2009/2009FC....

www.farmercityraceway.net

track phone....309-928-9110 race days
photos....click here
(through 2008)videos/dvds available....email: [email protected]
2009 VIDEOS/DVDS NOW AVAILABLE FROM ALLISON VIDEOS ....
phone:217-341-9907.....email: [email protected]
click here for official results/points from www.speednetdirect.com
Farmer City Track Records....click here
TruSpeed forum....for fans of Farmer City Raceway, Lincoln Speedway and Monster Midwest Series
2001 ARCHIVES    2002 ARCHIVES    2003 ARCHIVES    2004 ARCHIVES
2005 ARCHIVES    2006 ARCHIVES    2007 ARCHIVES    2008 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

By Steve Hoffman | [email protected] | Posted: Sunday, December 6, 2009 9:30 pm

Farmer City schedules hearing to consider property proposal

By Steve Hoffman|[email protected]

source: http://pantagraph.com/news/local/article_5881d4e4-c774-11de-99ef-001cc4c03286.html

Congratulations to the 2009 Track Champions:
Kyle Logue
Fast Joe Reed
Rick Roedel
Dave Crawley Jr
Blake Shelley
Sam McCoy

Congratulations to the
Big Ten Series Champion Steve Sheppard Jr

Leka, Bauman, Tackett, Bechen September 18 Winners

Thanks to Rocky Ragusa for the pictures....click on thumbnails to enlarge

Jason Feger Rolls to Monster Midwest Series Win 

By Rocky Ragusa

Farmer City, IL. (9-04-09) The Farmer City Raceway held their 5^th annual Farmer City 50 for UMP late models on Friday night. The race was part of the Monster Midwest Series. The series normally holds 40 lap, $2000 to win events, but the speedway added 10 laps and $3000 to the race, for a total of $5,000 to win 50 laps. 37 late models were on hand, with Billy Moyer setting fast time with a 12.383. Four heat races were held with Billy Moyer, Jason Feger, Darren Miller, and Billy Drake winning. Donny Walden and Kyle Logue took the 2 semi features. Feger started on the outside front row with Miller on the inside. Before a lap could be completed, Steve Sheppard Jr. lost control of his car in turn 1 causing a 10 car pileup, fortunately no drivers or cars were damaged. The restart had Feger in the lead with Miller and Sheppard Jr. in 2^nd and 3^rd. Sheppard got by Miller and soon began challenging Feger for 1^st. Shannon Babb had jumped the top of the track and fell back several positions, but by the halfway point started a charge to the front. Feger held a straight away lead over Ryan Unzicker as Babb had moved into 3^rd position. A caution with 12 laps to go gave Unzicker and Babb the chance to close up. Babb got by Unzicker and set his sights on Feger who took off following the caution. Babb was able to cut the lead to 10 car lengths as Feger took the checkered flag for his 1^st win of the year at Farmer City. Unzicker, Dennis Erb Jr., Rodney Melvin, Aaron Ridley, Steve Sheppard Jr., Scott Bull, and Brandon Sheppard completed the cars running at the end.

 In support action, in only his second appearance in a modified, Davenport, Iowa driver Brian Harris wheeled the car of Ray Guss Jr. into the lead at the start of the 20 lap UMP modified race and held off newly crowned track champion for the 8^th time in a row Jeff Leka  for his 1^st win in a modified. Jeremy Nichols, Jay Ledford, and Gabe Menser completed the top 5.
Gary Cook Sr. got his 1^st win of the year in the 15 lap UMP street stock race as Jim Quinn clinched his 4^th championship in a row.
Jason Maier took his 5^th win and took his first ever track championship in the UMP hornet class.
Action returns September 18, as the track hosts the 4 cylinder nationals.

5th Annual Farmer City 50 $5,000 to win September 4

The Farmer City Raceway will be hosting the 5th Annual Farmer City 50 Monster Midwest Series race this coming Friday, September 4th. The 50 lap UMP Late Model feature will pay $5,000 to win. The UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, and UMP Hornets will also be in action Friday night. Friday will also be the last night for track points. Camping will be allowed on the fairgrounds (no charge and no hook-ups).

Gate Admission: $20, kids ages 6-12 are $5, and 5 and under FREE
Pit Admission: $35, kids ages 4-10 are $10 and 3 and under FREE
Gates Open: 5:00
Hot Laps: 6:30, Qualifying: 7:00, Racing: 7:30

Payout
1st - $5,000
2nd - $3,000
3rd - $2,000
4th - $1,500
5th - $1,200
6th - $1,000
7th - $800
8th - $600
9th - $500
10th - $400
11th-20th $300

Past Winners
2008 - Billy Moyer
2007 - Dennis Erb Jr.
2006 - Brian Shirley
2005 - Dennis Erb Jr.

The raceway is located on Route 150 just off Interstate 74 @ Exit 159 at the Farmer City / Dewitt County Fairgrounds in Farmer City, IL.
 

August 21....Rain

August 14 winners Jay Ledford, Nick Bauman, Joe Reed, Heidi Goodman and Chris Tackett

for complete results click here

August 7....Rain

July 24 Monster Midwest series winner Daren Friedman
Other winners included John Barnard, Jeff Leka

Farmer City Raceway will NOT be racing on Friday, June 26th.

UMP Summernationals now $6,000 to win Monday June 29

The UMP Summer Nationals race that was scheduled for Friday, June 19th has been rescheduled for Monday, June 29th. The 40 lap UMP Late Model feature will pay $6,000 to win. Gates open at 3:00. Hot Laps 6:30, Qualifying 7:00, Racing 7:30. Other classes racing will be UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, and UMP Hornets. Front gate admission is $20, kids ages 6-12 are $5, 5 and under are FREE. Pit gate is $35, kids ages 4-10 are $15, 3 and under are FREE.

Farmer City Raceway will NOT be racing on Friday, June 26th.

Races Cancelled Tonight; Race will be Rescheduled

$10,000 to win UMP Summer Nationals June 19

Farmer City Raceway
Farmer City, IL
June 5, 2009

Steve Sheppard Jr started the night out by turning fast time of the twenty late models on hand at 13.857 seconds. Sheppard then went on to win his heat in a photo finish over Richie Hedrick, followed by Charley Hess and Cory Daugherty. The second heat went to last weeks feature winner Joe Harlan in another close race over Brandon Sheppard, followed closely by Kyle Logue. The final heat went to Chris Dick in a tough battle over Jamie Zidar and Rocky Griffin. The feature started out with pole sitter Richie Hedrick taking the initial lead over Steve Sheppard Jr and Joe Harlan. Chris Dick decided to get in the battle, and he ran the first six laps side by side with Sheppard Jr and Harlan. Then Sheppard Jr moved alongside leader Hedrick and the duo raced side by side, with Harlan trying to get past both of them. Finally on lap eleven, Harlan squeezed past Sheppard Jr and Hedrick for the lead. Hedrick then fell out of the race, leaving Harlan to lead the rest of the way, followed by Sheppard Jr, Kyle Logue, Jamie Zidar and Daren Friedman. Friedman earlier had motor problems in his #89 ride, and had jumped into Eric Smith's #9 backup car.
Finish:

Z Joe Harlan
5s Steve Sheppard Jr
91 Kyle Logue
9z Jamie Zidar
9 Daren Friedman (Eric Smith's backup car)
9 Eric Smith
22 Chris Dick
1G Rocky Griffin
99J Jimmy Dehm
96 Cory Daugherty
DC3 Don Cisco III
39x Kenny Carmichael

The crate late models also saw a repeat winner, as young Bobby Pierce cleaned house by winning his heat, starting on the pole and winning the feature. The first heat went to John Bernard over Brad Denney and seventh place starter Allen Thomas. The second heat went to Pierce, followed closely by Nick Bauman and Kevin Moffett. Pierce started on the pole of the feature, and was never seriously challenged as he led all twenty laps to win his second feature in a row. Pierce was followed by Nick Bauman, Allen Thomas, Brad Denney, John Barnard, Ron Wilson, Kevin Moffett, Matt Beadles, Tim Dick, Nick Macklin, Travis Johnson and Jay Smithson.

