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Daily Dirt 11/23/2024 20:44:08

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July 31
Fairbury Speedway,
Fairbury, IL
Sanction: World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series (Prairie Dirt Classic by Bank of Pontiac) - $50,000
Information provided by: Staff and series reports (last updated August 2, 10:04 pm)
Larson outduels Pierce, wins Prairie Dirt Classic
Prairie Dirt Classic by Bank of Pontiac
  1. Kyle Larson
  2. Bobby Pierce
  3. Shannon Babb
  4. Chris Madden
  5. Brandon Sheppard
  6. Jonathan Davenport
  7. McKay Wenger
  8. Stormy Scott
  9. Brandon Overton
  10. Devin Moran
  11. Dennis Erb Jr.
  12. Chris Simpson
  13. Chase Junghans
  14. Tyler Bruening
  15. Ryan Gustin
  16. Rick Eckert
  17. Ryan Unzicker
  18. Ashton Winger
  19. Ricky Weiss
  20. Brent Larson
  21. Cade Dillard
  22. Frank Heckenast Jr.
  23. Nick Hoffman
  24. Garrett Alberson
  25. Kevin Weaver
  26. Mike Spatola
  27. Jimmy Owens
  28. Boom Briggs
  29. Hudson O'Neal
  30. Brian Shirley
  31. Jason Feger
presented by
Tyler Carr
Kyle Larson (6) outdueled Bobby Pierce (32) to earn $50,000.
What won the race: NASCAR star Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif, won a slide-job battle with race-long leader Bobby Pierce after a lap-28 restart Saturday at Fairbury Speedway and led the final 70 laps for a $50,000 victory in the 31st annual Prairie Dirt Classic on the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Larson fought off Pierce's late-race charge with 10 to go for his first WoO victory.
Key notes: Five cautions slowed the action. ... Sixth-starting Shannon Babb raced up to second early but faded back to eighth before rallying back to third. ... Non-qualifiers' race winner Jason Feger elected to start the feature.
On the move: Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., started 24th and finished 11th.
Winner's sponsors: Larson’s K&L Rumley Enterprises Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Mav TV+, D&E Marine and Bilstein Shocks.
Who to watch: WoO points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., winner of two of the last three Prairie Dirt Classics.
Points chase: After Fairbury: 1. Brandon Sheppard (4,372); 2. Chris Madden (4,286); 3. Tyler Bruening (4,050); 4. Ricky Weiss (3,998); 5. Dennis Erb Jr. (3,984); 6. Ryan Gustin (3,946); 7. Cade Dillard (3,920); 8. Boom Briggs (3,694); 9. Brent Larson (3,650): 10. Kyle Strickler (2,536).
Current weather: Clear, 64°F
Car count: 74
Fast qualifier: Ryan Gustin
Time: 12.970 seconds
Polesitter: Bobby Pierce
Heat race winners: Ryan Gustin, Bobby Pierce, Stormy Scott, Hudson O'Neal
Consolation race winners: Frank Heckenast Jr., Nick Hoffman, Devin Moran
Provisional starters: Ricky Weiss, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Kevin Weaver, Ryan Unzicker, Cade Dillard
Next series race: August 3, Outagamie Speedway (Seymour, WI) $10,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
From staff reports

FAIRBURY, Ill. — Winning a stirring duel with polesitter Bobby Pierce, NASCAR interloper Kyle Larson continued his Dirt Late Model success Saturday at Fairbury Speedway by capturing the 31st annual Prairie Dirt Classic and its $50,000 payday.

Larson wrested the lead from Pierce amid a slide-job battle on lap 31, then turned back Pierce's last-gasp charge for a 100-lap victory, his first on the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series.

The 29-year-old wunderkind from Elk Grove, Calif., who wins in virtually anything he races, scored his richest Dirt Late Model victory in the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6 and soaked up the enjoyment of a moonlighting weekend from his NASCAR duties.

