Key notes: Florence Speedway hosts the 44th annual Sunoco North-South 100 culminating with Saturday’s 100-lap, $75,000-to-win finale for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitors. … The three-day program opens with 25-lap, $6,000-to-win split-field semifeatures Thursday-Friday setting the lineups for Saturday’s heat races preceding consolations and feature; a 25-lap, $3,000-to-win non-qualifiers’ race follows the 100-lap main event. … New this year, Saturday will also feature a six-lap, $5,000-to-win Ron and Madeleine Jerger dash presented by Cincinnati Investment Advisors, honoring two of the track’s most influential contributors with more than 100 combined years devoted to Florence. … The weekend’s total purse exceeds $325,000. … Bobby Pierce is fresh off a $100,000 payday in Aug. 1’s USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., and seeks his fifth career North-South 100 victory (2016, ’23-’25). Pierce enters with three straight North-South 100 wins, worth more than $275,000. … Points leader Brandon Sheppard, two weeks removed from July 25’s Prairie Dirt Classic triumph at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway, seeks his first career North-South 100. … Jonathan Davenport is a two-time North-South winner (2015, ’22), earning more than $125,000. … Josh Rice has 13 Florence specials since 2021, including two Lucas Oil Series victories, combining for more than $90,000 over that span. … Hudson O’Neal won May’s $25,000 Lucas Oil-sanctioned Ralph Latham Memorial … The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame will be open daily with 2026 inductees including Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson Jr., Randy Weaver, Sam Driggers and Rick Schwallie, among others; an auction will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday after the induction ceremony, which is closed to the public. … There’s also a Larry Moore Legends Reunion 1-3 p.m. Friday at the Hall of Fame with storytelling and memories. … Pits open at 3 p.m. with hot laps at 7, daily; grandstands open at 6 p.m. for Thursday-Friday prelims before opening at 3 for Saturday’s finale. … Watch live on FloRacing.
Who to watch: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., seeks his fifth career North-South 100 finale and fourth consecutive.
Points chase: Before Florence: 1. Brandon Sheppard (5,610); 2. Hudson O’Neal (5,475); 3. Devin Moran (5,380); 4. Brandon Overton (5,080); 5. Max Blair (5,055); 6. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,975); 7. Garrett Alberson (4,840); 8. Brian Shirley (4,760); 9. Josh Rice (4,695); 10. Kyle Bronson (4,485).
Expected entrants: Among drivers expected to join the top 10 in series standings: Bobby Pierce, Jonathan Davenport, Nick Hoffman, Mike Marlar, Chris Ferguson, Jason Jameson, Zack Dohm, Donald McIntosh, Dillon McCowan, Carson Ferguson, Adam Stricker, Jake O’Neil, Dan Ebert, Ryan Montgomery, Clay Harris, Trevor Landrum, Justin Rattliff, Daniel Hilsabeck, Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler and more.
Next series race: August 6, Florence Speedway (Union, KY) $6,000
UNION, Ky. — Live updates from Thursday’s 44th annual Sunoco North-South 100 first preliminary night at Florence Speedway, highlighted by twin 25-lap, $6,000-to-win split-field semifeatures for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Thursday’s schedule
(All times local)
2 p.m. - Hall of Fame building opens
2:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
3 p.m. - Pits open, Hall of Fame building opens
3:15 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands closed and cleared
6 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:15 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity (Hall of Fame building closes)
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- First Late Model semifeature (25 laps)
- Second Late Model semifeature (25 laps)