The modified class saw another classic battle between the last two UMP national points champions Jeff Leka and Denny Schwartz. Schwartz had earlier set fast time at 15.338 seconds. The first heat went to Denny Schwartz over Brock Bauman, Chad Evans and Chevy Miller. The second heat went to Jeff Leka over Jay Ledford, Cory Schwengel and Justin DeLong. The final heat went to Chad Osterhoff over Jeb Friedman, Matt Huddleston and Jeff Curl. Jeff Leka took off at the green flag, searching high and low for the best groove to run, and about halfway through, Schwartz showed Leka that the top side was faster, pulling alongside Leka several times. Leka then moved up to the top and managed to keep Schwartz in second. Finishing third was Jeb Friedman, followed by Jay Ledford, Chad Evans Chad Osterhoff and Matt Huddleston.

The kidmodz were back in town, with the heat race going to Heidi Goodman over Jay Griffin and Blake Benson. The feature event saw Kyle Hammer win the race, but after Heidi Goodman took the lead, Hammer really had to work to get back around her, while at the same time hold off the hard charging Jay Griffin. The final finishing order was Kyle Hammer over Heidi Goodman, Jay Griffin and Jeffrey Ledford.

The streetstock class saw some of the best racing of the evening as the first heat went to last place starter Jim Quinn over Chuck Barnes Jr, followed closely by Troy Dodson and Josh Griffith. The second heat went to Terry Miller over Al Crawley, Cody Miller and Scott Thrasher. The feature was a real barn-burner as Quinn, Miller and Barnes battled it out the first half of the race. Quinn would go on to the checkered flag first, followed very closely by Terry Miller, Chuck Barnes Jr, Al Crawley, Josh Griffith, Troy Dodson and Scott Thrasher.

In the hornets, Kenny Butterfield and Joe Reed won the heats and Jason Maier went on to win the feature followed by Kenny Butterfield....(thank you DeeDee)

Full Show plus KidModz June 5

Farmer City Raceway $2,000 to win Monster Midwest Series May 29
The Farmer City Raceway will be hosting the Monster Midwest Series this coming Friday, May 29th. The 40 lap Late Model feature will pay $2,000 to win. The UMP Modifieds, Baum Chevrolet UMP Pro (Crate) Late Models/UMP Sportsman, UMP Street Stocks, and UMP Hornets will also be in action Friday night.

Gate Admission: $15 (kids 12 and under free when accompanied by a paying adult)
Pit Admission: 11 & up: $30, 4-10: $10, Kids 3 & Under: Free w/paying adult
Gates Open: 5:00
Hot Laps: 6:30, Qualifying: 7:00, Racing: 7:30

The raceway is located on Route 150 just off Interstate 74 @ Exit 159 at the Farmer City / Dewitt County Fairgrounds in Farmer City, IL. For more information visit www.farmercityraceway.net.

Not racing on a track during the rainiest month in many years
 may be good for the grass, but not for the racing surface.

Full Show plus KidModz May 22

RACES FOR FRIDAY, MAY 15TH HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR A FULL SHOW.

RACES FOR FRIDAY, MAY 8TH HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR A FULL SHOW.

Monster Midwest Series Kicks Off with Tripleheader April 24-26
 
The Monster Midwest Series kicks off their 2009 season with a tripleheader. On Friday, April 24th the series will be at the Kankakee County Speedway (Kankakee, IL) for a $5,000 to win event. The series then moves on to the Kamp Motor Speedway (Boswell, IN) on Saturday, April 25th, and concludes the weekend at the Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, IL) on Sunday, April 26th. Saturday and Sunday's races will pay $2,000 to win. The series has 26 events currently scheduled with a few more to be added.

The series website has been updated with the year-end points fund payout (plus sponsor product awards), along with rookie of the year awards, race payouts, show-up money, and the race format.

Please visit the Monster Midwest Series website at www.monstermidwestseries.com for all the details.

Special Thanks to Farmer City Raceway on Friday not running late models AND to Shepp's Speedway on Sunday also not running late models.... that is what UMP was supposed to be all about!!!
 

The races for tonight (April 10) have been cancelled. Join us next week for a full show and KidModz.

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

FARMER CITY, IL - April 6, 2009 -

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Yes, Shane Clanton was thrilled to add another big-money victory to his rapidly expanding resume after capturing Saturday night's second annual ‘Illini 100' at Farmer City Raceway.

Surprisingly, however, that wasn't the part of his triumph that he was most excited about.

“It's more relieving to win on black dirt,” said Locust Grove, Ga.'s Clanton, noting the distinctive clay surface on the quarter-mile Midwestern oval. “I've struggled so much on this black dirt in my career, so finally winning a big race on this stuff is a pretty big deal for me.

“Normally I get so loose and over-work the tires on this kind of surface, but this weekend we changed some stuff on the car and I just bided my time tonight so I wouldn't use up the tires. I knew I had a good car, so I just said, ‘You just gotta be patient and if (leader Brian Birkhofer) makes a mistake, take advantage of it.'

“For the last 25 laps I ran as hard as I could,” added Clanton, who registered his first World of Outlaws Late Model Series win of 2009. “Then once I got the lead, I said, ‘Now just be conservative.'”

SO CLOSE: Settling for a second-place finish after leading the first 93 laps of the Illini 100 certainly didn't sit well with Brian Birkhofer, but he was graceful in defeat.

After all, pocketing a $10,100 runner-up payoff was better than Birky's fate in last year's inaugural Illini 100. He finished 20th after he spun out of the lead on lap 50 with mechanical trouble that resulted from his car catching a rut.

“I do this for a living,” said Muscatine, Iowa's Birkhofer. “I own everything on my own, so it's a lot better to get a good paycheck like this at the end of the night. My race car might need a little bodywork and maintenance, but other than that it's ready to go for the next race.

“I hate to lead so many laps and lose, but I gotta give Shane credit. He was up on the wheel in abundance trying to get through three and four and he passed me. I've just never been able to back my car on the slick (surface) into a curb (cushion) like that.

“It was fun racing with Shane – and I'll get him back somewhere else,” he added with a smile.

COMING OF AGE: Josh Richards registered a third-place finish that just might have demonstrated he's ready to become a WoO LMS champion.

While the 21-year-old from Shinnston, W.Va., slipped by Clanton for second and challenged Birkhofer briefly on a lap-37 restart, he lost the runner-up spot to Clanton after another caution period six circuits later and then settled into third for the remainder of the distance. He spoke afterward like a maturing driver looking at the big picture.

“I knew at that point (following the lap-43 restart) there was no way I could get back by them because they were both really good,” said Richards, who thought his hopes were hampered by a right-front tire choice that was a bit too hard. “So I was just trying to hold on to what I had for the rest of the race. There was a point (late in the race) where I maybe could've pushed the issue and tried to get up there, but I was in third and didn't want to do anything crazy to jeopardize what I had so I just points-raced the rest of the way.”

Richards ended up extending his WoO LMS points lead to 16 points over defending champion Darrell Lanigan, who finished a quiet seventh, with the smart run.

With the WoO LMS off this weekend, Richards will shift surfaces and try his hand in a NASCAR Camping World East Series event on Sat., April 11, at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C. He will attempt to qualify for the NASCAR Home Tracks 150 driving a No. 52 Chevrolet from the Ken Schrader Racing stable.

