Column By: MIKE WARREN / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – FARMER CITY, IL – After a five-race swing through the Northeast, the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models return to action with a tripleheader weekend in Illinois and Kentucky.
The three-race trip starts at Farmer City Raceway on Thursday, June 1, for the Farmer City Showdown.
A $10,000 prize is on the line, as drivers battle in a 40-lap Feature.
On Friday, June 2, the Series heads South to Tri-City Speedway as part of the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic.
This time, $12,000 is up to grabs in another 40-lap affair.
Then, the World of Outlaws head to Kentucky for the first time this season for a trip to Paducah International Raceway on Saturday, June 3, for the USA World 50.
The winner will take home $15,000 from the Bluegrass State in a 50-lap battle.
Here’s a look at the storylines entering this weekend:
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: Chris Madden is on a hot streak after last weekend’s Battle at the Border at Sharon Speedway.
The Gray Court, SC driver earned two wins, including the $25,000 finale, and extended his points lead to 64 over Bobby Pierce and 66 over Nick Hoffman.
“Smokey” has only finished outside the top 10 once this season, a key to earning his spot at the top of the standings.
Farmer City is the only track he’s raced at in World of Outlaws competition, where he finished fourth in 2021’s Illini 100 finale.
Smooth in Illinois: For Pierce, it’s a weekend he can earn valuable points toward the Series championship.
The Oakwood, IL driver won the last time the Series visited Farmer City, where he scored his first career Series triumph, and Tri-City, where he led all 40 laps in 2022.
The “Smooth Operator” comes into the weekend with momentum after finishing outside the top five once in the five-race Northeast swing—including three podium finishes.
That stretch of strong finishes has vaulted him to second in points.
Viper Momentum: Like Pierce, this weekend could play into Tanner English’s favor as the Series returns to the Midwest.
The Benton, KY driver is the defending champion of the USA World 50 at Paducah and will race less than 30 minutes from home on Saturday.
He’s also had success at Farmer City, where he finished fourth in 2021, and Tri-city, where he finished seventh last season.
Getting Back on Track: An event to Tri-City means a trip home for Gordy Gundaker.
While he’s from St. Charles, MO, the track isn’t far from the MO/IL state line, setting up a chance to score a win in front of his home fans at the track his parents operate.
However, he hopes to better a 16th-place finish from last year’s event.
Despite the struggles at Sharon, Gundaker earned a top five and top ten to start the Northeast swing at Marion Center and Stateline and returns to Farmer City, where he had success last month.
He led more than 40 laps of the Farmer City 74 before falling to second in the end.
A win this weekend would be his first career Series victory.
Prairie State Pride: English and Gundaker aren’t the only ones who get to race close to home this weekend, as defending Series Champion Dennis Erb Jr., four-time Series champion Brandon Sheppard, and Brian Shirley return home to the Prairie State.
All three are searching for their first World of Outlaws wins of 2023.
Shirley has two victories at the Illini 100, while Sheppard has won three World of Outlaws Features at the track and the Farmer City 74 earlier this month.
Erb has found past success at Farmer City, with four touring victories there, including a DIRTcar Summer Nationals win in 2015.
Those three will have to contend with stout regional competition, including drivers who’ve had recent success racing in World of Outlaws competition.
Manhattan, IL driver Mike Spatola scored his first Series win on the opening night of the Illini 100 two years ago, while Ryan Unzicker finished second.
Unzicker, from El Paso, IL also added a top-five at Tri-City last season.
Jason Feger, who bested the Outlaws in 2022 at Davenport Speedway, is another driver to watch this weekend.
The Bloomington, IL driver won the USA World 50 four consecutive times from 2012-2015 and hopes to grab another at Paducah on Saturday.