2010fc

2010 Season Concludes at Farmer City Raceway; Smith, DeLong, Pierce, Semmens, Maier Track Champions (09-21-10)

The 2010 season at the Farmer City Raceway has concluded. FCR would like to congratulate the 2010 track champions: Eric Smith (Late Model), Justin DeLong (Modified), Bobby Pierce (Crate Late Model), Jeff Semmens (Street Stock), and Matt Maier (Hornet). Thanks to everyone who came out to the raceway this season.

Farmer City Raceway August 20 Races Cancelled

The races scheduled for August 20th at FCR have been cancelled.

A light crowd was on hand for the Monster Midwest Tour $2,000 late model race at Farmer City on Friday night. 21 Late models, 16 modifieds, 13 street stocks, 17 crate late models, and 11 hornets were in attendance. First up was late model qualifying with Ryan Unzicker setting the pace for the night with a 13.377. He was followed by Z Joe Harlan (13.535), 83 Scott Bull (13.542), 9 Eric Smith (13.600), and 40 Charlie Hess (13.620).

21S Denny Schwartz had the fastest time in modified qualifying with a 14.153, followed by 4 Jeb Friedman (14.782), 7J Justin Delong (14.835) C12 Jeff Curl (14.903), and 14 Brian Lynn with a 14.903.

After qualifying there was a lengthy delay while the water truck and tractor were brought out for some additional track prep. Finally it was time to race and the street stocks were up first. 82 Jim Quinn and 75 Corey Young started on the front row in heat 1. Quinn took off for the lead and had a pretty good one going when going into turn three on lap 3 the right front ball joint broke sending the 82 car into the wall hard, driver ok-car not so good. Race continues and 75 Corey Young takes off for the lead followed closely by 44L Peter Leonetti. Several cars dropped out of the race with mechanical issues and in the end Young went onto win followed by Leonetti.

Street stock heat two had a great race between 38 Gary Barnes and Va11ow Jeff Simmons. Barnes led for a good while when Simmons caught him to pass and went on to win. Barnes was 2^nd followed by 75 Rubenacker, 71 Lehigh, 0 Tackett and 50 McNeese.

Late models were up next and the first heat was all #9 Eric Smith. He and 24 Ryan Unzicker battled for the lead at the beginning, but Smith took off, had the lead by a wide margin, and went onto win. He was followed by 24 Unzicker, 3S Brian Shirley, J1 Wes Stiedinger, and 22 Chris Dick.

40 Charlie Hess and Z Joe Harlan were racing for the lead in heat two. In the end, Charlie Hess took the win followed by Harlan, 75 Brian Harris, and T2 Todd Bennet.

In the 3^rd heat, 7 Jay Sparks and 83 Scott Bull were upfront trying to win this one. Sparks was able to maintain the lead and went on for the win followed by Bull, 0 Hedrick, and B12 Kevin Weaver.

There were 2 heats of Modifieds. In the first heat, Denny Schwartz and Justin DeLong started and the front row and Schwartz had the lead the whole race for the win, followed by DeLong, Lance Dehm and Jeff Curl.

In the 2^nd heat, 4 Jeb Friedman started on the pole and led the whole thing for the win. Rick Weekly drove from 4^th to 2^nd followed by Chevy Miller and Brian Lynn.

There was one heat for the 11 hornets, 330 Chris Burton and OA Bob Althouse started on the front row, however, they weren’t there for long. 3 Bob Sanders, 24 Kenny Butterfield, and 99 Matt Maier, who started 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th charged to the front. Bob Sanders was able to get the lead and keep it for the win. He was followed by Butterfield, Maier, and Burton.

There were two heats for the crates. B1 Nick Baumann won the first after starting 3^rd and he was followed by 17 Josh Jones and 32 Bobby Pierce. Kevin Moffett won the second heat after starting 4^th and he was followed by Matt Beatles and Kyle Hammer.

By feature time, the track was very, very dusty. The streets were up first and 11 Simmons and 75 Young started on the front row. Simmons took off for the lead and led every lap. There were 2 cautions and 38 Gary Barnes was the closest to get to Simmmons. Simmons went on for the win followed by Barnes, Rubanacker, and Tackett.

21S Denny Schwartz and 4 Jeb Friedman started 1-2 in the modified feature and that’s how they finished after a very long caution filled race. Lance Dehm was 3^rd, Brian Lynn, was 4^th and Jeff Curl 5^th.

The 40 lap late model feature was a dust filled event. 83 Scott Bull and 7 Jay Sparks started on the front row. Bull took off for the lead and in the early laps suffered damage to the right rear quarter-panel but was able to keep on leading. He led for a large portion of the race with the Z or Joe Harlan close behind. 3S Brian Shirley was busy charging to the front while all this was happening. A little more than half way through when the leaders caught lapped traffic, Shirley was able to pass both Harlan and Bull and take the lead. There were lots of slide jobs mid-pack in this one. In the end, Brian Shirley took the win, followed by Scott Bull, Joe Harlan, and 9 Eric Smith.

The crate late model feature was a great race between 45 Kyle Hammer and 32 Bobby Pearce and they started 3^rd and 4^th. Kyle Hammer led this race for a long time. Bobby was able to catch him and pass him to go on for the win. He was followed by Hammer, Nick Baumann and Kevin Moffet.

For the majority of the hornet race 24 Kenny Butterfield was the leader after starting 2^nd. Jason Maier, who started 3^rd, was able to race to the front and pass Kenny later in the race. Maier went onto win followed by Butterfield, and Bob Sanders.

ALSO, there is no racing at Farmer City next Friday night. There will be racing at Farmer City on WEDNESDAY JUNE 9, 2010 for a non-winged sprint special.

It was a very cloudy and windy Friday night 04/30/10 at Farmer City. It was the King of Dirt 4^th Annual Street Stock Nationals special tonight. 39 street stocks showed up for this event. There were also 24 Late Models, 19 Modifieds, 7 Sportsman, and 15 Hornets.

Qualifying started at 7:30 and the only class to qualify was the Late Models. The top 5 times were:

In the first heat 38 Gary Barnes and 0 Chris Tackett start on the front row of the 10 car race. Tackett takes off for the lead followed by 38 Gary Barnes, Corey Young and 82 Jim Quinn. About three laps in there is a caution for the 64 of Brad Rogers who has problems on the front stretch. Race restarts and Tackett takes off for the lead and his car starts pouring a trail of white smoke. This continues for a few laps when all of the sudden a ball of fire shoots out from under his car. He heads for the infield and safely exits the car; this brings out caution #2. Race continues and Gary Barnes goes on to win followed by Corey Young and Jim Quinn. The top three make it into the $1500 to win feature and all three head to the infield for post race inspection.

99 Doug Heddins and 289 Doug Sauder start on front row of heat 2 and these two battle it for the lead for several laps. At one point, 289 runs up onto back of 99 and both keep going. A few laps later the 63P of Greg Suader is in 4^th coming out of 4 when he floors it down the front stretch passing 3 cars, only his car won’t turn when he gets to 1 and he takes out the leader 99 pushing him up off the track. Then a yellow flies for a car that spun out of 4. At this point 289 Sauder leaves with a flat tire. They line the race back up and the 63P car gets the lead?? Race restarts and 97 Josh Griffith passes for the lead and goes onto win followed by 63P Sauder and 46 Paul Belkin Jr.