FALLING SHORT: Steve Francis's Dale Beitler-owned car just kept shaking and shaking, and finally, with less than 10 laps remaining in the Illini 100, it succumbed to the abuse.

With his No. 19 laying down on its rear suspension due to a broken left-rear tracking rod, Francis limped around the track at reduced speed for the final circuits. He fell from what appeared to be a fifth-place finish to 15th in the final rundown, one lap down (and about to lose a second lap) at the checkered flag.

“The right-rear axle tube broke around lap 20 and I was running with no brakes after that,” said Francis. “Because I didn't have brakes I kept hitting the cushion to slow the car down, and that filled the right-rear wheel with mud. That caused a vibration – I mean, for 60-some laps the thing was vibrating so bad I couldn't even see the straightaway, and that just caused other things to break.”

It was a disappointing fate for Francis, who called his three-race-old Rocket car “really good” and thought he could've been in the mix at the front of the pack.

FAMILY DAY: The Illini 100 weekend provided Dale Beitler an opportunity to spend time with his daughter, Candi, and his future son-in-law Brian Shirley, the Chatham, Ill., driver who is engaged to Candi.

Candi Beitler rode out to the Midwest with her father, who reported that his daughter is scheduled to graduate on May 16 from Frostburg (Md.) State University.

NOT PLEASED: One year after nearly pulling off a dramatic last-to-first charge to victory in the Illini 100, Shannon Babb was only able to advance two positions from his seventh starting spot.

The Farmer City favorite from nearby Moweaqua, Ill., wasn't happy about settling for a quiet fifth-place finish.

“It's a major disappointment,” said Babb. “You just couldn't run all over the place like last year. The top was just too dominant.”

Babb isn't committed to following the entire WoO LMS in 2009, but he indicated that he'll probably maintain his perfect attendance on this year's tour (he's currently fifth in the points standings) by entering the next WoO LMS shows on April 17 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway and April 18 at Virginia Motor Speedway.

TOUGH LUCK: Chub Frank could only think of what might-have-been after finishing ninth in the Illini 100.

“Tonight could've been a different story if we don't get that flat (right-rear tire) leading the heat (on Friday night),” said Frank, who had to rally just to grab the third and final transfer spot in the heat race. “I don't know if we could've won the race, but if we would've been in the draw (for the six heat winners) I'm pretty confident that I could've stayed up in the top five.”

As it was, Frank had to battle forward from the 18th starting spot in the 100-lapper. He picked up most of his positions on the event's two mid-race restarts.

WRONG DIRECTION: WoO LMS stalwart Rick Eckert won Friday's sixth heat after Frank slowed with a flat and started fifth in the Illini 100, but he lost several spots early in the A-Main and never recovered, finishing 10th in the Raye Vest Racing Bloomquist car.

Eckert changed the motor in his machine on Saturday afternoon after discovering a broken valve spring in his primary powerplant during morning maintenance.

TWIRLING AROUND: The wildest moment of the otherwise incident-free Illini 100 came on lap 43 when WoO LMS traveler Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., spun in turn four while attempting to control his car with a left-front flat tire.

Smith, whose machine was narrowly avoided by passing cars as it spun, developed the flat tire after banging together with Bloomington, Ill.'s Jason Feger off turn four on lap 42. The two drivers had been battling for eighth place.

While Smith returned to the event after a pit stop but ultimately finished one lap down in 14th place, Feger gave his legion of hometown fans something to cheer about with a solid eighth-place finish.

“We'll take it,” said Feger, who drew one of the loudest cheers of the night from the standing-room-only crowd. “We didn't go backwards, and that's a good thing against this kind of competition.”

BETTER RESULT: What a difference a year made for Richie Hedrick, the hard-charger from Urbana, Ill., who won a heat race and registered a career-best WoO LMS finish of sixth in the Illini 100 despite running much of the A-Main distance with right-rear body damage on his Pierce mount.

Hedrick experienced a nightmarish qualifying night during last year's inaugural weekend. He flipped his primary car in hot laps, then brought out his backup and nearly rolled again in a heat-race crash that left him with a hand injury.

ROUGH WEEKEND: Vic Coffey couldn't catch a break at Farmer City.

After sustaining body damage in a heat-race spin on Friday night that left him mired with a starting spot deep in Saturday's B-Main, the 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year appeared on his way to transferring through the second 12-lap last-chance race until disaster struck on lap six. As Coffey made a bid for third place, 16-year-old Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who was running second, had his car's air cleaner and driveshaft fly onto the track almost simultaneously, causing Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., to check up and reflexively turn to the left to avoid the flying debris. Unfortunately, Coffey was inside Unzicker, sending Coffey spinning into turn one, where he was struck by at least two cars, including Brian Shirley.

Coffey's Sweeteners Plus crew managed to patch up his car, which surprisingly sustained only bodywork damage, and he gained a berth in the Illini 100 by utilizing one of the two ‘emergency' provisional starting spots available in 2009 to each of the drivers who committed to running the WoO LMS at the start of the season. He finished one lap down in 16th.

LONG TRIP: Twenty-one-year-old rookie contender Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., arrived late on Friday night, missing hot laps and taking one qualifying lap at the end of time trials after a marathon 900-mile haul to the track.

Robinson had to delay his team's departure for Farmer City until 7 p.m. on Thursday, after he finished a concrete design exam at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., where he is a junior majoring in civil engineering. His trip west was slowed by heavy storms in the West Virginia mountains and traffic in Louisville, Ky. – and as a result, he had to hurriedly unload his No. 3 and head onto the high-banked bullring for time trials without ever having seen the track.

Though Robinson made a gallant bid for a transfer spot in a Saturday B-Main after being involved in an early tangle, the young talent failed to qualify.

ETCETERA: Jordan Bland, 21, of Campbellsville, Ky., submitted his application for WoO LMS Rookie of the Year status during the weekend and was approved as a candidate for the award. He finished 16th in the Illini 100 and earned the $250 Rookie of the Race bonus... Some observers still might not believe it considering his status as a top contender whenever he runs a WoO LMS event, but Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., has never won an A-Main on the national tour. As a result, Mars, who has a second-place finish to his credit in each of the past two WoO LMS campaigns, parlayed a fourth-place run in the Illini 100 into the $500 WoO LMS Bonus Bucks cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn't won a tour event and isn't ranked among the top 12 in the points standings... Tim Fuller was certainly glad that Kris (‘Big Sexy') Underwood is the WoO LMS official whom drivers report to in turn four for bodywork issues. The right-rear corner of Fuller's car was pushed up in a heat-race tangle, but the brawny Underwood was able to squash the bodywork back into place and Fuller went on to gain a transfer spot in the prelim... It appeared that Brian Birkhofer had run into trouble when he stopped on the homestretch during a lap-43 caution period and removed his helmet, but there were no mechanical issues with his car. His RACEceiver earpiece had fallen out, prompting him to pull over and put it back in so he could hear directions from WoO LMS race director Bret Emrick... Franklin, Pa.'s Matt Lux turned in a strong run in his first career start at Farmer City, finishing one lap down in 13th after running on the lead lap until late in the distance... Clint Smith was the last driver on the lead lap at the finish of the Illini 100, placing 12th... WoO LMS rookie Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, was joined at the track for the first time since February by his father Rex King Sr., who was coming off his first big-block Modified win of the season the previous week in Mercer, Pa.... Fourteen-year-old WoO LMS rookie Tyler Reddick fell short of qualifying for the Illini 100, but the weekend gave him a chance to race at a track less than four hours north of his adopted home of Du Quoin, Ill. A native of Corning, Calif., Reddick's family has a residence and race shop in Du Quoin to put them in the middle of the Midwest's dirt-track action and Reddick attends a private school there...

