2025 12th Annual Spring Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway

Where Top Dirt Late Model Drivers Are Racing This Weekend

Where Top Dirt Late Model Drivers Are Racing This Weekend

A look at where the top Dirt Late Model drivers are racing this April 11-12 weekend.

Apr 10, 2025 by Kyle McFadden
Where Top Dirt Late Model Drivers Are Racing This Weekend

With the World of Outlaws Late Model Series the only national tour in action this weekend, several of the sport's top drivers are scattered across the country's quartet of five-figure races.

Saturday's $50,000-to-win XR 602 Nationals event at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway is the richest event on the weekend docket with a roster headlined by Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series campaigner Daulton Wilson. The three-day event begins with Thursday’s time trials before Friday’s heat races and dash. Points will be awarded on both preliminary nights, setting the stage for Saturday’s consolations and 60-lap, $50,000-to-win finale for 602 Crates.

The WoO-sanctioned 18th annual Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway boasts the most star power this weekend drawing 14 of the Top 25 drivers in DirtonDirt.com's latest power rankings: No. 1 Bobby Pierce, No. 2 Ricky Thornton Jr., No. 3 Devin Moran, No. 6 Ryan Gustin, No. 8 Nick Hoffman, No. 9 Tyler Erb, No. 10 Drake Troutman, No. 11 Brandon Sheppard, No. 12 Max Blair, No. 13 Ethan Dotson, No. 17 Cody Overton, No. 19 Brian Shirley, No. 24 Tim McCreadie and No. 25 Tanner English. Jimmy Owens and Tyler Bruening are also racing this weekend's Illini 100.

Hoffman and Pierce won Illini 100 features last season. Thornton Jr. (Lucas Oil for $25,000 in May), Garrett Alberson (Summer Nationals for $10,000 in June) and Brian Shirley (MARS for $5,000 in July) were among other Farmer City winners in 2024. Thursday's practice precedes $12,000- and $15,000-to-win programs Friday and Saturday.

The nation's fourth-ranked driver Jonathan Davenport treks to Wheatland, Mo., for the 12th annual Spring Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway, an event traditionally sanctioned by the now defunct MLRA tour. Seventh-ranked driver Brandon Overton, along with Hudson O'Neal and Mike Marlar, the nation's 14th- and 15th-ranked drivers, are racing at the Wheatland 3/8-mile oval along with No. 25 Cade Dillard.

Friday's Spring Nationals goes for 40 laps and $7,000-to-win opener ahead of Saturday’s 60-lap, $20,000-to-win finale.

Josh Rice, the 16th-ranked driver in DirtonDirt’s power rankings, looks for his second victory at home track Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., racing in Saturday's $5,000-to-win Northern Allstars Late Model Series. Rice won the tour's March 29 opener at Florence.

In the South, Cory Hedgecock has a pair of Southern All Star Series races on his Friday and Saturday schedule, with Alabama’s Penton Speedway and Georgia’s Winder-Barrow Speedway putting on $7,000- and $5,000-to-win shows. Hedgecock, the nation's 21st-ranked driver, won Feb. 1’s SAS event at I-75 Raceway near Sweetwater, Tenn.

East Alabama Motor Speedway Super Late Models chase Saturday’s $10,000-to-win Jimmy Smith Memorial with the 23rd-ranked driver Zack Mitchell confirmed for the five-figure event at the Phenix City, Ala., oval.

Among Top 25 drivers with unconfirmed weekend plans: No. 20 Ricky Weiss and No. 21 Dalton Cook.