SS Heat 3 starts with 2 Roundtree and B Barnes on the front row. There is one complete restart then the 90 car of John Farris who started 6^th charges to the front, takes a wide lead, and goes onto win. He was followed by 2 Roundtree and B Barnes.

SS Heat 4 was s drama filled event that took a while to complete. There were 3 cautions and one red flag. Z Jesse Simmons was leading by a wide margin for several laps. The 11 of Jeff Semmons caught up with him and got into him going into 3 sending the Z car hard into the wall and the Z car flipped, the driver was OK. In the end, 12 Scott Pratt wins followed by 00 Greg Brewer and 11 Semmons.

There were 2 Street Stock Semis and 73 Schoener and 66 Hudson advanced from the first semi and 289 Sauder and 76 Rubenacker advanced from the second.

The Street Stock feature was crazy and lasted for 27 mins. The race takes off and B Chuck Barnes has problems in turn 1, yellow comes out, complete restart. Race restarts and a few laps in it was time for caution number 2 win the 63P car spins in 2. It takes forever for this thing to line back up. 12 Scott Pratt, 90 Farris, and 00 Greg Brewer are the top three at this point. Caution #3 comes out a few laps later for a spin off the backstretch and a wreck in turn 1/2. There is heavy damage to the front end of Scott Schooners car and he leaves the track. Race continues with 12 Scott Pratt still leading.

A few more laps in the 19 car of Scott Thrasher slows in turn 4 to bring out caution #4. 71 Darrell LeHigh leaves the track at this point too. It takes forever to line the race up after this. It’s still 12 Pratt from IA up front followed, by 46 Paul Belkin (SP) Jr. from MO, the Farmer City regulars 00 Greg Brewer and 97 Josh Griffith. A few laps later caution #5 comes out when 38 Gary Barnes has problems on the front stretch and for debris. Race restarts and a few short laps later it's time for caution #5 when Gary Barnes gets spun in 4. The only car that has been able to get close to the 12 of Pratt is the 46 of Paul Belken. Belken tried to pass the 12 going into 1 but the 12 got into the back quarter panel of the 46 causing him to get loose.

The green flag flies again with 3 to go and 12 Pratt and 90 Farris take off at front. 12 Scott Pratt goes on to win the cash followed by 46 Belkin, 00 Brewer, 97 Griffith, 11 Simmons, 66 Hudson, 20Simposn, 90 Farris, 63P Sauder , 38 Barnes, and 289 Sauder.

There were two heats for the modifieds. 42W McKay Winger won the first heat followed by 0 Travis Kohler. The race in this one was for third, three cars battled for the spot and at the line it was 59 Chevy Miller, 17H Rick Hamilton and 7J Justin Delong. 130 Chad Osterhoff won the 2^nd heat, followed by 69F Jim Harris and D1 Lance Dehm.

Being the leader spelled trouble for the first two leaders in the modified feature. The race starts and 130 Chad Osterhoff takes off for the lead. There were 3 quick cautions with the 130 still in the lead. They race for several green flag laps when all the sudden lots of white smoke pours from the leader Osterhoff’s car and he is done for the night. 42W McKay Wenger then takes the lead and leads for several laps followed closely by 59 Chevy Miller. Going into turn 2 the hood gets loose on the 42W and he checks up leaving the 59 car nowhere to go, according to the announcer. 59 taps 42w and the 42W spins and appears to have a flat. Race restarts with three laps to go and 59 Chevy Miller in the lead. Chevy Miller goes onto win his first feature at Farmer City, he was followed by 69 Jim Farris, C12 Jeff Curl, and D1 Lance Dehm, and 03 Corey Schwengel.

83 Scott Bull and JP7 Richie Hedrick started on the front row of Late Model heat 1. There were 3 cautions in this race and they were all for 95 Aaron Ricketts. The race starts and JP7 Hedrick takes off for a sizable lead. 83 Scott Bull is able to get close about mid-race, but the JP7 car took off again and Hedrick won followed by 83 Bull, 99 Heckenast Jr, 40 Charlie Hess, and 999J Jimmy Dehm.

10S Scott Schmitt and 35 Derrick Chandler started on the front row of heat 2 and 35 Chandler took off to lead the whole thing from start to finish, Schmitt was 2^nd followed by Z Harlan, 1W Walden, and 32 Bobby Pierce.

9 Eric Smith and 24 Ryan Unzicker started on the front row of LM heat 3. Ryan Unzicker took off for a sizeable lead and stayed that way the whole caution free ract to win. He was followed by 9 Smith, B12 Weaver, and B5 Brandon Shepard.

The late models had one semi-feature and 24 Dick Taylor returned to victory lane at Farmer City in that one. Mother Nature was the winner of the Late Model Feature, the race started and they got about 3 laps in with Derrick Chandler leading when the skies opened up, the rain fell, and the night was over. This feature and the remaining features will be made up at a later date.

There were 8 sportsman cars in one heat tonight. 22 Timmy Dick and 40 Terry Worth started on the front row. Timmy Dick took off to lead the entire race and win. Terry Worth was 2^nd followed by 22D Darrell Dick, and 44 Rodd Rusher. No feature due to the rain.

There were two heats of hornets and 1 of the closest battles of the night was in this one. 83 Brian Wilson and 34K Joe Reed start on the front row. Joe Reed takes off for the lead and 99 Jason Maier, who started 5^th, is there in no time. Maier passes Reed and leads for a while, Reed catches and passes him and leads for the last few laps, and then Maier is able to pass Reed on the last lap in 4 and goes on to win the race. Reed was 2^nd, followed by Brian Wilson and Jim Wilson. Eric Wilson won the 2^nd heat over Matt Maier and Larry Hawk. No feature due to rain.

17 Late Models were in attendance. The long haul of the night award went to Gary Schalmo who came up from Nashville, TN to race at Farmer City tonight. Here were the fast times:

The first heat had 9 cars and started with 9 Eric Smith and 35 Derrick Chandler up front. Chandler’s car was like a rocket and took off to maintain a sizeable lead for the entire race to win. The race in this one was for 2^nd. 96 Daugherty was in 2^nd for a long time after #9 Smith drove way high on the backstretch and recovered to 3^rd. In the end, Smith caught Daughtery in a last lap pass to take 2^nd in this one. Daugherty finished 3^rd and 99 Jimmy Dehm was 4^th.

Heat 2 has 8 cars and starts with JP7 Hedrick and Z Joe Harlan on the front. The top three take off for the lead with 4G Gardner and 32 Stapleton fight for the top and both spin in one for a complete restart. Hedrick, Harlan, and F15 Conaway head to the front again at the restart. A few laps in the 3^rd place car of Conaway spins off backstretch for the first caution. There were two more cautions as other cars spun. In the end, 4 cars finished the race. Hedrick maintained his race long lead to win, followed by Z Harlan, 32 Stapleton and 4G Gardner.

The feature starts with 35 Chandler and JP7 Hedrick on the front row. 9 Smith and Z Harlan make up row 2. Race starts and the 9 Smith car has the lead by the first turns. I believe there was only one caution when 14 Thomas spins in 4. Race continues with 6 to go and Smith builds up a sizable lead over Harlan and Hedrick. There were problems for Hedrick as the race nears completion. In the end, Smith wins followed by Harlan, Chandler, 22 Chris Dick, and 99 Frank Heckenhast JR.