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake's Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder's Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.
 

Farmer City Raceway

Farmer City IL

April 4, 2009

by Dan Stewart
www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com

scroll down for more photos

Shane Clanton takes lead late and wins Illini 100 over Brian Birkhofer

Thanks to Darin Stewart for the photo

With most of the line-up already set for Saturday's Illini 100, all that was left was to run two semi features (sorry, B-mains) and for the heat winners to draw for their starting positions. The top two advancing from the first semi were Eric Smith and Scott Bull. Daren Friedman, Jimmy Dehm, and Brent Robinson rounded out the top five. The second semi saw Dennis Erb Jr win out over Ryan Unzicker, with those two advancing and Kevin Weaver, Donny Walden and Ted Loomis rounding out the top five.

The heat winners drew for their starting positions, with the pole going to Shane Clanton, the outside front row to Brian Birkhofer. The second row went to Jimmy Mars and Josh Richards. The third row would start Rick Eckert and Richie Hedrick.

The feature would see Brian Birkhofer blast out to the early lead. Shane Clanton stayed right with him, taking the lead on lap eight, just to see Birky go back by one lap later. The first of two cautions came out with 63 laps remaining, as Dennis Erb Jr would stop on the track just as he was getting lapped, and he retired for the evening. Birky then commanded the lead spot, for just six laps later, Brady Smith brought out the second caution with a flat tire and a spin. The remaining fifty seven laps were run under the green flag, with Birky in the lead, weaving through traffic, only to find Shane Clanton pull alongside and take the lead with eight laps to go. Birky would stick right with him for the next two laps, until Clanton cleared traffic, and went on to collect the checkered flag and the $20,000 that goes with it.

Birky would finish a close second, followed by Josh Richards, who spent most of the race running in the third spot.

unofficial finish:

25 Shane Clanton
15 Brian Birkhofer
1 Josh Richards
28 Jimmy Mars
18 Shannon Babb
0 Richie Hedrick
29 Darrell Lanigan
25 Jason Feger
1* Chub Frank
24 Rick Eckert
19 Tim Fuller
44 Clint Smith
21 Matt Lux-1
2 Brady Smith-1
19 Steve Francis-1
32 Vic Coffey-3
Z Joe Harlan-4
9 Eric Smith-4
12 Jordan Bland-5
56 Russ King-5
DNF
28 Dennis Erb Jr
1 Will Vaught
73 Zach Johnson
83 Scott Bull
24 Ryan Unzicker

Kevin Weaver won the non-qualifiers race.

The modified heat races went to Denny Schwartz, Jeff Leka, Gary Cook Jr, and Mike Spatola. The semis went to Kent Robinson and George Aimone. The feature event went to Denny Schwartz over Jeff Leka, Gary Cook Jr in an uneventful race. Denny Schwartz had set fast time at 14.084 seconds. Also during time trials Dave Sandage smacked the tires in turn #3 and flipped, he was uninjured.

Click on the pics to enlarge

pics courtesy Rocky Ragusa

Friday's modified winner Kent Robinson	Saturday's modified winner Denny Schwartz	25 shane clanton overtakes 15 brian birkhofer in the waning laps for the lead and win in the 2nd annual illini 100	current world of outlaw point leader josh richard finished in 3rd position	urbana, illinois driver richie hedrick led the local contingent with a world of outlaw career best 6th place finish	winner of the 2009 Illini 100 Shane Clanton

pics below courtesy of Racenut

Shannon Babb	Dustin Hapka	Brandon Sheppard	Brandon Sheppard	Josh Richards	Zach Johnson	Darrell Lanigan
Justin DeLong	Zach Johnson	Cory Daugherty	Brandon Sheppard	Jimmy Dehm	Jimmy Dehm	Jimmy Dehm
Brian Shirley	Brian Shirley	2009 Illini 100 winner Shane Clanton	Scott Bull	Jon Rogers, car flipped in Friday hot laps	Jimmy Mars	Matt Lux, Rick Eckert
Tyler Allen Crate Late Model	Will Vaught	Eric Smith	Steve Francis	Jason Feger	Dennis Erb, Jr	Jill George
Jim Moon	Saturday afternoon sea of blankets	Monster Midwest Series truck	Mike Spatola	Saturday frontstretch	Saturday track	Gary Cook, Jr
Justin DeLong	unknown to me		turn four	Gary Cook, Jr
	Justin DeLong	Jay Ledford	Jay Ledford	TD Burger		Jeff Curl
Jeff Leka	Jeff Leka	Jeffrey Leka	Jeff Cury	Don Kiger Dave Porth	Jeff Leka	Jeff Leka
Jeff Leka	Don Kiger	hot laps	Kent Robinson, Friday night winner	Chad Osterhoff	Matt Goulden	Mike Spatola
Kent Robinson	Mike Spatola	Kent Robinson	Mark Anderson	Jimmy Dehm	Daren Friedman	Jimmy Dehm
Jimmy Dehm	Eric Smith	Scott Bull	Steve Sheppard, Jr	Brian Shirley	Tyler Reddick	Brandon Sheppard
Brian Shirley hot laps	hot laps			Dennis Erb, Jr	Vic Coffey	Donny Walden
Roben Huffman	Kevin Weaver	Dennis Erb, Jr	Mike Mataragas	Donny Walden	Roben Huffman	hot laps

And, yes I will entertain offers for sponsorship of a new, decent digital camera

 

Clanton Overtakes Birkhofer In Final Laps For Dramatic ‘Illini 100' Victory At Farmer City Raceway

FARMER CITY, IL - April 4, 2009 - Shane Clanton kept trying and trying to overtake Brian Birkhofer for the lead in Saturday night's second annual ‘Illini 100' at Farmer City Raceway.

Finally, on lap 94, Clanton's persistence paid off – to the tune of a $20,600 paycheck for winning the blockbuster World of Outlaws Late Model Series event in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

In an incident-free race that ran caution-free from lap 43 to the finish, Clanton pressured Birkhofer relentlessly until sliding underneath the race-long pacesetter through turns three and four to assume command with six circuits remaining.

“I said, ‘If I ever get to his quarter-panel and I can turn left and be by him through (turns) three and four, I got him,'” described Clanton, who registered his first WoO LMS victory of the 2009 season. “He finally made a bobble off turn two and pushed, and I turned under and went by him.”

Clanton, 33, of Locust Grove, Ga., made the right moves in lapped traffic over the final circuits to steer his Custom-powered RSD Enterprises Rocket across the finish line less than a car length ahead of Muscatine, Iowa's Birkhofer, who drove an MB Custom machine.

WoO LMS points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., finished third in the Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket, about a half-straightaway behind the leaders. He started fourth and climbed as high as second on a lap-37 restart.

Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., placed fourth in the Deppe Enterprises MB Custom mount, earning the $500 WoO LMS Bonus Bucks cash for being the highest-finishing driver who hasn't won a tour event and isn't ranked among the top 12 in the points standings.

Farmer City favorite Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., completed the top five in the Sheltra Motorsports Rocket. He grabbed the spot with less than 10 laps remaining when Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., fell off the pace with suspension problems.

Clanton started from the pole position, but he was outgunned for the lead at the initial green flag by front-row mate Birkhofer. The Peach State star lost second momentarily to Richards on a lap-37 restart before regaining the position from the 21-year-old following the race's second and final caution flag six laps later.

