Illinois Racers Aim to Keep Farmer City’s Illini 100 Jackpot at Home

FARMER CITY, IL — April 3, 2019 — Local and regional racers have their eyes set on a huge prize this weekend as they try to knock off the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series stars at Farmer City Raceway in the two-day.

One of the Illinois fan favorites is longtime Dirt Late Model racer Kevin Weaver in the Jimmy John’s B12 car. Weaver’s first race took place at Farmer City, and he’s since turned countless laps on the quarter-mile dirt oval against a couple generations of stellar competition. With all of his 35+ years of experience, it seems no driver would know Farmer City better than Weaver himself. And he agreed that no opponents provide more competition than those aboard the World of Outlaws roster.

“It’s like I always tell people, you’ll never get better until you run against the best,” Weaver said. “Having [the Outlaws] come in and seeing exactly where you stack up against them gives you an indication of what you need to work on.”

Since the event’s inception in 2008, no strictly weekly racer from Illinois has ever managed to capture the Illini 100’s $15,000 top prize. All six past winners have either been part of a national tour at some point in their career or do not make their home in Illinois. Like many others, Weaver will be part of the local gang trying to change all of that this year. And how special it would be for the now-two-time Farmer City Dirt Late Model track champion to break that barrier.

“It would be awesome to outrun the best that’s out there,” Weaver said. “Anything in the top-five, I’d be tickled to death with this weekend.”

Two newly-signed drivers to the full-time World of Outlaws roster will also be in attendance this weekend — Brian Shirley, of Chatham, IL, and Brandon Overton, of Evans, GA.

Hailing directly from the state of Illinois, Shirley is certainly no stranger to Farmer City or the World of Outlaws roster. In 2016, he competed in his first full-time season with the Outlaws and scored three wins, eight top-fives and 19 top-10s across 40 races, good enough for ninth-place in the points championship.

In 2019, Shirley and car owner Bob Cullen have signed on as full-time competitors once again to chase the Series crown. Currently, the #3s sits seventh in points with two top-fives and four top-10s through the first eight races. All things considered, Shirley’s ready to get back on tour and have a great showing at Farmer City.

“We’ve had a solid start to the year so far,” Shirley said. “Anytime the Outlaws come into town, it’s always tough competition. But now that we’re doing the full-time deal, that makes us one of them so I’m definitely looking forward to coming back home and racing in front of the fans that know me best.”

The Rum Runner Racing ride of Brandon Overton has also signed onto the full-time roster, marking the Schaeffer’s Racing Oil #2’s second venture aboard the World of Outlaws tour. His predecessor, Joey Coulter, also competed in the #2 for the Rookie of Year title back in 2016.

As of this week, the 2015 Rookie of the Year sits eighth in Series points with a win in the season opener back in February at Screven Motor Speedway. With that hot start under his belt, Overton looks to use his experience behind the wheel on a national tour to his advantage this year, in another quest for the Series title.

Overton’s run in the 2015 Illini 100 might have been his best, qualifying second quick overall right behind Weaver and going on to win his Heat Race before winding up 15th in the Feature. He’s one of four drivers with a victory on the tour this season.

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
WHEN & WHERE
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, April 4-6 at Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL.

Thursday
Open Practice all divisions 6-9 p.m.
• Pit Gate opens at 4 p.m.
• Pit passes $25
• Thursday’s pit admission can be included in an $85 three-day band.

Friday
• Pit Gate Opens at noon.
• Front Gate opens 1 p.m.
• Hot Laps 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
• Pit Gate Opens at Noon
• Front Gate at 12:30 p.m.
• Hot Laps at 5 p.m.

ABOUT THE TRACK
Farmer City Raceway is a 1/4-mile, semi-banked dirt oval. The track record is 11.973, set by Billy Moyer on April 4, 2008.
Online – www.farmercityracing.com
Phone – (309) 928-9110

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased in advance through Wednesday by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX. Tickets will be available at the track starting Thursday.

1/4-MILE WINNERS
There has been one race on a 1/4-mile track so far this year at the Duck River Raceway Park in Lewisburg, TN. Brandon Sheppard was the winner on Friday, March 22.

