FAIRBURY, Ill. — Updates from Friday's preliminaries for the 32nd annual Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway, a $50,000-to-win event on the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series (results unofficial):

Semifeatures recap

Semifeature winners Garrett Smith, Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar and Kyle Larson will redraw Saturday for the top-four starting spots in the 100-lap Prairie Dirt Classic finale. … The 18-year-old Smith stole the first 25-lapper in dramatic fashion, taking advantage of race-long leader Ashton Winger’s late struggles with power-steering failure to slip past the Big Frog Motorsports driver entering turn one on the final circuit and hold on to defeat Garrett Alberson by 0.281 of a second. The $3,000 victory came in Smith’s first-ever start at Fairbury. … Winger slipped to seventh in the finishing order. … Tyler Bruening settled for third place in the first qualifier after he clanged off Winger’s sideways car racing down the backstretch on lap 23 as he ran second. … The first race’s final lap saw Alberson go from fifth to second. … A red flag stopped the first race on lap 15 when the rear of Kyle Strickler’s car ended up on the right side of Logan Martin’s sideways machine off turn two. Frank Heckenast Jr. and Bradley Jameson were also involved. … Sheppard overtook polesitter McKay Wenger for the lead on lap 10 and controlled the remaining distance to capture the second prelim by 1.125 seconds over 11th-starter Jason Feger, who shot by Kyle Bronson on the last lap to emerge as the runner-up. … Wenger faded to fifth in the late stages, failing to transfer after leading laps 1-9. … Trevor Gundaker brought out the second prelim’s lone caution flag on lap 23 when he rode the backstretch wall while inside the top 10. … In a down-to-the-wire thriller, Marlar regained command from Tanner English on lap 22 and held on to beat the World of Outlaws regular by 0.067 of a second for the $3,000 top prize in the third preliminary. Marlar lost the lead to English on lap 13 but ripped the cushion following a lap-19 restart to pull out the victory. … Cade Dillard brought out the lap-19 caution flag after he smacked the outside wall and spun out of third place. … Larson began defense of his PDC crown with a flag-to-flag triumph in the nightcap. He survived two scares — running over a piece of metal debris on lap three and contact with a lapped car on lap 18 — to beat Tyler Erb by a comfortable 2.784 seconds. … Outside polesitter Josh Rice finished third in the fourth semifeature to make his first career PDC finale. … Bobby Pierce charged from 19th to fourth in 13 laps and finished in the position to crack the 100-lapper’s lineup.

Semifeature results

(25 laps; top four transfer)

First semifeature: Garrett Smith, Garrett Alberson, Tyler Bruening, Jimmy Owens, Max Blair, Chris Simpson, Ashton Winger, Ryan Gustin, Stormy Scott, Derek Chandler, Adam Tischauser, Matt Lux, Bradley Jameson, Tom Thoennes, Chris Nash, Logan Martin, Kyle Strickler, Frank Heckenast Jr., Myles Moos, Bill Weistart, Paul Parker.

Second semifeature: Brandon Sheppard, Jason Feger, Kyle Bronson, Gordy Gundaker, McKay Wenger, Kyle Hammer, Ryan Unzicker, Nick Hoffman, Brent Larson, Bob Gardner, Scott Schmitt, Alex Ferree, Justin Duty, Kevin Weaver, Titus Sneed, Brian Rickman, Cody Bauer, Jason Suhre, Trevor Gundaker, Greg Wagner.

Third semifeature: Mike Marlar, Tanner English, Ricky Thornton Jr., Dennis Erb Jr., Shane Clanton, Chris Ferguson, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Steven Roberts, Daryn Klein, Josh Richards, Thomas Hunziker, Glen Thompson, Bill Hough, Cade Dillard, Doug Drown, Jay Sparks, Nick Allen, Mike Provenzano. Scratched: Josh Putnam.

Fourth semifeature: Kyle Larson, Tyler Erb, Josh Rice, Bobby Pierce, Chase Junghans, Johnny Scott, Brian Shirley, Mason Zeigler, Boom Briggs, Jeff Larson, Mike Spatola, Joseph Joiner, Shannon Babb, Kye Blight, Dale Markham, Mike Mataragas, Todd Bennett, Drake Troutman, Brent McKinnon, Jake Miller.

Correction: Adds Dennis Erb Jr. in fourth in third semifeature.