While Clanton stepped up his attack on Birkhofer at the event's three-quarter mark, he thought his hopes might have been dashed when Birkhofer burst past three slower cars racing down the backstretch on lap 85. Clearing the lapped machines gave Birkhofer a sudden half-straightaway edge on Clanton.

“I thought, ‘I gotta go now if I'm gonna have any chance,' so I just ran as hard as I could to try to run him down,” said Clanton. “I didn't know if I'd be able to catch him, but in five laps I was right back on him so I knew I had a fast car. I just didn't know if he was just riding in the lead, not taking a chance.”

Birkhofer, 37, never considered himself home-free after his slick move in lapped traffic.

“I knew Clanton or Josh (Richards) was sitting there behind me,” said Birkhofer, who led laps 10-50 of last year's Illini 100 before dropping out with mechanical trouble after catching a rut in turn four. “I kept telling myself, ‘I can't make any mistakes.'

“Well, I got bottled up there trying to get by a lapped guy (on lap 94). I figured I was gonna be a sitting duck, and then, all of a sudden, there (Clanton) was.”

Birkhofer tipped his hat to Clanton for pulling off an inside pass for the lead on the high-banked, quarter-mile oval, which developed a preferred line around the cushion at the top of the track.

“He just drove ‘er hard when he needed to,” Birkhofer said of Clanton. “He drove in there and backed into the cushion. He passed me and won the race, so congratulations to him.

“I'm gonna take second place (worth $10,050) and go home.”

Clanton was a very excited winner when he reached Victory Lane. And with good reason – the triumph was his first top-five finish in six WoO LMS A-Mains this season, and it added another major-event score to his expanding resume that includes a 2008 World 100 win at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

“Anytime you can win a race it's good for your career,” said Clanton, who recorded his 11th career WoO LMS victory. “I just want to keep winning as many races as I can. I know that if we can get on a roll like we did (late) last year, it's gonna be tough to beat me this year.”

The race's only caution flags came on lap 37 for Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., who stopped on the inside of turn two, and on lap 43 for Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who spun in turn four with a left-front flat tire that resulted from contact the previous lap with Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill.

Finishing in positions 6-10 was Richie Hedrick of Urbana, Ill., who registered a career-best run in WoO LMS competition; defending WoO LMS champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; Feger, who advanced from the 14th starting spot; 18th-starter Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; and Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who slipped backward from the fifth starting spot.

The evening's action began with two B-Mains won by Eric Smith of Bloomington, Ill., and Erb.

Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., captured the ‘Farmer City 30' for non-qualifiers, leading from flag-to-flag to pocket the $1,000 top prize.

The WoO LMS will have a short break before action resumes with a Southern doubleheader on April 17 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway and April 18 at Virginia Motor Speedway.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Illini 100' (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (1) Shane Clanton/100 $20,600
2. (2) Brian Birkhofer/100 $10,050
3. (4) Josh Richards/100 $6,500
4. (3) Jimmy Mars/100 $5,500
5. (7) Shannon Babb/100 $4,550
6. (6) Richie Hedrick/100 $3,000
7. (10) Darrell Lanigan/100 $3,350
8. (14) Jason Feger/100 $2,500
9. (18) Chub Frank/100 $2,800
10. (5) Rick Eckert/100 $2,700
11. (17) Tim Fuller/100 $2,400
12. (13) Clint Smith/100 $2,300
13. (11) Matt Lux/99 $1,700
14. (12) Brady Smith/99 $2,150
15. (8) Steve Francis/99 $2,200
16. (25) Vic Coffey/97 $80
17. (9) Joe Harlan/96 $1,560
18. (19) Eric Smith/96 $1,540
19. (23) Jordan Bland/96 $2,270
20. (24) Russell King/96 $1,750
21. (20) Dennis Erb Jr./65 $1,500
22. (16) Will Vaught/36 $1,500
23. (15) Zach Johnson/17 $1,500
24. (21) Scott Bull/12 $1,500
25. (22) Ryan Unzicker/10 $1,500

* Earnings include WoO LMS Winner's Circle program bonuses and cash contingency awards

Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 37, 43)
Lap Leaders: Birkhofer (1-93); Clanton (94-100)
Provisional Starters: Bland, King, Coffey
Rookie of the Race: Jordan Bland ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks' Winner: Jimmy Mars ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Mark Lloyd (Clanton)

B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Eric Smith, 2. Scott Bull, 3. Daren Friedman, 4. Jimmy Dehm, 5. Brent Robinson, 6. Jordan Bland, 7. Chas Shellenberger, 8. Derek Chandler, 9. Gary Cook Jr., 10. Steve Sheppard Jr., 11. Jill George, 12. Adam Mefford, 13. Jeremy Conaway, 14. Kerry Mathew

B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 2 Transfer): 1. Dennis Erb Jr., 2. Ryan Unzicker, 3. Kevin Weaver, 4. Donny Walden, 5. Ted Loomis, 6. Russell King, 7. Eric Vaughan, 8. Dustin Hapka, 9. Mike Mataragas, 10. Roben Huffman, 11. Brandon Sheppard, 12. Vic Coffey, 13. Tyler Reddick, 14. Brian Shirley

Drivers Not Starting B-Mains (did not return on Saturday): Paul Zehr, Rich Bell, Russ Adams, Cory Daugherty, Jon Rogers

Non-Qualifiers Race Finish (30 laps): 1. Kevin Weaver($1,000); 2. Daren Friedman ($700); 3. Ted Loomis ($500); 4. Derek Chandler ($400); 5. Mike Mataragas ($325); 6. Donny Walden ($275); 7. Jimmy Dehm ($250); 8. Tyler Reddick ($225); 9. Jeremy Conaway ($200); 10. Chas Shellenberger ($175); 11. Jill George ($150); 12. Eric Vaughan ($150); 13. Roben Huffman ($150); 14. Steve Sheppard Jr. ($150); 15. Kerry Mathew ($150); 16. Gary Cook Jr. ($150); 17. Brent Robinson ($150); DNS - Adam Mefford, Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard, Dustin Hapka

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

* Arizona Sport Shirts ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in B-Mains): Brent Robinson, Ted Loomis
* Armor All (case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Brian Birkhofer
* Champ Pans ($50 product certificate to ‘Bonus Bucks' winner w/decal): Jimmy Mars
* Crane Cams ($100 cash award to A-Main winner w/decal): Shane Clanton
* Crane Cams ($100 cash award to 10th-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Rick Eckert
* Crane Cams ($100 product certificate to Heat 3 winner w/decal): Jimmy Mars
* Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner w/decal): Eric Smith, Dennis Erb Jr.
* Fusion Energy ($50 cash award to Heat 2 winner w/decal): Brian Birkhofer
* Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash award to fast qualifier w/decal): Shannon Babb
* Quarter-Master ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner w/decal): Shane Clanton
* Quarter-Master ($50 product certificate to fifth-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Shannon Babb
* Quarter-Master ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main w/decal): Steve Francis
* Super Clean ‘Start of the Race' (one case of product): Brian Birkhofer
* VP Racing Fuels ‘Outside Looking In' Award (free 54-gallon drum of VP-113 or Late Model Plus racing fuel to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Jimmy Dehm
* Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Shane Clanton

2009 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of April 4 - 6 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader):

1. Josh Richards 1-5-6 -$36,050-787 (-0)
2. Darrell Lanigan 0-3-6-$42,700-771 (-16)
3. Shane Clanton 1-1-5-$31,010-769 (-18)
4. Steve Francis 2-4-4-$32,300-741 (-46)
5. Shannon Babb 1-3-4-$32,380-735 (-52)
6. (tie) Tim Fuller 0-0-2-$11,240-719 (-68)
6. (tie) Chub Frank 0-1-4-$13,650-719 (-68)
8. Rick Eckert 0-1-3-$12,895-717 (-70)
9. Brady Smith 0-2-3-$13,225-690 (-97)
10. Clint Smith 0-0-2-$10,270-685 (-102)
11. Jordan Bland 0-0-0-$5,860-608 (-179)
12. Vic Coffey 0-0-0-$5,330-578 (-209)
13. Russell King 0-0-0-$6,570-575 (-212)
14. Dustin Hapka 0-0-0-$3,760-540 (-247)
15. Brent Robinson 0-0-0-$1,330-481 (-306)
16. Tyler Reddick 0-0-0-$2,005-477 (-310)
17. Chas Shellenberger 0-0-0-$925-450 (-337)
18. (tie) Dan Schlieper 0-1-1-$5,670-445 (-342)
18. (tie) Scott Bloomquist 0-0-2-$7,130-445 (-342)
20. (tie) Billy Moyer 0-1-2-$8,000-434 (-353)
20. (tie) Brian Birkhofer 0-3-3-$18,100-434 (-353)

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can't get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation's premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, 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. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake's Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder's Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.
 

