Pierce, Hoffman take home top FLO prizes from Fairbury

FAIRBURY — Bobby Pierce and Nick Hoffman came up big in their respective features as the FLO Racing Illinois Speedweek for the DIRTcar Late Model division, concluded its four-race swing Saturday night at the Fairbury Speedway. Pierce prevailed in the late model event while Hoffman grabbed the checkered flag in the modified final.

A field of 50 late model competitors looked to secure one of 22 positions up for grabs in the 60-lap, $30,000 race, which was presented by Titan Industries and under the direction of the MARS Late Model racing series.

Pierce of Oakwood took the lead on the start as Dennis Erb Jr. briefly challenged for the lead. Pierce had a 10-car length lead as Erb Jr., Brandon Sheppard, McKay Wenger and Tyler Erb had a race for second. Following a lap 24 yellow flag for Kyle Hammer’s spin out, Sheppard took over second on the restart and had Pierce within his sights.

Tyler Erb brought out a caution flag with 20 laps to go and on the restart, Dennis Erb Jr. moved back into second. Erb Jr. showed Pierce the nose of his car, but the “Smooth Operator” held his ground. Sheppard dove to the bottom in turn three to reclaim second from Erb Jr. and began to reel in Pierce.

With ten laps remaining, Hudson O’Neal and Mike Marlar got by Erb Jr. for third and fourth positions, respectively. The leaders worked their way past slower traffic while running the unforgiving Fairbury cushion. Sheppard was on Pierce’s bumper as fans anticipated a Fairbury classic finish.

Sheppard drove into the third turn on the last lap in hopes of slide jobbing the race leader. Pierce was able to turn back Sheppard and take the win.

“Thanks to Brandon for giving me racing room,” said Pierce as he won his fourth race of the year. “This is my biggest Fairbury win. My hat's off to the Fairbury crew on an awesome track.”

Sheppard settled for second while O’Neal held off Marlar for third and Erb Jr. finished in fifth. Ricky Thornton Jr. finished in sixth, followed by Wenger, Frank Heckenast Jr., Spencer Hughes and Brian Shirley.

Pierce’s time of 12.904 seconds led the way in group one qualifying. Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville is the current World of Outlaw point leader and turned a lap at 13.079 to lead group two. Six heat races saw Pierce, Lucas Oil point leader Sheppard, Farmer City feature winner Tyler Erb, New Mexico’s Stormy Scott and Fairbury’s McKay Wenger take wins. Lincoln’s Myles Moos and Iowan Ricky Thornton Jr. advanced to the main by winning their semi-feature races.

There were 35 DIRTcar Modified drivers on hand for a 30-lap, $3,000-to-win feature race. Frank Marshall from Valparaiso, Indiana, timed in at 14.027 seconds in group one qualifying. Defending national champion, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., led group two with a time of 13.859.

Hoffman jumped out to a commanding lead at the drop of the green flag. With 13 laps to go, Mike Harrison overtook Kyle Steffens for second. Harrison inched his way closer to Hoffman and managed to pull alongside of Hoffman, but Hoffman proved to be too much and took the victory.

Harrison settled for second with Steffens third, Allen Weisser fourth and Michael Long in the top five. North Dakota’s Tyler Peterson finished in sixth, Lucas Lee, Jamie Lomax, Dillion Nusbaum, and Cole Falloway rounding out the top 10.

Long, Steffens, Hoffman and Harrison won in their respective heat races. Two semi-features saw Kewanee’s Brandon Bollinger and Buffalo’s Jeff Leka taking the wins. Leka is in his final racing campaign.