What won the race: Surging the Rocket Chassis house car team back into victory lane at a track he knows so well, Brandon Sheppard powered from the 11th starting spot to triumph in the Illini 100 finale at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Sheppard led the final 24 of 60 laps and beat Bobby Pierce by 1.439 seconds to the finish.

Quotable: "Just so happy and so thankful. ... Steve Francis (WoO director), thank you for not prepping the track. That was Farmer City right there, baby," Sheppard said. "Elbows up, get it right on the cushion up against the wall. That's the Farmer City we like to see for sure. I'm so happy, man. Everybody has been counting us out. Do you miss Longhorn? Do you miss this? Do you miss that? No, not that, because I never left."

Key notes: It was Sheppard’s fourth career Illini 100 victory; he also won in 2015, '17 and '19. ... Drake Troutman controlled the opening 36 laps until Sheppard powered around the 19-year-old off turn four on a lap-36 restart. … Sheppard gives Illinois drivers seven wins in the last eight runnings of the Illini 100 finale, joining Pierce (2021 and '24) and Shannon Babb ('14). Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., in 2016, was the last driver not from Illinois to win the event. ... Brian Shirley briefly edged ahead of Troutman on lap 24, but Troutman beat Shirley back to the line. … Sheppard quickly opened up a 3.6-second edge four laps after he took the lead from Troutman and never faltered even though Pierce cut that advantage in half over the final 24 laps. … Devin Moran brought out the only caution of the night when he spun out of the third position. Moran retired early and finished 24th. … Mike Spatola went up in smoke on lap 35 in front of the leaders and exited the racetrack to avoid a caution. … Friday’s $12,000 winner Ethan Dotson lost electrical power in his heat race and changed a battery. He finished 22nd after starting via provisional. ... Kyle Bronson went to a backup car after breaking a valve in the engine of his primary car. ... The feature lasted 25 minutes, with 23 drivers running at the finish and 14 finishing on the lead lap. ... WoO's weekend ran without Dillon McCowan of Urbana, Mo., who abandoned his rookie pursuit.

On the move: Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., started 16th and finished sixth; race winner Brandon Sheppard started 11th.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard's Rocket Chassis has a Durham Racing Engine and sponsorship from Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Rocket Chassis, Ace Metal Works, Gunter’s Honey, Hoosier Racing Tire, Fox Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Petroff Towing, Performance Grading, Stiles Marine & Maintenance, Sunoco Race Fuels and Rocket Preowned Motors.

Points chase: After Farmer City Saturday: 1. Bobby Pierce (1,448); T2. Ryan Gustin (1,382); T2. Nick Hoffman (1,382); 4. Drake Troutman (1,356); 5. Ethan Dotson (1,322); 6. Cody Overton (1,314); 7. Max Blair (1,310); 8. Brian Shirley (1,300);9. Tanner English (1,286); 10. Dennis Erb Jr. (1,276); 11. Tim McCreadie (1,274); 12. Kyle Bronson (1,254).

Current weather: Clear, 52°F

Car count: 40

Fast qualifier: Brian Shirley

Time: 12.814 seconds

Polesitter: Cody Overton

Heat race winners: Brian Shirley, Cody Overton, Devin Moran, Drake Troutman

Consolation race winners: Ryan Gustin, Tyler Erb

Provisional starters: Nick Hoffman, Ethan Dotson, Max Blair, Dennis Erb Jr.

Next series race: April 25, Talladega Short Track (Eastaboga, AL) $12,000