Richards's Heat-Race Victory Over Babb Among Highlights Of Illini 100 Qualifying Night At Farmer City Raceway

FARMER CITY, IL - April 3, 2009 - Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., did what few drivers are able to do at Farmer City Raceway on Friday night – outrun Moweaqua, Ill.'s Shannon Babb.

But while Richards beat the master of the quarter-mile oval to capture a heat race for Saturday night's second annual World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Illini 100,' the 21-year-old knows he has a tough road ahead of him in the weekend's $20,000-to-win finale.

“Shannon is always fast here and he'll be the guy to beat (on Saturday night),” said Richards, who leads the WoO LMS points standings entering the season's sixth event. “I just was able to get ahead of him at the start of the heat because the top (groove) was the preferred line and that's where I started (alongside Babb on the front row).”

Richards was certainly pleased with the performance of his Rocket Chassis house car, giving him high hopes that he can pull off the richest victory of his career at a bullring he loves to visit.

“My car felt like it was pretty good,” said Richards, who has a top-five finish in four of the five WoO LMS A-Mains contested to date. “We wanted to come here and have a solid qualifying night and we did that, and now we'll concentrate on (the Illini 100) and hopefully we'll have everything go our way.

“I'm excited,” he continued. “This place is fun to race. It's usually fast early in the night and by feature time you can really move all over. I think that's what it'll be like (on Saturday night), so we'll have to be fast to stay up front.”

Babb, who registered the fastest lap of the 51 drivers taking time-trial circuits on Friday night (12.179 seconds), settled for second place in the first 10-lap heat. He'll start seventh in the Illini 100, behind the six Friday-night heat winners who will redraw for positions 1-6 in the feature event.

Other heat winners were Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Richie Hedrick of Urbana, Ill., and Rick Eckert of York, Pa.

Eckert's triumph in the final heat came after his fellow WoO LMS regular, Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., relinquished the lead on lap five due to a flat right-rear tire. Frank made a crowd-pleasing charge after pitting for a new tire, grabbing the third and final transfer spot by overtaking Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., and Donny Walden of Towanda, Ill., on the last lap.

The evening's most serious accident occurred during hot laps when Jon Rogers of German Valley, Ill., flipped his car between turns one and two. He escaped the ordeal without injury, but his badly damaged machine was sidelined for the weekend.

A huge crowd is expected to pack the fairgrounds track for Saturday night's Illini 100. The program, which kicks off at 6 p.m., includes two B-Mains, a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers' Race and the Illini 100 plus a $750-to-win show for the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds.

Ticket information is available at www.farmercityraceway.net or by calling the speedway at 217-828-0078.

Ohlins Shock Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 12.179
2. 19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 12.231
3. 28-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 12.305
4. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 12.328
5. 0-Richie Hedrick/Urbana, IL 12.347
6. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 12.408
7. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 12.434
8. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 12.471
9. 9-Eric Smith/Bloomington, IL 12.523
10. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 12.537
11. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 12.543
12 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 12.552
13. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 12.554
14. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 12.584
15. 35-Derek Chandler/Pontiac, IL 12.601
16. 1v-Will Vaught/Crane, MO 12.672
17. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berlin, IL 12.698
18. 24U-Ryan Unzicker/El Paso, IL 12.721
19. 99J-Jimmy Dehm/Lexington, IL 12.732
20. 25-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 12.752
21. Z-Joe Harlan/El Paso, IL 12.765
22. 28-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 12.783
23. 21L-Matt Lux/Franklin, PA 12.800
24. 2b-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 12.836
25. 89-Daren Friedman/Forrest, IL 12.862
26. b12-Kevin Weaver/Gibson City, IL 12.889
27. 83-Scott Bull/Fairbury, IL 12.903
28. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 12.940
29. 19T-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 12.964
30. 1W-Donny Walden/Towanda, IL 13.040
31. 14-Kerry Mathew/Rensselaer, IN 13.053
32. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 13.089
33. 73-Zach Johnson/Kensington, MN 13.095
34. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 13.103
35. F15-Jeremy Conaway/Springfield, IL 13.294
36. 18H-Dustin Hapka/Grand Forks, ND 13.302
37. 3R-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 13.308
38. 96-Cory Daugherty/Blue Mound, IL 13.352
39. 36-Eric Vaughan/Fairbury, IL 13.356
40. 21B-Rich Bell/Sheffield, IL 13.409
41. 12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 13.425
42. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 13.656
43. 1M-Mike Mataragas/Dekalb, IL 13.756
44. 7M-Adam Mefford/Jacksonville, IL 13.767
45. 64-Gary Cook Jr./Deer Creek, IL 13.806
46. 56s-Chas Shellenberger/Winfield, PA 13.940
47. 74-Russ Adams/Princeville, IL 14.009
48. 33H-Roben Huffman/Clinton, IL 14.193
49. z45-Paul Zehr/Fisher, IL 14.626
50. 23L-Ted Loomis/Kingston, IL N/T
51. 61-Jon Rogers/German Valley, IL N/T

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Richards, Babb, C. Smith, Dehm, Mathew, Friedman, Robinson, Mataragas, Zehr

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Birkhofer, Francis, Feger, B. Sheppard, King, Weaver, Loomis, Mefford, Daugherty

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Mars, Harlan, Z. Johnson, E. Smith, Bull, Chandler, Cook, Vaughan (DNS) Rogers

Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Clanton, Lanigan, Vaught, Erb, Shirley, Reddick, Bell, Shellenberger

Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Hedrick, Lux, Fuller, Bland, Conaway, S. Sheppard, Coffey, Adams

Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Eckert, B. Smith, Frank, Unzicker, Walden, Hapka, George, Huffman

LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can't get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation's premier tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.

To listen to the free audio broadcasts, 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. For technical support or questions, e-mail [email protected].

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake's Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder's Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.
 

Farmer City Raceway 2nd Annual Illini 100
Races are on for tonight!!! Weather is looking good!! 
 Hope to see everyone there!!!

Bloomington, Ill.'s Jason Feger Looking To Spin Some Hometrack Magic In 'Illini 100' At Farmer City Raceway

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

Farmer City, IL - April 2, 2009 - What would a victory in this weekend's second annual ‘Illini 100' at Farmer City Raceway mean to rising central Illinois star Jason Feger?

Well, the first thing that popped into the Bloomington, Ill., driver's mind when asked that question was purely financial. The blockbuster World of Outlaws Late Model Series event, after all, pays $20,000 to win from a total purse of $100,000.

“It means I'd be able to buy a new motor,” quipped Feger, who has carved out a growing regional reputation campaigning family-owned dirt Late Model equipment without big-money backing.

