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View Full Version : World of Outlaws Illini 100 opens La Salle's 20th Season



BettyG
03-27-2011, 12:43 PM
World of Outlaws Illini 100 opens La Salle
By: Betty Glynn

La Salle, IL – The long cold winter has race fans nearly stir crazy. Their cabin fever is about to be blown away with one of the biggest events that the legendary La Salle Speedway has ever hosted. A two day event is scheduled to kick the winter to the curb with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series hitting town for the first time since 2007.

Michigan racer Jeep Van Wormer took command of that September race from a third place start to capture the checkers and the $7,000 paycheck for the WoO LMS Fall Nationals. A race he dedicated to a fallen uncle.

The Illini 100 Spectacular will be the first campaign of the 20th year of racing under the Izzo family’s leadership. On Friday, April 1, the top names in dirt will usher in the season with qualifying and heat contests. The B Main’s and the 100-Lap A Main is on Saturday, April 2. The victor stands to take home the colossal $20,000 payday.

The epic start to the season brings an event partnership between the Izzo family, the Tru-Speed Enterprises promoter Don Hammer and the World Racing Group. The showcase event brings one of the richest races to Illinois. The fact that it happens before most tracks have opened may draw even more race teams to the contest.

The Illini 100 has had a history of barn burner racing. The legendary Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas, stole the show in 2008 and 2010 while Shane Clanton made a late race pass to take the checkers in 2009. Prior to La Salle, the event had been held farther down state in Farmer City.

According to La Salle Speedway’s website, the new partnership came to fruition in part because the Illinois Valley venue is well known as a true speed arena.

“You wanted to go to a place that’s known for good racing,” Hammer, a former promoter at Farmer City and current director of the Monster Midwest Series, said of his decision to relocate the Illini 100 to LaSalle due to uncertainty surrounding the Farmer City’s operation. “LaSalle definitely fits the bill. There have been a lot of great races there over the years and it’s a great facility where we can continue to build a crowd for the Illini.”

La Salle Speedway’s Kerry Izzo is excited to open their second decade of full throttle racing with such a desirable venue.

“I am thrilled to have the Illini 100 here at La Salle,” Kerry said. “It is an honor to have our speedway chosen for such an important event. We have a very exciting season scheduled for our 20th anniversary and this is an amazing way to jump start the new race season.”

A star-studded field of drivers is expected to challenge their talents in the $100,000-plus Illini 100 weekend. Some of the dirt leaders are WoO LMS regulars (and former tour champions) Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., and Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. The Outlaw standouts will battle dozens of other well-known competitors, including top talents from the DIRTcar UMP circuit, and local racers alike.

Two former La Salle Speedway front runners are slated to return to their roots to rally for the big money. Ironically, both have moved on to dirt fame driving the dream for a living. Two-time UMP National Champ Dennis Erb Jr. spent his early years watching his father travel the ¼ mile until moving into the drivers seat himself. He has accumulated a long list of titles and big money race wins since his 1994 La Salle Late Model Championship run.

At press time, Erb’s online schedule showed both the Illini and a race in Texas listed for the same weekend. His local fans are hoping the Carpentersville racer stays closer to home.

One of Erb’s biggest rivals from Illinois, who has committed to compete close to home, is a past La Salle hotshoe out of Bloomington. Jason Feger has gained a name for himself and a nation of fans traveling the country as the highside hustler. During 2010, his biggest accomplishment was claiming the UMP Summer Nationals championship. In doing so, he ended Erb’s run for a fourth consecutive tour title. Feger was on fire claiming the championship for the grueling 28 races in 31 days.

Tony Izzo Jr., the 1995 UMP National Champion and La Salle Speedway two-time Champion himself, has been instrumental in bringing the area’s largest outdoor venue into the spotlight.

“We are one of the first tracks over the years to step outside of the norm and bring major events before other places,” Tony explained during a recent interview. “We are very proud that the racing world is starting to recognize what the Izzo family, the local racers, fans and support of the community has allowed us to create over the past 20 years.”

“We’re really excited about how much interest the race is generating from our local fans and racers as well as the whole racing community. To hear the excitement in the voice mails and phone calls I’m getting daily about the Illini – man, it’s real encouraging.”

The list of dirt stars is continuing to grow as the date nears. Advance tickets are already on sale and can be purchased online. Fans have until March 29 to take advantage of a discounted advance-sale price on two-day and single-day reserved seats for the Illini 100 weekend. Both reserved and general admission tickets can be purchased on-line at www.worldofoutlaws.com/tickets or by calling the event ticket hotline at 877-395-8606.

Other divisions on the weekend program are the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and DIRTcar Street Stocks, along with the DIRTcar UMP 4 Cylinder Hornet class. The Modifieds will compete in separate events paying $500 to win (Friday) and $1,000 to win (Saturday), while the Street Stock cars will be in action on Friday night only. The Hornets compete both Friday and Saturday nights.

Advance-sale two-day reserved-seat tickets (Friday-Saturday) for the Illini 100 cost $40 for ages 16-and-over. This is a savings of $5 from the $45 weekend price at the track.

Single-day tickets are available in advance and on race day. Reserved seat and general admission tickets purchased on-line before March 29 are $15 for Friday and $30 for Saturday. On race day reserved seats (if still available) are $15 (Friday) and $32 (Saturday), and general admission prices are $15 (ages 16-and-over) and $5 (children 6-15) for Friday’s program and $30 (ages 16-and-over) and $10 (children 6-15) for Saturday’s finale. Kids 5-and-under will receive free general admission both days.

Pit passes will be sold only at the track for $25 on Friday, $40 on Saturday or $60 for a two-day pass. DIRTcar members will receive a $5 discount on pit admission.

The Illini 100 weekend will kick off on Thursday, March 31, with an open practice session from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gates will open at 3 p.m. and pit admission will be $20, with fans permitted to enter the grandstands free of charge to catch a glimpse of the talent and to watch the practice circuits.

On Friday, April 1, pit gates will open at noon and spectator gates will be unlocked at 4 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. After the evening’s events, the entertainment continues with a bonfire and music for those attending.

The schedule on Saturday, April 2, calls for pit gates to re-open at noon, with the front gates opening at 3 p.m. Practice will begin at 5 p.m. and racing is set to get the green flag at 6 p.m.