May 8
Farmer City Raceway,
Farmer City, IL
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Farmer City 74) - $25,000
Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated May 8, 2:34 pm)
Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com
A look at Farmer City early Friday afternoon.
Key notes: The fifth annual Illinois Speedweek continues with Lucas Oil Series sanction, starting with Friday’s $25,000-to-win Farmer City 74 at Farmer City Raceway. … Brandon Sheppard won Wednesday’s FloRacing Series season opener at Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Ill., collecting $20,000, before Thursday’s stop at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway rained out during heat race action. Sheppard, of New Berlin, Ill., has four Illini 100 finale victories at Farmer City (2015, ’17, ’19, ’25) and topped April 10’s $12,000 Illini opener in World of Outlaws Series action. … Bobby Pierce is a three-time Illini 100 winner there (2021, ’24, ’26), including April 11's $25,000 payday in WoO competition. Pierce also added a $10,000 Farmer City Showdown victory there in June of 2023. … Ricky Thornton Jr. has won the last two Farmer City 74 events in Lucas Oil Series action, combining to earn more than $50,000. … Jason Feger has four major Farmer City wins since July of 2022, collecting more than $23,000 over that span. … Brian Shirley has five feature victories there since April of 2017, worth more than $32,000. … Modifieds ($2,000-to-win) and kids mods are on the undercard. … Pits open at 4 p.m. and grandstands open at 5 with hot laps at 6:30. … Watch live on FloRacing.
Who to watch: Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., chases his third straight Farmer City 74 victory in Lucas Oil Series competition.
Points chase: Before Farmer City: 1. Hudson O’Neal (2,560); 2. Devin Moran (2,530); 3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (2,340); 4. Brandon Sheppard (2,310); 5. Max Blair (2,295); 6. Brandon Overton (2,280); 7. Garrett Alberson (2,040); 8. Kyle Bronson (2,010); 9. Brian Shirley (1,980); T10. Clay Harris (1,965); T10. Carson Ferguson (1,965).
Expected entrants: Among drivers expected to join the top 11 in series standings: Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Ryan Gustin, Tyler Erb, Shannon Babb, Josh Rice, Jason Feger, Dennis Erb Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Sam Seawright, Dan Ebert, Ethan Dotson, Bob Gardner, Dillon McCowan, Frank Heckenast Jr., Justin Duty, Michael Leach, Clay Stuckey, Daniel Hilsabeck, Brenden Smith, Daniel Adam, Cory Lawler and more.
Current weather: Overcast Light Rain, 57°F
Next series race: May 9, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $30,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
