CONCORD, NC (March 25, 2026) – April is almost here, and that means plenty more dirt tracks across the nation are preparing to open the gates for the first time in 2026.
Next month’s slate will feature the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision’s first trip outside the southeast of the year to Illinois. From there, the tour travels south once more for a weekend in Alabama before returning to the Midwest for a swing through Iowa and Wisconsin.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead:
Farmer City Raceway | Illini 100 (April 10-11): As has become tradition over the past two decades, the Illini 100 once again holds the title of being the first national-level dirt track race of the season in Illinois.
Billy Moyer won the inaugural World of Outlaws race at Farmer City Raceway on Aug. 14, 2006, before the date shifted to April in 2007 – the slot it has remained in ever since. The first Midwest bullring of the season has produced a flurry of spectacular moments over the years, including the unforgettable finish in 2024 between Nick Hoffman and Bobby Pierce that saw both cars sliding off the track as they crossed the line.
Farmer City also has a knack for producing first-time winners, as three drivers have earned their first World of Outlaws victory in the Illini 100. Two of them did it on the same weekend in 2021, when Mike Spatola won his first and only Series race to date on Friday before Pierce broke through for his first of 45 wins and counting on Saturday. Last year, it was Ethan Dotson’s turn to score the biggest Late Model win of his career in his first full-time season as an Outlaw.
Talladega Short Track | Alabama Gang 100 (April 24-25): Once the sun goes down on NASCAR weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, the action continues across the street at Talladega Short Track.
The weekend begins with a $12,000-to-win opener on Friday night. Then on Saturday, approximately an hour after the conclusion of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at the big track, Late Models will hit the track to commence the $25,000-to-win finale.
The inaugural edition of the race honoring southern legends Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Red Farmer went to Brandon Overton in 2023. Rain washed out the event in 2024, but it returned in 2025 with Pierce earning his first Talladega victory.
While there have only been a pair of World of Outlaws races in Talladega’s storied history, plenty of current Outlaws are no stranger to success on the Alabama red clay. Ryan Gustin is a former winner of the track’s signature Ice Bowl held every January, while Tim McCreadie, Ethan Dotson and Trey Mills all have Talladega wins on their resume.
Independence Motor Speedway | Independence Late Model Showdown (April 28): When the dust settles at Talladega, there won’t be much time to rest with the next stop on tour only three days away.
Teams will make the trek north to Iowa for a Tuesday night visit to Independence Motor Speedway, which will be the seventh World of Outlaws race contested at the 3/8-mile. Josh Richards won the first one in 2011 before Darrell Lanigan reigned supreme, winning three years in a row between 2012 and 2014. It would be five years before the Series returned in 2019 for a race won by Brandon Sheppard, then five more until the latest trip in 2024 which Pierce topped.
The midweek showdown will be a special one for Gustin, as it will be the first of six home-state World of Outlaws races in 2026 for the Iowa native. The “Reaper” turned plenty of laps at Independence in his Modified days and finished seventh in his only World of Outlaws start there in 2024.
Mississippi Thunder Speedway | Dairyland Showdown (April 30-May 2): The late-spring visit to southwest Wisconsin has become an annual staple of the World of Outlaws schedule in recent seasons to usher in racing season in the upper Midwest.
The Timm family along with promoter Tyrone Lingenfelter have poured loads of time, effort and money into turning Mississippi Thunder Speedway into a destination facility, and they’ve been rewarded with strong crowds and excellent racing at the Dairyland Showdown and throughout the season. The sixth-annual running of the event will include a pair of $10,000-to-win preliminary nights on Thursday and Friday leading into Saturday’s $40,000-to-win finale.
Not only is the Mississippi Thunder winners list a who’s who of modern-day stars, the track has also produced eight different winners in 10 points-paying World of Outlaws Features. Sheppard and Hoffman are the only two multi-time victors, while Pierce, Gustin, Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar and Tyler Erb have also found Victory Lane.
Find tickets and more information for every World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision event in 2026 by clicking here.
Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.
