What won the race: Surging into the lead on a lap-13 restart after race-long pacesetter Devin Moran was collected in a lapped car’s spin, ninth-starting Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., controlled the remainder of Friday's 40-lap Illini 100 weekend opener at Farmer City Raceway. The 26-year-old Dotson beat Ricky Thornton Jr. to the finish line by 0.624 of a second to earn $12,000 for his first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory.

Quotable: “I felt like I kind of let one slip away at Volusia and just kind of struggled the last couple weeks,” Dotson said. “I can’t thank (team owner) John Henderson enough for not firing me. I think he might have thought about it a couple times. I tore up so much s— this year, and (the team) just never quit on me.”

Key notes: A WoO rookie in 2025, Dotson’s triumph came in his 26th career start on the national tour. … Dotson’s key move came after a lap-13 caution flag for a turn-four incident that saw Tristan Chamberlain spin in front of leader Moran, who was sent to the rear of the field because he couldn’t avoid hitting Chamberlain and stopped on the track. Dotson shot from third to the lead on the restart and never looked back. … Thornton reached second on lap 18 and kept Dotson in his sights but couldn’t draw close enough to make a serious bid. … Brian Shirley advanced from 13th to run third for the final 20 circuits while 12th-starting Brandon Sheppard held fourth for the same period of time. … Moran restarted at the back of the pack but only ran five additional laps for a 23rd-place finish. … Polesitter Jason Feger spun in turn four for a lap-one caution after tangling with Ryan Gustin. He rallied to finish seventh while Gustin faded to 12th. … Six caution flags slowed the race with the most serious incident occurring on lap three when Shannon Babb shot off the infield berm in turn one, collecting Tanner English and Bobby Pierce. Both English and Babb nearly flipped in the tangle; only Babb was eliminated as Pierce came back to finish sixth and English soldiered to 18th. … Ashton Winger was running fifth on lap 17 when he jumped the cushion and slapped the turn-four wall to bring out a caution. … Drake Troutman relinquished third place when he pitted for work on his car’s right-rear corner during a lap-20 debris caution. … Cody Overton escaped injury when he flipped wildly during his qualifying attempt. He ran his team’s backup car the rest of the night and salvaged a 14th-place finish. … Tim McCreadie debuted a Briggs Transport Longhorn Chassis but struggled to a 21st-place finish.

On the move: Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., started 13th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Dotson's ASD Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Torco USA, SRI Performance, American Racing Wheels, H&A Development, Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, Penske Racing Shocks and John Henderson Racing.

Points chase: After Farmer City Friday: 1. Bobby Pierce (1,302); 2. Nick Hoffman (1,268); 3. Ryan Gustin (1,260); 4. Ethan Dotson (1,216); 5. Drake Troutman (1,212); 6. Max Blair (1,202); 7. Cody Overton (1,178); 8. Tim McCreadie (1,162); T9. Brian Shirley (1,158); T9. Tanner English (1,158); 11. Dennis Erb Jr. (1,152).

Current weather: Clear, 39°F

Car count: 42

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 12.613 seconds

Polesitter: Jason Feger

Heat race winners: Ryan Gustin, Devin Moran, Jason Feger, Garrett Alberson

Consolation race winners: Shannon Babb, McKay Wenger

Provisional starters: Cody Overton, Tim McCreadie, Dustin Sorensen, Tristan Chamberlain

Next series race: April 12, Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, IL) $20,000