In the first heat Mike Spatola takes the win over 88 Alan Stipp and 7j Justin Delong.
In heat 2 D1 took a sizeable lead to victory over 62 Shuman, 52 Porth and G1 Menser.

In the feature, Dehm and Spatola start on the front row. There is a huge amount of spinning cars between 3 and 4 and all but 2 cars keep going. Race restarts and 89 Spatola takes off for the lead. Everyone was heading towards the front and at one point it was 4 wide down the front stretch. A car spins in 3 to bring out the yellow. At this point 89 leads, D1 Dehm is 2^nd and 7j DeLong is 3^rd. Race restarts and a few laps later D1 Dehm drives off the top of turn and is able to come back on track losing only a few spots. Now it’s 89 up front with 7j in second. Race continues and 7j DeLong is able to catch and pass 89 Spatola. 7j Justin DeLong goes on to win his first feature ever at Farmer City. He is followed by 89 Spatola, 1 Gabe Menser, and D1 Lance Dehm.

There were 19 street stocks in attendance. Heat one starts with 99 Jerrod Krick and 23 Hugh Johnson on the front row. The race starts, 99 Krick and X Eric Hail (started 4^th) are battling for the lead. A few laps in 23T Funk and 58 Murphy get together in turn one and Murphy spins to bring out the only caution. Race restarts and 99 and X are drag racing down the backstretch when Hail takes the lead. Hail goes on to win followed by Krick, 00 Brewer, 71 LeHigh and 23T Funk.

The 2^nd SS heat starts with 87 David Shane and 19 Scott Thrasher on the front row. The only caution was a few laps in for 19 Scott Thrasher who drove off the top of turn 1. Race restarts and it is the all 0 Chris Tackett show he had started third and had a sizable lead for most of the race and went onto win. He was followed by 87 Shane, 11 Simmons, and 23JR Funk.

The feature starts with X Hail and 0 Tackett on the front row. By lap two 0 Chris Tackett has a very large lead over the rest of the field. Several laps in the 3 place car of 23T Funk spins in two at the same time another car spins in 4. Funk maintains 3^rd and the race restarts, several laps later the 2^nd place car of Hail spins to bring out a caution and heads to the back. In the end, Tackett takes the win followed by 23T Joel Funk, 11 Jeff Simmons, 99 Krick, and 71 LeHigh.

There were 9 Sportsman at the track tonight. All nine start in one heat with 01 Dustin Mounce and 22 Timmy Dick on the front row. Race starts and Greg Kimmons who started 3^rd takes off for a sizable lead. The race in this one was for 2^nd between Dick, Mounce and 40 Terry Worth. In the end Timmy Dick has problems on the last lap. Greg Kimmons goes on to win followed by Worth, Mounce, and Greg Vincent.

Kimmons and Worth start on the front row in the feature. Kimmons takes off for a sizeable lead and there are a few cautions for spins. Kimmons still leads and Worth is on the move trying to catch him. In the end Kimmons wins with Worth right on his tail. They were followed by 78 Shawn Diggs, 01 Mounce, and 22 Timmy Dick.

10 hornets competed tonight at Farmer City. 46 Eric Wilson and K2 Casey Kernantz started on the front row. 2 cars left track with mechanical problems during the first lap. Eric Wilson took off for the lead with 15 David Lauriston right behind him. There were 2 cautions for three laps. Then 7 Matt Maier charges to the front with Eric and Jim Wilson right behind him, Maier goes on to win and Erick Wilson finished in 2^nd with his tire going flat, Jim Wilson finished 3^rd.

In the feature Matt Maier and Jim Wilson start on the front row and Matt Maier takes off for the lead with 46 Eric Wilson in 2^nd. The race for this one was also for 2^nd place 46 Wilson and 15 Lauriston battled it out end the end Lauriston got it. Maier wins followed by Lauriston, E Wilson, J R Brown, and Jim Wilson.

It was a great night of racing action. At the end of the night, the feature winning drivers met up with the fans behind the grandstands for autographs and photos. For official results visit www.farmercityraceway.net.

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

FARMER CITY, IL - April 12, 2010 -

RINGING ENDORSEMENT: A victory in Saturday night's 'Illini 100' at Farmer City Raceway provided Billy Moyer another enjoyable trip to one of his favorite regions of the country.

"We like coming up here and running in this Midwest area, that's what we've always said," said Batesville, Ark.'s Moyer, who has won plenty of races throughout the Midwestern states during a sparkling career that has spanned more than decades. "I just like the dirt up here. It's fun to race on."

Moyer, 52, also commented that the success of the third annual Illini 100 – a talent-laden field, standing-room-only crowd and charged-up, big-race atmosphere – proves that Illinois, in particular, should be hosting more major events.

"I'm telling you, the Midwest area is strong for Late Models," said Moyer. "It's as strong as anywhere right through this belt where we're at. If there was enough promoters who had the 'nads to step it up, this (a $20,000-to-win weekend spectacular) would happen more than in one place here.

"It's like Eldora over there (in Ohio) – people come to that and see a great race, and they came here and saw a great race. There's a lot of good racetracks through this belt, and (promoters) just gotta step it up, pay the races and the fans will come and racers will come."

HARD RACIN': Tim McCreadie spent the final laps of his impressive march forward from the 17th starting spot in a knock-down, drag-out battle for second place with Shannon Babb, the central Illinois hero who desperately craved a win in his homestate's biggest and richest dirt Late Model event.

Watertown, N.Y.'s McCreadie, who turns 36 today (April 12), nosed underneath Moyer for the lead a few times late in the distance but ended up spending more time dealing with Babb. They traded paint several times before Babb finished second and McCreadie settled for third.

"I've said it before, him and I race each other like we're related, like we're brothers – and it's not always a good thing," said McCreadie. "We race good together, but we race hard, and we bend sheet metal up on each other a lot.

"But that's the way it goes. He's a man, he can take it – and I can take it. I just wish we would've been racing for a 'w' rather than for second, because then him and I could've laughed about it later."

Babb was deeply disappointed after running so hard only to fall short in the Illini 100 once again. He even declined a request to participate in a top-three-finishers photo opportunity in Victory Lane with Moyer and McCreadie, preferring to return to his hauler to cool his emotions after giving a terse post-race interview over the public address system.

McCreadie understood what Babb was feeling after failing to win at his hometrack. "I know how this place is for him here – when we go back to New York, I'm on the chip about winning too," said McCreadie, who took over the WoO LMS points lead for the first time since finishing his 2006 championship season.

STILL TRYING: After pacing three laps (laps 44-46) of the Illini 100, Brian Birkhofer stands as the only driver who has led at least one circuit in all three editions of the big show.

Unfortunately, Birkhofer has yet to unlock the door to Victory Lane. He finished fourth on Saturday night, unable to seriously contend for the win after watching Babb and Moyer blow by him on a lap-46 restart.

"It was part tires and part my setup decisions," Birkhofer said of his difficulties in the 100-lapper. "I over-cut (siped) my tires, and after looking back at what we ran last year (he led 93 laps of the 100) we made a few changes that I thought would make us better but they didn't work out."

