Hunter Rich becomes ninth different 2025-26 World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series winner in nine races after Fairbury victory

Nine races, and now nine different winners in the 2025-26 World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series following Monday night’s festivities at Fairbury Speedway. Hunter Rich becomes the latest winner this season, and also the newest first-time winner in the series, as he held off a charge from Jesse Newsome and Ethan Johnson to claim the victory in the penultimate round.

From the outside of the front row, Rich battled early and often with Tucker Elkins for the top spot. Once Rich got clear, it was smooth sailing for the majority of the rest of the way, that was, until a few laps to go when his mirror became full of Newsome and Johnson closing in after collecting damage to the rear end. On the final lap, they fanned out three-wide, but Rich was in the preferred lane and managed to hang on for the win.

NINE different winners in nine races! Hunter Rich becomes the newest winner in World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series history at Fairbury!@WoOLatEModels | @dirtvision pic.twitter.com/uAEyx6AJbm

— iRacing (@iRacing) January 27, 2026

“My spotter told me I had spoiler damage,” Rich explained post-race. “I stepped on it, a bit, so I just tried to run my race. I knew I was going to be slow after that. I’m just surprised I won, I suck at this track. I was doubting myself all week, and somehow, I got it done.”

Only one race remains in the 2025-26 season, and that is the Dirt Super Late Model Tournament at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The top-60 eligible drivers in the Super Late Model points will earn an invite, and both the SLM and overall champions will be decided, with the overall season champion earning $1,500. On top of that, the Tournament winner will collect a $6,000 payday for taking the victory. Anyone can win the $6,000, but only three drivers remain eligible to become the champion—Joey Lingron, Logan Rumsey, and Ethan Johnson.

QUALIFYING

During the regular races in the 2025-26 World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series season, 22 drivers will qualify for each Feature race. Eight of those spots are filled almost immediately through Qualifying, where the first 25 points of the night are on the line. Setting quick time will earn 25 points, but will invert that driver to starting eighth in the Feature, whereas eighth will invert to the pole position, but only collect 17 points. Everyone from ninth on back in Qualifying are to be split into four equal Heat races.

Dezmond Busby set the quick-time in qualifying, earning 25 points, but that meant starting eighth in the Feature. Tucker Elkins earned the invert to the pole position for the Feature by qualifying in eighth.

Qualifying Transfers:

1. Dezmond Busby
2. Grady Ehrman
3. Chance Carr
4. Jesse Newsome
5. Matthew Selby
6. Jaycee Floyd
7. Hunter Rich
8. Tucker Elkins

HEAT RACES

In the four Heat races, up to eight drivers compete for eight laps, the top-three finishers advancing to the Feature later in the night. Points are awarded to the finishing positions in each Heat, that way all 40 drivers walk away with something for making the show. Heat winners earn 15 points, while eighth place finishers only claim eight points. The 20 drivers that don’t advance to the Feature through Qualifying or the Heats are sent to one of the two Last Chance Shootout races.

In the first Heat, Caleb Durgan took the win, but Logan Rumsey was notably on the outside of the cut, the possibility of his overall championship chances ending should he fail to make the Feature. That notion was compounded in the second Heat when points leader Joey Lingron finished runner-up to Hayden Cardwell, advancing to the Feature. Blake Matjoulis took Heat 3 easily, but drama ensued behind as Ethan Johnson kept his championship chances alive, but at the cost of Mike Augustine, who he collided with for second place. Nathan Waddell went on to win Heat 4.

Heat 1 Transfers:

1. Caleb Durgan
2. Hayden Tollison
3. Dylan Yeager

Heat 2 Transfers:

1. Hayden Cardwell
2. Joey Lingron
3. Colton Jordan

Heat 3 Transfers:

1. Blake Matjoulis
2. Ethan Johnson
3. Bo Crebs

Heat 4 Transfers:

1. Nathan Waddell
2. James Edens
3. Tanner Pettit

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWNS

The final shot to race in the Feature is by winning one of the two Last Chance Showdown races. These races include up to 10 cars each, but only the winner can move on. There are no points awarded in these races.

In the first race, Logan Rumsey had only his teammate, JD Brown, to worry about in attempting to keep his championship chances alive. The two traded the lead, but on the final lap, Rumsey secured it to advance to the Feature. The second race didn’t involve teammates, but the duo of Brady Thompson and Evan Seay kept it respectful through all 12 laps. On the final lap, Seay attempted to pin Thompson down off the corner, but Thompson had too good of a run, and managed to take the final spot in the Feature.