"I can't say enough about Kevin Rumley, everybody who helps out on this car. All you fans, this was such an awesome event," Larson told the standing-room only crowd from victory lane. "The atmosphere, it was unbelievable. So thank you guys so much for making me feel welcome here in Late Model country and I look forward to even more."

Pierce, who led the first 30 laps from the pole position but showed left-front and right-rear battle damage after losing the lead to Larson, fought back to draw within two-tenths of second with eight laps remaining but settled for a $15,000 runner-up finish from the race's richest-ever purse.

The Oakwood, Ill., driver was 1.251 seconds behind at the checkers with Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who yo-yo'd from sixth to second to eighth and back up to third, got the final podium spot. WoO title contenders Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., and Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., rounded out the top five at the quarter-mile oval flooded by an event-record 31 starters.

Pierce was in control at the outset with fellow front-row starter Hudson O'Neal fading early while the sixth-starting Babb was up to second after just nine laps. The seventh-starting Larson slipped back a spot early but found a rhythm to break into the top five by the ninth laps and move up to challenge Pierce after a lap-27 restart.

Larson dove under Pierce in turn two on the 29th lap, the first of three unofficial passes for the lead between the two before they'd bet back to the start-finish line.

They made contact the next lap when Pierce dove underneath in turn one, and Pierce suffered spoiler damage when he got into the wall and then left-front damage when Larson shut the door to Pierce on the backstretch in taking the lead on the 31st lap.

After a caution to remove debris, a piece of Pierce's spoiler, Larson set sail through the race's middle stages with Stormy Scott taking the second spot from Pierce on laps 40-54. Pierce fought his way back to second but found himself 3.756 seconds behind the leader with 65 laps remaining.

A caution with 21 laps remaining erased Larson's margin, and Pierce's steady high-groove charge kept Larson within striking distance heading into the race's late stages. But Larson moved up to a higher groove on lap 87 and a few Pierce bobbles let the winner pull away in the final laps.

"Any time you can get to drive a car prepared by Kevin Rumley, you probably have got a good shot at winning," Larson said. "I didn't feel too comfortable at all the last two days, and I was hoping something would click. Early on, the middle was good and I could stay bent and just stuck with it.

"(Late in the race) I saw the big screen and Bobby was getting close to me and I knew I had to get up on the wheel. I didn't want to run the cushion all the way around the corner, because I kept hitting the wall the last two days. I just decided to (stick with it) and, gosh, my car was really good. That was a lot of fun there. Long race. It took a lot of patience. But we got it done."

Pierce couldn't quite track Larson down late in the race.

"I think if he would've stayed on the bottom there for one more lap, it would've gotten really interesting," Pierce said. "Congrats to him on the win. You know, we kind of got into it a little bit there, he got a little wide. But I've seen that happen so many times this weekend on the backstretch. It just closes in on your fast.

"All in all, this is a win for us. I've kind of been struggling here; I'll take second any day. I made more money than all of these fans booing. Thanks for coming and supporting us."

While Larson felt welcomed by one of the sport's most famous crowds, Pierce wouldn't have minded if Larson would've spent a weekend off from NASCAR at the beach.

"Man, I sure which Kyle would've liked NASCAR more than dirt, though," he said.

The third-finishing Babb was honored to battle "some hellacious competition out here," the three-time race winner said. "What a division of racing when Kyle Larson wants to come spend a weekend with us, here at Fairbury. That says a lot (that we've) come a long ways. That's due to all the fans coming every night supporting this thing."

Larson is enjoying his chance at big-money races in a variety of race cars.

"It's definitely been a good year. Last year, I won a lot of races, but I didn't get a chance to run in the legit big ones. So it was awesome to get to run the King's Royal (sprint car event at Ohio's Eldora Speedway) and get a win there. I didn't get a win at (Eldora's Late Model) Dream, but had a lot of fun.