NO REPEAT: Shane Clanton's hopes of winning the Illini 100 for a second straight year took a big hit when he failed to qualify through a Friday-night heat (he was shuffled back on a restart) and a Saturday-night B-Main, forcing him to use a WoO LMS 'emergency' provisional.

But the Locust Grove, Ga., driver made a nice recovery in the A-Main to at least head home with a smile – although he still was a bit disappointed with an eighth-place finish.

Clanton, who started last in the 25-car field, actually closely followed McCreadie forward through the pack. When the race's first caution flag flew on lap 46, Clanton sat in 11th place right behind McCreadie. But moments before that caution flag flew Clanton's RSD Enterprises No. 25 was struck by a broken 'dummy' shock – the second shock positioned in front of the rearend on the left-rear of the car – and spent the remainder of the distance hampered by a bouncing wheel.

"I think I could run with McCreadie," said Clanton, "so if that shock doesn't break I think we could've been right there at the end."

MISSED IT: Defending DIRTcar UMP Late Model national champion Jason Feger wanted to give his hometrack fans – including the group that displayed a huge 'Feger Nation' banner from their perch in the drive-in section outside turn two – something to cheer about in the Illini 100.

But after winning a heat race on Friday night in impressive fashion, Feger drew the eighth starting spot for the A-Main and never really got rolling during the 100-lap affair. He was solid but not spectacular, climbing as high as fifth before settling for a personal-best Illini 100 finish of sixth.

"It seemed like we didn't have any doors open up for us," said Feger. "But I think we were too tight. We couldn't rotate like we needed to."

GROOVIN': Chub Frank (20th place finish) and Clint Smith (23rd) were never factors in the Illini 100 after transferring through heats on Friday, but they enjoyed themselves – and entertained many others in the pit area – with new toys they showed off after the qualifying night action.

Both drivers had full-fledged CD jukeboxes at the back of their trailers, setting the atmosphere with music for all their post-race visitors. Smith has been checking eBay to obtain one of the music-players for his buddy Tim Fuller, who is preparing to open a bar-and-grill in Edwards, N.Y., and ended up purchasing four of the machines. Two of the machines he found were located in Iowa, so WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender Jill George, who returned to action at Farmer City after suffering a cut arm in a flip on March 26 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, picked them up and delivered them to Smith.

Frank bought one of the jukeboxes from Smith to put in the bar that's connected to his shop in Bear Lake, Pa., and Smith said he probably has a buyer for the one that he had rockin' in his trailer.

ETCETERA:

* The weather was absolutely perfect for a springtime race in central Illinois – easily the best conditions the Illini 100 has ever enjoyed. With crystal-clear skies prevailing both days, temperatures reached the low 60s on Friday before cooling off at night and topped 70 before settling into the low 50s/upper 40s on Saturday.

Not surprisingly, the weather helped draw the biggest grandstand crowd in the three-history of the event. There wasn't a seat to be found at the fairgrounds track on Saturday night.

* Defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards left a racetrack without the tour's points lead for the just the second time in seven events this season, ceding it to McCreadie after finishing 10th. He trails T-Mac by 10 points after running in the top five for the first third of the event but then fading with a car that wasn't properly balanced.

* The Illini 100 was also a struggle for former series champions Darrell Lanigan and Steve Francis, who finished 17th and 19th, respectively. Lanigan used a provisional to start the A-Main after being set back by a right-rear shock that came loose on his car during Friday's heat action, while Francis qualified through a heat but got no higher than 10th (from the 15th starting spot) before some damage from a scrape left him struggling to circle the track for the remainder of the distance.

* Rick Eckert absorbed a rare DNF, retiring after 45 laps with terminal engine woes. He appeared on the verge of cracking the top 10 before his powerplant went south, leaving him with a last-place finish (25th) and dropping him from fifth to seventh in the WoO LMS points standings.

* Brady Smith, a former UMP Summer Nationals winner at Farmer City, appeared to be in position to challenge for Illini 100 glory when he ended up with the pole starting spot as the last driver to draw. But he was outgunned immediately at the green flag by green flag and never summoned enough speed to challenge for the lead, running third for the first third of the race before fading to seventh at the finish with a car that he termed "too free."

* It was a tough weekend for young WoO LMS travelers Austin Hubbard (finished 22nd after using a provisional for the second straight race), Russell King (failed to qualify and opted not to use an 'emergency' provisional to start the A-Main) and Brent Robinson (missed transferring through a heat by two spots and a B-Main by three).

NEXT UP: A huge two-week stretch for the WoO LMS continues this Friday and Saturday (April 16-17) with the inaugural running of the Commonwealth 100 at Bill Sawyer's Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va. The two-day spectacular offers a $25,000 top prize from a total weekend payout of nearly $125,000.

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), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.

FARMER CITY, IL - April 10, 2010 - Billy Moyer still has Shannon Babb's number in the Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway.

For the second time in three years the veteran star denied his former protégé's bid for an emotional hometrack victory, taming the tricky fairgrounds quarter-mile oval on Saturday night to capture the third annual World of Outlaws Late Model Series event before a standing-room-only crowd.

Moyer, 52, of Batesville, Ark., remained undefeated in the Illini 100 with a $20,175 triumph that closely mirrored his thrilling win over Babb in the inaugural race in 2008. While his victory margin wasn't quite as narrow as two years ago, Moyer grabbed the lead on lap 72 when Babb slipped over the turn-one berm while negotiating lapped traffic and then had to repel several frantic late-race challenges from the hard-charging Moweaqua, Ill., driver.

"That was a lot of fun," said Moyer, who became the seventh different winner in as many WoO LMS A-Mains this season. "I like the kind of racetracks that you gotta chase like I did tonight. It was slick, and I think I ran every inch of it out there, every groove there was. That makes it fun for a driver, rather than just running in that one little spot."

Babb, 36, was a deeply disappointed runner-up after leading on three separate occasions during the highly-competitive event. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who started 17th, joined the lead battle with Moyer and Babb late in the distance but settled for third place, while Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, slipped to fourth at the finish after leading briefly before a mid-race caution flag and sixth-starter Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., placed fifth.

"That's pretty ironic I guess, to run one-two like that again (with Babb)," said Moyer, who did not enter last year's Illini 100. "He's a good kid. We sat here (Moyer and Babb were parked side-by-side in the pit area) and shot the s--- all weekend. I like him from back in the day when he ran for us (Babb drove cars owned by Moyer's father) and we're still good friends."

Moyer, who started seventh, had his Victory Circle by Moyer car up to third place when the race's first caution flag flew on lap 46 for the engine problems suffered by Rick Eckert of York, Pa. Then Birkhofer, who had become the first driver to supplant Babb as the leader when he slipped in front on lap 44, got off slowly on the restart, allowing Babb and Moyer to move into the top-two spots as lap 47 was scored.

Babb built nearly a straightaway edge over Moyer by lap 52, but less than a dozen circuits later the two drivers were in a battle for the lead. Moyer surged ahead to assume command on lap 64, but Babb split Moyer and a lapped car in turn three to regain the lead on lap 68.

The lead changed hands for the fifth and final time in the event on lap 72 after Babb ran out of racing room as he attempted to go around a lapped car and slid over the turn-one berm in his Sheltra Construction Rocket, handing the top spot back to a shocked Moyer.