Pre-race notes

On an absolutely gorgeous day — sunny with an afternoon high in the low 80s — the 32nd Prairie Dirt Classic kicks off Friday with a qualifying program highlighted by four 25-lap, $3,000-to-win semifeatures for the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series that will lock 16 drivers into Saturday’s 100-lap, $50,000-to-win finale. … The 81-car field is an event record, topping last year’s 74 entries. … Only two Dirt Late Model events this season have drawn more cars than the PDC, both at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio: June’s Eldora Million (124 cars) and Dream (114). … Sixty-two UMP modifieds are also in action, leaving Fairbury’s pit area bursting from the seams. … Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is back to defend his 2021 PDC victory in the Rumley Enterprises No. 6. Larson won’t be able to hang out in the Fairbury’s pit area until the wee hours this year, however, because he must fly between Fairbury and this weekend’s NASCAR Cup event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. (The ’21 PDC was run on an off weekend for the Cup Series.) … In the wake of his recent split with G.R. Smith’s Team 22 Inc. operation, Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., is driving the Ocala, Fla.-based Big Frog Motorsports No. 58 that has been primarily piloted this year by Floridian Mark Whitener. The 22-year-old Winger is also scheduled to run the machine in next weekend’s WoO-sanctioned USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. … Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., is making just his second attempt at the PDC; his previous appearance came in 2015. … Pennsylvania is represented by four long-distance travelers: WoO regular Boom Briggs of Bear Lake, who is celebrating his 51st birthday; Franklin’s Matt Lux, who is making his second career PDC appearance; and first-time PDC entrants Alex Ferree of Saxonburg and Drake Troutman of Hyndman. … The 18-year-old Troutman is one of three drivers pulling double-duty in the Late Model and modified divisions, joining Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., and Bradley Jameson of Royal Center, Ind. … Former PDC winners in the field include Larson, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill. (2017, ’19), Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (2016), Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga. (2015), Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill. (2002, ’06, ’13), Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill. (2012), Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill. (2004), and Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill. (1991).

Semifeature lineups

(25 laps; top four transfer)

First semifeature
Row 1: Ashton Winger, Garrett Smith
Row 2: Tyler Bruening, Garrett Alberson
Row 3: Ryan Gustin, Jimmy Owens
Row 4: Chris Simpson, Myles Moos
Row 5: Max Blair, Logan Martin
Row 6: Kyle Strickler, Bradley Jameson
Row 7: Derek Chandler, Stormy Scott
Row 8: Adam Tischauser, Tom Thoennes
Row 9: Matt Lux, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 10: Paul Parker, Bill Weistart
Row 11: Chris Nash
Second semifeature
Row 1: McKay Wenger, Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Gordy Gundaker, Kyle Bronson
Row 3: Trevor Gundaker, Kevin Weaver
Row 4: Brent Larson, Ryan Unzicker
Row 5: Scott Schmitt, Justin Duty
Row 6: Jason Feger, Jason Sure
Row 7: Cody Bauer, Bob Gardner
Row 8: Brian Rickman, Alex Ferree
Row 9: Kyle Hammer, Titus Sneed
Row 10: Greg Wagner, Nick Hoffman
Third semifeature
Row 1: Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Marlar
Row 2: Tanner English, Steven Roberts
Row 3: Shane Clanton, Mike Provenzano
Row 4: Ricky Thornton Jr., Cade Dillard
Row 5: Doug Drown, Chris Ferguson
Row 6: Josh Richards, Daryn Klein
Row 7: Josh Putnam, Glen Thompson
Row 8: Jay Sparks, Thomas Hunziker
Row 9: Jonathan Davenport, Tommy Sheppard Jr.
Row 10: Nick Allen, Bill Hough
Fourth semifeature
Row 1: Kyle Larson, Josh Rice
Row 2: Tyler Erb, Chase Junghans
Row 3: Johnny Scott, Boom Briggs
Row 4: Mason Zeigler, Kye Blight
Row 5: Brent McKinnon, Mike Spatola
Row 6: Brian Shirley, Shannon Babb
Row 7: Joseph Joiner, Jeff Larson
Row 8: Jake Miller, Mike Mataragas
Row 9: Drake Troutman, Todd Bennett
Row 10: Bobby Pierce, Dale Markham