"And then to come to the PDC, a race that I probably never would've thought that I'd get to the opportunity to race it, it feels awesome. To win a crown jewel in Late Models after just winning a crown jewel in sprint cars, my first crown jewel in sprint cars a couple of weeks ago. It's awesome. I just can't say enough about everybody, like I said, it's so much fun to get to drive all these good race cars, whether it be a Late Model, a sprint car (and a NASCAR) Cup car with our Hendrick Motorsports team. It's just been an awesome year and I hope we can win some more."

The 100-lapper was slowed by five cautions — four of them in the first 32 laps, but none for serious incidents.

On the 11th lap, the first yellow appeared for Mike Spatola's flat left-rear tire and Chris Simpson slowed five laps later for the next caution. A lap-28 yellow appeared for a slowing Boom Briggs.

A lap-32 caution appeared for debris — a portion of Bobby Pierce's spoiler amid contact in his battle for the lead with Kyle Larson.

The final yellow appeared on lap 79 for a slowing Tyler Bruening, who was running 16th.

Notes: Larson's previous richest Dirt Late Model victory was $15,000 for two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the first in 2020 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway and the second in January at All-Tech Raceway in Ellisville, Fla. ... Fast qualifier Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, ran among the top three the first 28 laps but slipped to 10th by lap 41 and ended up 15th. ... Heat winner and outside front-row starter Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind. slipped back early, pitted on lap 27 and retired just before halfway. ... Reigning track champion and hometown driver McKay Wenger, who started 16th, ran as high as fifth and posted a solid seventh-place finish. ... Just more than half the 31-car field, 16 entrants, completed 100 laps.

Feature lineup

(100 laps)
Row 1: Bobby Pierce, Hudson O'Neal
Row 2: Ryan Gustin, Stormy Scott
Row 3: Jimmy Owens, Shannon Babb
Row 4: Kyle Larson, Jonathan Davenport
Row 5: Chris Madden, Brian Shirley
Row 6: Brandon Sheppard, Chase Junghans
Row 7: Chris Simpson, Tyler Bruening
Row 8: RIck Eckert, McKay Wenger
Row 9: Frank Heckenast Jr., Nick Hoffman
Row 10: Devin Moran, Brandon Overton
Row 11: Garrett Alberson, Ashton Winger
Row 12: Ricky Weiss, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 13: Mike Spatola, Kevin Weaver
Row 14: Ryan Unzicker, Jason Feger
Row 15: Cade Dillard, Boom Briggs
Row 16: Brent Larson

Non-qualifier's race results

Results (winner $2,500 or option to start feature): Jason Feger, Wil Herrington, Spencer Hughes, Chris Ferguson, Scott Schmitt, Johnny Scott, Jeremiah Hurst, Kyle Hammer, Gordy Gundaker, Matt Furman, Taylor Scheffler, Jeff Curl, Blake Spencer, Mike Benedum, Allen Weisser, Boom Briggs, Brent Larson, Todd Bennett, Kolby Vandenbergh.

Non-qualifiers' race lineup

(25 laps; winner earns $2,500 or starting spot in 100-lapper)

Row 1: Wil Herrington, Johnny Scott
Row 2: Jason Feger, Chris Ferguson
Row 3: Brent Larson, Allen Weisser
Row 4: Spencer Hughes, Scott Schmitt
Row 5: Kyle Hammer, Todd Bennett
Row 6: Jeremiah Hurst, Taylor Scheffler
Row 7: Gordy Gundaker, Mike Benedum
Row 8: Boom Briggs, Kolby Vandenbergh
Row 9: Jeff Curl, Blake Spencer
Row 10: Jay Sparks, Matt Furman
Row 11: Steven Roberts

Consolation results

First consolation (top two transfer): Frank Heckenast Jr., Brandon Overton, Ricky Weiss, Wil Herrington, Cade Dillard, Chris Ferguson, Spencer Hughes, Todd Bennett, Gordy Gundaker, Kolby Vandenbergh, Jay Sparks, Brent McKinnon, Mike Mataragas, Ryan Unzicker, Bob Gardner, Dale Markham, Adam Tishhouser, Chris Nash, Austin Simpson, Greg Wagner.

