BUFFALO TWP — The 17th edition of the Firecracker 100 arrives at Lernerville Speedway this week.

The 100-lap Lucas Oil Series Late Model race — which will include Lernerville’s regular Late Model drivers — takes place Saturday night with $50,000 going to the winner. A pair of 25-lap featurres — $5,000 going to the winners — will run on Thursday and Friday night this week.

Combined points from Thursday and Friday’s preliminary events will determine the lineups for Saturday’s heat races. Overall, a record-high purse of $300,000 will be paid out to the drivers over the three-day weekend.

Ricky Thornton Jr. of Martinsville, Indiana, has eight wins in the Lucas Oil Series thus far this season and leads in points with 3,660. Hudson O’Neal, also of Martinsville, has three wins and is 185 points behind Thornton.

Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., has three wins in the series this year while Brandon Overton of Evan, Ga., has a pair of victories.

The top six drivers in the Lernerville Late Model points race this year are all Butler County drivers. Tyler Dietz of Saxonburg leads with 160 points and has a Late Model feature win at the Sarver oval in 2023. Dietz leads the Pro Stock points race at the track as well.

Michael Norris, John Garvin Jr. and Ken Schaltenbrand, all of Sarver, have 148, 141 and 129 points, respectively. Levi Yetter of Cabot has 122 and Alex Ferree of Saxonburg 116. Norris has a pair of Lernerville wins on the season and Garvin has reached victory lane once.

Tim McCreadie of Waterton, N.Y. — fourth in Lucas Oil Series points right now — is the defending Firecracker 100 champion. He won the race in 2019 as well. Scott Bloomquist (2007, 2012, 2016) is the only three-time winner of the event.

The RUSH Dirt Late Model Series will present the Bill Emig Memorial as part of Firecracker 100 weekend. This will mark the fifth consecutive year of the race, which pays $20,000 to the winner. The main event takes place Saturday night.

Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday. Hot laps are scheduled for 6 p.m. each day with opening ceremonies slated for 7:30 p.m.

FIRECRACKER 100 WINNERS

2022-Tim McCreadie, 2021-Brandon Overton, 2020-Cade Dillard, 2019-Tim McCreadie, 2018-Chris Madden, 2017-Brandon Overton, 2016-Scott Bloomquist, 2015-Rick Eckert, 2014-Darrell Lanigan, 2013-Josh Richards, 2012-Scott Bloomquist, 2011-Jimmy Mars, 2010-Shane Clanton, 2009-Jimmy Mars, 2008-Brian Birkhofer, 2007-Scott Bloomquist

LUCAS OIL SERIES WINNERS (2023)

Ricky Thornton (Martinsville, Ind.) 3 wins, Hudson O’Neal (Martinsville, Ind.) 3 wins, Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, Ga.) 3 wins, Brandon Overton (Evan, Ga.) 2, Devin Moran (Dresden, Ohiio) 1, Tyler Erb (New Waverly, Texas) 1, Brandon Sheppard (New Berlin, Ill.) 1, Mike Marlar (Winfield, Tenn.) 1, Chris Ferguson (Mt. Holly, Tenn.) 1, Bobby Pierce (Oakwood, Ill.) 1, Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1, Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, Calif.) 1, Ashton Winger (Senoia, Ga.) 1