Dirt Late Model Race Ever Run In Illinois 

FARMER CITY, IL – April 1, 2008 – Racing in front of family and friends at Farmer City Raceway has always meant a lot to local heroes Shannon Babb and Brian Shirley. 

But now, with both central Illinois natives touring nationally as World of Outlaws Late Model Series regulars, coming ‘home’ to compete on familiar turf takes on some extra significance. 

During this weekend’s inaugural ‘Illini 100’ at the venerable quarter-mile fairgrounds oval, Babb and Shirley will be showered with attention. They are, after all, local boys who have made good, two drivers who cut their teeth racing at Farmer City and now return as fulltime professional dirt-track stars traveling the country in search of a coveted World of Outlaws championship. 

Both Babb, 34, of Moweaqua, Ill., and Chatham, Ill.’s Shirley, who turns 27 on April 2, are eyeing a victory in Saturday night’s ‘Illini 100’ – not only because it would give them a chance to celebrate with people they know and love, but also because the race’s $20,000 first-place prize makes it the biggest dirt Late Model event ever run in the state of Illinois. 

“It would be so cool to win that race,” Babb said of the ‘Illini 100,’ which includes time trials and heat races on Friday night (April 4) and last-chance events and the A-Main on Saturday night (April 5). “It’s gonna be a killer show – the biggest race ever in Illinois, no doubt. Considering Farmer City is a track we grew up racing at, it would be so special to win it.” 

“I think it would be great to see somebody from Illinois win the biggest dirt Late Model race we’ve ever had here,” added Shirley, one of the division’s top talents under the age of 30. “I’d love it to be me.” 

Babb is especially anxious for the ‘Illini 100’ to arrive. The Farmer City event will provide him a rare opportunity to check in at his residence in Moweaqua, where his mail is still delivered but he hasn’t spent much time this year. 

Babb’s home-away-from-home has been Welcome, N.C., where he’s been working alongside mechanics Jay Hunt and Tommy Grecco to effectively build a new dirt Late Model team for NASCAR Sprint Cup star Clint Bowyer. A dirt racer in his native Kansas before breaking into NASCAR, Bowyer decided to field a full-fledged dirt Late Model effort this season and hired Babb to be his driver. 

“I’ve been home four days since we started this deal (with Bowyer in late-December),” said Babb, who currently works on Bowyer’s equipment in a shop at the Richard Childress Racing headquarters but will soon move into a separate facility a quarter-mile away. “I wasn’t expecting to spend as much time in North Carolina as I have, but I’m doing everything I can to help get this going. 

“Last year (driving for Billy Moyer Sr.) we weren’t prepared to do this whole (WoO LMS) deal, so we’re working hard to be ready this year.” 

A five-time winner and 10^th-place finisher in the points standings on the 2007 WoO LMS despite dropping off the tour as a regular midway through the season, Babb has committed to following the entire 47-date, 23-state schedule this year with his Traeger Grills No. 18. He enters this weekend’s action ranked eighth in the WoO LMS points standings following a third-place finish in the tour’s third event of 2008, the ‘March Through Dixie 100’ on March 29 at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss. 

Babb is simply thrilled that a big-money, two-day show is finally taking place in the ‘Land of Lincoln’ – and that it’s at Farmer City, a track that he’s “gone around a million times” and won dozens of features at during his career. 

“I’m telling you, it’s long overdue for Illinois to have a race like this,” said Babb, who won last year’s 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main at Farmer City. “I’m glad to see (Farmer City promoter Don) Hammer doing it. He’s a racer and he knows what people want. A big race (in Illinois) can be done, but nobody has ever put their foot forward and tried something this big. 

“Illinois has a bigger fan base than most places. We’re in the heartland of the country, with so many racers, so many fans. I know this can work, and maybe it’ll be a good start for an on-going race.” 

The ‘Illini 100’ loot won’t be earned easily, however. 

“Farmer City is no easy place to get around, and the local guys run real good there,” said Babb. “A heat race there is pretty grueling sometimes, so you’re gonna have to play it cool. It’s gonna be tough on you to finish 100 laps there, but it’ll go faster than you think.” 

Shirley, meanwhile, will be shooting to give himself a slightly-belated birthday present when the ‘Illini 100’ takes the green flag on Saturday night. A victory would bring back memories of his first career win at Farmer City, which he earned in 2004 when the track’s season opener was held on his birthday. 

“The first two years I ran at Farmer City (2002 and 2003), we’d go there and get our asses handed to us,” said Shirley, a former flat-track motorcycle star who began racing dirt Late Models in 2002. “The competition there on Friday nights has always been the best of any track in the area, so running there kind of let you know where you were at competition-wise. We knew we had to get better. 

“Well, that winter (before the ’04 season) I kept telling people that I was gonna win on opening night because it was on my birthday, and I did that,” added Shirley, who led Babb under the checkered in the 2004 lidlifter. “It would be cool to do the same thing again (in the ‘Illini 100’).” 