THE MONTH AHEAD: April Agenda Brings World of Outlaws to Four States in Three Weeks
CONCORD, NC (March 25, 2026) – April is almost here, and that means plenty more dirt tracks across the nation are preparing to open the gates for the first time in 2026.
Next month’s slate will feature the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision’s first trip outside the southeast of the year to Illinois. From there, the tour travels south once more for a weekend in Alabama before returning to the Midwest for a swing through Iowa and Wisconsin.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead:
Farmer City Raceway | Illini 100 (April 10-11): As has become tradition over the past two decades, the Illini 100 once again holds the title of being the first national-level dirt track race of the season in Illinois.
Billy Moyer won the inaugural World of Outlaws race at Farmer City Raceway on Aug. 14, 2006, before the date shifted to April in 2007 – the slot it has remained in ever since. The first Midwest bullring of the season has produced a flurry of spectacular moments over the years, including the unforgettable finish in 2024 between Nick Hoffman and Bobby Pierce that saw both cars sliding off the track as they crossed the line.
Farmer City also has a knack for producing first-time winners, as three drivers have earned their first World of Outlaws victory in the Illini 100. Two of them did it on the same weekend in 2021, when Mike Spatola won his first and only Series race to date on Friday before Pierce broke through for his first of 45 wins and counting on Saturday. Last year, it was Ethan Dotson’s turn to score the biggest Late Model win of his career in his first full-time season as an Outlaw.
Talladega Short Track | Alabama Gang 100 (April 24-25): Once the sun goes down on NASCAR weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, the action continues across the street at Talladega Short Track.
The weekend begins with a $12,000-to-win opener on Friday night. Then on Saturday, approximately an hour after the conclusion of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at the big track, Late Models will hit the track to commence the $25,000-to-win finale.
The inaugural edition of the race honoring southern legends Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Red Farmer went to Brandon Overton in 2023. Rain washed out the event in 2024, but it returned in 2025 with Pierce earning his first Talladega victory.
While there have only been a pair of World of Outlaws races in Talladega’s storied history, plenty of current Outlaws are no stranger to success on the Alabama red clay. Ryan Gustin is a former winner of the track’s signature Ice Bowl held every January, while Tim McCreadie, Ethan Dotson and Trey Mills all have Talladega wins on their resume.
Independence Motor Speedway | Independence Late Model Showdown (April 28): When the dust settles at Talladega, there won’t be much time to rest with the next stop on tour only three days away.
Teams will make the trek north to Iowa for a Tuesday night visit to Independence Motor Speedway, which will be the seventh World of Outlaws race contested at the 3/8-mile. Josh Richards won the first one in 2011 before Darrell Lanigan reigned supreme, winning three years in a row between 2012 and 2014. It would be five years before the Series returned in 2019 for a race won by Brandon Sheppard, then five more until the latest trip in 2024 which Pierce topped.
The midweek showdown will be a special one for Gustin, as it will be the first of six home-state World of Outlaws races in 2026 for the Iowa native. The “Reaper” turned plenty of laps at Independence in his Modified days and finished seventh in his only World of Outlaws start there in 2024.
Mississippi Thunder Speedway | Dairyland Showdown (April 30-May 2): The late-spring visit to southwest Wisconsin has become an annual staple of the World of Outlaws schedule in recent seasons to usher in racing season in the upper Midwest.
The Timm family along with promoter Tyrone Lingenfelter have poured loads of time, effort and money into turning Mississippi Thunder Speedway into a destination facility, and they’ve been rewarded with strong crowds and excellent racing at the Dairyland Showdown and throughout the season. The sixth-annual running of the event will include a pair of $10,000-to-win preliminary nights on Thursday and Friday leading into Saturday’s $40,000-to-win finale.
Not only is the Mississippi Thunder winners list a who’s who of modern-day stars, the track has also produced eight different winners in 10 points-paying World of Outlaws Features. Sheppard and Hoffman are the only two multi-time victors, while Pierce, Gustin, Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar and Tyler Erb have also found Victory Lane.
Find tickets and more information for every World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision event in 2026 by clicking here.
Want to watch the World of Outlaws? Stream every race live on DIRTVision.