Key notes: Cedar Lake Speedway hosts the 39th annual USA Nationals, a three-day event for World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitors culminating with Saturday’s 100-lap, $100,000-to-win finale. … The crown jewel features a total purse exceeding $350,000. … On-track action kicks off with Thursday’s 30-lap, $10,000-to-win prelim serving as a warmup to the weekend. Friday’s time trials and heat races precede Saturday’s consolations and main event. … Brandon Sheppard is fresh off his fourth career Prairie Dirt Classic victory July 25 at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway, where he collected $68,500 including lap bonus money. Sheppard has four World of Outlaws victories since 2013 at Cedar Lake, including 2018’s USA Nationals. … Points leader Bobby Pierce is a two-time USA Nationals winner (2023-’24) and seeks his record-tying 18th series victory of the season. … Ryan Gustin won last year’s $100,000 USA Nationals, the first time since 2006 it paid more than $50,000-to-win; it was his first career six-figure payday. … Dustin Sorensen is fresh off winning July 18’s Duane Mahder Memorial at Cedar Lake, collecting $10,555 in local Limited Late Model action. … Sisters Amelia and Laela Eisenschenk topped FANS Fund voting that provides travel money for racers. They'll start on the front row of the FANS Fund dash with brothers Gordy and Trevor Gundaker behind them and Jason Feger, Brian Shirley, Tanner English and Cody Overton among others in the program's top 12. ... Local Limited Late Models are on the undercard nightly. … Off-track entertainment includes Apple River tubing Wednesday at 1 p.m.; a cornhole tournament Friday at 1 p.m. in the Cedar Lake Arena; postrace parties in the arena following Thursday and Friday prelims; a big fireworks show following Friday’s on-track action and a driver autograph session Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in vendor row. ... Watch live on DIRTVision.

Who to watch: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., seeks his third career USA Nationals finale and 18th WoO victory of the season.

Points chase: Before Cedar Lake Thursday: 1. Bobby Pierce (5,609); 2. Nick Hoffman (5,532); 3. Tyler Erb (5,285); 4. Tim McCreadie (5,197); 5. Ryan Gustin (5,134); 6. Ethan Dotson (5,039); 7. Daulton Wilson (4,962); 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (4,913); 9. Trey Mills (4,909); 10. Dustin Sorensen (4,799).

Expected entrants: Among drivers expected to join the top 10 in series standings: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Chris Madden, Mike Marlar, Cody Overton, Jason Feger, Tanner English, Garrett Alberson, Dylan Thornton, Gordy Gundaker, Sammy Mars, Jake Timm, Chase Junghans, Garrett Smith, Mitch McGrath, Dan Ebert, Tristan Chamberlain, Brent Larson, Trevor Gundaker, Eli Johnson and more.

Next series race: August 1, Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI) $100,000