56th World 100 2026: Preview, History & Who to Watch
There is no bigger prize in dirt Late Model racing than the World 100. One hundred laps around Eldora Speedway's towering high banks, the coveted Globe trophy on the line, and the best Late Model drivers on the planet in the field — the 56th running is one of the defining nights of the entire dirt season.
Dirt Late Model racing's crown jewel
First run in 1971, the World 100 is the most prestigious Late Model race there is — the one every driver wants on their résumé above all others. It's held at Eldora Speedway, the famous high-banked half-mile clay oval in Rossburg, Ohio, and it draws a massive open entry: hundreds of cars chasing a spot in Saturday's 100-lap main event. The 2026 weekend builds across preliminary "Twin 25s" nights on Thursday and Friday to the Saturday finale, with a six-figure-scale purse and the Globe going to the winner.
Recent World 100 winners
| 2025 (55th) | Ricky Thornton Jr. ($72,000 — his first Eldora crown jewel) |
| 2024 (54th) | Bobby Pierce (over Dale McDowell) |
| 2023 (53rd) | Hudson O'Neal |
No modern driver has owned this race like Jonathan Davenport, who has five World 100 wins (2015, '17, '19, '21, '22) among his 11 career Eldora crown-jewel victories. When the World 100 rolls around, he's always part of the conversation.
The 2026 picture
The World 100 is an open race, so the field reaches well beyond any one touring series — but the drivers who've defined the 2026 Late Model season will lead the favorites. Through midsummer, Brandon Sheppard had been the hottest driver in the country, with Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr., Devin Moran and Hudson O'Neal all winning big races. That said, Eldora's high banks and the sheer depth of the entry make the World 100 famous for producing surprise winners — form gets you close, but it takes a special run to win this one.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the form above — not a crystal ball.
Broke through for his first Eldora crown jewel in 2025 and has been a front-runner all year in 2026. The defending champ arrives with confidence and speed.
Won this race in 2024 and has been one of the very best in the country in 2026. Any list of Late Model favorites at Eldora starts with Pierce.
The modern master of Eldora. Nobody reads the high banks like Davenport, and a race this prestigious always seems to bring out his best.
A former national champion and the winningest driver of the 2026 season through midsummer. If his form holds into September, he'll be a threat for the Globe.
How to watch: All three nights of the World 100 stream live on FloRacing. For more on watching dirt racing, see our How to Watch Dirt Track Racing in 2026 guide.
Full event details & how to watch →
Form and standings verified as of publication (Monday, July 27, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Start times shown in US Eastern; on the schedule they convert to your local zone.