Dig a little deeper with the personable Feger, however, and out bursts the true significance of a triumph in his homestate's biggest dirt Late Model event, which kicks off with time trials and qualifying heats on Friday night (April 3) and concludes with B-Mains, a Non-Qualifiers' Race and the Illini 100 on Saturday night (April 4).

“It would be just crazy to win it,” said Feger, shaking his head at the possibility. “There's gonna be so many great cars and drivers there, and I'm going to have a lot of family and friends there watching. Feger shirts should be everywhere, so winning the biggest race of my career in front of everybody I know would be an unbelievable feeling.”

An outgoing 30-year-old known for his cool race car graphics (his schemes feature tumbling dice), cutting-edge hip-ness (Feger and his younger brother Austin wore colorful Mohawk hairdos to UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals events last year) and hard-charging driving style (he's called the ‘Highside Hustler'), Feger would be the center of a huge post-race celebration if he could pull off a win.

“There probably wouldn't be enough beer in Farmer City for the party we'd have,” Feger said with a laugh. “I think we might just stay in the pits for a few days.”

Feger's familiarity with the quarter-mile Farmer City oval is certainly his ace in the hole, but it's not the only reason plenty of observers are looking at him as a serious contender for glory in the Illini 100. He enters the weekend riding plenty of momentum, thanks to the strong finish he had to his career year in 2008 and an impressive $7,500 victory last month in a UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned event at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, Ky.

The 2008 season ended with Feger's ledger showing 13 feature wins at seven different tracks, including two victories at Farmer City. He finished third in the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national points standings, placed second in the Northern Allstars Late Model Series points race and registered a WoO LMS career-high finish of fourth in September at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. – a body of work that made him an easy choice for the 2008 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Most Improved Driver Award.

“Things started clicking real good last year,” said Feger, who launched his dirt Late Model career in 2001 after spending four years in the Sportsman division. “I've changed chassis brands quite a few times in the past few years, but last year we really got settled into Pierce cars and found a nice baseline setup that's worked for us.”

Feger knows that he'll have to be on top of his game this weekend if he expects to turn back a cross-section of the country's best dirt Late Model drivers.

“I always feel like I have something to prove being a low-budget guy,” said Feger, who works at his family's Absolute Apparel business but hopes to someday go racing fulltime and chase the WoO LMS. “I know I can run with (the sport's national stars), but I have to have the same focus as those guys. These (WoO LMS) guys run every lap like it's their last – they're always searching for new lines around the track and changing how they drive if their car starts to not feel right.

“And all these guys know how to be patient in a 100-lap race. That's one of the things I'm still learning.”

Last year Feger didn't even get a chance to strut his stuff in the inaugural Illini 100. He failed to qualify after a flat tire knocked him out of a transfer spot in his heat and he came up two positions short in a B-Main, though he did win the 25-lap Non-Qualifiers' Race that followed last year's Illini 100.

“It was really depressing to miss last year's (Illini 100),” said Feger. “We were running right behind (2007 WoO LMS champion Steve) Francis when we got the flat in the heat, and Francis went out and finished third in the feature. And our lap times in the Non-Qualifiers' Race were about the same as (Billy) Moyer and (Shannon) Babb (the winner and runner-up, respectively, in the dramatic race).

“I know our car was fast enough last year, but whether I could've done it for 100 laps, I don't know. Hopefully this year we'll be there at the end.”

The Illini 100 weekend kicks off with an open practice from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thurs., April 2. Grandstand admission will be free, with pit passes $20 for adults, $10 for children 4-10 and free for kids 3-and-under.

On Friday night, April 3, time trials and heat races will be contested for the Illini 100 along with a regular show for Farmer City's UMP DIRTcar Modified, Pro Late Models and Street Stocks. The finale on Saturday night, April 4, will include a $750-to-win UMP DIRTcar Modified A-Main plus the Illini 100 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) and the 100-lap headliner.

Ticket prices for adults are $15 (Friday) and $30 (Saturday), with children's tickets priced at $5 (Friday) and $15 (Saturday). Two-day adult tickets cost $40, while pit passes are $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday or $60 for a two-day combo.

Reserved seat tickets can be purchased through Thurs., April 2, by calling TruSpeed Inc. at 217-828-0078. The tickets will be held for pickup at the racetrack will-call window.

All tickets bought on Friday and/or Saturday will be general admission seating, which includes a new 1,000-seat grandstand that has been erected on the track's backstretch off turn two to accommodate more fans.

Gates are scheduled to open at 10 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

More information on Farmer City Raceway is available at www.farmercityraceway.net.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake's Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder's Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.

After Last Year’s Charge From Rear Fell Short, Babb Hopes To Thrill Hometown Fans With ‘Illini 100’ Victory At Farmer City Raceway

www.worldofoutlaws.com

Record Crowd Expected This Weekend For Quarter-Mile Oval’s Second Annual $20,000-To-Win Spectacular

FARMER CITY, IL – Shannon Babb fell mere feet short of scoring a storybook victory in last year’s inaugural ‘Illini 100’ at Farmer City Raceway.

This weekend the favorite son of Moweaqua, Ill., will attempt to close the deal for his hometown fans in the second annual running of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series mega-event.

Time trials and qualifying heats are scheduled for Friday night (April 3), with B-Mains, a non-qualifiers’ race and the $20,000-to-win Illini 100 headlining the action on Saturday night (April 4).

“We’re excited to go back and give it another shot,” said the 35-year-old Babb, a nationally-known dirt Late Model star who got his start in the sport racing at the venerable Farmer City fairgrounds track. “We were close (to winning the Illini 100) last year but couldn’t get it done, so hopefully this time we’ll get that win. There’s going to be a lot of people I know there and it would be fun to put a show on for them.”

Babb certainly authored a thrilling display of driving for his partisan faithful in the 2008 Illini 100, which drew a record crowd to Farmer City Raceway. He started last in the race’s 24-car field and charged forward to grab the lead just after the halfway mark, only to lose a dramatic final-lap battle with dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark.

Scheduled to start 19th in last year’s Illini 100 after winning a B-Main, Babb decided to relinquish the spot and take the green flag from the final position in order to make a last-minute tire change. WoO LMS rules state that a driver must start last if a tire change is made after the car is presented on the starting lineup.

Babb thought the gamble was necessary to give him a shot at the big money.

“Standing there from the outside looking in (prior to driver introductions), it didn’t look like (the track surface) had that much moisture in it,” said Babb, recalling his decision one year later. “But when we pulled up on the racetrack and got in line you could see (the moisture) was gonna be there for awhile, so we said, ‘Let’s put on two softer tires (left-rear and right-front) and go for it.’”

Babb, who drove a car owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Clint Bowyer in last year’s Illini 100, made a memorable charge through the pack, finally passing 2007 WoO LMS champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., for the lead on lap 55. Babb momentarily lost the top spot to Francis (lap 79) and Moyer (lap 85), but after regaining command from Moyer on the 86th circuit he appeared on his way to becoming just the second driver since 2004 to win a WoO LMS A-Main from the last starting spot.

Alas, Moyer found a way to slip underneath Babb for the lead coming down to the white flag and held on over a tense final circuit to beat his protégé by less than a half car length.

Babb accepted the defeat with class. While it had to be a trying moment for an Illinois driver to come so close to winning the biggest dirt Late Model event ever contested in the state, he stood in Victory Lane afterward smiling and laughing as he rehashed the race with Moyer.

“It was a little disappointing to come that close, but it was a fun run,” said Babb, who won a 50-lap WoO LMS A-Main at Farmer City in 2007. “It was one of them all-out racing deals – if you would’ve zigged or zagged at the right time, you might’ve come out the winner."