Second consolation (top two transfer): Nick Hoffman, Garrett Alberson, Johnny Scott, Brent Larson, Scott Schmitt, Jeremiah Hurst, Mike Benedum, Jeff Curl, Matt Furman, Ryan Weistart, Logan Moody, Victor Benedetto, Kyle Bronson, Derek Chandler, Torin Mettille, Brandon Queen, Kevin Weaver, Ricky Thornton Jr., Trevor Gundaker.

Third consolation (top two transfer): Devin Moran, Ashton Winger, Jason Feger, Allen Weisser, Dennis Erb Jr., Kyle Hammer, Taylor Scheffler, Mike Spatola, Boom Briggs, Blake Spencer, Steven Roberts, Eric Smith, MIke Chasteen Jr., Jeffrey Ledford, Joseph Joiner, Myles Moos, Shane Clanton. Scratched: Lyle Zanker, Titus Sneed.

Consolation lineups

(20 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Frank Heckenast Jr., Gordy Gundaker
Row 2: Brandon Overton, Ricky Weiss
Row 3: Todd Bennett, Cade Dillard
Row 4: Chris Ferguson, Jay Sparks
Row 5: Wil Herrington, Mike Matargas
Row 6: Bob Gardner, Kolby Vandenbergh
Row 7: Brent McKinnon, Adam Tischhauser
Row 8: Spencer Hughes, Dale Markham
Row 9: Ryan Unzicker, Greg Wagner
Row 10: Chris Nash, Austin Simpson
Second consolation
Row 1: Nick Hoffman, Jeremiah Hurst
Row 2: Derek Chandler, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Brent Larson, Kevin Weaver
Row 4: Matt Furman, Mike Benedum
Row 5: Garrett Alberson, Trevor Gundaker
Row 6: Torin Mettille, Scott Schmitt
Row 7: Johnny Scott, Brandon Queen
Row 8: Jeff Curl, Ryan Weistart
Row 9: Kyle Bronson, Logan Moody
Row 10: Victor Benedetto
Third consolation
Row 1: Devin Moran, Kyle Hammer
Row 2: Jason Feger, Allen Weisser
Row 3: Boom Briggs, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 4: Ashton Winger, Shane Clanton
Row 5: Mike Spatola, Eric Smith
Row 6: Joseph Joiner, Lyle Zanker
Row 7: Steven Roberts, Blake Spencer
Row 8: Taylor Scheffler, Myles Moos
Row 9: Titus Sneed, Mike Chasteen Jr.
Row 10: Jeffrey Ledford

Saturday's schedule

7 a.m.-noon: SELCAS Breakfast (Legion Home, east of pit area)
9 a.m.: 1st Street walk-up gate opens; 2nd Street Gate 2 opens; 3rd Street pit gate opens
1 p.m.: Fans allowed to place blankets in general admission seating
2 p.m.: Pit bleachers open
3 p.m.: SuaveTalk Live! (backstretch bus)
4-4:45 p.m.: Driver autograph session (vendor row)
5:15 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
5:45 p.m.: Hot laps
- Modified B-main hot laps
- WoO Late Model B-main hot laps
6:20 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
- Modified consolations (15 laps)
- Modified feature cars hot laps
- WoO Late Model consolations (20 laps)
- WoO Late Model feature cars hot laps
- Modified feature (40 laps)
- WoO Late Model PDC Shootout (25 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- WoO Late Model feature (100 laps)

Feature lineup

Row 1: Pierce, O'Neal
Row 2: Gustin, Scott
Row 3: Owens, Babb
Row 4: K. Larson, Davenport
Row 5: Madden, Shirley
Row 6: Sheppard, Junghans
Row 7: Chr. Simpson, Bruening
Row 8: Eckert, Wenger
Row 9: Heckenast Jr., Hoffman
Row 10: Moran, Overton
Row 11: Alberson, Winger
Row 12: Weiss, D. Erb
Row 13: Spatola, Weaver
Row 14: Unzicker, Feger
Row 15: Dillard, Briggs
Row 16: B. Larson
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