Key notes: The Ernie Leftwich-revived Midwest LateModel Racing Association rolls into Lucas Oil Speedway for this weekend’s 13th annual Spring Nationals. … The two-day program officially starts with Friday’s 40-lap, $7,000-to-win opener before Saturday’s 60-lap, $20,000-to-win finale. Practice is 6-9 p.m. Thursday night. … Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., swept last year’s unsanctioned Spring Nationals, worth more than $27,000. O’Neal was originally expected to compete this weekend before switching his plans to race at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth. … Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., enters having won seven specials in the last three years at Wheatland, worth more than $100,000. Davenport is a two-time Show-Me 100 winner there (2015, ’24). … Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., is a four-time winner there since 2023, including last July’s $15,000 Diamond Nationals opener. … Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., swept the MLRA-sanctioned March Madness weekend at nearby Springfield (Mo.) Raceway, worth more than $10,000. Jackson has three major Wheatland wins since 2022, including last Oct. 11’s $10,000 Fall Nationals finale. … Super stocks are on the undercard nightly, with legends joining Friday’s racing action and vintage sharing the spotlight for Saturday’s finale. … Pits open at 4 p.m. daily with hot laps at 6:30 nightly; grandstands open at 5 for Friday’s opener, then at 4 for Saturday’s finale. … Watch live on FloRacing. … Practice is 6-9 p.m. Thursday night.

Who to watch: Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., eyes his fourth career Spring Nationals victory at Wheatland.

Points chase: Before Wheatland Friday: 1. Tony Jackson Jr. (500); 2. Clay Stuckey (435); 3. Dillon McCowan (425); 4. Mike Spatola (405); 5. Terry Phillips (400).

Expected entrants: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson, Tony Jackson Jr., Chris Simpson, Dillon McCowan, Terry Phillips, Chad Simpson, Gordy Gundaker, Payton Looney, Daniel Hilsabeck, Scott Crigler, Justin Wells, Mitch McGrath, Aaron Marrant, Trevor Gundaker, Sawyer Crigler, Cole Wells, Jeff Herzog, Tyler Kuykendall, Jace Parmley, Brennon Willard and others.

Next series race: April 11, Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) $20,000