Image via Justin Prince
The 2021-22 iRacing World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series heads to Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Illinois for its eighth of 10 rounds in the 2021-22 season. As always, the action can be seen live on iRacing social media and DirtVision on Monday at 9PM ET/6PM PT.
Last Week: While an uneven start to the season for defending series runner-up Hayden Cardwell may have wounded his hopes at this year’s title, he’s still the same threat to win on a weekly basis that he’s always been. Last week’s visit to Cedar Lake Speedway was proof positive, as he wrestled the lead away from polesitter Austen Semmelmann on Lap 2 and checked out on the field. Three-time defending series champion Alex Bergeron, Cardwell’s most reliable championship foil, was second, while Cameron Merriman completed the podium.
Last Season: Cardwell’s charge to second place in 2020-21 season points started strong with finishes of third place in Volusia and second in Knoxville, but it was a win at Fairbury that really established him as a championship threat. After immediately jumping to the lead from the outside of the front row, just as he did last week at Cedar Lake, Cardwell never looked back, becoming the only driver to post a sub-12 second lap time in the feature and finishing 1.614 seconds ahead of Braden Eyler.
Track Facts: Known as “America’s Dirt Track,” the Illinois-based Fairbury American Legion Speedway has earned Track of the Year awards from multiple different parties over the years. The quarter-mile semi-banked oval’s crown jewel event for the World of Outlaws Late Models is the Prairie Dirt Classic, a $50,000-to-win event that will return on July 29-30.
Next Week: Following Fairbury, the iRacing World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series heads to Weedsport Speedway for its penultimate round. Merriman earned the first victory of his pro series career at the New York oval last year.
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