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Kevin Kovac
FARMER CITY, Ill. (March 17) - There's never been a dirt Late Model event in the state of Illinois quite like this one.
The inaugural 'Illini 100' will be, plain and simple, the biggest dirt Late Model show ever run in the Land of Lincoln.
Set for April 4-5 at Farmer City Raceway, the blockbuster World of Outlaws Late Model Series program boasts a headline-grabbing $20,000 first-place prize from a total purse of nearly $100,000. It also figures to attract the most talented field and biggest crowd in the history of the venerable quarter-mile fairgrounds oval.
"There's been a need for a really big Late Model race in Illinois for a long time," said Don Hammer, who is beginning his fourth season as the promoter of Farmer City Raceway. "Dirt Late Model racing is incredibly popular in Illinois and every year there's a ton of great races all over the state, but we've never had one major, big-money event that really stands out like you see in other states.
"Hopefully the 'Illini 100' can be that big event everyone in the dirt Late Model world identifies with Illinois. If the support is there - and I'm sure it is - then this year's race at Farmer City will definitely be the start of a show that just grows bigger every year."
With the foreseeable future for Farmer City Raceway looking bright in the wake of the town's announcement that weekly racing will continue at the track for at least three more years, Hammer sees a season-opening spectacular like the 'Illini 100' as a perfect way to provide the speedway even more feel-good momentum.
"I might be a little bit prejudiced because I grew up here and raced (a dirt Late Model) here, but I believe Farmer City is one of the premier tracks in Illinois," said Hammer. "A big race like the 'Illini' gives us the opportunity to attract a bunch of new fans and show them how exciting racing here can be."
Hammer and his staff have already fielded 'Illini 100' ticket inquiries from fans in such varied states as Michigan, New York, North Dakota and Tennessee - not to mention neighboring states like Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin - so he has a first-hand sense of the growing interest in the event. It's his mission to give the influx of spectators a springtime weekend to remember.
In that vein, a full slate of fun and excitement will comprise the 'Illini 100,' starting with an open practice session on Thurs., April 3, from 5-9 p.m. Free admission to the grandstand will give early-arriving fans and intrigued locals a chance to check out the star-studded group of drivers expected to participate in the event.
The WoO LMS 'Illini 100' competition will be spread over two nights, beginning on Fri., April 4, with time trials, qualifying heats and a special $1,000-to-win Douglas Pontiac-GMC-Dodge Dash for heat winners and two fast-timers. Sat., April 5, is reserved for B-Mains, a 25-lap Non-Qualifiers Race offering Farmer City's regular weekly UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model purse ($1,000 to win/$150 to start) as well as UMP DIRTcar points, and the 100-lap headliner.
Farmer City's other weekly UMP DIRTcar Racing divisions will get a chance to perform in the spotlight during the weekend as well. With Friday night being Farmer City's regular evening of racing, the track's UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks will race a weekly show on the Fri., April 4, undercard, and then the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds will return on Saturday night for a $1,000-to-win special.
Fans will enjoy a host of auxiliary activities during the weekend, including a chance to experience Farmer City's fast quarter-mile layout alongside a WoO LMS driver with the debut of the track's new two-seater dirt Late Model and an autograph session with the 'Illini 100' entrants in the grandstand area before Saturday night's program.
The fans will be able to visit with many of the best national, regional and local drivers, including the all-star roster of WoO LMS regulars. Leading the WoO LMS contingent to Farmer City is the tour's pair of standouts who hail from central Illinois - Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, who won last year's WoO LMS event at Farmer City, and Brian Shirley of Chatham, who will shoot for 'Illini 100' glory just two days after celebrating his 27th birthday. Both Babb and Shirley cut their racing teeth competing at Farmer City.
The WoO LMS points-chasers also includes defending champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., '07 Rookie of the Year Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., and 2008 Rookie of the Year contender Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan.
Other well-known names with plans to pursue the 'Illini 100' trophy include Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who won the 2006 WoO LMS title and is currently a Richard Childress Racing Development Driver; defending UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model national champ Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who won the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Summernationals event at Farmer City; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; 2006 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.; Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill.; and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich.
A bevy of Farmer City favorites are also expected to defend their home turf against the invaders, including former Farmer City titlist Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.; defending track champion and 2007 UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model Rookie of the Year Scott Bull of Fairbury, Ill.; Eric Smith of Shirley, Ill.; 2007 Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill.; Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill.; and Junior Shickel of Bloomington, Ill.
Reserved seats for the 'Illini 100' - encompassing the top-10 rows of the covered grandstand and the south bleachers - are now on sale. The remaining seats will be general admission.
Two-night weekend pass tickets are $40. Single-night tickets will be $15 for Friday and $30 for Saturday, with ages 6-15 admitted for $5 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. Children 5 and under will receive free admission to the spectator area.
Two-night adult pit passes are $60. Kids 4-11 will be allowed in the pit area for $15 each day, and children 3 and under will be admitted to the pits free of charge.
Camping on the Farmer City Raceway grounds is free for the weekend (no hookups). The 60 drive-in parking spots around the outside of turns one and two, meanwhile, can be reserved for the weekend at a price of $50.
Farmer City Raceway is conveniently located on Route 150 just off Exit 159 of Interstate 74, at the Farmer City/Dewitt County Fairgrounds.
For more information on the 'Illini 100,' visit www.farmercityraceway.net or call 217-737-7134 or 217-828-0078.
Additional info on the WoO LMS can be obtained by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
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