“Sure, I would’ve liked to win it, but I don’t ever like to run bad. I always want a good finish, and we got one that night. It doesn’t kill me to come that close because I respect all these guys I race with. There are a lot of dang good people out here working just as hard as I am, so if you run second, you’ve had a good day.”

Babb returns to Farmer City this weekend as a decided favorite, but with some caveats. After spending the 2008 season as the hired gun of Bowyer’s Welcome, N.C.-based team, he’s back running his own racing operation out of his central Illinois shop with help from Sheltra Motorsports, Petroff Towing and Donley Trucking. In addition, he’s now running Rocket Chassis cars fulltime and thus will make his first-ever start at Farmer City in one of the well-known machines.

“The only question I have (about the weekend) is that we’ve never been around (Farmer City) in a Rocket Chassis before,” said Babb. “There’s still a few things about running the Rocket there that I’ve got to figure out what to do and when to do it. These cars are running real strong for me everywhere we go, though, so I don’t have any doubts.”

And of course, Babb has already proven that his new team can get the job done. He pocketed $20,100 on March 21 for winning the inaugural WoO LMS ‘Lone Star 100’ at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas – an emotional victory that prompted him to celebrate by climbing on the back of a 1,300-pound Texas Longhorn that was brought in to create a Texas-themed Victory Lane ceremony.

“Battleground basically had the same style of dirt and the same style of racing that Farmer City has,” analyzed Babb. “Winning there gives us confidence for Farmer City.”

Babb will have to outduel an expected field of 50-plus dirt Late Model talents, including defending WoO LMS champion Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and current points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. Other WoO LMS standouts headed for Farmer City include Francis, 2008 World 100 winner Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.

Also expected for the Illini 100 are Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who was leading last year’s event when he dropped out with mechanical trouble after hitting a hole on the track; Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis.; and Illinois stars Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Jason Feger of Bloomington, Eric Smith of Bloomington, Brian Shirley of Chatham, Matt Taylor of Springfield, Scott Bull of Fairbury and Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin.

The weekend kicks off with an open practice from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thurs., April 2. Grandstand admission will be free, with pit passes $20 for adults, $10 for children 4-10 and free for kids 3-and-under.

On Friday night, April 3, time trials and heat races will be contested for the Illini 100 along with a regular show for Farmer City’s UMP DIRTcar Modified, Pro Late Models and Street Stocks. The finale on Saturday night, April 4, will include a $750-to-win Ump DIRTcar Modified A-Main plus the Illini 100 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) and the 100-lap headliner.

Ticket prices for adults are $15 (Friday) and $30 (Saturday), with children’s tickets priced at $5 (Friday) and $15 (Saturday). Two-day adult tickets cost $40, while pit passes are $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday or $60 for a two-day combo.

Reserved seat tickets can be purchased through Thurs., April 2, by calling TruSpeed Inc. at 217-828-0078. The tickets will be held for pickup at the racetrack will-call window.

All tickets bought on Friday and/or Saturday will be general admission seating, which includes a new 1,000-seat grandstand that has been erected on the track’s backstretch off turn two to accommodate more fans.

Gates are scheduled to open at 10 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.
 

March 29 Practice Canceled

The practice scheduled for Sunday, March 29 has been canceled.
The next scheduled practice will be on Thursday, April 2 from 6-10 PM.

2008 Farmer City Raceway Banquet pictures....click here

New TruSpeed forum....for fans of Farmer City Raceway, Lincoln Speedway and Monster Midwest Series

New look for www.farmercityraceway.net

Farmer City Raceway Seating chart now posted at www.farmercityraceway.net

Friday night will be Late Model qualifying and heat races with a full show in the following classes:  Modifieds, Streets and Crate Late Models.   Saturday will be Late Model Semi-features, non-qualifier feature, main event and a full Modified show.

Rush Is On To Purchase Reserved Seat Tickets For April 3-4 ‘Illini 100’ At Farmer City Raceway
Demand Is High After Last Year’s Thrilling Inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event

FARMER CITY, IL – March 6, 2009 – Last year’s inaugural ‘Illini 100’ was a classic, down-to-the-wire thriller.

Can the second annual version on April 3-4 at Farmer City Raceway be any better? Fans are already scrambling to make sure they’re on hand to find out.

Reserved seat tickets are on sale and going fast for the $20,000-to-win World of Outlaws Late Model Series spectacular, which was widely hailed as one of the best country’s best dirt Late Model events in 2008.

Former WoO LMS champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., pocketed a total of $20,150 – the biggest dirt Late Model prize ever paid out in the state of Illinois – for winning last year’s wildly competitive Illini 100. He led just three laps, including the final two after he slipped ahead of Moweaqua, Ill.’s Shannon Babb, whose bid to win the race from the 24^th starting spot (he went to the rear by rule because he decided to change two tires after reporting to the track for the A-Main lineup) fell less than a half car length short at the checkered flag.

A record crowd witnessed last year’s titanic Illini 100 battle (eight lead changes among five drivers) at the quarter-mile fairgrounds oval – a fact that has kept the phone lines to the Truspeed, Inc. office very busy since tickets to next month’s encore went on sale earlier this week.

“I’ve heard everyone tell me over and over how awesome last year’s race was,” said Truspeed, Inc.’s Don Hammer, who operates Farmer City Raceway with his wife Bonny. “Everyone says that if this year’s race is just half as good as last year’s, it will still be great.

“We love to hear talk like that, but we’re not expecting anything less than the exciting show fans saw last year. We’re working hard to give the fans and racers an action-packed weekend as we continue to build the Illini 100 into a springtime tradition in the Midwest.”

Hammer has increased the number of reserved seats available for this year’s Illini 100, adding the grandstands alongside the beer tent to the pre-sale. The top 10 rows of six bleacher sections, including the two that comprise the main covered grandstand, are currently designated as reserved, but more rows will be sold if demand warrants it.

In addition, Hammer said the fairboard has obtained another seat of bleachers to erect on the backstretch, making 1,000 more general-admission seats available on race day.

The weekend kicks off with an open practice on Thursday night, April 2. Grandstand admission will be free, with pit passes $20 for adults, $10 for children 4-10 and free for kids 3-and-under.

On Friday night, April 3, time trials and heat races will be contested for the Illini 100 along with competitior for the weekly Farmer City divisions. The finale on Saturday night, April 4, will include 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.

Ticket prices for adults are $15 (Friday) and $30 (Saturday), with children’s tickets priced at $5 (Friday) and $15 (Saturday). Two-day adult tickets cost $40, while pit passes are $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday or $60 for a two-day combo.

For reserve seat and drive-in parking spots (outside turns one and two), call Truspeed Inc. at 217-828-0078.

More information on Farmer City Raceway is available at www.farmercityraceway.net.

The Illini 100 will culminate a huge ‘Month of Money’ for the WoO LMS that also includes a doubleheader on March 13-14 at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala. ($7,000 to win on Friday, $12,000 to win on Saturday); the inaugural ‘Lone Star 100’ paying $20,000 to win on March 20-21 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas; and the fourth annual $50,000-to-win Circle K Colossal 100 on March 27-28 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. A total of $109,000 in first-place cash and over a half-million dollars in purses will be on the line in the five races over a four-week period.

For info on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser) and  VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors Champ Pans, Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, Ohlins Shocks, Racing Electronics, Quarter Master and Wrisco Aluminum; Crane Cams Engine Builder's Challenge participants Cornett Racing Engines, Custom Race Engines and Pro Power Racing Engines; and Chassis Builder Challenge participants Rocket Chassis and Team Zero by Bloomquist.

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.

2009 Farmer City Raceway Schedule