Friday

PADUCAH, Ky. — Steve Francis is looking more and more like a World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion.
The Ashland, Ky., star continued his late-season surge toward the title on Friday night, driving from 11th starting spot to win the Paducah 50 at Paducah Int’l Raceway.
It was the second $10,225 triumph in three WoO LMS starts this month for Francis, who has extended his points lead to a season-high 60 markers over Chub Frank.
“Hopefully we just keep this up for a little bit longer,” said Francis. “We finally got everything together.”
Coming off a strong second-place finish in the prestigious World 100 on Sept. 9 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Francis authored a convincing march to victory in PIR’s first-ever WoO LMS event. He found his rhythm near the race’s halfway mark, charging through the top five in a handful of laps and then effortlessly running down race-long leader Brian Shirley.
Francis, 40, had little trouble handling the lap-44 restart that followed the A-Main’s second and final caution flag. He simply glided away from the pack, steering his Valvoline Rocket No. 15 to the checkered flag 2.737 seconds ahead of Shirley.
Shirley was second, while Jimmy Mars, Frank and Clint Smith rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Steve Francis, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Mars, Chub Frank, Clint Smith, Tim Fuller,  Darrell Lanigan, Brian Birkhofer, Josh Richards, Jeep VanWormer, Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert, Brad Neat, Randy Sellars, Jon Tindal, Brady Smith, Randy Korte, Ricky Arms, Kevin Cole, Shannon Babb, Brian Barber, Justin Rattliff, Michael Steele, Roy Mitchell.

Saturday

PEVELY, Mo. — Clint Smith has turned the Midwest into his second home this season.
With a dramatic victory in Saturday night’s 25th annual Pepsi Nationals at I-55 Raceway, the Southern gentleman put himself squarely in the headlines of another World of Outlaws Late Model Series trip to middle America.
Smith, 42, of Senoia, Ga., earned $10,225 for his fourth WoO LMS triumph of 2007 – all of which have come in the Midwest.
“It’s fun to win in some new territory,” said Smith, whose road victories this season have helped increase his popularity away from his native Southeast. “We’ve won in three different states for the first time this year, and we’re proud of that.”
Smith’s latest victory was easily his most difficult. He had to outduel Shannon Babb and Randy Korte in a rousing shootout over the race’s final three laps to preserve his 10th career WoO LMS win.
Smith never relinquished the lead after driving his J&J Steel/Cliburn Tank Lines GRT car past Korte on lap 23, but both Babb and Korte made aggressive bids to overtake Smith following the second and final caution flag of the A-Main, on lap 47.
Babb finished 0.702 of a second behind Smith, with Korte, Chub Frank and point-leader Steve Francis following.
The finish:
Clint Smith, Shannon Babb, Randy Korte, Chub Frank, Steve Francis, Rick Eckert, Billy Moyer, Shane Clanton, Brian Birkhofer, Brian Shirley, Darrell Lanigan, Jeep VanWormer, Josh Richards, Matt Miller, Brady Smith, Bryan Collins, Dewayne Kiefer,  Will Vaught, Billy Faust, Ron McQuerry, Michael Kloos, Jimmy Mars, Roy Mitchell, Kerry Hansen.

Sunday

LA SALLE, Ill. —Jeep VanWormer is in the club.
VanWormer was victorious in Sunday night’s 16th annual Best Western Illinois Fall Nationals 40 at La Salle Speedway, becoming the 28th driver to win a World of Outlaws Late Model Series event since 2004.
“When you win with these guys, it’s top-notch,” VanWormer said of his first career triumph on the national tour. “They’re not the World of Outlaws for nothing, so winning a race against them is huge for your resume, huge for your career.”
VanWormer, 32, drove a flawless race to pocket $7,725, including the $500 WoO LMS Bonus Bucks cash for being the highest-finishing driver who had never won a tour event and was not ranked among the top 12 in the standings. He was the 18th different driver to win a WoO LMS A-Main in 2007.
Taking advantage of the third starting spot, VanWormer overtook Matt Miller for the lead on lap two and never looked back. He turned back late challenges from WoO LMS regulars Darrell Lanigan and Chub Frank, who finished second and third, respectively.
WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender Tim Fuller and point-leader Steve Francis rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Jeep VanWormer, Darrell Lanigan, Chub Frank, Tim Fuller, Steve Francis, Dennis Erb, Jr., Shannon Babb, Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert, Brady Smih, Clint Smith, Jimmy Mars, Josh Richards, Darren Friedman, Mike Mataragas, Steve Sheppard, Jr., Jason Feger, Kerry Hansen, Brian Shirley, Wes Steidinger, Roy Mitchell, Matt Miller, Terry Casey, Ryan Dauber.