Fairbury Speedway
Fast Facts: 34th annual Prairie Dirt Classic
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: July 26-27 (four 25-lap, $5,000-to-win Prairie Dirt Showdown preliminary features set lineup for 100-lap Prairie Dirt Classic)
Track: Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway (semi-banked quarter-mile dirt oval)
Purse: $50,000-to-win
Primary sponsors: Bank of Pontiac, Illinois State Rifle Association and Summit Racing Equipment
Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series
Streaming: Live on DIRTVision (Friday and Saturday)
Last year’s winner: Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., his first career event victory.
Tickets: Two-day general admission $65 (more options below)
Websites: fairburyspeedway.com and worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels
Track phone: (815) 692-3222
Notes: The World of Outlaws Case Late Models invade Fairbury American Legion Speedway for the 34th annual Prairie Dirt Classic. … Castrol FloRacing Night in America provides an appetizer Wednesday with a $20,000-to-win program live on FloRacing. ... After a day off Thursday, WoO action kicks off Friday with four 25-lap, $5,000-to-win Prairie Dirt Showdown preliminary features, with the top-four finishers from each locked into Saturday’s main event. … Multiple 20-lap consolations and the 25-lap Prairie Dirt Shootout will precede Saturday’s 100-lap, $50,000-to-win Prairie Dirt Classic; the winner of the shootout will have the option to keep the $3,500 prize or elect to tag the field for Saturday’s finale. … For the third year, a $500 FALS Draw raffle bonus will be paid to the leader of each circuit in Saturday’s feature, courtesy of Bank of Pontiac and the Illinois State Rifle Association. … Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., overcame his car shutting off and causing a caution, only to storm back in dramatic fashion to win last year’s $50,000 top prize. … World of Outlaws series points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., enters as a three-time Prairie Dirt Classic winner after earning a total of $100,000 in 2022’s event. … Reigning series champ Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., looks to continue his hot streak as he continues to seek his first career Prairie Dirt Classic victory in the event where his father Bob Pierce leads all drivers with five career triumphs. … Live music, driver autograph sessions, vendor displays and interactive experiences are among the off-track entertainment. … The Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour wraps up with $500-to-win preliminary features on Friday, followed by Saturday’s 40-lap, $5,000-to-win season finale.
Prairie Dirt Classic winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2023: Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
2022: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
2021: Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif.
2020: Cancelled
2019: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
2018: Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
2017: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
2016: Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2014: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
2013: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
2012: Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
2011: Eric Smith, Bloomington, Ill.
2010: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
2009: Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
2008: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
2007: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2006: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
2005: Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
2004: Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
2003: Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2002: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
2001: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
2000: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
1999: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
1998: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1997: Billy Drake, Bloomington, Ill.
1996: John Gill, Mitchell, Ind.
1995: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
1994: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
1993: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1992: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1991: Kevin Weaver, Gibson City, Ill.
1990: Snooky Dehm, Chatsworth, Ill.
Weekend purses
Friday’s four Prairie Dirt Showdowns
1. $5,000
2. $2,000
3. $1,500
4. $1,000
5.-20. $300
Saturday’s Prairie Dirt Shootout
1. $3,500
2. $1,000
3. $800
4. $700
5. $600
6. $500
7. $475
8. $450
9. $425
10. $400
11. $375
12. $350
13. $325
14.-20. $300
Saturday’s Prairie Dirt Classic
1. $50,000
2. $20,000
3. $12,000
4. $7,500
5. $6,000
6. $5,000
7. $4,750
8. $4,500
9. $4,250
10. $4,000
11. $3,900
12. $3,800
13. $3,700
14. $3,600
15. $3,500
16. $3,400
17. $3,300
18. $3,200
19. $3,100
20. $3,080
21. $3,060
22. $3,060
23. $3,020
24.-26. $3,000
Event schedule
(All times local; subject to change)
Wednesday
5:45 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6:15 p.m.: On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Castrol FloRacing Night in America Late Model feature (50 laps)
Thursday
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: PDC Shriner’s Hospital for Children’s Golf Classic (Indian Creek Country Club)
6:30 p.m.: Shriners Children’s auction (frontstretch midway)
9 p.m.-midnight: Dirty Grass Soul Country Band (north beer stand)
Friday
7 a.m.-11 a.m.: VFW Post PDC breakfast (VFW Building 205 E. Locust Street)
Noon: Cornhole tournament (north beer stand)
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting (WoO command center)
5:30 p.m.: On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot lap qualifying (3 laps)
- Late Model group A qualifying (2 laps, 2 cars per session)
- Late Model group B qualifying (2 laps, 2 cars per session)
Opening ceremonies
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
Track prep (if needed)
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
Track prep (if needed)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
Saturday
7 a.m.-11 a.m.: VFW Post PDC breakfast (VFW Building 205 E. Locust Street)
3 p.m.: Live SuaveTalk show (at the bus on the backstretch turn two)
4 p.m.-4:45 p.m.: Drivers’ autograph session (vendor row on backstretch)
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting (WoO command center)
5:30 p.m.: On-track activity
- Modified hot laps (consolation entrants)
- Late Model hot laps (consolation entrants)
Opening ceremonies
6:20 p.m. - Redraw and prerace festivities
- Modified consolations (15 laps, top 2 transfer)
- Modified hot laps (feature entrants)
- Late Model consolations (20 laps)
- Late Model hot laps (feature entrants)
- Modified feature (40 laps)
- Prairie Dirt Shootout (25 laps)
- 34th annual Prairie Dirt Classic (100 laps)
Tickets
Friday
Three-day general admission: $95 (includes Wednesday’s Castrol One for the Road event)
Two-day general admission: $65
One-day general admission: $30
Reserved seating: sold out (general admission is available for purchase at gates)
Three-day all access pit pass: $125 (includes Wednesday’s Castrol One for the Road event)
Two-day all access pit pass: $85
One-day all access pit pass: $40
Saturday
One-day general admission: $40
One-day all access pit pass: $50
Camping
Reserved camping: sold out
Overflow FALS camping: $65
FALS tent camping: $30
Golf cart registration: $25
More information: fairburyspeedway.com or (815) 692-3222