"He'd done that twice before and he saved it," Moyer said of Babb's momentum-killing misstep. "Shannon drove the wheels off that thing every lap – you got to give the kid credit for that – but he just missed it that time. He was just trying so darn hard I guess.

"When I seen him slip there, I wanted to get in there and close the door before he could get back down. But when I went by he still had two wheels out there (over the berm), so I was in the clear."

Not for long, however. By lap 80 Moyer was being challenged by McCreadie, whose charge from deep in the field in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket car reached second place when Babb slipped out of the groove, and Babb was regrouping for another assault.

But even a final caution flag on lap 93 – for WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., who stopped along the backstretch – couldn't stop Moyer from recording his WoO LMS alltime-best 36th career win. He took advantage of the paint-trading race for second between Babb and McCreadie to open up some breathing room before reaching the checkered flag ahead of Babb with about four car lengths to spare.

"I just told myself, 'Don't make a mistake,'" Moyer said of the final restart. "You just can't bobble. I feel like I made two of them in those last seven laps, but it turned out good for us I guess.

"We've raced against each other a lot and I know how (Babb) drives, so I just had to drive defensively," added Moyer, who registered his 14th WoO LMS win since 2004 and first since April 15, 2008, at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. "That's just part of being around as long as I have. On that last lap I was ready for anything because I knew he was eager and he'd be right there, so I kinda drove three and four a little differently to make sure nothing happened."

Babb couldn't hide his dejection after falling short in his homestate's biggest and richest dirt Late Model event. He was terse with his post-race assessment of his defeat, complaining about his problems dealing with lapped traffic.

"We had a really good car on that restart (on lap 46)," said Babb, who started from the outside pole. "We got by Billy and Birkhofer, and got the lead."

But Babb's grip on the race was ripped away when he couldn't safely overtake a slower machine entering turn one on lap 72. He described his struggles trying to rally: "I lost four positions (before regaining speed) and had to try and come back, while those guys (lapped cars) are out there running that quarter-midget line from top-to-bottom. All in one lap they run the whole racetrack...I don't know, it's frustrating."

McCreadie, meanwhile, twice appeared that he might be in position to win, but circumstances dive-bombed his hopes.

"We ran (Moyer) down (with 20 laps remaining) and I thought we might just roll right by him," said McCreadie, who turns 36 on April 21. "But then all of a sudden I kind of stalled out, and that was it.

"Then, when that yellow fell with about 10 to go, I thought, This is about the only chance I got. I knew we were gonna be good for about six laps, but I just never really got a chance to do anything."

That's because Babb darted to the inside of McCreadie on the lap-93 restart, stopping McCreadie's move on Moyer before it even started. McCreadie was able to nose underneath Moyer a couple times rounding turn two during the next two laps, but he ultimately spent too much time battling – and trading paint – with Babb to mount a last-ditch bid for the win.

"The only thing I can think is that Shannon laid back about five or six car lengths (coming to the restart) to get the type of a run he did down the homestretch," McCreadie said of the final restart. "I never saw him until we went into one. I looked over and he was there, and that pretty much killed the run I had on Moyer.

"I wish we could've had more fun racing for the lead rather than letting Billy get away from us like he did," added McCreadie, who took over the WoO LMS points lead. "Us racing together like that for the last five laps probably cost both of us a shot at the win."

Defending DIRTcar UMP Late Model national champion Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., finished sixth, falling short of a coveted victory in his hometrack's marquee event. Polesitter Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., gradually slipped backward during the 100 and placed seventh. Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., who used an 'emergency' WoO LMS provisional to start from the 25th spot, finished eighth despite running the final 60 laps with a broken 'dummy' shock on his car's left-rear corner; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersvlle, Ill., was a steady ninth; and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., completed the top 10 after starting fourth.

McCreadie and Tim Fuller captured Saturday night's pair of 20-lap B-Mains. Ironically, both WoO LMS regulars hail from Watertown, N.Y., and starred in the Northeast's DIRTcar big-block ranks before moving on to the full-fender division.

Tim Lance of Brimfield, Ill., captured the 25-lap Non-Qualifiers' Race. He pocketed $1,000 as a consolation prize for missing the Illini 100.

A huge two-week stretch for the WoO LMS continues on April 16-17 with the inaugural running of the Commonwealth 100 at Bill Sawyer's Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va. The two-day spectacular offers a $25,000 top prize from a total weekend payout of nearly $125,000.

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. (7) Billy Moyer/100 $20,175
2. (2) Shannon Babb/100 $10,000
3. (17) Tim McCreadie/100 $6,650
4. (3) Brian Birkhofer/100 $5,000
5. (6) Don O'Neal/100 $4,500
6. (8) Jason Feger/100 $3,000
7. (1) Brady Smith/100 $3,300
8. (25) Shane Clanton/100 $3,100
9. (10) Dennis Erb Jr./100 $2,300
10. (4) Josh Richards/100 $2,700
11. (16) Brad Neat/100 $1,900
12. (22) Jimmy Mars/100 $1,800
13. (14) Kevin Weaver/100 $1,700
14. (18) Tim Fuller/100 $2,150
15. (13) Jeep VanWormer/100 $1,600
16. (5) Dan Schlieper/100 $1,580
17. (23) Darrell Lanigan/100 $2,160
18. (19) Brian Shirley/99 $1,540
19. (15) Steve Francis/99 $2,120
20. (12) Chub Frank/99 $2,000
21. (20) Brandon Sheppard/98 $1,500
22. (24) Austin Hubbard/98 $2,250
23. (11) Clint Smith/97 $2,000
24. (9) Derek Chandler/69 $1,500
25. (21) Rick Eckert/45 $2,025

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 46, 93)
Lap Leaders: Babb (1-43); Birkhofer (44-46); Babb (47-63); Moyer (64-67); Babb (68-71); Moyer (72-100)
Provisional Starters: Lanigan, Hubbard, Clanton
Rookie of the Race: Austin Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Don O'Neal ($500)
Chizmark-Larson Insurance Hard Charger Award: Clanton ($100)

B-Main No. 1 (20 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Brian Shirley, 3. Rick Eckert, 4. Darrell Lanigan, 5. Tim Lance, 6. Eric Smith, 7. Denny Eckrich, 8. Scott Schmitt, 9. Steve Lance Jr., 10. Joe Harlan, 11. Steve Sheppard Jr., 12. Mike Glasscock, 13. Matt Lux, 14. Jimmy Dehm (DNS) Tyler Reddick

B-Main No. 2 (20 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tim Fuller, 2. Brandon Sheppard, 3. Jimmy Mars, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Ryan Unzicker, 6. Brent Robinson, 7. Austin Hubbard, 8. Donny Walden, 9. Kerry Hansen, 10. Charles Hess, 11. Bret Sievert, 12. Russell King, 13. Jill George, 14. Chris Simpson

Non-Qualifiers Race Finish (25 laps): 1. Tim Lance ($1,000); 2. Ryan Unzicker ($700); 3. Steve Lance Jr. ($500); 4. Joe Harlan ($400); 5. Eric Smith ($325); 6. Scott Schmitt ($275); 7. Brent Robinson ($250); 8. Jimmy Dehm ($225); 9. Kerry Hansen ($200); 10. Jill George ($175); 11. Bret Sievert ($150); 12. Mike Glasscock ($150); 13. Charles Hess ($150); 14. Denny Eckrich ($150); 15. Steve Sheppard Jr. ($150); 16. Matt Lux ($150); 17. Tyler Reddick ($150); 18. Donny Walden ($150); Chris Simpson - DNS