Coming off a 2007 season that saw him win his first career WoO LMS A-Main (at Illinois’s Lincoln Speedway) and finish eighth in the tour points standings (he entered 37 of 45 events and placed second in the Rookie of the Year race), Shirley has committed to running the entire WoO LMS schedule this season with longtime St. Louis-area team owner Ed Petroff. Luck hasn’t been on his side in the first three events of ’08 (he’s 12^th in the points standings), but he’s focused on giving his local supporters something to cheer about at Farmer City, where he’s won a half-dozen times in his short dirt Late Model career. 

“I have a lot of appreciation for my fans back home,” said Shirley. “They don’t get to see me race much anymore because we’re on the road so much, but they all support me and what I’m trying to accomplish so I want to do good for them when I come home to race.” 

Making an hour-and-a-half drive from his home in Chatham to race for big bucks at Farmer City puts a smile on the face of Shirley, who is happy to see a major event being held in his backyard. 

“I don’t know what’s stopped us from having a big race in Illinois,” said Shirley, whose nickname is ‘Squirrel.’ “We have great racetracks here and the fans come out, so I think Illinois deserves a big show like other states have. 

“I hope this race takes off so we can have another big race to look forward to every year.” 

What will it take to win the first ‘Illini 100’ trophy? Shirley has a pretty good idea. 

“One-hundred laps at Farmer City is gonna be tough,” said Shirley. “It’s gonna come down to whose car is prepared the best – and who ate their Wheaties!” 

***** 

The ‘Illini 100’ weekend kicks off on Thursday (April 3) with an open practice session from 5-9 p.m. Free admission to the grandstand will give early-arriving fans and intrigued locals a chance to check out the star-studded group of drivers expected to participate in the event. 

The WoO LMS ‘Illini 100’ competition will be spread over two nights, beginning on Fri., April 4, with time trials, qualifying heats and a special $1,000-to-win Douglas Pontiac-GMC-Dodge Dash for heat winners and two fast-timers. Sat., April 5, is reserved for B-Mains, a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers Race offering Farmer City’s regular weekly UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model purse ($1,000 to win/$150 to start) as well as UMP DIRTcar points, and the 100-lap headliner. 

Farmer City’s other weekly UMP DIRTcar Racing divisions will get a chance to perform in the spotlight during the weekend as well. With Friday night being Farmer City’s regular evening of racing, the track’s UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks will race a weekly show on the Fri., April 4, undercard, and then the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds will return on Saturday night for a $1,000-to-win special. 

Fans will enjoy a host of auxiliary activities during the weekend, including a chance to experience Farmer City’s fast quarter-mile layout alongside a WoO LMS driver with the debut of the track’s new two-seater dirt Late Model and an autograph session with the ‘Illini 100’ entrants in the grandstand area before Saturday night’s program. 

Hot laps are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday, with competition to follow. 

Sun., April 6, is reserved as a raindate. 

Farmer City Raceway is conveniently located on Route 150 just off Exit 159 of Interstate 74, at the Farmer City/Dewitt County Fairgrounds. 

For more information on the ‘Illini 100,’ visit www.farmercityraceway.net or call 217-737-7134 or 217-828-0078. 

Additional info on the WoO LMS can be obtained by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.

03-31-08
Farmer City's Illini 100 is still on for this weekend
April 4-5 WoO Late Model race is still on, weather is looking better.
Reserved seats and parking spots are going fast, but still some available.
For more info, visit: www.farmercityraceway.net

Farmer City Raceway will host an open practice Sunday 3/30 for all classes from 12-4.

Farmer City Raceway promoters TruSpeed, Inc. have released
details on the April 4th and 5th World of Outlaws Illini 100!
March 14, 2008 by Racenut

World of Outlaw Late Models Invade Farmer City Raceway

 
Join us April 4th and 5th as the World of Outlaw Late Models invade Farmer City Raceway for the Illini 100!
This will be a two day event with the schedule of events posted below.

Thursday Night April 3rd-
Open Practice from 5pm to 9pm
Free to Spectators

Friday Night April 4th-
On track activities start at 7 pm
World of Outlaw Late Model Qualifying & Heat Races
PLUS $1000 to win Late Model Dash sponsored by Douglas Pontiac-GMC-Dodge in Clinton
Full Show for UMP Modifieds, Sportsmans & Street Stocks
Modifieds - $500 to win

Saturday Night April 5th-
On track activities start at 7 pm
World of Outlaw Late Model Semis, and Feature
Modified Qualifying
Full Show for UMP Modifieds Only.
World Of Outlaw Late Model Non-Qualifier Race Paying $1000 to win/$150 to start.
Illini 100 - World of Outlaw Late Models - 100 laps for $20,000 to win
UMP Modifieds - $1000 to win

Reserved Tickets for the WoO Show are $40 for the weekend.
The top 10 rows of the covered grandstand and the outside
bleachers to the south of the grandstand will be reserved.
The remaining seats will be general admission.

