National notebook
Notes: Erb ready for another WoO run
Dennis Erb Jr. (heathlawsonphotos.com)
Last fall, Dennis Erb Jr.’s trip to victory lane at Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway signaled to the world that he was back. Now the 53-year-old Carpentersville, Ill., driver is ready to maintain his status as a nightly contender in his full-time return to the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
The 2022 Series champion’s Humboldt victory was far from a fluke. Rather, it was one of three top-five finishes in four races in October, a run that highlighted a larger stretch of 10 top-10s in the last 14 WoO events. That consistency has Erb primed for a strong start to 2026, which will be his eighth consecutive season on the national circuit.
“I’m looking forward to getting started here,” Erb said. “I think we’re ready to get back at it. Our equipment’s running really good, I’m really happy with the way we finished last year. I’m looking forward to getting a good start here right off the bat.”
In years past, Erb has been known for his willingness to experiment with chassis changes and other new equipment in his ongoing search for an edge over the competition. However, given Erb’s satisfaction with the current state of his program, no such changes are on the horizon ahead of the new season.
“No major changes,” Erb said. “We’ll be coming back with our Rocket cars, Clements motors, McBride Mack and VoMac Truck Sales as our main sponsors. Not much of an offseason here, but we’re getting ready to get started back up again.”
The first stop of Erb’s 2026 tour comes next week at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., for DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals. One of the overarching stories at the event will be the new gumbo clay that was laid down in March with the goal of enhancing the on-track product at the Volusia. As someone who’s been competing at the half-mile track since his first Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals appearance in 2001, Erb has seen several variations of the track’s surface through the years and has high hopes for what this one can deliver.
“I’m looking forward to it, hopefully they’ll have the track in good shape and we can have a good race there,” Erb said.
Upon leaving Florida, the early-season schedule features multiple fresh additions to the tour that Erb knows well. Among them are Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., where Erb has two top-fives in his last three WoO starts, plus a top-10 in last year’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial, as well as East Alabama Motor Speedway (March 27), which hosts the National 100 that he won in 2016 and finished second in 2025.
“There’s a lot of good racetracks that we’ve been going to for a long time,” Erb said. “Looking forward to getting back to some of those places. East Alabama is one of them, we go there to race the National 100 pretty much every year at the end of the season down there. I really look forward to going back to that place and running there. You know, our normal Midwest swings and all that, places I feel that we’re really good at. No matter where we go, we’ve just got to be prepared and ready to go at it.” — Spence Smithback
U.S. 30 SPEEDWAY SALE EXPECTED: Racing is expected to continue at U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., after the Lincoln family announced earlier this month plans to put the third-mile oval up for sale. The family announced Jan. 9 a sale was pending for a new owner who will maintain the property as a racetrack. The track has run IMCA-sanctioned Late Models in recent seasons with Kale Kosiski capturing the 2026 title. The Lincolns decided to sale the track in part because of health issues for Bobby Lincoln, whose treatment is expected to continue into the spring.
POTOMAC MOVES TO SATURDAYS: Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, Md., last month announced plans to shift to Saturday racing in 2026 after primarily running on Fridays for many years. The David Williams-promoted track said the move should alleviate traffic problems teams and spectators have faced getting to the track and “better accommodate everyone who wants to join us.” The track hopes “to offer a smoother, more accessible, and more comfortable experience for our entire racing community. Super Late Model specials on the track’s slate include a June 7 Appalachian Mountain Speedweek event and a July 18 Jay's Automotive United Late Model Series event. Also planned are $3,000-to-win holiday specials for Limited Late Models.
SOUTH DAKOTA TRACK’S REBIRTH: After hosting sporadic special events in recent seasons, Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., is reopening with weekly racing in 2026 under Josh Sterrett and Jordon Sterrett of JSX Promotions. The 3/8- track, formerly promoted by Orville Chenoweth, will run weekly on Saturdays for the first time since 2017. Divisions will be announced in late January, promoters said. The fairgrounds oval has hosted automobile racing for more than 100 years.
KNOWLES HONORED BY CRUSA: Longtime Crate Racin’ USA supporter Cindy Knowles on Jan. 12 was honored by the organization with the Bob Cross Lifetime Achievement Award at the postseason banquet. Knowles is the wife of longtime Georgia racing standout Wade Knowles and mother of veteran CRUSA racer Jake Knowles. The award recognizes individuals whose dedication and long-term commitment have helped shape Crate Racin’ USA into one of the premier crate racing organizations in the country.
ODDS AND ENDS: Charleston (Ill.) Speedway offered a poll on its Facebook page to determine the interest in keeping the clm division. …. Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Pa., announced it’s switching to Saturday night racing in 2026 (it has run on Fridays in recent seasons). Crate Late Models and Limited Late Models are among regular divisions. … In partnering with Timothy Adkins for 2026, track owners John and Justin Smith have renamed the Dothan, Ala., track Cottonwood Speedway. … Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa, has a new promoter (multitrack veteran Mike Van Genderen) and new name (Revving It Up at Hwy 39 Speedway) for 2026. The track will continue running IMCA Late Models. … With Billy Knippenberg stepping down from promotions at Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Ill., the promotional role remains open. If interested, call Knippenberg at (815) 955-1291. … Jonathan Powers will serve as competition director at Grand Rapids (Minn.) Speedway in 2026. … Calling the track a “continual headache,” Dale and Josie Payne have stepped away from promotions at Two Dollar Pistol Motor Speedway in Plumerville, Ark. … The Corinth, Miss., racetrack is reopening in 2026 as Highway 72 Speedway with unsanctioned Limited Late Models and Crate Racin’ USA 602 Late Models among divisions. … Eric Mueller will serve as 2026 announcer at Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track. … The Denney family has returned to weekly promotions of Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Ill., after two seasons under Tim Neidig. … Cooter Harris last month purchased Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, Tenn., from Bill Hibbitts with the 2026 opener scheduled for March 27-28 featuring the Schaeffer's Spring Nationals.