Last Chance Showdown Transfers:

1. Logan Rumsey
2. Brady Thompson

FEATURE RACE

Tucker Elkins led the field to the green, but almost instantly, Hunter Rich was fighting for the top spot. On the bottom was Jaycee Floyd, working the bottom in on the reset track surface. Unfortunately, the first and only caution of the night flew on the third lap, and it was Floyd hitting one of the tractor tires on the inside lane, flipping his car upside down into the pack, which somehow avoided him.

Elkins continued to lead on the restart, but Jesse Newsome managed to wrangle control after a few laps. Newsome, Elkins, and Rich all traded the lead a few more times before Elkins was back in control on Lap 17. Newsome had Caleb Durgan to contend with for a few laps, allowing the top-two to get away. At halfway, Durgan was in the battle for the top spot, taking it briefly, but unable to cross the line as the leader at any point.

With 20 to go, Rich managed to take the top spot, but Durgan was right behind. Durgan sent it and made contact, almost sending him for a loop, allowing for Rich to get away. Rich led for the rest of the way, despite picking up damage late, and despite both Newsome and Ethan Johnson catching up on the final lap.

FEATURE RESULTS FROM RACE NO. 9 AT FAIRBURY SPEEDWAY

POINTS EARNED FOR DRIVERS THAT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FEATURE

DRIVERS STANDINGS AFTER RACE NO. 9 AT FAIRBURY SPEEDWAY

1. Joey Lingron, 747 points
2. Logan Rumsey, -48
3. Ethan Johnson, -90
   —————————–
4. Blake Matjoulis, -142
5. Dylan Yeager, -203
6. Hayden Cardwell, -208
7. Aiden Forster, -224 (did not race)
8. Tanner Pettit, -232
9. Alex Bergeron, -236 (did not race)
10. Kenny Hoffman, -293 (did not race)

LATE MODEL SEGMENT STANDINGS AFTER RACE NO. 4 AT FAIRBURY SPEEDWAY

1. Blake Matjoulis, 433 points
2. Ethan Johnson, -11
3. Hayden Cardwell, -49
4. Joey Lingron, -102
   ——————————
5. Colton Jordan, -121
6. Hayden Tollison, -124
7. Conner New, -130
8. Logan Rumsey, -132
9. Hunter Rich, -148
10. Matthew Selby, -151

One race remains in the championship season, and two titles are to be decided. There is not a monetary prize for being the best during the Sprint Car or Super Late section of the season, but it is worth noting that the driver that won the Sprint Car title, Aiden Forster, was also the winner of the Sprint Car Tournament. Blake Matjoulis enters the SLM Tournament as the SLM points leader, but only by 11 points over Ethan Johnson. Hayden Cardwell, who retired early in the running at Fairbury due to damage, sits in third, and could also take top SLM honors at season end.

The real battle for glory will come in the Overall Championship. Joey Lingron leads the way by 48 points over the defending series champion, Logan Rumsey. Ethan Johnson could also potentially win this title too, but he would need a lot to happen to the two ahead of him to have a true shot. Rumsey gained over 20 points on Lingron at Fairbury after Lingron fell from the server with just a handful of laps to go. If Lingron makes the Charlotte Feature, that would instantly eliminate Johnson. Rumsey will need to hope for a lot as well, but it is definitely more feasible.

NEXT UP: TOURNAMENT AT CHARLOTTE, PRIZE MONEY ON THE LINE

All of that said, 60 drivers enter the Tournament next week with the same chance at winning the $6,000 prize at the end of the day. The driver 60th in the standings could potentially play spoiler and walk away with a ton of cash, that’s the beauty of the tournament format. The venue for the fight is The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Last year, it was Camden Johnston the winner as Logan Rumsey hoisted the championship trophy.

Due to the field being locked by points, there will be no Qualifying Series to participate in this week. All of the action from The Dirt Track at Charlotte kicks off next Monday night at 8:00 p.m. ET and it will be live on DIRTVision and across all of iRacing’s social media channels.

For more details on the World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Series and the World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Qualifying Series, check out www.iRacing.com/WoO-Pro-Series/
For more information about iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iRacing.com.

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