Key notes: Following Tuesday’s rainout at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway, the FloRacing Night in America Series now kicks off 2026 Illinois Speedweek with Wednesday’s 50-lap, $20,000-to-win season opener at Spoon River Speedway. … It’s the first of 10 scheduled FloRacing Series events this year where a $137,000 points fund is set to be paid, with $75,000 going to the champion if that driver has perfect attendance (1. $75,000; 2. $20,000; 3. $10,000; 4. $7,000; 5. $6,000) — a driver’s best eight finishes will count towards the series title ($50,000 is guaranteed if the champ does not attend all events). … Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., dominated last year’s FloRacing Series visit, but he is not expected to compete. … Two-time and reigning FloRacing champ Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., won last fall’s World of Outlaws Series debut at Spoon River, worth $12,000, adding to his two DIRTcar Summer Nationals victories there in 2017, ’21. … Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., picked up his 200th overall feature victory there last fall, worth $5,000 in MARS action. Feger has five other major wins there since June 18, 2014, collecting more than $28,000 over that span. … Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., topped 2023’s FloRacing Series stop, worth $23,023. … Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., won 2022’s inaugural series visit, earning $22,022. … NASCAR star Carson Hocevar of Portage, Mich., is expected to compete in a Spire Motorsports-owned Longhorn entry. … Modifieds ($1,500-to-win) are on the undercard. … Pit parking begins at 11 a.m. and grandstands open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6. … Watch live on FloRacing.

Who to watch: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., eyes his second straight FloRacing season opener victory and first series win at Spoon River.

Points chase: It’s the season opener.

Expected entrants: Bobby Pierce, Tyler Erb, Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Nick Hoffman, Ryan Gustin, Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, Garrett Alberson, Drake Troutman, Mike Marlar, Jason Feger, Shannon Babb, Carson Ferguson, Dennis Erb Jr., Tanner English, Ryan Unzicker, Carson Hocevar, Frank Heckenast Jr., Bob Gardner, Caden McWhorter, Mike Spatola, Jake Little, Sam Seawright, Mike Mataragas and more.

Current weather: Few Clouds, 57°F

Next series race: May 7, Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, IL) $20,000