Did Not Return On Saturday Night: Terry Casey, Steve Casebolt, Jordan Bland, Russ Adams, Jeremy Nichols

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Tim Lance/Brent Robinson
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main w/decal): Billy Moyer
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Tim Lance/Brent Robinson
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Billy Moyer
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Rick Eckert
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Brady Smith
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Tim Fuller
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Billy Moyer
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Billy Moyer
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Don O'Neal
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Dan Schlieper
STP ($50 cash award): Tim McCreadie
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (54-gallon drum of fuel to fastest qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Steve Lance Jr.
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Billy Moyer

2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of April 10 – 7 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader):

1. Tim McCreadie 998 (-0)
2. Josh Richards 988 (-10)
3. Darrell Lanigan 950 (-48)
4. Brady Smith 934 (-64)
5. Tim Fuller 910 (-88)
6. Austin Hubbard 908 (-90)
7. Rick Eckert 900 (-98)
8. Steve Francis 890 (-108)
9. Chub Frank 864 (-134)
10. Clint Smith 850 (-148)
11. Shane Clanton 832 (-166)
12. Russell King 758 (-240)
13. Brent Robinson 716 (-282)
14. Billy Moyer 696 (-302)
15. Tony Knowles 638 (-360)
16. Brian Birkhofer 582 (-416)
17. Jill George 548 (-450)
18. Tyler Ivey 438 (-560)
19. Shannon Babb 402 (-596)
20. Dennis Erb Jr. 398 (-600)

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

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), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.

Hometown Heroes Babb & Feger Outduel Outlaws On Opening Night Of Illini 100 At Farmer City Raceway

FARMER CITY, IL - April 9, 2010 - Shannon Babb and Jason Feger proved they're ready to keep the Illini 100 trophy in the Land of Lincoln.

The two central Illinois hotshoes played starring roles during Friday night's qualifying program for the biggest and richest dirt Late Model event in the state of Illinois, winning heat races to position themselves well to chase the race's $20,000 top prize on Saturday night at Farmer City Raceway.

"I'd really like to win this thing," said Moweaqua's Babb, who has finishes of second and fifth in the two previous runnings of the blockbuster World of Outlaws Late Model Series at the quarter-mile oval. "You couldn't ask for anything more exciting than winning a real big show at a track you grew up racing at."

After turning the fastest lap of the 50-car time-trial session at 13.009 seconds, Babb, 36, held off 2008 Illini 100 winner Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., to win the first of four 15-lap heat races. Babb's victory margin of less than a half car-length almost exactly matched the narrow distance he lost the inaugural Illini 100 to Moyer.

"I was a little free on exit (from the turns)," said Babb, who drove the Sheltra Construction Rocket No. 18. "Billy was a little bit better, but he was smart enough not to push the issue because he knew we would both be in the (A-Main) redraw."

Feger, 31, of Bloomington ran his heart out to win the evening's third heat in his one-race-old Pierce Chassis machine. The defending DIRTcar UMP Late Model national champion overtook WoO LMS regular Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., for the lead on lap 10 and never looked back.

"I got a good run, drove it in hard (entering turn one) and it stuck," said Feger, who finished eighth in last year's Illini 100. "I think we have a real good car, but you don't know what can happen in 100 laps. We'll give it our best shot tomorrow."

Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., and Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., also won heat races. They will join Babb, Feger and the four runner-up finishers in the heats - Moyer, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis. - in a redraw for the top-eight starting positions in the Illini 100 on Saturday night.

Richards moved forward from the fifth starting spot to transfer through the stacked third heat, which included four former WoO LMS titlists. Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., also qualified by finishing fourth, while Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., fell one spot short and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., finished ninth after pitting on lap one to replace a right-rear shock that had come loose on his car.

Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., suffered the night's biggest heartbreak when he spun between turns one and two while holding third place on lap 13 of the second heat. His involvement in an original-start tangle bent his car's left-rear sheet and ultimately ripped a line of tread off his left-rear, leaving him to battle an ill-handling mount.

With a sparkling spring forecast calling for clear skies and a high temperature reaching 70, 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 regular shows for the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and Pro Late Models.

More info on the Illini 100 is available by logging on to www.farmercityraceway.net or calling 309-634-5601.

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

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

1. 18-Shannon Babb/Moweaqua, IL 13.009

2. 15b-Brian Birkhofer/Muscatine, IA 13.095

3. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 13.287

4. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 13.314

5. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 13.340

6. s9-Dan Schlieper/Sullivan, WI 13.353

7. 25-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 13.414

8. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 13.431

9. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 13.441

10. 25L-Steve Lance Jr./Cuba, IL 13.452

11. 48-Tim Lance/Brimfield, IL 13.457

12. 71-Don O'Neal/Martinsville, IN 13.495

13. 35-Derek Chandler/Pontiac, IL 13.514

14. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 13.565

15. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 13.577

16. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 13.586

17. 9-Eric Smith/Bloomington, IL 13.603

18. 32-Chris Simpson/Oxford, IA 13.619

19. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 13.658

20. 24U-Ryan Unzicker/El Paso, IL 13.660

21. 21L-Matt Lux/Franklin, PA 13.664

22. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 13.690

23. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 13.697

24. 19H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 13.701

25. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 13.712

26. 28e-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 13.724

27. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 13.760

28. 41-Brad Neat/Dunnville, KY 13.790

29. c9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 13.790

30. 28M-Jimmy Mars/Menomonie, WI 13.805

31. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 13.806

32. 12-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 13.807

33. 1w-Donny Walden/Towanda, IL 13.859

34. b12-Kevin Weaver/Gibson City, IL 13.886

35. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 13.893

36. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 13.893

37. 50-Denny Eckrich/Tiffin, IA 13.908

38. 25H-Kerry Hansen/Spencer, WI 13.923

39. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berlin, IL 13.933

40. 10-Scott Schmitt/Tonica, IL 13.999

41. Z-Joe Harlan/El Paso, IL 14.001

42. 74-Russ Adams/Princeville, IL 14.042

43. 5-Bret Sievert/Mukwonago, WI 14.056

44. 91-Jeremy Nichols/Decatur, IL 14.057

45. 99J-Jimmy Dehm/Lexington, IL 14.119

46. 22-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 14.191

47. 30-Mike Glasscock/LeRoy, IL 14.334

48. 40-Charles Hess/Peoria, IL 14.347

49. 6K-Terry Casey/New London, IL 14.356

50. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 14.365

Heat No. 1 (15 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Babb, Moyer, Chandler, VanWormer, Lux, Eckert, E. Smith, Harlan, Dehm, Eckrich, Casebolt, Walden, Casey

Heat No. 2 (15 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Schlieper, Birkhofer, Erb, Weaver, B. Sheppard, Robinson, Mars, Hansen, George, Adams, S. Lance, Reddick, Simpson

Heat No. 3 (15 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Feger, Richards, C. Smith, Francis, McCreadie, Shirley, T. Lance, S. Sheppard, Lanigan, King, Glasscock, Sievert

Heat No. 4 (15 laps - Top 4 Transfer): O'Neal, B. Smith, Frank, Neat, Fuller, Clanton, Hess, Hubbard, Unzicker, Schmitt, Bland, Nichols

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones via Twitter, the internet's fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website. Updates are provided to Twitter 'followers' of the WoO LMS throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and interesting notes from the tour.