Time trials

First group   
1. Ashton Winger (58), Hampton, Ga., 12.952
2. McKay Wenger (42), Fairbury, Ill., 13.121
3. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 13.132
4. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 13.191
5. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.276
6. Gordy Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 13.310
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.419
8. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 13.450
9. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 13.460
10. Trevor Gundaker (11T), St. Charles, Mo., 13.474
11. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 13.477
12. Kevin Weaver (B12), Gibson City, Ill., 13.508
13. Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 13.533
14. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.567
15. Myles Moos (84), Lincoln, Ill., 13.573
16. Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 13.609
17. Max Blair (111V), Centerville, Pa., 13.612
18. Scott Schmitt (10), Tonica, Ill., 13.622
19. Logan Martin (36), West Plains, Mo., 13.625
20. Justin Duty (15), Mulino, Ore., 13.627
21. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 13.629
22. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 13.700
23. Bradley Jameson (757), Royal Center, Ind., 13.727
24. Jason Suhre (4), Highland, Ill., 13.729
25. Derek Chandler (35), Pontiac, Ill., 13.737
26. Cody Bauer (19x), Farwell, Mich., 13.769
27. Stormy Scott (2s), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.774
28. Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 13.837
29. Adam Tischauser (91), Mulberry Grove, Ill., 13.845
30. Brian Rickman (90), Columbus, Miss., 13.878
31. Tom Thoennes (1TT), Bloomington, Ill., 13.879
32. Alex Ferree (1c), Saxonburg, Pa., 13.890
33. Matt Lux (21), Franklin, Pa., 13.903
34. Kyle Hammer (17x), Clinton, Ill., 13.935
35. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Frankfort, Ill., 13.994
36. Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 14.151
37. Titus Sneed (76), Justice, Ill., 14.152
38. Greg Wagner (79W), Polo, Ill., 14.202
39. Bill Weistart (73), Tonica, Ill., 14.232
40. Nick Hoffman (2), Mooresville, N.C., 14.366
41. Chris Nash (354), Portage, Mich., 15.283
Second group   
1. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.397
2. Kyle Larson (6), Elk Grove, Calif., 13.440
3. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.462
4. Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 13.607
5. Tanner English (81E), Benton, Ky., 13.661
6. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 13.675
7. Steven Roberts (111), Jesup, Ga., 13.703
8. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 13.714
9. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 13.732
10. Johnny Scott (1ST), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.735
11. Mike Provenzano (M27), Grand Ridge, Ind., 13.736
12. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 13.759
13. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.762
14. Mason Zeigler (9z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 13.871
15. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 13.885
16. Kye Blight (31AUS), Katanning, W. Australia, 13.910
17. Doug Drown (12d), Wooster, Ohio, 13.921
18. Brent McKinnon (26M), Carlyle, Ill., 13.968
19. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 13.980
20. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 13.994
21. Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 14.005
22. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.016
23. Daryn Klein (10), Fairview Heights, Ill., 14.023
24. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 14.030
25. Josh Putnam (212), Florence, Ala., 14.039
26. Joseph Joiner (10J), Milton, Fla., 14.050
27. Glen Thompson (14T), Buckingham, Ill., 14.056
28. Jeff Larson (99), Freeport, Ill., 14.083
29. Jay Sparks (7S), Metamora, Ill., 14.123
30. Jake Miller (28M), Mendota, Ill., 14.127
31. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 14.143
32. Mike Mataragas (1m), DeKalb, Ill., 14.147
33. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.161
34. Drake Troutman (7D), Hyndman, Pa., 14.219
35. Tommy Sheppard Jr. (T6), New Berlin, Ill., 14.241
36. Todd Bennett (T2), Peoria, Ill., 14.248
37. Nick Allen (21A), Wheatfield, Ind., 14.265
38. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 14.292
39. Bill Hough (33), Thomasboro, Ill., 14.342
40. Dale Markham (3), Maple Park, Ill., 14.369

Friday’s schedule

5:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m.: On-track action begins
- WoO Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps/qualifying
- WoO Late Model time trials
Opening ceremonies
- First modified semifeature (20 laps)
- Second modified semifeature (20 laps)
- First WoO semifeature (25 laps)
- Second WoO semifeature (25 laps)
- Third modified semifeature (20 laps)
- Fourth modified semifeature (20 laps)
- Third WoO semifeature (25 laps)
- Fourth WoO semifeature (25 laps)