Hoffman Scores $3,000 Modified Win
Results | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa
The FloRacing Illinois Speedweek for the DIRTcar Late Model division concluded their four-race swing Saturday night at the Fairbury Speedway. Oakwood’s Bobby Pierce came home the winner in the 60-lap Late Model race, while Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., took the win in the Modified race. A field of 50 Late Model competitors looked to secure one of 22 positions up for grabs in the $30,000 to win race presented by Titan Industries and under the direction of the MARS Late Model Racing Series. Pierce’s time of 12.904 seconds led the way in group one qualifying, while current World of Outlaws points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., turned a lap at 13.079 seconds to lead group two. Six heat races saw Pierce, Lucas Oil points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, Erb Jr., New Mexico’s Stormy Scott, and Fairbury’s McKay Wenger taking the wins. Lincoln’s Myles Moos and Ricky Thornton Jr. of Adel, Iowa, advanced to the main by winning their semi-feature.
Pierce took the lead on the start as Erb Jr. briefly challenged for the top spot. Pierce had a 10- car length lead as Erb Jr., Sheppard, Wenger, and Erb had a race for second. Following a lap 24 yellow flag for Kyle Hammer’s spin, Sheppard took over second on the restart and had Pierce within his sights. Erb brought out a caution flag with 20 laps to go, and on the restart, Erb Jr. moved back into second. Erb Jr. showed Pierce the nose of his car, but the “Smooth Operator” held his ground. Sheppard dove to the bottom in turn three to reclaim second from Erb Jr. and began to reel in Pierce. With ten laps remaining, Hudson O’Neal and Mike Marlar got by Erb Jr. for the third and fourth positions respectively. The leaders worked their way past slower traffic while running the unforgiving Fairbury cushion. Sheppard was on Pierce’s bumper as fans anticipated a classic Fairbury finish. On the last lap, Sheppard drove into the third turn in hopes of sliding in front of the race leader. Pierce was able to turn back Sheppard and take the win. “Thanks to Brandon for giving me room,” said Pierce as he won his fourth race of the year. “This is my biggest win at Fairbury. My hats off to the Fairbury crew on an awesome track.” Sheppard settled for second, O’Neal held off 16th starter Marlar for third, and Erb Jr. finished in fifth. 20th starter Thornton Jr. was sixth, followed by Wenger, Frank Heckenast Jr., 22nd starter Spencer Hughes, and Brian Shirley.
35 DIRTcar Modified drivers were on hand for their 30-lap, $3,000 to win race. Frank Marshall of Valparaiso, Ind., timed in at 14.027 seconds in group one qualifying. Austin Holcombe of Elm City, N.C., led group two with a time of 13.859 seconds. Fowler’s Michael Long, Kyle Steffens of St. Charles, Mo., defending DIRTcar national champion Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., and Highland’s Mike Harrison won in their respective heat races. Two semi-features saw Kewanee’s Brandon Bollinger and Buffalo’s Jeff Leka taking the wins. At the drop of the green flag, Hoffman jumped out to a commanding lead. With 13 laps to go, Harrison overtook Steffens for second. Harrison inched his way closer to Hoffman and managed to pull alongside of Hoffman, but Hoffman proved to be too much and took the victory. Harrison settled for second, with Steffens, Allen Weisser, and Long in the top five. North Dakota’s Tyler Peterson finished in sixth, while 16th starter Lucas Lee, Jamie Lomax, Dillon Nusbaum, and 20th starter Cole Falloway rounded out the top ten.
26 Late Model drivers made qualifying attempts for their 30-lap, $2,500 to win FALS Cup race. Fairbury’s McKay Wenger timed in with a lap of 12.994 seconds for fast time. Myles Moos, Kevin Weaver, and Mike Spatola were the heat race winners. James Walters raced his way into the feature by winning the B-Main. Moos, Spatola, and Sheppard Jr. separated themselves from the field with their eyes on winning the $2,500. With five laps to go, Spatola dove to the inside of Moos as they entered turn one to take the lead. Sheppard Jr., running the bottom, had a good run and took over the top position. Sheppard Jr. was able to open up a five-car length lead and earn his first-ever Fairbury feature win. Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, and cousin to Brandon Sheppard, commented in the winner’s circle. “I have dreamed of this. We came here and just wanted to make the show. I was wanting Myles to move off the bottom. That is where we had speed. Him and Mike got to racing and I felt like we had a chance. I took the lead. The flagman signaled there were five laps to go. I was just waiting for one of them to get me back, and I will be damn, we won the race.” Defending track champion Spatola settled for second while Moos finished third. 10th starter Wenger took fourth. Weaver, Scott Schmitt, Jake Little, Jason Suhre, Nick Allen, and Mike Chasteen Jr. completed the top ten.
Coming off one of the most successful seasons to date, Fairbury Speedway is set to open their doors on Saturday night, May 7th to start the FALS Cup weekly championship presented by Fairbury Fastener & Spyder Pro Powered Tools. Racing in all five weekly divisions will take to the racy quarter-mile bullring and will be streamed live on FloRacing. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to showcase our opening night FALS Cup race on FloRacing. This will give a lot of exposure to all of our classes and let the fan base throughout the country see what we are accustomed to on our weekly shows,” says Fairbury Speedway owner and promoter Matt Curl. “Our FALS Cup weekly race program is growing every year and this year is no different. We have all of our FALS Cup dates sponsored and look forward to a great partnership with them.”