To sign-up as a WoO LMS 'follower' on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at anytime, visit http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.

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), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Previewing The 'Illini 100' On April 9-10 At Farmer City Raceway

FARMER CITY, IL - April 7, 2010 -

HOMETOWN BOY: Jason Feger wants to keep the Illini 100 trophy where it belongs – in the Land of Lincoln.

The Bloomington, Ill., resident is confident that he can write that storyline for his homestate's biggest and richest dirt Late Model event, a 100-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series spectacular scheduled for this Friday and Saturday (April 9-10) at Farmer City Raceway.

"It would just be awesome to pick up that $20,000 (first-place) check in front of the home crowd," said Feger, who has turned many laps around the demanding quarter-mile clay oval during his career. "All of my family and friends will be there with their 'Feger' shirts on so I'd love to give them something to cheer about. We'll have a great party in the pits if we can pull it off."

Coming off a career season in 2009 that saw him win 23 features and his first-ever DIRTcar UMP Late Model national championship, Feger, 31, believes this weekend's third annual edition of the Illini 100 represents his best chance yet at a major resume-building victory. He has more experience in long-distance races and feels much sharper than the driver who finished a solid eighth in last year's event.

"We ended up eighth last year, but we broke a lift-bar (under the front nosepiece) about halfway through and that definitely affected my handling for the rest of the race," said Feger, who failed to make the starting grid for the inaugural Illini 100 in 2008 but did win the Non-Qualifiers Race as a consolation prize. "I think we had a car that could've run in the top five if the lift-bar wouldn't have been getting caught in the (car's) frame when I went through the turns, so I know we can run up front.

"Now we'll be going into this weekend with even more knowledge from all the racing we did last year and already this year (in Georgia and Florida this February), so I don't see why we can't win the race. I think the field for this year's race is going to be the toughest yet, but if we make the right decisions and our car stays together we'll have a shot."

Feger proved last year that he can get the job done on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, topping the national tour's roster of superstar drivers for his first career series win at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. Now he'd like to add a second triumph on more familiar turf.

"I don't think there could be anything better than having an Illinois driver win the Illini 100," said Feger, who will run a fresh Pierce Chassis car this weekend after driving the machine to victory in its debut outing last Saturday night at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway. "I'd love to be that guy."

NAIL-BITERS: Two years. Two dramatic races. Is there another one in for Saturday night's Illini 100?

All the drivers involved in the memorable endings of the past two seasons will be in action this weekend, including three-time WoO LMS champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who won the hold-your-breath inaugural Illini 100 in 2008.

Moyer started third in that event but didn't grab the lead until lap 99 when he slipped by Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who was forced to start at the rear of the field because he changed a tire after presenting his car for the starting lineup. Babb led laps 55-72, 74-84 and 86-98 – and came up less a car's length short of leading the last circuit as well.

WoO LMS regular Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., earned his only victory on the 2009 tour in last year's Illini 100. A quiet 11th-place finisher in the inaugural event, Clanton started from the pole position last year but spent almost the entire distance chasing leader Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, finally sneaking underneath Birky to assume command on lap 94.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: There has not been a repeat winner over the first six A-Mains of the 2010 WoO LMS schedule – and if another new driver emerges victorious in the Illini 100, the tour's modern-era (2004-present) record for most different winners to start a season will be matched. In 2004 the first repeat winner came in the eighth feature.

What's more, all six winners this season are drivers who plan to follow the entire WoO LMS. The only other season with a longer season-opening winning streak by tour regulars was 2005, when Outlaws captured the first 11 A-Mains.

HE'S O.K.: Coming into the Illini 100 as the season's most recent WoO LMS winner is Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who broke out of an early-season funk with his victory on March 27 at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas.

"I told Tim (Logan, his crew chief) when we went to Texas, 'We're close – we're not perfect yet, but we're close,'" said Francis, who entered the March 26-27 doubleheader in the Lone Star State mired in ninth in the points standings with just one top-five finish in four starts. "Then we ran so bad at Battleground (Speedway to kick off the Texas Two-Step weekend) I didn't know what to think, but we came back (at Lone Star) and finally got it all put together. Now I think we might have something."

With Francis back fielding his own equipment this season after spending 2008-2009 driving for Maryland's Dale Beitler, this weekend will mark his first Illini 100 appearance in his familiar No. 15. He was a contender in both previous 100s, finishing third in 2008 (he led laps 51-54 and 73) and running fifth in last year's edition until he tumbled to 15th in the final rundown because a broke left-rear tracking rod caused him to limp around the track at reduced speed for the final circuits.

HE'S BACK: As Tim McCreadie embarks on his first season as a WoO LMS regular since he won the championship in 2006, he's ready to make his first start at Farmer City since 2008.

Watertown, N.Y.'s McCreadie, who turns 36 on April 12, was unable to enter last year's Illini 100 because he was sidelined by the back injury he suffered in January during the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. Currently sitting second in the WoO LMS points standings after six events but without a win, he hopes to flash the speed he showed in his below-the-radar charge from the 20th starting spot to a fourth-place finish in the '08 event.

OUTLAWS IN THE ILLINI: The Illini 100 finishes for the other 2010 WoO LMS travelers not already listed in this release: Josh Richards (sixth in '08, third in '09); Rick Eckert (seventh, 10th); Darrell Lanigan (eighth, seventh); Shane Clanton (11th, first); Chub Frank (12th, ninth); Clint Smith (14th, 12th); Tim Fuller (17th, 11th); Brady Smith (21st, 14th); Russell King (20th in '09); Brent Robinson (DNQ in '09); and Rookie of the Year candidate Jill George (DNF both years), who expects to be back in action after missing the tour's last event at Lone Star Speedway because she suffered a deep cut on her right arm in a wild flip into the turn-three catch fence the previous night at Battleground.

WoO LMS rookie sensation Austin Hubbard, an 18-year-old who already has a victory (and the tour's craziest post-race celebration) to his credit this season, will make his first career start at Farmer City.

TOUGH COMPETITION: Feger is one of many UMP Late Model standouts hailing from Illinois who will challenge the Outlaws. He'll be joined by such racers as former WoO LMS regular Shannon Babb (second in '08 Illini 100, fifth in '09); three-time UMP Summer Nationals champion Dennis Erb Jr. (16th, 21st); Steve Sheppard Jr. (ninth, DNQ; Kevin Weaver (22nd, won Non-Qualifiers' Race); Brian Shirley (19th, DNQ); Eric Smith (DNQ, 18th); Scott Bull (DNQ, 24th); Ryan Unzicker (DNQ, 25th); Daren Friedman (DNQ, DNQ); and Brandon Sheppard (DNQ, DNQ).

Excluding Babb because he's been an Outlaw regular, the best finish by an Illinois driver in the Illini 100 was a fifth in 2008 by Wes Steidinger, who no longer races regularly. Richie Hedrick, meanwhile, scored a sixth-place finish last year.

