Changes abound for the 16th running of the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals in 2007 but at least two things will remain a constant for this year’s event, big name racing drivers and great competition as the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals moves from it’s home at the spacious Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield to the friendly confines of the LaSalle, Illinois Speedway one hour north of Bloomington. A large number of World of Outlaw and UMP late model stock cars and modifieds are expected to be on the grounds of LaSalle Speedway on Sunday, September 16 competing for one of the largest purses in LaSalle history. Moving from the World’s Fastest One Mile Dirt Track to the quarter mile bullring at LaSalle may mean lower speeds for the late model and modified drivers but it certainly won’t diminish the racing action as LaSalle Speedway is known for some of the best dirt track racing in the Midwest.
The 16th Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals is the conclusion of a Midwest tri-track racing weekend that will see World of Outlaw Late Model Series action at the Paducah International Raceway on Friday September 14, with the World of Outlaw Late Models heading to Missouri and the Ken Schrader owned
I-55 Raceway in Pevely for the annual Pepsi Nationals on Saturday September 15. The late model and modified teams then make their way up Interstates 55 and 39 to LaSalle for the 16th Fall Nationals event on Sunday. A winner’s share of $7,000 is up for grabs at LaSalle for the winner of the 40 lap late model main event, with $2,000 for the modified 30 lap feature winner.
This will be the second time that the World of Outlaws sanction an Illinois Fall Nationals late model race having sanctioned the 2005 running at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, an event won by Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tennessee as the veteran late model campaigner won his second Fall Nationals event, winning previously in 1999. Other past winners of the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals late model events include John Mason of Millersburg, Ohio, NASCAR’s Ken Schrader, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Shannon Babb of Decatur, Illinois and the only four-time winner of the Fall Nationals late model feature, Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas. Moyer is currently 13th in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series National points with Birkhofer 14th and both are expected to make the trip to LaSalle along with World of Outlaw point leader Steve “the Kentucky Colonel” Francis of Ashland Kentucky. Other World of Outlaw drivers in the top slots in points expected at LaSalle are Chubb Frank, Clint Smith, Josh “Kid Rocket”
Richards, Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert and Darrell Lanigan.
Illinois driver Darren "The Thriller" Miller is the defending late mode winner of the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals and the one lap late model track record holder at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Last year he trailed Muscatine. Iowa's Bria Birkhofer for the first 19 laps of the Fall Nationals late model main event before overtaking "Birky" and cruising to the victory on the famed Springfield Mile. Birkhofer is expected to be at LaSalle on September 16 as is Darren Miller.
A number of drivers from Illinois and surrounding states are also expected at LaSalle including Chatham, Illinois’ Brian Shirley, currently 9th in World of Outlaw Late Model points and winner of the 2006 Fall Nationals Modified feature. Shirley won the prestigious Knoxville, Iowa Late Model Nationals in 2006. Decatur’s Shannon Babb is currently 10th in the Late Model points and in 2003 became the first central Illinois driver in 37 years to post a major race win on the Springfield Mile when he won the late model portion of the Fall Nationals. Other drivers who may enter at LaSalle include Joe Ross Jr. of Springfield, John Provenzano of Marsailles, UMP Super Late Model national point leader Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Billy Drake of Bloomington, Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Illinois (2nd in UMP points), Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana and Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Michigan. Other drivers may make their intentions known closer to the Fall Nationals date.
UMP Modified drivers will be competing with the late models and the last 15 years have seen a variety of winners in the modified division, including Charlie Sentman, Hank Delonjay, Curt Rhodes and Jim Shereck. A large number of modified pilots can be expected and LaSalle and some may do double duty in the late model division as well. Last year Jeff Leka set a modified qualifying record at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the UMP Modifieds but it was Shirley who led all 20 laps of the main event.
Pit Gates for the 16th Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals open at 2 p.m.
on Sunday September 16, with the grandstand open at 4, practice at 5, qualifying at 5:30 and the first race at 6. Tickets are $25 for adults and
$5 for children 11 and under. Tickets can be obtained through Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or through LaSalle Speedway at 815-223-6939.
Jay Hardin
Media Relations
Track Enterprises
The 16th Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals is the conclusion of a Midwest tri-track racing weekend that will see World of Outlaw Late Model Series action at the Paducah International Raceway on Friday September 14, with the World of Outlaw Late Models heading to Missouri and the Ken Schrader owned
I-55 Raceway in Pevely for the annual Pepsi Nationals on Saturday September 15. The late model and modified teams then make their way up Interstates 55 and 39 to LaSalle for the 16th Fall Nationals event on Sunday. A winner’s share of $7,000 is up for grabs at LaSalle for the winner of the 40 lap late model main event, with $2,000 for the modified 30 lap feature winner.
This will be the second time that the World of Outlaws sanction an Illinois Fall Nationals late model race having sanctioned the 2005 running at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, an event won by Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tennessee as the veteran late model campaigner won his second Fall Nationals event, winning previously in 1999. Other past winners of the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals late model events include John Mason of Millersburg, Ohio, NASCAR’s Ken Schrader, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Shannon Babb of Decatur, Illinois and the only four-time winner of the Fall Nationals late model feature, Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas. Moyer is currently 13th in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series National points with Birkhofer 14th and both are expected to make the trip to LaSalle along with World of Outlaw point leader Steve “the Kentucky Colonel” Francis of Ashland Kentucky. Other World of Outlaw drivers in the top slots in points expected at LaSalle are Chubb Frank, Clint Smith, Josh “Kid Rocket”
Richards, Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert and Darrell Lanigan.
Illinois driver Darren "The Thriller" Miller is the defending late mode winner of the Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals and the one lap late model track record holder at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Last year he trailed Muscatine. Iowa's Bria Birkhofer for the first 19 laps of the Fall Nationals late model main event before overtaking "Birky" and cruising to the victory on the famed Springfield Mile. Birkhofer is expected to be at LaSalle on September 16 as is Darren Miller.
A number of drivers from Illinois and surrounding states are also expected at LaSalle including Chatham, Illinois’ Brian Shirley, currently 9th in World of Outlaw Late Model points and winner of the 2006 Fall Nationals Modified feature. Shirley won the prestigious Knoxville, Iowa Late Model Nationals in 2006. Decatur’s Shannon Babb is currently 10th in the Late Model points and in 2003 became the first central Illinois driver in 37 years to post a major race win on the Springfield Mile when he won the late model portion of the Fall Nationals. Other drivers who may enter at LaSalle include Joe Ross Jr. of Springfield, John Provenzano of Marsailles, UMP Super Late Model national point leader Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Billy Drake of Bloomington, Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Illinois (2nd in UMP points), Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana and Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Michigan. Other drivers may make their intentions known closer to the Fall Nationals date.
UMP Modified drivers will be competing with the late models and the last 15 years have seen a variety of winners in the modified division, including Charlie Sentman, Hank Delonjay, Curt Rhodes and Jim Shereck. A large number of modified pilots can be expected and LaSalle and some may do double duty in the late model division as well. Last year Jeff Leka set a modified qualifying record at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the UMP Modifieds but it was Shirley who led all 20 laps of the main event.
Pit Gates for the 16th Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals open at 2 p.m.
on Sunday September 16, with the grandstand open at 4, practice at 5, qualifying at 5:30 and the first race at 6. Tickets are $25 for adults and
$5 for children 11 and under. Tickets can be obtained through Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200 or through LaSalle Speedway at 815-223-6939.
Jay Hardin
Media Relations
Track Enterprises
