What started out to be a chilly, blustery uncomfortable afternoon at Farmer City Raceway really warmed up as the first cars fired the motors Friday evening. The first night of the two night show, 100 lap race paying $20,000 to win drew in the top drivers and fans were treated to some fantastic time trials and heat races. Drivers were given two qualifying laps against the clock. Fifty five drivers took time, and the first shot was fired when Dennis Erb, Jr, second driver on the track broke the track record, then was faster on the second lap. Billy Moyer followed Erb, Jr, and did the same thing, just a bit faster yet. The old track record held by Ryan Dauber at 12.348 seconds is gone, replaced by Moyer's new record from his second lap at 11.973 seconds, the first ever lap under 12 seconds for a late model at this historic old fairgrounds. When all was said and done, eight drivers turned a total of fifteen laps under the old track record.
Heat races with the top three finishers advancing to Saturday nights feature went to Billy Moyer over Darren Miller and Shane Clanton. The second heat went to twenty year old Josh Richards over Steve Sheppard Jr and Clint Smith. The third heat went to Brian Shirley over Tim Fuller and Brady Smith. The fourth heat went to Steve Francis over Chris Simpson and Jeep VanWormer. Heat number five was won by Chub Frank over Dennis Erb, Jr and Wes Steidinger. The final heat went to Brian Birkhofer over Rick Eckert and Ryan Dauber.
The dash for cash, $1000 to win went to Josh Richards over Billy Moyer, Chub Frank and Brian Shirley.
Richie Hedrick took a rough flip off turn one in hot laps. He pulled out a backup car for the heat and near the end he tagged the number four wall, and took another wild ride up the air, but not flipping this time. Report was he did get a cut on his hand.
There were nineteen street stocks in attendance, with the feature going to Steve Ewing over a hard charging Chris Tackett with Terry Miller and Troy Dodson right behind.
Fourteen Sportsmen took the track with the feature win going to Billy Nail followed by Terry Worth, Greg Kimmons, Rod Rusher, and Jason Unzicker rounding out the top five.
The modified class was a typical full field of thirty eight cars. Tim Hancock led the first few laps, Denny Schwartz got by and led until almost the end, as with three laps to go, perennial track champion Jeff Leka managed to work his way past for the win. Following Leka and Schwartz to the checkers was Hancock, Chad Evans, Brian Lynn and Chad Osterhoff.
Saturday nights show will start with late model hot laps at six o'clock, followed by modified qualifying, late model semi features, a non qualifier feature, modified semis and feature and will finish with 100 lap, $20,000 to win, $1500 to start World of Outlaws Late Model Feature. This is the highest purse ever paid in the state of Illinois for a dirt late model race.
Racenut.... Dan Stewart.... www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com
Heat races with the top three finishers advancing to Saturday nights feature went to Billy Moyer over Darren Miller and Shane Clanton. The second heat went to twenty year old Josh Richards over Steve Sheppard Jr and Clint Smith. The third heat went to Brian Shirley over Tim Fuller and Brady Smith. The fourth heat went to Steve Francis over Chris Simpson and Jeep VanWormer. Heat number five was won by Chub Frank over Dennis Erb, Jr and Wes Steidinger. The final heat went to Brian Birkhofer over Rick Eckert and Ryan Dauber.
The dash for cash, $1000 to win went to Josh Richards over Billy Moyer, Chub Frank and Brian Shirley.
Richie Hedrick took a rough flip off turn one in hot laps. He pulled out a backup car for the heat and near the end he tagged the number four wall, and took another wild ride up the air, but not flipping this time. Report was he did get a cut on his hand.
There were nineteen street stocks in attendance, with the feature going to Steve Ewing over a hard charging Chris Tackett with Terry Miller and Troy Dodson right behind.
Fourteen Sportsmen took the track with the feature win going to Billy Nail followed by Terry Worth, Greg Kimmons, Rod Rusher, and Jason Unzicker rounding out the top five.
The modified class was a typical full field of thirty eight cars. Tim Hancock led the first few laps, Denny Schwartz got by and led until almost the end, as with three laps to go, perennial track champion Jeff Leka managed to work his way past for the win. Following Leka and Schwartz to the checkers was Hancock, Chad Evans, Brian Lynn and Chad Osterhoff.
Saturday nights show will start with late model hot laps at six o'clock, followed by modified qualifying, late model semi features, a non qualifier feature, modified semis and feature and will finish with 100 lap, $20,000 to win, $1500 to start World of Outlaws Late Model Feature. This is the highest purse ever paid in the state of Illinois for a dirt late model race.
Racenut.... Dan Stewart.... www.midwestdirttrackfacts.com