2 Day Event Tickets - $40
Single Night Tickets - $15 for Friday - $30 for Saturday
Kids 5 & Under - Free
6-15 - Friday - $5 -- Saturday - $15

Adult 2 Day Pit Passes - $60
Kids 3 & Under - Free
Kids 4-11 - $15/day

Camping is Free for the Weekend (No Hookups) Portable fire pits are welcomed.

Reserved Parking Spots along the fence in turns 1 & 2
will be $50 for the entire weekend.
We only have 60 spots, get yours now.
For a seating and parking map, check out our website at www.farmercityraceway.net

To Reserve Your Seats Send Check, Money Order,
or cashiers check (no credit cards)
along with your request to:

TruSpeed Inc.
P.O. Box 131
Clinton, IL 61727

For Questions call: 217.737.7134 or 217.828.0078

In other news, TruSpeed Inc. has also released the complete 2008 schedule, which includes highlights such as the UMP Summernationals on June 20th paying $10,000 to win for the late models, Huge Fireworks Display on July 4th
Co-Sponsored by the Farmer City Tourism Committee, Grain truck races Wednesday July 16th, The Farmer City 50, paying $5,000 to win for the late models on August 29th. The season wraps up on September 12th with
the third annual Four Cylinder Nationals paying $1,500 to win for the hornets.
 

Saturday March 22
Open Practice noon-4 pm

Sunday March 30
Open Practice noon-4 pm

2008 Schedule
All racing will be on Friday night unless otherwise noted. 

This is not the full schedule.  It will be updated very soon.  These are confirmed dates for the 2008 racing season.  All dates are tenative.
Regular Racing Consist of: Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks & Hornets

Minor notes from the Farmer City Raceway Banquet...
Nine of the top Ten Hornet drivers present....Champ Joe Reed
Quote from second place Stacy Whitehouse to Champ Joe Reed "Next year I'm coming after you!"
Nine of the the top ten Street Stock drivers present....Champ Jim Quinn
 Seventh place Josh Griffith stated that he raced at seven tracks in 2007 and thanked all the other drivers for the clean racing.
Champ Jim Quinn thanked everyone, but especially Rick "Santa Claus" Alwood as Rick was always there with the parts needed.
Seven of the top ten Sportsmen drivers present....Champ Greg Kimmons
Tenth place Rod Rusher put out a special thanks to Tracy Feger for the online petition to keep the track open.
Tracy, meanwhile was off enjoying a Kid Rock concert somewhere.
Three of the top ten Modified drivers present....Champ Jeff Leka....for the seventh time in the last eight years, six in a row.
No real notable comments here, just a bunch of thanking everyone....
Seven of the top ten Late Model drivers present....Champ Scott Bull, also 2007 UMP Late Model Rookie of the Year
Joe Harlan's wife accepted for him.

The 2008 Season Pit Pass was won by Mac on Jr. Shickel's crew
The rides in the 2-seater were won by Don Hammer's Mother and by Joe Reed

The only other notable happening was when Tammy Dehm fell(?) off Scott's
lap and hit the floor....and she was stone cold sober.

Thank You from Racenut to TruSpeed, Inc....Don, Bonny and Kevin Hammer....for a very nice evening,
supper and all the great fellowship, and support, this was very much appreciated evening in the middle of winter!

Next Race.... 2008 Season Opener....World of Outlaws Late Models
$20,000 to win .... April 4 & 5, 2008

Join us for the 2007 Farmer City Raceway banquet!

The 2007 Farmer City Raceway Awards & Celebration Banquet will be held on Saturday January 26th at the Tri-Lakes Banquet Hall in Bloomington. The top ten in points in each class will receive 2 free tickets and will be honored for their achievements in the 2007 season. Drinks will be served at 6:00 with dinner at 6:30 and the awards presentation at approximately 7:00. Music and dancing will follow the awards. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance by calling 217-828-0078. Tickets are $15 (children 10 and under are free). Included in the ticket price is the all you can eat dinner buffet (fish, ham, cheese potatoes and much more) dessert and entertainment. A cash bar is also available. Please call the above number to reserve tables for large parties. In order to receive points awards, you must attend the banquet. We look forward to seeing everyone!! Please call 217-737-7134 or 217-828-0078 for any questions.

Here is the address:
Tri-Lakes Banquet Facilities

2100 Bunn St, Bloomington, IL

309-829-1848

Results for Tri-Lakes near Bloomington, IL

From I-74, take the Main Street exit, go north into town. Where the Sale Barn is on the left, there is a Mobil Gas station and a McDonalds on the right....turn right....That is Hamilton Road....go to the first stop sign (I think the first one). Should be Bunn Street....turn left....there are signs that say Tri-Lakes....it will be on the right, if you get to the railroad tracks, you went too far....After you turn right towards Tri-Lakes, the road kinda leads you through what apparently is some sort of junk yard....several tall chain link fences....don't be scared off.... the road will open up to the banquet center after just a few turns....I should be there around 6:30....

After reprieve, Farmer City plans $20,000 race

03-18-08