The list of talented outsiders expected includes Moyer, Birkhofer, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis. (fourth place finisher last year), Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. (13th in '08 is his best), Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis., Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.

ILLINI 100 EVENT INFORMATION: An open practice from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thurs., April 8, kicks off the Illini 100 weekend.

On Friday night, April 9, time trials and heat races will be contested for the Illini 100 along with a regular show for Farmer City’s DIRTcar UMP Modified and Hornet divisions. The finale on Saturday night, April 10, will include full shows for the UMP Modifieds and Pro Late Models plus the Illini 100 B-Mains, a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers’ Race and the 100-lap headliner.

Gates will be open through the morning and early afternoon on both Friday and Saturday, but the pits, camping area and stands will be cleared at 3 p.m. each day and then officially reopened. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Ticket prices for adults are $15 (Friday) and $30 (Saturday), with tickets for children (ages 6-12) priced at $5 (Friday) and $15 (Saturday). Kids 5-and-under will be admitted free.

Pit passes are $30 on Friday and $40 on Saturday or $60 for a two-day combo. Pit passes for kids (ages 4-11) are $15 on Friday, $20 on Saturday or $30 for a two-day pass.

More info on the Illini 100 is available by logging on to www.farmercityraceway.net or calling 309-634-5601.

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), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.

Defending 'Illini 100' Champ Shane Clanton Looks To Snap Winless Streak In Third Annual Event April 9-10 At Farmer City Raceway

FARMER CITY, IL - April 1, 2010 - When Shane Clanton won last year's World of Outlaws Late Model Series 'Illini 100' at Farmer City Raceway, all his great expectations for the 2009 season seemed ready to be realized.

Pre-race favorite status at tracks big and small, a career-high series victory total, a $100,000 points title – that was Clanton's destiny.

But as Clanton prepares to defend his Illini 100 crown in the third annual blockbuster event on April 9-10, he's not a reigning national tour champion but rather a driver trying to regain his mojo. Last year's Illini 100 was, in fact, his last triumph on the WoO LMS.

Clanton, 34, of Locust Grove, Ga., saw his fortunes go south almost immediately after his $20,000 score at Farmer City. He briefly grabbed the WoO LMS points lead following the next race and then fell into an extended slump, finishing no better than third during the remainder of the 2009 schedule and settling for a disappointing sixth-place finish in the points standings.

Can a return to the quarter-mile oval in central Illinois get Clanton back on the fast track to superstardom he was riding coming off a 2008 season that saw him win a personal-best 16 features overall, including four WoO LMS A-Mains and the prestigious DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned World 100? He sure hopes so.

"It would be great to get this thing turned around in a $20,000-to-win show," said Clanton, who is winless in his last 40 starts on the WoO LMS. "We're gonna go back (to Farmer City) just as confident as we were last year. We'll prepare the best we can and race as hard as we can, and the cards will fall where they fall."

A pre-season championship favorite in 2009, Clanton appeared to be at the height of his growing powers when he captured last year's Illini 100. He pulled it off in dramatic fashion, passing race-long pacesetter Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, for the lead with just six laps remaining.

"I knew I had a better race car than Birky did, so it was a matter of picking the right time to get by him," said Clanton. "We did it at the right moment. We started catching lapped traffic a little, and he started pulling off the cushion a little bit. Then he spun the tires, I got a good run through (turns) one and two and pulled even with him, and then I just slid him through three and four to get back to the cushion."

Clanton was an intense winner, pounding his fists on the roof of his car when he climbed out in Victory Lane. One year later he recognizes the significance of winning the biggest dirt Late Model event run in the Land of Lincoln.

"Any time you win a $20,000-to-win race, it's high up there," said Clanton, who has been driving full-blown dirt Late Models for less than a decade. "It's probably one of the top five most prestigious wins I have. It's a new race, but I think it's going to build into one of the most prestigious races we have if we keep running it every year.

"It's really hard to put into words how different a race it is," he added, analyzing what is a rare 100-lap event contested on a quarter-mile bullring. "There's no other big race we run that's like it. It doesn't take long to run a hundred laps there, and it's pretty demanding when (the track) gets rough. It's an accomplishment to win it."

Clanton isn't bringing much momentum into his bid to become the first repeat winner of the Illini 100. The young 2010 season has been a struggle for the tall southerner –physically and mechanically.

For starters, Clanton was far less than 100 percent when the WoO LMS campaign began in February with a pair of events at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. Unable to race competitively because he was still recovering from a badly-infected left thumb and resulting case of blood poisoning that hospitalized him for eight days, he merely used two provisional spots to start-and-park Tony Knowles's car and earn last-place points in each A-Main.

Clanton returned to full action when the WoO LMS ended a month-long break with a Southeastern swing to Florida and Georgia on March 19-20 and Texas on March 26-27, but he didn't roar back into the spotlight. He scored just two top-10 finishes, including a season-best run of seventh in the tour's last A-Main, on March 27 at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas.

"We're starting off rough this year," said Clanton, who will enter the Illini 100 ranked 11th in the points standings, already 160 points behind leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. "I've never been through anything health-wise like I have this year – the most time I had ever spent in a hospital before was two days – and that obviously has us behind (in the points race), but that hasn't been our biggest problem. Our car just hasn't been as good as it needs to be.

"We're struggling a little bit right now. We're not choosing the right tires at the right time and making the right decisions and adjustments to the car. Our car's just been a little bit loose, and when your car isn't right against this kind of competition you run 10th or 12th like I've been running.

Clanton, who on Wednesday underwent a second plasma enrichment procedure to help his left thumb heal (he can't use or hit his thumb for five days to allow the healing process to occur), understands it will now take a minor miracle for him to come back this season and win the WoO LMS championship he covets. But he can certainly still make 2010 a campaign to rival '08.

"We have a long way to go," said Clanton, who now uses Malcuit engines exclusively after moving his team's motor program to the Ohio builder during the off-season. "It's not looking good for a championship, so we're going out there to win races. I gotta get back on the winning track."

Clanton will be part of a star-studded field expected to enter the Illini 100 weekend, which kicks off with an open practice from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thurs., April 8.

On Friday night, April 9, time trials and heat races will be contested for the Illini 100 along with a regular show for Farmer City’s DIRTcar UMP Modified and Hornet divisions. The finale on Saturday night, April 10, will include full shows for the UMP Modifieds and Pro Late Models plus the Illini 100 B-Mains, a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers’ Race and the 100-lap headliner.

Ticket prices for adults are $15 (Friday) and $30 (Saturday), with tickets for children (ages 6-12) priced at $5 (Friday) and $15 (Saturday). Kids 5-and-under will be admitted free.

Two-day reserved seat tickets are available for $40 (adults) and $25 (kids), while pit passes are $30 on Friday and $40 on Saturday or $60 for a two-day combo. Pit passes for kids (ages 4-11) are $15 on Friday, $20 on Saturday or $30 for a two-day pass.

Reserved seat tickets can be purchased through Thurs., April 8, by calling 217-568-7525 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. The tickets will be held for pickup at the racetrack will-call window.

Reserved drive-in parking spots outside turns one and two are also available for purchase at a cost of $50 for the weekend.

Reserved seats and drive-in parking spots that were not renewed by April 1 will be put back up for sale to the general public.

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 info on the Illini 100 is available by logging on to www.farmercityraceway.net.

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), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.