Key notes: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series concludes its tripleheader weekend with the 50-lap, $25,000-to-win 20th annual CMH Diamond Nationals finale at Lucas Oil Speedway. … Dillon McCowan of Urbana, Mo., led the final 12 laps in winning Friday’s Salute to Forrest, the Diamond Natioanls opener. McCowan collected his first career Lucas Oil Series victory, worth $15,000 in the event that honored the late Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil products and Lucas Oil Speedway; Lucas died on Aug. 23, 2025, at the age of 83. … The weekend began when Brandon Sheppard led the final 14 laps to win Thursday’s $15,000 Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, for his seventh Lucas Oil win of the season. Sheppard won last July’s $25,000 Diamond Nationals finale at Wheatland. … Hudson O’Neal has four career major wins at Wheatland, including a sweep of last year’s Show-Me prelims and a sweep of last year’s Spring Nationals to go along with his 2021 Show-Me 100 victory. … Jonathan Davenport has 15 Wheatland specials dating back to 2015’s Diamond Nationals, including two Show-Me 100 victories (2015, ’24), worth more than $200,000 over that span. … Josh Rice topped one of May’s $10,000 Show-Me prelims earlier this year. … B-mods are on the undercard. … Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30. … Watch live on FloRacing.

Who to watch: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., seeks his eighth Lucas Oil victory of the season and second straight Diamond Nationals final

Points chase: Before Wheatland Saturday: T1. Brandon Sheppard (4,735); T1. Hudson O’Neal (4,735); 3. Devin Moran (4,605); 4. Brandon Overton (4,370); 5. Max Blair (4,315); 6. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,200); 7. Garrett Alberson (4,070); 8. Josh Rice (3,995); 9. Brian Shirley (3,980); 10. Kyle Bronson (3,845).

Expected entrants: Among drivers expected to join the top 10 in series standings: Jonathan Davenport, Billy Moyer, Carson Ferguson, Clay Stuckey, Chase Junghans, Gordy Gundaker, Dan Ebert, Dallon Murty, Mason Oberkramer, Clay Harris, Dillon McCowan, Jake Nightingale, Tyler Bruening, Daniel Hilsabeck, Tyler Kuykendall, Aaron Marrant, Tyler Wolff, Payton Looney, Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler, Brody Smith and more.

Next series race: July 14, Adams County Speedway (Corning, IA) $15,000