News Director 
Story By: COLBY GORNIEWICZ / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – CONCORD, NC – The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series are set to converge in Illinois. The nation’s two premier dirt touring Series will cross paths during the second annual FVP Outlaw Clay Classic at the Dirt Oval at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL on June 27 and 28. It’s the only chance for fans to see both World of Outlaws Series on consecutive nights this season before the World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte in November.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series invades the Dirt Oval at Route 66 for the first night of the FVP Outlaw Clay Classic on June 27. Current Sprint Car Series point leader Donny Schatz won the inaugural event on June 29, 2016 at Rockford Speedway. The event marks the halfway point just as the Outlaws prepare for the most grueling and highest-paying month of racing in the midst of a tight championship points race.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series takes over the Joliet 3/8-mile track the following night on June 28 to complete two thrilling nights of Outlaw racing. World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series driver Frank Heckenast Jr. will be eager to dethrone defending event winner Brian Shirley at the track owned and managed by his sister, Sherri Heckenast.
Heckenast Jr., from nearby Frankfort, IL, is currently in his fourth season with the Series. His lone World of Outlaws victory came at Florida’s Bubba Raceway Park in 2015, which creates an enticing opportunity for Heckenast Jr. to earn his second Series triumph in his home state.
The Dirt Oval at Route 66 Raceway presents a unique challenge to the Outlaw drivers of both Series. Neither Series has had the opportunity to race at the track on the grounds of the Chicagoland Speedway in over a decade. Schatz went to victory lane when the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series was last there in 2005. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series last visited the track as the Hav-A-Tampa Series in 1999.
Located just 45 miles from Chicago, IL, The Dirt Oval at Route 66 is not your typical dirt track. Rather, it’s a multi-purpose facility also capable of hosting off-road trucks, demolition derbys and monster trucks in addition to traditional oval dirt track racing. However, the track regularly hosts high-speed, thrilling Late Model and Winged Sprint Car special events.
Following the second annual FVP Outlaw Clay Classic, The Dirt Oval at Route 66 will also host the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series for the two-day Chi-Town Showdown on October 13-14.