FARMER CITY RACEWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2018 – Rain on March 23 & 24; April 13 & 14
2017- Brandon Sheppard on March 31; Brian Shirley on April 1
2016- Josh Richards on April 2, 3
2015 – Scott Bloomquist on April 17; Brandon Sheppard on April 18
2014 – Shannon Babb on April 26
2013 – Billy Moyer on April 6
2012 – Jimmy Mars on March 31
2011 – Rain (at LaSalle Speedway)
2010 – Billy Moyer on April 10
2009 – Shane Clanton on April 4
2008 – Billy Moyer on April 5
2007 – Shannon Babb on April 27 (not Illini 100)
2006 – Billy Moyer on Aug. 14 (not Illini 100)

ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series – www.woolms.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/ WoOLateModels (@WoOLateModels)
Instagram – Instagram.com/ WoOLateModels (@WoOLateModels)
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries
YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Late Model Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month
Twitter – Twitter.com/DIRTVision – @DIRTVision
Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision

DRIVER INFO
Follow full-time World of Outlaws drivers on Twitter:
Brandon Sheppard – @B_Sheppard_B5
Shane Clanton – @clanton25
Chris Madden – @chrismadden44
Darrell Lanigan – @DarrellLanigan
Chase Junghans – @ShopQuik18
Dennis Erb Jr. – @DennisErbJr
Brandon Overton – @Boverton76
Brian Shirley – @BSR_3s
Boom Briggs – @boom99b
Brent Larson – @BrentLarsonB1
Ricky Weiss – @weissracing7
Kyle Hardy – @kylehardy9
Cade Dillard – @CDillard97
Blake Spencer – www.blakespencer.com (not on Twitter)
Chuck Hummer – @chuckhummer

AROUND THE TURN
The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series next heads to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC on Friday, May 3 and then to Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, GA on Saturday, May 4.

2019 STATS
There have been eight World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series Feature events this season.

FEATURE WINNERS (4 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 5
2 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1

QUALIFYING QUICK TIME (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 1
– Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 1
– Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN – 1
– Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA – 1
– Jason Covert, York Haven, PA – 1
– Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1

HEAT RACE WINNERS (17 different winners)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 6
2 – Chris Madden, Gaffney, SC – 5
3 – Scott Bloomquist – Mooresburg, TN – 4
4 – Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 3
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 3
6 – Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 2
– Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 2
8 – Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA – 1
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL – 1
– Jason Covert, York Haven, PA – 1
– Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN – 1
– Kyle Hardy, Stephens City, VA – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (17 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 2
2 – Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 1
– Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Steve Casebolt, Richmond, IN – 1
– Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN – 1
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN – 1
– Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA – 1
– Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN – 1
– Tyler Erb, New Waverly, TX – 1
– Kyle Hardy, Stephens City, VA – 1
– Tanner English, Benton, KY – 1
– John Ownbey, Cleveland, TN – 1
– Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, TN – 1
– Tommy Kerr, Maryville, TN – 1

PODIUM FINISHES (15 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 6
2 – Chris Madden, Gaffney, SC – 2
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 2
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 2
– Don O’Neal, Martinsville, IN – 2
6 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Kyle Hardy, Stephens City, VA – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1
– Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Mooresville, TN – 1
– Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1
– Tanner English, Benton, KY – 1
– Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 1
– Ricky Weiss, Headingley, MB, Canada – 1

HARD CHARGERS (8 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of merits
1 – Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA – 1
– Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, IL – 1
– Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN – 1
– Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX – 1
– Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 1
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 1

TOTAL LAPS LED (7 different drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps
1 – Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 200
2 – Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN – 60
3 – Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 50
– Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA – 50
5 – Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 24
6 – Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 20
7 – Chris Madden, Gaffney, SC – 6

2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, GA / Brandon Overton (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, GA / Shane Clanton (1)
3. Wednesday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (1)
4. Thursday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (2)
5. Friday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (3)
6. Saturday, Feb. 16 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Sheppard (4)
7. Friday, March 22 / Duck River Raceway Park / Lewisburg, TN / Brandon Sheppard (5)
8. Saturday, March 23 / Smoky Mountain Speedway / Maryville, TN / Jimmy Owens (1)

2019 World of Outlaws Championship Top 10 (Through Smoky Mountain Speedway)

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene (Official Motor Oil), E-Z-GO Golf Carts (Official Golf Cart)Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing(Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NGK Spark Plugs (Official Spark Plug),Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams,DART,JE Pistons, MSD, Penske Shocks, PFC Brakes (Fast Time Award), QuarterMaster, and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars,FireAde,Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.

Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.

Sources: Jordan DeLucia, World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series PR

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