This Weekend’s Combined Shows Are The First In Series’ History

For the first time in series’ history, the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series will be facing off against the Summer Nationals Hell Tour competitors in a pair of combined showdowns this coming weekend.  The first race takes place in Pevely, MO on Saturday, July 2 paying $10,000 to win, while the second one comes to Central Illinois’ Lincoln Speedway on Sunday, July 3, paying $8,000 to win.  The show will be the biggest in Lincoln Speedway’s 13-year history.

So far, nine of the eleven events have been completed on this year’s Summer Nationals Hell Tour.  Oakwood, IL driver, Bobby Pierce, the 2015 Summer Nationals Tour Champion, is on absolute fire, winning five out of the nine events and leading the standings over Mike Marlar by nearly 100 markers.  Billy Moyer has won in two of his seven starts, while Dennis Erb, Jr. and Brandon Sheppard have also claimed wins.  18 events remain on this year’s grueling tour, which ends on July 16.

While Pierce will, no doubt, be a favorite for Sunday’s Graue Chevrolet Showdown, this one will be one of his toughest challenges all summer.  In addition to the great field of drivers that have been competing on a nightly basis in the Summer Nationals, Pierce will have to fend off a barrage of drivers who are regular competitors  with the World Of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series.

As of Monday, 15 drivers have entered every World Of Outlaw Craftsman Late Model race in 2016.  The series is led by 3-time champion Josh Richards, from Shinnston, WV.  Richards has either won the championship or finished second in each of the last six seasons, an unbelievable record.  So far in 2016, Richards has won eight of the 19 events.  Shane Clanton has claimed four victories, Scott Bloomquist has two, while Rick Eckert, Brandon Overton, Brian Shirley, and Dale McDowell each have one.

Joining the Super Late Models will be the Summit National Modifieds.  Heading into the new week, Nick Hoffman, of Mooresville, NC, formerly from the St. Louis, MO area, leads the points after claiming three of the six wins.  Ray Walsh, Clayton Miller, and Chad Kinder have also claimed trophies early on the tour.  Mixing in with the travelers will be the strong group of Modified contenders that compete on a weekly basis, as they’ll be running for their local points at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 and Lincoln Speedway points as well.  21 events remain on this year’s Summit Nationals tour.

Rounding out the slate of racing this Saturday & Sunday will be the UMP B-Mods.

The UMP B-Mods at I-55 will pay $600 to win.

It will be the final B-Mod race at Lincoln this season, after running their first race at the track last Friday night.  Butch Weisser claimed the victory, matching his son’s effort in the A-Mod class that night.  Additional $20 pay will be added to each spot in the payout to make up for the pit admission difference.

At Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, the pits will open at 3pm and the grandstands will open at 4pm. Qualifying will begin at 6:30pm and racing is set at 7pm.

At Lincoln Speedway, the pits will open this Sunday at 2:00, grandstands at 3:00, hotlaps are scheduled for 5:30, the important qualifying session will be at 6:00, and racing is set to take the green at 6:30.  General admission tickets for the grandstands will be $30, while kids 11 and under are just $5.

For more information on Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, visit www.federatedautopartsraceway.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FederatedAutoPartsRaceway . You can call the track at 636-479-3219. Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 is located 30 minutes south of the Arch in downtown St. Louis on Interstate 55 in Pevely, MO.

For more information on the track, follow Lincoln Speedway online at www.lincolnspeedwayil.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LincolnILSpeedway), and Twitter (@LincolnILSpdwy).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

Lincoln Speedway is located at the Logan County Fairgrounds, in Lincoln, IL.  The physical address is 1408 Short 11th St., Lincoln, IL 62656.  Lincoln Speedway races a number of UMP classes as well as specials on a near bi-weekly schedule of Friday and Sunday evenings.